It wasn't until the next day that their Journey finally began. The Squad shifted the Beacon to Land traversal mode to ride alongside the sisters Caravan and Convoy, and posted themselves on good guarding spots to better their chances of enemy attack. It was during their beginning of the travel to Ransei that they got to know each sister better.
Chacha, the oldest sister, was said to have been the love affection to Lord Hideyoshi and is the only one who knows of combat, using her own hair pin as the weapon.
Hatsu, the middle child, is very used to seeing otherworlders and has a great knowledge of what lies in Ransei and the traveling 18 kingdoms parallel to Ransei, ruled by pokemon themselves.
Oeyo, the youngest, is still very young, around at least 6 years old. She does not have strength or knowledge but instead focuses on her own amusement instead of taking part in serious matters. She is curious about what is unknown to her though.
"So you three never really knew your family." Hope said. "I mean, the one you were born into."
"Not really. Were the last surviving members of our branch of rule." Hatsu said.
"So, youre from Metal Town and youre related to Ginova?" Oyeo asked.
"Yeah, its kinda really hard to explain my past." Hope said.
"Come to think of it, a lot of the color fighters we've met have interesting backstories." Sonia said.
"I know, right? There's Volts father being murdered by Barry and him being a Skyian, Geminas mining days for example." Ibuki said.
"And just recently, Hope found out that Celtic was born in a place where all four seasons converged, right before he got himself a date!" Hiyoko said.
"Hiyoko, are you saying that Hope didnt have the guts to get a girlfriend?" Ibuki asked.
"He always messes up with Girls, and he always gets himself hurt." Hiyoko said.
"Stop it already, Hiyoko. This time, it actually worked out, and i got myself a girl like Odd and Flux. And she's joining the team so i can help her find that place, right Cel?" Hope asked.
"Oh. Certainly." Celti said.
"So, you've been to a lot of strange places right, Mr. Hope." Oeyo asked.
"Yeah, i've been all over the universe. Seen some weird stuff, met a guy who's been by my side, and kicked some villainous butt along the way. Flux's especially, but i dont think im doing that anymore now that hes….ahem… turned good guy corporate." Hope said.
"You're talking about how he's turned over a new leaf. It had to happen eventually. You can't make an honest living being a villain forever." Hatsu said.
"Yeah. He's nice. Though he's never actually been to our universe to help. Guess he thinks its impossible due to all the conflicts that break out in many different worlds in our section of the universe." Chacha said.
"Yeah, when you're breeding the stories of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and basically any other game made by Koei Tecmo, it can be rough." Hope said.
"Your words are very strange. But somewhat accurate." Hatsu said.
"See? Im strange, but right." Hope said. "Its weird though that you girls are okay with my true identity when i was impersonating Ranmaru back at the palace."
"Universes work in strange ways. Sometimes, those who live in one who as seen your counterpart before may think youre the same as the one they've seen." Chacha said.
"I see." Hope said.
They traveled along the West Road for awhile before Riku asked a question.
"What can you tell us about the Gang who opposes the New Universe Order here?" Riku asked.
"We've already met the one in the Future Universe, The Cyber Punks." Hope said.
"We don't know a lot about them. But, all we know is that they're people who hate the fact that the universes are connected now through strange means and want things to go back to the way before when they were separated." Hatsu said.
"They aren't like big time criminals or anything. But they are radicals who will do anything to try and get segregation back once again." Chacha said.
"They might want to make a statement by taking you girls as Hostages. Which is why they hired us." Fuyuhiko said.
"Yeah, and let's not forget were still in the middle of the Promotion Trials. We may have Dodged a Bullet by freeing all the bugs Hive set to track us with, but he may know were here, as well as a few others he fed info too. If other Color Fighters come on this Journey, we'll risk putting you three in danger." Korra said.
As they were travelling, from the forests watched several pairs of eyes as well as Hive as he opened a container. "Go and stop them, my friends." Hive said as out flew a swarm of bees as they flew right towards the caravan.
"BEES!" Kazuichi said.
"Its Hive! He found us already!" Hope said.
"How can you be so sure its Bug Boy?" Korra asked.
"I dunno, maybe because bees are showing up outta nowhere with no beehives in sight?" Hope asked.
"Yeah, good point." Gemini said before she heard neighing. "Are those….horses?" she said before she saw several men on horses riding towards them.
"Its a Cavalry Raid!" Hatsu said.
"You think its the Gang we were talking about before?" Hope said.
"I'd suspect it is. Now we have to fight them and this swarm." Peko said.
"And how do we do that?" Akane asked.
"Well when dealing with Bees, the best strategies involve using Smoke. That makes me tired." Hope said.
"Or we could just let Gundham handle em." Akane said.
"That wont work. Any type of insect Hive uses only obey him. Gundams talents would be pointless." Celti said. "But for them to attack so fast, that means he's nearby."
"He might be in the forest, but where exactly?" Hope asked.
"Guess there's no point in hiding. Dragonfly Wings!" Hive said as he zoomed out of the forest trees with long dragonfly wings on his back.
"There you are!" Akane said.
"Hey, thanks for sticking all those bugs in our ship! We almost freezed to death because of you!" Kazuichi said.
"You freezed my friends? Now I really am going to beat you." Hive said flying right at them. "Twin Stingers." he said as his arms transformed into bee stingers. "Stinger Volley!" he shouted firing them like bullets as they pierced through the ship and the caravan.
"Yow, hes feisty!" Hope said.
"What's his deal, all i said was that we almost froze to death because of him!" Kazuichi said.
"You insult him, you insult the insects he breeds." Celti said.
"But why the heck is he so obsessed with em?" Ibuki asked, evading more stingers.
"From what I remember, his parents were Entomologists, as in they studied insects. He grew up loving them even up to the day they disappeared." Celti said. "Insects are his life so if you mess with them, you mess with him. That's why we're cautious when it comes to bugs that get inside the temple."
"And you didnt think of telling us this before we turned the Air Conditioning way up?" Hiyoko asked.
"You didn't ask." Celti said.
"No time to argue, guys. The bees are circling us, slowing the enemy Cavalry down. We take out hive first, then we deal with the Brigands." Hope said.
"Now that, is a plan." Korra said.
"Remember, we are to only fight any other fighters into Submission. No killing, or else were disqualified." Sonia said.
"Yeah, but Hopes also a master pick. If Hive beats him, were disqualified, and he takes his spot." Fuyuhiko said.
"So fight like your lives depend on it, but don't kill him!" Hope said rolling out of the way of another stinger. "First, we gotta ground him!"
"That means getting rid of his wings. I'm on it!" Korra said. She started Earthbending and formed stone walls that hindered Hives flight path.
"Whatcha gonna do now?" Korra asked.
"Beetle's Horn!" he shouted as a rhino beetle's horn sprouted from his forehead as he demolished the walls.
"Well that was a bad idea." Korra said. "Wait! Almost every type of bug cant stand water. Lets try this!"
Korra used the water from her supply and lashed a tendril of it out at Hive, trapping him in a bubble.
"And just to be sure…" Korra said transmuting it into ice instantly.
"NIce work! You took the advantages of bugs weakness to water and cold effectively, neutralizing his wings and weakening him!" Hope said.
"Bombardier Ant's Feelers!" Hive's voice shouted as the ice cocoon exploded.
"Seriously, how many Insect Parts does this guy have?" Kazuichi said.
"There are millions of Insects out there, Soda. He may have all of them in his body." Gundham said.
"But Hive has a limit. He got rid of his stingers and wings to get the feelers. He can only use three insect species at a time." Celti said.
"Oh, i get it." Korra said.
"I can still beat all of you." Hive said.
"Bring it on Bug Boy, i'm still packing two elements to beat you with." Korra said cracking her hands.
"She used Water and Earth already, what good will Fire and Air do?" Hatsu asked.
"Just watch." Hope said.
"Very well. I'm ready. Mantis Scythe's!" Hive said transforming his arms into scythes.
"Finally going up close and personal eh? Bring it!" Korra said as Hive charged trying to cut at her before she blew Hive back with an air burst as he slid across the ground by the air.
"Impossible… they said you couldn't use Airbending at all!" Hive said.
"You really gotta pay more attention to things other than bugs. Cause i just got the use of Airbending and before that was Firebending!" Korra said breathing fire at Hive.
"Gah!" Hive shouted trying to put himself out. "I give up! Dragonfly wings!" he shouted before flying away.
"Yeah, you better run! Mess with Hope, you mess with the Avatar!" Korra said.
"Nice work, Korra." Hope said.
"He knows not to mess with us now. But its likely he'll go after the other master Picks though." Nekomaru said.
"Drakes to High Level for Hive. So apart from me, it would be either Jexi, Volt or Duplica." Hope said.
As soon as Hive Retreated, the bees fell back too. Leaving the Cavalry open to attack them.
"And now for problem number 2." Hope said as the Armored Cavalry stopped in front of them. "And who sent you guys?"
"Most likely...sent by the Sanada Clan. They are the ones who oppose all of this." Hatsu said.
"Are you riders of the Sanada Clan?" Hope asked the armored unit.
"We are." one said.
"I would have a word with your leader, whoever that may be." Hope said.
"Don't worry. He's already coming towards for the princesses." the grunt said as an armored man with resemblance to Zoro rode towards them.
"Yukimura Sanada." Hatsu said.
Yukimura stopped in front of them.
"So the Sanada Clan wants the Universes back the way they were before. And Capturing the Princesses is your plan to try and make it happen?" Sonia asked Yukimura.
"Yes. As the leader of this army, I will spread my rule throughout all of Japan and Ransei!" Yukimura said.
"This army? You mean the Sanada Clan has more than one unit we have to defeat?" Hsien-Ko asked.
"Much more. 100,000 men strong and increasing." Yukimura said. "But, I don't need any of them to take the ladies of the Azai Clan. Sasuke!" he ordered.
They were surprised when the three were already taken by a ninja who bore a resemblance to Sora.
"I have them!" he said.
"You let them go, or youre gonna get one heck of an ass-kicking!" Akane said before Yukimura pointed a spear at her.
"You do not frighten me. My demands are simple. Cancel all connections outside of our universe or the ladies will be executed." Yukimura said.
"We cant do that. I wanted a world where the universes were united, free of inter twining conflict. Im the one who wanted this, i used the Universal Core!" Hope said.
Yukimura stared at Hope for a bit before retracting his weapon. "Release the women."
"But, my lord…" a soldier said.
"I will not kill someone who is willing to sacrifice themselves." Yukimura said.
"Its nice to see that all clans still have honor in them." Hope said. "Im sorry i brought this ideal to you, Lord Yukimura. But i'd die before id let the universes be separated again."
"You might be able to change places, but you cannot change the ideals of the people." Yukimura said before he rode off with his soldiers.
"Wow. thats pretty cool, what you did." korra said.
"Gotta live up to what you've accomplished. I think i've learned that from Flux." Hope said.
"This wont stop the other parts of the Sanada Army though. They'll keep attacking, until we are captured." Hatsu said.
"And there still may be more fighters like Hive coming." Chacha said.
"No matter what comes after us, we're gonna protect you to the end of this journey." Hope said. "Thats our duty as heroes!"