SZ: Hola amigos!

GT: *walks out of a bus, munching on a churro wrapped around a hit dog on a stick* Hi, folks. We're heading down south this chapter.

SZ: Yup…you've probably been wondering when we'd get back to a certain tiger-themed young hero in training.

GT: Or villain. Or anti-hero. …or anti-villain…oh Arceus, I'm getting a headache.

Z0: The hell are you two Gringos doing here *walking down the street* Oh god…what did you do back in America?

SZ: Nothing. Just here to enjoy the scenery and story write.

Z0: Mmhmm…do any of you speak spanish…

SZ: I know a bit of spanish, si

Z0: Hmm…alright try not get into trouble.

GT: *zooms by, cackling in a stolen Puma Loco armor with several bags of gems and cash* WE OWN NOTHING IN THIS!

SZ: ...Dang it GT!

GT: I ALSO STOLE THE BOOTS AND THE BELT!

Z0: *eating at a food stand and ignoring the danger my co-writers get in* Enjoy readers *pops open soda*

"This was honestly a good plan on your end, Tsubaki," Patelliday noted as he, Grandpa Max, and Tsubaki were all looking at a map of the Earth, but showing various green dots, "With the influx of settlers making Undertowns, this registration for them is letting us keep track of them all to help with integration efforts."

"Of course. This way it feels more organized and the process becomes far more clearer," Tsubaki nodded before eying one spot in particular on the map, "Though…from what I've seen, it seems there are settlers that want to make an Undertown, but they appear to be…worried of an unfriendly element in the city they want to live under."

"Ah that area," Grandpa Max chuckled, his own eyes following where she was looking at, "That is a rather difficult place for one to handle given its reputation being known as a 'cesspool of crime and villainy.'"

"And the fact it's built around an active volcano," Patelliday added.

"I don't understand why they don't build over there," Tsubaki noted, pointing at another spot.

"Apparently, that's where a village of zombies live," Patelliday noted, looking at some notes on a tablet, "Not the ones from the Anur System, but actual ones."

"...You're kidding me," Tsubaki deadpanned.

"Apparently, they have a Fountain of Youth there and…" Patelliday began.

"Nope. Absolutely not going near there," Grandpa Max quickly stated, "The one in St. Augustine was enough for this old man."

"It's real?!" Tsubaki asked in surprise, "Why haven't we…"

"A toddler Heatblast evaporated the fountain and the cavern it was in via a supernova temper tantrum," Grandpa Max explained, "I make sure to go there every summer to pour some Orujo for Hector."

"But…turns out there's more than one," Patelliday stated, "We found that out and Old Max here has refused to ever get near one again."

"Fair enough. Hmm...Maybe we could send some Plumbers to figure out how to make the settlers feel more comfortable in the area?" Tsubaki suggested.

"We do owe someone in the city a favor for their help with catching a dangerous alien criminal in the nineties. We could call in the favor for that very idea," Grandpa Max noted, "You may well recognize him, Tsubaki."

"Really?" Tsubaki asked.

"Eeyup. He was actually on his honeymoon," Patelliday chuckled as he tapped on the computer and a popup showed a little bit younger Max in Guanajuato given by the semi-broken sign in the background, shaking hands with a younger White Pantera as they stood on top of a pummeled dragon-like alien, "Of course, we were still keeping cover at the time so he was unaware it was actually an alien criminal and not just a regular one."

"Oh!" she realized.

"I figure since this is his territory, we can go to him for help," Grandpa Max smiled, "However…his family situation is…difficult."

"Is it the fact that his father is a supervillain?" Tsubaki sighed, magnifying the image to show Puma Loco flying overhead in the distance with a sack of cash and several items of jewelry.

"Oh, the Rivera family is a long, complicated family that switches between Hero and Villain each generation," Patelliday sighed, shaking his head, "Though the current son seems to be…divided."

"You mean El Tigre, right?" Tsubaki recalled.

"Yep. He…actually has a very strange record," Grandpa Max admitted, "It seems he's unsure of what he wants to be, be it hero or villain."

"Which fits the legends of the previous El Tigre saving people one moment before robbing those very people blind the next," Patelliday added, "Could be for the fact that this is the first time any Rivera has worn that belt since the original one did. Or the fact that he lives with his father and grandfather."

"So he's a confused child who's learning his way while also having amazing powers," Tsubaki sighed, "I can see why this is so complex. But he seemed like a nice boy."

"Well given he has two extreme role models…he's gonna have to adapt," Grandpa Max sighed, "But they should still be of help. I think you should take some muscle with you just in case."

"Muscle…hmmm…" Tsubaki muttered.

"Okay, I'm back!" Max Steel called out, skidding to a halt, "You would not believe this! Me and Ragna just got done busting into this Super Villain auction thing…and beating/bringing in more than half the villains in town!" he laughed, "Then we chased the other half out of town…and blew up the engine of their escape ship and left them floating around the moon! I think I just bought us a solid week of no major problems! Man, Ben would have loved this mission!"

=We made sure to do every single thing we needed to properly prosecute them, too! Both for intergalactic and planetary laws!= Steel added, popping out of Max Steel's torso =I think the weirdest one was having to add a bukaw every so often for Liam's. Seriously, I have it on audio of Ragna clucking like a chicken and I am going to savor it!=

"Well look at that…the Muscle is here," Patelliday noted.

"Wait, what?= Max and Steel blinked in unison.

=...What did you just draft us for?= Steel cautiously asked.

"Considering you've given Bellwood a week from the normal insanity, a bit of a semi-vacation, semi-work in Mexico," Grandpa Max replied.

"I take it, however I'm not chillin on a beach waiting for a sea monster to pop up?" Max sighed, dropping his helmet, "Well…I guess that's on me for thinking I could spend a work week playing video games."

=Yeah, yeah, so what actually is our job? You are afterall sending us into a jungle location famous for myths of giant feathered serpents and ritualistic sacrifice!= Steel declared, =I'd like to know what we're doing before ending up in an Indiana Jones movie!=

"We're heading to Miracle City in Mexico to make sure any alien settlers feel safe enough to build an Undertown there," Tsubaki explained, "But in order to do that…we'll need to give some proper guidance to a young hero in training, El Tigre."

=El Tigre?= Steel repeated as a loading bar replaced his eye for a few moments =Huh…He was involved with all those Incurseans taking over the planet for a month, right? And, wow, he didn't even last half a day before exposing his secret identity to the whole city=

"Which is also why we're heading there," Tsubaki stated, "To properly guide him and make sure he turns into someone the alien settlers can trust their Undertown with."

"I mean, I get the kid has potential…but…isn't that a lot to put on a kid still in Elementary school?" Max asked, "Shouldn't we ask his dad to take care of that?"

=No wait…let us guess. The Father's a big time hero there while a member of his family is some kind of super villain?= Steel asked.

"The grandfather," Tsubaki confirmed.

"How?" Max asked his symbiotic partner.

=I looked up news articles on the kid and it mentioned his grandpa is a villain called Puma Loco and the kid's dad is White Pantera who exposed the depravity of Harangue's mind with those boots of his on live TV= Steel replied.

"Well, a mission is a mission." Max sighed, "Maybe I can beat Ben's record by taking up some freelance down there." he chuckled, "Alright, are we taking anyone else?" He looked at Tsubaki.

"I'd advise against bringing Jin along," Patelliday noted, "He had a small…issue…when someone thought it'd be hilarious to set up a Moonfall Event in the simulation training he was performing."

"...Say what?" Max pondered.

"Oh Jin…" Tsubaki sighed, facepalming.

"You know why he froze the entire simulation training room?" Grandpa Max asked in disbelief.

"He has a fear of the moon," Tsubaki explained.

"I thought Ben was joking with that…" Max muttered.

"Nope. It…" Tsubaki began before the sound of a door being kicked down was heard, "...oh no…"

"Who mentioned the moon?! It's not falling on us is it?!" Jin snapped, a slight panicked look in his eyes as he had Yukianesa out of its sheath.

=You need deep mental therapy and help= Steel bluntly stated.

"Yep. He relapsed. Hasn't done that since the last week before we started attending the academy," Tsubaki sighed.

"We tried everything…even calling his brother." Patelliday sighed, "He just laughed…and laughed…and kept laughing 'till that nice girl who acts as his receptionist politely hung up the phone."

"Jin…go to your room…get some sleep." Grandpa Max sighed.

"...y…yes…of course, Magister…" Jin whispered, sheathing his sword as he staggered off, "A nap will do good…and pray the moon doesn't crash on us with that evil psychotic grin…"

"...so him watching Soul Eater would…mess him up deeply inside, right?" Max chuckled.

"We've banned it from the house long before we met you and Steel, Maxwell," Tsubaki confirmed indirectly, eyes narrowed on Steel.

=Ah geez…she's using the tone and the look…= Steel muttered.

"Wh-why don't we just get ready…?" Max offered with a sheepish chuckle, holding his hands up in slight defense.

"We'll keep in touch…" Grandpa Max smiled, "Wait…" he stopped them before tossing each a small wireless earbud, "Put those in, Kajun's new Universal translator. Just…for simplicity's sake."

"Oh that's good…I got a D in Spanish class," Max chuckled.

=You realize you just said that in front of Tsubaki, right?= Steel deadpanned.

"..."

"...Maxwell…" Tsubaki began with a frown.

"See ya at the portal bye~!" Max smiled, his helmet going up as he ran off with his enhanced speed.

"...ugh. Honestly…" Tsubaki sighed as she followed after the two.

"...wow. What's with your dad?" Frieda asked Manny, the two standing in the doorway as they saw the former's father zipping around the entire household cleaning things up.

"I don't know…something about an official coming," Manny shrugged, "Hey Dad!"

"Hm?" White Pantera skid to a halt, a feather duster in one hand and a rag in the other as he had on a belt with different cleaning supplies on it, "Oh, miho! You're just in time! I can use some assistance!"

"What's going on? You're going loco!" Manny shouted, "What's happening?"

"The Big wig Gringo heroes from America are visiting!" Manny's grandfather shouted from the bathroom, "And my stupid son is panicking!"

"Of course I am, papi! This is a very big deal!" White Pantera argued, "We are trying to set a good example and I want to make sure our home is orderly and clean for our honored guests!"

"No way! The heroes we met in Bellwood?" Manny asked excitedly, "That's so cool! I can't wait to see them again! So who's coming to visit?!"

"Ah, si, it's the second in command of the Earth based Plumber organization."

"Still a weird name for space cops…" Frieda rolled her eyes.

"Aliens are weird." Manny shrugged.

"She and one of her associates are coming for an investigation. It's pertaining to alien activity…"

"Alien Activity!? Are we being invaded?!" Manny asked excitedly, "Again!?"

"No, no no!" White Pantera stopped his son from either getting to hyper active or having some form of panic attack, probably both, "Their work is to look into a project which will help displaced aliens seek refuge here on Earth."

"Displaced?" Manny blinked, "You mean…they lost their home?"

"For some, si, others they just never had one as I understand it." his father explained.

"Huh…so why here?" Manny asked.

"Well as I understand it some Aliens gravitate to locations which resemble their homeworlds, climate, geography, or even culture." White Pantera explained, "I imagine since we are in a much more warm climate, such aliens would be drawn to this area of the world."

"So we're gonna have Aliens living under us?!" Frieda gasped, "That's so cool~!"

"You're not allowed to tell anyone." White Pantera put his hands on his hips.

"I wasn't thinking that…" she responded.

"She was!" Puma Loco cackled.

"You totally were…" Manny added.

"Seriously, amigo?" Frieda deadpanned at Manny.

"What…I can keep a secret." he smirked.

"Exhibit A," Frieda countered, pointing at a newspaper framed on a wall that basically summed up 'Manny Rivera is El Tigre.'

"Wasn't my fault…aliens did it," he argued.

"But your secret still got out," Frieda countered again, "And that was for international news! That newspaper is from your very first day of being El Tigre!"

"Yeah…but I didn't do it. So…by default…still better at it than you," Manny smiled.

"...mmm~" Frieda pouted as she turned away from him before blinking, "Wait…but what about the bad guys in town?"

"Oh yeah…" Manny muttered…before scoffing as he waved it off, "Nah…if Ben's with the visiting Plumbers, I doubt they'd even get a chance at him!"

"Or anyone. I mean they are older and much stronger," Frieda smiled, "Maybe could show a new angle on cleaning the city."

"I swear that I am doing the best I can!" White Pantera defended quickly, zipping by and leaving Frida shining like a polished jewel.

"...Don't," Frieda muttered in annoyance, shooting a stink eye at a snickering Manny.

"Sorry…just...snkr! It…" Manny began before White Pantera zipped by…and he was shining like a polished jewel too with his hair styled and wearing a suit, "..."

"..."

"...Don't…" Manny began before Frida took a photo with her phone, "..."

"And posting…"

"Post?! No, Frieda, stop!" Manny freaked as he chased after her.

"Oi dios mio…" Puma Loco muttered, rolling his eyes.

=...You know for a place called Miracle City, I'd expect it to be…= Steel began as the group looked around the area.

"Full of crime?" Max guessed.

=More bright…=

"Really?" Max asked, raising a brow in surprise.

=What? I tend to think of shiny things when a miracle happens= Steel replied with a shrug.

"Let's just find the Rivera family home. Hopefully we…" Tsubaki paused before ducking, letting a trio of bandits crash into one another before Tsubaki's hand was a blur as all three bandits were already in cuffs, "We can find them."

=Wow. Not even in the first ten minutes and already we've got several arrests= Steel noted as Max swung the back of his left fist up to behind him, smacking into the face of a burly bandit that crumpled a moment after.

"So…do supervillains just…walk the street here?" Max asked, "Cause if so, we are gonna have one long trip ahead of us."

"True, but I'm sure they have their own system to dealing with the local criminals," Tsubaki stated before moving her head to the side, causing another bandit to miss with his dagger before she grabbed his arm and slammed him into the ground…with his arms bound up by a pair of cuffs.

"Eh true…" Max muttered as he grabbed another dagger aimed at him…and bent it into a U shape and tossed it back like a boomerang. He paused before the dagger flew back into his hand with yet another bandit hooked on it, "But I mean I guess with all the time I've put in catching super villains, both Ben's and new ones that pop up. I've just grown to expect a certain level of…I don't know showmanship, these are just dime a dozen bandits from a western movie." he then took Steel and used him to shoot another bandit off a roof and let him fall into a garbage collection spot filled with the town's trash. He then tossed the one he caught earlier into several which jumped out from an alley and knocked them all out with the force of his throw alone, "Honestly it feels like we're just bullying the poor guys cause I honestly think this is their day job."

"Just give us your money h-!" the bandit declared before Tsubaki cuffed him.

"Perhaps a night in jail will give you all second thoughts in your life choices," Tsubaki countered.

"Pfft! Jokes on you, chica. We can just walk out whenever."

"You tell yourself that, buddy," Max said before he quickly dashed off in a blur before returning, "Alright. They're in jail so now we can…" he trailed off before blinking…and saw the bandits they had arrested casually walking across the street from them, "..."

"Wh….but you…" Tsubaki blinked in surprise.

"Told ya~!" the back bandit laughed at them from offscreen.

"Hmm…okay. This town might be an issue…but what about a town a few kilometers away?" Max asked changing into Flight mode as he shot off, grabbed them and flew off with them via sonic boom, before returning. "Okay…so they can't possibly…about four more guys just replaced each one didn't they?"

=Eeyup…= Steel deadpanned, seeing a similar group walking nearby while just whistling away.

"...J-Just ignore it for now," Tsubaki muttered as she shook her head," We can possibly ask White Pantera about it once we get to his home."

"I take it as a mark on my pride as a SuperHero." Max sighed, "...I'm gonna make them regret their life choices by the time I leave."

"Just try not to scar them," Tsubaki sighed as she began to walk off.

"I promise it won't be physical. But I can't promise that they won't have some mental ones." he added.

"Hmm…I was sure it was this way?" she muttered, choosing to ignore that.

"Maybe it's up?" Max asked, "Buildings here are tall. If they are very public heroes, maybe the town is generous enough to give them a sweet place?"

"Possibly…maybe we can ask for some assistance," Tsubaki muttered as they resumed walking off.

=From who? We ask the wrong person, we get dragged to the even worst part of town= Steel retorted.

"Yeah, but I'm super powered and Tsubaki is a borderline blackbelt in every form of combat on Earth. Also she has Excalibur and I have you," Max argued, "That's a 30 minute inconvenience at worst…"

"True, but I don't want to seem rude," Tsubaki added, "That and I honestly think I don't have the patience to deal with all of these would be villains."

"Oi!" many around them complained.

"You stink and you know it." Max spoke up, "No…literally…I have a helmet on, guys…and I can still smell ya…"

=Face it...you guys are way out of your league= Steel added. =So…Tell us where the Rivera live or wedgies for all!=

"Steel…" Max began.

=Okay, okay. No wedgies for all, but you're still going to jail=

"..." the thieves traded looks before one shrugged, "Eh, it is Pudding Night in the jail." he flicked off a shoe to show his sock with a hole in the big toe area which he used to point up at one of the taller buildings, "Top floor of that building there."

"We need to have a legit talk with White Pantera about how this town works…" Max sighed, "Alright, up and away." he returned to Flight mode.

"Stay out of trouble…or we will find you." Tsubaki told the thieves.

=I've already put tracking devices in your skin!= Steel laughed as Max carried Tsubaki up.

"...D'oh~"

"Ahh…perfect!" White Pantera beamed, looking at the sparkling clean household as an annoyed Manny, Frieda…and Puma Loco were standing there while sparkling as well, "All nice and clean! Perfect for welcoming our guests!"

"Mmm…this is estupido…" Puma Loco muttered, "And I swear I shall have my revenge for how sparkly you have made me, miho!"

"Oh Papi please, for once you can be clean. It's for guests."

"No…" he grumbled, "I detest this, and I shall have my revenge upon you, Miho."

"You say that twice a day, Papi."

"Remember when you spat upon me with your big sips? This shall be worse!" Puma Loco declared as he pointed at the sky, "This I swear!"

"I fully paid for the dry cleaning," he argued.

"D'oh!" Puma Loco groaned, "When do they get here? They have teleportation, they should be here by now!"

"Grand-Papi was losing this one…" Manny sighed.

"Huh? Hey, you hear jet engines?" Frida asked, a hand to her ears as she looked around.

"I thought we kindly requested planes not fly over the house anymore," White Pantera noted in surprise.

"Right…'kindly requested,' si…" Puma Loco chuckled, looking in his sombrero at some blackmail of the airport workers.

"Hello?" they all looked out the window to see Max and Tsubaki, "We tried the door…but, uh…the doorbell just made a buzzsaw break against my armor…"

"Papi!" White Pantera gasped.

"What? Is good defense," Puma Loco snorted.

"Whoa~!" Manny awed as Frida ran over and opened the large window to let them in.

"Hiya! Whoa~! Is that a new sword?" Frida asked, noticing Excalibur on her hip.

"Por la forma desnuda del dorado! Is Excalibur!" Puma Loco gawked before clapping his hands together and breathed in deeply and exhaling quickly, "Si. I is out of here. Is Bingo Night in the volcano."

=Bingo in a volcano?= Steel pondered, popping out of Max Steel's chest.

"Wait wait…let me guess…" Max spoke up, "It's Super Villain Bingo Night and you need to defend the crown?" He looked at Puma Loco.

"Oh, my reputation in the game precedes my villainy for this one," Puma Loco chuckled, "Haven't been tossed into the lava in over forty years now!"

"Probably for the best that a…card carrying super villain is not present for our talks," Tsubaki sighed.

"You heard the boss lady, you're free to go." Max chuckled to Puma Loco, "Wait…give me back my wallet." He held his hand out.

"Pardon? I has no wallet," Puma Loco chuckled.

=Mmm…Pretty sure you do= Steel replied as he zipped around him and then held up a wallet =Huh. Come to think of it. Never did see your driver's license photo, Max= he opened it and snorted =Oh god! You've got a pimple on your nose, Max! Pfft…Oh, the fun that must have been that day, huh?=

"I will crash your hard drive," Max argued, jumping at Steel.

=Hey, hey. Easy now. I'm the wallet owner now!=

"Hmm…I am liking the small robot," Puma Loco chuckled.

=Speaking of…= Steel held up a second wallet, =Ooh~= at that, Puma Loco blinked and patted himself down, =That's right…I stole from the thief…the game has begun old timer=

"Okay. This…is cool." Frida smiled.

"Uh…who's the new guy?" Manny asked Tsubaki.

"This is my friend Max and his partner Steel. They are our newest recruit and the current acting hero of Bellwood while Ben is away on business," she smiled, "I guess, in a simpler way, he is one of the strongest heroes on Earth next to Ben. And at the moment, the strongest with Ben gone."

"Steel, give it back!" Max complained as he grabbed Steel out of the air.

"So his thing is a suit?" Frida asked.

"Yes, and no." Tsubaki explained, "He's half alien, and his suit helps him control his powers."

=Hey! I regulate his TURBO Energy, thank you very much!= Steel declared as he landed on Puma Loco's sombrero =Ohh~Now this is one sweet piece of tech=

"Si. Mi Golden Sombrero of Chaos!" Puma Loco chuckled, "Hmm…You into Bingo?"

=Never heard of it=

"Then good time to be learning!" Puma Loco declared.

"Now wait a…" Max began.

"It would honestly be a good idea," Tsubaki whispered to Max, "Steel could easily provide us a roster of all the more dangerous villains."

=Oh nice! Always love to learn something new!= Steel beamed.

"Bueno! First lesson then," Puma Loco grinned before his sombrero transformed and he shot off through the roof, letting the debris land on White Pantera, "REVENGE!"

"...He's gonna be okay with Steel, right?" Max asked.

"Eh, I'm more worried for your amigo," Manny replied.

"Yeah, that's fair…Steel is weird like that," Max sighed as his helmet went down.

"We're sorry for taking so long in arriving, Mr. Rivera," Tsubaki apologized as she helped White Pantera out of the debris, "Interference from the city's active volcano was messing with the Groundbridge, so we had to come in through the outskirts."

"Wait, it's an actual active volcano?" Max asked in surprise.

"Yep! It's one of our city's best tourist sites, too!" Frida beamed, "Oh, I'm Frida, by the way. Nice to meet ya!"

"Max McGrath," Max replied, shaking her offered hand.

"So…you guys are here to help aliens make a home here, right?" Frida asked.

"That is true. We've been sent here to do reconnaissance on any potential issues with building an Undertown settlement," Tsubaki explained, "In the time we've been here, we've already had to detain several attempted thieves."

"I have nearly wiped out all crime, I assure you!" White Pantera assured.

"Then why did we see basically the same guys just walking out casually after I put them in Jail twice?" Max asked, "The second time being in a different town."

"Oh, probably because we have a revolving door in the jail," Frida noted, "Papi is always complaining about it but can't really change it to steel doors due to 'budget cuts.'"

"Her papi is the chief of police," Manny explained, "Her sisters are also officers!"

'...A…A revolving door? That's…!' Tsubaki mentally began before taking a deep breath, 'No…it's fine…it doesn't bother me…it doesn't bother me at all…just focus on the task at hand…' a car alarm went off, "And there seems to be a car jacking."

"One-fifteen on the dot as usual," White Pantera noted, looking a the time, "Pardon me for a moment." he jumped out the window before they heard several blows going off from outside.

"Well…There goes my dad," Manny chuckled, "...Ay basura. I'm gonna have to give the tour, aren't I?"

"Guess so," Max replied, looking out the window at the white blur zipping about and beating up criminals, 'Wow! He'd probably give Ben as XLR8 or Fasttrack a run for his money!'

"It would help, yes." Tsubaki sighed, "There are many things we need to look into."

"So why do Aliens wanna live here in Miracle City?" Frida asked, "I mean…you've seen our town."

"The volcano." Tsubaki explained, "We can find many subterranean lava pits and caves formed over the years, it is perfect for aliens who live on planets that…are much warmer than normal."

"There are aliens who live in lava," Max explained, "But Bellwood already has a bunch of those calling our only lava pit home. So we figured we could investigate the subterranean tunnels in your town and turn them into a home for aliens who need it to be really hot to survive."

"Ohh~"

"It would help as not a lot of places this close to an active volcano offer such promising prospects for an Undertown. Well except for Japan but that already has the biggest and most…advanced Undertown on Earth." Tsubaki muttered.

"Really?"

"It's also one of the oldest dating its founding back to 1867," Tsubaki replied, "Several Yokai legends are actually based on human encounters with the citizens of it."

"Whoa~!" Frida and Manny awed.

"Yeah, lots of old legends tend to be aliens," Max sighed, "Well…some…there are actual cryptids that exist for the other old legends."

"That…would explain a lot of the weird things we see…" Frida added.

"What? No it doesn't…it's magic or science weirdness," Manny argued.

"Our pet Chupacabra?" Frida argued.

"Actually…that's not an alien…that's a normal Earth animal," Tsubaki stated.

"You have a pet Chupacabra?" Max asked in surprise.

"And a donkey and a parrot," Manny shrugged.

"Viva pantalones!" a green parrot wearing a brown bowler hat shouted as it flew over them.

"Is…is that all it says?" Max asked, trying to not laugh.

"Yep. He used to say other stuff then Gran-Papi and I were watching this show that dad wouldn't let me watch and that stuck," Manny shrugged, "Oh! Mom probably has a book on the tunnels under Miracle City!"

"Your mother?" Tsubaki asked.

"Si! She's the school librarian! She said she'd be there today to do the monthly organizing of it!" Manny beamed before spinning his belt and transformed into El Tigre, "To the school!"

"Ech. Going to School on a Saturday…" Frida cringed, "But spelunking in caves does sound pretty cool…but school on a Saturday…"

"Well look at it like this, you got two Pro superheroes here. Along with one up and coming young hero. What are the chances our adventure gets crazier?" Max offered teasingly.

'...Don't point it out, Tsubaki…don't let it bother you…' Tsubaki thought, her eye barely twitching for a moment as she quickly took a deep breath, "Alright…to the library then." 'Hopefully, his mother is a saner citizen of the place.'

"So…What is your mom like anyway?" Max asked as the four walked down a school hallway.

"She's great! Even if she doesn't live with us, she has this huge casa she lives in!" El Tigre beamed, his tail wagging.

"...Your parents are divorced?" Tsubaki asked in surprise.

"Mom doesn't like seeing dad get hurt when fighting villains," El Tigre explained, his ears drooping for a moment, "But they do love each other a whole lot!"

"Guess marrying a superhero carries a lot of worries," Max noted.

"That and I take it your mother…is a very normal woman?" Tsubaki asked.

"Oh big time…" El Tigre sighed, ears drooping again, "Best Mama in the world…but she's not exactly thrilled about the Super Hero lifestyle. Just thinking about me or Papi getting hurt will give her a panic attack."

"Also she's a crazy rich musician…but she chooses to work in the school library…I don't think she's all there in the cabeza…" Frida added.

"...Musician?" Max asked.

"Si! Her name's Maria Rivera!" Frida beamed.

"Oh! My mom has several records of her songs!" Max recalled, "Honestly, I'm only good at Spanish because mom used them for lullabies when I was a kid."

"So why does she work at your school library?" Tsubaki asked.

"She really likes books," El Tigre explained, "Also she's able to be close to me more. It's a little embarrassing, but that's what moms do."

"Aw, that's sweet." Tsubaki smiled happily.

"Stop it…" he blushed in embarrassment like any child would.

"I still say she's a little crazy~" Frida added as they arrived at the library.

"Mom! You in here?" El Tigre called.

"Up here, miho!" a voice called before a yelp went off, "Ah!"

"Ah!" El Tigre swung a fist up and his arm fired off on a black chain, his claws burying into the ceiling, before he shot up and managed to catch an older shapely woman with long, curly brown hair, two gold hoop earrings, a lime-green top, and a pink skirt reaching past her knees in mid-fall, "I gotcha!" he lowered himself and her down, letting her get on her feet, before retracting his claws, "You okay, mom?"

"A little surprised, but I'm fine, Miho," she smiled, petting his head, "Though I am curious…why are you and Frida here on the weekend?"

"Oh! We were hoping you could help these two!" El Tigre beamed as he gestured to TSubaki and Max, "Mom, these are Tsubaki Yayoi and Max McGrath. Tsubaki, Max, this is my mom!"

"Tsubaki Yayoi? Oh! The young lady who led the biggest rebellion team when those Incurseans invaded!" Maria realized, taking Tsubaki's hands in her own, "I can't thank you enough for helping save my son, his father, and his grandfather during that time."

"It wasn't much, ma'am," Tsubaki assured, "We were actually hoping you'd have a book on the caverns beneath Miracle City or any information of them if possible."

"We're here to investigate them, in hopes they can help house alien residents of Earth who need a…much more temperate environment to live." Max added as his helmet retracted again, "Manny's Father was supposed to be helping us…but it seems…work has him held up."

"Ah…si. That sounds exactly like Rodolfo…" Maria sighed, "Well we have a book on everything here. I believe we have just the thing here." she smiled, "Let's see…geology…" she mused to herself as she began searching.

"Oh my, you do have a lot of books here." Tsubaki realized this library was…rather expansive for a public school.

"Frida didn't even know about libraries until we came here when I learned dad ran away from a fight against El Mal Verde," El Tigre snickered.

"I will hide catnip in your pillowcase again," Frida threatened, making El Tigre's ears and tail shoot up.

"Wait…you're affected by catnip?" Max asked as everyone noted he already cleaned up any fallen books and put them away.

"I blame the Ancient Tiger Spirit…" El Tigre muttered, trying hard to not look at them while glowering at the giggling Frida.

"It was hilarious when I found out," Frida teased, "Only works when he's El Tigre, but still hilarious."

"Mmm…"

"Well as far as superhero weaknesses go, it could be worse." Max chuckled, "I mean…if I don't vent my own power…I could blow up."

"WHAT!?" both kids jumped.

"Yep, I need to be a superhero to keep it from happening. But if I do say so myself, I've gotten the hang of this gig with record speed. I fought monsters made of Wind, Fire, Earth and Water in my first week, even." Max smirked as the kids awed at the short story, "Want to hear about the crazy extreme sports nut who gained the power to become mutated giant killer animals?"

"Even his supervillains sound cooler…" Frida awed.

"I haven't even gotten to my Mortal Nemesis who is a walking energy vampire who feeds off my own power~" Max smiled.

"You have a mortal nemesis?! That is so cool!" El Tigre awed, his tail wagging, "All I do is fight the same losers each day."

"Oh come on, you and your pops have to have some cool villains, right?" Max asked, "You know…besides your Gramps,"

"Well…there is Sartana." Frida offered.

"Sartana?" Tsubaki repeated.

"Sartana of the Dead," El Tigre explained, narrowing his eyes, "The most feared villain in all of Miracle City. She can raise the dead as skeleton banditos with her Mystic Guitar, which also lets her do all sorts of things depending on how she plays it."

"So she's the big bad in charge of the city, huh?" Max asked, "Not many files on the villains around here."

"Yeah…that list grows fast," El Tigre sighed, "Mustache Mafia, Dr. Chipotle Sr and Jr, the Flock of Fury-please don't ask about them-, Señor Siniestro, El Mal Verde...I swear, it's like every week there's a new one showing up!"

"Yeah, no wonder you guys have problems," Max sighed, "Maybe I can make it a habit to pop by now and again and help out. I promise to bring my super cool Motorcycle~"

"Super Cool Motorcycle?!" the two kids gasped

"It can ride up walls~" Max added, "I also have a transforming car that can turn invisible in the works."

"Invisible?!" El Tigre gasped.

"Yep, one of my powers is Stealth Mode." Max explained, "I become invisible and silent. Like a Ninja. But…a thousand times cooler."

Tsubaki rolled her eyes as she went to help Maria, 'Leave it to Max to handle kids.'

"Your friend seems to be really good at taking care of children," Maria noted as she walked over to Tsubaki with a few books, "Mostly keeping their attention so they don't get into mischief."

"Transform, please transform, show me!" Frida pleaded while climbing on Max's back.

"I don't know…what's it worth to ya?" Max teased.

"Frida, give him stuff! I need to see him transform into something cool!" El Tigre ordered.

"Me!? What about your stuff?" she argued.

"Yes, Max is very good with kids," Tsubaki smiled, "Before he got his powers, he was just a normal person. He went to school, and he was popular with the kids of his home as a friend. But…since he gained them…being a Superhero is all he can be now. But somehow he's still one of the most positive people I know."

"Forming Max Tigre!" Max declared as he put El Tigre on his shoulders.

"Villains beware!" he cheered.

"He is indeed." Maria smiled.

"Ready? Ready?" Max asked, "Go Turbo Stealth!" he shouted, his suit turning black…before he vanished, "Huh? See…invisible~"

"Woah~" El Tigre and Frida awed as they 'sat' on the air.

"This is so awesome!" the former beamed.

"Ohh~" Frida gasped out, "We should totally have Max mess with some of your bad guys, man!"

"Well now that…sounds like a good old time~" Max chuckled, "But no pickpocketing…Frida~" he teased.

"Hey, I've only done it the one time…today…"

"Several this week."

"Oh like you're better?"

"Course I am," El Tigre replied before Frida grabbed his pocket and pulled out a wallet.

"Huh?! That's my wallet!" Tsubaki gawked, patting her pockets.

"Uh oh…" Max whispered…before he quickly ran off to the kids, "I'll-look-after-the-kids-kay-bye!"

"Oh that…" Tsubaki frowned.

"Ah, I am so sorry for my son," Maria apologized, shaking her head, "He gets that from his Grandpapi, but he does have a good heart. He cares deeply for familia."

"...hah. It's fine, ma'am," Tsubaki sighed a bit, "Honestly...I deal with someone similar back home…we call her Makoto."

"And she is…" Maria trailed off, not wanting to assume off limited information.

"My best friend of the same age who has the boundless energy of a child and is the girlfriend to Ben Tennyson."

"Ahh…" Maria nodded, recognizing the names now, "We honestly have a book about Senor Tennyson."

"Really?" Tsubaki asked.

"Oh, si, si," Maria nodded as she held up a green book with a photo of Ben with a green gauntlet-like Omnitrix in a green jacket, black shirt, and jeans with far neater hair with the title 'La guía para no llamar la atención de Ben Tennyson,' "See?"

"..."

"...que?"

"...N-Nothing, ma'am," Tsubaki whispered, 'Oh lord…can't let Ben see this, or else his ego will come back tenfold…' "Wait…" she pulled out her Plumber's Badge and quickly looked up the author, "...This was written by a villain?"

"It is?" Maria blinked, "There are so many in the world I don't keep track."

'...Is she trying to make a library of all of Earth's knowledge in here?' Tsubaki pondered, 'That….that's actually amazing.'

"Alright…that takes care of that," White Pantera whispered as he dusted his hands off, a group of tied up thugs laying nearby, "Now that the local thieves have been taken care of, I can get back to giving Ben Tennyson's friends a tour of the city a-" a faint explosion went off in the distance, "...right after I deal with whoever that is."

He quickly became a blur as he started rushing towards the source of the explosion, a large roar following suit as the area rumbled a bit. He then quickly skdi to a halt, seeing what looked like a massive monster…made of guacamole destroying a few buildings.

"Dr. Chipotle…Now is it a father-son day or just one of them?" White Pantera pondered.

"GYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" a loud voiced mockingly laughed on top of the giant, making White Pantera look up to see what looked like a glass dome on top of its head with a little kid inside…said kid having a robotic arm and a cybernetic eye, "Yes, my monster Go and destroy the town before papa gets back!"

"Ahh…it is just Dr. Chipotle Jr," he noted, "His father must be out of town…Regardless, I can handle this just…!" he began before the Guacamole monster ended up stepping on him.

"Hmm? Did you step on something? …Did you step on that annoying bird that keeps pecking me?" Dr. Chipotle Jr blinked as the Guacamole monster raised its foot up, looking down to see White Pantera stuck to its foot, "Oh! Even better!"

"Dr. Chipo…" White Pantera began before spitting out some guacamole, "...potle Jr! I insist you stop this at once!"

"Hmm…no," he replied before the monster stepped his foot back down onto the ground, "Since Dr. Chipotle Sr is busy, Dr. Chipotle Jr figured he'd take care of destroying part of the city…and make a little money on the side from all the banks he robs! HAHAHAAHAHAHA!"

"Wow…ever the bragger as always…"

"?!" the kid tensed as he and his monster turned around, seeing both El Tigre and Frida standing against a lightpost, "El Tigre and…his annoying sidekick!"

"Just so you know…I'm gonna remember that the day I get powers," Frida stated.

"Dr. Chipotle Jr does not care! Dr. Chi…wait. Why are you just standing there?"

"Oh no reason," El Tigre shrugged, "Just wanted to show off a new friend of ours…just to mess with you and the other bad guys."

"Eh? New friend?" Dr. Chipotle Jr blinked as he and his guacamole monster looked around, "...Dr. Chipotle Jr doesn't see anyone! All he sees is two more ants that need to be squashed like White Pantera!"

"Go Turbo STRENGTH!" Max's voice shouted from behind him as his now giant form became visible, "Hola~!" he greeted in poor Spanish as he put his giant hands on his hips.

=You are so lucky that there was a fifteen minute break for the doctors to do burn treatments. Why did no one tell me Bingo was so much fun?= Steel questioned.

"Cause it tends to be more appealing to a demographic with older souls," Max chuckled, "So…standard Super Hero Team up rules apply! You have permission to give up, and we advise you to use it! But none ever do…so…let us do the dangerous dance of combat!"

"HAHAHA! You are stupid to thinking you can best Dr. Chipotle Jr's Guacamole monster!" Dr. Chipotle Jr laughed before snapping his robotic hand, making his monster roar out, "Now charge, my beast, and put this guy in his place!"

"...Fine. I warned ya," Max shrugged as he reeled his arm back and punched, only to blink when it sunk right into the monster's body, "...uh…Steel…"

=Wow. This thing is legit made of guacamole= Steel analyzed =It's like fighting Goop, minus the UFO I could always take pot shots on=

"Sentient guacamole…Not the weirdest things I've fought," Max admitted as he tried to move his arm back..to little to no success, "...uh oh."

"Like it? Dr. Chipotle Jr added in a special ingredient to my Guacamole monster…quicksand!" Dr. Chipotle Jr laughed as the monster took in more of Max's arm, dragging him closer before it punched him in the face, "Chips go in, but they don't come out!"

"Oh you mean these chips?"

"Hmm?" Dr. Chipotle Jr blinked as he turned…and paled when he saw both Frida and El Tigre holding multiple bags of tortilla chips, "...no…no. Don't you do it~"

"Oh we're doing it…" Frida smirked.

"Don't you do it!"

"We're doing it," El Tigre smirked.

"Dr. Chipotle Jr commands you to not do it~!"

"Oh that means you have to do it!" Max laughed, "Snarky Young Super Hero rule number 12: If the Villain commands you to do something after you have an idea…you have to do it…no matter how weird things get. Addendum 23 says you can learn a lesson after the fact and all will be okay," Max spoke.

=Don't ask about Addendum 24! So much regret!=

"...no…" Dr. Chipotle Jr began, seeing the evil glint in both Frida and El Tigre's eyes as they began to open up the chip bags, "NO NO NO! Dr. Chipotle Jr commands you t-"

Within a matter of seconds, the bags were immediately torn up as its contents were all tossed right into the guacamole monster. It paused from trying to punch Max again before blinking, noticing the chips covering its body…before it ate its right fist in one bite.

"NO~! STOP MY BEAST! STOP EATING YOURSELF NOW!" Dr. Chipotle Jr ordered in a panicked tone, only for his monster to eat its own foot next, which ended up freeing White Pentera as he stood there on the ground..covered from head to toe in Guacamole.

"...Why do I always forget this weakness of theirs?" White Pantera pondered.

"Hey no worries man, sometimes we get lost in the motion," Max assured, "Happens, but the fun part is always finding a way out…and winning."

=Uh…Max? Your arm is still stuck= Steel pointed out before the guacamole monster grabbed Max's arm..and began to chew on it =...correction. Now the monster it trying to eat your arm=

"Seriously, dude?" Max asked the monster. He sighed as his arms began glowing before he, as best he could, clapped them together, making the Guacamole Monster begin to expand like a balloon; before he did it again, and again as it expanded as far as its elasticity would allow.

"...Uh, dude? I think we need to bolt out of here," Frida suggested as she began to step back.

"Seriously? Just as Max is about to beat the monster? This is…!" El Tigre began before the guacamole monster exploded, covering the entire area…and everyone there in guacamole, "..." he licked the guacamole off his face, "Hmm…New recipe?"

"Grr…" Dr. Chipotle Jr growled out, standing in a now broken glass dome while covered in guacamole.

"You know…I think that was the most fun and random villain encounter ever…sure beats crooks stealing with alien weapons…or killer robots built to kill," Max sighed, "You guys have some weird villains and that…brings life back to the game. Maybe I can vacation here so you guys can vacation!"

"Magnifico!" El Tigre cheered.

"Would it be a vacation if your still working?" White Pantera argued.

"Hey, I had to fight an army of mutated aye-ayes with acid spit…" Max argued, "A guacamole monster…far as I see it that is a step in the fun direction amigos~"

"...that is fair enough I suppose," White Pantera noted

"That sounds so much cooler…" El Tigre awed, "Can we vacation in Bellwood and fight their supervillains!?"

"Eh…I don't think we'll call that a vacation Mijo…" White Pantera muttered.

"I recommend New York, tourist stuff, fun sights and places to visit, and just the right amount of basic crime to scratch the hero work itch." Max chuckled, "Plus so many amazing pizza joints you'll eat yourself into a cheese fueled coma."

=He should know, he tried…= Steel sighed.

"Now that…that sounds like a vacation." White Pantera smiled.

"Cheese fueled coma…oh that sounds like my kind of thing," Frieda drooled a bit.

"Can we go to new york, dad?!" El Tigre asked his father excitedly, a begging look in his eyes.

"Hmm….it ahs been a while since we went on a vacation," White Pantera noted as he tapped his chin in thought, "...if I can talk with your mother and grandpapi, yes mijo."

"YES!" El Tigre and Frieda beamed.

"And of course once Frieda talks with her father, she can come," White Pantera added.

"...ah man," Frieda muttered.

=If you guys are gonna get back to business, I need to head back to a certain older gentlemen= Steel spoke up as he moved off Max and flew off =Call me when its important!=

"Don't be such a jerk Steel," Max sighed before his badge went off, prompting him to answer, "Hello?

=Everything okay on your end, Max?= Tsubaki asked.

"Oh yeah. Just had to deal with a giant guacamole monster," MAx replied.

=...I….I'm sorry…a what?

"Yeah it's…as weird as you expect. Tasty…but…really weird." he chuckled, "Anyway all seems good here. We'll meet up with you once we deal with the little twerp making monsters from a tasty dip. What about you? Find anything useful on your end?"

=I have actually. After looking through a few books, I learned there's a tunnel that leads to some underground caverns outside the city= Tsubaki replied =All we need to do is examine it find out which routes are safe or not, and with any luck…Miracle City will have its own Undertown=

"Alright, seems like a good starting place, I guess the next step is making sure the caverns are safe enough for a long term settlement. After that it's all left to an alien construction crew who are good at moving Earth. But given how opportunistic these crooks tend to be we shouldn't leave anything to chance…" Max sighed, "Let's be careful when we examine it at least…the last thing I need is a giant beast man growling at me for waking him from his nap…"

=Fair enough…I'll send you the coordinates and see you then= Tsubaki said as a holographic screen popping up to show a map of the area surrounding Miracle City

"Gotcha. I'll meet you there in a few. Just give me a sec to collect my guides…" he chuckled.

=Understood…Tsubaki out= Tsubaki said as she cut communications on her end.

"Alright…now to deal with the little kid," Max said as he looked over at Doctor Chipotle Jr…who was trying to sneak off and away from the group.

"Oh you'll rue this day, americano….you will rue the day you crossed Doctor Chiptole J-hey~!" Doctor Chiptole Jr yelped as he was lifted up.

"Yeah I heard that one before kid….but last time it was from a monster made of Fire, Earth, Wind and Water…sorry to say, but kinda hard to top a nemesis made of the four classic elements. But good effort, gotta respect that." Max chuckled.

"I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!"

"You're a loco loony," Frieda and El Tigre deadpanned in unison before shaking a quick hove five.

"Senor, allow me to take him back to where he properly belongs," White Pantera offered as he took Doctor Chiotple Jr..

"Thanks, I need to get back to my actual job anyway." Max sighed, "I'll take these two off your hands too." he picked up El Tigre and Frieda under his arms, "Now who wants to go spelunking into mystery caves of untold secrets?"

"WE DO!" the two beamed excitedly.

"Then vamanos!" Max declared as he rushed off.

"He's really good with kids." White Pantera smiled as he watched.

"Doctor Chiptole Jr will have vengeance on him!"

"The line begins with the giant elemental monsters and ends with the space mafia! Feel free to try and cut!" Max shouted from a distance away.

"GAH~!"

"...giant monsters made of guacamole…" Tsubaki muttered, standing near a large cave entrance outside of the city as she drank a bottle of water, "...makes me wish Makoto and Ben where here…they'd probably end up making chips and dips out of it…god I miss them," she admitted with a sigh, "...Can't believe I said that…but…I guess I do miss their unified brand of chaos…"

"You know speaking of chaos invites it into your life, Chief~" Max shouted as he walked over with the kids under his arm, "And no offense, but I think we still get our fair share of it."

"...true," Tsubaki nodded as she took another sip of her drink, "But they're chaos feels more…them you know?"

"You mean something we're used to?" Max sighed, "Also at least they trigger it first…so we don't have to."

"...once more, fair enough," Tsubaki sighed as she she put her bottle away.

"But yeah…I miss 'em as well," Max admitted as he put the kids down.

"Wait…did something happen?" El Tigre asked.

"Don't worry little dude, our friends are…on a long trip and we miss them a lot." Max explained, "Detail-detail, won't bore ya with em, let's go spelunking."

"Yeah! Let's go spelunkin'!" Frieda beamed as she prepared to rush off..only for Tsubaki to grab the back of her shirt, "...hey~"

"You're still young…its not wise to run in there by yourself," Tsubaki informed.

"I'm not going in alone," Frieda argued before dragging El Tigre over, "I'll have Manny with me!"

"Has anyone other than both your parents ever believed that as viable?" Tsubaki arched an eyebrow.

"You are a tough one lady, I'll give you that." Frieda nodded in response, "Alright we'll be safe."

"Given I'm the one in magma proof body armor…maybe stay behind me?" Max offered, "Plus I glow in the dark, bonus~"

"..cool~" El Tigre and Frieda awed.

"..know what? Maybe I was worried a bit too much," El Tigre admitted, "I mean I'm sure Ben 10's doing good wherever he is!"

"Exactly!" Frieda agreed, "So let's go with MAx into the long creepy tunnels!"

"Not creepy," Tsubaki interjected.

"Semantics!" Frieda laughed as she and El Tigre hopped onto Max; shoulders, "Vomanos!"

"To the caves we go!" El Tigre added.

"You heard them, Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it's home from work we go~" Max sang as he walked forward.

Tsubaki couldn't help but giggle a bit as she followed them inside. Despite how…chaotic this city seemed to be, it still had some good people there to help try and make it a better place. Hopefully by the time she and Max leave, they'll at least have put El Tigre on the right path of being a hero to help protect his home..and become a part of a newer generation of heroes to come. As soon as she stepped further inside, her nose began to crinkle a bit as she covered it, slightly smelling the stench of decay….did this path lead to an old graveyard? No….she read the information right, so there shouldn't be a cemetery close by…

'...maybe it's just my imagination…' Tsubaki shook her head as she caught up to Max, 'There's no way they'd bury their dead in unmarked graves here…'

"Oi, banditos! Hurry up!" Sartana ordered from on top of a ledge, strumming her guitar as a large group of alien skeletons in bandit attire were chipping away at the walls, "This new lair isn't gonna build itself ya know!"

"Yes, Mistress Sartana!"

"Hmm hm…who knew there was a cache of alien skeletons hidden here?" Sartana chuckled a bit to herself as she walekd off, "I keep this up, I'll be able to add more to our little army…phe. My beef is with the Rivera men anyways…how can a bunch of teenagers make someone like Vilgax l-"

"Hey granny!"

"Oi, Django!" Sartana snapped as she turned, looking at a smaller skeleton in black torn cowboy attire with a red scar around his neck, "Where've you been?! I have been searching for you! And where's your guitar?!"

"Relax relax…I have it," he muttered as he pulled out a red and black guitar, "I was getting it tuned up and modified."

"For more of your Rock and Roll?"

"Duh…" Django rolled his eyes, "Where've you been anyways? You're rarely home most of the time these days….wait. Did you join some new supervillain club?"

"Hmm I suppose something like that. It's very much an adult only environment." she replied.

"Boo…" Django replied, "No wonder things have been getting so boring around town…"

"Oh patient, Django…things will become exciting soon enough," She assured, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as she lead him to where the alien skeletons were working, "Now..you see this?"

"...mutant skeletons?"

"No…alien skelton banditos," Sartana replied with a grin, "Regular Banditos are fine and dandy…but with what me and mi amigos in my club have planned..I am going need a…how you kids these days say, 'Muy massivo army."

"It's big freakin' army," Django deadpanned.

"Si, that!" she cackled, "Luckily I found a cache of alien skeletons down here…I'd have to be loco not to let an opportunity like this slide! Gyahahahaha! Oh those Rivera men will be in for quite the surprise!"

'...alien army…' Django thought as he looekd down at the site, seeing a few Vaxasaurian and Apoplexian Alien skeletons moving some of the larger pieces of debris easily, …I like the sound of that…'

"So, Django..mind helping your dear old abuela in getting some of these Alien Skeleton Banditos working?"

"...you had me at personal Army!" Django shouted as he did a riff on his guitar, sending out a red shockwave that washed over the unearthed Alien skeletons, causing them to gasp as they rose up into the air.

"That's my grandson!" Sartana cackled.

'Unaware to the two, Tsubaki and her group began to step into the area, only for Tsubaki to quickly pushed them back as they got behind some cover.

"Were those…living skeletons?" Max asked in slight surprise.

"...living skeletons…" TSubaki whispered, her eyes darting back and forth before it clicked, "...manny, you said Sartana could control the dead, right?"

"Yeah…I did," El Tigre frowned a bit, peeking out as he looked at both Sartana and Django, "And she brought her grandson Django too…"

"Oh great…him again," Frieda quietly groaned.

"...how do Skeletons…know what, I'm not bringing up the technical details…it's magic…" Max muttered, his helmet forming as he enhanced his vision, "Wow…that's a lot…but…they're bones…so…"

"Max, focus," Tsubaki whispered as she looked out, her eyes narrowed as she noticed a few of the Alien Skeletons working, "Look what she has working for her…"

"...are those…aliens skeletons?" Max whispered.

"She's raising Alien Skeleton Banditos?" El Tigre whispered.

"Sounds like a Tarantino movie…" Max muttered, "But either way all kinds of bad…"

"Very…" Tsubaki frowned, 'This might've been originally a alien settlement in the past…and I don't want to know who or what possibly killed them. Either way….reviving the dead is so wrong…' "Manny, Frieda…anything to note with Sartana and her grandson?" she whispered to the two kids.

"Magic Guitars lots of crazy power," Frieda began.

"But it's also their main weakness and if you can destroy them, they poof. They come back, don't know how…but it's the one way we know to beat them without fail." El Tigre replied.

"Then we'll need to get in close to them," Tsubaki whispered, "Max, you and El Tigre distract their men…me and Frieda will sneak up on Sartana and her grandson, grabbing their guitars before they can try anything."

"Ooh~ Sneak attack," Frieda whispered excitedly as she whipped her guitar out.

"Cause a lot of noise while potentially getting hit or shot at, well sounds like a typical tuesday afternoon of work to me." Max sighed, "Come on little dude, I got a move I want to show you called…The Fastball Special~"

"Oh that's c-" El Tigre began before Max picked him up, "...ohh~" he whispered in realization…before grinning as he brought his claws out, "Let's do it, amigo…"

"WOO~" Max shouted, rushing in as he raised his arm back before tossing El Tigre as he slashed through multiple Skeletons, "ATTACK!" He lifted a giant boulder and tossed it at more of the undead goons, "I LOVE KICKING EVIL BUTT!"

"What the…?!" Sartana gasped in slight surprise, "Who…?!"

"Hey~" El Tigre waved as he flew by, landing on top of an alien skeleton and making it collapse.

"What?! El Tigre?! You again!?" Sartana snapped.

"Yeah, but this time I got a friend!" El Tigre cheered as Max tackled his way throw and skid to a stop behind him, "And he's bigger than me…"

"And given this little dude kicks your boney butts…the two of us together are too hot to handle~" Max cheered, putting his hands on his hips, "So feel free to surrender now, and we'll make sure to find a nice wizard who will lock you up in a magic jail where you can move. But if we do this the hard way, you're both totally going into the magic pickle jar."

"You have a magic pickle jar?" El Tigre blinked.

"Probably…we have a real weird immortal magic lady living across the street…I'm sure she's got something," Max shrugged.

"Oh yeah…sure you got this?!" Django shouted as he strummed his guitar, causing some of the Alien Skeletons to start merging together into a large hulking amalgamate of different Alien Skeletons.

"...Well that's just unf-" Max began before the giant skeleton smacked him and El Tigre away, "Ahh!"

"I forget that's a thing…" El Tigre groaned.

"What? The horrifying Lego combo thing? …Eh, to be fair I'd erase that from my memory, too…" Max chuckled, "Any suggestions?"

"We gotta break their Mystic Guitars," El Tigre replied, "That's the source of their powers."

"Oh good…my power is to literally blow up anything I touch!" Max laughed as he got up, "Steel!" he called out…only to get silence in return,, "Ah great. He's not back from bingo yet…gonna have to do this old school…" he grabbed a rock and tossed it up a few times before rearing his arm back and letting his Turbo energy flow into his arm as he tossed it with amazing force as it pierced through the Giant Skeleton abomination, and embed in the wall behind Sartana and Django, "Ah…what can I say? I'm more of a soccer guy." he sighed as he noticed a bigger rock, "This will do~"

"Soccer?"

"Football in countries outside the US," Max replied.

"Oh~"

The giant Alien Skeleton roared out before the boulder was tossed right into it, sending its bones scattering about…before they both began to combine into two smaller yet giant skeleton aliens as they growled out at Max…whose foot was currently outstretched.

"Well…you're gonna be annoying, huh?" he sighed.

"Si…we are!" Django laughed as he strummed his guitar, causing more giant Alien Skeletons to rise up, "Get them!"

"Good, Django! Don't let them get the chance!" Sartana laughed, Tsubaki and Frieda quietly sneaking up on them as they shot behind a nearby stalactite.

"Oh by the way, abuela…" Django spoke up as he looked over his shoulder, "What should we do about the two rats sneaking up on us?"

"?!" Tsubaki tensed before she grabbed Frieda and jumped out, quickly avoiding the incoming sound blast as it destroyed their hiding spot.

"Oh you suck, Django!" Frieda snapped, "How'd you even hear us?!"

"I didn't. If El Tigre is here…there's a chance you would be as well."

"Clever thinking, Django," Sartana smirked before looking at Tsubaki, "...hmm…you happen to know an annoying brat by the name of Ben Tennyson?"

"...You know of Ben?" Tsubaki asked.

"Of course I do! One of my new compadres keeps ranting about how he keeps losing to him," Startana stated, "And since you responded..you must be one of his little sidekicks."

"Well I used to be…now I'm technically his commanding officer within the hierarchy of our organization," Tsubaki admitted.

"Hm…noted. Too bad you won't be leaving here!" Sartana shouted as she strummed her guitar, sending out a sound blast at the two as Tsubaki quickly jumped out of the way.

"Well…you're just full of charm, aren't you lady…" Max sighed.

"If it's not too presumptuous…what are you doing here?" Tsubaki asked, "I'm aware seasoned and veteran villains love to have a captive audience to display their cleverness."

"Wait, what?" El Tgire blinked.

"Psst…Hero 101, let the bad guy monologue, then you know how bad things are and how quickly you gotta kick butt," Max whispered into his ear, "Also lets you charge up energy to…"

"Oh? Curious, are we?" Sartana asked with a chuckle, "Well, amiga, it's quite simple. These tunnels are all over Miracle City, carved from the magma flows beneath this land that flow into the Miracle City volcano. I've spent years having a Skeleton Bandito surveying the entirety of these caverns for one reason and one reason alone: the location of all the banks in the city!"

"You're gonna dig under all of them at once, aren't ya?" Max realized, "Your forces all at once, even if one bank heist is stopped…the net gain from all at once will be a literal mountain of cash…"

"Si!" Sartana replied.

"You know this is so smart it's weirdly refreshing…" Max looked at Tsubaki, "Do you know how many times I had to stop an army of mutated chinchillas from eating the town…or a Zombified Clown…from literally painting the town red with non-toxic food dye that looked like fake blood…? A villain having an actually well thought out master plan is…so refreshing…"

"Que? But those sound so awesome!" El Tigre argued.

"Ah yeah, at first…but then you realize…you're fighting all these supervillains for the dumbest of plots…they don't even try to steal cool stuff…" Max sighed, "Even Bank Robbers in our town are stupid…who robs a bank with a laser cannon? …You burned all the money…"

"Well that sounds like a you problem, gringo," Django retorted before strumming his guitar, causing the ground to rumble underneath Max before a bony arm of a Vaxasaurian skeleton punched Max.

"Ooof!"

"Hey cheap shot!" El Tigre shouted..

"So's this!" Django laughed as he strummed again and an Apoplexian skeleton jumped out of the ceiling and tried to do a hammer blow to El Tigre, who quickly dodged by firing his first out on a chain and pulling himself away when it grabbed a stalagmite.

"Whoa! Was that an alien tigre?" El Tigre asked.

"Appoplexian!" Tsubaki corrected, tossing Frieda into the air as she backflipped away from a sound blast before catching the Bluenette, "Really aggressive species!"

"I feel like he's calling me out on purpose…" El Tigre growled.

"Ugh…why can they hit so hard with no muscles…? Magic is so cheap…" Max groaned.

"Tell me about it!" Frieda agreed before Tsubaki grunted as a blast hit her, sending her skidding back as she crashed into the wall, "Ahh! Tsubaki!"

"I'm fine," Tsubaki whispered as she put her down, "Try and find a way to sneak up on them…I'll try and keep them distracted long enough."

"...Got it!" Frieda saluted with a nod, running off as she used her guitar to bat away a few Alien Skeletons, "Out of my way, bony butts!"

"...Is this chica serious?" Django asked as Tsubaki began to walk up to them.

"She must be loco…I mean mi amigos have told me not to underestimate them, but I doubt…" Sartana began with a laugh…only to tense once Tsubaki pulled out her sword, "?!"

"I have had a long day, admittedly with the many problems plaguing this city…but I know good people are here to try and fix it, so…" Tsubaki began before she quickly turned, slashing at a giant Alien skeleton that tried to hit her as its bones fell to the floor, "I'll use this as a venting opportunity!"

"Beware the nice ones…" Max muttered.

"Boy do I know it…" El Tigre muttered as they were in the midst of fighting off several skeletons.

"By mi pade's tar-made body…is Excalibur!" Sartana whispered in shock.

"Excalibur? Like...from those old dusty books Excalibur?" Django asked, "I thought that was fake!"

"You are a talking skeleton…how can you even say that and not look like the dumbest person ever?" Max argued as he punched out another Alien Skeleton Bandito.

"He's got you there…you are really stupid," El Tigre smiled as he slashed another Skeleton Bandito with his claws, "I mean, remember you destroyed your own mystic guitar because you forgot your hands were covered in magma."

"Wait…you know what this is?" Tsubaki blinked, "Now I'm a little impressed…"

"Right?" Max nodded as he tossed another Skeleton Bandito away letting it shatter against a wall.

"You...How did you get Excalibur?!" Sartanan demanded, "The Legends say only one who is worthy of being King can wield it!"

"Well that's ironically sexist…" Max muttered, taking the spine and skull of one of the Skeleton Banditos and using it like a flail against the others, "Also look at me! I'm in Mortal Kombat! Kids don't look that up!" he panicked.

"Max, we will have issues if one of their parents calls!" Tsubaki shouted as she sliced down an incoming sound blast before using her blade to block a strike from a Skeleton Bandito.

"It just slipped out!"

"Sounds awesome!" Frida beamed, "Wait…Tsubaki's a king?! Oh that is awesome! We know royalty!"

"Should she technically be a queen?" El Tigre asked as he slashed down a Skeleton Bandito.

"...I mean technically she's the heiress and daughter of her family…" Max muttered.

"It's complicated!" Tsubaki shouted, getting closer to Sartana as she blocked another magic blast, "But Excalibur chose me…because it saw my potential as a leader..someone who leads their people!" she shouted as she jumped back from a pair of Skeleton Banditos, "And I'll never let anyone use it for dark deeds…"

"Oh dios mio, that was cringy!" Django gagged before attempting to hit Tsubaki with his guitar, only for her to quickly block it with her sword, "But that sword though…"

"Django, you idiota, stop!" Sartana snapped as she pulled him back, quickly strummign her guitar as she sent out another sound blast at Tsubaki, "You suicidal, boy?! You get sliced by Excalibur, you'll be sent off almost instantly!"

"Que?! But my…"

"Our connection made by the mystic guitar can be severed by it. Your great grandpapi should know. He took a trip to England before the Aztecs were just developing their rituals to the deities, angered the owner of Excalibur then, and one slice and-poof!-he lost the ax he was using to stay connected to the living world and had to make a new item to connect to the living world with!"

"Wait…so…" Max blinked, "Holy crap your sword is kryptonite to undead?!"

"It…well, I suppose it is a Holy Blade…" Tsubaki blinked, "...That explains why some of their men haven't gotten back up…it's literally sending them off to their proper resting places…"

"...Oi, Django…" Sartanan whispered to her grandson, "How big of a skeleton can you make?"

"Probably big enough to take them all out…but that would result in you losing all these…"

"I don't care! Nobody told me one of Ben Tennyson's sidekicks had Excalibur on them!" she hissed, "Play, mijo, play~"

"...Know what? Fine…" Django grinned as he turned up a knob on his Guitar, "Let's rock this joint!"

With that Django did a loud strum on his guitar, causing the area the rumble as he began to do a loud guitar riff that echoed out within the chamber. The remaining Alien Skeletons and Banditos stopped before they all began to fly into the center of the room, a few unearthed skeleton bones floating up as they all began to circle around one another.

"...Oh I already don't like where this is going…" Max whispered as the bone tornado began to quickly die down…and in its place was a giant bone monster that seemed to take the visage of the legendary king of the monsters, "...did…did he just make a Bone Godzilla!?"

"What's a Godzilla?" Frieda and El Tigre asked.

"...You guys don't get G-" Max began before the money monster roared out, an eerie green glow coming from its mouth as it glared down at them, "?!"

"That big enough, abuela?" Django asked his grandmother as he continued to play a riff on his guitar.

"Please tell me you can shoot magical sword beams…" Max turned to Tsubaki.

"Uhm…." she looked at Excalibur, as if contemplating asking the sword itself.

"...I'll take that as a no…" Max muttered before seeing the green glow in the monster's mouth beginning to build up, "..."

"...CHEESE IT!" Frieda screamed as the four quickly began to run for the cover, the monster roaring out as it sent out a huge wave of emerald green fire as it covered the area.

"Ooh~ Ectoplasmic fire…" Sartana noted, "...despite it being that rock and roll mambo jumbo…you're improving, Django…"

"Oh crud, oh crud…oh…" Max began as he got in front of everyone before a blur slammed into his chest. The flames 'hit' them before subsiding to reveal a large figure covering them, "Oh…finally…"

=Well it was easy, whoever played that off tune nonsense drew plenty of attention…= Steel sighed as Max Steel stood in his Strength Mode that acted as a barrier from the flames =Sorry I'm late…was finishing up Bingo night…man that was nu-= he began before he noticed the large skeleton monster roaring at them =...did they make a SCP version of Godzilla?! No, wait, wait…That's 682 if they ever drop a nuke on him.=

"Steel not now!"

=Right, right, right. So I'm guessing that lady is Sartana of the Dead and her grandson Django of the Dead= Steel noted.

"How do you…?"

=They're the talk of the city's villains! Cream of the crop and nearly wiped them all out along with White Pantera and El Tigre in a fake out on her retiring from villainy a few weeks before the frogs invaded=

"Wow…talk about twisted…" Max chuckled, "But…good to have you back…I missed being able to smash!" he smacked both fists together.

=Well that thing looks mighty sturdy, might need bigger tools. Thankfully Kajun has been working on something in secret with the Autobot mad scientist in a secret forum=

"Autobot who?"

=Wheeljack, a cooky lover of invention, something about a means of Downloading weapons to one's location= Steel explained =Of course she put the transceiver in your new tools, and I know the code~=

"Oh she's either gonna hate us or love us when we get back…" Max sighed, "Really hoping this works…alright Steel…let's try it."

=Ooh this will be fun, or blow up in our faces. Alright, begin transfer!= At that, blue energy formed around Max Steel's arm before it began to solidify into a giant gauntlet tipped with three drill bits, Steel flew off Max's chest and connected to the gauntlet as it began glowing and whirring to life.

"...So cooooool~~!" El Tigre and Frieda whispered in pure awe and excitement, stars in their eyes.

"Giant Drills…it's like she knew I was going to get in trouble while deep underground…" Max chuckled before unleashing more of his Turbo Energy before he rushed and punched through another blast of green fire breath from the Giant Skeleton Monster, the drills dispersing the flames as he charged through before he got in close and plunged the drills into its abdomen as bone dust began flying from the impact as the strike dug deeper and deeper into its body. Max grunted putting more energy into the weapon as the drills began spinning so face they seemed to generate a field of energy that extended their reach before Turbo energy exploded out the giant Monstrosity's back.

"?!" Django and Sartana's eyes widened as their monster staggered back, roaring out weakly as it began to crumble into dust and bones.

"No no no! Don't give up!" Django shouted as he kept strumming his guitar to try and get it to stand back up, "Get back out there and get them! ...Stop falling into dust, damn it!"

"Language!" Max chided.

=We are an all powerful Alien Symbiotic Warrior, hah! You thought I'd let magic beat us? Fools! I beat magic! Revere me! I also cheated at Bingo~=

"You sure you're not a villain?" Max asked, flicking Steel.

=Eh, they were all cheating too…I just did it better, by the way, Kid, your Grandpapi owes me one Sombrero~=

"Granpapi owes you something? Wow. Normally, it's the other way around," El Tigre admitted before shaking his head and glared at the two skeletons, "It's over, Sartana, Django!"

"We got the Alien Muscle!" Frieda pointed to Max, "And the Magic lady with the killer sword!" she pointed to Tsubaki, "You two couldn't even beat this goofus when he was working alone!" she pointed to El Tigre.

"Hey~"

"Sorry," Frieda apologized sheepishly.

"...oh yeah? Well lets see who's laughing wh-?!" Django began as he raised his hand up, only for Sartanan to grab it, "Wh…?!"

"Django, I'm taking you home," She stated, her eyes narrowed as she glared at the group, "I need to go visit my business associates…"

"Wh-?! Seriously, grandma!? I just got finished being grounded and you're locking me in my room again?!"

"We are low on resources, and outnumbered! You do the math!" she snapped as she strummed her guitar, causing red energy to start swirling around her and Django, "Besides…why waste your life when you can continue to improve your music?"

"But…we…." Djagon tried to argue…but saw what she was saying, "...d'oh fine…" he pointed at Max Steel, "I swear revenge upon you, gringo!"

"Yeah, yeah…you and Chipotle Jr can agree on that," Max waved off as the two skeletons vanished in a wave of red energy.

=That ended in far less collateral damage than I anticipated= Steel muttered.

"I think it's because the moment Tsubaki pulled out Excalibur, those two knew they were about to lose," Max pointed out as he dismissed his weapon and armor., "Well…mainly the older one."

"...Well…at least this means that the tunnels are able to be inhabitable," Tsubaki noted as she sheathed her sword.

"So that means we can now have Aliens live underneath us?" Frieda asked.

"'Living' being the optimal word…" Max chuckled.

"Sweet!" El Tigre beamed before shooting up to Tsubaki, "Don't worry, ma'am! I'll make sure they feel protected…and keep any that decide to be troublemakers in line!"

"I know you will," she smiled, "Maybe you can expend some of that chaotic energy with all your new Alien friends you'll make? You might just cause less trouble for others then."

"Oh come on. How hard can aliens be to handle?" Frieda chuckled.

"Some aliens need to eat precious metal…or poison…or poisonous metal," Max listed, "That's just the easy ones."

=There are also the ones that have literal explosive anger, plants that drink a LOT of water, fishy ones…and don't get me started on the ones that might like to hunt humans for fun= Steel blurted.

"Point is…" Tsubaki held a hand up as Max flicked Steel once more, "There will be some aliens that might be hard to handle…but with enough hard work and dedication, they might help make Miracle City a better place."

"Just tell people about monsters under the streets and I bet they can scare some people straight." Max chuckled.

"..." Frieda slowly blinked at that…before a mischievous grin grew on her face.

"No," Tsubaki spoke.

"But I didn't say anything!"

"Just make sure you keep anyone from getting hurt," Max looked to El Tigre, "As the local kid with amazing power, they're gonna look to you for help. It doesn't matter if you have fun and play a few pranks with them, just keep everyone safe, and the rest will sort itself out."

"Gotcha," El Tigre nodded, "And don't worry…my dad will be helping me out with that. Grandpapi….maybe…"

"He'd sooner rob 'em blind," Frieda pointed out.

"I'm sure that old coot will make some new friends with some alien geezers." Max sighed, "Maybe then he'll find keeping an eye on them worth the effort…that or go back to having villain friends he can't trust…"

=Think of the new kinds of bingo night~= Steel added.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy your new neighbors as it would be," Tsubaki sighed, "We still have a lot of work to finish up down here…"

"Ah…I was afraid she'd say that…" Max sighed, "Alright alright, let's finish up the important bits…then we can take a break."

"That's fair enough."

"Three….two…one…" Hazama countered down, back to back with Junko as they laid against a pillar before Sartana walked in.

"Sarty~! Hey~!" Junko laughed as she bolted before her, "Welcome back…Tell me. Who's lo-"

"Cram it, you loco chica," Sartana ordered as she pushed Junko aside, "I need to speak to Viglax."

"...Let me guess; finally fought Benny boy or one of his friends?" Hazama guessed.

"Must be~" Junko smiled as Sartana walked past them and into the door which led to the War Room.

"I see all Earthlings are prone to sudden visits…" Vilgax refused to look up from the multiple digital screens all around his field of vision, "Unlike most of you, I have a planet and territoires to run, so unless this is pertinent, I have work to attend to." one of his tentacles tapped a screen, "Vlad…she's here…in my War Room…"

=What do you want me to do about it? I have work of my own to attend to…=

"We had a deal…I wouldn't have to deal with anything but the creepy ones…" Vilgax hissed, "I keep them out of your mansion, you deal with the others for me…"

=...Fair enough= Vlad sighed as the screen turned off, a portal appearing near Sartana as he walked in while in his ghost form, "Now then, Senora Sartana…what can I do for you in place of…"

"I can see why you have so much trouble with that Ben 10 brat and his friends," Sartana stated, making Vilgax pause for a moment, "That red haired chica he's friends with? She and this other brat invaded my expedition in getting more banditos for my army…and she had Excalibur on her!"

"Is that anything like Ascalon?" Vilgax asked.

"It makes that sword look like a butterknife," Vlad explained, "It's known as the Sword of Kings, said to be able to cut down anything…"

"You mean to tell me that mudball had two almighty swords of power? …People lose everything on that planet…" Vilgax sighed as he pushed the screens down to give them his full attention.

"Does not help it's filled with idiots," Vlad admitted with a mutter, "And I have the unfortunate luck of being friends with one of its many buffoons."

"...and you say one of Tennyson's allies had it?" Vilgax questioned as he looked at Sartana.

"Si! The red haired one! Uh…" she began before looking at a nearby board, showing damaged images of Ben and the others before pointing at the image of Tsubaki, "That one!"

"...AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Hazama began to laugh loudly at that, "Y…you're shitting me, right?! Heh heh…that literal walking dumpster fire has Excalibur?!"

"We talked of this, Snake…you can peek but not enter…" Vilgax sighed, "I remember this one. Focused, tactical, a natural leader type. Of zero interest to me though, she was just another handler for Tennyson. Someone to stop him from partaking in our usual brand of…entertainment." he sighed, "But I suppose I did note oddities of these new women he surrounded himself with…I had just assumed he'd taken concubines…"

"Is that a thing on your world?" Junko poked her head in.

"Well…every Ruler need an heir…I just…didn't care for how many eggs were spawned…" he shrugged, "Besides after a point I realized…I didn't want to hand over my work to a brat…so…I made them work for it…" he shook his head, "But besides the point, you claim this woman has this powerful sword that made you decided to tac-"

"Run like a b-GAH!" Hazama cried as Vilgax hit him with an air pressure punch.

"Tactically retreat…" Vilgax sighed.

"Si," Sartana responded with a frown, "At first, I paid these kids no mind as I already had enough to deal with against those Rivera men…but after dealing with her and that Max Steel lad first hand…" her eyes narrowed as they glowed brightly, "It's best to not underestimate these kids any longer…"

"...And what do you intend to do about it?"

"Find more alien skeletons to replenish my army of banditos…train them properly, and add them into the ranks of our already growing army," Sartna explained before pointing at Vlad, "You! You happen to know where I can find any more alien burial grounds?!"

"I have a few resources that might have leads…if not, I am owed a few favors from the General of Area 51…" Vlad sighed, "Well former General…that old holding center they had there…wasn't the most…humane…"

"Jails are often a good supply of dead," Vilgax offered, "Mostly when they don't want others to know about."

"...Well I'll know about it soon enough," Sartana whispered as she began to walk off, "Let me know when you get that lead, Vlad…been meaning to get my nephew the proper training he needs…"

"Try not to throw your back out," Hazmaa joked before he and Junko leaned back to avoid a sound blast, "Missed us~"

"Do not kiss us…seriously don't. I'd rather not taste old rottie bones thank you," Junko gagged before a strum went off, making her blink before she and Hazama yelped, a bony skeleton arm holding a cutlass lowering back into the ground as the two landed on their backs.

"No commentary from the peanut gallery," Sartana frowned, strumming her guitar once more as she vanished in a swirl of red energy.

"What have you learned?" Vilgax sighed, walking out, "I'm not helping 'till you say it…I can stand here all day…"

"...Don't tease the bone lady that can revive the dead…" the two psychos muttered.

"Is that the lesson in all this, Vlad?" Vilgax asked.

"I would have gone with 'respect to your elders'…but eh…close enough…" Vlad sighed as Vilgax's tentacles dragged the two up.

"Next time…think before you speak," Vilgax stated as he walked off.

"Now where's the fun in that?" Junko asked under her breath.

"It is quite surprising," Vlad noted.

"What is?" Hazama asked as he brushed his jacket of some dust from the fall.

"The Tsubaki Yayoi you describe doesn't match the one I've come into contact with," Vlad noted.

"...come again?" Hazama blinked a bit at that.

"Indeed. Much like Vilgax stated, Ms. Yayoi had several qualities that defined her as a leader," Vlad explained, "She showed little to no signs of being a 'dumpster fire' as you so eloquently put it. But this does add another thing to the dangers they can cause due to Excalibur."

"I thought that was just a bunch of stories that got messed up from retelling the original tales," Junko noted.

"All tales have a bit of truth to their origins," Vlad replied.

"...so…Tsubaki Yayoi now has the legendary sword of kings…" Hazama noted as he held his chin in thought, a small grin beginning to grow on his face, "Now…this is quite the change indeed…"

"Excuse me, but...change?" Vlad raised a brow.

"Let's just say before all this nonsense started, I more or less…'persuaded' her to go after her friends because she had a rather unique weapon…one we were gonna abuse to hell and back," Hazama explained, "But seeing how she doesn't have it….makes one wonder where…oh ho…oh…" he whispered in realization as he grinned further, "Relius Clover, you sly bastard…"

"?"

"Chances are an old…cohort of mine may possibly have said object," Hazama explained to him as he began to walk off, "If not…well no skin off our noses. Besides…things are going as planned still," he stated as he began to walk off, "Come along, Junko….I need to train you in something…special in case we end up bumping into Benny Boy or any of his friends during our special project."

"Ohh~" Junko beamed a bit as she skipped over.

"...What kind of special project?" Vlad cautiously asked as he looked at the two.

"Depends…" Hazama began, pausing in his steps as he looked back at him with open slit eyes, "Have you ever heard of…Anur Transyl?"

SZ: Hoo…finally….after several months of delays, changes…and real life issues, we-as of writing this-are finally done with this chapter!

GT: I will admit that this chapter…was a pain to write due to several reasons.

SZ: Mostly due to….the infamous writers block! That and many other story ideas have been…ruminating in our heads…

Z0: *tied up in straight jacket with mask covering my mouth like Hannibal Lecter* Ahahahahahaha….

GT: Yeah…especially with Avataro Sentai DonBrothers and now Kamen Rider Geats. Still debating on the latter while the former is on its way.

Z0: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *jacket and mask left behind with a random intern left tied up in my cell*

GT: …Z0's been let loose again. Better direct him to another story before he wrecks the city again. I think we're still paying off damages for the last rampage.

SZ: No kidding..the repairs bills are high enoug has is!

GT: Well…Read and review, folks. *cringes as an explosion goes off in the distance*

Z0: FREEDOM! *rides a dragon through the sky*