Chapter 33: Scream of the Banshee
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad all of you enjoyed my Halloween Special. But now I'm back with new chapters. Sorry this one took a while. Had to figure some things out. I'd also like to thank masters123lfm for one idea for this chapter. Hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves in the Mysticon headquarters where Piper and Em were singing karaoke.
Like Dragon fire into the night
Magic arrows flying to the left and the right
Golden hoops spinning
Before they could continue Zarya unplugs their machine turning off the music.
"Zarya is a fun ruiner." Piper said.
"Yeah, what's with the karaoke killing? Karaoke Killer." Em asks as Arkayna and Ryou walked in.
"You're lucky Musa doesn't get back until tomorrow or she'd be mad hearing you sing her competition," Arkayna said.
"Please Gnomes to Men isn't even competition anymore. They're just a bunch of dancing hairstyles." Zarya said.
"You did not just dis their Quaffs." Em gasps.
"A Karaoke Killer and a Quaff hater? What does Ryou see in you?" Piper said.
"Hey, we're past this remember?" Ryou reminds.
"Seriously though? Karaoke when Necrafa is on the verge of releasing the Spectral Dragon?" Zarya asks.
"We had to send Proxima to another dimension to keep her safe. Besides you don't see the original Mysticons singing." Ryou said when Rosa floated in.
"Hey what happened to the music?" Rosa asks.
"Rosa aside. We got it hard. We tried taking it easy on Nightmare Night and we ended up dealing with 5 evil witches." Ryou reminds.
"Yes things are tense but that's why we need a little distraction." Em said when suddenly an alarm went off.
"Speaking of distraction," Rosa said.
"The palace alarm!" Akryana gasps.
"Alright girls suit up!" Ryou said.
As they donned their Mysticon wear they rush to the palace to see Gawayne waiting for them but his mouth still had the stitches from when Winfired sewn his mouth shut.
"Mysticons thank the stars you're here," Gawayne said.
"What's the emergency?" Arkayna asks.
"Frenimes now is the time we must band together and protect our greatest treas—" Before he could finish his mouth was sewn shut and he started to mumble.
"Protect what?" Arkayana said unsure what he said.
"I said…" Gawayne said in a muffled tone.
"I'm sorry but uh…" Piper said gesturing to his mouth.
Opening his mouth wide Gawayne briefly snapped the strings sealing his mouth shut.
"Protect our greatest treasures," Gawayne said showing two posters. One of Musa and the other was Lance O'Lovely. "Musa and Lance O'Lovely."
"Lance O'Lovely?" Piper gasps.
"Former lead singer of Gnomes to Men?" Em gasps.
"They're performing here tomorrow night and you're on bodyguard duty." Gawayne orders.
"Are you serious right now?" Ryou deadpans.
"We're the Mysticons," Arkayna said.
"You want us to protect pop stars?" Zarya asks while Piper and Em were squealing at the opportunity.
"Sadly he was insistent on it." Walking in we see Tecna with her civilian wear.
Seeing a familiar face they all smiled but had to keep that part a secret.
"Ah yes. This is Musa's manager Tecna so everything she says you—" Before Gawayne could finish the spell sewn his mouth shut again making him mumble in frustration.
"Uh what in the?" Tecna cringed as Gawayne struggled to cut his mouth free.
"Dragon Mage I demand as the leader of the Mysticons your second top priority is to remove my curse." Gawayne orders.
"Sorry your majesty but I'm not the leader right now," Arkayna said.
"Then who is?" Gawayne asks.
"For the time being. I am." Ryou declares.
"Ah put the man in charge. Smart move ladies." Gawayne said moving closer. "You know leadership is clearly a man's job, right? Having girls in charge just always leads to problems."
"Uh…if you say so." Ryou said as Arakyana growled wanting to get him for that one.
"I mean with a failure like Dragon Mage in charge I don't blame you for taking charge. After all when I took control my people definitely liked that better." Gawayne said as Arkayna grinded her teeth in anger but Ryou just shook his head.
"Oh please can we kill him? He's practically begging for it." Demon Ryou begs.
'We're on thin ice as it is. Even if he does deserve it.' Ryou thought.
As Gawayne was about to go on the curse activated and sewed his mouth shut again.
Struggling to pry it free Gawayne gasps for air.
"How long until you can remove this curse?" Gawayne asks.
"Uh I don't know your majesty this is some old Dark Magic. Dragon Mage how long do you think it'll take us?" Ryou asks looking at her with a smirk.
"I don't know maybe a few weeks? A month?" Arkayna theorizes.
"Fingers crossed a month," Zarya smirks.
"What?! Some leader you are. You're as lousy as the—" Before Gawayne could finish the curse sealed his mouth shut again.
"Come on Mysticons. Let's go ask Musa's tech manager. See if anything dangerous could happen on stage." Ryou said as they walked out.
Once they closed the doors Tecna looked at her friends.
"Is it really gonna take you guys a month to fix that curse?" Tecna asks.
"Of course not. We figured that thing out days ago." Ryou said.
"We're just putting it off because we like Gawayne not being able to talk as much." Arkayna smirks.
Hearing this Tecna couldn't help but giggle. "I missed you guys."
"Aw come here," Piper said giving her a hug.
"So we're really protecting Lance huh? What do you protect a Popstar from? Screaming girls?" Zarya asks.
Little did they know in an abandoned studio Lance's song was playing in the background before a loud scream echoed and an axe-shaped guitar slashed through the speaker.
The next day we find ourselves in Ryou's mind as he was sitting with Demon Ryou.
"So basically, we're guarding another girl in your life huh?" Demon Ryou said making him blush.
"What? No Musa's just a friend. She's got to keep her cover." Ryou assures.
"Yeah, you said the same thing about Zarya, Piper, and Sophie. Now you're dating all of them. Face it, friend zone for you is basically future girlfriend zone." Demon Ryou said.
"You really are evil." Ryou glares.
"Hey you forget? I'm part of you." Demon Ryou chuckles.
"Hard to forget." Ryou mumbles.
"Meaning there's also a part of you that wants to get yourself a big harem of lovely ladies." Demon Ryou teases.
"Stop talking!" Ryou yells making him burst into laughter.
"Oh take a chill pill I'm just messing with you." Demon Ryou snickers wiping a tear from his eye. "I'm allowed to have some fun, aren't I?"
Ryou was about to snap at him when at the last second, he realized something and paused.
"What? Giving me the silent treatment? What is it?" Demon Ryou asks.
"I just realized…do you even have a name?" Ryou asks.
"What are you talking about? Of course, I have a name. I'm you ding-a-ling." Demon Ryou said.
"That's just it though. You are me, but at the same time, you're not me. You're different. So maybe I should give you one." Ryou said.
"You want to give me a name?" Demon Ryou said surprised.
"Hmm let's see." Pausing Ryou tried to think of something. "How about…Ryoga?"
"Ryoga?" He tilted his head. "Why that one? Change a few words and it's Ryou."
"Exactly. It's like me but different. Just like you. What do you think Ryoga?"
"Ryoga. Well, I don't hate it. Definitely could be called worse." He admits.
"Ryoga it is." Ryou chuckles.
Little did Ryou know a soft smile appeared on Ryoga's face. Even though he didn't show it, he really liked having his own name.
Later that day, we find ourselves at the concert.
And Musa was the opening act.
I-I-I I love the music,
I I-I-I I feel like I'm dreaming,
I I-I-I I'm right where I wanna be,
Come on, everybody, sing it now!
I, I-I-I, I (Everybody, sing it now!)
I, I-I-I, I (Everybody, sing it now!)
I, I-I-I, I won't let the good times roll.
Wuoh-oh-oh (Everybody, sing it now!)
I I-I-I I love the music,
I I-I-I I feel like I'm dreaming,
I I-I-I I'm right where I wanna be,
Come on, everybody, sing it with me!
Striking a pose, the crowd went wild for her.
"Whoo! Go Musa!" Ryou cheers.
"Now that's Pop Music." Zarya said.
"When did she come up with that one?" Arkayna asks.
"She found time to write while we were traveling around." Tecna said walking out in her spy outfit.
"Why are you wearing that?" Piper asks.
"You didn't let you guys have all the fun did I?" Tecna smirks.
As Musa walked backstage, she crossed paths with Lance.
"Nice job warming the crowd up, but did you have to stutter so much? You're lucky no one laughed at you for that." Lance mocks.
"That's how the song was supposed to go, Lance. At least I bothered to come up with a new one. Still using all the ones from your old band?" Musa counters.
"Why change what's already perfect?" Lance smirks.
"If you're so perfect why is most of the audience my fans?" Musa said making Lance glare.
As she walked past him Lance growls.
"We'll see who has more fans by the end of this," Lance mutters.
When Lance got on stage, the crowd and Doug went wild.
"3 foot nothing but he feels so free!" Doug screams before fainting.
When the song ended Medium Medusa walked up stage.
"That was a sneak preview before the big concert tonight. So Lance how does it feel to be singing solo?" Medusa asks.
"It feels great Medusa. It was hard to 86 my bros but a gnome's gotta do what a gnome's gotta do." Lance said when Gawayne steps on stage with Musa right behind him.
"And so does a king. Which is why I personally arranged for these two to have a concert tonight at the palace." Gawayne declares as the crowd cheers and Doug slowly regained consciousness.
"Thanks your highness, but are you concerned at all for Lance and Musa's safety with all the evil out there?" Medusa asks.
"Necrafa? Tazma? The Trix? All the Spectorssss?" A snake hisses.
"No because I personally hired the Mysticons and Seekers yo," Gawayne said as the curtain pulled back revealing the 6 of them.
Little did they know the dark figure from the music studio was creeping around.
"By the power of the codex we will protect…Lance O'Lovely." Em squeals saying the name.
As Lance winks at her Em lets out another squeal.
"Seriously? He's not even that good." Tecna mutters.
"Well, we look forward to hearing you both sing tonight. And uh can I get your autographs?" Medusa asks.
"Sure," Musa said going first. "To my favorite News Anchor," Musa said signing it.
"Oh my thank you." Medusa said.
"Here let me give you a real signature," Lance said signing over Musa.
"To my favorite fan?!" Medusa squeals running off stage.
"Has this whole city gone crazy?" Zarya asks.
"No this is just what people are like when they're around celebrities," Musa said walking over to them.
"Another reason for these things," Tecna said gesturing to her mask.
"It's good to have you back Musa," Piper said.
"Good to be back. Once this concert is over I can go back to being a Seeker for a while," Musa said when Ryou noticed the guitar on her back.
"So what's that all about?" Ryou points.
"New surprise I picked up on our last mission. Can't wait to show it to you guys." Musa said.
While Musa was chatting with friends Doug ran on stage and right to Lance.
"Can I get your autograph too?" Doug pulls up his shirt to reveal a Lance tattoo causing him to cringe. "What? It's for a friend."
Shrugging Lance signed it.
"To my favorite fan?" Doug squeals before fainting again.
"Everyone is his favorite fan?" Zarya raised an eyebrow.
"Can't even come up with a new autograph quote?" Tecna mutters.
"Hey don't hate on Lance just because he has a big heart." Em said.
"Yeah, he makes every one of his fans feel special," Piper said.
"Trust me it's probably just a scam to get more fans," Musa said.
"A scam? Lance worked hard. He sang his way out of the streets to fame and fortune with nothing but his mic and golden silky voice." Em said.
"Overexaggerating much?" Ryou said.
However, their train of thought was interrupted by loud noises.
"Commotion yo!" Lance said pointing to a figure in a trench coat running through the crowd.
"Move in! Stop them!" Ryou orders as the Mysticons summoned their weapons.
As the figure ran through the crowd, the Mysticons went on the attack forcing the figure to raise a case to block it.
Moving in Em tackles Lance while Tecna moves Musa out of the way.
Drawing her sword, Em blasts the figure to the ground.
"Good shot Mysticon Knight," Arkayna said as Ryou pulled off the hat to reveal Mama Calamari.
"Mama Calamari?" Ryou said confused.
"I just had a special delivery for Lance." She said pointing to her case. "An extra spicy sky pie."
"Okay, that is not how you should deliver pizzas," Musa said looking at the case.
"Yeah and you know you could have delivered this in a less suspicious way," Piper said.
"For instance, lose the coat next time and say Pizza delivery. That usually helps." Tenca said as Zarya opens the case to see a pizza shaped like Lance's face with a salad and breadsticks.
"Uh is that his face?" Zarya pauses unsure.
"Aw look at his cute anchovy smile," Piper said as Lance took a piece.
"Oh man I am loving the Sky Pies," Lance said.
"Lance O'Lovely loves my Za!" Mama Calamari smiles.
"Uh, you guys are supposed to be protecting me. Not attack my fans yo." Lance points out.
"You were the one who warned us about her," Ryou said when Em stepped up.
"We are so sorry Lance. Won't happen again." Em apologizes.
Ryou and Musa however were not fans of this one bit.
"Great. Now let's go my fans are waiting." Lance said.
In the back, the dark figure was growling in anger at the sight of Lance.
As they continued the tour around the city, Lance was loving all the attention and Em seemed much more eager than the others when it came to protecting Lance and even photobombing his pictures.
Soon they were in Centaur Park, and Lance was posing for a picture with some fairies.
"Being famous is awesome yo," Lance said while Musa just rolled her eyes.
"And I thought you were conceited," Zarya said looking at Arkayna who playfully shoves.
"It's nice to know you don't let the fame go to your head," Ryou said looking at Musa.
"Yeah well unlike some singers who only care about being famous. I didn't get into this for the fame. I got into it because I love music and I wanted to share it with other people." Musa said.
"I can respect that," Ryou said.
"Plus she has a friend to keep her grounded." Tecna hints.
Lance however was not a fan of Musa's response.
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by the sound of hooves.
"I don't believe it! Lance O'Lovely?! And Musa?!" Tiberius said as he and his group of centaurs charged in.
"Oh no, not these guys again." Tecna gulps.
"We should get you out of here." Em said moving towards Lance.
"Yeah Centaurs are pretty intense." Piper agrees.
"We love you!" Tiberius declares as they charged in.
"We should probably get out of here. Run!" Ryou yells as they made a break for it.
With the centaurs hot on their tail, they reach a fork in the path.
"Quick this way!" Tecna points.
As they moved towards the right path, Musa accidentally bumps into Lance causing him to drop his golden microphone.
"Lance!" Em gasps running to his side.
"Dragon Mage we need cover." Ryou orders.
"On it." Using her staff, Arkayna made an illusion appear around them making the centaurs only see a bush in their place.
"Where did they go?!" Tiberius said as they ran off down the left path.
Undoing the spell, the Mysticons and Seekers looked to see if the coast was clear.
"Phew quick thinking back there." Piper smiles.
"Is everyone alright?" Tecna asks when Lance gasps realizing he had dropped his microphone.
"My mic! Oh no, I must have dropped it." Lance said before looking at Musa. "You did this! You knew how much that mic meant to me and you thought if I lost it, you could be number 1!" He accuses.
"Musa I can't believe you." Em gasps.
"Hey, it was an accident. I didn't mean to." Musa said defensively.
"Oh, sure. You act all nice and innocent but really you're just a selfish diva out for yourself!" Lance points.
"Hey!" Moving in between them, Ryou grabs Lance's hand. "She said it was an accident. Instead of playing the blame game why don't you go find your stupid microphone?" Ryou said shoving him back.
"Tactician is right. We need to find it." Em agrees.
"You have the shield. You keep an eye on Lance and Musa. We'll look for the mic." Arkayna said as she, Zarya, Piper, Choko, Ryou, and Tecna spread out.
"Come on micey. Come out come out wherever you are." Piper calls out.
"What's so special about this mic anyway?" Zarya asks.
"Lance recorded his first album with it at Sound Lair Studios. It's his good luck charm." Em said.
"And now it's gone yo," Lance said.
"It's still no excuse for how you treated Musa," Ryou said.
"Whatever. I need to find it now." Lance said running off.
"Hey get back here!" Musa said running after him.
"Wait! Come back!" Em yells.
As Musa looks around for Lance's mic something approached her.
"Huh?" Turning around a bright light blasted Musa causing her to scream before she was silenced.
"Musa!" Tecna and Ryou gasped.
Coming out from behind some bushes, Lance sees Musa laying on the ground unconscious with his mic near her.
"Oh thank the stars. I found her and my mic." Lance said reaching for the mic.
But before he could something came out of the trees. It looked like a girl with black hair covering her eyes, a purple feather boa, and a black rock-style outfit.
Shrieking it glared at Musa before turning to Lance.
"You!" Lance gasps.
"What is that?" Em gasps.
"Musa!" Tecna points to their unconscious friend.
Releasing a sonic shriek at them the girl knocks them to the ground before grabbing Lance and the mic and taking off into the air.
"Help me!" Lance yells.
"Lance!" Em panics.
Whistling for Topaz, Em climbs on and flies after them.
"Musa, are you okay speaking to me?" Ryou asks helping her up.
Slowly waking up Musa looks at Ryou and instantly his eyes widen in horror.
Flying through the streets of Drake City, Lance was panicking as the girl was taking him to who knows where.
"Oh, man! Where are my bodyguards yo?!" Taking out his glyph Lance tried to make a call. "This is Lance O'Lovely and I'd like to report an abduction!"
Turning around the girl shrieked at Lance blasting the glyph out of his hands as Em flew in.
"Mysticon Knight! Save me!" Lance yells.
"Hang on Lance! I'm coming!" Em calls out.
Turning around the girl shrieks at Em.
Raising her shield, Em tries to reflect the attack but the force knocks her off her griffin.
Flying around Topaz scoops up Em and continues the chase.
"Yo!" Lance screams as they flew towards an alley.
"Dead end." Em said eager to catch them but to her surprise, the girl creates a dark portal on the brick wall and flies through it with Lance before closing it.
"By the Hammer of Harmon!" As Topaz came to a sudden stop Em was flung out of her saddle and crashed to the ground. If it wasn't for her barrier, that would have hurt.
"Lance." Looking in horror, Em had failed to protect him.
Meeting up with Em in the alley, Musa tried to speak to them but no words came out of her mouth.
"What do you mean she can't speak?" Em asks.
"We think that thing that attacked Lance stole Musa's voice," Tecna said.
"How is that even possible?" Piper asks.
"I don't know. I've never encountered magic like this before." Tecna said.
Frowning Musa wanted to help but without her voice, she couldn't do much. She couldn't even summon Titans.
"Hey don't worry Musa. I promise we'll get your voice back." Ryou assures.
Smiling softly, she was happy to have her friend's support.
"This is all my fault." Em said.
"No arguments here," Zarya said.
"Not helping." Arkayna scolds.
"I feel like such a Nini Hammer." Em groans when they heard a loud horn.
Turning around Gawayne's limo almost run them over before coming to a stop.
"Gawayne," Arkayna growls as he stepped.
"What the heck was that? You almost ran us over." Ryou said.
You Nini—" Before Gawayne could insult them his mouth was sewn shut before he started bashing them with his mouth shut.
"What?" Tecna said confused.
"We can't understand you! Your mouth." Piper gestures.
Growling in frustration, Gawayne struggled to pry his mouth free.
"Where has this curse been my whole life?" Arkayna mutters as Gawayne gasped for air.
"I gave you one job! How do you let Lance get kidnapped and Musa lose her voice?!" Gawayne snaps.
"Back off!" Arakyna said.
"We'll fix this," Zarya said.
"Yeah well, you better. The concert is in two hours and all of Drake City expects him on stage and her to be able to sing tonight." Gawayne said.
"Just cancel the concert," Arkayna suggests.
"Sure let's cancel the one thing that was supposed to bring hope to the citizens. After you unleashed Necrafa on the realm." Gawayne blames them before turning to Ryou. "You suck worse at being a Leader than she did. Talk about path—" Before Gawayne could finish his mouth was sewn shut again.
"And people have the nerve to call you and me monsters?! This fatso is the worst! Please can we kill him?" Ryoga begs.
'He's not even worth the time.' Ryou thought. "Hey instead of wasting our time why don't you beat it and let us find them," Ryou said as Gawayne cut the stitches again.
"Whatever. Just bring the Gnome home yo!" Gawayne said before slamming the door shut and his limo drove away.
"Whatever yo." Zarya mocks.
"Anyone up for adding another few weeks to his curse?" Ryou asks.
"Absolutely." Everyone said while Musa raised her arm in agreement.
"My brother is such a troll." Arkayna growls.
"Who would want to hurt Lance and steal Musa's voice?" Em asks.
"No idea. I mean if they went after just Musa, it could easily be one of our enemies but they wanted Lance too." Tecna said.
"Let's just hope we can find them soon," Zarya said as Piper and Choko looked around.
Chattering Choko held up Lance's glyph that he dropped.
"Blinko! A clue." Piper grins.
Meanwhile, in the old run-down music studio, Lance was tied to a chair and screaming for help but no one came to his side.
"Help!" He screams. "Wait that was a bit flat. Help!" He sang. "Yeah still got it, Lance."
Emerging from across the room, the girl came in dragging what looked like a battle axe along the floor.
"Please. I'll give you anything. My fleet of cars, my mansion, my Gucci manbags. Anything yo!" Lance begs as the girl raises the axe but instead flips it over revealing the axe was actually a guitar.
Strumming it, a purple light began to glow.
At the Mysticon Base, the ghost of Rosa was floating above them as Piper showed them Lance's glyph.
"Your days of singing are over. Start writing your swan song." Ryou read aloud.
"That's a lot of creepy glyphs," Piper said.
"Seriously. This Gnome made a bad enemy." Rosa cringed.
Moving in Musa points to something on the screen.
"Hey, good eye Musa. He shot a video during the chase." Piper noticed.
"Project it on the Hexbox." Em said as Tecna set it up.
"This is Lance O'Lovely and I'd like to report an abduction!" Lance said as the girl's shrieks echoed in the background.
"Ha! What a genius. He thought was calling an emergency number." Zarya laughs.
"When he just hit record," Arkayna said as Musa chuckled.
"Agreed Musa. What an idiot." Ryou mocks.
As Lance drops the glyph they saw more of the recording before the girl flew in on screen.
"Wait who is that?" Rosa asks floating in.
"Lance's kidnapper. I think it's a spector or maybe a wraith." Em assumes.
"Looks more like a ghost to me," Zarya said.
"Uh hello? Floating right here." Rosa said crossing her arms. "That thing is no ghost. Believe me."
"Well, then what could it be?" Ryou asks as Arkayna scrolled through a book.
"I know what it is." She said showing them a picture.
"A banshee?" Tecna said surprised.
"An undead magical spirit known for its magical singing voice, its earth-shattering scream…" Zarya read.
"And it's desire for vengeance." Em finished.
"Musa is that what took your voice?" Ryou asks.
Frowning Musa tried to remember but shook her head meaning she couldn't remember.
At the studio, the banshee was strumming her guitar and firing beams of purple energy that destroyed several of platinum records.
"No! Not my Platinum records! Please. Please just let me go yo!" Lance begs.
Shrieking the Banshee threw her guitar against the wall next to Lance before leaving the room.
"I'm done. She's gonna come back and it's game over yo." Lance whimpers before noticing the sharp blade on the guitar nearby and grins getting an idea.
Back at the Mystcon Base, Piper, Musa, and Rosa were watching the recording over and over again while the others were trying to figure out the problem.
"Okay we know she's a banshee and she has a grudge against Lance but the question is why and why did she attack Musa?" Arakyna asks.
"Who is she? An old flame? A rival?" Zarya asks.
"I don't know, but I do know that Lance is in trouble and we need to hurry." Em said pacing back and forth.
"Hey, that's my thing," Ryou said stopping her.
"Sorry, Ryou I'm just so nervous and scared and…will you stop playing that?" Em asks turning off the recording.
"Wait! Plug it back in!" Piper said.
"Yeah didn't you hear that?" Rosa asks but Musa shook her head.
"You two are elves. Your hearing is like a thousand times better than ours." Zarya said.
"Plug it back in!" Piper insists.
Listening to the recording both elves slowed it down the scream turned into words.
"That's not screaming. There are words in there." Ryou said.
"What's it say?" Arkayna asks.
"Back to the lair." The banshee said after editing.
"The lair?" Zarya said confused.
"It says here that a Banshee's lair is a dark forest or swamp." Arkayna read.
"Do you have any idea how many of those there are?" Tecna asks showing a map. "It would take forever to search them all."
"There must be something we're missing." Ryou pauses.
"The lair." Pausing Em gasps in realization. "I know where they are! Hurry!"
"I'm coming to! Ryou I want to help!" Rosa said.
Looking at her Ryou nods.
"Em where are we going?" Tecna asks.
"The Banshee didn't say they were going to her lair. She said the lair. Soundlair Studios!" Em declares.
"The place where Lance recorded his first album?" Zarya recalls.
"Hey you were paying attention." Em smiles.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm not becoming a fan of his or anything." Zarya said as they raced to go save Lance.
At Soundlair Studios, Lance used the axe part of the guitar to cut his hands free and escape the chair.
"Don't worry Lancey. Keep a stiff upper quaff and get out of here." Lance said heading to the door only for the Banshee to appear in front of him scaring him.
Shrieking the Banshee held out Lance's golden microphone.
"My microphone." Lance gasps. "You don't have to do this yo!"
Raising the microphone it began to glow as a beam shot out hitting Lance in the mouth and lifting him up in the air.
Suddenly bursting in we see the Mysticons, Musa, Tecna and Rosa with a body arrive to see what was going on.
"No! Stop!" Raising her sword, Em blasts the Banshee stopping the spell.
Shrieking the Banshee tried to fly away.
"You're not going anywhere! Augerfrost!" Arkayna said firing a blast of blue magic.
"Nimblefire!" Tecna said joining in.
"Raypulse!" Ryou said and the three blasted the Banshee to the ground. "That was for what you did to Musa!"
Running over, Em, Piper and Rosa helped Lance up.
"He seems to be okay," Rosa said.
"Don't worry Lance, you and your perfect hair are going to be fine," Em assures.
As Rosa and Piper threw their hoops up they make a hole in the ceiling allowing Em to throw an orb up so a rope can drop down and the three of them escape.
Looking up the Banshee saw they were escaping.
Shrieking she held up her hand and her guitar came back to her.
Strumming it, she fired a blast hitting Arkayna making her bang against the wall causing a poster to fall in front of her.
"Oh no you don't!" Firing an arrow, Zarya tries to slow her down but the Banshee dodges.
Releasing a sonic shriek she knocks Zarya, Ryou, and Tecna to the ground.
Turning to Musa, the speechless girl took a defensive stance holding her guitar like a weapon but for a brief moment, the banshee frowned at Musa giving her a look of pure sympathy.
Confused the Banshee put her hand on Musa's shoulder for a few seconds before flying out after Lance.
"Ugh that was the worst mosh pit ever." Zarya groans.
Groaning Ryou was slow to get up before noticing Musa.
"Hey, you okay?" Ryou asks walking over to her. "Did she hurt you?"
Shaking her head Musa meant she was fine but the look on her face said something else was up.
Looking around Musa grabbed a piece of paper and a marker and wrote something down.
"She didn't want to hurt me. She looked like she wanted to help me." Ryou read aloud.
"But wait. She was the one who took your voice, right? Why would she want to help you?" Tecna asks.
Pausing Musa wrote something down. "I don't know, but something is going on."
As Arkayna got up she noticed the poster and gasped. "Oh, my goblin. Everyone look at this."
Looking at the poster all of them gasped.
"You were right Musa. Something is going on." Ryou said shocked.
"We need to get to Em. Now!" Zarya said.
Flying through the streets of Drake City, we see Piper and Rosa riding on one griffin with Lance and Em on the other.
"Why is that Banshee after you?" Em asks
"She's an angry backup singer. She's jealous of me. She was probably jealous of Musa too and that's why she attacked her." Lance accuses. "We have to go back and get my mic yo."
"Back? To the banshee?" Em said in disbelief.
"Are you crazy?" Rosa asks.
"Uh too late. The Banshee is coming to us." Piperpoints.
Panicking Choko jumps onto Piper's face.
"Choko! I can't see!" Piper said.
"Let go!" Rosa said trying to pull Choko off.
"Taker her down with your powers yo!" Lance panics.
"Yeah come any closer and I'll take you down with my powers yo!" Em calls out.
Raising the golden mic, the Banshee fires a gold beam at them but Em raised her shield to deflect it.
Seeing that the beam was coming towards them, Rosa lets go and Choko and grabs the reins.
"Hang on Piper we're going for a ride!" Rosa said as steering Ms. Paisely causing them to swerve out of the way.
"Whoa! I still can't see!" Piper said.
"Okay, that's it. Time to bring out the big guns!" Em said aiming her bracer at the Banshee. "Battle Unicorn Charge!"
Firing from her bracer, the unicorn rams into the Banshee knocking her out of the sky.
"My microphone!" Lance gasps seeing it plummet alongside her.
Diving to the ground, Em grabs the mic just before the Banshee could.
"I'll take that, thank you." Em said as Lance took it back.
"Quick! Finish her off!" Lance orders.
Drawing her sword, Em was about to do just that.
"Mysticon Knight! Stop!" Ryou yells.
Turning around, Em saw all her friends run over.
"What did you do?" Tecna asks.
"What do you mean? I took down the banshee." Em gestures.
"Look at this." Arkayna said showing her the poster.
Seeing it Lance slowly started to back away.
On the poster we see the Banshee with a band.
"Vesper and the Phantoms? The Banshee had a band?" Em asks confused.
Moving in Musa points to a familiar face in the back.
"Wait? Is that Lance? You were in Vesper's band as a backup?" Em asks.
Turning around they saw Lance running to the palace.
"My fans are waiting yo! Time for my farewell tour." Lance grins evilly as his microphone glowed.
Getting up, Vesper took to the skies.
"What's going on? What did we miss?" Rosa asks as she and Piper land nearby.
"Seriously I can't see anything," Piper said with Choko still holding onto her face.
"This doesn't make sense. Lance told me the Bansh…I mean Vesper was the backup. And that she was the one who took Musa's voice." Em said.
"Not possible, when Musa confronted Vesper she didn't even want to hurt Musa." Tecna said.
"Wait a minute." Pausing Ryou realized something. "The golden light, the reason he's so protective of that thing, Vesper?" Eyes widening Ryou growls. "That son of a!" Summoning the Willblade, Ryou flings a blade of energy slashing a light post in half.
"Whoa! Ryou what's going on?" Arkayna asks startled.
"What's going on is we've been tricked! Vesper wasn't the enemy, Lance is!" Ryou declares surprising everyone, especially Em.
At the palace, we see a huge crowd on the balcony for the concert and they were eager for it to start.
Groaning Gawayne manages to undo the bindings so he could speak.
"I know the concert is running late, but Lance and Musa will be here any moment. In the meantime, please enjoy the preshow." Gawayne gestures.
Unfortunately, for the preshow, Gawayne had forced his poor butler to put on a ballet outfit and dance.
As the crowd booed him the butler shed a tear at the complete and utter humiliation.
"Yo! Yo! Yo! Musa's a now show folks but I'm all you need!" Lance said running on stage causing the crowd to go nuts.
Smiling Gawayne shoves his butler off the stage. "I give you Lance O'Lovely!"
"Thanks for coming yo. I'm sorry I'm late but there are some people out there that think I should stop singing yo." Lance said causing the crowd to boo. "Maybe they think I'm not a big enough star. What do you think? Should I show them how big I am? Should I show them the power of Lance O'Lovely?" As the crowd cheered Lance raised his mic. "No one can stop me now! Time for the concert of the century!"
As golden light shined from his mic it spread to the whole audience causing their mouths to glow.
"What's happening?" Rosa gasps as they landed on the balcony.
"He's stealing their voices," Arkayna said.
"Just like what he did to Vesper leaving her with nothing but her tormented screams." Em said.
"So you were the one who attacked Musa and stole her voice!" Tecna points while Musa growls in anger.
"You're no popstar! You're a fraud!" Em points.
"Aw boo hoo is my number one fan disappointed?" Lance mocks.
"How could you do that to Musa? You two were on the same tour?" Ryou asks.
"Yeah and every stop with her was the worst. I don't share the spotlight with anyone. Not with Vesper, not with Gnomes to Men and definitely not with a no talent like her." Lance accuses.
"No talent? No talent?! You're the one with no talent! You lied and cheated to get this far! Musa worked her butt off to make it this far! She knows the value of hard work and still finds time to be an idol and be with her friends! She's amazing and you're nothing." Ryou said.
Hearing this a big blush appears on Musa's face happy to hear that.
"Well too bad because once I steal your powers. No one will stop me!" As a light shined around Lance he grew double in size, with more muscles and a demonic expression on his face.
"Oh he's going down!" Ryou said as they all took out amulets. "Cut him down to size Headless Hessian!" Ryou said summoning his headless warrior on horseback.
"Party time, Ariel!" Piper said summoning her elf titan.
"Come on out, Wolf Knight!" Zarya said summoning her armored wolf warrior.
"Defend Freelancer!" Arkayna said summoning her Lance titan.
"Show no mercy Albion!" Em said summoning her warrior titan.
"Let's show them what we got, Fan Dancer!" Tecna said summoning her fan wielder titan warrior.
As Lance goes on the attack, Ariel holds out his hands and created a gust of wind that stopped Lance in his tracks.
Running through the wind, Fan Dancer leaps over him distracting Lance as Albion and Headless Hessian deliver two powerful slashes making him cringe.
Swinging his lance, Freelancer nails Lance in the side before Wolf Knight punches him in the face.
However, even after taking all those attacks, Lance was still standing.
Jumping up, Lance creates a shockwave when he comes down knocking the Titans back allowing him to attack the Mysticons.
"Oh no you don't!" Rosa said swinging her hoop around his leg and pulling making Lance fall.
Throwing her hoop at him, Lance swings his mic knocking it back and hitting Rosa in the chest.
Tumbling back Rosa groans. "Did anyone get the license plate on that skyship?"
"You talentless hack!" Em said charging in.
Raising his mic, Lance tries to blast Em but her shield absorbs the blow sending her banging against the waterfall.
"How is he this strong?" Tecna asks.
"He's been stealing voices and powers for so long now. He must have also stolen Musa's powers." Ryou realized.
"Well then we'll just have to hit harder," Zarya said.
Charging in, Zarya, Piper and Arkayna fired arrows, hoops, and magical blasts hitting Lance from all angles.
Swinging his willblade, Ryou slams it down forcing Lance to block with his mic.
"Give up." Lance said.
"And make things easy for you? Not a chance." Ryou growls.
Moving out of the way Ryou kicks Lance in the face.
"Hey watch the face! That's where my money is!" Lance snaps.
"You're not gonna have any money when we're done with you!" Tecna said using her magic to create a glowing green cage around Lance.
Smashing his feet to the ground to try and escape the whole floor began to shake.
"He's gonna bring down the castle!" Em gasps when they heard a familiar shriek to see Vesper arrive.
"Vesper." Em said as Vesper landed next to Musa.
Taking out her guitar, Vesper gestures for Musa to do the same.
Nodding the two musicians stood together.
Using her magic, Vesper made both their guitar picks glow.
Shrieking at the top of her lungs the two musicians strummed creating a giant shockwave that send Lance flying back and the mic flew out of his hands.
"My mic!" Lance gasps seeing Em run for it.
As he tried to grab it, all of the Titans charged in and tackled Lance pinning him to the ground.
"Give me my microphone!" Lance whines.
"Oh I'll give it to you pretty boy!" Blasting Lance with his own mic all the voices and powers he stole back to the audience and Vesper and Musa.
"My voice? My voice." Vesper smiles.
"I can talk again." Musa smiles happy to have it back.
Drained of all the magic, Lance falls to the ground but he wasn't the same. He was now shorter, fatter, and uglier than the idol everyone loved.
"No! My microphone give it back!" Lance begs wanting the microphone back.
"Sorry, Lance the whole point of music is to find your own voice. Light'em up, team!" Em said throwing it into the air.
"Unleash the Dragon!"
Fly Phoenix Fly!"
"Here comes the soaring Phoenix!"
"Hear me Roar!"
As the four attacks flew in the microphone was completely destroyed.
"No!" Lance screams in horror.
"Hey Lance." Turning around Lance was met with a punch to the face by the Musa that was so hard it knocked one of his teeth out.
"Whoa Musa," Tecna said.
"That was for stealing my voice." Musa said shaking it off.
"You ruined everything!" Lance whines covering his bleeding mouth and running out.
"We're just gonna let him go?" Zarya asks.
"A life without fame is the worst kind of punishment for him." Vesper said.
Narrowing his eyes, Ryou was unsure about that.
"I'm sorry Vesper. I idolized Lance so much it blinded me from the truth." Em said.
"At least you see the truth for what it is now." Vesper said as Gawayne walked over still hiding behind his butler.
"Is it safe to come out from behind my human shield now?" Gawayne asks.
"For now." Ryou said.
"Well then. You suck Mysticon Tactician. You are the worst leader I've ever seen. Frankly, you should try following in my example because now we lost half the concert. We don't have anyone else to perform."
As his eye twitched Ryou wanted nothing more than to strangle him.
"Sure we do. This can be the start of my comeback tour." Vesper grins.
"Don't suppose you would be interested in another performance joining you for this one?" Musa asks.
"Absolutely." Vesper said.
Soon Vesper took the stage with Musa alongside her.
"This song goes out to the Mysticons and Seekers!" Vesper said.
As the crowd cheered Ryou looked at Musa and she winked at him causing him to blush.
"Oh yeah she's into you now." Ryoga chuckles.
Shaking it off Ryou noticed someone running down the halls.
Narrowing his eyes, he slowly walked away as the concert began.
My heart cries out like a Banshee in the night
It longs to be heard and it screams to take flight
I'm a Unicorn Knight and you better hold tight while we rock it all night
"Now this is music I can rock out to." Zarya smiles.
"Whoo! This is awesome!" Rosa cheers before she turned back into a ghost.
"Oh yeah." Piper said before noticing something. "Hey where's Ryou?"
In the castle, the now powerless Lance was throwing a tantrum as he stomped through the hall.
"Stupid Mysticons! Stupid Seekers! Stupid Musa! No more premieres! No more private parties! No more pizzas shaped like my face! Why did they have to ruin my life?!" Lance snaps kicking the statue making him cringe.
"Isn't it obvious?" A familiar voice asks.
Turning around Lance saw Ryou emerge from the shadows with the Willblade gleaming in his hands. "Because you don't deserve to live that life."
"Oh uh Mysticon Tactician. What are you doing here?" Lance gulps backing up in fear.
"Vesper seems to think you living a life without fame is the worst punishment you can get. But I disagree. You lied to us, made us attack innocent people, and worst of all you hurt Musa and took her voice." Ryou said as darkness formed around him. "Lance O'Lovely…YOUR SUFFERING IS FAR FROM OVER!" Ryou roars in a demonic voice.
Screaming in fear Lance tries to make a run for it when Ryou's amulet glowed and Lindorm appears in front of Lance alongside Headless Hessian.
Growling both titans glared Lance down making him freeze in fear.
"Nowhere to run now." Ryou said.
"Please! Please don't kill me! I'm begging you!" Lance cries.
"Kill you? Oh no that would be letting you off too easy." Ryou said yanking him in close. "Let me explain what's going to happen to you so listen carefully. First off you're banned from ever performing in any type of musical entertainment for life."
"No!" Lance gasps.
"Secondly you never paid Mama Calamari for any of those fancy sky pies she made you. So you're gonna give all the money you made on this tour to her to settle your tab." Ryou said.
"Oh come on! Those pizzas weren't even that great!" Lance whines.
"And finally to make up for all the trouble you've caused." Taking out an orange jumpsuit Ryou shoves it into Lance's hands. "You have now been sentenced to 400 hours of community service."
"You can't do this to me! Mysticons are supposed to protect citizens! Not force people to do demeaning work!" Lance said.
Grabbing Lance by the shirt, Ryou yanks him in close and as Ryou's eyes glowed red fear enveloped Lance's body.
"You had my protection and you abused it. Time to step into the real world you Has Been. Your time in the spotlight is over and you'll never get it back." Ryou said before shoving Lance back. "Now get out of my sight and if you try this again I will come for you."
Panicking Lance grabbed the jumpsuit and ran for his life.
Once he was out the door, Ryou took a deep breath before separating from Vigilante and calling Lindorm and Headless Hessian back.
"Oh man that was awesome!" Ryoga laughs at the top of his lungs. "I have never been so proud to share a body with you Ryou! Did you see the look on his stupid face?!"
Looking at his titan Vigilante just chuckles learning to laugh for the first time.
"Hmm maybe I do have a little evil in me after all." Ryou chuckles. "Come on let's go enjoy the show."
Turning away Ryou goes back to enjoy the concert having finally finished this long and exhausting bodyguard mission.
