"People of Sky City," Isa began onscreen.

"They were certainly creative with their naming," Ivor muttered.

This prompted several snorts, a few laughs, and a glare from Isa and Reginald in his direction.

"Shhhh!" Lukas hushed him onscreen, eyes narrowing at him and the pupils beginning to turn into slits. Onscreen-Ivor took the hint and shut up.

"I'm sorry to pull you from your duties-"

"What duties? Standing in line?" Em interrupted again in a grumble. She subsided when Isa shot a glare at her and Nell gently elbowed her in the ribs.

"-but something urgent has come to my attention. A crime has been committed," Onscreen-Isa continued speaking, voice turning grim on the last sentence.

The crowd exploded into mutters and whispers. "A crime? What kind of crime?"

Jace quietly facepalmed. "Well, uh... that's bad," he said, after a few seconds.

"No duh, Sherlock," Mevia muttered, still a bit fixed on the 'Sherlock Holmes' reference Jesse had made a few minutes ago.

"Please, please, remain calm," Isa spoke to the crowd.

Jesse and Lukas shared a look that basically said: She just told them that a crime was committed, and now she's telling them to remain calm. Logic.

Yes, their look said all of that.

"Earlier today," and the screen switched to show a gate that Isa pointed to, "outsiders build a bridge into our fair city from a distant island!" And the gates opened to show the dirt bridge they'd build, a fence blocking it off... and then switched to show Ivor's lava-skull abomination.

The potion master developed a strange interest in his shoes and carefully avoided the rest of the audiences' gaze, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was now the center of attention. And the target of several very pointed glares.

Onscreen, Lukas rubbed his head sheepishly while Petra glared at Ivor, sparks flitting off of her again. Milo could be seen in the corner, also turning to have a look at the bridge. Jesse simply placed her head in her uppermost set of hands. "And by 'earlier today', she means 'ten minutes ago'," she grumbled quietly.

"Now, whether these outsiders know it or not, this is a violation of Sky City's most sacred law: no unauthorized building," Isa said, the screen going into a close-up on her face as her green eyes hardened into a glare. The crowd exploded into chatter again.

"Illegal builders! Atrocious!"

Facemeat blinked. "Afro-what?"

Hadrian snorted.

"Everyone, everyone! Please," Isa called over the explosion of noise.

"Wait- was that you?"

Spider-Jesse started a bit in surprise, while Petra flailed around in a panic and nearly hit Milo in the face as he leaned around the redhead to look at the group. He ducked back a step. "Are you the bridge builders?" he asked in a hushed voice.

"I didn't know it was illegal," Jesse groaned in response, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"This is nuts!" Petra agreed in a whisper.

"I never thought you'd be a criminal, Jesse," Axel said jokingly, making the black-haired girl swivel towards him with a flat look. "I mean, Jace, yeah-" Jace threw a pillow at him halfheartedly, "but that's only because I'd just drag him down with me."

"I feel like Aiden's singling Jesse out here," Ellegaard mumbled. "I mean, I know she's the leader, but still."

"Yeah, where's my criminal poster?" Petra asked, jokingly putting her hands on her hips.

Jace smacked her playfully.

The screen switched to show Aiden whispering into the Founder's ear, before Isa pulled away and said sternly, "Jesse, wherever you are, step forward now."

"Oh crap, she knows your name!" Nell exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air.

"He's definitely singling Jesse out here!" Stacy exclaimed, shooting Real-Aiden a glare. The dark-haired boy was staring at the ground with a blank face.

"I have already been informed of your identity. I appreciate that you may be ignorant of our laws, but I will warn you: Sky City is small, and I promise that if you try to hide, I will find you," Isa said frostily.

Real-Jesse casually shifted backwards a few inches. "Um... yeah. She's kinda scary," she said, in a deceptively casual voice.

"To use Milo's term? ... slime blocks," the narrator spoke, making Jesse's eyes flicker up to the sky momentarily, before returning her gaze to the scene before her, wondering what to do.

"We need to get to that Eversource at whatever cost!" Ivor whispered, pushing his way to the front of the group, "this is clearly our fastest way into the castle!" As he spoke, more guards began to march down the steps.

"By getting arrested?!" Petra hissed angrily.

Jesse shook her head, stepping between them before the two could start bickering. "Yeah, I have to side with Petra on this one. Besides, we broke their most sacred law, we have no idea what they're going to do to us," she whispered.

"Wait!" The whole group turned to look at Milo, who had edged into the rough circle of people. "Don't be fooled by the Founder's lies."

Isa's jaw dropped in outrage. "Lies?! What lies?!" she nearly shouted at Real-Milo, who edged backwards away from her.

"I can help you come up with a plan to get into the palace."

Onscreen, Ivor hesitated one beat. Two beats. Three beats. Then he nodded and turned to Milo. "I see your point... alright, lead the way, blonde g-"

He was cut off very rudely by Aiden shouting and pointing into the crowd. "That's them!"

"Oh..." Cassie trailed off. She wasn't entirely sure how polite it was to cuss when the guy she was about to cuss about was sitting right next to her and staring at his shoes.

Ivor yelped as a guard yanked him back a step. "Hey!" he snapped. "Unhand me this instant!"

"Come with me!" Milo hissed.

"This is completely unnecessary!"

"Jesse, we need to get out of here!" Petra exclaimed.

"This is moving way too fast," Dan groaned, looking a little bewildered by the turn of events.

Onscreen, the spider hybrid's eyes darted back and forth, before her face set and she turned to face the guard grabbing Ivor. "Hey, don't treat him like that. He didn't do anything wrong." She hesitated a half-second, before her eyes filled with determination and she took a deep breath, raising her voice so it could be clearly heard over the din of the crowd. "It was my idea to build the bridge. Not his. So if you're going to treat anyone like a criminal," and she spread all six arms, prompting some gasps from the crowd, "he's not your guy. I am."

Petra let out a frustrated yell and started halfheartedly clobbering the short girl with a pillow. "How- could- you- be- so- stupid?!" she yelled, Jace squirming away to avoid getting a pillow to the face.

Real-Ivor let out a slightly relieved sigh. "Well, either way... thank you, Jesse," he said, sounding strangely affected.

"No- ooph!" Jesse made a sound of surprise as she turned her head and accidentally got a pillow to the face from Petra. Once it had fallen away, she rubbed her nose and twisted to look at Ivor. "No problem."

"Guards!" Isa called to the guards in the crowd, "bring them forward."

A guard grabbed Lukas's arm and yanked him forward, Reginald stepping forward and seizing ahold of Jesse's wrist. The black-haired spider hybrid simply arched her eyebrow. "I was planning on coming anyway, but you know, I haven't been dragged around enough in my life. Lead the way," she said mildly, although her eyes were narrowing in irritation.

Real-Reginald couldn't help but snort a little bit at that.

Petra stepped backwards, looking torn. "Jesse, I... I'll find a way to help you. I promise!" she shouted after her friend, before turning and running after Milo into the alleyway.

Lukas winced as the guard who was dragging him twisted his arm, shooting the spider hybrid a worried look. "I hope you know what you're doing, Jesse," he whispered to her in a hushed voice.

The spider hybrid glanced at him and gave him a sheepish smile. "I... don't think you want to hear this, but I really don't..."

The ocelot hybrid winced in turn. "You're right. I didn't want to hear that."

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Reginald shouted, gently pushing his way through the crowd and shooting the spider hybrid a sharp glare, "come with me."

"Wasn't she already coming?" the narrator asked, sounding far too amused about this. Jesse looked at the sky and hissed a very quiet "shut up" at the narrator, red eye glinting, before continuing after Reginald.

The screen switched to show Reginald's back as he walked, Jesse not being able to see over him (the Captain of the Guard was tall), before he moved to the side, enabling Jesse to see Isa's cold glare and Aiden's malevolent grin.

As the three of them quietly filed into a line down below, Jesse looking up at Isa with a worried look, the screen switched to show Aiden snickering a little behind Isa, although the Founder didn't notice, still glaring down at Jesse. "We meet at last," the Founder said, coldly.

Onscreen, Jesse inhaled deeply, looking extremely tense and as if she was scrambling for something to say.

Aiden let out a cold chuckle and gave the spider hybrid a sarcastic wave. Maya also let out a snicker, and Reginald turned around with a suspicious look. "What was that? Who's snickering?"

This prompted a few snickers from the crowd, although the majority of them were still hung up on what was going to happen to Jesse and the others.

Finally, the spider hybrid gave a faint smile and lifted her uppermost hand in a little wave, her lower sets of arms folding behind her back. "Um... hi. It's really nice to meet you, though I... do wish it was in different circumstances. You're the Founder, right? I'm, um... I'm Jesse."

Isa just looked at her for a moment, eyes hardening. "So I gathered," she said stiffly.

Real-Isa winced and rubbed her head sheepishly.

After another pause, the Founder said, in a slightly more agreeable tone, "Hm. I admire your honesty in stepping forward. This should be... interesting." Her tone was mostly light, giving no indication of what she might or might not do. On the last word, she swiveled on her heel and marched into the palace. "I need a few moments in the throne room to discuss things... Maya, Gill, you two stay with the guards and watch the criminals while Aiden and I have a chat," she instructed briskly.

Aiden gave Jesse one last cold smile, before turning on his own heel and following Isa inside. Maya and Gill exchanged a look onscreen, but it was almost too quick to be noticed.

The screen switched to show Reginald turning to face Jesse, wordlessly pointing at the entrance. Jesse looked at the Captain of the Guard for a moment- silently- before mutely walking in, the Captain of the Guard following with Lukas, Ivor, and a few more guards trailing behind them. The screen blacked out.

"I wonder what she's going to discuss with him," Maya murmured, looking a bit pale.

"Nothing good, I imagine," Soren muttered quietly.

The screen faded back in to show Reginald standing in the hallway, watching Jesse, Lukas, and Ivor with cold eyes. Maya and Gill stood nearby, both members of the Blaze Rods fiddling with their jackets. It was the second or third time during watching this whole thing in which all of them felt the weight of the silence.

Silence shouldn't ever be so loud.

Finally, Jesse decided to break it, speaking up in a weak little voice. "So, um... how are you guys doing?" This she directed to Maya and Gill.

The Blaze Rods looked up, exchanged a look with each other, and looked away again.

Jesse waited. They stood there. Jesse waited. They stood there.

Finally, Maya let out an annoyed sigh and lifted her head, just as the spider hybrid opened her mouth again. The only female member of the Blaze Rods wasn't looking anywhere in Jesse's direction when she addressed her. "Look, we're not friends. We don't get along whatsoever. Don't try to get on our good sides just so Aiden or the Founder might lighten your sentence."

Maya groaned wordlessly and buried her head in her hands in embarrassment.

"What?" Jesse asked, blinking.

This made both Blaze Rods look at her. Maya looked annoyed, but... there was the slightest inkling of surprise in her expression. "Isn't that what you're doing?" Maya asked, still sharply but a bit more gently.

"No... it's just... I saw Aiden pushing you guys around the other day, and... I just wanted to make sure you're alright?" Jesse trailed off, sounding as if she was asking a question.

Real-Aiden remained silent, staring at the screen dully.

Gill huffed, shifting. "We're fine. End of story. I mean, I spoke out of turn one time when we were talking to the Founder and he-" His expression suddenly contorted into one of pain as he leaned against the wall, jerking away and grabbing his shoulder with a grunt. Maya reached out and put a grounding hand on his other shoulder, looking concerned.

"Are you alright?" Lukas asked, seemingly despite himself.

"It's fine. Bruised it up a bit when Aiden shoved me. Maybe dislo- ouch," and Gill's grimace turned into a wince. "Maya's fine. She didn't get any injuries or any- ouch!"

Aiden felt as though he'd swallowed a rock.

"You dislocated your arm?" Jesse spoke again, frowning. "And you're still moving it around?"

"It's-" Gill winced again, "fine."

Jesse glanced at Reginald, but the Captain of the Guard was looking at the door and checking if Aiden and the others were done. Jesse turned to Gill, lips pressed together in concern. "I mean, if your arm is dislocated, I can wrap it up or something so you're not moving it around so m-"

"I'm fine!" the Blaze Rod snapped at her, making Jesse flinch back a step. Gill maintained a glare at her for a moment before it fell off his face and he stepped back, gradually removing his hand from his shoulder. "I'm fine. Don't talk to me anymore. I'll get in trouble if Aiden-" He stopped himself, exchanging a look with Maya, before falling silent.

Jesse stared at Gill for a moment, before looking at Ivor. "Ivor," she said lightly, "hypothetically, would you have a healing potion for an injury? You know, like if I dislocated my shoulder or got a nasty bruise?"

Several pairs of eyes flickered to glance at Jesse's back automatically.

The potionologist blinked, before a faint smile twitched the corners of his lips upwards. "Why yes, Jesse. It'd be enough to completely heal it as long as the person who got injured didn't do anything extremely physical for the next... oh, five minutes or so, at most."

Onscreen-Gill and Maya had forgotten to stop avoiding their gaze and were staring at Jesse as if she'd grown two extra sets of arms.

Oh, wait.

"Hm, I see. Could I have a look at this potion? You know, just to see what it looks like," Jesse continued, still in that light, casual tone.

Onscreen-Lukas's lips were twitching a bit at this light, casual byplay, although he still looked rather annoyed with the other Blaze Rods. He couldn't help chiming in. "Yes, we all know how much Jesse loves studying potions. It never hurts to have a bit of review, does it?" he asked, also in this light, casual tone that Jesse smiled at.

The audience was now starting to grin at the playful conversation.

"Of course." Ivor reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle with a pale green liquid inside. "After all, practice makes- whoops!" And he 'accidentally' dropped it, the bottle landing on his conveniently placed foot and rolling off harmlessly. Jesse 'accidentally' kicked it over to Lukas, who was nearest to the other two Blaze Rods, and the ocelot hybrid 'accidentally' knocked it over to Gill with his tail.

"Oh no. The Blaze Rods confiscated it," Ivor stated, in a voice that sounded remarkably deadpan.

Half the audience couldn't help it anymore and let out an amused snort at that.

Gill kept staring at the group in confusion, Maya looking startled. Ivor cleared his throat. "I said, oh no. The Blaze Rods confiscated it," he repeated, shooting the bottle at their feet a look, and then making eye contact with them.

Now most of the audience was in a fit of giggles.

Maya quickly scooped up the bottle and handed it to Gill, the Blaze Rod giving the Hybrid Order a grateful look and quickly swallowing the potion. Jesse gave him a small smile and turned around to face Reginald- just in time to catch the scrutinizing look the Captain of the Guard was giving her. She arched her eyebrow at him a little bit, but he just turned away and pushed open the door. "Come on in- the Founder's ready for you."

The Blaze Rods led the way in, Gill making sure to keep from moving too energetically, before Reginald marched into the room, the other two guards taking up their positions behind the three members of the Hybrid Order, who quickly moved into position, the amusement from the little scene just now fading into trepidation as they followed Reginald into the throne room.


A/N: Fun fact; did you guys know that back in Chapter 81, the word 'PHANTASMAGORIA' is an actual word? I was actually basing it off a song (if you find the song, quote the first lyric to let me know that you found it), but I didn't know it was an actual word. Cool! x3

Hoh boy, this took a while. The Blaze Rods get more of a role in this than they did in the original Hybrid. Also, there may or may not be bit more Friendly (ONLY FRIENDLY) Jaiden. (Or Aidesse. I just prefer Jaiden. Also, I'm saying 'may' because I ain't sure yet. Like at all.)

RQTC: Does anyone want to hear about this comic series I'm going to start making in a few years? (Why in a few years? Planning takes a sh*tton of time. Also, too much character and story development.)

homeworkoverload: Oh, hi! / (laughs) Don't worry, I did the first time I watched Markimoo play the game. / Well, too freaking bad. It's your hair. You can do whatever you want with it. (Oh god, don't show this to your friend please xD)

RapidSammi: To each their own :3 / Cool!

sailor . mikuchan: 'Genre'. / Ahhhh (nods) Cool. I made up a creepypasta once. xD

pensuka: ... or... maybe not xD

LunarStarsMoons: I KNOW, RIGHT? / Yep xD / (nods) I see. / (nods) Cool. Luktra is a neutral for me. Like, I could see it happening, but I don't actively ship it. Did that make sense? / Heehee, yep x3

NinaNaranja: Ahhhh. xD I can't handle either. / Yep! Special in (checks) 7 chapters!

LittleAngelbun: Ooh, you play tennis? / (laughs) Well, I mean, considering I still remember Nohr, and Calvin, and characters like that off the top of my head since I write fanfiction, like, everyday.

AquaK13: Yep xD / Mm-hm :3 / Wait, what, really? I didn't ever see that. How do you get it? (anime eyes) / I don't want to see Eyes. I never want to see Eyes. (walks away) / (cracks up) Nice. / No problem! I'm surprised I even have this many, tbh xD / Oh, I didn't- oh! (facepalms) I'm sorry, I thought I did! / Bai!

Emily The Avenger: Yeah, I'm planning on writing an MCSM x FNaF crossover xD After this very long story is done. / (runs away from the creepypastas)

CrystalTearsofFaith: Mmmm, I see your point. / (nods) Yeah, there's one creepypasta with Nurse Joy that I read. The author definitely made it work.

Guest: Ah xD / Good luck! (This is a bit late, but good luck!) / Well, good luck on your state tests!

the indecisive bird: Mmhm x3 / Yeah xD very telling indeed. / :3 / Yeah, yeah, exactly! It's worse when I read stories, though. My brain makes the image in my head and it's more terrifying than clusters of holes. (Like I mentioned before, I'm trypophobic. So clusters of holes are terrifying to me.)

RavenBlaze4850: I decided to make the Blaze Rods somewhat decent xD Well, you know, except for Aiden, but Aiden's Aiden. / (laughs) / Ahhhhhh. Sorry. xD /Oooh, can you share some MCSM creepypastas with me? I only know about one so far.

SofiaTheWriter88: A censored one xD / Ohhh, I know 'Ib'. That sounds kinda cool. / Actually, FNAF and TattleTail are the ones I CAN handle, along with Bendy and the Ink Machine. The fan songs that have been made just kinda eliminate the scariness for me xD / Do you want to read mine? Mine's not that scary. It's just there to get the idea out of my head, since I'm a scaredy cat.

Darkbeast Dend: Lol dude, your username came out as 'DarkbReast Dend' xD / Bat hybrid. Bats are cool. / Ahh, I'm sorry :/ Good luck!

x.X. A.L. X.x