I don't own fusionfall. Sorry for this chapter being so late. I worked my butt off on this chapter for a long time.

Chapter 53: Christmas Acquisition

Holden wakes up Christmas morning, and slowly sits up before getting out of bed. He takes a small wrapped box from the drawer of his desk and walks downstairs. Bubbles was in the living room watching the news with Mr. Octi in her arms.

"Merry Christmas Holdie!" Bubbles said with a large grin stretched across her face.

Holden yawns and replies, "Merry Christmas Bubbles. Where's Blossom and Buttercup? I thought they would be awake by now since its Christmas."

"Blossom is in the kitchen making a special breakfast for everyone and Buttercup is still sleeping. The Professor is in the kitchen as well reading his paper. He was astonished that we let him sleep in today." Bubbles replies with a small giggle.

All too soon Bubbles' smile turns into frown as Will Harangue appears on the TV for a special Christmas broadcast.

"Today on the Will Harangue Nation, we have the new President of Exervent, T…"

Buttercup floats down the stairs at that moment and shouts angrily, "Get rid of that idiot Bubbles! We don't need to listen to any of his trash!"

A cyan haired girl appears on the TV and sits in a chair next to Harangue as Bubbles grabs the remote and changes the channel to an old Justice Friends rerun. Holden places his hand on his right shoulder and looks down at the floor.

Buttercup gently touches his arm and comments in a low voice, "Don't let Harangue get to you little bro. Once Fuse is gone, he'll see you for the hero you are."

Holden smiles and takes his hand off his shoulder, "Thanks sis, I hope you are right."

A few moments later Professor Utonium walks into the living room and replies, "Blossom is done cooking breakfast. After we finish eating, we can open up presents."

The three teens follow the Professor into the kitchen and find everything set on the table including the food on serving plates.

After breakfast was finished and everything washed, the four teens reenter the living to find a small pile of gifts on the couch. The girls sit down and each of them grabs one of the gifts that are for them. Wrapping paper starts flying all over the room and some even lands on top of the Professor's head, who just chuckles.

Holden sits down and grabs a gift that was for him, but he doesn't even unwrap it. He closes his eyes and a few tears run down his cheeks.

The Professor noticing the tears sits down next to Holden and replies softly, "Holden, what's the matter? Are you all right?"

Holden looks at the Professor and replies as he continues to cry, "I'm just remembering my first Christmas and how it felt to get my first present. I didn't really want to make a big deal about it, but I can't help it after all that's happened recently."

The Professor hugs and says softly, "It's alright, that is the past, and we are all here for you and will always be here for you."

Holden wipes his tears away, smiles and hugs him, "Thanks Professor." Holden replied as Bubbles, Buttercup and Blossom suddenly hug him and the Professor in one big family hug.

After a minute they break the hug and Bubbles looks at Holden, leans in close to him and whispers, "Holdie you need to give Blossom your present. You forgot to put in her present pile."

Holden nods and takes the wrapped box out of his pocket and hands it to Blossom, whom promptly sits down next to him.

"I was planning on giving this to you when we turned sixteen, but since after everything that's happened I figured it would make a good Christmas gift."

Blossom unwraps the gift and opens the box that was within to find a gold locket embossed with gold leaves.

"Holden, its-its beautifully designed. Can you at help me put it on?" Blossom moves her hair to the side and holds one end of the locket, while Holden hooks in the clasp.

"I'm going to treasure this and hold it close to my heart. I know the perfect picture to place in it." She then leans over and kisses Holden.

At that moment, there is a knock on the door and Buttercup stands up and answers the door, "Hey Gwen! What bring you over here today? I thought you would be spending time with Kevin."

Gwen gives a small smile and replies, "Is Holden here? I need to talk to him about something quickly."

Buttercup stifles a snicker, "Oh, he's here, but he and Blossom are engaging in tonsil hockey right now."

Gwen shakes her head and enters the house to see both teens break apart from their kiss and then blush from embarrassment.

An awkward silence fills the room until Gwen clears her throat and finally says, "Holden, do you remember that idea you and Ben had earlier in the week in regards to getting the Dexcarrier out of the Green Maw as a sort morale booster and Christmas present for Dexter?"

The plan the two boys had thought up was good, but it was unfeasible due to the fact they didn't know the first thing of the carrier's operations nor did they know if the main engine core has been damage and neither had an knowledge of how to repair the core if is was.

Holden finally nods and responds, "You've come up with a modified plan I take it."

Gwen nods, "Yup, but Ben isn't going to be coming with us. He decided to go to Dexlabs with Deedee and Nigel and distract Dexter for as long as he can."

Holden suppresses a laugh, "Then it's just going to be me, you and Kevin."

Gwen shakes her head, "Kevin isn't going to be coming at all. He is with Argent and Mr. Green at Los Soledad. Apparently there has been a large sighting of Slammer Tops in the area headed towards Bellwood, so Dexter sent them with a battalion of Plumbers and SCAT members to stop them."

Holden nods and asks, "Is there anyone else that is coming with us? I know Rex was willing to help us, but couldn't because White Knight had another assignment him."

"He's going to meet us at the Cul-de-Sac, along with Grandpa Max and Mandy. Captain Callan was given whatever mission Rex was supposed to do. We should leave soon so we don't make them wait."

Holden stands up and with a guilty look in his eyes replies, "I'm sorry about running off like this and not spending time with all of you today." Professor Utonium shakes his head and smiles, "There is nothing to feel guilty about. You can spend time with us after you get back. Boosting everyone's morale is an excellent idea."

With that, Holden smiles and quickly leaves the house with Gwen.

A few minutes later, Gwen and Holden arrive at the Cul-de-Sac and find Mandy sitting in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. with an Endsville Slugger Bat in her lap and looking very disgruntled.

When Holden and Gwen approach, her eyes flashes with a dark intensity and she says in a nasty tone, "Took you long enough to get him over her Tennyson. Where is that EVO loser and your Grandpa?"

At that moment, Max exits Double D's house. "Make sure you monitor the Specter Detector constantly Edd."

Double D appears in the doorway to the house, nods and says chipper tone, "Will do Max, I won't let you down."

The door closes and Max walks over to them and comments, "Does anyone know where Rex got off to?"

At that moment, Rex walks up to them slipping on a soda with a Frenzy Burger in his hand and then says thought his food, "What? I was hungry dude. Can't blame me for not wanting to get something to eat."

Mandy grunts and says in her deadpan tone, "We've wasted enough time. Let's go already before Billy shows up."

Everyone nods and Holden and Rex get into the vehicle. When Gwen starts to board the S.C.A.M.P.E.R., her eyes suddenly turn pink. She clutches her head and falls to the ground. Her eyes soon return to normal and she starts to stand up.

"Gwen, what happened?" Max asked her as he pulled his granddaughter up off the ground.

Gwen responds, "The barrier that Holden activated with the Totems is gone. We should hurry; I have a really bad feeling."

Gwen slowly gets into the S.C.A.M.P.E.R., followed by Max who was piloting the small KND craft. As they take off, a lid to a box that was behind Mandy lifts up and the brim of a red hat appears and a small devious chuckle is heard coming from it.

Two hours later, Max flies the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. over the Infected Zone and lands the vehicle on the Dexcarrier's Deck.

Mandy looks around at the deck and scoffs "This place is a dump. Let's just split up and do our assignments."

She is going to be more of a pain than Ben ever was, Gwen thought with a sigh.

Max frowns, but soon replies, "Rex, you and Holden head to the main engine core. If the main engine core is damaged, try to repair it with your nanites. Mandy, Gwen and I will go to the bridge and activate any systems that are shut down."

Holden nods and responds, "Max, we'll see you on the bridge when we're done. Rex, let's go and pray if we get lost that there is a map down there someplace."

Rex smirks, "I already got the map form the Dexlabs computer banks and that's because, I'm awesome!"

Holden shakes his head as he and Rex run to a door and down a flight of stairs.

Gwen sighs and soon replies, "I don't know who's over confidence and arrogance is worse, Ben's or Rex's."

Mandy gives her a sour look and responds, "I say Dexdork is much worse than those two. He thinks he can do anything just because he's a genius and has money."

Gwen starts to open her mouth when Max puts his hand on her shoulder, "Arguing about this isn't going to get us anywhere. Gwen do you think you can use your powers to find us a way to the bridge?"

Gwen nods and her eyes turn pink and some mana appears in her left hand.

A few moments later the mana disappears, "I found a possible route through the conference room to the bridge."

Max nods, "Alright you two time to get to work." Gwen leads the way to a door and she, Mandy and Max descend into the bowels of the Dexcarrier.

A few minutes later, Mandy, Gwen and Max enter the mess hall of the carrier and find it covered in fusion matter. Max takes out his Plumbers badge and uses the light to illuminate the area.

"There's something here Grandpa. It doesn't have much mana so it has to be a fusion."

Suddenly a grouping of 3 large green crystals fly at Mandy and Gwen erects an energy shield in front of her to block the fusion crystals. The collision of the crystals causes the shield to break. Max turns around quickly and spots a fusion of their Crystalsapien friend Tetrax. Max takes out his Plumbers pistol and fires three shots at the fusion, which launches a large crystal at him, but Max ducks under a table just in time.

Mandy, with her bat in hand, charges at Fusion Tetrax and swings for its head. The fusion's arm changes into a Crystal-like blade and blocks the swing.

Mandy grits her teeth and kicks the fusion in the stomach, "No one denies me what I want and I want you gone!" Mandy said in cold anger as she swings the bat again and hit's the fusion in the shoulder.

Gwen closes her eyes and mutters, "Tempestus!"

A sphere of water appears in the air and it then flattens and divides into four disks, which Gwen then directs to attack fusion. The fusion tries to stand up and move, but Mandy hits it on the head and then she sidesteps to her left so that the water disks shred the fusion's upper torso and right arm.

The stunned fusion tries to move, but at that moment, Max stands back up and pulls the trigger of his pistol twice, while Gwen launches three energy bolts at it. The fusion falls to the floor and Mandy beats on it with her bat, until it dissolves into fusion paste on the floor leaving behind a Humngosaur and Tetrax nanos. They immediately disappear at the cold, harsh look that Mandy gave them.

"Now that that buffoon is gone, I will lead us to the bridge. I'm in charge of this little group now got it!" Mandy said giving Gwen a menacing look as she walks out of the room through the only open door.

Gwen sighs and she and Grandpa Max follow after her.

Several minutes later, Mandy, Gwen and Max arrive on the bridge to the room and find it fusion matter free. Max sits down in a chair at a control console and turns on a control panel so he can slowly start up the secondary power systems. Monitors flick on and system statues reports start to pour in from all over the carrier.

After several minutes, all but one light turns green on the systems board. The light that remains red is for the main engine core.

Max frowns as he looks at the screen, "It's all up to Rex and Holden now to get the main engine core online so we can get back to Townsville."

Max flicks through the security cameras and misses a shadow with a bulbous nose pass by in the corner of one cameras near the engineering section of the carrier.

Meanwhile, Rex and Holden run down a flight of stairs and down into a section with "Engineering" stamped on the wall.

"At least we made it down here without getting lost." Rex said with a grin.

Holden rolls his eyes before stating, "If I hadn't suggested you use your nanites to get directions from that offline Dexbot, we would be lost now, because the map you got was for Mandark's science carrier."

Rex chuckles, "Yeah, that's a good point. We shouldn't waste time talking about this. The main engine core has to be close by."

The two boys walk down the hallway, unaware of the bulbous nosed shadow following closely behind them. As Rex and Holden turn down another hallway, they hear an odd buzzing and crackling noise which forces them to run down the hall and through the door into a large room with the engine core and two weird looking devices on either of the core. Near the devices is a fusion of Kevin and it is fiddling with a bolt on the engine core.

"Well, looks like I get to have some fun today. I'll make short work of this guy." Rex said cockily as he formed the Smack Hands and runs at the fusion. The two devices start to glow and a weird blue green energy passes between them. The Smack Hands make contact with the energy and Rex screams in pain as the Smack Hands parts fall to the floor. Holden raises his rifle and shot the energy twice, but his shots were absorbed by it.

Holden closes his eyes, "Any ideas on what this stuff is Rex?"

Rex shakes his head, "No, not really. Wait! I take that back! I think this is the Imaginary Energy that is from Foster's! So, how are we going to break through it?"

"I haves an idea!" A voice said behind them.

Holden and Rex turn and find Billy standing behind them picking his bellybutton.

Holden sighs as he watches Billy eat the bellybutton lint and then says, "Well Billy, what's your big idea?"

"Wells, you could just have them turn up the energy output on that doohickey thingy at the Foster's that's sending the Imaginary Energy here. I'll even calls them for ya." Billy replied.

Rex stares at Billy and then says in an exasperated tone, "That would just give Fuse more energy and make it more likely that he would become immune."

"Rex, maybe Billy is on to something! If too much energy starts to flow into these devices, it could cause an overload and that energy shield would stop functioning. We don't have much to lose." Holden replied.

Rex closes his eyes and nods, "Alright, I'll give anything a try, but once that shield is down, get out of our way Billy."

Billy nods vigorously and quickly takes his Nancom out of his pocket and placing a call.

Frankie appeared on his com and she replies testily, "What do you want Billy? I'm rather busy at the moment. Mac just ate some sugar that Goo gave him and now he is running around the house like crazy!"

"Frankie, I wants you to turn that energy conversion thingy all the way up to elevens for a few seconds. It's really important! Please with sugar and sprinkles on top."

Frankie grumbles and replies, "Fine, but you better tell me why I'm doing this before I get in trouble."

Frankie hangs up.

A few seconds later, the two devices start to hum as the power level increases. A rain of sparks issues from both of the devices as they short out and fall to the ground, the lights on their sides dimming.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Rex shouts as he formed the Smack Hands and runs at Fusion Kevin.

The fusion turns around and forms a spiked ball and punches at Rex. The Smack Hands connects with the spiked ball and damages the machine, but also disables the fusion's arm. Fusion Kevin kicks Rex in the chest and into the wall. Holden at that moment, dashes forward with his Epee drawn and slashes at the fusion's disabled arm and stabs its chest a few times.

The arm falls to the floor and melts away as do bits of one of the legs. Fusion Kevin's other arm turns into a blade and slashes at Holden. Holden dodges a little late and his lower arm is nicked by the edge of the blade. Rex stands back up, forms the Punk Busters and jumps into the air before they disappear and he reforms the Smack Hands which starts to spin rapidly.

Rex plows into Fusion Kevin and drills the fusion into the metal grating. After a few seconds, Rex's hands return to normal and the fusion slowly melts away, leaving behind a keychain and a nano Kevin. The nano floats to over Rex's com and disappears. Rex and Holden approach the engine core and Rex reaches out and places his hand on it.

Rex closes his eyes and blue lines appear on his hand as his nanites repair some of the damaged areas of the core.

A small whirring sound starts to issue from the core as it starts to power up and Rex smiles, "There, almost as good as new. Genius boy will have to repair the rest of it, once we get back to Townsville."

Holden closes his eyes and comments, "Come on you two, we should head to the bridge and report in." Holden leaves the engine core with Billy and Rex on his heels.

Ten minutes later, the three teens arrive on the bridge and find Max at the helm controls.

"You boys did a great job of bringing the main engine core back online. We just cleared the Infected Zone a few minutes ago and should be back in Townsville in an hour and a half." Max said with a smile as the Dexcarrier was gaining some altitude.

Mandy turns from the window and spots Billy. "What's the moron doing here?" Mandy demanded.

Billy dashes over and hugs her, "Mandy, I was wor…"

Mandy takes the weird looking relic from her com and a green portal appears. Mandy kicks Billy into it before he could say anything else and the portal closes.

Gwen looks at Mandy and says in a stern manner, "Where did you send him?"

Mandy smiles evilly and with glee in her voice replies, "To a detention in another dimension. Don't worry about him, I'll tell Grim to go and get him when we get back to Townsville."

As the Dexcarrier heads towards the southeast, the roof of strange building that was located north of the Green Maw starts to glow.

Over an hour later in Dexlabs, Dexter was sitting in the lobby with Deedee, Nigel and Ben who were restrained by security.

"What in Albert Einstein's name has gotten into you three today? I need to look at those reports!" Dexter shouted, his accent becoming thicker as he spoke.

Ben just rolled his eyes and replied in a small voice, "Dex, calm down, there was a reason for what we did. If you go outside you will see why we were messing around so much."

Before Dexter can yell at him again, Computress rolls up to him and replies, "The Dexcarrier has just arrived in Townsville and is now above the lab."

Dexter's eyes widen and he runs out of the building to see his ship floating above.

"Merry Christmas little brother!" Deedee said as she bounds up next to Dexter and kisses his cheek.

A S.C.A.M.P.E.R. lands in front of the building and Holden steps out followed by Rex, Gwen, Mandy and Max.

Ben walks up behind Dexter and replies in a nonchalant tone, "Holden and I knew we couldn't possibly get you just any old thing for Christmas. We figured this would really make your day."

Holden nods as he walks up to them and states, "That and everyone else's as well."

Dexter grins and hugs his two friends tightly and then looks up at his ship. Then at that moment, Dexter sees a green ball of light shots down from Planet Fusion and into the distance.

Computress rolls out of the building a minute later and says in an urgent tone, "I just received reports from Plumbers and SCAT teams in the Darklands. The reports say that green ball of light was Fuse. I also have reports that some areas are experiencing renewed surges of fusion activity."

Everyone's eyes open in shock.

"Computress, have a work crew start repairing the Dexcarrier immediately. Once they are finished, we will put an end to this war once and for all!" Dexter said as he walked back into Dexlabs, followed by Ben and Holden.

Now that Fuse is on Earth the final battle is on the horizon. I all hope you like this chapter. I worked on and off on this for 2 days for probably 18 hours or so. It may not be my best chapter, but I did my best. review, pm me or what not. flame me if you have to so you can tell me what I did wrong.