~~000~~
Tales of the Multiverse Bit 190
"This is a nice place for me to stay still for a while."
Arriving at an unknown island in an unknown world, Karasu began to look around for a spot to stay. Unbeknownst to her, a certain group that fled from Jump City are also in the island.
~~000~~
It was a nice morning in Neo-City where we head towards the Training Camp where we see people going around and partaking various activities or having a good time with their respective companions.
In one part of the courtyard, we see Charles Ausburne, Thatcher, Aulick, Foote and Spence having a conversation and unbeknownst to them, Ark Royal is observing them from a far and unbeknownst to the Aircraft Carrier from the Royal Navy, Ayase Ayatsuji, Chouji Akimichi, Haru Glory and Elie observing her with chastising expressions.
And in another part of the courtyard, we see Chelia Blendy, Mayl Sakurai, Nejire Hadou and Yai Ayanokoji having a conversation when Kouji Kouda, Mezou Shouji and Rikidou Satou joined them. And a few inches away from them, we see Haruka Takayama and Yuu Sonoda having a snack on a bench when Bud Bison, Lavi and Blinx the Time Sweeper walk past them while teasing them at the same time, Yuu stood up from her seat and chased after the boys, whom ran off like chickens.
Meanwhile, we see the Goblin Slayer, Priestess, High Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest making their way towards the front entrance of the facility and right behind them, we see Kanata Shinonome, Makoto Yokomizo and Mimori Kishida having a conversation when Sonata Shinonome and Suzuko Kanzaki joined them.
And coming out of the front door of the facility are Anne Boonchuy, Marcy Wu and Sasha Waybright.
It's been a week since they've arrived in Neo-City and since they understand that it will take a while for the Science and Research Department to locate their home world, the Calamity Trio decided to stay in the city for a while and eventually became trainees for the Heroes Coalitions.
"So, what do you guys think about our training this afternoon?" Marcy informed.
"Well, I'm looking forward for it." Anne replied, "But I'm pretty sure that Sasha will excel through it like how she did yesterday." she assumed with a smile, "She is, after all, physically the strongest out of the three of us." she pointed out.
Sasha scoffed lightly in response, "Well, I've been trained by Grime, after all." she pointed out, "Plus..." she uttered, "... that Scout guy called me a loser, so I decided to show him off." she stated, "Though I'm kinda frustrated that he was more impressed than annoyed that I proved him wrong." she admitted.
"That means the Scout acknowledged your strength." Anne pointed out.
"And from what I heard, the Scout calling the trainees 'losers' is his way of being friendly." Marcy added.
"I doubt that." Sasha replied.
"I wonder how long before the guys from the Science and Research Department finds a portal to our home world and to Amphibia." Anne thought out loud.
"Well..." Marcy uttered, "... there are like billions of worlds out there in the Heroes Coalitions' records, so it will take a while." she explained, "Though to be honest, I'm hoping that they find a portal to our world and Amphibia soon." she admitted.
Anne chuckled in response, "I think we all do." she replied in agreement.
"I wonder how the guys in this place managed to record that many worlds?" Sasha thought out loud.
"From what I heard, the current president of the Heroes Coalitions, Mario Martinez, is rumored to have been travelling across the multiverse before settling here." Marcy shared, "But it's still rumors, so I can't really be too sure." she admitted.
"I see..." Sasha uttered in acknowledgement, "Anyway..." she swerved, "I'm craving for some warm beverages and I suggest visiting this Rabbit House that the others had been recommending to me." she beckoned, "I heard the place is nice and had an angora rabbit as a mascot." she shared with a smile.
"An angora rabbit!" Marcy exclaimed in awe, "Let's go, let's go!" she egged cheerfully.
"I just hope that we don't encounter Eric Cartman there." Anne uttered with a blank look.
"I think Cartman is banned from that cafe." Sasha replied, "And if he tries to force himself in, I'll be glad to give him a left hook." she declared.
Anne chuckled in response, "You did give him a right hook last time, so a left hook is understandable." she mused.
Bzzzttt...
Things weren't going well for Joey Hollard.
His frustrations have elevated, no matter how hard he tried even after letting off some steam in the training area, it didn't work out, he just couldn't get rid of those frustrating and annoying insults echoing in his mind. Soon, his frustration turned into depression and even if he tried to make it go away by drinking a cold drink and non-alcoholic mind you, it just wouldn't work.
Kylie Hollard had become concerned and worried for her brother, so she decided to go talk to him but when she did try, Joey just pushed her away saying that he's not in the mood to talk to her. What concerned her the most was that when she used her Gift allowing her to cast a spell to temporarily read Joey's mind, she heard the voice of Mahiru Shimokamiyama in Joey's head and it was these words that alarmed her: "Go play hangman".
Not wanting her brother to stay like this, she thought of one solution and there was only one person she knew who'd snap her older twin out of it.
Kylie made a mad dash for the lounging area of the Training Camp and surprisingly upon entering, she noticed that not much people were present. She then found that the only people present in the lounge are Hikari Karibuchi, Naoe "Nao" Kanno, Nikka "Nipa" Edvardine Katajainen, Ozzy Wizner, Suzie Takahashi, Corona Cactaceae, Cloudia Cumulus, Dac, Juniper Montage, Alexander "Xander" Campbell II and the recent recruits, Chester Blakely, Flannery Faulkner and Willie Simons.
And strange enough, they were playing Hangman with Ozzy standing front of a whiteboard.
"Last chance to get the right answer, Chess!" Ozzy announced, "Get it right this time!" he egged with a grin.
"Pfft!" Chess scoffed in response, "Puh-lease..." he dismissed, "I can solve this with my eyes closed!" he declared before staring at the whiteboard with a serious expression, "Hmm..." he hummed out loud, "... it's a starfish!" he claimed with a big smile.
"EEEENK! Wro~ng!" Ozzy quipped with a buzzing noise which made Chess' jaw drop to the floor, the cowboy then wrote the answer on the board, "It's sunfish fool!" he revealed, "This puzzle only has seven letters and starfish has eight letters." he pointed out while drawing the left leg.
"You lose Chess!" Willie chirped cheerfully.
"NOOOOOO!" Chess cried out dramatically while facing towards the heavens before falling down on all fours, "Why?" he questioned, "Why is life so unfair?!" he yelled while pounding his fist on the floor.
"Yer getting overdramatic, ye mongrel..." Flannery chastised with a blank look.
"Ugh!" Xander groaned loudly, "Unbelievable!" he exclaimed while shaking his head in disappointment at Chess' behavior, "A gentleman shouldn't act like that in his defeat." he admonished.
"He wasn't much of a gentleman to begin with." Nao pointed out.
"Good point." Xander acknowledged.
Cloudia, on her trinket, floated above Chess, "Oh~" she cooed, "Poor baby..." she uttered, "... should I give you comfort?" she offered.
Chess perked up all of sudden, "Oh yeah!" he cheered, "Pretty please!" he accepted with a scum-eating grin but only for his grin to turn into a frown when Cloudia's trinket rains down on him, "Thanks..." he uttered, "I appreciate the comfort..." he expressed rather sarcastically.
Cloudia let's out a lady-like laugh in response, "Ahahaha! You're welcome~!" she replied before floating back to Corona and Dac.
Xander sighed, "Am I glad that my sister isn't like that?" he expressed.
"Wasn't your sister's name Claudia?" Juniper asked while tipping her glasses.
"Their names do sound the same..." Xander admitted, "Cloudia, Claudia..." he mused.
"Where is your sister anyway?" Cloudia inquired, "And not to mention that butler of yours?" she added.
"Oh..." Xander uttered in realization, "Claudia and Cedric are with Cecilia at the training area." he answered, "After Cecilia showed her capabilities to us, my sister decided to teach her fencing so that she could learn how to fight close range if her IS deems useless during some situations in the future." he explained before letting out a sigh, "Although I'm feeling sorry for Cecilia right now..." he expressed.
"Why?" Juniper asked.
"Well..." Xander trailed.
Meanwhile in the training area, Cecilia Alcott whom is in a fencing uniform, yelped while landing on her bottom after Claudia Campbell lunged her fencing foil at her hitting her as a result.
Claudia shook her head while removing her fencing mask before looking at Cecilia with a stern look, "Not good enough Cecilia!" she scolded.
"I'm trying as hard as I can!" Cecilia retorted with a pout while lifting up her mask.
"Then try harder!" Claudia pressed on rather strictly while putting on her fencing mask again and got into a stance, "Stand up, we're gonna try again until you get this right!" she declared.
"Y-Yes Claudia!" Cecilia complied before standing up while lowering her mask.
"Nyet!" Claudia yelped, "You are to address me instructor when it's just the both of us training!" she corrected in a strict tone.
"Yes, instructor!" Cecilia acknowledged.
Claudia nodded before getting back into a stance "Good..." she uttered, "... now fix your stance, head up, shoulders back, right foot forward but not too forward, straighten for form but remember not to be too stiff!" she instructed.
Cecilia nodded in response, "Yes, instructor!" she responded before getting into a stance with fencing foil in hand.
"Cedric..." Claudia called out.
Cedric Gordon, who was at the sidelines and overseeing the lesson to start the sparring match, nodded in response, "Begin!" he beckoned as the two charged at each other and Claudia wasn't holding back on Cecilia while not showing any mercy.
Cedric chuckled while watching the spar, "Just like her mother..." he commented.
"Claudia is a very strict teacher just like our mother..." Xander shared, "... and she can be so strict that she won't stop until you get it right and that can make her a bit brutal sometimes." he concluded.
Cloudia facefaulted in disbelief, "I hereby declare your sister as a full-fledged retard." she uttered out loud.
Dac then took notice of Kylie walking toward them, "Oh, it's Kylie!" he pointed out.
Ozzy turned to the younger Hollard twin, "Sup, Kylie!" he greeted with a grin, "Wanna play a round of hangman with us?" he offered.
Kylie responded by turning to the whiteboard and lifting her foot up, "No!" she snapped before kicking it down to the floor which is then smashed in half, much to everyone's shock and surprise.
"Yo! What was that for?!" Ozzy demanded with a stern look, "That is Training Camp property!" he pointed out, "You're gonna be fined for that!" he added.
Kylie pushed Ozzy aside and turned her attention to Hikari, "Hikari, I need your help!" she exclaimed.
Hikari blinks in response, "Umm..." she uttered in response, "... for what?" she asked in confusion.
Kylie took a deep breath before speaking, "It's Joey, he's depressed and I'm afraid that something bad might happen to him if he doesn't come to his senses!" she explained.
"Uhh..." Corona chimed in, "I think Doctor Winston can help him if he's 'depressed'." he pointed out with a finger quote, "But why Hikari?" she questioned.
"Yeah..." Juniper uttered in agreement, "... that seems pretty odd." she commented, "No offense but I don't think Hikari can help with his 'depression'." she expressed with a finger quote.
"It's because..." Kylie trailed, "Hikari is the only one who can help Joey come to his senses and out of his depression!" she insisted.
"And pray tell us why?" Cloudia questioned while looking at her nails.
Kylie then looks around nervously, "Well..." she trailed, "You see..." she furthered, "I-It's..." she stammered, "Umm...'' she uttered.
Chess groaned in annoyance, "Well, what is it?!" he yelled, "Why do you need Hikari's help?" he demanded.
Feeling herself turning red because Kylie can't believe she's gonna say it, she took a deep breath, "HIKARI KARIBUCHI!" she called out, "JOEY HAS A CRUSH ON YOU!" she shouted out loud in revelation.
Hikari blinks for a minute while trying to process what she just heard, "Eh?'' she uttered, "EEEEEEHHHH?!" she screamed with her face turning red in shock.
Kylie then turns to everyone, "Eh..." she uttered in confusion, "... you guys are not surprised?" she asked.
"Puh-lease..." Cloudia scoffed in response, "... his crush on her is pretty much obvious as Junior's crush on Rachael." she descrined rather offhandedly.
"Oh yeah, I forgot that was a thing." Corona uttered in remembrance.
Flannery let out a chuckle, "Ahahaha!" he hollered, "I may haven't known Joey fer tha long but I already discovered tha he had a thing fer tha young lassie." he admitted.
"That..." Suzie uttered, "... and he's not so good at hiding his affection towards Hikari sometimes." she shared with a blank look, "Everyone saw it whenever he doesn't notice and he even did that back at Petersburg, you just didn't realize it yet." she explained.
Hikari then thought about the times when Joey became kind and affectionate towards her back at Petersburg from when he trained her along with Nao, Nipa and the others to their first encounter with the Emotionless to the time he saved from hitting the water to the time he hugged her after finding out Mahiru was an Emotionless up to after joining the Heroes Coalitions, making her blush.
"So, how about it Hikari?" Kylie's voice beckoned while snapping Hikari out of her trance, "Will you help Joey out of his dilemma?" she pleaded.
Hikari could only look down in deep thought.
Later that day, we head towards the Sakura tree somewhere around the Training Camp where Joey is seen sitting under it while leaning on the trunk, Joey is seen looking up at the sky with a still depressed look when he saw Hikari approaching him.
"Oh, hey Hikari" Joey greeted softy and judging by his tone, he is exhausted.
"Can I sit with you?" Hikari asked.
Joey nodded in response, "Sure..." he beckoned.
Hikari then sat down next to him, "Umm..." she uttered, "Joey, you've been acting strange in the past few days.'' she pointed out, "Is there's something wrong?" she asked.
Joey looked away in response, "I don't wanna talk about it..." he replied.
"Joey..." Hikari insisted.
Remembering Gelman's words, Joey sighed and gave in, Well..." he uttered, "I don't know what's wrong with me..." he begun, "All I wanted to do was help the other trainees improve but it seemed that they didn't want my help, I understand, since we're all trainees and all but they could've just told me politely instead of being rude about it." he shared, "And I can't sleep and I keep having repeated dreams of being insulted by Sergeant Slacker and I hated it, and I hated it even more when she called my dad's training routine idiotic!" he exclaimed while balling his fist before taking a deep breath and calming down, "I understand since she was being controlled but you see the training routine my dad came up with was made to train new soldiers, so that they could improve in becoming faster, stronger, smarter and sharper and he took pride in it, sure, some new recruits thought he was crazy due to how they had to dodged blank bullets while doing ten laps during the Extreme Route but as days go by, they started respecting him for helping them improve." he explained, "Somehow, I too took pride in my Dad's training routine since it helped me, Kylie, Ozzy and Suzie improve after getting our Gifts and it helped us have an easier time with the training we received here despite being different and Mahiru insulted my dad's pride in helping others improve and that's what rattles me so much." he furthered before letting out a sigh, "But after the adventure we went through in your world, I realized how arrogant I was into thinking that I could almost withstand anything that comes my way because I have my Gift and newly trained skills for the past year, but after getting a beat down from that punk who stopped me from taking down the last Emotionless Neuroi, I realized I have many ways to go before I can catch up to becoming a strong hero and it's quite obvious since I came here recently and now..." he trailed before letting out another sigh, "I have no idea of what to do and it's got me thinking was it a mistake to be here?" he stated, "Or maybe, I don't know..." he uttered, "Maybe Sergeant Slacker's right, I am an idiot..." he concluded.
Hikari nodded in understanding, "I see..." she uttered, "Joey..." she called out, "I understand that your frustration and I understand what you're going through." she admitted, "I understand that you took pride of the training your father created." she added, "But Joey..." she uttered, "... not everything in life is all full of acceptance and gratitude." she pointed out, "Sure, there are those who would appreciate things and those who don't, but that's just life." she admitted, "It's okay to be frustrated but it's not all right to be depressed." she stated before taking a deep breath, "Joey, I want you to listen to me and listen well..." she trailed, "First things first!" she yelled, "Never take pride of anything!" she exclaimed, "Pride is the parent of destruction, pride will only eat your mind, your heart and soul alive!" she shared, "Instead, just be proud!" she beckoned, "Be happy!" she furthered, "If your father's training did what's best for you then just be proud of it!" she advised, "Tell everyone that you owe this training of what you are today!" she beckoned, "And there's nothing wrong of what you experienced back in my world!" she said, "Life is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experience to enjoy!" she declared before smiling, "So..." she uttered, "don't beat yourself to it, everything will be just fine.'' she concluded.
Joey stares at her for a few moments letting everything he heard process in his mind. He let's out a smile feeling that a weight has been lifted up before gently pulled Hikari into a warm hug, "Thanks Hikari..." he expressed in gratitude, "I needed that..." he muttered loud enough for her to hear as Hikari returned the hug.
Joey suddenly felt drowsy as sleep finally took him over before falling asleep in their embrace. Hikari felt all warm and fuzzy inside while she somehow heard her heart beat fast all of a sudden before just like that, she too fell asleep.
From a distance, Ozzy, Kylie and Suzie watched the two sleeping under the Sakura Tree while cuddling each other.
Kylie smiled while taking out her tablet and took a picture of the two, "Aw~, they really do look cute together~" she coeed before summoning her Trans Lancer and pointed it at her friends, "Ruin my big brother's moment and you're gonna get it!" she threatened darkly with one of her eyes shadowed and with a shining red eye to which Ozzy and Suzie rolled their eyes in annoyance.
Ozzy scoffed, "Really?" he questioned, "Then tell that to her!" he challenged.
"Her?!" Kylie repeated in confusion.
"HEY!" a voice shouted.
The shout both startled Joey and Hikari awake, they look up to see Olive Oliveras looking down at them with a stern look and a cigarette on her mouth.
"This Sakura Tree is a meditation and relaxation spot!" Olivia reminded, "Not for anyone to sleep over!" she pointed out, "If the two of you are tired and want to sleep together, then got to your rooms!" she beckoned, "Jesus Christ!" she chastised.
Both Hikari and Joey quickly stood up and bowed their heads rather frantically, "Were sorry, ma'am!" they apologized in panic.
Olive blows out a smoke before waving her hand, "All right, just go.'' she shooed before walking off.
Hikari and Joey looks at each other in confusion before walking away.
Meanwhile, Kylie had her jaw open in disbelief, "Wha-wha-what?!" she exclaimed in shock, "Ugh..." she groaned loudly, "... she just had to ruin their moment?!" she lamented.
"Grandma Olive does have a point though." Suzie uttered, "That Sakura Tree isn't meant for sleeping." she pointed out, "She told me several times not to fall asleep while I meditate." she shared.
"Really?" Ozzy uttered out loud, "I wonder why.'' he mused.
Suddenly, Kylie felt a hand on her right shoulder, she turns around to see Erika Yaeger looking at her with a stern and scary expression which made Kylie pale in response.
"I heard that you smashed a whiteboard in the lounge area." Erika said, "Care to explain?" she beckoned.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Kylie's blood-curling scream was heard all over the place.
Bzzzttt...
Later that evening at the St. Harmony Island, we see the New Age Avengers and Kham gathered around the campfire while Marcus "The Kane" McGee is strumming a guitar as they all sing:
Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I lay my burden down
Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I lay my burden down
Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I lay my burden down
Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I lay my burden down
"Everybody!" Eddy cheered as everyone continues to sing.
And while everyone are merrily singing from the beach coast, on top of a nearby cliff, we see Bow Hothoof watching them with an amused grin on his face.
"Who knew this kids and few adults knows a worship song." Bow uttered in amusement.
"They seem to be having fun.'' a voice commented.
Bow's head perk up in surprise but smiled upon recognizing the familiar voice, "It's good to see you again." he greeted before turning around to see a figure walking towards him.
The figure is a young man with a tall stature and a pale complexion, he had a shoulder-length red spiky hair and he had red-colored eyes. He wears a dark cape-like mantle over a dark tight tank top, two blue strapped belts, dark pants, dark arm sleeves with white cuffs, black & white boots with blue straps. This is Kratos Aurion.
Mercenary
Kratos Aurion
"It's good to see you too as well, my friend." Kratos greeted back.
"How are ya?" Bow asked.
"I'm doing good." Kratos replied, "I visited this island from time to time as this place is very peaceful that it calms me.'' he stated while watching the gang singing at the coast, "Heh..." he chuckled shortly, "... it reminds me of the times when you guys used to do something like that during our travels.'' he reminisced.
Bow let's out a hearty laugh, "Yeah!" he cheered in agreement, "Eddie Riggs would play his guitar, Son Goku and Hulk Hogan would sing horribly, Vegeta would yell at them to shut up and the Ghostbusters would calm them down." he listed off, "Ahahaha!" he laughed even louder, "Yeah those were the good times." he mused.
Kratos let's out a smile, "I heard that your daughter had joined the Heroes Coalitions.'' he pointed out.
"And I can't be anymore prouder than her!" Bow confirmed in glee, "Plus, she's not alone, our friends' daughters are also part of the Heroes Coalitions.'' he shared with a grin.
"I see..." Kratos uttered, "I still can't believe that your daughter would become heroes as well." he mused, "By the way, I've heard some rumors..." he trailed, "Is it true that they're alive?'' he asked.
Bow took a deep breath before nodding in response, "I don't know if it's true or not but I can only hope." he replied.
"Are you going to find them?" Kratos asked.
Bow nodded in response, "Yeah..." he uttered in confirmation, "Someone needs to find them as their family needs them and their children needs them.'' he explained before looking at the night sky, "I believe that Bright Mac and Pear Butter are alive and both of them are out there.'' he declared.
Kratos looks up at the night sky as well, "I do so too.'' he uttered in agreement.
Note: Some bits of this chapter are written by XD Warden, so some props goes to him.
A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Jamesdean5842, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.