Chapter 5: Reunion, Revelation, & Revolution Part 5

Guardians:

Ruby (Pokémon Adventures): The Charmer

Junko Konno (Zombie Land Saga): The Showa (Zombie) Idol

Linhardt von Hevring (Fire Emblem: Three Houses): The Sleepy Crest Scholar

Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe): The Veteran Sergeant

Blaze The Cat (Sonic The Hedgehog): The Fire Princess

Yamcha (Dragon Ball): The Wolf Fang Fist

Komaru Naegi (Danganronpa): The Hopeful Heart

Sapphire Birch (Pokémon Adventures): The Conqueror

Michiru Kagemori (BNA: Brand New Animal): The Shapeshifting Beast Girl

Masaomi Kida (Durarara!): The Casanova

Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Marvel Cinematic Universe): The Ex-Thief

Ponzu (Hunter X Hunter): The Queen Bee

Ashe (Fire Emblem: Three Houses): The Arrow of Justice

Waluigi (Super Mario Bros.): The Cheating Trickster

Stan Marsh/Toolshed and Wendy Testaburger/Call Girl (South Park): The Power Couple

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (Disney/Disney's Epic Mickey): The Forgotten King

Zetsubou Members:

Monaca Towa (Danganronpa): The Li'l Ultimate Homeroom

Ultron (Marvel Cinematic Universe): The Rogue A.I.

General Tao (Dragon Ball): The Mercenary

Agatha (Pokémon Adventures): The Elder

Dr. Eggman Nega (Sonic The Hedgehog): The Mad Scientist

Big Bad Pete, Petetronic, Small Pete, & Pete Pan (Disney's Epic Mickey): The Brutes

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Third-Person POV

Insert Song: Despair Syndrome (Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls)

"Ultron… are you awake?"

Monaca watched a dark silhouette take its first metal footsteps and loosen its joints. The shadows of the castle covered most of it, but an inky substance could be seen rapidly floating off of the armored body. Some of the substance was in a controlled formation on its head and back, taking the shapes of a cape and the horns of a demon. All while you could hear the loud beating of the heart taken from a certain mouse echo, as it glowed from within the blackened chest of the android.

"Yes, and to reference my favorite film, I'd say that in my own way… I'm a real boy." The deep baritone voice of the A.I. bellowed through the corridors..

Monaca jumped around excitedly, "Yay! All those long hours and sleepless nights have been worth it! And what good timing too…"

"I already know, half of the generals have been defeated and with them the Monokuma Generators they were protecting have fallen. Eggman Nega isn't around, back to his post on the mountain I presume?" Ultron displayed his awareness of the situation.

"Mhm! It doesn't matter though, they're expendable. If they don't stop those good guys, you'll just have to punish them and we will be off to use that new power to conquer those other worlds ourselves!" Monaca pouted at the failure of the generals.

Ultron crossed his arms and groaned, "... Are there any more units in reserve?"

"Nope, we transferred any leftovers we had to our new facility for safekeeping! Y'know, the one our info-broker is gonna use?" Monaca explained.

"Right, killing game number three… which won't be happening for quite a while, such a waste. Truly a shame, could have used whatever was left to make better drones than those bears… What is a ruler without his subjects?" Ultron sighs in frustration.

"Well too bad! You just have to make due with what you got, learn to appreciate having this much power at all! Anyways, let's check up on the generals again, oh, and I can't forget this!"

Monaca grabbed the magical paintbrush before turning to head back to the control center, leaving Ultron behind to get used to his body.

"'We will use that new power', huh? We? Ha ha ha, pitiful child…" Ultron thought aloud to himself as he rubbed the glimmering Green Chaos Emerald lodged in his forehead.

Right as Ultron left the room however, a certain round-eared mascot managed to break out of his restraints…

Insert Song: Suite 2 (Disney's Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two)

"So just one more battle should evolve yer Espurr in no time! Just keep practicin', okay?"

Sapphire told Junko as the group of four finally got back on the move after the training session ended. Junko patted Ai the Espurr's head before returning her back to her Pokéball.

"Of course, thank you for the help. Surely I'll be more prepared now that Hitsuji and Fuwafuwa evolved, right Ruby?"

The contest champion was still lost in thought, not even hearing what the zombie girl was asking him. One more look at his solemn expression was enough for Sapphire to stop in her tracks and confront him.

"Yer still thinking about what that Bucky guy said to ya earlier, huh? Am I wrong?"

Ruby finally broke his silence as he stepped past her, "It's not important right now, let's continue on our way."

Sapphire grabbed him by his jacket collar and pulled him back.

"Nuh-uh, not until ya be honest about this. Ya know that I hate it when ya hide things from me."

Linhardt stepped in to give his insight, "If I were to guess, the whole almost endangering more people by giving the suit over to that doctor ordeal was the cause of it. Mr. Barnes was indeed correct in that one needs to think of how things could affect—"

"Exactly, I didn't think it through. Which is something I keep doing, again and again." Ruby stated, cutting off Linhardt before he could finish.

Sapphire's eyebrows furrowed, "Look, if this is about that meteor situation, I forgave ya for that."

"It's not just that!" Ruby lets out in frustration.

Insert Song: Brendan & May Emotion (Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire)

"Ruby…" Junko tries to move her hand towards her friend to comfort him.

"Remember how I refused to join the fight against Groudon and Kyogre? Or lying about my battling skills from you, Sapphire? How did all of that turn out? Like he said, plenty of screwups happen because some people didn't think before making choices. What happened back there could have been another mistake I made that someone thankfully remedied before another disaster could happen." Ruby poured his heart out to his three companions, clutching his fists as he did so.

Sapphire was not having it however, "Things worked out, didn't they? Even after all that we're both still here, and right now we're gonna fight an old ghost lady to make sure that everyone back home will still be here. You and me, we both did a lotta things that ended up goin' sour. Yer not the only one, right guys?"

Linhardt rubbed the back of his head, until Junko nudged him and the two of them both nodded.

"Thinking through things is a problem I struggle with as well… mostly due to how tiring it is even striking up a conversation, but I digress. For example, when I was unable to give you two an answer on whether or not I would stay in Fódlan or continue this journey. It certainly caused issues with her before things were set right." Linhardt looked at Junko as he finished his statement.

"Exactly, you're not alone on this, Ruby. We've all made mistakes, none of us have truly good luck or are flawless." Junko approached him slowly.

"Hmph…" Ruby continued looking off to the side at the glowing fireflies hovering nearby.

Junko bit her lip before giving her last shot.

"I… may butcher this saying that a friend of mine told another friend, regardless I think it's still worth hearing. You shouldn't think of mistakes or failures as bad things, since… they always end up helping with whatever happens next. By overcoming it all… that's when you start being the best version of yourself."

Ruby was standing there in silence as he was taking everything he just heard into his mind. Sapphire grabbed his hand, gripping it tight despite blush beginning to form on her face, and looked him in the eyes with pure determination. A minute later, she let go and led the way through the bayou. It was then something appeared from thin air, tripping up Sapphire as she was hopping from dock to dock.

"Gyah! What the heck?! What's the big idea?! "She descended into angrish as she tried to peel whatever it was off her face.

Linhardt leaned over to Ruby to give some snark, "Got yourself a real graceful one, huh?"

Ruby rolled his eyes and helped out his fellow Hoenn Pokédex Holder, ripping the paper from her face as Sapphire winced from the pain as if she got a face wax.

"I await you by the manor on the hill of a graveyard, there you all shall face me at my full strength. Be sure to inform me of what should be written on your tombstone for when I bury you with the many bodies you'll pass by on the way. Do not keep your reaper waiting… - Agatha." Ruby reads the note aloud.

"Rrrrgh… That ain't happenin', old lady! I ain't backin' down, let's go get her!" Sapphire ran off through the town without any direction.

Linhardt groaned, "We need to see where exactly this 'manor' is first, I would have suggested we ask for directions before running off but… ugh."

Linhardt slowly went down the path Sapphire followed as Ruby and Junko walked side by side. As she held her hands close to her heart, Junko decided to tell him one last thing.

"I'll be sure to back you up as much as I can in the coming fight. I'll do my best so that it won't be as difficult for you!"

"... Thank you, Junko. Of course I'll also do the same for you." Ruby finally cracked a smile.

She smiles back, thankful that their words got to him.

"Right, so… turn that worry about failure into strength, and don't worry if we do manage to slip up a few times. To quote something from another friend… there's always room to grow."

"Ha ha, they sound quite wise. By the way, didn't you name your Espurr Lazuli?" Ruby brings up the sudden nickname change.

Junko quickly explained her decision, "Oh! That's right, Lazuli does sound beautiful, but I just felt that Ai was a much better name for her. It's also the name of a close friend, so it helps me feel closer to them, even when we're apart. I sure do hope everyone back home is alright though…"

And somewhere out there… a zombie idol with yellow flowers in her dark blue hair just sneezed.

Insert Song: Mickeyjunk Mountain (feat. Mickey Mouse Club March, Disney's Epic Mickey)

"So… when cartoon characters get forgotten, they lose their hearts and get sent here?" Michiru asked Oswald as they continued climbing.

"Sometimes it happens to folks who don't even get the chance to end up on the big screen. Background characters, unused designs, or versions of characters that are replaced by new ones, sooner or later the world ends up forgetting." Oswald summed it up.

Komaru felt bad for the resident toons, "I'm so sorry you all had to go through this…"

Oswald patted her back in reassurance, "Don't be, there's still a few people in the world that remember us. Plus, even if it doesn't seem like it right now, we're happy here. And now I'm gonna show you one of the reasons why…"

The lucky rabbit beckoned his travel companions to join him and they were all in awe of how high up they were. Almost the entire park could be seen from the mountain, from the Oswald & Walt Statue on Mean Street to the Moonliner Rocket in Tomorrow City, it was like a giant toy model seen from above.

"YODELAYHEEHOO! Quite the view, huh?!"

"This is incredible…" Masaomi uttered as he looked all around.

"Wow!' Michiru's eyes sparkled as she spotted a flock of birds flying by them.

"We built this place from the ground up, made it our home even after we faded from the public eye. I won't let it be destroyed, even if one day I do manage to be remembered. Almost a hundred years of raising a family really helps a rabbit get attached, y'know? Don't want anyone to take this from me." Oswald used a hanky to wipe tears coming from his eyes.

Komaru's astonishment ceased as she thought about what was coming.

"Which is exactly why we need to take down Team Zetsubou, or they'll hurt the people who live here and everywhere else. We need to make sure that hope will live on and despair will remain only a temporary setback."

Insert Song: Boss (Sonic Rush Adventure)

"OH HO HO HO HO! Enjoying the view, why not experience it from a different point of view when I toss you off this junkpile!"

Masaomi and Michiru recognized the voice instantly, as the latter used her stretchy arms to pull Oswald and Komaru out of the way of a shot from a thinner cannon. The green liquid bubbled like acid as it splattered against the rocky ground.

"That evil scientist guy, how the hell did he even get here?!" Kida questioned as Eggman Nega looked offended.

"I have a name, thank you very much! But I will not bother repeating it, since now is the time I introduce my new creation! The Egg Rodent!"

A mech designed almost entirely of Mickey Junk. The gumball machine portion of a Mickey Mouse gumball machine for a body (with the cockpit sticking out like a protruding gut), a Mickey doll head with a creepy smile, a Mickey PEZ dispenser on the back used as a baton/bazooka, a drum with the Mickey Mouse Club logo used for a shield, the aforementioned thinner cannon on its right arm, the left is a mechanical gloved arm that has a Mickey wristwatch on it, and the legs have pull back toy cars as rollerskates.

"Sheesh that's ugly, just like your face, Baldy! Let's rumble!" Oswald puffed up his chest and hopped into battle.

The rabbit then gets flattened by a mechanical fist, his eyes turning into swirls as his paper-thin body was blown around by the wind. Utilizing the items gotten from Sonic, Masaomi breaks an item container and gets a flame shield, which he uses to dash right into the gumball machine.

Unmoved by the attack, Eggman Nega gets an idea, "Now now, if you wanted candy, then you should have just asked for it!"

The gumball machine's knob twisted rapidly and one by one a series of gumballs rolled out of its opening. Not just normal gumballs either, as one exploded near Komaru…

SPLAT!

"Ech, ack… I can't move my arm!" The gum became sticky wads as if they were chewed up and spat out… gross.

Michiru tried using her gorilla strength to rip her free from the pink glob, but it didn't work.

"I might as well stick to this ammunition for now, ha ha ha!" The mad scientist guffawed as he continued firing gumballs.

"Oh no you don't!" Masaomi flame dashed into a gumball bomb and Michiru used her arm as a slingshot to launch two of them back at him.

The bombs gummed up the thinner cannon and the gumball machine's knob, so that takes out two of his long ranged options.

"Ugh, no matter, I have plenty left up my sleeve! How about this?!" Eggman Nega whipped out his next weapon of choice.

Oswald stuck his thumb into his mouth to reinflate himself and right as he sits up he's greeted by the face of his brother on the drum.

"Eyow! Way to kick a guy while he's down, huh? I'm so sick of fightin' evil doctors… they've got terrible sportsmanship!" The rabbit rambled as he threw his right arm out like a boomerang.

The arm hit the glass of the cockpit, cracking it to the dismay of the relative of Eggman. Oswald then taunted the doctor using his classic "cocking a snook" gesture (look it up, that's really what it's called.

"I hate that rabbit…" Eggman Nega grumbled as he took out the PEZ bazooka and fired a block of candy at the blue shorts-wearing bunny.

Finally managing to break free of the gum through the usage of Burn and Move Bullets, Komaru was back in the fight and activated another sketch: The Watch Sketch.

Time suddenly began moving at a snail's pace, with only Komaru able to move like normal.

"Holy cow, I wanna use this when I get back home! Everyone better prepare their face for some permanent marker mustaches, heh heh heh…"

She first moved Oswald out of the way of the PEZ shot, then began unloading the Break Bullets into the Egg Rodent, and right as time returned to its normal speed…

"Uh, wasn't I just standing over there?" Oswald wondered how he moved as he frantically checked his position.

"GAH, GAH, GAH! What in the world just hit me?!" Egghead felt the full force of all those shots at once.

Komaru winked as she fired one more bullet, "And… Dance!".

Suddenly the Egg Rodent began to bring it around town with its hips, much to its creator's confusion.

"No no no no! Stop shaking your rump and go kick theirs!" He yelled as he began banging on the controls.

As a result, the Egg Rodent slipped on its own car skates and fell on its back as our four Guardians tried their best to hold in their laughter. Picking itself back up, the merch mech finally fought back by launching more PEZ at them until it ran out of ammo.

"Guh!" Michiru gets hit by a block and it shatters on impact.

"Hm… bleck, that is way past its expiration!" Masaomi tried getting the taste of the candy out of his mouth after licking the one he caught.

"Why would you even try that, kid? That stuff's been here for more than a decade!" Oswald calls the blonde out on it.

Masaomi spat out the rest of the awful flavor before he answered, "Ech, look it's been a few hours since breakfast and we've been climbing this mountain for what feels like forever. If I see giant candy, then I'm gonna try it."

"Now let's get rolling!" Eggman Nega shouted as he pulled a lever.

The Rat Robot began to pull back its wheels and it rushed quickly at everyone, who just barely ducked under its arms. The four of them went behind a Mickey marching band Jack in The Box for cover.

"Okay, I think he's almost through. Most of his weapons are gone, so we just gotta land a big one on 'em!" Oswald informed his team.

"Hey Michiru, remember when we tripped up Scott when we first met?" Masaomi asked the tanuki girl.

"Oh yeah! We can try that, but can you even outrun him? This area isn't as big to run around in like last time." Michiru warned him.

Masaomi whipped out another item box with Speed Shoes on them, "Exactly why I'll try on some new kicks. I run around, you trim him, and these two can blast the mech while it's down. Sounds good? No objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I've got something in mind that hertz a watt! Ha ha, we conduit Komaru, get what I'm saying?" Oswald made a bunch of electric themed puns that Komaru didn't catch, to his disappointment.

"O-Okay… I'll switch to Knockback bullets then."

"Okay, let's give him hell." Masaomi said as he broke the item box and he gained a boost of speed.

Running all around the summit of Mickeyjunk, Masaomi outraced the pullback tires of the Egg Rodent. That didn't stop the doctor from trying though, and with one final pull he rockets forwards to ram into the boy. The beast girl saw her opportunity and once again stretched her arms in between the Jack in The Box and a nearby Mickey Mouse telephone.

"URGH! R-Ready!" Michiru gritted her fanged teeth as she held on tight.

Masaomi saw his opening and took the chance, "Catch me if you can, Egghead!"

"It's EggMAN NEGA to you, brat!" The doctor shouted angrily as he pulled back and let the wheels go.

The Egg Rodent ran into Michiru's arms and this time around, instead of tripping it, it was launched into the air like a slingshot!

"AGH! NO NO NO NO! THIS VESSEL WASN'T MEANT FOR THE AIR!" Eggman Nega panicked.

"Do we take the shot now?" Komaru asked aloud as she charged up her hacking gun and Oswald was holding up his remote control right beside it.

"Wait!" Michiru's eyes then shapeshifted to that of a hawk's and focused in on the Egg Rodent's positioning in the air, "FIRE NOW!"

"Just a second!" Oswald says before popping off his rabbit foot and rubbing it all over the hacking gun and remote.

Komaru gave him a confused look as he placed his foot back on his leg, "What are you doing?"

The toon smiled determinedly, "Just some extra luck, now fire away, Komaru!"

Komaru pulled the trigger and Oswald pressed the button and out shot an even larger electric blast, thanks to the implementation of the remote's extra power. Aiming right where Michiru determined, the cockpit's controls, shattering the glass and causing an spectacular explosion of electricity.

Komaru panted as she saw the mech crash down on a cliffside opposite to theirs, "I think that did it…"

"Can't be too sure, let's hop over and see if he's out."

Oswald's ears spun like a helicopter and leaped into the air, Komaru grabbing onto his legs as Michiru sprouted wings to carry Masaomi over to the other side. The Egg Rodent was now a wrecked pile of junk, fitting for where it ended up. The mad scientist's suit had plenty of tears in the shoulders and had been covered in smoke, yet he was still conscious. Masaomi grabbed him by the collar.

"So where's that generator, Eggface?"

"Ho ho ho ho… there isn't one here." He smiled as he dropped that bomb on them.

"Buddy, since you're covered in smoke I can guess that your pants were on fire from the explosion. So stop being a liar and just—"

Nega shooshed Oswald as he pressed his finger to his lips, "Shoosh please, why would I lie when telling the truth has a much better result. You see… There are TWO generators in Bog Easy! And guessing by how there's so few of you here, then your companions heading there will be overwhelmed and torn apart! That is of course if Agatha is being generous… Gahahahahaha… enjoy collecting their bodies if you can even survive that long with what else is coming! "

Michiru scowled, "Let's go, they could be fighting right now and need our help!"

Oswald and Komaru prepared to take off again, but the bruised up doctor had one last thing for Kida to hear.

"By the way… (coughs), You're that boy that our info-broker spoke about…"

Masaomi openly gasped as he clutched the collar even harder, "What was that?"

Thinking back to that conversation from earlier down the mountain, Michiru put a hand on his shoulder.

"He's messing with you, we need to go! He might have just overheard our conversation and is just trying to get into your head, are you listening to me?!"

"Ho ho ho ho… that girlfriend of yours… how do you think she's doing now that you're so far away from home? Perhaps… she's already been dealt with?"

Infuriated at that laughter and the condescending tone, this ultimately caused Masaomi to…

POW!

"JEEZ! I think I saw a tooth fly out." Oswald stated as he saw the quick strike to the temple of Eggman Nega's head.

Masaomi dropped the unconscious doctor's body onto the mountaintop and massaged his fist.

"Ice cold…" Komaru opened her eyes after she winced during the punch.

"... Let's take him back and lock him up before we go." Masaomi stated as he dragged him along for Michiru to carry with her strength.

The tanuki girl looked at him, very worried about how he was feeling, before carrying Eggman Nega off the mountain with her.

Masaomi grabs Oswald's left foot and Komaru took his right before he takes off, and after some deep breathing finally shares what's on his mind.

"I knew I saw him back there, in Sapphire's world, and now it just got confirmed. He's working with them… the info-broker, Izaya Orihara."

Insert Song: Lonesome Manor (Disney's Epic Mickey)

The manic playing of a pipe organ could be heard from just outside its shuttered windows and intimidating scale. The Lonesome Manor of Bog Easy was not something that could easily be approached by a cowardly lot. Only those who did not fear the dark unknown could brave this haunted abode. Lightning struck from the dark clouds above its shuttered roof that formerly housed the Mad Doctor's lair in the attic.

"Frighteningly designed, yet elegant and beautiful in its own right. I have to imagine what it could have looked like in its glory days…" Ruby observed the manor from top to bottom.

Linhardt shook his head, "Unfortunately this manor looks as if it were designed to be a delipidated and spirit-infested residence from the very beginning."

"It was created to be a haunted mansion?" Junko gulped as she approached one of the pillars near the entrance.

"I mean look at Its very location, a cemetery atop a sinister clifftop with large pits below our feet. No typical noble would want not a dwelling that is so… macabre." Linhardt's spine tingled as he looked at a nearby grave.

"Blah blah blah, stop trying to use big words to try and scare us! We've got to take down this former Elite Four lady before headin' to the castle!" Sapphire could barely listen to Linhardt's lecture as she stepped up to the front door.

"Those 'big words' are also meant to serve as a warning to not run in without knowing what we're dealing with. Taking the time to theorize what would be coming our way." Linhardt is exasperated by how nonchalant she's being.

Sapphire rolled her eyes and knocked on the door, "Hey Agatha, we're here to kick your wrinkly butt! Open up already!"

Ruby looked uncomfortable at that comment, "Ugh, why must you phrase it like that? Stop imagining it, brain!"

The front door swung open suddenly, and Sapphire led the way inside. Linhardt was highly cautious, so he didn't follow right away. He took the time to check out more of the outside area, with one thing catching his eye.

"Hm… cracks. It's possible that with enough pressure the manor will…"

"Linhardt, let's try to stay together, please?" Junko grabbed his hand and dragged him inside.

Seeing no other option than to move forward, Linhardt sighed and hoped that whatever lingering assumptions he had were just misinterpretations. The door then shut tight and locked itself.

No way out.

Another chapter so soon?! I am very motivated at the moment, especially now that I can officially say… we have three chapters left (not counting any future bonus chapters of course)! The final part of this chapter will be next time and the chapters after that will be a two part finale + epilogue! Get ready for some exciting fights, shocking turns of events, and character moments you will cheer for! Of course that is subjective, so think of those story beats as you will when they happen! Two more things before we go, I totally forgot that I named Junko's Espurr Lazuli back when this chapter began and I just felt naming her Ai fit better. Plus it shows how much Junko cares for her best friend, and even if I'm not a big fan of their ship I can appreciate their bond platonically. Also the reveal of Izaya Orihara, someone I brought up in Nexus and has appeared in shadow a few times too. His appearance here may cause big spoilers for future fics, though I'm sure that won't be much of an issue. As long as I manage to write the buildup well, then the result will be satisfying even if you know what's gonna happen. He might be fun to write. See you all next time, leave comments/reviews if you want, and farewell! - Renegade Braveheart