Opening File: Phil Ken Sebben
Most of his past is a mystery but what is known about the major of GrimmFall and the headmaster of Nevernest Academy is that Phil Ken Sebben was raised by a single father alongside his twin brother in a small weapon shop. Learning how to fight at an early age Phil was drafted into a local militia formed to protect the town he was born in from the Grimm and criminals. Eventually Phil left the militia, turning his talents to that of a travelling Huntsman and was said to make many friends along with many enemies. He had traveled across the globe, earning a reputation as a top class Huntsman but surprisingly disappeared for several years and was not heard from again until the original draft to militarize Huntsmen was made.
Sebben surprisingly, supposedly after whatever incident forced him to wear an eyepatch decided to speak for those who did not wish to become soldiers against their will. Making his position against the proposal clear Sebben chose to retire from official Huntsmen business and entered the realm of politics, arguing against forceful drafting and proposed an entirely new system in which Huntsmen would be trained in a more formal setting that allowed for Huntsmen and Huntresses to be registered and yet maintained their independence. Before Huntsmen were always trained in combat schools across the world but Sebben's proposition led to the creation of Academies meant to train Huntsmen and Huntresses without ties to a country or state, allowing for the freedom to work with whoever they chose and take whatever mission offered on the mission boards and the SkyWeb.
With the failure of the military draft and the rising popularity and allies he gained Sebben was successful in bringing about the Silver Age of Huntsmen and chose the combat school of his home village to be the location of the new Academy. Soon enough the village grew into one of the largest and most well-known cities in the world: GrimmFall, with Nevernest Academy as the official Hunter academy in the United States with Sebben as both mayor and headmaster with a cat Mobian named Callie Briggs as his deputy mayor. In that time many teams were formed, including the world famous Justice Friends who had supported Sebben's ideal system and established their base of operations in GrimmFall, acting as the main protectors in the face of dangers that cannot be stopped by ordinary Hunters and authorities. Sebben is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the Hunter community and it is believed he will go down in history as someone who changed the world in a time when it was needed most.
Close File
Xxx
"First let me apologize for allowing this blatant assault to occur. I can assure you that Epsilon and his people will answer for this travesty."
Nigel and Abby had little say in the presence of Phil Ken Sebben, the headmaster of the very academy they planned on applying to one day. They had only seen him once before after Drago's attack on the old Uno household and had personally set up their new home, paying to have everything transported and made sure that a cover story of an earthquake was the cause, not a golem monster.
And Sebben seemed to be the man who had answers.
"Sir, if I may ask what do you know about Sammael and why does he want us?" Nigel asked finally. "We know he was the one who sent that monster to attack us. We know we are Elementals but what does that mean to him?"
Sebben considered Nigel's question, seeing both children were anxious for answers. "Well, to start with Sammael, he is what we call a Fallen."
"A human infused with the essence of the Grimm." Abby cut in. "We've seen one before."
Sebben raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Good, that saves us some time explaining then. As for why Sammael wants you both, that's because he needs all four Elementals to get what he wants."
Both children shared a glance before looking back at Sebben.
"What he wants goes far back, before the Age of the Forgotten, but it ties into the beginning of our history." Sebben closed his eye, taking a deep breath. "You know where the Grimm came from, of course." He saw them nod and continued. "They came from a meteor that impacted this world over sixty five million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs that had been the previous dominant species. From the crater came a dark tar-like substance that grew into a forest of dark trees and devoured anything or anyone unfortunate enough to be in its way. Eventually the land it infected became Japan and its Emperor sough to end this plague by destroying it at its source. However that resulted in the creation of the Grimm and, were it not for the Emperor learning the power of Aura, it is very likely humanity would have perished."
Nigel and Abby were silent, patiently waiting as Sebben told the tale.
"Now comes the part that you don't know about. The comet that created the Grimm was actually the piece of a primordial entity that was born perhaps near the time of the creation of the universe. This entity existed only to devour and destroy everything it could find. Fortunately before it could carry out that purpose it was destroyed by three figures we know very well as gods: Odin the All-father, Ra the Sun God, and Vishnu, the Supreme God and Soul." Sebben continued. "However a piece of it survived and it was what impacted the planet. It was because of this and the eventual threat that would one day come, let's say the universe decided to create a counter to the destructive force we now face. Six beings, gods all though these days we call them Cosmic Deities, all of them representing certain aspects. There is the White Guardian of Light and Purity, the Black Guardian of Darkness and Malice, the Gold Guardian of Dreams and Desires, the Diamond Guardian of Creativity and Fidelity, the Green Guardian of Life and Love and the Azure Guardian of Time and Space, all of them coming together to form the Six-Founding Spiral."
Sebben took a sip of the glass of water on his desk before continuing. "These Guardians appeared with the purpose of ensuring life would survive the destructive force it would one day face by bestowing their own gifts to the world in the form of twelve gems. These gems were named Heart, Creation, Strength, Destruction, Form, Soul, Mind, Nature, Bond, Sight, Youth and Ability. Let me assure you, these names are not metaphorical and each possesses immense power individually and if one ever gained all twelve of these Spiral Gems they could change the world, perhaps the entire universe as they see fit. It was due to the immense power of these gems the Spiral also created four protectors to ensure the gems would never fall into the wrong hands and ensured that life endured with powers over the building blocks of life and would reincarnate themselves through the ages to continue their mission."
He held up one hand and began to count off using his fingers. "A guardian with the power over fire, an element of both creation and destruction. When wielded accordingly it allows species in their infancy to take their first steps in advancement, in the wrong hands it is a force of pure destruction."
He uncurled a second digit. "Next, a guardian of ice, a counterbalance to that of fire, and just like fire it has both great and terrible potential depending upon who wields it and how they choose to do so. Ice could be used for something as simple as treating a swelling injury, or cooling a drink…or crafting great beautiful structures and lethal weapons."
A third. "Next is-"
"Earth and wind?" Abby interrupted but then realized her misstep. "Sorry Mr. Sebben."
"Quite alright, and though I don't blame you for your assumption…you're wrong." Sebben shook his head. "The next two guardians held control over elements which, respectively, could construct or deconstruct life and matter. The most approximate definition for their elements were candy and slime."
He closed his hand into a fist. "And together, these guardians held a vigil over the Spiral Gems until they were eventually struck down in the course of their duty. But the astrals knew of this eventuality and so decreed that the powers of these guardians would be passed on an inherited in newborn children, allowing for new guardians to be raised to replace and even surpass those who came before. This ensured that the gems were always protected, however…it also provided opportunities for a path of least resistance for anyone seeking to acquire them."
"Sammael." Nigel said.
"Yes." Sebben nodded grimly. "Now rather than cause for celebration, each newly born guardian of the gems is viewed as a threat, a potential catalyst for the end of life itself. Some have sought to protect and guide them, others to manipulate and control them for their own ends much like how Epsilon and his agency intended. Sammael…has made a sport out of hunting them down and then seeking their successors to use them to find the Spiral Gems. These guardians have been known throughout history as the Four Elementals, and you would be surprised to know of just how significant their role in our world has been. While their duty takes precedent over all else they have not been hiding away in remote regions, but actively affecting the course of history to this very day."
Sebben tapped an area on his desk, causing a screen to flip into view and display images depicting cities, portraits of persons and key words.
"The burning of Paris, the fall of Arendelle, the legends of Saint Nicholas." Sebben narrated. "The Elementals have always been among us, their deeds often going unnoticed or underappreciated. This is by design to guarantee their safety, and even then it has done little to prevent Sammael from brazenly attacking them…just as he attacked both of you earlier."
Nigel and Abby were gaping at the screen, their eyes darting between the names of famous historical figures…
"Da Vinci was a Candy Elemental?!" Abby gasped.
"A mind built for creation and wonder was the perfect vessel for that power." Sebben nodded.
"Alexander the Great, George Washington…how could nobody know about this?" Nigel asked in astonishment.
"Through exorbitant effort and sacrifice." Sebben answered solemnly. "You would be surprised how far one must go to conceal even one Elemental from the Fallen, no matter where they are born or how remote their residence could sometimes be. Eventually the cycle would repeat itself…and I am saddened to admit to you both that very few Elementals live to be claimed by time."
Abby swallowed. "What happens next?" She whispered. "How are we supposed to prepare for…this?"
"Quite simple, Miss Lincoln." Sebben smiled and set a hand on her shoulder. "…you go to school, learn all you can and make some friends along the way, like all Huntsmen."
"But…what about the gems?" Nigel asked. "What happened to them?"
Sebben placed his other hand on Nigel's shoulder. "For now, all you need to know is that they are safe. Neither Sammael nor any other Fallen can reach them for now and if luck favors us they never will. Both of you need not worry about them, only focus on doing what you were born to do: live your lives and treasure your moments with friends and family."
"Mr. Sebben, Mr. and Mrs. Uno are here."
Sebben nodded. "I believe our talk is over now, children. It's been a pleasure speaking with you both and I hope to see you again someday." He finished door opened, allowing the parents of the one boy by and guardians of the girl to enter and take the children home.
Sebben gave a smile as the door closed and then looked at the fourth wall(you) and winked.
Xxx
"This is truly disappointing." Blind Ivan remarked with disappointment. "To think the Society of the Blind Eye would have trouble with three elders. This is truly annoying."
"It's about to get a lot worse for you." A voice said from behind him. "If you don't release my granddaughter and her friends."
"Ah-Mah!" June called out happily.
Jasmine Lee was standing behind Blind Ivan, dressed in her battle armor and her staff poking Ivan in the back. "Well?"
"Very well." Blind Ivan closed his eyes for a second, opening them to reveal a familiar yellow glow. "I will have to deal with this myself."
With that said he suddenly vanished, surprising Jasmine and reappeared on the other side of the room. Jasmine spun around, pointing her staff at the cult leader.
"Eat this!" Stan shouted, shooting a lightning blast from his gauntlet.
Blind Ivan however swiftly stepped to the side, easily dodging the attack and tore off his robe, revealing a muscular body and wore a high collared crimson robe with a red sash tied around the waist over a black body suit with black combat boots, black armored gloves, and a golden triangle symbol on his chest, sporting one eye and a top hat.
"That triangle…" Dipper gulped, remembering the dream demon that had nearly maimed his body. "He really does work for Bill."
Stan scoffed. "So he wears a fancy suit and likes triangles. Doesn't make him tougher than the rest of his boy band jerks."
Lydia looked at Stan with a raised eyebrow. "Someone's toned down the swearing since I last saw them."
"I got a niece and nephew now, Lynds. I got to choose my time to swear carefully." Stan grumbled.
Hoagie perked up the name Stan used for his partner. "Lynds…As in…Lydia…Grandma, is that you?! But how?!"
The woman flinched and threw a dirty look at Stan. "I've got a few swears that describe you perfectly, Stan."
"That woman is your grandma?!" Dipper looked between Lydia and Stan.
"Dang dude. What do you have to do keep looking that young when she's probably old as Stan?" Wendy wondered, ignoring the glare Lydia and Stan were now giving her.
"Did we step back in time somehow?!"
"Does that mean we don't exist yet?" Mabel looked down at herself. "I am still here…Or am I? How do we know I'm alive?"
"How do we know we exist?!" Candy and Grenda cried out.
June sighed. "Still smarter than my brothers."
"Can we please focus back on the fight?" Jasmine Lee cut in, keeping her eyes trained on Blind Ivan who hadn't moved an inch.
"Come on, there's four of us and one of him. Even if his two stooges," Stan glanced at Tats and Woodpecker Guy. "Decide to back him up we can take them easily."
Blind Ivan smirked. "Can you?"
"Let me show you!" Stan aimed his gauntlets behind and fired, the recoil sending him flying at Ivan as he reared his fist and aimed it right at the cult leader's face.
Ivan smirked and lased out with his hand, meeting Stan's fist with a palm strike and in a flash of yellow light easily repelled Stan's fist, knocking him back.
"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel cried out as Stan hit the ground and vary hard by the looks of it.
Lydia growled, looking at the smirking Ivan with a calculating gaze. "This one is going to be tougher than the other ones."
Taking the chance Jasmine raised her hand, holding a charm and the chairs holding June and Lila down broke apart, freeing them. "This might even the odds."
"Thanks, Ah-Mah!" June said gratefully before looking at Ivan with cold eyes. "So, think you can take us on without your goons helping you?"
"Are they all finished?" Ivan asked, looking at Tats and Woodpecker Guy. "Shall we truly see?"
Tats nodded and to everyone's surprise held up a Fire Dust crystal…That he then proceed to swallow!
"Did he just swallow Fire Dust?!" Dipper exclaimed, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Everyone watched in stunned horror as red lines spread out from Tats' stomach, his stone grey skin turning coal black, his eye flashing red before returning to their previous yellow and bursts of flames erupting from his skin. Woodpecker Guy was next as he pulled out a Wind Dust crystal and crushed, spreading the remains across his feathers.
"The unique transformation our god bestows on us allows us many abilities. For Brother Tats it allows him to become a stone giant, losing all senses except for sight and hearing. Meaning he cannot feel agony while ingesting Dust in that form." Ivan explained as Tats let out a roar. "Brother Tats, the Te Xuan Ze is yours. You and Brother Woodpecker Guy finish them off."
Tats turned to June and Lila, letting out a roar as he stampeded at them like a raging bull. Wary of the heat coming off him June and Lila jumped to the side and Tats slammed into the wall, melting right through it.
"Okay, note to self: do not let him touch you." June said as she and Lila regrouped.
Woodpecker Guy slashed the air with his wings and from his arms came green glowing crescent shaped arcs that shot towards the two girls but Jasmine jumped in front of them and pulled out another charm, creating a force field that protected them from the wind attacks.
"Oh! That is so cool!" Mabel gushed with stars in her eyes.
"Are they using magic?" Dipper questioned, his mind racing from everything he was seeing.
"Sure, why not? It's not the craziest thing we've seen all day." Wendy shrugged. "Would it kill someone to untie us though?"
In the meantime Stan and Lydia faced down Blind Ivan. The leader of the Blind Eye Society remained confident as he faced down the two hunters. Stan had already recovered from the earlier scuffle he had with the cult leader and was eager for a rematch. Lydia was first to start the fight, firing Dust shard from her staff but Ivan simply raised his hand and invisible Aura shield deflected the shot.
Stan charged forward with a battle cry, launching punch after punch at Ivan who stepped back, easily dodging or parrying attack with his infuriating smirk. He finally made a move, launching a palm strike that knocked Stan back again who landed roughly on the ground again.
Stan grunted as he sat up. "You're going to wish you hadn't-"
He stopped in mid-sentence as Blind Ivan leapt up and fell towards him, his foot aimed to slam straight into the former con-man's head. Stan quickly rolled, narrowly dodging the foot that created a small crater where his head had previously been.
It missed him by just a few inches.
Stan quickly fired several Dust shells at Ivan who somersaulted back, dodging each and every shot perfectly. Lydia chased after him, spinning her staff and she quickly attacked, starting with a swing to his head that he easily dodged. She followed up with a series of thrusts and jabs that he blocked or dodged before leaping up, launching a kick that knocked her staff out of her hands. He then aimed a fist at her head that she successfully blocked with both arms.
"You think I am helpless without my weapon?" Lydia asked, sounding insulted. "You've obviously never fought a real Huntress before."
She kicked Ivan in the chest, sending him flying back but the cult leader somersaulted through the air and landed perfectly on his feet.
Ivan seemed even more amused now as he stood up straight. "It's been so long since I've had to actually fight someone who was able to fight back. I must admit, I have been looking forward to this."
Lydia readied herself, raising both fists in a boxing stance that Stan mirrored, both of them ready to take down the mad cult leader.
Ivan made the first move.
He charged and leapt at them and they rushed to meet him in mid-air. Twisting his body Ivan dodged the first strikes and retaliated with his own that Stan dodged while Lydia blocked. Ivan somersaulted, planting his feet on the wall and kicked off, dodging a punch from Stan that actually left a large hole where Ivan had been. Landing on the ground he immediately engaged Lydia in a fierce hand to hand combat match, both of them seemingly equal.
Stan jumped in; aiming a fist at the back of Ivan's head but the cult leader ducked and grabbed Stan by the collar, swinging him over his shoulder. Stan twisted his body and landed on his feet, following up with a kick that actually struck Ivan and forced him back. Stan then grabbed Lydia's hands and swung her at Ivan, allowing her to plant a double kick that sent Ivan flying across the room.
"Wow, they're good." Soos said in awe as he and the other captives watched the fight.
"Did you know your grandma could…reverse her age?" Dipper asked Hoagie who shook his head.
"I mean, I know she used to be a Huntress but she retired before I was even born. She couldn't reverse her age." Hoagie hastily explained.
"Could it be her Semblance?" Dipper inquired.
"A Semblance that reverses aging? First time I've heard of it." Wendy commented, looking back at the fight. "Plus it wouldn't explain how Stan's not walking dinosaur bones anymore."
"Seriously?!" Stan shouted from nearby. "You know what, next time you can save yourselves!"
Meanwhile, June scrambled back out of reach of Tats, firing off dust amplified shots accompanying a flurry of kicks to keep the smoldering giant at bay.
"Too hot. Too hot. Too hot!" She repeated under her breath with each near hit from Tats. "Ah-Mah! Want to switch?!"
"Hang on June!" Lila raised one foot up and stomped down onto the floor, generating cracks which spread outwards along the stone surface as tremors rocked beneath Tats, knocking the giant off balance momentarily and allowing June to leap up and land a spinning kick to his chest, launching him back.
Before he could land Tats found himself being kicked back towards June, compliments of Lila. The two girls began to pass the giant between them, with June relying on her Dust and Aura enhanced kicks and Lila on her own natural Sasquatch strength to make up for Tats' increased weight.
"Three!" June began to count off with each time she sent him flying back towards Lila. "Four! Let me know when you give up!"
"Wanna see if we can break a record, June?" Lila asked.
"Go for it!" June grinned.
Woodpecker Guy swept past, chasing after Jasmine and striking out with more green crescent energy attacks which she either dodged or repelled with magical barriers. As the aerial combatant herded her towards one corner of the room Jasmine raced towards the nearest wall, leapt up and kicked off of it as he came in for another run. He veered off to remain out of reach of her attack, but quickly realized his mistake and pulled a sharp turn to avoid crashing into the corner himself.
"Got you." Jasmine whispered as she landed and flung her staff straight up at Woodpecker Guy, catching him off guard as he tried to reorient himself and striking him in the side of his head.
Dazed, he wobbled in midair long enough that Jasmine was able to leap up and deliver a downwards kick to the top of his head, knocking him to the floor with a resounding crash.
"After fighting all sorts of monsters for nearly forty years this is the best you can do?" Jasmine picked up her staff. "A guy married to a little red bird? Steven was tougher than you."
Blind Ivan narrowly dodged team strike from Stan and Lydia but quickly noticed his last remaining comrades had been defeated by the other three. "How embarrassing. Our god will be disappointed."
"You're about to join them on the ground." Stan remarked, firing another barrage of dust shells.
Ivan raised his hand, conjuring a yellow glowing energy shield that deflected the shells, sending them flying up into the ceiling, resulting in an explosion that started a cave in.
"Perhaps another time." Ivan said, disappearing into the shower of falling rubble as cracks spread across the ceiling, signaling they had to leave immediately.
Seeing a cave in was imminent Lydia rushed over to the captives and freed them with one slash of her staff.
"Grandma, I-"
"Zip it, you idiot!" Lydia cut her grandson off harshly. "You are in big trouble when we get out of this so let me finish saving you so I can beat you later!"
With that said, everyone ran to the exit before they could be buried alive but Dipper suddenly stopped. "Wait, we need to get what we came for!"
McGucket created an energy sphere around Dipper, dragging him along with everyone in their hurried rush.
Xxx
"I can't believe it. After everything we went through and we came back with nothing." Dipper mumbled. "The hall of memories was destroyed with any evidence of that cult."
The group stood outside the museum that remained intact despite the cave in.
"Aw, don' be sad, Bro-bro." Mabel comforted her brother, locking her arms around his. "At least we made it out alive thanks to Grunkle Stan."
"Speaking of which." Dipper looked Stan who had his arms crossed. "Grunkle Stan, how did you find us and why do you look like that?"
"And does it match any of my fan stories in any way?" Soos asked.
"Yeah, Grandma. I want to know too."
"Can it, Soos!" Stan snapped.
"You can do the same, Hoagie!" Lydia agreed and then glared at Dipper who flinched. "As for you, kid. You got some nerve acting like you didn't just nearly get your sister and my grandson mind wiped down there along with everyone else. You obviously have the same stupid gene that your 'Grunkle' has that makes you want to stupidly meddle in other people's business with no regard for how anyone you might risk."
"I am right here, you know." Stan grumbled.
"As for why we look like this, the answer is simple." Lydia smirked and leaned forward. "It is…NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
The kids all jumped back reflexively and nodded quickly, saying a variety of things that could be summed up as them accepting her reasoning.
"Now then, if you're done stumbling into danger for the day, I for one am going back to the Northwest Manor." Lydia turned and stormed away, grumbling about irresponsible young people…which sounded rather ironic coming from someone who looked like they were still in their prime.
"Yeesh, to think I almost dated that once." Stan muttered as he watched her go.
"Almost?" Mabel gasped. "You mean-"
"It took the doctors three hours to get the bouquet out." Stan deadpanned. "End of story. Oh, wait, no it isn't. She kept the chocolates. Took another hour to get the packaging out. Now it's the end." He glanced away from the children and added discreetly. "Have fun imagining what I mean, yah bunch'a freaks."
"You mean you and my grandma-"
"End. Of. Story." Stan said dangerously.