Chapter 1: Welcoming Windows to Wonderful Worlds Part 3
Guardians:
Ruby (Pokémon Adventures): The Charmer
Junko Konno (Zombie Land Saga): The Shy One
Linhardt von Hevring(Fire Emblem: Three Houses): The Brains/Healer
Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe): The Veteran
Blaze The Cat (Sonic The Hedgehog): The Fire
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Third-Person POV
Location: Future Foundation Headquarters (World of Danganronpa)
"Now then you two, your mission is to make sure nothing dangerous goes in or out of that rift. Do you understand?"
Byakuya Togami informs the girls in front of him, Komaru Naegi & Toko Fukawa.
"O-O-Of course, Master Byakuya! Anything for y-you…" Toko's cheeks flushed red as Byakuya grimaced.
"We'll do our best, good luck on your trip to that metal structure in the middle of the sea!" Komaru salutes him as the Ultimate Affluent Progeny departs via helicopter, "Gee, I never thought I'd see something like this before…"
Toko begins to fidget as she thinks about Byakuya, "Ah… M-Master, I want to help you make new heirs to your family legacy… as many heirs as possible ha…"
A sweat drop rolls down Komaru's head as Toko is off in her own little world. She looks into the rift, it's mostly just bright and dark colors swirling around slowly. No way to tell where it could even lead to, it's all too vague.
Komaru stares at it for a bit before turning back to her partner, "Hey Toko, what do you think is in this thing?"
"Hahh… Huh? U-Um… how should I know?! This stuff is way out of my wheelhouse, it's like supernatural or science fiction! I wouldn't even get close to something like this if it weren't a mission for Master Byakuya." Toko tells her.
"I wonder though… a portal that could lead to another world, just like all those anime series on tv!" Komaru replies.
"Ugh, don't get me started on those, there's so many out there and it's so annoying! Oh boy, a person from Japan gets hit by a truck or summoned to a fantasy world and forms a JRPG party. J-J-Just do something original for once!" Toko complains.
Komaru struggles to come up with an answer to that, "I mean, you're not wrong about there being a lot of them but… eh?"
Komaru and Toko see the portal begin to go all wavy, twisting and bending wildly causing the latter girl to step back. Komaru takes out her hacking gun and Toko prepares her taser.
"W-W-What's going on?!" Toko cries out.
"I-I-I don't knowwwwwwwwww!" Komaru is then suddenly being dragged away by heavy gusts of air.
"K-Komaru!" Toko calls out to her friend, but it was too late for her to reach out and grab her.
The vortex sucks in the young girl and bright light is emitted from within it. The vortex then returns to its previous state, yet Komaru was gone and Toko was on the ground quivering. She immediately takes out a phone and awaits a response.
"M-M-M-MASTER BYAKUYA! I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED OF GETTING VOICEMAILS FROM ME, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BIG PROBLEM!" She yells, as Togami didn't answer (likely knowing it was her).
Location: Future West City (World of Dragon Ball)
"Three on one isn't quite fair, so please allow me to bring in a few reinforcements."
General Tao clicked a button on a wrist communicator he has and summons a Destroyer Monokuma on his right and a Bomber Monokuma on his left.
"I'll take the pink cyborg guy, you two handle the bears. Got it?" Bucky turns to Blaze and Linhardt.
"Hold on for just a moment, we need a better strategy than that." Blaze raises her finger up to try to discuss things further.
Unfortunately the Monokumas aren't waiting as the Bomber throws a grenade and the Destroyer uses its flamethrower to instantly detonate it. The trio barely manage to dodge the attack as Tao guffaws at their misfortune.
"Believe me, I'm not the type of guy who'd just jump in without a plan. There's just no time to come up with anything else, so just light them up." Bucky reaffirms his simple plan before running over to the building Tao was on to climb it.
Blaze sighs as she targets the Destroyer, "Be at the ready with your healing magic."
Linhardt nods as he takes out his Faith magic tome, but begins to ponder his actions for a moment. Blaze ignites her fists and leaps over the Destroyer as it flies by on its jetpack before hitting the Bomber right in its helmet. Meanwhile Bucky ducks under another Dodon Ray by General Tao, but then the blast circles back around and hits Bucky in the back.
"Agh!" He cries out as Tao has a knife retract from his left hand.
"A pity that arm of yours is the only part of you that's mechanical, there is so much more you could achieve as a full cyborg!" Tao mocks Bucky as he slashes forward with the blade.
Bucky catches it with the aforementioned arm and breaks the knife in two, "Not interested in being like Stark, pal."
"Urgh…" Tao grit his teeth before unleashing a kick which Bucky blocks.
Bucky flips the part of the knife he had broken before tossing it back at Tao, which cuts the assassin's cheek.
"Wow, you should show me more of those karate moves, none of that lasers or knives crap." He quips.
"Hah! Hah!" Blaze shoots fireballs out at the Monokumas, but they end up missing their mark.
"Hm… you told me to use healing magic, but would you mind listening to a quick suggestion of mine?" Linhardt asks her.
"As long as it benefits us." Blaze answers.
Linhardt switches to his Reason magic tome, "Indeed it could. Shoot another fireball, this time at this angle."
He points out where to fire and she obliges, the orb of flame going at a 45 degree angle towards the Destroyer Monokuma's gasoline tank.
"Wind." Linhardt casts the spell and the windblade collides with Blaze's fireball.
The wind helped the fire spread far enough to hit the gasoline tank and the resulting explosion detonated both Monokumas.
"Wow, for someone who doesn't enjoy fighting that strategy was marvelous." Blaze complimented the young man.
Linhardt closed his tome with one hand, "Battle seems to have its own benefits. It can allow me to expand my knowledge on spells I could use, as well as testing the strength my own crest provides me."
The explosion also managed to hit the side of the building General Tao was standing on, causing him to lose his balance.
"G-Gah!" He stumbles before Bucky knocks him on his back.
"Had enough, yet?" Bucky asks him.
"Y-Yes! I yield, please forgive me!" Tao begs and holds his hand in front of him.
Blaze then shouts from down below, "Not until you inform us of who you're working for, and what they're trying to do!"
"Of course, I'll tell you anything you want…"
Sweat fell down Tao's face, but a smile slowly spread across it as he held a grenade in his hand. Bucky catches a glimpse of it, but the mercenary manages to toss it towards Linhardt, who doesn't even notice.
"Fairy Wind!"
Whoosh!
The grenade is blown away from Linhardt and it explodes behind him, leaving him standing there wondering what that was.
"W-What?!" Tao lets out as he realizes his sneak attack failed.
Junko and Ruby have arrived just in time, Cottonee atop of the former's head.
"Fuwafuwa, Razor Leaf!" Junko commands her Cottonee.
Tao dodges out of the way of the incoming leaves, although a few manage to hit the weakened mercenary. He lands near a fallen pillar, but is then blocked off by the now reunited group of five.
"Tch… such an idiotic band of miscreants. You all have no idea what kind of power you're up against!" Tao tells them as they all are prepared to take him down.
"Really now, would you mind telling us then? By the way, your outfit with that helmet isn't a very appealing look…" Ruby playfully tosses a Pokéball up in the air repeatedly.
"You've got nowhere to run, so tell us or you're gonna have to replace more of yourself with metal." Bucky gripped his vibranium fist hard.
"Nowhere to 'run', you say? Then I shall take a second option instead!" Tao takes the nearby pillar in his hands, as the group prepares for an incoming attack.
But Tao then tosses the pillar to the right before leaping up high and landing on it. Tao and the pillar soar far beyond our heroes's sight, escaping their interrogation. They stood there for a few seconds, questioning how he even did that before breaking the silence.
"Damn it, we had him cornered! We needed that information badly." Bucky groaned.
Junko returns Cottonee to its ball before turning to everyone, "Who was that man?".
"An assassin working under the people who put us all into this mess, General Tao, I believe his name was?" Linhardt was trying to stop some minor ringing in his ears from the grenade exploding.
"If someone like that, a man who cares little for others and mostly for power and riches, is only an underling…" Blaze began as she dusted herself off.
"...Then they must be on an even worse level." Ruby finishes.
Tao and the pillar eventually land, the mercenary stopping to take a couple breaths.
"Those fools will pay with their lives… especially that man with the metal arm."
Suddenly a ringtone sounds off and the general checks his wrist communicator. When he opens the button, three silhouettes appear in a hologram before him. Tao grits his teeth after seeing his peers.
One of them was a large individual with a large gut, overalls, a bowler hat, and a peg leg. An old woman with long hair and an oddly shaped cane was in the center. On the right was another round man, but he had a bald head, large mustache, a jacket, and triangle sunglasses.
The mustached man spoke first, "Well well well, how was your assignment Tao? You look quite upset, aren't you glad to see your fellow generals?"
"Uh-haw-haw-haw! We all saw your little scuffle with those meddlers, what a curb stomp!" The large man guffawed loudly before being silenced by the old woman.
"Be quiet you bumbling oaf!" She tells him.
"S-Sorry madam." The oaf apologizes.
"Urgh, be quiet you ingrates! I had them on the ropes until the end, I was not informed of there being FIVE of them! Why are you all on my communicator, where is Ms. Towa and Ultron?" Tao rages.
The mustached man raises a finger while answering the question, "They're busy with the construction of the Ultron A.I.'s new body, which I had a hand in of course. Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho!"
"Tch… that still doesn't explain why YOU are all here instead. What reason would you have for contacting me?" The mercenary grumbles.
The old woman stepped forward, "Oh, just to tell you that this was your first strike."
"Excuse me?!" Tao steps back in surprise.
"You heard me correctly, two more large failures like what happened earlier and you'll be done for. Ha ha ha… Ms. Towa's exact words." She cackles.
"I have to get back to assisting with the body construction, but we'll be sure to keep an eye on you. Do not disappoint your fellow generals, or the higher ups either." The mustached man leaves the call.
"Tao ol' pal, they might have to find someone better to take your spot if you mess up twice! I'd love to see them try though, haw haw haw haw!" The large man laughs once more before leaving.
Tao grits his teeth in frustration before noticing something, "Why haven't you left yet, Agatha?"
The silhouette becomes clearer and it's revealed to be the former member of the Kanto Elite Four in the Pokémon Adventures universe. Ghost and Poison type specialist, Agatha.
"I know you are frustrated with your current position. If Team Zetsubou does end up disposing of you… I may have a solution."
"...Go on." Tao slowly regains a smug smile on his face.
"... So what now? Do we even have an idea on where to go next?" Linhardt asks.
"Nope, not a clue." Ruby shook his head.
Blaze put her finger to her chin, "I'm still questioning how he could toss a pillar of that size and use it for transport."
"Probably has a couple more tricks up his sleeve that he didn't use. Most likely underestimated us." Bucky assumes.
"We haven't seen the last of him, he could show up another time better prepared to take us down. It's better to track him down now and strike before he could do that." Ruby tells his companions.
"Did you even see where he was headed? He went quite far and right now we have no leads on where he could possibly be next. We'd just continue to wander around the city until he gets the drop on us, a very foolish choice to make in my opinion." Linhardt responds.
Junko was thinking to herself until she realized what she had in that Ultra Ball in her pocket, "What if… we take to the skies as he did?".
"What?" Bucky raised an eyebrow at her suggestion.
Junko lets out her Salamence, it's red wings spreading out wide as it cries out.
"Ah! Great idea, we'll look over the city from above to see our next destination before traveling there via flight!" Ruby compliments her, making the zombie girl shyly smile.
"I-I see… well if that's the… only option we have." Bucky notices Blaze quivering a bit.
"What's wrong? Afraid of heights?"
Blaze turns away while nodding, embarrassed to admit it.
"Well, you're a cat, right? So if you fall, you're gonna land on your feet." Bucky brings up.
"D-Don't assume such things!" Blaze says to him, exasperated.
Bucky just shrugs with his shoulders before hopping onto Salamence, "Just try to hold on tight then, and hope these kids know how to fly a dragon."
"That's not reassuring at all…" Blaze utters as she sits down on the Pokémon.
"Linhardt, get on! We're about to take off!" Ruby tells the green-haired student.
"I unfortunately have not finished a Certification Exam for Wyvern Riding, or any kind of riding so—AGH!"
Linhardt is pulled up onto the Salamence by Bucky and he lands face first onto its back.
"Consider this your studying session then." Bucky rolls his eyes.
Junko hops onto Salamence's neck, which could be considered the pilot seat in this metaphorical plane. Unfortunately she's not good with planes…
"U-Um… please try not to drop us." The zombie idol tells Salamence.
Ruby notices her hesitation, "You have a fear of heights too, don't you?".
"Flying, actually. I'll… explain when we land, since I'll probably be too afraid to speak." Junko corrects him.
"I see…" Ruby slowly nods.
"Ryū, use Fly please!" Junko informs her newly named Salamence.
…
…
…
Who just continues to stand around in a daze.
"Eh? Um… Ryū?" Junko taps his neck lightly to try getting his attention.
"Oh Christ…" Bucky utters as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"H-Have we taken off yet?" Blaze has her eyes closed in fear.
Linhardt breathes a sigh of relief, "Oh thank the goddess, we're still on the GROUUUUUUNNNNNDDD!"
Ryū suddenly lifts off into the air, showing off its fighter jet-like speed as it flies just below the clouds. Blaze is shutting her eyes tight until the experience is over, Junko is hyperventilating very quickly, and Linhardt has managed to faint.
"Y'know it's times like this where I'm glad I became a sergeant instead of a pilot!" Bucky shouts loudly since it would be hard to hear him otherwise during flight.
"You're doing great Junko, just breathe girl." Ruby reassures the floofy-haired girl as her eyes go swirly.
"Huff… huff…" Junko breathes as she tries to stop her head from spinning (metaphorically not physically).
Blaze then shouts a question, "Do you see anything moving from down there?!"
"Just a bunch of wrecked buildings and Monokumas everywhere, not very different than on the ground!" Bucky answers.
The heavy wind blows into the faces of the group, and even manages to blow Ruby's knit cap off. Ruby quickly pulled the cap back down, though not without Junko reopening her eyes just in time to catch a slight glimpse of what was under it. She blinks twice before turning away, wondering what it was that she just saw. She realized that she hadn't seen Ruby without that hat, so that made her curious as to why he would hide something under it.
"Wait! There's a large crowd of Monokumas gathering by that temple! It's the one with a large square stage in the center of it!" Ruby points over to it as Ryū looks over at it.
"R-Right! Let's prepare to land now, Ryū! S-Softly please!" Junko commands Salamence.
They reach the ground, albeit with their hair all scuffed up from the wind, but they are all safe and sound!
Blaze sighs in relief, "I'm okay, I'm okay…".
"Thank you for getting us here Ryū, I truly appreciate it." Junko tells the Salamence while quivering, who simply grunts in response.
Ruby walks over to her as she returns him to his Ultra Ball, "So… about your fear of flying, what caused it?"
"Um… I guess I'll tell you if you explain what's under your hat." She responds, making his eyes widen.
"Well um… it's kind of a sensitive story, although I assume yours is as well…" Ruby fumbles on his words for a bit.
"Have small talk later you two, come over here and look at this!" Bucky calls them over.
The five of them (Linhardt slowly starting to reawaken), look to see a temple with a poster on it. "Monokuma Martial Arts Tournament! Winner faces reigning champion Taopaipai for the gold!".
"Some kind of karate tournament?" Bucky raises an eyebrow.
"So that's why there were so many Monokumas here, participants and crowd members. Too bad it's not anything less barbaric, although I wouldn't expect this Tao to be in a beauty competition." Ruby sighs in disappointment.
"The fact that there's so many around could signify that this temple is important, maybe they're hiding something here. Perhaps the production facility is here?" Blaze crosses her arms as she reads the poster.
"Those entering as a group of three must have one individual fight one at a time in a set order. If one of their fighters is knocked out or ends up outside of the ring, they are eliminated and the next fighter must take their place. For this tournament, killing is allowed too!"
"This is quite unnerving… I'm still in battle training so I wouldn't last very long." Junko fidgets while reading.
"Garreg Mach has tournaments as well between the classes, although I rarely participate unless The Professor forces me to. You all feel free to volunteer for this, while I catch up on much needed nap time…" Linhardt yawns as he leaves to go to the crowd seating.
"So it's just us three participating? Understandable decision." Blaze says to Bucky and Ruby.
"It is our only way to get answers from that mercenary, so if I must." Ruby's eyes become determined.
"I figure that we're gonna be fighting Monokumas until we reach Tao, so we better keep at it until the end." Bucky rotates his arms and stretches them in preparation.
"Good luck to you all!" Junko waves to the trio as they enter the main building.
From above the temple however, Tao stands atop of its roof with his cyborg eyes locked onto his next target. He smiles evilly as he observes Junko, ready to strike.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are coming up on the end of this first chapter real soon. The introduction of Komaru, the other Zetsubou generals, and this tournament have really ramped things up! I can't wait to continue this story during this new year, as well as Epicenter which I am busy working on right now! I hope you all enjoyed it and I'll see you all next time!