Welcome back everyone! Last time we saw Marta, she introduced the former members of the Vanguard Special Unit to Nova and his family before searching for Emerald, where she learned of her tragic past in Izoold back when the kunoichi was known as Jade Greenwood.
Having heard her story, Marta was able to release a huge burden from Emerald's heart. However, Vermillion told Marta of a premonition she had. Was it the Vanguard or is it the adults that tried to send Emerald away from her home?
Once we check back in on the present, we will find out.
Grass Field Outskirts [Present Day]
Everyone listened as Marta told everyone about her Nova and his family took a shine to her friends, but everyone was deeply touched and saddened by the reveal of Emerald's past as Jade Greenwood, a girl who lost her mother to a Desian who murdered her in cold blood before she was picked up by this Master Azumi person. Although Sheena already deduced Kuchinawa's identity, hearing this surprised the other Heroes of World Regeneration as they knew who Kuchinawa is and what he looked liked. As they listened, Emil gave Marta a look of deep sympathy for her kunoichi friend.
"Marta... I'm so sorry about what happened to Emerald..." Emil said, knowing that what Emerald felt and went through was awful for a girl her age to go through. Yes, she found a new family with her master, but that didn't change the fact that no one wanted to keep Emerald in Izoold.
"You didn't do anything wrong Emil, but if Emerald was here I'm certain she'd appreciate what you said." Marta replied, thankful that Emil cared for her friend despite never meeting her.
"So, what else do you know about this man in red?" Zelos asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice, much to Marta's confusion.
"What do you mean? All I know is that he took care of Emerald and trained her with his techniques. To be honest, he shouldn't have sent her out on her own like that, but even so I'm happy he took her in when no one else would. Is something wrong?" Marta followed up, once again sharing her thoughts on Emerald's master, not understanding Zelos' frustration as Kuchinawa made things difficult for Sheena during the Journey of Regeneration. Zelos did let up, knowing full well Marta couldn't have known about about the ninja who left Mizuho.
"Sorry, just... curious." Zelos said, hoping to brush it off. While Marta was still confused, she figured that everything will be told in time, provided they stop Richter that is.
'Kuchinawa... you really have helped out someone outside of our village. Oboro would be proud to hear this.' Sheena though to herself, proud that Kuchinawa has at least found his way in some regard inhelping out a girl who lost her mother and her home.
"So, what about this 'Premonition' that Vermillion spoke about? It sounded serious." Presea asked, concerned about this keen sense of hers.
"Yeah, that's right! Tenabie was talking to her about that too. What's thay about Marta?" Zelos followed up, clearly wanting to know whay happened next.
"Well, it all occurred the next day. I thought it would have been one thing or the other, but little did we know... that both bad things occurred at once..." Marta said as she recalled Vermillion's premonition about the Vanguard and the people who chased out Emerald came true.
Izoold [Coastline, Twenty-Seven Days after meeting Nova]
It was around 7:00 AM as everyone slept peacefully. Marta, Tenebrae, Nova, Sarah, May, Alduin and the girls from Marta's Unit all rested with no stress to tie them down. Eventually, Selene was woken up by a sudden sound.
"Hmmm?" Selene grumbled as she looked at a man man staring at Emerald for some reason before he ran off. The Dark Haired girl remembered Emerald telling them her past and couldn't help but feel concerned.
'If that was one of the adults who chased her out of town two years ago... I better follow him.' Selene though as she got up to closely follow the person in question. Tenebrae silently woke up himself and despite Marta's safety being important, he couldn't help but wonder where her "doppelganger" is heading too.
'I better keep a close eye on her. Lady Marta should be fine thanks to her training along with everyone else being here.' Tenebrae thought as he quietly flew off to follow Selene.
Izoold [Town Leader's House]
Tenebrae followed Selene as she trailed the man in question as he walked into the house around 7:00 AM. As the man entered the house, Selene walked up to the window to peek inside the house with Tenebrae sneaking up on her until...
"I figured it was you Centurion." Selene whispered as she looked at the Centurion of Darkness with a deapan look. How come she doesn't smile as often like during thise rare moments?
"I was wondering why you followed that man..." Tenebrae said as they heard voices inside the house.
"Follow me. I believe it involves Emerald." Selene whispered while gesturing Tenebrae to follow her she stood near the door while Tenebrae concealed himself to listen in.
"You better have a good reason for waking me up this early Roy." Said a man in his late thirties, a slim man who had experience of fishing under his belt. He's most likely the leader of the town.
"It involves those strange women that are staying with the Caravan in out town. I watched one of them sense last night and you won't believe who it was!" Roy replied to the leader. He is a brown haired man in his late twenties. Needless to say, Selene grimaced at hearing this while Tenebrae searched around the house for something worthwhile to relay back to the others.
"What do you mean Roy? Are you trying to do something creepy? If it is, I want no part of it." The Leader followed up, showing that he has no desire to peep on these caused Roy's face to turn red in embarrassment.
"N-no! Not that! It's that girl who resembles that Sheena Fujibayashi woman! I saw her face! The one they call "Emerald" is Jade Greenwood!" Roy said with a straight face as the Town Leader slowly turned to his fellow townsman in question with a stern look.
"Jade Greenwood? Don't be ridiculous! She was taken two years ago by that stranger! Besides, she's most likely dead by now... all because she didn't want to have a better life away from here." The Town Leader said in a voice of bitterness and disappointment, much to Selene's anger. Even Tenebrae was unnerved about how uncaring this man is to Emerald's feelings.
"No, I'm dead serious! I tired to tell this to Jacob and Marley, but they wouldn't believe me. I know it's been two years, but I know it's her! She has the same green hair and the freckles on her face. She even has that anxious attitude." Roy said in a passionate tone of voice that he rarely takes and needless to say, the Leader began to listen as Roy isn't the kind of man who would lie.
"All right, I'll follow along. If it IS Jade, she has a LOT to answer for her disobedience and cowardice." The Leader said as Tenebrae and Selene have heard enough. Selene began to sneak away while Tenebrae snuck some papers he found that were interesting to say the least.
Izoold [Coastline]
It was 7:30 PM when everyone began to ster as Nova and his family began to make breakfast with Vermillion and Azure assisting them. In the meantime, Topaz was doing some workout regime, Emerald was watching the ocean in front of her with Marta joining her. Even thought he ocean was pretty, she and the others couldn't help but wonder where Selene and Tenebrae went off to. It was 7:40 AM when the two came back.
"Tenebrae! Selene! Where did you guys go?" Marta called out to her friends as they walked up to her and the Kunoichi with serious looks.
"Lady Marta, Emerald. We both have something important to tell you both." Tenebrae said as the two girls couldn't help but feel anxious about what the Centurion of Darkness meant.
Izoold [Coastline, 20 Minutes later...]
After finishing breakfast, Tenebrae and Selene revealed what they saw and witnessed, much to Emerald's chagrin. She thought she would be okay since no one recognized her, but now the Town Leader and one of the adults who tried to send her away are coming here to comfirm she's alive and well. While Nova and his family don't understand the full story, they were filled in on Emerald's background and needless to say, they were not happy with what the Town Leader tried to do with Emerald back then.
"W-w-what am I going to do?! T-they're going to send me away to an orphanage against my will when they find me!" Emerald panickedy, not wishing to go through what happened two years ago again and this time, her master won't be here to save her.
"They won't do ANYTHING to you Emerald!" Marta replied back with a tone she rarely takes. This tone she uses when her friends are in distress due to other people hurting them. Emerald looked back at her former captain in confusion as she raised her voice.
"I'm sorry foe raising my voice, but here me out Emerald. You're much stronger than you were before. You need to stand your ground and face them head on. Besides, we're all here for you this time around." Marta followed up as she place a hand on Emerald's shoulder with a reassuring smile as the kunoichi turned to the others, who all smiled back in their own way, including Selene.
"Marta is right Emerald. Losing your family is awful and while running away back then wasn't the right choice, it didn't mean it was unfounded. You have a right to still live here despite losing your family. Apart from that, you have a new family now. People who love and care about you with all their hearts." Sarah said as her husband and children smiled in agreement. With this, Emerald calmed herself down and faced everyone.
"Marta, everyone... thank you. I... I won't run away. Not again." Emerald said as she prepared herself to face the Town Leader, not just as Emerald the Kunoichi, but as Jade Greenwood. She would stand her ground and make her parents proud, no matter what fears await her.
Izoold [Docks]
Not wanting for the Town Leader to come to the coastline, Marta, Emerald, Topaz, Azure, Vermillion and Selene all stood on the docks with a couple of people watching them in curious wonder while Nova, Sarah, May and Alduin watched from a safe distance. Tenebrae of the other hand concealed himself, watching from above them. The Centurion had to admit he was curious to see how Marta worked with other people in battle as this will be her first time fighting alonside her former Unit. Assuming a fight DOES break out to begin with. Hopefully, it won't come to pass here.
"It's around 8:20 AM right now. They should be here by now. Didn't they get the note?" Azure said with slight annoyance as she cleaned her glasses. Eventually, the Town Leader showed up with Roy and two other adults living here with Emerald recognizing them. The Town Leader and Roy along with Jacob, a dark skinned man with a muscular build in his mid twenties, and Marley, a young woman in her mid twenties, as they walked up to the group in question. Roy ultimately pointed at Emerald, who still wore her mask.
"There she is! That's Jade Greenwood right there!" Roy said as the townspeople looked at them with curious wonder? Jade Greenwood? Alive? They heard that a man kidnapped her and she was presumed dead, but still, how is this Jade Greenwood, the little girl who had strong anxiety issues.
"Are you the leader of this Town?" Marta asked the Town Leader, interrupting Roy's outburst as the young girl isn't afraid to speak her mind for hurting Emerald the way these grown ups did to a little girl.
"Yes. I am indeed the one in charge of Izoold here. My friend here tells me that a girl who ran away two years ago is with you. If she's here, I insist you show her to me, right now." The Town Leader replied in a soft but stern tone. In response to this, Emerald removed her mask and faced the people who chased her away from her home.
"I'm here, 'Town Leader'...' Emerald said with a look of defiance and a voice filled with venom as the Town Leader, Jacob and Marley were taken aback by what they're seeing. Eventually, the civilians were murmuring in response to Emerald. Marta was saddened that the people of this town didn't recognize her until now, but after hearing her story, she couldn't blame the Kunoichi.
"I can't believe it... Jade is alive." Jacob said in disbelief as he stared on in shock.
"Why is she dressed like that? Is it because of that terrible man in the red outfit?!" Marley asked, clearing showing a distaste in how Emerald looks while insulting Azumi. Eventually, the Town Leader's shock was replaced with anger.
"How dare you show your face here after your defiance two years ago! After we tried to give you a better life, you show up here, wearing the uniform of the man who kidnapped you!" The Leader yelled in anger, once again disregarding the kunoichi's feelings.
"Where do you get off buster?! Yelling at her like that?!" Topaz yelled back at the Leader clenching her fists in anger, clearly not intending to let these people treat Emerald horribly like they did two years ago.
"Who do you think you are missy?! Do you have any idea how awful we felt when she was taken like that?!" Marley yelled back as she has no intention of listening to anyome here present. At least it showed they were worried about her safety, but that was about it.
"That's awfully rich, considering you tried to send Emerald away from her home town without any regard to her feelings." Azure replied with a look of disdain as she stared down the people in question, causing the townspoeple to wonder what's going on here.
"You people have nothing to do with this! This is between us and Jade! Also, stop calling her "Emerald", that is NOT her name!" Roy argued back, wanting to keep things between them and Emerald alone.
"Emerald is our friend and our comrade. We have a right to stand alongside her if it means giving her the courage to stand up to the four of you." Vermillion calmy followed up, not showing any fear at this man losing his temper. Emerald was once again touched that everyone is here for her. It makes her wonder if Lavender and Scarlet would do the same if they were alonside them now.
"ENOUGH! Everyone except Jade is to leave this spot right this second! We are going to bring her to an orphanage as intended and you have no say in the matter!" The Town Leader yelled, intending to finish what he started two years ago. At this point, Marta was sorely tempted to walk over to this man and slap him across the face for how cold he's being right now, but she knew thay if she did that, it would only serve to make Emerald look bad and she just wasn't willing to give these people the satisfaction of doing so. However...
*TUHD!* *THUD!* *THUD!* *THUD!*
Four kunai knives stabbed the docks in front of the four adults, surprising them and the other girls as they looked to see Emerald, with fierce eyes, as she pulled out Jade Star with a face of defiance.
"No! I! won't! I refuse to let you people have your way with me again!" Emerald said in a cold tone with no sign of fear or anxiety filling her being, having had enough of these adults disregarding her emotions.
"Y-you dare to speak to us that way, let alone throw weapons at us?!" Jacob stuttered, flabbergasted that Jade threatened them the way she did. At this point, Selene stepped up with the paper Tenebrae found earlier...
"Oh really? I say she has a right to refuse once everyone gets a look at these..." Selene said as she flashed a pair of papers regarding Emerald here in Izoold. Seeing this made Marta and the others raise an eye as the Town Leader's eyes bulged out of his head.
"W-w-where did you get that!?" The Leader shouted as he prepared to walk over until Emerald flashed another knife much to the town's concern. It was than Marta stepped in again...
"Selene, where did you get those?" Marta asked Selene in response to this.
"Tenebrae found them." Selene whispered as she handed the papers to her as Marta eyed them over. After a moment or two, her eyes widened in shock before closing her eyes in anger.
"M-Marta?" Topaz asked in concern as Marta's eyes opened and glared hard at the adults.
"How could you?! You were trying to send her away under a different name! You were going out of your way to ensure she never existed here!" Marta yelled at the top on her lungs in righteous fury as Emerald looked heartbroken. They wanted to make sure she never existed? Why? As the kunoichi looked at everyone, only the Toen Leader and Roy were taken aback as Jacob and Marley looked... confused?
"Leader? What is that girl taking about?" Marley asked in confusion as Marta and the others were slightly confused themselves.
"That little brat is lying and trying to trick us! Those papers are fake!" Roy replied in an unsuallly angry and suspicious tone as he was poorly tried to convince Marley. As they were arguing, the rest of Marta's friends took a look themselves and needless to say, one of them could somehow tell that Roy was lying.
"I don't think so, these papers look legit to me. Selene, were there any other papers?" Azure asked the black haired girl as she shook her head to say "no". At this point, other people in Izoold began to have doubts about what was going on as they looked around for answers in regards to Emerald.
"Come on, who're you going to believe? A bunch of outsiders or your Leader and townsfolk?" Roy argued back as the Town Leader looked back at the villagers, looking for support.
"If these papers imply what they mean, this means your Leader and Roy intended to erase all of Emerald's past in one fell swoop. The reason is why?" Vermillion chimed in with a tone in an effort to question them. It was than the Leader finally spoke up.
"T-Those are quite some assumptions! You better have proof other than those worthless pieces of paper or your in trouble, you hear me!?" The Leader yelled back, much to Jacob and Marley's confusion as they don't know what to make of this anymore. It was then Emerald spoke up...
"Was it because of what happened to my mother? Was it because she died trying to help someone who's treated as an enemy? Were you all ashamed of what she did?" Emerald asked the adults in question as Jacob and Marley were left questioning the whole thing while Roy snapped back.
"If she healed that filthy Desian, he could've killed a lot more people here! She got what she deserved!" Roy yelled back, earning a lot of gasping from everyone around him.
"Shut up! My mother, Myrtle, always believed in helping people, even if they didn't deserve it. She taught me to be a good person! Am I that just a huge of a burden when my mom died?! I am just to be a jinx innthis town?!" Emerald yelled back, not showing any form on anxiety as Roy began to become furious.
"YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE JUST A BURDEN! YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SYMPATHIZE WITH HALF-ELVES, YOU'RE ALWAYS FREAKING OUT AND YOUR FATHER DIED FOR WHAT?! FOR WHAT!?" Roy yelled in pure fury, revealing how he felt about the Greenwood family, with Jacob and Marley looking appalled at what they're hearing. Marta and the others were disgusted by this outburst and foul behavior.
"Roy, enough..." The Leader said in a disappointed tone as Roy looked at him with a venomous glare before shutting his mouth. The Leader than turned to Emerald and the rest of her friends with a serious look.
"Jade... or Emerald rather... I do apologize for Roy's behavior for I did realize he was prejudiced against Half-Elves... but it is true your anxiety was problematic, but I allowed it sense your mother helped you as you grew up here. When your momther died, I felt it was imperative to see you had a better life away from here..." The Leader replied in a calm tone for the first time sense seeing Emerald here.
"But I wanted to live here! This is my hometown! The place where my parents lived and you didn't show ANY regard for my feelings! I made the choice to leave and the time spent with the man who rescued me were amoung the best years of my life! Master Azumi was more of a family than you could ever be!" Emerald argued back to the Town Leader as he stared in disbelief.
"You called your kidnapper family...?" Jacob asked in shock as he finally realized that he and the others have not listened to Emerald, combined with the revelation of Roy's awful behavior.
"Don't you see you could have been killed Jade?!" Marley asked Emerald as she was trying to reason with her.
"My name is Emerald! The four of you, regardless of your intentions, killed Jade Greenwood the moment you made her run away. Was is extreme? Perhaps, but it wasn't unfounded. Regardless of what you four think, this is still my hometown! I'm a free woman and you two no longer have any hold over me! My mother, my father, Master Azumi... and these girls here are the best family I could ever wish for!" Emerald said with tears clinging to her eyes, but has a voice filled with hope and pride as Marta watched on with a big smile im regards to Emerald's resolve. It was than Jacob and Marley's resolve broke as Jacob looked down in shock and Marley began to cry slightly in shame. Even the Leader was at a loss for words until...
"Enough! You are not going to disrespect us, you hear me you little- AHHHHHHHHHH!" Roy yelled back as all of, he was hit by a jolt of lightning magic and fell over much to the shock of everyone present.
"I think I heard enough of that for one day you naughty man ❤️." Said a sickeningly sweet and charming sounding voice as Marta cringed upon recognizing that voice. Vermillion's premonition wasn't just these people in Izoold, but the Vanguard as well.
"Alice..." Marta whispered as the Combat Unit Captain stepped forward as the Town Leader picked up and dragged Roy out of the way with Jacob and Marley following them to safety. The rest of the girls all cringed upon seeing Alice in the flesh. Nove and his family finally got a good look at the same girl who sent those three monsters to try and kill Marta as well and needless to say, they were surprised that this harmless looking girl was the same person in question, but considering she attacked a civilian in question confirmed Marta's words about her.
"Hello MartMart. I see VerVer, Toppy, Emmy, Azuzu and Selenie are here with you as well ❤️. A whole group of week powerless little brats." Alice said with a cruel sweet smile as she gave pet names to everyone in question. Topaz gritted her teeth, Vermillion clenched her fist, Azure's eyes twitched and Emerald place a hand over her chest while Marta just stared angrily at the Combat Captain.
"Hey! You watch your mouth you little bitch!" Topaz yelled angrily as Marta began looking around the town. At this rate, a fight would break out and she didn't want it to occur here. She needed it to be taken outside of the town elsewhere.
"I call them like how I see them. Now than MartMart, how about we have a little chit-chat in regards to what you did to my pets." Alice followed up before smiling an unpleasant smile as Emerald quickly pulled out a smoke bomb.
"You want her! Come and get us!" Emerald yelled as she threw down the smoke bomb, prompting Alice to sheild her eyes for a moment. After a while, Alice saw them run outside of the fishing town and she knew they didn't want to fight here. As Tenebrae observed Alice from above...
"Heh... this will be easy. Aramis!" Alice said as the balloon like monster arrived with the girl jumping on it and rode off after the girls. Nova and Alduin were shocked to see the same monster faithfully obey someone as cold as Alice as she followed Marta and the others. At this point, the townsfolk were confused and frightened by what happened.
"Will Marta and the others be okay?" May asked her father in worry about the girls.
"I don't know. All we can do is believe in them." Nova replied in a concerned tone, but he felt thay deep down, they will chase off the Combat Unit Captain. Tenebrae than decided to follow after Marta and the others to ensure they were safe and hopefully see them fight off Alice.
'Lady Marta... I hope you and your friends will teach that violent girl a thing or two.' Tenebrae thought as he flew to the outskirts of Izoold to watch Marta's first battle against Alice sense escaping the Blood Purge.
To Be Continued...
Emerald has confronted the people who chased her away two years ago and uncovered the disturbing truth, but Alice has shown up to cause trouble! Will Marta and her friends be able to fend Aloce and her pets off?
Tune in next time to find out!