Hey guys, RJ Writing Ink here. It just occurred to me that I never really established the codenames of the Vibrora Cinco in the last chapter properly. TLDR, they're all named after deadly snakes found in Mexico.
Terciopelo: Olive-green shoulder-length hair with black stripes in a mantail. He's the guy who shot an RPG at Comet and is very unpredictable.
Roca Bandas: Short, light-grey hair with black bands. He's the sniper who shot at Comet the first time.
Coralillos: Pony-tailed man dyed red, black, and yellow. Besides guns, he also uses knives coated in venom that causes paralysis. He's a sadist who likes to torture his enemies.
Querétaro: Has yellowish-green tinged hair. Like Coralillos, he uses weapons covered in venom.
Cascabel de dos puntos: Brown-haired and smallest of the group. He's like Guldo from the Ginyu Force, if Guldo liked explosives too much.
Mojave: Green-haired man with diamond tattoos on his wrist, almost as tall as the Mountain. He's the leader of the Vibrora Cinco and has worked in the Cartel business for decades, making him extremely deadly.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something to plan something…
Play "Streets of Venice (Fight) - Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves Music Extended"- /0RQaWG-DAgE
"Mátenlo, muchachos!" (Kill him, boys!)
Comet had it pegged from the start. No sooner had the big guy calling himself 'The Mountain' finished introducing his...associates (emphasis on the 'ass' part) than they tried to rush him.
Two guys, the one with the multi-colored ponytail and the one with hair dyed a hideous shade of yellow, rushed at him. They each dual-wielded a pair of bowie knives that, in keeping with the group's theme of snakes, had handles that resembled snake heads.
Without even the time to fire off a one-liner, Comet jumped back as the criminals thrust at him. He leapt a few feet or so into the air before attempting to land gracefully on a stack of nearby boxes, trying to catch his breath.
He didn't have much luck with that, though. The guy with the grey-black banded hair pulled out a carbine, took aim at the Prince, and fired.
"Oh crap!" It was only thanks to Comet's reflexes that he managed to dodge the gunfire as he found himself forced back onto the ground. Unfortunately, the two knife-wielders were waiting for him, as they began to charge at him once more.
There wasn't any time for Comet to cast his magic. Falling back on the years of training he'd undergone with Rayleigh and the Kingsguard, Comet mentally commanded his Wand to extend to staff form before using it to block the incoming melee weapons.
At least, he tried to. His two opponents had two knives apiece, making it impossible for him to block them. He got two, but they just used their free hand to slash at him with the remaining dagger.
Thinking fast, Comet made a bit of a gamble. Bringing his left leg upwards, he hit the man with the ponytail from below while simultaneously striking out at the yellow-haired man with his right palm. He failed to hit either of them, but the threat slowed them down enough to give Comet a few extra seconds. All the time the boy needed to jump out of harm's way.
Choosing to forgo his normal grandstanding as he landed on a nearby roof, Comet blurted out the first thing he could think of: "CANDLE LOCK!" On command, a stream of white candle wax spewed forth from the bell of his Wand and launched itself at his two assailants. Before either of them could react, they found their feet encased in the stuff, entrapping them and locking them onto the ground, unable to move or pursue Comet.
"WHAT IS THIS STUFF, CORRALILLOS?!" the yellow-haired man called out to his partner in shock.
"How the hell should I know, Querétaro!?" The many-colored man (Corralillos, Comet noted) yelled back in exasperation. "Just focus on getting rid of this mierda!"
As the two men began to punch and chip away at the candle wax with their knives and fists, Comet moved on to the remaining four, who hadn't wasted any time standing around and gawking. The man with the carbine aimed at Comet the moment he landed, forcing him to dash away in a bid to avoid the bullets. He wasn't sure how getting shot with a gun would affect him due to his Mewman durability, but he didn't want to find out.
The others weren't wasting any time either. The Mountain and the other three killers had pulled out some firearms and started shooting in his direction. Comet couldn't slow down for a second, lest he risk getting hit.
The Prince could give himself some breathing room by conjuring an air strike shield that protected him from the gunfire. Whatever bullets the men were using, though, must have been tough because he could already see cracks forming in the shield.
Oh, crud. What do I do? Comet's mind began to race as he tried to think of a way out of this. He couldn't jump down without being left wide open, and he was running out of the rooftop to run across.
Realizing that he had to put them on the defensive, Comet stopped just short of the roof's edge. Using his shield spell as cover, Comet leaned out enough to see where his enemies were. Once he saw them, he aimed with his Wand and fired.
"Nacho shuriken cheese storm!" A bunch of shuriken's made from nacho chips whizzed out of the Wand in the criminal's direction. However, they were too far away to make a direct hit.
It didn't matter, and Comet had added something special to the spell to compensate. In a few moments, a beeping sound could be heard coming from the nachos now embedded in the concrete, and it was a sound that Cascabel knew all too well.
"¡Granada! ¡Mover!" (Grenade! Move!)
Cascabel's warning proved to be well-founded. As the Mountain and Vibrora Cinco bolted from the spot, the nachos beeped faster and louder until they finally detonated. The result blast covered the area they'd just been standing in hot, melted cheese. It may not sound bad, except it was so hot that the stuff began to burn. A nearby crate that got caught in the stuff caught on fire.
"Whoa. Wasn't expecting that." Comet noted that he should make a warning about that for future reference.
On the other hand, Cascabel wasn't too happy about being outdone in his department. "Two can play at this game! Cover me, boys!" He shouted as he darted towards Comet, much to the Mountain's anger. Right as the man was about to yell at the killer, Mojave interjected.
"Forget about him. Focus on the kid while Querétaro and Corrall free themselves," he told the giant. The other members continued to shoot at Comet as he began to run towards a bunch of crates for cover.
For his part, Comet didn't feel pinned down like many soldiers would in his scenario. He could easily use his magic to get himself out of this. But unless he took these guys down, they might cause trouble for the surrounding region. He had to end this soon before some unlucky passer-by got caught in the crossfire. Or, just as bad, he missed the premiere of the movie!
"¡Cuidado, niño bonito!" (Heads up, pretty boy!)
As Comet began to think of something, a small, homemade grenade came hurtling out of the sky from above him, landing at his feet.
"Shit! Shield prison!" Comet conjured a shield prison around the explosive, but he didn't bother waiting to see if it would contain it. He bolted from his hiding spot once more, only to be met with a left hook to the face by a short man, only a few inches taller than Comet. The punch sent the boy back into the ground before skidding to a halt on the concrete.
"HA HA! Did you see that, guys? I got him!" Cascabel gleefully cackled.
"QUIT CELEBRATING, YOU IDIOT!" his comrades called out. "HE'S NOT GOING TO GO DOWN SO EASILY!"
Indeed, Comet didn't let that lucky shot keep him down for long. In seconds, he was on his feet as the man continued to bask in his surprise attack, leaving him wide open. "Baby supersonic leech bomb!"
"Wait, baby what?"
It was too late, though. Cascabel only had enough time to look down and see a handful of penny-sized, neon-colored leeches on his chest, prompting him to freak out.
"Ahh! Get them off of me! Get them off-"
*Ka-boom!*
The resulting explosion wasn't large or deadly. Comet held back on that one because, despite these guys trying to kill him, he wasn't willing to do the same. The blast was enough to singe Cascabel's clothes and leave him severely disoriented.
"S-s-santa mierda," Cascabel muttered as he stumbled backward before falling flat on his back. One down, five to go.
"Maldición," Mojave cursed under his breath. He warned Cascabel not to do stupid shit like this because it would kill him. While the worst hadn't happened, it did leave them down one member.
"Tercio," he told his two associates. "Keep him busy while Corral and Quero free themselves. Roca, get around behind him."
"Si, jefe," the heavy weapons expert agreed while the sniper was already on the move.
"Senor De La Cruz," Mojave said as he turned towards the Mountain. "You're with me. I have a plan."
The Mountain snorted at the order, but otherwise, he didn't object.
Meanwhile, Comet found himself locked in melee combat with the one they called Terciopelo. The crazy man charged right at Comet with a metal pipe that he seemingly pulled out of nowhere and tried to bring it down on Comet's face. Comet responded by meeting him with his Wand-Staff, the two makeshift staves locked against each other as they traded blows.
Normally, Comet wouldn't have had a problem with someone just rushing him. The issue here was that Tercio's moves were completely erratic. One moment, it looked like he was trying to jab at his chest, only to immediately prove that to be a feint as he went for Comet's legs.
Comet was used to being the one with the unpredictable fighting style, and it was hard for him to find himself on the receiving end.
"Where did you learn to fight like this?" Comet couldn't help but ask aloud as he blocked and dodged the strikes.
"Years of practice in the slums, pequeño hijo de puta!" Tercio gleefully told him, to which Comet conceded was probably true. He'd seen how tough some of the guys in the lower parts of Dragontown were. Fortunately for him, Comet was more than capable of taking what he liked to dish out to his enemies.
Raising his Wand, Comet looked set to narwhal blast his attacker point-blank, only for Tercio to stomp down with his foot, causing the shot to hit the ground behind them.
Comet continued to be pushed back by the assassin. Sensing his apparent weakness, the criminal pressed the attack, swinging even more wildly than before and keeping Comet on the defensive...or so he thought.
Come on...just a little more. Comet continued to step backward, parrying his opponent's latest attack before jump several feet back.
"So, what are you guys supposed to be, anyway? The discount Ginyu Force, because you guys sure suck at killing things," he taunted his enemy. And Tercio, already heated up by the fighting, fell for it.
"I'd watch my mouth if I were you, you little brat!" he yelled as he charged forward, failing to notice the (rather obvious) trap hole in the middle of the ground until it was too late. The next thing the assassin knew, he was lying flat on his face and bleeding from the nose.
"See, what did I tell you?" Comet taunted him once more. Then, for extra measure, he held him in place using a blast of honey that was so sticky, it might as well have been glue. Two were down.
In the midst of this, Comet found himself facing down the likes of the sniper, Roca Bandas, who managed to make his way up to a nearby building and began to snipe at Comet. Comet managed to dodge his strikes just fine. However, the main problem was his latest attacker managed to camouflage themselves amidst a bunch of nearby rubble. Had this been anyone else, Comet would've had to think things through and come up with some plan to discover where the heck the sniper was.
Comet's solution? Screw it.
"SONIC KRAKATOA SCREECH!"
With this, instead of anything tangible coming out of Comet's Wand, Comet unleashed a concentrated burst of something intangible, but still very capable of hurting a person. It replayed the sound of the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, the loudest sound ever heard in human history. The sound was so loud that it could be heard thousands of miles away from the eruption. Those closer to the disaster were likely to have ruptured their eardrums from the sound. And Comet had just the rooftop that Terciopelo was hiding on with a concentrated version of this.
The effect was readily apparent, as Tercio's eardrums ruptured almost immediately, causing him to cry out and scream in pain as blood poured out of his ears. The pain was almost unbearable, but Comet had held back enough to keep from causing any permanent damage. Or death.
At this point in time, Coralillos and Querétaro had nearly finished freeing themselves from their wax shackles. But with everyone else out of the way, Comet was free to deal with them.
"RAINBOW FIST PUNCH!"
The next thing either of them knew, they were getting folded by a pair of giant rainbow-colored fists that launched them into a nearby wall. Again, it wasn't enough to kill them; just knock them out for a while.
"Ha ha! That's four down, and two to go! I am awesome!" Comet couldn't help but celebrate that he was kicking these jerks butts. All he had to do was take out the one with the green hair and that big guy, and he could get out of here and go see the movie with his friends.
End Music
By doing this, though, Comet had forgotten a crucial battle lesson: don't start celebrating until your opponents are down for the count. If he remembered that, then he would've realized that he hadn't seen Mojave or the Mountain for a few minutes.
Play "One Piece Ost - Desperate Situation"- /6s-Icke6F8M
"I wouldn't go celebrating your victory just yet, your little brat! You're way to cocky for your own good!"
By the time Comet realized what was happening, it was too little, too late. Like an actual snake lunging out at its prey, Mojave dove from the roof above to deliver a devastating drop kick straight to Comet's unprotected back.
"GAAHHH!" Comet could only scream as the pain from the surprise attack sent shockwaves throughout his body. Pain only made worse by the fact that Comet was sent tumbling several feet away on the ground, scraping and bruising his skin as he did so.
When the pain subsided enough for Comet to think straight, Comet got to his feet. He skinned himself in several places, his back felt sore, and he might have come close to losing a tooth (his parents would kill him if that happened.) As he tried to stand up again, he realized something that sent shivers down his spine-
He didn't seem to be holding anything in his hands.
As Comet got up, his worst fears were confirmed. Sitting on the ground, well out of reach, lay his Wand next to where Mojave stood. And standing right next to the last of the Vibrora Cinco was the Mountain. Both of them had sinister grins on their faces as they relished the state in which the Blue Magus was in.
"Lo siento, chico, but it would seem that you have blown it," the Mountain said sadistically.
"No matter how powerful you may be, you should never let your guard down while the enemy remains alive on the battlefield," Mojave sternly told the Prince before reaching down to pick up his Wand, much to Comet's horror. "Nor should you be so careless as to drop your main weapon," he added as he grasped the handle to one of the most powerful tools in existence.
End music
The next part was enough to make Comet want to have a heart attack. Sensing the new user, the Wand began to change its form to conform to its new master, much to everyone's astonishment. When the glowing ceased, the Wand now took the form of a long, crudely-made polearm. Attached to the end of it was a wicked-looking black blade made of obsidian.
"Well, how 'bout that?" Mojave noted as he began to carefully inspect the Wand-Polearm for a few moments. When he finally finished, he looked over it once more before giving off a sinister smirk.
"Well, Mountain, it would seem that we've discovered the secret behind the Blue Magus' power, haven't we?"
"Indeed," the Mountain nodded. "It would seem that it was not the hero himself that was powerful, but the weapon that he chose to use," he said as he took the chance to look at the Wand-Polearm himself. "I do not understand how the existence of magic is possible, but that no longer matters. We are holding the proof of it in our hands."
"And it looks like anyone who can get their hands on this thing can use magic for themselves, right?"
"Si, Mojave, si. Perhaps the appearance of this boy was a blessing in disguise for us."
"I was thinking the exact same thing, Mountain. I think the boss will be more than pleased when we deliver this to him. But first things first," Mojave stared at the dumbfounded hero several feet away. "We need to make an example of the kid so that no one else gets any bright ideas."
ONE PIECE OST - Boroodo's Confession- /hr4LGXgvsrw
Comet gulped as the worst-case scenario seemed to be unfolding right before his very eyes. Just like that, Comet had let his family's greatest weapon fall into the hands of murderous criminals. With the power of the Wand at their disposal, there was no telling what damage they could do to Earth! He had to get it back before it was too late?
Damn it! How am I going to get it back? Those two are way too strong to beat in a straight-up fight, and if they figure out how to use the Wand, what chance do I have?
"To be killed by the very weapon that gave you immense power. Such bitter irony, is it not?" the Mountain said as he pointed the Wand-Polearm in Comet's direction. "Do not worry, Magus, and you will not live long enough to regret what has happened to you!" he yelled before charging at Comet!
Comet felt his mind race! It felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest. He hadn't felt this helpless about anything since that horrible day at Castle Avarius as he tried to free his best friend. Or when she was locked inside his closet and about to read his journal! All he had wanted to do was stop those bad things from happening. His entire soul felt like it was screaming for help.
End Music.
And just like those two times before, something did help him. The metaphorical door opened once more, and Comet's eyes began to glow an eerie, pale blue.
"Dipppp doowwnnnn..." Comet didn't realize it, at least not fully, but the stress of his situation had been enough to get him to dip down into the essence of magic in order to save his life. And much like the first time he'd partially done it at Ludo's Castle, Comet did so with purpose and intent.
"Rainbow...FIST PUNCH!"
That intent being to stop the Mountain, who was nearly within striking distance of him. Before he could skewer the boy with his own weapon, a giant rainbow came pouring out of Comet's body, and sucker punched him right in the kisser!
"GAAH!" The impact was enough to make even a giant like the Mountain go flying into the air before coming back down in a heap, much to Mojave's horror.
None of that mattered for Comet, though. All that mattered was that he got his Wand back and all his power with it.
"Hey, you. Snake man." Comet then looked at Mojave, utterly pissed at what had almost happened. "When you wake up, give everyone you know a message: don't mess with the Blue Magus."
"Uh-oh."
Play "Incursion (Incursione)-Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind O.S.T Vol.2: Intermezzo", start at 1:23- /abuFvebtdC8?t=84
"RAINBOW FIST GATLING GUN!"
The next few seconds can be summed as a fusion of beatdowns given to enemies by Jotaro Kujo and Monkey D. Luffy. As in, both involved Comet punching Mojave. A lot.
End Music
By the time Comet finished, the leader of Vibrora Cinco had laid unconscious and in a heap. All of the enemies had been defeated, and the battle was over, but Comet felt exhausted by everything.
Comet looked exhausted, too. His Blue Magus Costume had several tears in the cape and clothing, and the blood from the areas where he'd skinned his knees started to seep through. Needless to say, he was in no shape to go see the movie.
The real kicker, though? The fact that the sun was already starting to set. He didn't have much time before he had to meet up with Marcia and the others.
"Ah, shit!" Comet began to panic as he realized how much of a time crunch he was under. "Summoning Cloudy charm!' On his command, his faithful, sentient cloud appeared with a squawk, only to see what had happened over the last few minutes.
Comet didn't waste time telling Cloudy what happened, though. He had to get home and get Glossaryck to help him fix this before getting to the movie!
"Come on, Cloudy! We gotta get home, and we need to do it now!"
"Tee-hee! You got it, sir!"
And with that, Comet and Cloudy sped away into the sky in the direction of Echo Creek, not giving much thought to what just happened.
Had Comet bothered to stay and look, he would've noticed that The Mountain wasn't out cold, and he had seen everything that happened. And as he watched the meddlesome hero speed away, ideas began to form in his head...
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"So let me get this straight," Glossaryck said as he healed his student with his own magic. "You were flying over the city looking for bandits to fight when you got jumped by a group of...what did you call them?"
"Bootlegged, narco-themed versions of the Power Rangers meet the Ginyu Force," Comet said as he sat on the bed, shirtless and out of his Blue Magus costume.
"Yes, that," Glossaryck continued. "And you two proceeded to beat the corn out of each other, they got their hands on your Wand, and you proceeded to dip down and beat them."
"That about sums it all up, Glossaryck," Comet said with a weary sigh as Glossaryck. "So, um, are you going to tell my parents about this?"
"Should I?" Glossaryck asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"No!" Comet adamantly responded. "They're already on edge after learning about what happened with Ludo and Toffee. If they find out that I've been looking to beat up thugs on Earth on purpose, they'll haul me right back to Mewni!"
"Well, it's not like I get paid enough to care about that, anyway," Glossaryck shrugged.
"We pay you?"
"Besides, it all worked out in the end. You put them in their place, and you managed to dip down once more. I would say that there's nothing to worry about. I mean, except for your friend. When she finds out about what happened tonight...well, let's just say that I'm ready to notify your family."
"Marcia doesn't have to-no, no," Comet quickly shut that line of thinking down. "I should tell her about what happened. I shouldn't keep secrets like this from her. She deserves to know the truth."
"Oh, good. Because I doubt that she'll be happy if she found you were lying to her about how you almost got yourself killed for the umpteenth time," Glossaryck snarked. "You're all healed, by the way," he added.
Sure enough, as Comet stood up and examined himself, he saw that Glossaryck had healed all of his injuries. There wasn't a scratch on him, and no trace of the fight whatsoever. Except for...
"Aw, crapbaskets. I can't take my costume to the theater. If everyone sees me, they'll freak out that the Blue Magus is there. And if Marcia finds out how bad it got messed up, she'll flay me alive!" As Comet tried to figure out a solution to all of this, his mind went blank.
"Screw it. I'll just go as someone else," he said as he went to grab his Wand and dimensional scissors...only to remember that Marcia had taken them to get herself and the others to Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
"Oh, godsdamnit!" Comet cursed as he realized how poorly he had planned things out tonight. Even so, he wouldn't let any of this ruin his night out with his friends.
"Maybe this could be a valuable lesson in the future, Comet," Glossaryck suggested. "About how you should think things through some more before deciding to do stuff like this?"
"Don't you start with me on this, Glossaryck!" Comet shot back. "I gotta go. Now! Cloudy!" Comet called out to his cloud Spell.
"Yes, Comet?" Cloudy responded from the balcony of his tower where he had been left.
"Get me to Grauman's Chinese Theatre on the double!" Comet said as he hopped on board his cloud mount. "Don't worry about my outfit. I'll change into something on the way."
"Tee-hee. Okay, Comet!" Cloudy said in response before taking flight and speeding off into the setting sun, with Glossaryck watching him leave.
"You should just tell her, kid! It will feel so much better afterward," he yelled as Comet sped away. Whether the boy would actually listen to his advice was another matter.
Not that Glossaryck actually cared. He had his shows to watch.
"Now then. Time to make some popcorn and get caught up on House of the Dragon," Glossarcyk said to himself as he made his way to Marcia's room to use her laptop and HBO Max account.
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By the time Comet had made it to the Chinese Theatre, he'd already come up with a new costume. He felt one most appropriate, considering that Dragon Ball Super: Superhero was mainly about Gohan. Instead of going as his version of the Great Saiyaman like the Blue Magus was supposed to be, he decided it would be better to dress up as Gohan himself. Not just any version of Gohan, though: he showed up to the Theatre as Gohan in Beast Form using his magic to spike his hair and dye it white.
Or, as many fans on the Internet would call it, Gohan's El Blanco form. The fandom made a meme of Gohan gaining a new form in the Tournament of Power Arc years ago, and even though Toei wasn't saying anything about it, the fans knew the truth. Gohan Beast was El Blanco made canon.
It ended up working better than Comet could've hoped. Alfonso and Ferguson were blown away by how awesome Comet looked as El Blanco Gohan when he met up with the others. Their costumes weren't half-bad, either, with Alfonso as the angel Whis and Ferguson as a version of Cell, while Marcia dressed like Videl in her high-school clothes.
Marcia did raise an eyebrow at Comet's costume, since she knew what he had meant to come as. Considering how he'd showed up and everyone else in line started gushing over Comet's outfit, she kept her mouth shut.
The rest of the night went off without a hitch. The quartet enjoyed the movie, took photos with their fellow fans, and everyone seemed to have a great time. By the time they all went home, it seemed like all was right with Comet's world. The events of that afternoon seemed like nothing more than a distant memory to Comet, an afterthought.
"So, any reason why the Blue Magus didn't show up tonight?"
*Record Scratch*
Until, that is, Comet and Marcia had returned home for the night after dropping Alfonso and Ferguson off at their places. Then Marcia decided to drop that bombshell in the living room.
Comet wasn't one to get nervous about many things, but hearing the tone in Marcia's voice at that moment made him want to sweat bullets.
"Umm…I thought that too many people would recognize me?" That was the first excuse that he came up with for Marcia. And it was a genuine reason; given how everyone seemed to be talking about LA's superhero, it would look weird if he showed up for a movie premiere, especially if he was the only one dressed as the Magus.
"Okay, I'll give you that, Comet," Marcia conceded. For a moment, Comet thought that he was in the clear. Until-
"And it has nothing to do with the bruise on your chest?"
"Bruise? What bruise, I don't have a-" As Comet glanced down at his gi, he saw, much to his surprise, the faint remnants of a bruise sticking out from the corner. It was small, barely visible, but it was still there.
Damn it, Glossaryck! You were supposed to get rid of all of them!
Comet slumped his shoulders in defeat knowing there was no point in lying to Marcia. "I don't know what's weirder- the fact that you saw it or that you were staring at my chest."
"Don't make it weird, Dragonfly," Marcia told him, shutting down any attempts to make her feel embarrassed. "You got that from fighting crime, didn't you?"
"Yes," Comet admitted, his voice sounding like he was a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"What happened?"
"A giant and some guys that had a snake fetish tried to jump me. I beat them all up, though." Comet didn't want to have to spill the whole details about the fight. In all honesty, he wasn't in any real danger the entire time...until they managed to pry his Wand away from him.
Marcia sighed. It was as if she knew that Comet wasn't telling her everything or downplaying whatever happened. However, she guessed whatever happened was because Comet let his reckless nature get the better.
"Okay, look, Marcia," Comet suddenly said. "You were right to be worried about me before. I wanted to be a hero and help people in need, and I let myself get caught up in all of it. I didn't realize that it would end up painting a target on my back and make a group of discount Power Rangers try to kill me. In hindsight, we were fighting Ludo's gang all over again."
As he said that, a feeling of realization dawned on Comet. "Wait...Marcia, did you not want me to be a hero because you thought that this would be a repeat of our fights with Ludo?"
"Yes, Comet. That's exactly what I was worried would happen," Marcia confessed. "I know that we thought Ludo and his Monsters almost daily, but there's a difference between fighting a group of desperate outcasts and hardened criminals."
"But we handled Diavolo," Comet pointed out.
"Yeah, we did," Marcia said, conceding that point. "But if you'll recall, we came close to getting killed by them, too. We only won because you forced their captain into a duel out of pride. If Diavolo hadn't accepted, we'd either be dead or in some dungeon right now. But we're getting off-topic, Comet. We won all those fights because we always had the advantage."
"And with my magic, we always will, Marcia," Comet argued.
"Even so, Comet, I'm worried that you're not taking these thugs as serious as you should be. There are a lot of dangerous gangs of criminals on Earth, with a lot of resources and influence. More than you realize, even."
"Wait, wait, Marcia," Comet interrupted. "I think I see where this is going. You're worried I'll piss off some crime lord, and they'll come charging into Echo Creek looking for me. We fight, and the town could end up getting damaged while the people we care about are in the hospital...or worse."
"Yes. That's exactly what I'm worried about, Comet. And at the rate you're going, it won't be a matter of if it happens, but when," Marcia worriedly told her roommate. "And as good as you are...I think we both know that you're not invincible."
Comet winced. He hated admitting it, but what happened with Toffee had proven Marcia right. Comet wasn't immune to screwing up as amazing as he was. Truthfully, it felt like he screwed up a lot in his life.
"So, what now? Do you want me to just give up? Stop being the Blue Magus?" Comet felt certain that that was Marcia wanted things to go. Much to his surprise, though, the girl shook her head.
"I'm not saying you should give it up, Comet. I know how much being a hero means to you. And, despite all of your reckless, impulsive, and stress-inducing actions, you're good at it."
Comet perked up at this. "Really? You think so?"
"Comet, since I met you, you've helped us win a football game, stood up to the most popular girl in school for my sake, brought down a corrupt boarding school, and saved an entire island from pirates. I'm pretty sure you're a hero."
"You're damn right I am, Marcia! After all, it's one of my dreams to travel the Universe and save people in need of help!" Comet said as he puffed out his chest, trying to look bigger than he already was. Marcia couldn't help but giggle at her friend's antics.
"Don't get a big head over this, Dragonfly," she teased. "The last thing we need is your ego getting any bigger."
"I'm just joking, Mar-Mar," Comet admitted. "But yeah, I think I see what you're saying. I'll tone down my time as the Blue Magus. I don't know if you know this, but being a hero doesn't leave you with a lot of free time."
Marcia rolled her eyes at this statement but knew better than to say anything. "Yeah, I'm sure it does. Now, what do you say we make up for missing Friendship Thursday with some nachos and another movie?"
"You bet! That sounds like a great idea! I hear that Disney+ just added Hocus Pocus 2, and I've been waiting to see that."
And so, the two friends reconciled their differences, and for the first time in weeks, Comet stayed in for the night, knowing that the LA metropolitan area would be safe for one night without the Blue Magus.
0000000000000
"So let me get this straight," the Boss asked over the phone. "Even with the aid of the Vibrora Cinco, you still failed to kill the Blue Magus."
"Si, Jefe," the Mountain admitted as he tended his wounds in the Cartel's hideout. The members of the Vibrora Cinco were resting in another area as Mojave watched over them, trying to see what they could salvage.
"And why should I not recall you to Tijuana to answer for your failure?"
"I think you already know the answer to that, Senor," the Mountain told the Boss. "You saw that happened on the body cams what happened when we picked up his weapon."
"Indeed. Despite how improbable it might be, it would seem that the Blue Magus' powers are the real deal, as does his weapon. More importantly, his weapon is not limited to the Blue Magus alone."
"I noticed that, as well, Senor. If he hadn't taken it back from us, I have no doubt that we would've slain him with his weapon."
"Possibly. However, despite your failure, this presents an opportunity for us and our operations."
The Mountain smirked. "Senor, are you suggesting what I think you are?"
"Indeed I am, Hector. Now that we know the source of the child's immense power, and that anyone can use it, acquiring it for ourselves should be a top priority. With its magical capabilities, we will not just restore our organization to its former strength-we will surpass it."
"Sir, I was thinking the exact same thing. With that kind of power, we could rule all of Mexico."
"Indeed. But we must be patient. The Blue Magus will likely not show his face again for some time while he recovers from his ordeal. For now, focus on our operations. Oh, and Hector?"
"Si?"
"See if you can recruit any of the local criminals in this endeavor. A chance at being a part of what we are building would be a hard thing to pass on, and they will serve as a useful distraction for our adversary while we rebuild."
"Consider it done, Senor. The next we face the Blue Magus, we will be ready, and his fall will signal the return of the Tijuana Cartel to power."
"No. If we get our hands on the hero's weapon, we will no longer be a mere Cartel and an empire."
*In Jay's Workspace, RJ "Jay" Writing Ink's setting up a little shrine with the Shield used by Naofumi in The Rising of the Shield Hero resting underneath a plaque that says "Reserved for Allen Blaster. We await his return." Janna's standing behind him.*
Jay: Allen, wherever you are, I hope you get the peace you're looking for. You deserve it for all the hard work you put into your Shield Hero fanfic.
Janna: Think he'll ever come back?
Jay: I hope so. He needed a break, though. From the sound of things, it looked like he was really stressed out about his life. I wish him well, regardless.
*Jay and Janna then begin to walk to another section of the Workspace*
Janna: So, I gotta ask: why the whole superhero arc? Was it just for shits and giggles?
Jay: Yes and no. Like I said, Janna, I wanted to do an arc like this for some time. I just figured that now was the time. Also, I figured that with Ludo off doing his own thing for now, Comet would need another threat to face. I figured that having a group of criminals from Earth trying to steal his Wand would be a good idea. Though, I admit that I'm disappointed that no one figured out who I based the Boss on.
Janna: You weren't exactly good on hints, you know.
Jay: Yeah. I probably should've made it more obvious that I based him on Giancarlo Esposito's characters. I thought it would be cool to have someone resembling Gustavo Fring be an adversary of Comet down the line.
Janna: Look at you, aiming high! So what's next? More filler, or we getting back to the story.
Jay: Well, next is going to be "Wand to Wand," but that's going to wait until November. And before you ask, I have my reasons, and they have to do with Halloween.
Janna: Wait, do you mean-?
Jay: Yep. Halloween One-Shot. I'm going to spend the next month working on it and getting started on the next chapter. Hopefully, I can juggle both at the same time. But for now, we need to go to the party.
Janna: So, what's the occasion this time?
Jay: Oh, nothing...
*As Jay and Janna step into another room, they're greeted by a group of fictional characters numbering in the thousands, all gathered underneath a banner that reads "Happy 30th Birthday, Cartoon Network (SCREW YOU, ZASLAV!)*
Janna: Holy...shit.
*As far as the eye can see, there's nothing but characters from every show that has called Cartoon Network home over the years. The cast of the Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera's pantheon, Cow and Chicken/I Am Weasel, Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Powerpuff Girls, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Ed Edd n' Eddy, Codename: Kids Next Door, Regular Show, Adventure Time, Craig of the Creek, We Bare Bears, Flapjack, Steven Universe, Johnny Bravo, Infinity Train, Chowder, Camp Lazlo, Juniper Lee...and the list just keeps going on and on!*
Janna: Did you-?
Jay: Every. Last. One of them.
Janna: Dude, I knew that you were a fan, but this is something else.
Jay: *shrugs his shoulders*. Hey, with the way Cartoon Network's been treated by Warner Bros. lately, we all need this. A reminder of how far animation has come, and the hope that it will not be wiped out by whatever BS capitalism has to throw at us. Also, there's a giant pinata of David Zaslav that's filled with candy that should be coming down from the ceiling any minute now.
Janna: Say no more! I'm on it, Jay!
*Janna then speeds off to find the others, leaving Jay by himself to enjoy what he's created.*
Jay: You see that, Warner Bros? That's how you treat a beloved channel right. Also, I wasn't kidding about the break. I want to write something cool for Halloween. Might make it an annual thing if it goes over well. But for now, let's respond to
READERS REVIEWS!
NightAroma: Sorry, dude, but you were off about Thrawn. I couldn't do justice to Thrawn, anyway. He's pratically a god of war in Star Wars. However, I might just add the CryptKeeper for my Halloween special. I'll need to see if I can book him. If not, I bet I can get Chuckie.
95-Bane was actually the second inspiration for the Mountain. The other was the Mountain from Game of Thrones, only smarter.
Pedro Alonso Buby Huayanay Zamudio-Heck yeah, I will! Jonah's one of my favorites!
Julayla-You are welcome.
Mlpbrony fan15-Marcia acts like that because she cares. And yes, I ship them too. But no spoilers!
The Wandering Hippie-What, you thought I would make Comet miss the movie? I'm not a jerk! But yeah, I did make sure that Comet got the message about the downsides to the superhero life. And don't worry about the Diaz family. After the thing with Toffee, Comet's parents agreed that if anything bad happened to the Diaz's, they'd send the Royal Army to protect them. They're really fond of Marcia's family.
Samlem15-Neither can I, and welcome aboard.
You know what to do: fave and follow this story, and follow me on Twitter (JZ-Gaming), Insta (RJ Writing Ink), and YouTube (Jungoguy). I also have a discord now, JFORCE Command.
See you for Halloween, and be back in November for "Wand to Wand!" Now, Pops, would you take us out?
Pops: Good show! Jolly good show!
