"So, what should we get Wasabi for his birthday?" Honey Lemon asked the group. They were at Fred's house for a very important Saturday meeting. Wasabi would be turning twenty-one in a few days and they had to make it special.
"A gift bag?" Ari yawned, there were faint bags under her eyes.
"That's kind of lame." Gogo told her bluntly. "Kiddo did you stay up late?"
"No." She rubbed her eyes. "I was up early for my trip, remember? To Sycorax?"
"Ooh I remember you telling us about that!" Honey Lemon smiled. "How was it?"
"So much biotech mumbo-jumbo that made Karmi fangirl, but I was just plain confused. What I can remember is that the floor had scanners and there was a lot of studying of nature and animals."
"Did you get your memory fixed?" Hiro asked, to the group's surprise, she shook her head.
"No, according to the scanners there was some chemical injected into me that made me lose my memories, and whoever made it knew how to make it last. The best Liv could do is wipe out the remaining traces." Ari rubbed her neck. "Still hurts a little."
"Aw." Honey Lemon walked up to her and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry Ari, I knew how excited you were to potentially regain your memories."
"It wasn't that bad." She sighed. "I got to hang out with Karmi, and since she'll be getting an internship there next semester-"
Hiro gagged behind her.
"I want to spend as much time as I can before we can't hang out as much." There was a questionable look on her face. "Though at least I learned how I got my amnesia, however you told me it wasn't Obake. Was it any other science baddies you've faced?"
"No matter if they use science or not. We will defeat them in the name of justice!" Mini-Max boasted on top of Fred's head, the little robot had been silent for awhile.
"I'll add that to the wall." Hiro commented, Ari just groaned.
"Hirooo, stop it with the conspiracy wall." For the past few days she had seen her brother obsess about the conspiracy wall he made that connected Obake to every villainous happening around the city. Since crime had been down due to their work, he had nothing better to do. But Ari had to physically drag him out of the garage a few times, and with Baymax's help to boot.
The others began listing gifts for Wasabi, from a Dandy Boy costume aka Captain Fancy's sidekick, to puppies that he'd be allergic too. They had no idea what to get him.
"We should just get Wasabi cash in a paper bag, he can do what he wants with it no questions asked." Gogo suggested, the others were silent. "Why aren't you writing that down?"
"I don't think it'd be… special enough." Honey Lemon explained.
"Guys." Hiro spoke up. "You know how Wasabi's car is still stuck in the bay-"
"He has a car and it magically got stuck in the bay?" Ari questioned. "How?"
The others flinched at the memory. "Long story." Hiro showed them an old picture they took. With the gang around his car, it was during his making of the microbots and they took a relaxing joyride through town. "What if we got it out and fixed it up for him?"
"Hiro, that's a great idea!" Honey Lemon wrote it down on a whiteboard and circled it.
"I'm down." Gogo nodded, they started to leave the room.
"Someone should distract Wasabi while you guys fix the car." Fred suggested to them.
"Good call Fred." Hiro flashed a thumbs up as he left.
Behind him, Action 7 News starts to play on the TV. "We interrupt 'Foods I don't care for' for some actual news." On screen, there is a statue of Boss Awesome out in the bay. "Boss Awesome, beloved San Fransokyo superhero is now larger than life thanks to this beautiful brand-new Mega Monument in the bay. The super statue was a gift from..." Bluff Dunder looks down at his cue cards. "Who is it a gift from?" he whispers to the off-screen crew.
"That's my dad!" Fred boasted. "Boss Awesome! They're always making statues of him! Usually not this big though..."
"According to the Heropedia, Boss Awesome is considered the greatest superhero of all time!" Mini-Max added.
"Yeah, he's made the cover of Super People Magazine like ten times."
"It would be extremely difficult for his offspring to measure up to such a remarkable legacy!"
"Yeah it would."
On the news, Bluff crawled back to his desk. "Well, find out! I look like a super idiot here without a story!"
Fred gasped in horror at a sudden realization. "Wait… I'M his offspring!" He never stopped to realize how awesome Boss Awesome was. He was the light in the dark ages, the protector of the city, a patron of good and justice.
How was he supposed to become a hero as good as his dad was? "Oh boy, never thought about that!"
"Now, back to 'Foods I don't care for', part two: Black jelly beans."
Ferns and Nerds group chat:
Sara Ferns: Wasabi I hope you're gonna have the best birthday soon. You deserve it!
Wasabi: Thanks!
Sara Ferns: Hopefully Mikan shows up… THIS TIME
Mikan Ferns: A girl misses a birthday party one time!
Mikan Ferns: Also congrats on reaching legal drinking age buddy,
Wasabi: Thanks but no thanks
Fredzilla: Wait Mikan you drink?
Mikan Ferns: Sometimes, occasionally, like a sip or two… chill down you're not my dad
Rachel Rosemary: It was just one question pal
Sara Ferns: Quit mocking me Mika
Mikan Ferns: Never : P
Fredzilla: Oh Rachel! Can I ask you something?
Rachel Rosemary: Sure
Fredzilla: Do you ever feel the burden of trying to live up to your dad?
Sara Ferns: Wow man. Heavy question
Mikan Ferns: All the time
Wasabi: He didn't ask you -_-
Rachel Rosemary: Sometimes, when I was younger I worried that I wouldn't turn out great as him. But now I just remember that I just have to be me. Sides, he's just a good detective, not like he's some legendary hero or something.
Fredzilla: Thanks.
Rachel Rosemary: You're welcome
Hiro opened up the garage door, Ari and Baymax behind him. "If we're gonna fish Wasabi's car out of the Bay, we're gonna need some new underwater gear." He fist bumps the robot.
"Can I come too?" Ari asked, she had offered to help Hiro make the gear, but wanted to join the expedition as well. "I promise to do everything you ask."
He sighed. "Of course you can come sis, what kind of question is that?"
She perked up, a wide smile grew on her face. "Thank you so much!"
Before they could start however, Cass entered the garage. "Hey kids!"
"Oh uh..." Hiro gave a nervous chuckle. "Hey Aunt Cass."
"Hi." Ari awkwardly waved. "What is it?"
"Well, David wanted to speak with us." She explained. "He said it was very important."
"Oh, did he?" Ari frowned, crossing her arms. Hiro stared at her puzzled. What was going on in her mind?
They followed Cass into the cafe, where David was by the counter, he had a sullen look on his face.
"Hey David." Hiro gave a friendly greeting. "Haven't seen you in the cafe in awhile."
"Yeah..." he flinched. "I didn't want to hurt your sister at all."
"What?" Hiro stared at him in confusion, Ari had a neutral expression.
"Hmm." She frowned.
"First of all, I'm really sorry about what happened." David rubbed his shoulder."Second um... Cass? I also came to ask a favor."
"Oh!" Cass smiled. "What is it?" He leaned in to whisper, both siblings saw her green eyes widened. "Oh, oh, of course." She then headed over to the room that had all of her display knives back when she did the Food Fights.
Ari groaned. "Is this about your mom and her knives?"
"Maybe..." David sweatdropped.
"You better not be handing them over to her!"
"I'm not! I swear! I just want a keepsake to remember when she gets arrested again."
"Oh." Now she felt bad.
Hiro glanced back and forth. "Wait, what about his mom? Sally?"
She winced. "Hey, remember that one time I got kidnapped by Momakase?"
"Unfortunately." he grumbled, feeling the hot flare of anger again.
"Long story, that was..." she glanced back and forth, "David's birth mom."
Hiro gasped. "Yeah, shocking." Ari huffed.
"I said I was sorry..." David pouted.
She crossed her arms. "Your mom gave me a black eye because you-"
"Ari!" Hiro spoke up, she clamped her mouth. "I don't think it's fair to blame David for something he had no control of, knock it off."
She felt ashamed. "Sorry, David." Her tone was sincere.
He then turned to David. "You don't have to say sorry for something your mom did."
"I guess."
Ari stared at her brother, confused that he wasn't mad. "That's all you have to say?"
"I'm just keeping my shock boiled down so I don't have an outburst in the cafe." He confessed. "And I've heard weirder."
"Weirder?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Weirder."
"Okay, I'm back!" They both jumped when Cass walked back to the counter, she carried a briefcase Hiro could guess were the graphene knives she won from Momakase. "Here you go, David."
"Thanks Cass." He accepted the case with a smile. "And um, y guys have a good day." David started to exit.
"You're always welcome in the cafe!" Ari called after him. "And sorry again for my attitude!"
"Attitude?" Cass frowned at Ari.
"Well..." She sweatdropped. "I kind of was mad at him for a dumb reason?
Hiro patted her on the shoulder. "You're good."
"Thanks." They both waved Cass goodbye and headed back to the garage, Baymax waddled up to Hiro.
"Hiro, I detect levels of stress." The robot stated, Hiro in response just buried his face into Baymax's vinyl chest and screamed his lungs out.
Ari stared awkwardly. He really was keeping his shock boiled down...
"Oxygen tank?"
"Check."
"Webbed hands and flippers?"
"Check!"
"Safe for diving?"
"Yes."
"Alright," Hiro pressed a button. "Suit warmers, on." Which insulated his new underwater suit, the visor turned orange.
"Which button is that?" Ari questioned, she was wearing a similar suit to him, but instead of the blue to match the red colors of Hiro and Baymax, her's was tinted indigo.
"The one on the left."
She pressed it, and her visor turned orange. "Oooh."
"Let's dive." Hiro jumped into the bay first, Ari hopped in after him.
"I cannot dive." Baymax waddled to the edge of the docks, and belly-flopped into the dark sea below.
Ari felt so alive when she hit the water. The sea was refreshing, and she swam playfully in the water. "Whoo!"
Hiro chuckled. "Glad you're enjoying yourself." He was inspecting some old rusted anchors, remember what we came for." And pulled out a GPS tracker for the car.
"Oh." She swam up to him. "Right." But she still felt so energetic, and this sort of energy was the kind she felt when dipping into Muihara's rivers.
She was by Baymax and they followed the GPS. Ari looked at her surroundings, which were bright and colorful despite the darkness of the night. I didn't know Hiro installed night vision. Schools of fish swam below them, crabs littered the sand, and coral reefs popped up behind cliffs of rock and dirt.
"Aah!" Hiro yelped as an eel swam past them. Ari however had a stronger reaction…
"EEL GET IT AWAY!" She screeched, speeding away.
"Ari!" Hiro called after her as she swam behind a rock. "Ari, the eel left!"
"Are you sure?!" She yelled back.
"Yes." Baymax told her.
He did not have time for this. "We'll go up ahead, you can wait behind a little, just be careful."
"Okay!" She waited a few minutes before following, not noticing the pair of grey eyes rising from the sand she kicked up, and started to follow her.
It didn't take long for her to relocate the guys, they were by a thick clump of kelp, upon further inspection she saw that the kelp was just covering a car.
"Woah..." Ari awed. "What's the story behind that?"
"Remember how I told you when I attempted to fight Yokai and the gang showed up and there was a car chase?" Hiro asked, she nodded. "Well, Gogo accidentally drove into the bay. Good news was that Baymax floated us to safety, bad news we were soaking wet and mentally exhausted."
"Yikes." She winced, and turned to Baymax. "You really are a lifesaver, and a flotation device!"
"Yes."
"Aah!" They turned to see Hiro ducking away from the car, because there was a great white shark inside! The shark was livid that they entered its territory, it growled and went charging for Hiro, he swam over to Ari. "Baymax, sonic blaster!"
"This will not hurt." Baymax started his sonic blaster, which sent out waves to the shark, it roared and was blasted back.
"Phew." Both teens gave a sigh of relief. Hiro turned to the robot. "Thanks Baymax."
"You are welcome." As he attached a hook to the car, Ari felt a feeling of dread go down her spine.
That's when she heard it.
That hissing sound, it sent shivers, and it was an "oh no," from Baymax that got her to turn around.
Behind her, was a black and yellow striped, large and very hungry-
"YELLOW BELLY SEA SNAKE!" Ari howled. "HIRO RUN!" She ducked as it leapt at her.
He turned around. "It's a what?!"
"Hydrophis platurus." Baymax explained. "It's venom is highly potent."
"AND FATAL!" Ari ducked another bite. "SWIM AWAY!"
"But… the car!" Hiro exclaimed, he had spoken too loud, the snake turned away from Ari. And began to speed towards him, Baymax was too slow to sonic blast the creature and she could only stare in horror as it bared it's venomous fangs at her brother!
"Say goodbye to your little friend!"
"NOOOO!"
"NO!" Ari roared, her eyes glowed blue. She swung her arms and a current shook the snake, it rolled. And then with all of her might, she pushed the snake out of the water, a stream pushing it into a bubble above the surface, it popped and the snake fell back into the sea. But it's scales shuddered with fear at the sight of Ari, and it swam with its tail between it's… body. Only after taking in some breaths she realized what she did.
"Did I just… bend the water?"
"Yes," Baymax scanned her. "There was an unknown energy that coursed through your body when you manipulated the surrounding water. My database cannot determine what source of energy it was."
"Hiro!" Ari swam to her brother, who was staring with wide brown eyes, "did you see that- are you okay!?"
"Yeah." He gasped for breath. "But Ari, you just controlled the water! You're like a… waterbender!"
"I know right?!" They both were freaking out. "That's what the weird energy is whenever I dip into a river or a creek or pond, I feel the feeling of controlling water- oh my god this explains so much!" She concentrated and managed to make a small oxygen bubble. "My mind is so blown right now."
"This is so cool though!" Hiro exclaimed. "And I thought travelling to another dimension was the craziest 'out of this world' experience I ever had! Maybe you were born with this!" He turned to the robot. "Baymax! Can you scan if this strange power is something Ari's born with?"
"Scanning," Ari was lit up blue as the robot's scanner went over her, "I can determine that the strange energy that caused you to control water is natural. But I cannot determine if you were born with this ability or not."
"Hm, so did I just get hit by a mermaid and I absorbed its power?" Ari frowned. "Did I get it from my mom or my dad- ow!" Her head burned.
"Water, so much water it feels like puddy in my hands."
"All this power and you use it for tricks?"
"Why not not use it against those weaker than you Ariel? It's in our blood to be superior."
"Ari?" She noticed Hiro waving a hand over her face. "Another flashback?"
"Yeah." Ari frowned. "It wasn't a nice one." But it had truth, the water powers might be fun for now, but they could be used to hurt someone.
"Oh."
"Um, are we gonna tell the others about this? And I wanna tell Aunt Cass too."
He flinched. "That might put Aunt Cass in danger if you tell her."
"I want to tell her." she glared at him. "I don't want to keep secrets. And I don't care if she kicks me out for that, she deserves to know how dangerous I might be."
"Aunt Cass is not gonna kick you out! She might begin stress eating half of the cafe though," Hiro frowned. "And you're not dangerous."
"But this power..." Ari shot a bit of water into the sky. "It's deadly."
Hiro sighed. "A relative of mine once told me that 'with great power comes great responsibility,' you can use your water powers for good."
"I agree with this statement." Baymax added in. "Your water powers had rescued Hiro from the yellow-bellied sea snake."
"You guys are right." She sighed. "I can use it to help you lift up the car for example."
Hiro's eyes brightened. "tThat's the spirit! We'll figure it out with time, don't worry sis." He patted her shoulder. "How are you feeling though?"
"Tired." She tried bending a bit of water to create a bubble. "I must be rusty because I feel really tired when exerting so much force. Not sure what I'll do with these powers."
"You could-"
"I am not becoming a superhero. Too dangerous!"
"Awww." He then cleared his throat. "Um, mind if we tell the others later? Like on a day that's not Wasabi's birthday?"
"Yeah, of course!" She nodded. "I'd feel bad for taking attention away from his special day, so let's keep this to yourself for a while." Sides, I'm scared what'll happen if I use these powers for too long...
As Baymax began pulling the car up, with Ari helping by bending the current upwards and Hiro admiring their handiwork. A small crab watched them with soulless eyes, it skittered across the ocean floor. Next to it, the ground rumbled and shifted, like a drill running underground.
AN: Ah Steamer's Revenge, an ep where Wasabi gets some spotlight and his car back.
And yeah,,, Ari's a waterbender now. Surprise? Y'all are probably mad I had to reveal it during Wasabi's birthday but disclaimer: Ari and Hiro aren't going to bring it up (yet) to the gang since it IS Wasabi's birthday and they want their friend to have his special day uninterrupted.
I had this plot point planned since early writing, and this was the best chance I could reveal it, tho dw I will explain later. But like hopefully it's not too game changing in this show with plant monsters, glob monsters... clones (speaking of that Ari is fine from her trip she just got let-down relax I swear-) Y'all seem to like Katie so hopefully you don't burn me in the reviews ;-; Let me write my gal in peace.
And yeah Ari's not going to be a superhero bc of this, but the waterbending may come in handy in the future ;)
QOTW: Thoughts about the waterbending reveal? Like it, hate it? Waiting for me to explain more? I promise will explain more it'll just take awhile.