That's Life
Peter stood up and put his mask back on, he silently backed away so he could assess the situation on his own. Fighting an immortal enemy is definitely high up on the list of things I'd rather not do. he thought. To make matters worse, it seems that Ozpin hasn't been truthful to us at all. Like, this would have been extremely vital information beforehand. Peter put his hands to his face and groaned as he slid them down. Peter looked back to see Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang standing over Oscar/Ozpin with very upset expressions. Qrow...Qrow didn't even look at him, the man he knew--the man he trusted--to think that all these years and he was still left in the dark about so much. "There was so much you hadn't told us!" Yang shouted, "How could you think that was okay!?" Ozpin could only hang his head in shame.
"Professor?" Ruby asked, "What is your plan to defeat Salem?" Ozpin looked up to Ruby, tears falling down his face, he looked like he tried to say something but he kept getting choked up.
"He doesn't have one, Ruby." Peter said kicked some snow on the ground, "He's been on this planet for centuries, and it probably wasn't until a century ago that he thought of gathering the relics." Peter groaned, "Humanity has barely progressed and the closest thing you all have to good will is a tournament put on to watch kids beat the crap out of each other." Peter shook his head, "Honestly, it's all quite--" Peter didn't even finish his sentence when he witnessed Qrow punch Ozpin so hard he flew into a tree, "...tiresome."
Qrow stood above Ozpin with a look of betrayal as he clenched his fists, "No one wanted me, I was cursed." he explained, "I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world. I thought I was finally doing some good!" Qrow groaned as he turned away from the former headmaster, "But now I see that meeting you...was the worst luck of my life."
Ozpin couldn't say anything, he only looked on in sadness, "Maybe...you're right." and like that Ozpin's eyes glowed gold before he reverted control back to Oscar.
"OW!" Oscar yelled out as he gripped his cheek in pain.
"What happened?" Ruby asked as she went to help up the boy.
"He just got punched." Peter mumbled with a chuckle.
Oscar looked around, slightly dazed, he rubbed his head some more. "It's...he's gone."
"THAT BASTARD!" Yang shouted out causing Peter and Weiss to hold her back to try and calm her down. "TELL HIM WE AREN'T DONE YET! BRING HIM BACK."
Oscar shook his head, "I don't know. This is different." he whined, "It's like he locked himself deep in the back of my head--our head? I don't know!" Oscar said as he slammed his head against the tree.
Yang growled, "That sonova--"
"Yang, relax." Peter said calmly, "Cursing his name to hell and back won't make him come out."
"Don't tell me to relax!" Yang countered, "We are put on a suicide mission that either ends in A) having our world destroyed, or B) having our world destroyed by some psycho bitch."
"Hold on," Blake interjected, "let's not pretend like Peter wasn't practically forced into this. Remnant isn't exactly his world you know."
Peter rolled his eyes, "That's not what I--"
"Oh so you're pulling that card now?" Yang spat out, "I think that just proves that he has no right to tell us to calm down!"
"Look I'm trying--"
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, cutting off Peter again, "He's stuck here. If something happens then that means he's done for too."
"Guys," Peter tried to get the group to calm down but they were arguing so much with each other they kept drowning him out. "I swear to god, I'm going to rip my hair out." Peter mumbled.
"ENOUGH!" Maria yelled out. Thank you! Peter thought as he rubbed his temples, "We need to get a move on, it'll be dark before we know it and every single one of you is spewing negativity." Maria hobbled closer to the group and offered to help up Oscar with the top of her cane. Oscar grabbed the skull head of the cane and got to his feet, nodding to Maria in thanks. Maria smiled lightly before pointing to the left of the group, "There's a trail over there, trails usually lead somewhere."
Yang, again, growled in frustration, "Lady, I--MMPH" Yang was cut off when Peter webbed her mouth. Yang's eyes widened and she gave Peter a look of 'You did not just do that'.
Peter rubbed the back of his head before taking off his mask, revealing his expressions, "Yang...maybe we should listen."
Maria smiled and stamped her cane into the snow proudly as the teens and Qrow gave her their attention, "Thank you, deary. I understand you're all upset, honestly I'm still coming to terms that this is humanity's second time around," the group all gave saddened expressions even Yang calmed down a bit after seeing Peter's expression. "But, if we don't move we die. And I'll be damned if I lived this long just to die out here in the cold!" Maria groaned before walking over towards where the trail would be and waited for the others.
Peter sighed as he held his hands to his face, "Look, I know this isn't my planet. But I've been here for a year and a half by now. I made memories at Beacon with all of you. I, unfortunately, made memories of nearly dying and surviving while in the wilderness for almost four months. Point is, this place is home for me too." Yang frowned as she finally ripped the webbing from her face, "I was trying to get everyone to relax because I didn't want us to get swarmed by grimm so soon. And one more thing, I have traveled for months looking for you guys. If I'm going out it'll be on my terms. So let's get our things, and start to move." Peter held his fist in front of his face and waited for the others.
"They're right." Ruby nodded, "Last thing we need is frostbite." she then walked up to Peter and bumped her fist against his. Blake and Weiss smirked as they walked past Peter and bumped his fist before getting their supplies.
Yang was the last to approach Peter, the two stared into each others eyes for sometime before Yang nodded, "S-Sorry. I'm just...frustrated." she sighed.
"Don't worry about it," Peter smiled as he tilted Yang's chin up so they could look into each other's eyes again, "Keep your chin up. We're all frustrated. But we need to let that go. The past is in the past. We need to focus on the here and now. So...stay frosty." he smiled sticking his tongue out slightly. Yang responded with a half smile before smacking Peter on his chest.
"I make the puns here, spider boy." Yang said with a slight chortle.
"Uh, uh, it's Spider-Boy. You forgot the hyphen!"
The group went to get their things. Weiss grabbed a suitcase full of Dust, thankfully intact. Blake grabbed a large duffel bag, presumably hers. Yang grabbed her bike and pulled Maria along with it. Qrow kept looking through suitcases...what he was looking for is uncertain. Ruby then approached Oscar with Ozpin's cane in her hand. She held it out in front of her for Oscar to take, but he hesitated slightly, "I'm just going to be another one of HIS lives...aren't I?"
Ruby shook her head and gripped Oscar's hands in hers, "Of course not. You are your own person!"
"Don't lie to him, Ruby." Qrow said as he walked past, taking a large swig from his flask. Ruby looked to Qrow with an upset expression, "We're better than that." he finished. Oscar couldn't help but just take the cane from Ruby's hand and walk off without a word.
Peter swallowed a lump in his throat and he felt his Spider Sense go off, he looked around but nothing was nearby. In a matter of seconds it stopped as if nothing was there in the first place. What the hell was that? That... Ero began, nearly startling Peter, Was hell itself. What do you mean? I mean that your greatest adversary to date has made themselves known to this world, or rather wanted to make sure you knew. What? Who? Peter gasped slightly, Wait, does Salem know about us? Is she watching us right now? Not Salem. Something else. Something not human in origin. A true monster. Something...something that isn't even after you. Peter could only cock an eyebrow in confusion. "What the hell? Who or what could it be?"
The Dark Domain...
The Dark Domain. A horrendous place where all living things cease to exist. A land that seemed to have no color other than purple, black and blood red. It was here the the God of Darkness once resided, it was here that Salem transformed, and it was here where the evil witch made her stay. Grimm plague the lands, born from the black pools and roam freely as they go across the world. The hellish realm seemed to almost be a separate universe to Remnant, the sky was always red, the sun never shone. Nobody dared enter, though that was mostly because anyone who would come near went missing, so the realm has never been discovered by the public.
Grimm screeched in the air as they flew. Approaching a rocky cliff area, as well as Salem's dark castle, was a Mistralian airship. Aboard the ship were Hazel, a large bearded man who seemed to have a bone to pick with Ozpin, he was also a lackey of Salem; Mercury the son of a mercenary with robotic legs; and Emerald a dark skinned beauty who was both a thief and a devote follower of Cinder. Cinder wasn't with them because she failed her mission at Haven Academy, defeated by either Yang or betrayed (ironically) by Raven Branwen, Cinder wasn't sure. The airship, which looks like a literal boat that flies, landed and the three hopped off. Each one of them could feel the dreaded atmosphere, but it wasn't because of the Dark Domain. No. It was because of her: Salem.
As the trio got off the airship Emerald turned to Hazel and gave him an almost frightened look. Hazel, seemed to be sympathetic and nodded to Emerald in return. As they approached the dark castle they could already see a lanky figure waiting anxiously for their return. Oh great. Emerald thought, It's this guy. At the front entrance, leaning against the pillar of a rock archway, stood Tyrian Callows. The man was fairly tall, around six foot give or take an inch. He had a pale complexion, had golden eyes and brown hair tied in a ponytail designed to resemble a scorpions tail (his faunus trait). He wore a white sleeveless jacket with leather belts on it. The jacket itself remained open, revealing his bare chest and all the scars it presented. His arms were covered by purple taping and leather vambraces. Moving below, he wore white pants to match his jacket and brown leather boots that had specialized knee guards on them. For accessories he wore three silver ringed earrings, two on the left and one on the right. His most prominent feature, however, was his scorpion tail which now adorned a prosthetic stinger thanks to his run in with Ruby Rose a few months back. "Welcome back, welcome baaaack~" he greeted with a sing song voice, "I do hope you missed us as much as we missed you." He smiled.
Hazel huffed in annoyance and turned to Emerald and Mercury, "Let's go." he commanded. The two teens nodded and began following him up the steps that led to the front entrance.
Tyrian looked over the trio and gave a shit eating grin when he realized they were a man short...or rather 'maiden'. "Oooh~ Speaking of which, where is our Fall Maiden?" he asked, causing Emerald to stop dead in her tracks. Shut. Up. she thought. Tyrian gasped at Emerald's body language and began bursting into a laughing fit.
Mercury looked back and grimaced at the faunus before looking to his compatriot, "Emerald, c'mon." he said, waving his hand forward.
"Don't tell me something...happened to her?" Tyrian asked with fake concern before bursting into a laughing fit once again, his body bouncing up and down with glee.
You sonova-- Emerald quickly turned around and pulled out her Sickle/guns, Thief's Respite. She gritted her teeth as she stared down the faunus, "I will cut off more than just your tail!" she warned.
"Oh?" Tyrian asked, still half chuckling. He began moving towards her with a menacing saunter, something that just seemed to make Emerald stop with fear, "Careful little girl, Cinder isn't here to protect you anymore." he said menacingly as he got right up in Emerald's face.
"Back off, freak." Mercury warned as he pulled Emerald towards him.
Tyrian shook his head, "Please, don't misunderstand," he said now with a more sympathetic looking expression, "I am in mourning just as you. Because it appears you've failed our queen," he frowned, "and that IS a tragedy." he quickly looked up to the teens again, now adorning a wide grin as he began to chuckle. The teens began following Hazel up the steps again, but they could still hear Tyrian's maniacal laughter at the bottom.
Inside the meeting room was a massive oval shaped table made of the same purple rock that surrounded The Dark Domain. Around that table were several chairs that usually sat the likes of Tyrian, Hazel, Cinder, and Watts. Doctor Arthur Watts was a slim, middle-aged man with tanned skin. He has short black hair (now turning gray on the sides due to age) with a thick mustache and eyebrows and had green eyes. He wore a gray-blue overcoat with yellow trim as well as a yellow dress shirt and black necktie. Over his shirt he wore a yellow buttoned purplish-maroon undercoat which matched his fingerless gloves and boots.
Currently the only ones at the table were Watts and Tyrian, with Salem taking her place at head of the table. She bridged her hands into a pyramid, her long, black fingernails touching each other at their points. She rested her elbows on the table so that her hands were just in front of her eyes. At the other end of the table, near the door, kneeled Hazel, Emerald and Mercury. There wasn't a single sound, not a peep for several minutes. Salem just looked at the three failures in her domain and had to contemplate the benefits she had if she didn't just kill them here and now.
Finally, Salem took a deep breath, "I would like you to explain to me...how it is you failed SO spectacularly." she asked with a calm tone.
Hazel cleared his throat, he didn't even bother to look up, "The Faunus Militia split our forces--"
"Stop." Salem commanded, her tone calm, but threatening. She rubbed her temples with her left hand before taking another deep breath. Hazel gulped, he was practically sweating bullets at this point. "Let me rephrase the question." Salem continued, "WHO is responsible for your defeat?"
Hazel nodded slowly before standing up. He and Salem locked eyes before he gave his answer, "I take full responsibility."
Immediately Salem tossed the table to the side, knocking Tyrian to the ground in the process, "But THAT wouldn't be fair now, WOULD IT!?" she yelled as she began approaching Hazel. "We all know who's truly to blame." she held her left hand out, causing Hazel to flinch. Before Hazel knew it a dark hellish glyph appeared below his feet and several grimmified arms came out and began grabbing all over his body, forcing him to his knees again into a groveling position. Salem's heels clicked against the ground as she moved. She finally stopped just before Hazel and stared down at him as he struggled to breathe. She frowned and then turned her attention to her left, "Emerald." she called, "I want you to tell me whose fault this was." Emerald stood straight up, her breath shaky, her eyes hazy, Oh shit. she thought. Shitshitshitshitshitshit. Salem slowly approached the teen, each step she took made Emerald's heart beat faster. Finally Salem was right next to Emerald, "Now." she commanded.
"C-Cinder!" Emerald blurted out, not truly feeling it was true but she felt that was what Salem had wanted to hear. "W-We failed because of Cinder." she gulped.
Salem backed away and gave a slight smirk, "That's right." she replied as she placed her cold hand on Emerald's shoulder, "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation, until she redeems herself." She walked past Emerald and the teens eyes widened in realization.
"Wait...you mean--" Mercury started, catching on to what Salem was saying.
"She's alive?" Emerald finished, her face showed she was in utter disbelief.
Watts scrunched his eyebrows, "You must be joking." he said as he shook his head, "How could you know that?"
"Are you questioning our devine savior!?" Tyrian growled, looking like he was ready to attack Watts.
Watts jumped back slightly in surprise, "I-I--" he looked over to Salem who had an expression that told him that he should pick his next words VERY wisely. Watts quickly cleared his throat and regained his composure, "Of course not. Forgive me."
Salem looked around the room at her cohorts, "It's important not to lose sight of what guides us." she stated very matter-of-factly. "Love, Justice, Reverence." she said looking at her three main followers, followed by glancing over to Emerald and frowned, "But the moment you put your desire before my own..." she looked down to Hazel, still struggling to breathe with the grimm hands, "they will be lost to you." walking past the large man she snapped her fingers and the hands subsided back to where they came from, "This isn't a threat. It's merely the truth." she smirked. "The path to your desires is only found through me." she reminded.
With the commotion over Hazel finally stood back up and nodded, Tyrian rubbed his hands together and grinned, Watts adjusted his clothing and nodded and Salem glanced out the window to see the flying grimm. "And so, we must press on..." she nodded before moving on to what she would hope be the next part of her plan, "The sword under Vacuo's academy, Shade--"
"Ma'am." Hazel interrupted, "I have...more to report." he gulped. Salem squinted her eyes in frustration and felt as if she was going to have a brain aneurysm if she heard any more news from this failure. She opened her palms up and the grimm hands that had left earlier were now under Hazel once more, waiting for what he had to say. "Qrow and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas...with Spider-Man." Spider-Man, Salem had already heard more than enough excuses from Cinder about the vigilante before, she was relieved when she was told the thorn had been removed...it seems that was merely an exaggeration.
Tyrian chuckled, "Not if I can help it." he said, jumping at the opportunity to get back at Ruby for what she did to his tail.
Hazel cleared his throat again, "And they are being led...by Ozpin." he declared. The room was completely surprised by the news.
"So soon?" Tyrian asked, even he was shocked by the news. This would only spell trouble for him if he were to run into the man while in Atlas.
Watts shook his head in disbelief, folding his arms in the process, "He's the only man with a chance of getting through to Ironwood, if that happens--" Watts stopped as he heard the sound of cracking. He and the others looked all around the room to see the glass windows beginning to crack, and the cracks were only getting worse. They then turned to Salem who had a dark, menacing aura around her as she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
"Leave." she commanded with a stern tone.
"Come on." Hazel motioned as he tapped Emerald on the shoulder. The group, minus Salem all left the room and shut the door.
Salem stood still, focusing in her breathing, the glass had stopped breaking. She then took a deep breath...and let out a ferocious scream of anger, frustration, and betrayal that she still held onto as all the windows in the room shattered and filled the room with glass.
"Oooh, tsk tsk, tsk tsk tsk." a male voice said from the shadows. "Heheheheh. You know, all this stress and anger will leave wrinkles and gray your ha--Oooh...I see it's already too late."
Salem groaned, "I said...LEAVE." she commanded again. The other voice, emerged from her shadow and revealed itself to be a tall lanky man with grayed skin, and blackened out eyes with red pupils. He had medium length black hair that hung just past his ears. He wore an all green outfit with a belt that had a swirl design on the buckle as well as brown leather boots. He also wore shoulder armor that had pads extended outwards like saiyan armor and had a cape attached to it. On the center of his shoulder pads, by his chest a skull pendant. In his hands the man held a small, thin staff. He also had what looked to be a burn scar around his neck.
"I don't trust your lackeys doing a demon's job." the man said with a raspy tone, "However, it is good to know where they are going. I can cut them off myself if I have to."
Salem sighed, "What makes you think you can deal with this problem better than any of my cohorts?"
The man chuckled, "How about the fact that my plan has been in motion for some time already. That I am more powerful than any of these...pathetic excuses for pawns, and..." he grimaced, "I have dealt with the likes of the spider before." Salem still didn't seem convinced. The man smiled and quickly moved to her side, rubbing her shoulders, to which she quickly smacked his hands away, "How about this. What if I told you that I can guarantee that I'll get the spider out of your hair." he laughed, "And I can almost guarantee his friends will follow."
Salem gripped her chin and nodded, "Fine," she conceded, "But know this, regardless of a different universe or not, regardless of how much more power you have than my cohorts...I do not take failure lightly. If you fail me..." she said menacingly as she pointed at the man and caused him to clutch at his chest in pain as black veins in his body began to constrict him, "I will make sure it will be the last. Do I make myself clear...Nightmare?" she released her grip and the demon gave a large toothy grin.
"Crystal." he replied. With a flip of his cape Nightmare seemed to disappeared from the castle, when he finally reappeared again he was just outside the Dark Domain, his smile faded into a frown. "'I do not take failure lightly. Do I mAkE mYsElF cLeAr?'" he mocked, "Pathetic human. I'd kill you if you weren't immortal." Nightmare looked to the horizon and continued thinking about what Salem had said, "I promise you, I will NOT lose to this spider kin again. I WILL have my revenge."
Hell, Universe-922, six months ago...
After his...embarrassing defeat at the hands of Ben Reilly in Yokai Academy, Nightmare, the once revered and most feared dream demon in all of the underworld--one of the more respected of Mephisto's vassals--had returned a failure. And to make matters even worse, he was left with a noticeable handprint mark around his throat. His punishment? Return to Hell to be tortured and given his final punishment by Mephisto himself. That damned brat! he thought, I was that close to enacting my true plan, then that brat has to suddenly grow a pair and fight back. He groaned, Had I known a little bit of vampire strange would make the kid lose his mind I would have taken her out first.
Nightmare walked through the dark dredges of Hell before approaching a throne that seemed to be at the center. In that throne sat the King of Hell himself: Mephisto. Mephisto was what you'd think a typical demon would look like. Red skin, evil, King of Hell, the guy was a walking cliché. How he was different was that he usually hung around in his...more appealing form. A humanoid with long dirty black hair. He wore black gloves, boots and pants as well as a cape that had a large collar that went above his forehead. He didn't wear a shirt, instead he bared his chest for all to see. Mephisto sat in his throne with his leg crossed, his head resting on his palm.
Snapping his fingers as Nightmare approached, the dream demon was forced to his knees. Nightmare let out a long exasperated sigh as he looked at who was once one of his more trusted vassals. "Okay..." the dark lord began, "You failed to bring me back my Rider, you fail to stop Doctor Strange...and now, the most disgraceful failure, you have failed to deal with a simple human. A human you chose out of your own volition. A human, who was already in your grasp!" Mephisto yelled before taking a deep breath and continuing, "Tell me...do you know how bad you make us look, how bad you make ME look? That mark, is an utter disgrace." Mephisto spat, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now." No! Nightmare yelled internally, I can't let it end like this! I had plans! Plans that could have put me on top! Nightmare tried to think of something, anything that could get him out of this mess.
"I just need a chance!" Nightmare pleaded.
"Ha." Mephisto began to chuckle, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! 'A chance?' You've had plenty of chances, and you failed all of them!"
"No, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Nightmare shouted as he tried to look up, "My powers are tied only to the dream realm, but that boy...he did the unexpected, he gained the assistance of my own kin. I couldn't do anything once he pulled us out of the dream. I just need power in the physical world! I promise you, I can bring hell on Earth, then you can be ruler of two realms! You'd practically be a god of the universe!"
Mephisto leaned forward and pointed to the demon, "You think that--" Mephisto's eyes widened slightly as he thought about the proposition and rubbed his chin with intrigue, "God of the Universe you say?" he smiled, "Heheheheh. Okay, you've piqued my interest. I shall grant you your desired power. BUT I shall remove your summoning, you must prove to me you can do this on your own." Snapping his fingers the hellish chains came loose around Nightmare and he was able to move freely again, "You have one year. Do not disappoint me."
Nightmare gave a toothy smile before realization dawned upon him, "Wait, ONE YEAR!?" before receiving an answer, Nightmare was engulfed by the fiery flames of Hell and transported to Earth. "God dammit." he cursed, "I've bought some time, but how the hell can I pull off this promise in one year?" Nightmare groaned and began rubbing his temples in frustration, "Fine, we'll have to see what I can work with."
Pulling out his staff, Nightmare twirled the object in front of him causing a magical 'window' of sorts to appear and allow him to see almost anything he desires, "Okay, fine how is...Fairy Tail?" he looked into the window to see a large floating garden with many ominous figures talking around a table, "Okay...it looks like they may start moving onto their plan. If that's the case they'd make a good back up if I need to save my ass." he swiped and began looking at different images, "Anyone trying to raise the dead? No...on second thought, that takes too much work, and the undead don't listen well." he groaned as he swiped left on the image, "No, no, no, no..." he continued swiping through potential plans when he suddenly felt a strange force of energy that made his spine tingle. "What the hell was that?" he asked, "Show me where that's coming from." the image then switched to a condemned building in Hell's Kitchen, "Interesting..." Nightmare nodded before smirking, "This holds promise."
Flipping his cape around him, Nightmare magically teleported right in front of the run down building. "Yeesh, whoever is causing this strange feeling is bound to get the attention of the Sorcerer." Nightmare gripped his chin lightly and nodded, "Well, better put a charm around this now." when he walked up to the building, Nightmare gripped one of the corners. In a matter of minutes the building had a slight green hue before reverting back to normal, "That should do it."
Once he entered the building itself, Nightmare had to be careful of where he stepped. The building was so old and run down that brick would practically disintegrate when he touched it. Jesus, and humans say I'm a monster. Who the hell allowed this to happen? It's Hell's Kitchen, dumbass, you're property value isn't going up any time soon with that red costumed freak running around. "...hurry up Beck!" Nightmare's ears perked up when he heard a voice coming from the next room. Sticking to the shadows, Nightmare peered the corner to see a skinny, middle-aged man, probably in his early forties. The man had a brown hair in a bowl cut, his sideburns were beginning to gray and his five o'clock shadow looked like frost. He had one green eye and one brown eye, as well as an abundance of crows feet. He was currently wearing a tank top as he welded some machine together. The machine itself had large wires that dug underneath the building and went underground, connecting somewhere. "C'mon Beck! It's been months, hurry up so we can leave this hellhole!" a man commanded. Nightmare looked up and could see the voice of the other man came from within the machine.
"What the--?" Nightmare stroked his chin. Looking at the machine closer he realized what it was, "A portal? Very interesting."
"I'm moving as fast as I can!" Beck said as he wiped the sweat from his brow, "The machine is almost complete, but it won't stabilize unless I have a strong enough energy source!" Beck complained, "So that means I have to get samples of plutonium. PLUTONIUM! Do you know how difficult that will be? I have to go to Hanford, Washington. WASHINGTON! As in THE STATE! That's the other side of the damn country!"
"Okay, Beck, just relax." the other man suggested, "You're acting like a child."
"RELAX!?" Beck shouted as he gripped the sides of his face, "Do you know what I have to deal with over here? That Spider-Man punk is back, then he left again and now there's this 'Scarlet Spider' guy running around. I can't relax! The last time I ran into the Scarlet Spider he almost killed me! LOOK AT THIS!" Beck shouted as he pulled his shirt to the side to see a burn mark in the shape of a handprint on his chest, "I can't take this anymore!"
Nightmare grinned to himself, So, it seems that by assisting this man...I have a chance at getting back at that brat. Goooood. "Quentin Beck!" Nightmare stated, making himself known, "I have a proposition for you."
"Beck? Beck what's going on? We are losing stability!" The window of the portal gave out causing a massive blackout throughout the district.
"Amazing you haven't been found out yet." Nightmare smiled.
Beck backed away from the demon before tripping over a wire and falling down. He then began to crawl backward all while doing his best to evade the monster, "W-W-Who are you?"
Nightmare smirked and bowed, "Where are my manners. I am the master of the dream realm, gatekeeper of your fears. I am Nightmare." he looked up and helped Beck to his feet, "You...are Quentin Beck, the 'Master of Illusion.'" he chuckled, "Quite the title for a mere human, don't you think?"
"What do you want?" Beck asked, still apprehensive about the demon.
Nightmare chuckled, "Well, it seems that I can help you in some way. With...the exception that you'll end up helping me of course."
"I...I don't--" before Quentin could even finish, Nightmare touched his middle and index fingers against Beck's forehead. Quentin's eyes glowed red slightly before glossing over.
"Glad we have a deal." Nightmare nodded, "Now, what do we need?"
Quentin rubbed his head slightly, "Yes, we still need the plutonium necessary to make and keep a stable connection with the other side of the dimensional warp gate."
"Warp gate?"
"Yes. See, several months ago Doctor Octopus and the rest of the Sinister Six stole plans from Doctor Reed Richards. These plans were blueprints for an interdimensional transporter. Otto's plan was to go to different universes and gather alternate reality members of the Sinister Six...but something went wrong, and they plus the wall crawler ended up in an unknown universe." Beck explained, "A strange world with strange rules, it was only recently that they could make a semi functional transporter. But without the materials that are required they needed a second gate to open in order to keep stability. So that's why I need plutonium, I need the fuel from the radiation in order to hit the 1.21 gigawatts of energy."
"Obvious Back to the Future reference aside," Nightmare frowned, "I think we can make this work fine." Snapping his fingers, Beck was magically placed in his Mysterio costume, "Now, we shall make our way to the Hanford Nuclear Facility." Nightmare nodded, "Fun fact, Hanford is where the plutonium was made in order to be used for the bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. The town nearby, Richland, has a mascot for their high school named after the B-51 Bombers that were used."
"Wait, why do you know that?" Mysterio asked.
"Because the Cold War led to many nightmares about a nuclear holocaust. Lots of energy from those nightmares." Nightmare smirked before flipping his cape and having the two teleport.
Secret Atlesian Laboratory, Atlas...
Otto wiped his brow as he made some tweaks to the interdimensional transporter. It had been several days since the Six (or rather Five) last had contact with Mysterio. "Damn, it's been too long." Otto groaned as he used one of his mechanical arms to grab a rag and wipe the sweat from his brow while the other arms adjusted the machine.
"Man, Doc, we've been here for far too long. Aren't we going home soon...or at least go out. I'm getting tired of this shitty military food." the large man, Rhino, asked.
"GRWAAAAR!!" the Lizard screeched out from its cage, now feral again thanks to Octavius adding a new collar and keeping him under his control.
"SHUT UP YOU DINOSAUR!" Electro shouted as he shocked the large reptile. "Rhino's got a point though Doc, if these guys keep talking down to me I might lose it."
Doctor Octopus laughed, "All in due time my electric friend...all in due time." As if by some miracle the portal opened in the transporter. Octavius stared wide eyed as Mysterio walked through the portal with no problems, and best of all, the portal didn't falter or combust. "Beck! You've done it!" Otto said as he applauded, "I must say, I had my doubts, but I knew that with my genius we'd get back eventually."
"Not exactly, Otto." Mysterio said ominously as the dark figure of Nightmare soon followed behind him.
"Gentleman." Nightmare nodded before holding out his staff, sending beams of energy to each of the members of the Sinister Six, much like Mysterio, their eyes glowed red before glossing over, "Well, I think I'm going to see this world while I'm here. Do me a favor boys, don't leave until I say so. Msyterio, go ahead and go home."
"Yes, Lord Nightmare." Mysterio slammed his fist against his chest before walking back through the transporter, the portal shut off soon after.
Nightmare left the remains of the Sinister Six at the lab compound, while he decided to check out the ground level. From what he gathered he learned he was on some city or "Kingdom" called Mantle. The floating island overhead was called Atlas. Mysterio walked the streets, disguised as a human to those who see him. The more he walked around the more he frowned, "You know, when you go to a different universe on a different world you'd expect it to be different but...the parallels between this place and a city like New York is pretty uncanny." as he walked the streets he took notes of faunus, "Similar to humans in many ways, but are resented for being different. Hm...that could come in my favor at some point."
"GET BACK, GET BACK!" Nightmare heard screaming on the city streets before gunfire rang out. Curious. Approaching the gunfire Nightmare saw a mysterious creature that looked like an animal, but was completely black and had some sort of armor on it. Just staring at it Nightmare could feel the evil energy that radiated from it. What are you!? Nightmare thought as a grin began to spread across his face. "Sir, you have to get back, it's too dangerous." the soldier said as he gripped Nightmare's shoulder.
Nightmare scoffed, "Unhand me, you pitiful excuse for air." Nightmare waved his hand in the air which charmed the soldier, leading him to shoot himself, "Guns. So uncivilized." The grimm approached Nightmare but stopped just before him, "Look at you." the demon smiled, "I can tell, you and I...we aren't so different. We both feed off the negative emotions of people don't we? Yes. Yes, I believe that with a creature like you at my side...my never ending nightmare will become a reality. Tell me, where did you come from?" The demon held his hand against the creature's head and saw it's journey, but the important part was the Dark Domain. "Looks like a Hell on Earth...or rather, a Hell on Remnant." he chuckled.
The Dark Domain...
Salem sat at her table in the meeting room, alone. Cinder was still recovering after the Fall of Beacon and was in her quarters with Emerald and Mercury. Hazel was on his way to speak with Adam Taurus in Anima. Watts was on his way to meet with Lionheart in Haven. And Tyrian was sent to intercept Ruby Rose and her allies. Overall, it was rather quiet which can be both a blessing, and a curse to Salem. A blessing because it means she doesn't have to constantly hear pathetic excuses from her lackeys, a curse because if she doesn't hear something after too much time passes she assumes they have failed her.
"Well, well, well, would you look at this place!" Salem shot out of her chair and immediately summoned a set of grimm arms to stop her intruder where he stood. When Salem looked up she saw Nightmare who had a smug grin across his face, "Awe, is that any way to treat a guest?"
"You have exactly thirty seconds to tell me who you are before I kill you where you stand." Salem ordered with a grimace.
"Oh, but Ms. Salem, you wouldn't harm an ally, would you?" Nightmare asked. "I am Nightmare, the lord of dreams from Hell/Earth-922. That's an alternate universe similar to yours, but a little different." he explained, "I have come to this universe seeking for new power to help me take over my realm and get revenge on a pesky spider." he groaned.
"Spider?" Salem asked, "He wouldn't happen to be an annoying pest that dresses in red and blue would he?"
"YES!" Nightmare shouted, "Though, the one I've dealt with is his clone, and he left THIS on me!" Nightmare showed Salem his scar.
Salem cupped her chin lightly, "Yes, the pests friends have left substantial damage to one of my subordinates. If he were to intervene again who knows what could happen." she nodded, "How do you plan on helping me."
"Ms. Salem," Nightmare bowed, "If you allow me to control grimm at my will...I will assist you in any way I can until my plan is ready. And I promise you, when my plan is set in action then I can guarantee you that most of your issues will be resolved. After all, I already have my own team infiltrated within Atlas."
Salem perked up slightly, "Oh..." she nodded, "Yes, this may work. Okay then, Mr. Nightmare, I shall grant you your ability. But know this, do NOT screw with my plans. Failure is something I cannot tolerate."
Nightmare smiled, "I assure you, I will NOT fail this time."
Present...
Nightmare, now back in Atlas, looked over the horizon and smirked, "Yes. When my plan is finally placed in action, I'll be able to take out not one, but two spiders, as well as take my position as the King of Hell." he laughed, "Soon, the never ending nightmare with reign!"
To be continued...
A/N: Oooh, some villains? Sounds pretty good. I hope you liked the chapter, I'll be back pretty soon. I intend to at least get passed the abandoned cottage before going back to the other story.
If you guys have Xbox and Tony Hawk Pro Skater we can do some games to chill and shit, you know? I think my GT is in my bio, if not then just PM me.
But uh, yeah, I don't really have much to say right now. No quick reviews, no updates on life. Um...IDK, my Professor asked me to make a powerpoint on Cold War influences in fiction because I talked about MGS3 for a bit, that's kinda cool. Oh well, anyways, remember to Favorite, Follow and leave them sweet juicy Reviews.