Opening File: The Legend of Berk
Berk is a small island is located solidly on the Meridian of Misery in the Barbaric Archipelago. Berk is a rather round island, similar to an oval shape, and it looks quite small on maps. Unlike many other islands, it has very few sea stacks. It contains many interesting geological landforms such as rocky arches and cliffs, beaches, waterfalls, streams and several large forests.
There is also a massive cavern under the village which now serves as space for dragon stables. Berk receives two weeks of the midnight sun every year, putting it roughly 70 km south of the Arctic Circle at latitude of around 65 degrees, 54 minutes North. In ancient history the island was home to Vikings of the Hooligan Tribe ever since they arrived, traditionally led by a Chief. According to legend the Vikings originally fought dragons that would raid their island for food without stop, but eventually both sides made peace.
After they made peace, the Hooligans had begun enjoying the help dragons provided the island but found themselves for war with an army led by a warlord named Drago Bludvist. However they were saved by the son of the Chief and the dragon he had bonded with who challenged Drago and the alpha dragon he controlled. The Hooligan Tribe would rebuild their village, their bond with dragons stronger than ever.
However it would not last.
It was shortly after the Grimm had appeared, spreading across the world they quickly found enemies in the dragons and their allies on Berk, plunged into a war even worse than the original war against the dragons. It is believed the war would continue for years but eventually Berk was destroyed and disappeared from history.
It is said in the very few recordings found that on the day of Berk's destruction a solar eclipse happened with a black moon blocking out the sky and an endless army of Grimm appeared, led by a giant made of rock and crystals who challenge the Chief and imprisoned him in a crystal, leaving him to watch as the Grimm destroyed what was left of Berk. The giant would then take the imprisoned Chief and buried him deep into the core of the island, ensuring he would forever be trapped in the dead remains of his home.
Close File
Xxx
"Tribe, clan, collective, community, family, all of these words have one thing in common: they describe of people bound together by blood, choice or by a sense of duty. We are all connected in some way through any of those. Look at me and SARA." TOM said, closing the file as SARA's holo-form appeared next to him. "We're workers, hosting this show and we're close friends who have had each other's backs for years."
"We all look for somewhere to belong and that place is always with the people who can give us that feeling." SARA said, bringing in her own two cents.
"A sense of belonging, a sense of comradeship, a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, a sense of love, a sense of…Family. Can anyone out there wish to truly be alone and what do they think they will find staring into the infinite abyss that can only be felt when you are alone?" TOM leaned back in his chair. "What would you do to make sure you would never be alone? What do you think you must do to find these feelings of belonging? Is it out there or is it right in front of you?"
Xxx
'Pearl.'
She heard her name being whispered through the endless mist surrounding her. "Hello? Is anyone out there?"
'Pearl, why did you leave him?'
There was a figure in the mist, standing just a few feet away from her. They wore what appeared to be a cloak and a pointy hat.
"Him?" Pearl questioned, confused by the question.
'You left Steven, unprotected. You left him alone to deal with the fallout of your mistake.' The stranger said accusation.
"He's not alone. He had Amethyst and Garnet with him." Pearl defended.
'Does he?'
"What-"
'Does he have you protecting him?!' The figure shouted before everything went dark again and she awoke.
Xxx
When she blacked out she was sure she'd be at the bottom of the sea.
However when she awoke she was greeted with the sight of dark clouds overhead and an eerie wind that made her shiver even though the temperature shouldn't bother her at all. She sat up, wait sat up? She looked down and saw she wasn't in the ocean anymore. She was on land and looked around, seeing her surroundings and quickly realizing she must have washed up on a nearby island.
"I wonder how far away I am from the Warp Pad." She muttered to herself and sighed as she took a stroll around the land, looking down at the ground and noticed something off. "This is odd."
She picked up some dirt that were colored scorch black and saw most of the island was the same.
"Something ravaged this island." She watched as the dirt blew away in the wind. "Whatever happened here happened a long time ago."
It came so suddenly, like a whisper in her ear and she wondered if she was hearing things but she could have sworn she heard-
Come…
Pearl spun around, looking around in case there was an enemy nearby. She saw no one nearby, only the scorched remains of a dead island.
"Something is not right here." Pearl took a step back. "I should be getting back to the Beach House. Steven, Amethyst and….Garnet might be worried."
Setting aside the fact that Garnet might still be upset with her over the fusion debacle Pearl hoped she would still find a way back to them.
Come to me.
There it was again and it was louder this time.
Pearl summoned her spear. "Show yourself!"
Come!
"Coward!" Pearl barked, hoping to provoke the source of the voice to come out into the open.
She ran through the dead forest, spear ready in her hand as she searched for the mysterious enemy. She emerged from the forest stopping to look at the mountain sitting at the top of the island and saw a single light flash.
COME!
Pearl narrowed her eyes, knowing where she had to go. She dismissed her spear and approached the mountain, not exactly understanding why she was doing this. It was not as if the voice was actually controlling her but she felt compelled to seek out the strange presence calling to her. She was not sure why but she felt she must seek out the being calling to her for lack of a better reason.
If it was dangerous Pearl would be ready.
Xxx
"You think we lost them?"
Max shook his head at his grandson's question. "Not for long."
The Tennysons had quickly fled through the use of Max's Omni-step, running into the woods for better cover.
"So who were those guys? They all looked like aliens except that one woman." Gwen commented.
"Three of them are bounty hunters." Max answered, pulling out a blaster. "Six-Six, Kraab and Tetrax. All three of them have done work for Vilgax in the past."
"You think Vilgax sent them after me?" Ben asked, checking the Omnitrix and saw it was nearly fully recharged.
"It stands to reason. Given our last fight with him it's likely even if he survived he's probably still licking his wounds." Max nodded. "He probably hired those hunters to track you down and deal with any Huntsmen that might get in the way."
"Well, we'll be ready for them this time." Ben said as the Omnitrix fully recharged.
Just in time apparently because as soon as Ben finished speaking the ground shook and exploded right in front of the Tennysons, knocking them all back. The dust cleared, revealing Kraab stepping out of the whole he just dug.
"That was too easy." Kraab spoke, staring down at Ben. "You made so much noise I could hear you from the other side of the planet. Any last words?"
"Yeah, hero time." Ben brought his hand down on the Omnitrix, immediately changing form…
Becoming Grey Matter.
"Aw man!" The Galvan complained, looking down at himself. "Just once could this watch cooperate with me?!"
"Too easy." Kraab raised his claw to squish Ben.
Just as Max raised his blaster Kraab was suddenly blasted from behind, causing the mercenary to scream out in pain. The attack flew down on his hover-board; slamming directly into Kraab's back and knocking him face forward into a tree.
"Sorry, Kraab. I'm not passing up this chance." The armored bounty hunter said, stepping onto the ground. "I really owe Vilgax for this."
Kraab grunted as he stood back up. "Still his pet, Tetrax?"
"No. I mean I owe him for giving me the chance to bring him down for good." The hunter slammed his fists into the ground and giant crystals shot out of the ground, trapping Kraab in a cage. "That should keep you busy for a good long while."
"I'll still get out and when I do I'll shatter you into a million pieces!" Kraab shouted, slamming his claw on the crystals surrounding him.
"You'll have to wait for that." The hunter turned to face the Tennysons, his helmet sliding down to reveal…
"Whoa." Gwen gasped with wide eyes.
"Diamondhead?" Grey Matter gaped.
"A Petrosapien, the species that Diamondhead hails from. I thought they were all extinct." Max inquired. "I didn't know one of them was a bounty hunter."
"Former bounty hunter, and I am the last of my kind." The hunter answered. "My name is Tetrax and you'd better get moving. It won't be long before the other hunters show up."
"But why are you helping us?" Gwen asked.
Tetrax narrowed his eyes. "To make sure Vilgax gets what's coming to him."
The Tennyson kids were confused but Max had a knowing look on his face, already guessing what Tetrax meant. Before anyone could comment the sound of a rocket was heard and they looked up, seeing Six-Six in the air and heading straight towards them.
"Go!" Tetrax barked, raising his arms and firing crystal shards at Six-Six who hastily dodged them.
Max grabbed his grandchildren and disappeared with the help of Max's Semblance, leaving Tetrax to take down Six-Six.
"What is this?!"
Tetrax stopped, taking a moment to watch as Mira emerged from the bushes with what was likely an enraged look that was hidden by her mask. "Oh hello, Princess."
Mira said nothing as she held up her staff with her sword sheathed, preferring not to waste words or time. Tetrax was fine with that as he plunged his fist into the ground, sprouting crystals from the ground straight at Mira who jumped over the crystals and aimed her staff at Tetrax, firing her sword as she jumped again. Tetrax summoned a crystal wall that blocked the sword that embedded itself inside, creating a few cracks as it stopped mere inches from the crystal alien's face. Mira lunged forward and kicked her sword through the wall, narrowly missing Tetrax's head as he ducked to the side.
Mira launched herself over the wall and even further over the Petrosapien, pushing a button on her staff. Suddenly her sword flew back into her hand as she landed perfectly on the ground. Tetrax spun around, facing Mira as she sheathed her sword back into her staff and charged at him again. Tetrax raised both arms and reformed them into jagged crystal blades with which he met Mira head on. The former princess unsheathed her sword and struck first, fast as lightning, but Tetrax blocked with one arm-blade and sliced towards her side with the other, missing by a hair's breath as the Princess broke the blade lock and performed a handless cart wheel, carrying herself over the lethal edges and landing upright with an ease born of countless years of training.
With her sword in one hand and her staff in the other Mira utilized fast paced slashes against Tetrax who would block and then strike back, finding himself mostly on the defensive due to his opponent's superior speed. Both fighters endured for about three minutes with neither truly gaining ground or gaining an advantage, with superior speed cancelled out by superior experience. Sparks scattered as the blades clashed with each other, neither of them showing any signs of dulling or chipping, reflecting how evenly matched their owners appeared to be. Tetrax found himself surprised by how strong Mira was when the former princess delivered a powerful swipe towards his neck that sent the Petrosapien skidding back.
Tetrax had managed to block the swipe but the top half of his sword/arm was cut off, the tip landing close by. Tetrax stepped back and quickly dodged as Mira thrust her sword straight at his head again. He quickly fired several crystal shards at Mira who flipped back through the air, dodging each shard except for one that managed to leave a slash mark on her chest armor, though nothing more than that, before she deflected the rest with her sword.
But Tetrax noticed something about her.
An aura surrounding her even though the shard had managed to damage her armor.
"I have to admit I'm surprised. I knew you were skilled but not this skilled." Tetrax commented, attempting to buy time. "I thought the use of Aura was limited mostly to this planet. No wonder you were skilled enough to face down Vilgax."
"Do not speak to me of Vilgax, you crystalline traitor." Mira snarled through her mask. "You dare come between me and the one thing that can save my people?"
"I hate to disappoint you but delivering the Omnitrix won't save your people. Vilgax betrayed me and slaughtered my people; he'll do the same to you." Tetrax retorted. "He'll just take what he wants then get rid of you."
"Then I'll take the Omnitrix and use it to kill him." Mira retorted. "I will ensure my people are free no matter the cost."
She shot forward; launching an overhead slash at Tetrax who hastily blocked with his other sword/arm but the sheer strength she used pushed him down to his knees and caused the ground underneath him to crack. Tetrax grunted and slammed his other arm into the ground, causing a crystal spike to shoot up and nearly hit Mira in the face. The princess turned bounty hunter jumped back just in time but the shard had managed to leave a mark on the right side of her mask. Mira grunted and tore the headgear away, glaring at Tetrax as he stood up.
"You know you can't just take the Omnitrix off that boy. By now it's fused itself with his DNA so you can't just slip it off." Tetrax said, his arms growing back.
"I'll simply remove it." Mira retorted.
Tetrax narrowed his eyes. "You'd go as far as to kill a child? I am sure Vilgax would praise such ruthlessness before he put you out of your misery."
"I swore I would free my people by any means necessary. I will not stop just because of one human boy." Mira growled, sheathing her sword but was ready to attack again. "I do not expect you to understand."
"I understand more than you think." Tetrax whispered shamefully before slamming his arms into the ground.
Crystal pillars shot up around them, forming an entire forest of crystal spires around them and cutting Mira off from chasing after the Tennysons.
"No!" Mira shouted, lunging at Tetrax but was stopped when a wall shot up between them. "You will not stop me!"
She rushed through the crystal forest, determined to find her way out. In the meantime Tetrax slipped away, deciding to go after the Tennysons and make sure they were all right.
Xxx
"Are you sure we should be doing this?"
Danielle didn't want to cause trouble with the Sanbans after they had been kind enough to take her in and give her a place to stay. She had made it a point not to abuse her good fortune in any way possible and made sure that she was never a burden to anyone. She kept her room cleaned, helped out the maids whenever she could and when Genki decided to personally tutor her in everything she needed to know Danielle sat down and made sure to listen to it all.
It was a good thing she did, for Genki Sanban was a very strict teacher who would not forgive Danielle for any mistakes until she repeated everything she had been taught perfectly.
It had paid off. Danielle was able to speak Japanese fairly well and she regularly practiced with Kuki during the times they were not having lessons or when Kuki was not at school. Speaking of which, Kuki was the subject of Danielle's question.
"It'll be all right, Dani." Kuki giggled as they walked down the street.
"So your dad is not going to kill me when he finds out you got me to sneak us out of the house just to go down to the park?" Danielle asked dryly.
It was a sad truth that Danielle didn't want to alienate her new friends in any way and it unfortunately included giving in to her friend's request of using her ghost powers to sneak her and her little sister out of the Sanban compound. Kuki had tied her hair into a pony tail like Danielle's and wore a white summer cap to hide her face while replacing her green sweater with a hoodie while Mushi let her pig tails down and wore a cap and purple hoodie like her sister. Danielle didn't need to worry about needing a disguise unlike the two but remained nervous all the same.
"Don't worry. We'll spend only half an hour in the park and we'll go back." Kuki reassured as they entered the park. "No one will ever know we were gone. They think we're just studying in my room."
It wasn't like Kuki was asking her to use her powers to rob a bank. She and her sister just wanted a chance to go out and explore, behave like normal kids without any big responsibilities or any worries for the future. So they cornered Danielle and literally begged her to help them with the use of her ghost powers until she finally caved.
It was just too hard to say no when they gave her those puppy dog looks.
Curse the puppy dog looks!
So now here she was, getting dragged along as the two wandered into a nearby park to do what kids always liked to do: have fun.
They entered the park and immediately Mushi rushed in first, letting out an excited squeal with Kuki quickly following her. Danielle sighed but ran after them, knowing she needed to at least keep an eye on them until they got all the fun and excitement they could handle which might take a while. Mushi wanted to try every form of entertainment the park had to offer, the swings, the slides and simply run around the park's grassy field.
Sure they could have had fun like this back home but right now they didn't have to worry about any big responsibilities that came with being in their family.
Danielle was pretty much the first friend they could speak normally with almost all the time when they had the chance and she did a pretty good job spending time with Mushi when Kuki had to have lessons or be at school. Right now the young ghost girl was just praying she wouldn't be in big trouble for agreeing to this insane idea of using her powers to help sneak the girls out and travel into a park without supervision.
"Oof!"
Danielle ran up, spotting the girls and saw that Mushi had bumped into someone, knocking each other down.
"Mushi, are you all right?" Kuki was at her sister's side instantly just as Danielle caught up.
She helped her sister off the person she had run into while Danielle checked to make sure whoever Mushi knocked over was all right. It turned out to be a young girl around their age with long lavender hair tied in pig tails.
"Sorry about that. Are you all right?" Danielle asked, thankful for the language lessons she had with Genki.
"Yes." The girl nodded as she accepted Danielle's hand and got back up.
"Mushi is sorry too." Kuki quickly said and her sister quickly apologized to the girl for knocking her over. "She gets excited."
"No worries." The girl waved off the apologies, taking a chance to look at the three. "You are new here?"
"I am." Danielle raised a hand. "Danielle Fenton. Or is it Fenton Danielle around here? I swear I thought I remembered."
"You are foreign?" The girl asked, immediately noting how obvious it was.
"I'm from America." Danielle smiled. "Nice to meet you…"
"Kuni." The girl answered back with a smile of her own. "Are you living close by?"
"You can say that." Danielle threw a nervous glance at Kuki who simply smiled and stepped in.
"She's living at our house as a guest for now. Her family's got some business here and we are giving her the tour." Kuki said, bringing up a cover story she quickly made up.
It sounded a lot better than admitting she was an orphan who popped out nowhere with strange powers that she just used to sneak the daughters who happened to be heirs to one of the largest companies in the world out of their house just so they could come down to the park and have fun.
"Really?" Kuni looked at Danielle who looked a bit nervous now and smiled. "That's very kind. I hope you enjoy yourself here, Danielle-san."
"Thank you." Danielle smiled back.
"Can we go have fun now?" Mushi asked, tugging on her sister's sleeve.
"Okay, we'll go." Kuki giggled as Mushi led her past Kuni. "Nice meeting you, Kuni-san."
Danielle offered a wave as she followed after the Sanban siblings while Kuni simply smiled and waved back, watching as they left.
Perhaps if they came back she could see them again.
They did seem like an interesting trio.
Xxx
"So they are at the park now?"
"Yes, Sanban-san."
Genki sighed but her smile remained even after what she had just found out. "Very well, just keep an eye on them."
"You do not wish me to bring them back?"
"Knowing my daughters they must have cornered and begged Danielle to sneak them out with her ghost powers until she finally caved. I probably should have seen this coming but as long as you make sure they don't leave the district I am fine with them thinking they got away with their little scheme. They likely decided to see just how much they could get away with having a friend with literal ghost powers." Genki shook her head.
"Reminds me of someone who was almost the same when she was their age and twice as headstrong."
Genki rolled her eyes as the teasing voice. "Yes well, I don't plan on letting my daughters do a quarter of the stuff I did if I have anything to say about it. For now they can have their fun and just be glad Kani has not found out about this."
"He would be quick to assume Danielle had something to do with it, wouldn't he?"
"He would at least know it was Danielle who made sure the girls snuck out past all the security. Good thing my Semblance allowed me to sense what they were up to." Genki smirked. "They have a long way to go before they can actually trick me. You can consider this your day off as well, Karai. Just make sure the children are safe."
A chuckle was heard before the call was ended. Genki sat back in her chair, taking a chance to look out her office and out into the city.
"The things I do for my children." Genki shook her head and stood up. "Might as well enjoy the peace and quiet while I have the chance."
Having at least an hour to sit on the balcony with some relaxing tea without any trouble sounded grand.
Xxx
Raven had to admit that the monks of Azarath were indeed wise but could not have prepared her for everything she might encounter.
Whether gaining the strength to actually defeat her father, save the universe and prevent the apocalypse…Or being a guest in another dimension, with her hosts being a family of warriors against monsters of darkness.
In any case she quickly set up with a room of her own which was nice of the Scotsman's wife who kept on complaining about her dressing in a bathing suit which she honestly had no reply for.
It wasn't like she could say something and risk getting kicked out of the castle in a land where she wasn't sure she'd last long. Once she figured she was all set up she decided to seek out Scotty Blake and ask him when he was going through with his plan and what he knew of the people who brought her to this dimension.
She was just at the door when she heard voices and stopped short of knocking for some odd reason.
"Honest to kilt, the two of you picking a fight in a time like this. If I was capable I'd bend the both of you over my knees and slap your backsides until they're red as a demon's skin!" The Scotsman's wife barked.
"Oh muffin!" Scotty gushed and there was kissing sounds were heard. "We were just practicing our skills. We need to stay in shape you know?"
"Aye, especially when I came all the way here with big news." Killigan's voice was heard next.
"You don't speak to us for a long time and now you got something to say?" Scotty barked.
"I ain't one of your puny little Hunter buddies, Blake. I got my own problems keeping Scotland safe." Killigan retorted. "There's something going on at the Castle of Bone."
Raven could feel the Scotsman and his wife's emotions becoming truly serious on the other side of the door.
"Those demons are all over the place there and it's attracting lots of Grimm. I'd say they're planning to invade." Killigan continued. "The negative emotions from those demons are stirring Grimm to come into their territory and they are not fighting. So tell me, what could make Grimm and the Celtic Demons not fight each other?"
"The Fallen and the Master of the Hunt." Scotty answered, his voice now deadly serious. "Our new guest was caught up in one of their plans and from what I gathered faced down Sammael himself. She barely escaped and barely survived facing down the stick spitting oaf Jujanga. Oh, they must be working to make an alliance with Castle of Bone."
"And if they do that they could get the chance to have an army right here in Scotland and even a chance to revive…Mor'Du." Killigan said, his emotions sending waves of unease through Raven. "Both the Fallen and the Master of the Hunt possess dangerous powers on their own but if they come together they could raise Mor'Du and put all of Scotland in peril. We got to assemble the clans."
"They won't answer the call of war just because you say the Grimm and those demons aren't killing each other." Scotty replied.
"But they'll quake in fear if they see all of Scotland's armies together." Killigan retorted.
"Ha! Is that yah think? Have you forgotten why our clans exist? We are not just warriors, we're defenders!" Scotty shouted. "It does us no good to march on the Castle of Bone other than giving the enemy a heads up that we know."
"And what do you suggest? Seek the help of strangers? You've been all over the world, making cuddly with outsiders and ignoring your land." Killigan argued.
"I trust my wife and my clan to keep everyone still standing. We need more than just armies and weapons, Killigan. We need allies, we need friends...We need family." Scotty's voice softened at the end. "We can't go and make an army expecting it will be enough, not against these kinds of enemies. We got to gather people who believe in doing right by others."
"Is this more about that Samurai you told me about?" Killigan asked. "He's not coming back, Scotty. For all we know he died as a wee one before he got the chance to hold the sword."
"You can argue with me all you want, Killigan. But I know he's still out there and I know we have to continue this fight in his place." Scotty replied with absolute conviction. "We don't send an army. We try and figure out what the enemy is planning first and then bring it to the clans. In the meantime I have to see about it helping our guest who was stolen from her world."
"What you plan, dear?" The Scotsman's wife asked, sounding much calmer now.
"We need to assemble a new team, one with experience in facing large numbers of Grimm and rogues. If the guy doing all this dimensional trafficking is working with Sammael he'll have lots of muscle." Scotty answered. "I think it's time reassemble my old team: Team SEKR(Seeker)."
"Well then!" The Scotsman's wife huffed. "Perhaps the wee lass should be included in this."
Raven's eyes widened as she heard the door handle turn. She barely avoided tumbling into the room, taking her weight away from the door as it swung inwards to reveal three visibly amused clansmen (and woman).
"What do yeh think?" The Scotsman's wife fixed Raven with a knowing look and one raised eyebrow, vaguely reminding Raven of the exceedingly rare times when she'd misbehaved as a child and been caught red handed in the process.
Xxx
"Grandmaster, our guests are ready to depart."
Tam Sung remained still as he always did since attaining enlightenment. "And Master Monk Guan?"
"Ready as well." The messenger reported.
Tam Sung remained silent for a moment. "I would have suggested sending a Hunter team but I believe Master Guan will be more than enough to handle any obstacles. He knows the way and is strong enough to fend off any unexpected encounters. Send them my blessings and wishes for a safe journey home, young Marinette."
The young messenger was a girl a few years younger than Artemis and Connor, wearing the Jade Academy uniform. She had blue eyes and medium-length black hair with blue reflections that she wore in pig tails. She also had some freckles on both sides of her nose and a few on the bridge.
"Yes, Master." Marinette bowed before taking her leave.
Xxx
Artemis and Superboy were waiting at the entrance when Master Monk Guan arrived, carrying a spear with him. Surprisingly the students and staff of Jade Academy had all gathered, watching as the three were about to begin their journey.
"I did not expect a big send off." Artemis commented.
"In Jade Academy nothing is more important than brotherhood." Monk Guan smiled, offering his students the secret symbol of the Shaolin Order, a raised index finger which the students and teachers immediately returned. "Come, we must begin."
The doors opened and Monk Guan led the two young heroes out into the deep jungle surrounding the academy, beginning their quest.
Xxx
"Come on, man. We're late as it is."
"Just a bit longer. I know I got this down."
"And what happens when we show up late and Benson fires us."
"Ugh! Fine! Let's go!"
A Mobian blue bird could only sigh in relief as his best friend, a Mobian raccoon hopped into the cart and they started driving back. Mordecai and Rigby had been best friends since, well actually forever. They knew each other since they were little and had grown up together.
"You really think this training will help you get into Nevernest?" Mordecai asked.
"I know it, man. Look, my pops has been on my case for not being doing anything worthwhile for years. Don's the Huntsman of the family, he's the success…Not me." Rigby looked away with a bitter look.
"You know Don loves you right?" Mordecai asked, driving into the park.
"I know but…Dad just doesn't make it easy." Rigby grumbled.
Mordecai hummed in agreement with that. Rigby's relationship with his father had always been strained, mostly because Rigby just couldn't live up to his dad's expectations. It didn't help that Rigby had originally been rejected the first time when he tried to apply to Nevernest Academy, mostly because while Rigby was a good friend he had one glaring flaw:
He was a slacker in every sense of the word.
Rigby was someone who would rather have fun than work, who make a joke rather than take life seriously and he looked each day as one big game instead of a crazy dog eat dog world.
Not exactly Huntsmen material.
Deciding he wouldn't give up Rigby would prove he wasn't the failure his dad said he was and thus began his training once he was hired on to work in GrimmFall Park alongside Moredcai. Inside the park, far enough from the house the two created a training area to help with Rigby's goal. Training was hard but Rigby had experienced trainers like Skips and Muscle Man to give him a few handy tips.
Rigby was sure Don had to be special to be accepted into Nevernest and the dedication he placed into his work must have really something.
But Rigby was not his brother and he needed to stand on his two feet and four feet sometimes.
He had yet to unlock his Semblance but he was getting skilled in the combat form known Death Kwan Do which would really come in handy.
Rigby's thoughts came to a screeching halt when Mordecai slammed his foot on the brakes. "Holy!"
"What'd you stop for?!" Rigby had barely managed to avoid getting thrown off the cart.
"Look dude!"
Rigby followed Mordecai's pointed finger and gaped when he saw the Park House being lifted off the ground and into the sky by cables attached to the ground surrounding it and up towards some sort of giant airship. "What the Gob?!"
"Come on, dude. We got to move!" Mordecai slammed his foot down onto the gas, making the cart go at full speed.
Xxx
"You want my friends? You get a piece of me, first!"
Wally dashed forward and launched an uppercut at Francis who remained perfectly still. Just before the fist made contact with his face a yellow force field that repelled Wally's fist and knocked the blond Faunus back onto the floor.
"Personal force field. A little more elegant than simply relying on Aura." Francis explained calmly. "We come prepare for any situation."
"We'll see about that." Wally growled, getting back up and charged again.
Francis simply stood still, watching as his personal force field activated again, repelling Wally when he tried to attack again. "As amusing as this is, I am afraid I am pressed for time so I will end this quickly."
Frances tugged at his shirt, revealing a strange collar around his neck with a small device. He tapped on the device and opened his mouth, humming into the collar that unleashed waves of sonic energy deafened everyone in the house. Everyone cried out, covering their ears but ultimately were unable to stay awake and instantly fell to the ground.
Francis held up radio attached to his wrist. "Targets have been knocked out. Requesting containment unit."
"You should not do this."
Francis' head shot up, spotting a strange man coming down the stairs. He was a pale pink lollipop-shaped man with a white handlebar mustache. His body and limbs were all very stick-like, while his head was an abnormally large sphere shape. He wore a buttoned-up dark gray vest; a long-sleeved, off-white dress shirt; lighter gray pants; dress shoes in the same dark gray as his vest; and a top hat.
"You cannot be allowed to take these children." The strange man said, standing in front of the children.
"And what do you plan to do about it?" Francis challenged.
"Nothing."
Francis raised an eyebrow at the strange answer. "How can you expect to stop me if you do nothing?"
"You misunderstand me, young one. I do not have to do anything to stop you." The man said serenely. "The forces you attempt to control will be the ones to stop you."
"Even though I have rendered them unconscious?" Francis asked rhetorically.
"Have you?"
Francis narrowed his eyes. "I am finding this conversation tiresome. Step out of the way and you will not be harmed."
"It is kind of you to wish me no harm but I am afraid I must intervene until the time is right."
"Right for what?"
"The unlocking."
Xxx
She wasn't sure where she was.
She remembered facing that kid, Francis.
She remembered a loud noise and then…
Nothing.
"So you have finally come?"
She opened her eyes, seeing herself standing on a platform colored red and white, floating in what honestly looked like space.
"Where am I?" She looked around.
"You haven't figured it out yet?"
In front of her appeared a pink skinned man with a pink mustache and long arms and legs. He wore pink and white striped candy swirl that wraps around his body and wields a honey ladle. He wore pink boots and has what appears to be bubble gum hair or a pink hat on his head.
"We are inside your soul."
"Inside my soul?" She repeated in confusion but then realized what it meant. "You're a Candy Elemental!"
The man nodded. "I am Chatsberry, the very first Elemental who came into existence, near the very beginning of this world. I have been waiting for you for some time, Miss Abigail."
"You have?"
"Oh yes. I could see you were special, even though you blocked out the Elemental part of yourself since you were a little girl." Chatsberry explained. "I understand why you did, I understand you are afraid. Who wouldn't have been afraid with the threat you are facing? But in doing so, you closed yourself off when you needed it the most."
"But I have been working on it!" Abby exclaimed.
"You have but you subconsciously placed so many locks around the Elemental part of yourself that you have barely scratched the surface." Chatsberry explained, conjuring a cup of soda. "The locks are still there."
"Still there?" Abby stuttered, becoming very anxious now. "I need to unlock them! My friends! Nigel and I are about to be carried off to a training camp or worse! Please, help me! If you are me you don't want that to happen either!"
Chatsberry closed his eyes as he considered her words and nodded. "Very well. You need the help of your past selves to open all the locks and it will be done. But from that point forward it will be up to you to handle the rest."
Chatsberry waved his wand and Abby suddenly felt a powerful headache that came with the sounds of a giant door being unlocked…
"Awaken."
With those words Abby was assaulted with a great rush of power that threatened to drown her, flashes in her mind with strange images and words…
Calamity Comet.
The Spiral.
All Shall Kneel to the Horned King.
Runi Naga.
Kur.
The image of a strange white armored knight, protecting her when she and Nigel were younger…
'Omni?'
Xxx
Just as Francis was about to force the strange man aside a golden Aura surrounded Abby and her eyes shot open, eyes glowing gold and mist like energy colored white and red flaring around them.
"What is this?!" Francis stepped back as Abby sat up.
"You have unlocked the true Elemental that has slept for so long." The strange man closed his eyes, stepping aside as Abby stood up.
"Francis…" Abby spoke, glaring at the one that had attacked her and her friends. "You want the powers of the Elemental? You got it."