To say it was a victory was an understatement.

It was a draw, not a victory.

But, in the aftermath of the Battle of Mount Fuji, as the fight was now becoming known, there had been a surprising boost to morale for the country. To Prime Minister Sanban, that was something he had been hoping for since the whole project had begun. However, it was nowhere near what he had been expecting.

He tented his fingers in front of his mouth as he observed the six teens, watching them from within his office on his computer monitor.

They had done something no one had expected to do. And now the country was starting to take notice. In all honesty, it was a reminder of how much needed to be done to regain the sense of hope they had once had. His countrymen were now more jaded and cynical, and had not had a taste of real hope for the last millennium. Badaxtra had been the catalyst for that downslide, and even now, the Kaiju was a potent symbol of fear and terror unlike any other. And truthfully, he couldn't blame the kids for being scared.

Anyone would be scared if they faced down the First Kaiju. But these kids had done so, and came out on top, but at a cost.

Now with the seals around the Pool of Darkness weakened, it was only a matter of time before someone came and broke the rest of them, despite the defenses now being active and operational. With the kinds of people this world had, it wasn't that far of a stretch to fear the worst. His gaze drifted over to a recent photo his wife had sent him of Dani and their two daughters having fun in the training yard, and a smile graced his lips. If anything, that fight had shown him that Dani did have potential to be a great Huntress. Maybe not right up there with the best of the best right off the bat, but she had potential to claw her way to the top.

Kani shifted in his seat before he turned off the monitor, letting the kids have their privacy.

He had other stuff to work on, anyway.

(Shows a pair of eyes opening before the eyes morph into optics)

START Kaitei no Orchestra (Precious Time) (ROMI)

(The optics flash as the camera pans out to show six shadowy mecha before they leap towards the camera, brandishing their weapons)

Hiroi aoi kono basho de tokiga nagarete yuku my precious time (The image fades to show a cat Faunus boy with brown hair and magenta eyes walking down a street close to the ocean, looking down at an image of his mother in his hand. He perks up as he spots a rabbit Faunus girl with light green hair and eyes hugs him, making him yelp. A boy with brown hair and brown eyes joins the girl on the cat Faunus's other side, and gives a thumbs up. A boy with dark purple hair and eyes approaches from the left and smiles a bit before a ninja youth leaps down on the right, his dark grey hair and purple eyes standing out with the purple highlight on the right side of his bangs. The five look up at the sky as a shimmering image of a cheetah Faunus with blue hair and eyes appears behind them. The title appears below them all.)

GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING

Itsu no manika kiete shimatte kakegaeno koega (The image fades to show the cat Faunus standing beside his mother's grave, his eyes fixed on her name)

Tsumaranai hibimo sorega sukide ikitetanda (Memories of her and his family march past as he bows his head)

Higa sashiteru tokomade omoikkiri hashitte (A wind blows past and he perks up as he sees something ahead of him, making him break into a run to try and reach the shadowy, winged humanoid shape as it looks back with yellow optics, holding out a hand)

Shinjirarenai koto bakari menomaeni okiru (The two embrace hands and then a flash of light engulfs the screen, fading to show a large Kaiju-class Grimm being attacked by a blue and white mecha wielding a drill before the two clash)

Taiyou no hou wo miagate tachiagaruno tsurakute (The impact throws off a light that engulfs the screen, dissipating to show the cat Faunus, but battered and wounded, looking at the sky, the sun shining down on him as he reaches up a hand, as if grasping at it)

Susumu koto dake omouto (He tries to stagger to his feet, only to collapse briefly before he lifts his gaze, a yellow optic forming in place of his eye as it glows brightly)

Setsunai tabiwo tsuzukeru kawatta me no okuniwa (The light of the optic fades as the camera moves out to show a green and white mecha armed with a sword and wings on its back attacking a porcupine Kaiju-class Grimm in close combat, only for the Kaiju to fire off a slew of spines from its legs and back, making the mecha block with a shimmering tri-colored Aura)

Natsukashii itoshisa wo motomete (On my way) (Behind the mecha appears an image of a cat Faunus woman, and the mecha lunges forward, its sword glowing as it traps the Grimm in an energy cage before slicing it in half)

Kizutsuke attanowa nikui wake janai nosa (The Grimm explodes before a Faunus Ultra gorilla lunges from behind, making the mecha spin to block with its sword, images of a peaceful world appearing behind it before punching the Faunus Ultra and sending it staggering back)

Sokoni kibouga arunonara my precious time (The images coalesce around the mecha's chest as it fires a blast of green energy from a hidden chest cannon at the screen)

Itsukaraka onaji keshikini kakomarete sugoshite (The screen comes back into view, this time showing the cat Faunus as he stands atop a building in Tokyo, his friends beside him as they eye the distant horizon, a shadowy shape behind Mt. Fuji in the distance)

Akinonai koega sukoshizutsu chiri hajimeta (The boy looks down at an image of his mother in his hands, his friends placing their hands on his shoulders to comfort him as tears streak down his cheeks)

Ameni utareta mamade omoku seouno tsurakute (The camera zooms in on his eyes before panning out to show him looking at the window, the same green and white mecha on the other side, both touching their hands to one another before it shifts to show the cat Faunus's mother as a transparent image behind the mecha)

Ushinau koto dake omouto (The camera zooms in on the mecha's face before panning out to show two Faunus, a fox woman and a bull man, standing atop a hotel in downtown Tokyo)

Togirenai omoino nakade hisshi ni tsukamunosa (The two Faunus lunge for the mecha, only to be blocked by a red and white mecha with two guns and a purple and white mecha wielding two shuriken in its hands Beside them is a white and green mecha armed with a sword and the blue and white mecha with the drill is close by)

Dokomademo dokomademo sagasunda (Find your way) (The five mecha charge towards a large shape as it looms out of the shadows of the two Faunus, and behind them is the shape of a white and blue mecha armed with twin energy blades)

Otagaini motomeatte kakera wo tsunagunosa (Shows the six mecha as they stand in a line, each of them holding their weapons at the ready before they charge forward; the green and white mecha fires off its chest cannon as the blue and white mecha spins its drill up, a blue aura engulfing it, the red and white mecha fires its twin guns in a rifle configuration as the purple and white mecha uses its shuriken as weapons, the white and green mecha swings its sword as heat radiates from the blade and the white and blue mecha swipes with its energy blades, releasing a shockwave)

Sokoni kibouga mierukara wow oh wow (The blasts combine to generate an explosion as it hits something before the smoke parts to reveal a scenic image of the city of Tokyo, the tendrils of Satyra retreating from it)

Kimiga tsukutta monogatari saikou no omoide ni nattanda (The image shifts to show the cat Faunus looking down at a photo album of his mother and his friends and family, tears pricking at his eyes before he sees his friends beside him and they hold out their hands, a smile crossing his face as he takes their hands and they pull him out of the darkness into the light)

Bokurano nakani ikitsuzukete soshite arigatou wow (They all hug before a flash of light envelops them, fading shortly after to reveal the six mecha, this time images of the six kids behind them as they charge at a shadowy shape as it looms over them)

Setsunai tabiwo owarasunda miraiwo kaete tsukuruno sa (The image pans to the right to show them all charging, this time transparent scenes of new enemies marching past them - Dr. Robotnik, Sammael, and Moloch - before fading to show the city of Tokyo at sunset, a light shining in this darkening world)

Istumademo akiramezuni oistuzukete (On my way) (The green and white mecha with the wings thrusts its hand out towards an image of the cat Faunus's mother as she reaches out, and their hands clasp before it shows the green and white mecha firing off its chest cannon, the beam this time a shining gold color)

Tashikani kanjitanda kimiga kureta yuuki wo (The blast strikes the enemy before them - Dr. Robotnik - before it shows the mecha with its companions as they join in on the attack with their own moves)

Bokuno subete wo gisei ni torimodosunda bokurano precious time (The image fades to show the six kids standing in front of Tokyo, the title of the series appearing below them)

GRIMMFALL: SHINKALION RISING

OPENING FILES:

CLASSIFIED

DECRYPTING...

FILES DECRYPTED

OPENING FILES: PROJECT SHINKALION

Project SHINKALION is a top secret military project enacted by the Japanese government's Ministry of Defense and the Shinkansen Defense Institute and backed by Sanban Industries. The goal of the project is fourfold:

1. To provide hope to the people of Japan.

2. To defend against the Kaiju-class Grimm.

3. To protect any potential recruits from Satyra.

4. To help find the Emperor's Sword.

The first two goals are the primary and official reason for the project's existence and operation. Due to the loss of the Emperor's Sword a thousand years ago, the people of Japan have fished around for symbols of hope to cling to, but most were fleeting or offered a false sense of hope. Project SHINKALION as devised to provide a real sense of hope for the first time in over one thousand years, not just for Japan, but for the world as a whole.

The third goal was an unintended side effect of the project, as Director Hokuto Hayasugi's son, Hayato, was targeted by Satyra for recruitment due to reasons unknown. The project provides a means of protection for Hayato, seeing as how he's now bonded to a machine, the very mechanical nature of the unit he's bound to will make him immune to brainwashing Semblances. It has proven effective thus far, and will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

The fourth and final goal of the project was devised by Prime Minister Sanban himself. As a condition to request top-secret military equipment for use in the Shinkalion frames, the project had to also be used to help find any trace as to the location of the Emperor's Sword. The director agreed to the proposal. Officially, there is no fourth goal. But unofficially, there is. This one is the most secretive goal of them all, so secret no one else, not even the Imperial Family, knows about it.

However, there is speculation that there is a fifth goal to the project...

CLOSING FILES

TERMINAL ENTERING STANDBY PHASE

"Plans are good to think about. But sometimes things get thrown out of whack with them." Izumi closed down the file and turned to face the audience. "Like the Battle of Mount Fuji. While it was not a victory, it was not a loss, either. A draw is an outcome in which neither side wins, nor loses. But in effect, is a draw worse than a win or a loss? Some would say it is worse, others may say it's better than the alternative. However, what if one's plans don't account for that outcome?"

He looked at the screen and a smile graced his lips. "Well, then we just have to adapt. After all, it's how you react that can truly determine an outcome's likeliness. As well as what it can be. So think wisely before you act. Because actions can have lasting consequences. Especially at the national level."

CHAPTER XXVIII - DAWN

"...been three weeks since the Battle of Mount Fuji ended with the destruction of four of the eleven seals keeping the Pool of Darkness contained. The government has ordered that any and all people near Mount Fuji be evacuated to the city of Tokyo itself for their own safety, except for the essential personnel within the mountain observation station of Fuji."

Tsuranuki crossed his arms behind his head as he leaned back in his chair as the group sat in the living room, a pen in his mouth as he chewed on the end thoughtfully. Beside him sat Hayato, doing his homework - and doodling images of the shinkansen in the margins of his notes. The boy smirked a bit at that before he directed his attention to where Akita sat not too far off, cleaning his guns. He held one up and inspected it before he set it aside and grasped the other one to give it the same treatment. Shinobu sat cross legged in meditation while Miku nibbled on a riceball, her eyes locked onto the screen of the TV.

"Due to the critical efforts of several brave Hunters, along with those six alien robots, the seals were kept safe and the First Kaiju was actually defeated for the first time. Many people have begun to see this as a symbol of hope, but others have stated that it could be a false or fleeting hope when compared to the Emperor's Sword. Regardless, this first defeat of Badaxtra has led to a boost in national morale, something that has been sorely needed in these turbulent times." The news channel flickered, the news caster fading away to show their Shinkalion selves in battle, alongside Dracon, Dani, Seph, and the Blazing Light. Tsuranuki spat the pen out of his mouth and caught it.

"Hard to believe..." he muttered, balancing it on one finger before resuming his own school work.

"What? That we actually held our own against the First Kaiju?" Akita asked.

The boy nodded. "Yeah. I mean... I'm still shocked by it, honestly."

"Well, no one else aside from the Emperor has managed to do that," Miku noted as she held up the remote, shutting off the TV a few seconds later.

"But we did as well," Hayato remarked.

Tsuranuki nodded as he reached behind his back, scratching.

"Does it still itch?" Miku asked as she noticed.

The boy nodded as he rubbed his back, right between his shoulder blades. "Yeah. Stupid thing!"

"You'd better not, Tsuranuki," the rabbit Faunus cautioned as she reached over and lifted up his shirt.

There, right in the middle of his shoulder blades, a small scar stood out. It was the last remnant of his recent surgery to have the LinkNode implanted into his back. The second stage, it had been decided, was to be implemented as soon as possible, and Tsuranuki had been the first one to undergo the procedure. Normally it would've taken weeks, months even, for him to heal from such a procedure, but one of the surgeons on the team possessed a recovery Semblance that allowed him to accelerate the body's natural healing processes, ensuring that the recovery time was swift and painless. It also meant that Tsuranuki was allowed to go home after a mere five and a half days of recovery in the hospital.

The boy had yet to test it out, though, seeing as how he still had to get used to the small pulses it gave off on occasion.

That, and the thing itched whenever he moved sometimes.

Miku extended a hand and began to rub the spot, easing the itching sensation in his muscles. Tsuranuki sighed in relief. "Just how much longer until it stops itching?" he asked.

The rabbit Faunus shrugged. "I can only go based on what the doctor said. It should stop itching within a week at best."

The boy shook his head as he looked back out, his gaze landing on the sight of the Marunouchi District not too far from his family's home.

Hayato finally glanced up from his homework. "So, what's going to happen now?" he asked.

Tsuranuki shrugged. "Not sure," he admitted. "But the frames are currently being repaired, so we're out of duty for a while."

"And just as well," Akita noted as he set his second gun aside. "We still have much to learn in regards to those frames."

The brown-haired youth pursed his lips as Miku stopped her rubbing. The itching sensation had faded, but he knew it would come back within a day or two. It usually did. He pulled his shirt down and finally sat up straighter, eyeing the site of their recent confrontation with Badaxtra. Or rather the direction of the site.

"We just got lucky," he muttered. "Mostly in that Badaxtra was weakened... Had that thing been stronger..." Tsuranuki shuddered as he drew his arms close to his chest and rubbed them. "We'd be dead by now..."

The others all knew what he meant and they nodded. Shinobu opened his eyes and looked at Tsuranuki out of the corner of his eye. "Maybe, but you have to consider that perhaps Badaxtra's weakness was not just from being sealed. Perhaps its regenerative powers sapped a large portion of its strength to keep its muscles from being wasted."

Akita perked up at that. "Oh, yeah. Some recovery Semblances operate on the same principle, but it usually has a drawback or two," he admitted.

The ninja nodded. "Yes. I'm guessing that Badaxtra's powers were weakened because its body cannibalized its strength to keep itself from wasting away. So, while it was still formidable, it was still weakened from its powers cannibalizing itself."

"But now that it's been freed..." Tsuranuki gritted his teeth. "We'll have to be ready for when it comes back... at full power."

Miku placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Tsuranuki, we'll deal with that when the time comes," she said. "Right now, we're supposed to take it easy, remember?"

Tsuranuki nodded. "Yeah. Sorry," he muttered. "Still trying to process what we actually did..."

The kids fell silent as they resumed their activities. Tsuranuki took the chance to delve back into his own homework, his eyes narrowed as he started to work. As he started to list out the calculations for a math problem, he could only think about what the future held now.

Project SHINKALION was now in its second stage. And his friends were to soon get the LinkNode implanted, much like he had. The LinkPods were to be shut down and slowly dismantled over the course of the next several months, and on top of that, due to the heatwave having left large swathes of Japan's countryside in drought during that so-called Eternal Night, there was much that needed to be done to try and get it back up and running. So the team, once their Shinkalion frames were repaired, were to transport goods and much needed supplies to the farmers and smaller communities via rail. Not only to bolster morale, but also to show that they were going to one day be the protectors of Japan. Not that they already weren't, but it still made sense to expose the so-called 'aliens' to the countryside, to try and 'get them acclimated to the differing terrain of the country', or so the cover story went.

But there was also the matter of some of the recent investigations underway. Mostly into how they even came to this world.

The SDI was going to have a field day with trying to explain the lack of an ancient ship. It wasn't like they could just create one and age it rapidly within a few weeks or months.

That was way beyond their capabilities.

At this rate, all they could do was hope for something to happen to help make their story plausible, if not more believable.

He finally stopped his work and looked out the window as the sun began to set beyond the horizon. "Man... I wonder if people even noticed that battle on the SkyWeb..." he mused.

"It seems likely," Miku admitted as she pulled out her phone, bringing up a search engine and keying in the search terms. Within minutes up came video of the fight, including the one with the Hydra Grimm.

Hayato shivered at the memory of that fight. Tsuranuki couldn't help but feel a bit concerned for his friend as a result. "Hayato... what happened back then wasn't your fault."

"I know... but I still can't get over what I nearly did to you guys..." the cat Faunus whimpered.

Miku set her phone down and slipped closer to the Faunus boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey. We won that one. So it won't happen again, especially since you learned a crucial lesson that day."

Hayato nodded, but guilt still invaded his features as he turned his focus back to his homework. His pencil started doodling a few minutes in, though, this time of their Shinkalion frames.

Tsuranuki turned back to the TV and snatched the remote from Miku, earning a surprised yelp from the rabbit Faunus. "Hey!"

He turned it back on to the news station, and his eyes widened as he spotted the headlines scrolling across the screen.

POWERPUFF GIRL MISSING

BUTTERCUP MIA FROM TOWNSVILLE

A sinking feeling formed in his stomach at that.

"Uh... that's bad news, right?" Hayato asked as he peered over Miku's shoulder.

Akita's eyes locked onto the news feed and his mouth formed into a thin line. "That's bad all right..." he muttered.

Shinobu peeked around Akita and his eyes widened a bit. "Sure 'nuff..." he whispered.

Miku, on the other hand, was silent as her hands were covering her mouth.

"What in the name of Glob caused one of Townsville's heroines to go missing?" she asked in a soft tone of voice.

Tsuranuki had no idea. "Honestly, I have no idea..." he murmured.

The kids had heard numerous good things about the Powerpuff Girls and their exploits in Townsville located not too far from Japan. The island of Little Tokyo was something of an oddity as it was within Japan's waters, but was considered its own island with its own government and self sufficient economy. In fact, it was like its own micronation. But in reality, it was, Tsuranuki figured, the Japanese equivalent of a commonwealth state. Not a part of the country, but not its own nation.

But to hear that one of the city's defenders was missing? That was very bad news indeed.

A loud buzzing came from Tsuranuki's pants pocket and he looked at it before pulling out his phone. He tapped the call button, and instead of someone picking up, a text message popped up. Well, two, actually. One from his mother... and one from Director Hayasugi.

He swiped his phone's screen and up came the messages. Tsuranuki peered at the top one as his friends looked at him. "What's up?" Hayato asked.

"It's a message from the SDI," the boy said. "It's a mission."

"For all of us?" Shinobu asked. "Because if so, then we're going to have a problem as most of us don't have the LinkNode yet."

The boy handed his phone to the ninja. "See for yourself."

Shinobu took Tsuranuki's phone and read over the message.

To: Tsuranuki Daimonyama

From: Director Hayasugi

As of recently, some strange events have been taking place within Townsville. As you know, Townsville is located on the island of Little Tokyo not too far from mainland Japan. The city itself is one of three major settlements on the island, and it is one of the best known. Not for its Hunters because it lacks permanent Hunter teams on station there. No. It's well known for the three beacons of light that shine in that darkened tunnel. Those three beacons are three powerful heroines that have been making a name for themselves as of late. They are known as the Powerpuff Girls, and they have become a sight of hope in Townsville.

However...

I'm not sure if you know of the myth of Pleasure Island, but according to rumors, the island itself is real, or rather, was real. Its fate is unknown, but some kids that were rescued from the island described a battle between a reptile Mobian and the Powerpuff Girl known as Buttercup Utonium, as well as a gang of criminals from Townsville known as the Gangreen Gang. Now, bear in mind, this is only survivor testimony, so it's considered somewhat unreliable. But recent evidence has led me to think that maybe this survivor testimony has some truth to it. And interestingly, all the stories the kids told are basically the same.

That brings me to the mission I've assigned you.

As the first of the Drivers who has the LinkNode, you are being sent to Townsville to bolster the ranks of the Powerpuff Girls until Buttercup can be found and brought back to her home. I've already arranged for you to be sent to Townsville's main school where the Powerpuffs go as part of an exchange program. You will be rooming with the Utonium family for a while, so I expect you to be on high alert and be careful. Your shinkansen will be sent to the city as well, seeing as how you need to be close to it in order to engage LinkUp. I expect you to keep yourself hidden and separated from your alias as Esebu. The last thing we need is for one of the local supervillains to get wind of what you can do... and of the tech we got in play here.

Director Hayasugi

Shinkansen Defense Institute

The boy was in shock as he handed the phone back to his friend.

"You're really going to Townsville?" he asked.

Tsuranuki nodded. "Yeah." He brought up another message on his phone, the one from his mother. "And it's just as well that Mom is going to the city to help open a branch of the company there, seeing as how the battles usually leave collateral damage behind."

It was not only a smart business move, but it gave him a legitimate excuse to carry out the mission as well.

"How long will you be gone?" Miku asked with worry in her eyes.

Tsuranuki checked the message. "About... six months, if not less, depending on how things go," he said. He shut down his phone after he sent her and the director a quick text, saying only one word. Understood.

Once that was done, he put the phone in his pocket and leaned back, his hands lacing themselves behind his head.

"I just hope you guys will be all right without me," he murmured.

Akita looked to Tsuranuki. "We'll be fine," he assured the other boy. "But if we aren't, you'll know."

Tsuranuki glanced at Akita and smiled. "Thanks," he said.

The boy returned it.

Of course, things were going to get very interesting during his time in Townsville...

TOKYO STATION

TWO WEEKS LATER...

Tsuranuki stood next to his mother and younger siblings as they waited for the shinkansen to arrive. Beside him stood his friends, each of them having decided to stop by and see him off. After all, they were now Shinkalion, and as such, they wished to see one of their own off on his first solo mission.

The boy gripped his suitcase, his phone held in his other hand, his backpack strapped to his back. He gulped a bit nervously. Truthfully, this was his first time actually being out of Japan for an extended period of time, not like the last few times he had been out with his family during business trips. So he was actually pretty nervous. He had no idea if anyone outside of Japan even knew of the Shinkalions since the defeat of Badaxtra a little over a month ago. So, it was important to keep that part quiet.

Hayato glanced to his friend. "Hey, we'll be fine," he said with a grin.

Tsuranuki merely nodded as he looked up. He could faintly hear it, but it was there. A train horn.

He turned to the cat Faunus and set his suitcase down before grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling him close into a hug. "Be careful, Hayato," he murmured.

Hayato was surprised, but then he returned the hug regardless. "Thanks... for coming to my rescue," he said.

Tsuranuki pulled back and held out a hand, allowing Hayato to grasp it. The cat Faunus returned the handshake.

The others all smiled as the shinkansen pulled into the station, coming to a stop close by.

The E7 was already linked up to it.

Mizusu grabbed her son's hand and Tsuranuki grabbed his suitcase in his free hand as he was taken to the train. "Bye, guys!" he called. "I'll let ya know when I get there!"

The other four Drivers proceeded to wave as the family got on the shinkansen. Once the door was shut and all passengers were on board, Tsuranuki placed his hands on the glass and waved, watching as they waved back, slowly receding into the distance as they ran after, calling out to him and wishing him luck, he assumed.

He sighed as he pulled his backpack off his back, setting it down and opening it. He reached in and pulled out a small notebook and pen. He opened it and stuck the end of the pen in his mouth, trying to think about how to begin.

Tsuranuki perked up as an idea came to him.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe... but it all really happened. What happened, you ask? Well... this is the story of how me and my friends started out on a journey... a journey that led to the rise of hope again in over one thousand years... for the entire world..."

Space and time began to shift.

A set of optics gazed at the world before him, screens flickering and many other futures being shown.

But out of all of them, one stood out.

Lines of darkness encompassed it, creating a barricade that no one could breach.

And above them all, hovered the red eyes of Sammael.

Vector Prime, Keeper of Space and Time, watched with increasing concern.

It seemed to him that no matter what they tried, Sammael was always anticipating and planning, trying to come up with ways to ensure it would never happen.

That golden future. That was the one he was preventing from coming about. But the main question was... why? Why was he so dead set on preventing it from coming about?

And ever since the release of Badaxtra, the tangle of darkened lines only seemed to grow, becoming an ever increasing bramble of thorns and vines in front of a Garden of Eden.

And yet...

His optics flickered as he raised a servo and touched one of the many gears of spacetime, running his digits along its surface. He could sense something was off. Like... like a great change had been made. Well, maybe not great, but it had the potential to be great.

The ancient Transformer closed his optics and let his focus guide him. He reached out and felt the touches of spacetime's many strings, following them through the ages until-

His essence bumped into something.

Vector Prime didn't care to open optics, instead sensing himself in the darkened void of spacetime's inbetweens. He could sense the many walls of the differing futures around him, but they were permeable compared to this. He reached out a hand to touch it, only to find it wasn't so much a string as it felt strong and sturdy...

He could sense not a wavering, delicate strand of spacetime, but a hard, long object that ended abruptly. It seemed to be near his feet, instead of hovering in the middle of-

Wait.

Vector Prime hesitated, but he finally dared to open his optics.

Normally to do so meant that one would go mad. But Vector Prime, as the Keeper, had extensive privileges, one of which was the ability to actually see spacetime and not go mad. But he still closed his optics, as it was a habit of his. But when he opened them this time, he was greeted with not the intricate strands of differing futures and timelines, but a structure he had only seen in his observations throughout history.

A train station.

This one, however, seemed to be incomplete. And he was standing right near one of the rail tracks that abruptly ended out in the darkness.

Vector Prime took the chance to look around the station, trying to even fathom how it had came into existence. He had expected to come across spacetime's strings, not a place like this. But where had it come from, and why?

Out of curiosity, Vector Prime wandered throughout the building, noticing through the windows that the dark brambles of the many bad futures were looming before the station. And within them, he could see the faint glowing orb of that bright future, looking like a small candle compared to a darkened storm swirling around it. Like it would be snuffed in an instant.

His optics narrowed as he exited the station, only to be surprised that he was not in the inbetweens of spacetime like he had assumed.

It was like he was in a different version of the inbetween. He could see old buildings in the distance behind the station, and lying along the track that snaked back through those brambles were old steam trains, different vehicles, and all kinds of bodies, one of which was the human man known as Uncle Sam. And coming off of these vehicles, bodies, and buildings were those brambles.

But here, this station was brand new. Like it had just been built recently, or was almost complete.

And now, he could see that on the side of the station, at the main entrance, was a map. A map with several flashing icons... that looked like the visages of those robots he had seen.

They each flashed, and above the map were several words: Future Line Gold Under Construction.

And then it hit him.

The Prime Minister had followed through.

Vector Prime let out a small smile as he stepped back into the station, sitting down and letting his frame materialize inside around his essence.

The line had been set.

Now... it was all up to the kids to ensure its construction went unimpeded...