The end of that Totem Arc. Hope you like the arc. I do not own fusionfall
Chapter 33: Book of Prophecy: Part 5: Nowhere Duel
Holden arrives outside the infected zone to see the fusion of Gwen waiting for him.
"I see you're taking this duel seriously. That's good. First: No nanos will be used by you. Second: You can only have one weapon with you. I see you already did that. Third: Neither of us will have a second. So, once one of us is dead the duel is over. Fourth: No help of any kind. I'm giving you a half hour to rest up so you will be at your best for this duel."
The fusion goes back into the infected zone and disappears from view. For the next half hour, Holden prepares for the duel not knowing what is to come.
Fusion Gwen reappears from the infected zone and says, "Are you ready to begin?"
Holden swallows from being a tad nervous and then replies, "Yes I'm ready." Holden has his rifle in his arms at the ready.
The fusion stands at the other end of the plain, its fingers flexing wildly. It makes a slight movement that Holden notices. The fusion moves forward and sends a green energy bolt at Holden. Holden, who was in motion already, avoids the bolt and fires a five round burst at the fusions potential direction.
One round grazes the fusions shoulder while the other four miss completely. Both of them skid in the dirt and stop.
The fusion smiles and responds, "I'm impressed but only slightly."
Then Fusion Gwen launches a slew of energy bolts at Holden. He fires rapidly and cancels out the bolts while getting two extra shoots in. The fusion erects a barrier and the two shoots are canceled. Holden frowns and knew this stalemate would have to come to end at some point.
At this point, Holden runs towards the fusion and then pulls a hard right to try to flank it. The fusion throws a bolt at Holden and forces him to jump back. He fires ten times, but the fusion makes the barrier appear again. Holden notices that cracks have formed in the barrier and fires six more shots until it shatters. The next shot is cancelled by a bolt.
Holden has no choice but to get into the fusion's blind spot to attack, where ever that is. The fusion launches what appears to be an energy immobilizer towards Holden, but instead of catching him, it is used like a giant hammer and pounds the earth, causing Holden to be thrown to the ground and his Urban Recon Rifle skids twenty feet across the ground.
A green, vine like arm protrudes from the ground and crushes the rifle. All around Holden and Fusion Gwen, thirty fusion eggplants appear.
"Do you really think I would play fair by the rules I set up? Why not just give up now and hand over that power to me?" The fusion says with smug satisfaction.
Holden gives it a defiant look and charges towards it. The fusion hurls energy bolts at him, but he dodges the attacks and starts hand to hand combat. They exchange blows for a several minutes, but Holden is slowing down from exhaustion. The fusion roundhouse kicks Holden so hard that he is lifted up and is sent flying backwards in the air.
As Holden is flying backwards, he suddenly feels a set of hands catch him by his arms. Holden looks up to see that Blossom is the one who has caught him.
She lands on the ground and sets Holden down and then says, "Stop trying to be a hero Holden! Let your friends and loved ones help you sometimes."
She winks at him and then charges off at Fusion Gwen and her minions. She uses her eye beams on the fusion eggplants, vaporizing them. Fusion Gwen uses her energy blots on Blossom, who promptly dodges and uses her Ice Breath against the fusion. The fusion creates a dome of energy to protect itself, but the dome fails and the fusion is frozen.
Blossom then shoots an omega beam from her hand and obliterates the fusion of Gwen. Holden walks over to what remains of the ice. Blossom lands next to him and witnesses a nano of sixteen year old Gwen appear. She floats over to them, smiles and disappears into Holden's com.
Blossom turns to look at Holden and then says, "Holden, promise me you won't do anything like that again. I don't want to lose you." She looks apprehensive.
Holden responds, "I promise Blossom."
In response, Blossom then says in a questioning manner, "Cross your heart?"
Holden looks at her in the eyes and responds, "Cross my heart."
Blossom hugs him tightly and cries a little bit and whispers, "We already lost you once. We don't want to lose you again."
Holden hugs her tightly, kisses her forehead and smiles.
Blossom wipes her tears away and says, "I'll walk back with you to the farmhouse so you can get your gear."
As they walk back, Holden and Blossom's fingers touch and they gradually mesh together so that they are holding hands.
They arrive back at the farmhouse to see Courage jumping up and down in front of Juniper. They both turn when they hear the footsteps of Blossom and Holden.
Juniper is surprised to see them both and responds, "Blossom what are you doing here?"
Blossom replies with a small smile on her face, "I had a feeling Holden was in trouble, so I flew over here as fast as I could."
Juniper smiles, because she knew it was female intuition and replies, "Did you take care of the last Totem yet?"
Holden shakes his head, gathers his gear near the door and replies, "I'm going over to do that now. Blossom, do you want to come with me?"
She shakes her head and replies, "I have to go Downtown and talk to Buttercup about dinner tonight. She didn't say exactly ice cream she wanted for dessert."
With that, Blossom flies up and takes off towards the southward. Holden takes out his Lime Pop Gun and heads back to the infected zone. Once inside, Holden finds what remains of an ocean liner that is snapped in two and many weird platforms that were made out of different materials just floating around by some strange force.
After several minutes of waiting, Holden finally reaches the top of the ship. This allows Holden to have a better look at the infected zone. He spots the Totem on a small butte, but there is no real way to get to it, except by taking the zip line down to the lower area of the zone and finding a platform that would take him close to his destination. Out of the corner of his eye, Holden spots a transport cannon that could take him to another butte and it has a few platforms running between it and the Totem's butte.
Holden looks around for a platform so he could get to the cannon, but there didn't seem to be any. Holden sighs and takes the zip line down to the lower plateau running along the side of the canyon the ship is in. A small platform descends on the side of a small butte. He jumps on to it and rides up to the top, where he finds many more platforms connecting to other locations.
After several minutes studying the movements and layout of the flying debris, Holden finally finds the platform he needs and makes it to the butte that the transport cannon would have taken him to. Holden gets on the next platform and finally arrives at the Totem.
Holden takes out the sap and carefully spreads it out over his hand. He then touches the Totem and for the final time the warm sensation returns. He feels not just one Totem activating, but all of them at once. Even if Holden couldn't tell, the defense system is now active.
Holden pulls out his com from his pocket to place a call, "Gwen, all the Totems are now active and the defense network is up."
Gwen appears on the com, smiling and she responds, "Nice job Holden! I appreciate how much you've done for us." She gives him a thumbs up and an even bigger smile and then continues, "Now go home. You deserve a rest."
She hangs up and Holden leaves the infected zone.
Holden arrives back at the tree house two hours later. It is around four in the evening. Holden is ready to eat dinner and he wanted to help prepare it, if he was allowed to. He enters the main living area of the KND tree house and all is dark. Nobody is here and Holden frowns. Maybe he should have gone home first to check if anyone was there, but then he hears a small giggle from someplace.
The door then slams and everything is in pitch blackness. Before his eyes could adjust to the darkness, the lights flips on and a sign rolls down and a set of balloons spring up from the sides of the room.
Bubbles zooms out from her hiding place and kisses Holden on the cheek, hugs him, and then responds, "HOLDIE!"
Holden laughs a bit at the old nickname Bubbles had given him when they were five. She hadn't called him that in years.
Buttercup walks up behind Holden and replies, "Welcome home little bro!"
She smiles and gives Holden a hug too.
Bubbles then responds in a semi angry voice, "You should have asked Juniper or Kevin for help during that duel. You shouldn't have gone in solo like that."
Buttercup nods, smacks his arm and replies, "We know you never wanted to be a hero and hate being called one, but you don't have to act stupid and be like one. Next time at least bring us to help you. We always got your back."
Blossom walks over to them trying not to laugh and replies, "Okay girls, I think that's enough. We've beaten the point into his skull. Holden can you come with me for a second I need to talk to you in private." She takes his hand and pulls him to the next room. Buttercup and Bubbles giggles.
In the next room, there is a red box on the table.
Blossom picks it up and responds, "I got this for you this afternoon." She turns a bit red and hands Holden the box.
He takes it and smiles from ear to ear and replies, "Thank you Blossom."
Holden carefully opens to the box to find Blossom had gotten him a Static Edge rifle.
He sets the box back on the table and replies quietly, "Blossom, I know we haven't had much time together lately, but how about we go on our first date next weekend."
Blossom smiles and replies, "I had a place in mind that I wanted to go eat at for awhile, so we can go there. After we eat dinner, could we go see a movie?"
Holden nods and replies, "Sure, I'll go see any movie you want without complaint."
Blossom smiles to herself knowing what movie she wanted to go see.
She then replies with enthusiasm, "Alright! I'll be looking forward to our date." She gives him a quick kiss and leaves the room.
Holden follows to rejoin his welcome home party. When he enters back into the main room everyone is already eating the food. Deedee enters into the room with a big imaginary friend with heart on its chest.
Buttercup frowns, crosses her arms across her chest and responds, "Okay, who's the bonehead that allowed Deedee to invite that Kozzy jerk to the party."
A voice is heard behind her that says, "I invited my beloved Deedee here. I want to study her imaginary friend."
It is Mandark and he is dressed up which was rather unusual for him. He leaves to go over to talk to Deedee. Bubbles then whispers to Buttercup who then whispers to Blossom. All three of the girls giggle and then they smile and drag Holden to the center of the room.
Bubbles then says to Holden, "We want you to tell us about your adventure. PLEASE?" She uses the biggest puppy dog eye expression she can muster.
Holden chuckles and says, "All right. I'll tell you guys what happened."
Over the next several hours, Holden tells them his adventure with the help of Blossom and many of their friends.
Well i posted a lot of material today. I got a few more chapters done but I want to wait til i get done with an arc that is related the end of chapter 22 before i post them. I'm writing as quick as i can.