Opening File: Hibagon
The Hibagon(ヒバゴン) or Hinagon (ヒナゴン) is the Japanese equivalent of the North American Bigfoot or the Himalayan Yeti. Sightings have been reported since the 1970s around Mount Hiba in the Hiroshima Prefecture.
There have been multiple witnesses describing the creature and its appearance:
One describes it as a black creature with white hands and large white feet, standing about five feet tall, and has been said to resemble a gorilla or even a Beringel Grimm.
Another report claims it has a large nose, large deep glaring eyes and is covered with bristles.
The next reported it has a chocolate brown face and is covered with brown hair ...and is said to have 'deep glaring eyes'. Interestingly enough according to the ones who made the report the Hibagon took n hostile actions and even fled from the armed residents' intent on hunting it and even killed a wandering Beowulf Grimm that had managed to sneak its way in.
As of now there has been no proof that it actually exists.
Close File
Xxx
"Bigfoot, one of most well-known myths in the entire world. Any attempts to prove its existence has ended in failure with any so called evidence being looked on as forgeries and dismissed as a fakes. It is the same in other places as well such as the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland. We all try to prove these creatures exist but it is easier said than done." TOM said as the file closed. "Do we give up simply go about our lives, deciding it was all fantasy or do we keep on looking for the unknown even if we get labelled as lunatics? Scientists exist to find answers but some can be convinced that some answers do not exist, even if the questions do. Do you have questions and if you do, can you find the answers in places anyone else can or do you have look somewhere else?"
Xxx
"This is unacceptable." Shoji Fuzen stared out the window of his office, looking across the city of Tokyo as the sun began to set.
To some he was a mere philanthropist while to others he was known as Tokyo's number one crime lord which was something he had worked to keep hidden from rest of the world. Rising through the ranks of the criminal underworld was a challenge, considering the competition you would no doubt face along with assassination attempts and dealing with police and Huntsmen that were constantly on the lookout for any sign of weakness. He had gone through a great deal of trouble to ensure nothing could be traced back to him but he also knew it was only a matter of time before something happened which was why he had infested in a secret project.
"That fool Mizuki cost me a weapon that would have been a match for any Hunters in the world. As we speak, that creature's body is wandering out there, no doubt plotting to bring me down. That is why I have called upon you." Shoji Fuzen turned around to look directly at his guest who was being flanked by his bodyguards…
And the white tiger standing next to her.
She had long, black hair about knee-length, lime green skin and bright yellow eyes that stared eerily at the crime lord. She wore grey dress, flats, and a teal scarf. She has also equipped with a dagger that is typically strapped to her chest.
What stood out about her was the fact she only had one arm with her right arm missing, leaving only a stump.
As for the tiger it had blue eyes and black slash markings on its face, back, and tail. It had large blue irises but no pupils, and a large, pink, triangular nose.
"You want me to hunt a gorilla?" The woman asked, looking at the picture of the creature. "And it's got some old man's brains in it?"
"Professor Mizuki, while a fool, created a machine that would have allowed me to combine that creature's body with the honed mind of a trained fighter. That combination would have made it a match for any warrior in the world, even the more famous ones such as…Genki Sanban." Fuzen's eyes narrowed when he mentioned her name. "There is still a chance it can be retrieved and trained but not if it is found before me."
"You mean before me." The woman replied, correcting him. "I can find this gorilla for you and I can do it before anyone else…So as long you have the right price."
"You will be paid only after it is found." Fuzen said, crossing his arms. "Is that understood?"
The woman shrugged and turned around, her tiger following her. "Sure thing. Just remember though, I am not cheap."
The tiger growled at the bodyguards who wisely moved aside, allowing the woman to pass, followed quickly by her companion.
Fuzen watched as they left, his guards closing the door. "And remember, I do not suffer failure…Or insolence."
He tapped a switch on his desk and the wall opened, revealing a blue armored suit and a sheathed katana to go with it.
"That is why I like having insurances."
Xxx
"And what does that tell us?"
"That it's a very old rock?"
Solomon Saturday was a genius in his field of study and no one who actually knew him would deny that. However they would point out one small flaw he has rarely shown.
The flaw being his obsession being taken to the absolute limits when it came to certain topics.
The topic of the day was deciphering the markings on the records image of their piece of the Kur Stone that would hopefully lead them to the cryptid Kur before their nemesis Argost, who happened to have the entire stone assembled, found it and unleashed it on the world.
"You've been studying that thing for days, Doc. I think you're seeing things." Drew said, smiling in amusement at her husband's…current state. "Take a break."
"Hmm." Doc looked back at the image. "Breaks are for people without mortal enemies searching for the key to ultimate power."
Zak was sitting at the end of the table, reading a magazine and happened to be listening. "What about showers? Who are showers for?"
Doc glanced at his son, a look of contemplation on his face.
"Someone had to say it, dad." Zak said sadly as Fiskerton waved his hand in front of his face and made a noise that sounded like 'Whew.'
Doc lifted his arm to smell his armpit and his wife, who happened to be sitting right next to him flinched in disgust, before lowering it back down. "Eh, this Kur Stone fragment is our only hope to figuring out Argost's next move. There's no time to waste, even for personal hygiene."
"Hey, big man." Drew stood up, gripping her husband's forearms. "We all want to sop Argost and we're going to. We'll figure this out but not by letting it take over our lives. You need rest, food."
Doc absently nodded. "Food sounds good. I'll eat in here."
Scowling, Drew turned away and walked to the end of the table. There she picked up two pieces of bread and…a hairbrush?
She used the brush to comb Fiskerton's head which he found very pleasing and pulled out a great deal of loose fur.
"Okay." Drew whispered her son who was now smiling in excitement as she put the fur on the bread and spread it out, making a furry sandwich. "A good scientist stays focused on all his surroundings, not just one piece of evidence. Something your father seems to have forgotten so this should wake him up."
Drew handed the sandwich to her husband who took a bite out of it and…
"Thanks." Doc swallowed, putting half eaten sandwich, leaving his wife and sons, both biological and adopted speechless.
He had just eater half a sandwich with fur inside and hadn't even blinked. Fiskerton snickered as Komodo walked up and snatched what was left of the sandwich out of Doc's hand and took a bite out of it.
He recoiled in disgust at the taste.
"Well, he's lost to us now." Drew said dryly, seeing her husband not react to the taste of the sandwich or Komodo taking a bite.
The sound of the airship's phone going off was heard, alerting everyone except for the distracted Doc Saturday.
"Uh, maybe that's Doc's stomach calling his brain." Drew remarked, watching as her husband took another bite of his furry sandwich. "No, no, hon, you keep doing what you're doing. No, no. I'll get it up in the helm."
Leaving her husband to obsess over his stone piece Drew could only shake her head at how thick he could be at times.
Making her way to the cockpit she sat down and answered the call. "This is a secure channel. Who is calling?"
The caller's face appeared on the screen. "I hoped you would be the one to answer, Drew Saturday."
Drew's grew wide at image of the person. "…Genki? Genki Sanban?"
"It's been a long time." Genki Sanban smiled. "Still chasing cryptids?"
Drew nodded with a small smile. "You know it."
"Good because there might be a problem that goes right up your alley. Dr. Yoshiko gathered all the files and I am sending them now." Genki uploaded the file and showed it to Drew.
"Is that-"
"A cryptid? Yes." Genki nodded. "Better known as the Hibagon, Japan's version of the American Big Foot or Scotland's Nessie. What is strange about it that all reported sightings were around Mount Hiba in Hiroshima and it was generally non-violent to anyone besides Grimm. As you can see it is no longer near its home."
"Any idea what could have caused it to go on a rampage like this?" Drew asked.
"None. There hasn't been a reported sighting of this creature in decades and suddenly it seems to go on a rampage, heading for Tokyo it seems." Genki answered with a thoughtful frown. "I remember cryptids being your specialty, Saturday-san."
"Of course, we'll be right there." Drew nodded as she adjusted the airship's course. "This may be what we need."
Genki smiled. "Then I'll look forward to seeing you again."
With the changes made Drew left the ship on autopilot and returned to the onboard lab with Doc looking at her as she entered. "Why are we changing course?"
"Oh, you noticed." Drew said sarcastically. "We have trouble in Japan. Looks like we're going to have to forget about Argost for a while."
"What?" Doc looked up from the image and at his wife. "But is it really that important?"
"Well, it's our kind of trouble." Drew emphasized.
Xxx
"She knew the whole time?"
Danielle had expected Kuki to be afraid but she seemed to take it quite well while Mushi had been somewhat scared but her elder sister had calmed her down. Honestly, it seemed nothing could actually surprise the eldest of the Sanban sisters.
"Yeah." Danielle nodded, sitting on the floor as Kuki prepared a recording of the Wacky Races while Mushi sat down next to her, clutching her Rainbow Monkey doll.
Kuki smiled. "Wow. I honestly thought we got away with it."
That right there was what confused Danielle very greatly.
The two sisters convinced Danielle to help sneak them out without their parents' permission and knowing their mother knew the whole time Kuki didn't seem bothered by it at all. Danielle wanted to think it was because of her Semblance that seemed to be always active. Kuki could sense danger in any form, physically and emotionally and thus nothing much seemed to surprise her. That was why she acted like nothing seemed to bother her, even when they were sneaking out to go down to the park.
That same Semblance was what led Kuki to Danielle when she had been hurt as the ghost girl later found out.
"I had a feeling someone was watching us but they didn't give off any kind danger to me. Mother must have sensed what we were doing." Kuki shrugged, her smile remaining. "Now come on, let's-"
Kuki stopped as her Semblance went off, screaming at her with such intensity she fell over, clutching her head.
"Kuki?!" Danielle and Mushi rushed over, watching as she kept on clutching her head.
Kuki's eyes shot open.
An orange light that grew and grew until it was larger than a mountain and took the shape of a dragon…
Kuki let out another scream as she lost conscious, her closing and turning limp.
"Kuki?!" Mushi let out another scream.
The door shot open and in stepped Sayoko, looking alert. "What is happening?"
"She just screamed and fell over." Danielle quickly answered as the maid came over and picked Kuki up. "I don't know what happened."
Sayoko quickly checked Kuki's pulse. "She is alive." She then brought a hand to Kuki's head. "…Something affected her Semblance. It caused a mental overload that was too much for her to handle."
"Her Semblance?" Danielle asked.
"Yes." Sayoko nodded and brought Kuki over to the bed, pulling the covers over her. "A Semblance is reliant on a person's Aura but one that relies on the mental concentration of its user can be overtaxed and cause the user to lose consciousness."
Danielle looked down at Kuki, wondering what could have caused something like that.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Mushi tearfully asked.
"She should be fine. It is rare for Semblances to have such an effect. She just needs rest." Sayoko answered, tucking Kuki in. "I must go and inform Lady Sanban of this. Stay here and keep watch over her."
But Danielle wasn't so sure.
Xxx
The chase after the cryptid turned out to be little harder than anyone had actually anticipated.
First, Doc's stomach acted up and he ended up coughing out fur which he had no idea why.
Second, when they finally found the creature it led them on a merry chase through the Hiroshima Distract.
Third, Zak's power had absolutely no effect on the creature.
Finally fourth, Zak had landed in front of a moving train!
He was just about use a move his mother had taught him when a green blur had swooped in and grabbed him, pulling him out of the way just before the train hit.
"ZAK!" Drew shot forward and pulled her son into a hug. "That was incredibly dangerous, what you did!"
"Mom…" Zak groaned. "I was going to use the move you taught me when…Who saved me?"
"I see you haven't lost your taste for wanton destruction, Drew."
The Saturdays stared at the speaker with widened eyes as she stared at them with a smirk.
Zak on the other hand was more confused than surprised. "Uh...Who is she?"
The woman appeared around his mother's age, having long dark hair that was tied back and wore a light green kimono with dark green outlines with that was tied around her waist by a dark green obi and stopped just above her knees while her sleeves stopped at her elbows, dark knee-high boots with thigh high stockings, green gauntlets over matching black fingerless gloves that traveled up into her sleeves and finally a red bead necklace resting around her neck. Zak spied a sword; he would later learn was actually called a nodachi, in a modified sheath that hung at her hip.
"Genki Sanban." Drew answered, smiling a bit.
"Who?" Zak asked, clearly having no idea who the woman was.
"The CEO of Sanban Industries and wife of Japan's current prime minister. She is also known to be one of the best Huntresses Japan has ever produced. Her skills are so famous she is known by the title: Demon Blade of the East." Doc answered his son's query quickly and quietly as Drew walked towards the woman.
"And how does she know mom?" Zak asked as the two women seemed to engaging in a talk that left them oblivious to the rest of the world.
"Well, your mother and I traveled all over the world during our study of cryptids. Eventually we would also meet many Huntsmen and Huntresses that were either passing through or hired as part of something that involved our attention. Before you were born your mother and Mrs. Sanban met through a shared study of a supposed island up near the Kojima district that is said to be where magical creatures supposedly lived. I wasn't part of that expedition at the time and your mother didn't say much when she returned." Doc explained, watching as the two women spoke. "But it was clear that your mother and Mrs. Sanban had developed a great respect for each other."
"Solomon Saturday." Doc and Zak straightened up as Genki addressed, walking over with Drew and spared a glance at Zak. "I see you have a boy tagging along with you now."
"My son, Zak." Drew introduced her son, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Twelve years old now."
"My eldest daughter happens to be the same age." Genki remarked with an amused grin. "So tell me, Zak. Which of your parents do you happen to take after?"
Zak chuckled a bit, rubbing his head. "Well, not to brag but-"
"Mrs. Sanban, not to be rude but we have an urgent matter with the creature that just got away." Doc cut in respectively.
"I am well aware of the situation, Saturday-san. That is why I am here." Genki replied, her smile replaced with a serious frown.
Xxx
Steven was feeling very conflicted.
He was only a small boy but he was also a boy who had special powers and a special connection to an entirely different world. His mother was a galactic criminal in the eyes of the Gem Homeworld for starting war thousands of years ago against her own kind.
He understood why she did.
It was to protect the Earth and its people but at the same time he was wondering if she had truly made the right decision. The Crystal Gems had gone on about how Rose Quartz had been a great leader, friend and someone who valued all life and he liked to believe he was like her in that regard.
So why couldn't he help anyone anymore?
Lapis
Garnet
Pearl
All of them suffering and he couldn't do a thing about it. He couldn't mend the bond between Garnet and Pearl back at the temple and he might have led his friends to certain death here in the Darklands. Realizing the futility in going after Malachite the group elected to return to the temple where the Warp Pad was, only to stop when they realized it was night time. They set up camp with Amethyst and Pops volunteering to take the first watch in case any Grimm came after them while the rest went to sleep.
Steven lied against Lion, looking up at the dark red sky that left an ominous feeling even more then when he saw Peridot's ship approaching Beach City.
'Lapis, I am so sorry.' Steven thought before he finally fell asleep.
'Hey Stevie!'
Steven's eyes shot open as everything around him became colorless, including his friends who suddenly seemed to freeze.
'How are you doing, Tiny Star?' Steven spun around, watching as an eye appeared on Lion's back.
The eye floated up and in a flash of yellow light appeared the dream guy from before: Bill Cipher.
'Man, oh-man am I surprised by how far you made it. Using the Gem Warp Pad to sneak into the Darklands without anyone noticing.' Cipher commented as he floated down in front of Steven. "Too bad, Chef Boyardee had to go and spoil it for you with his talk of what waits you in the center of the Darklands."
"You knew about the Pools of Darkness?" Steven asked, scowling. "And you didn't tell me?! I could have endangered my friends' lives!"
'Oh relax, Tiny Star. Come on, you rescued your friends from the Homeworld Gems when they captured you and survived your friend in her fusion mood when she went wild. You telling me you're afraid of a few Grimm?' Bill asked, hovering around Steven in a circle.
"I can't fight off an army of Grimm. Amethyst would be killed if they even touched her and the others can't fight them all for me." Steven pointed to himself. "How can I save Lapis or anyone when I can't even protect myself?"
'Hmm…' Bill brought a hand to where his mouth would have been if he had one. 'You got a good point there, Stevie. Seems a little self-defeating isn't it?'
"I am not my mom. She fought in a war and saved the entire planet because she was a leader and a warrior. I don't have any of powers; I can't grow plants and have them fight like she did. All I have are walking watermelons that I told to go away. I can't use her sword and what good is my shield against an entire army." Steven asked, summoning his shield. "I don't even have basic Huntsmen training like my dad and his friend does."
'Maybe not but all you might need is a little boost.' Bill flexed his arms and legs and they suddenly grew very muscular for a few seconds before shrinking back to their original size. 'Tell you what, Stevie since I like you so much I can lend a helping hand.'
"A hand?" Steven asked, dispelling his shield. "How can you help?"
'Plenty of ways, Little Star. I can get you through the Darklands and right to your friend in trouble at all. I don't normally help people out like this since it could be considered…cheating all that but for you I'll make an exception.'
Xxx
They were asleep now.
Excellent, now he could spring his trap.
Xxx
"So what will you do?" Steven asked.
'Well, I can't give away any spoilers yet but if it works you'll have saved more than just your friends.' Bill answered cryptically. 'After all, who said the Grimm were your biggest problem?'
Xxx
Tree roots began slithering out of the ground like snakes upon the unsuspecting campers.
Xxx
"What do you mean?"
'Well, take a look here.' Bill's eye flashed and Steven gasped in horror at what he saw.
Vines resembling tree roots lashing out and grabbing his friends.
Amethyst and Pops only able to fight for a few seconds before the roots finally grabbed them, dragging them all into the forest.
"Come wayward souls, who wander through the darkness." A dark voice began to sing.
The tree roots wrapped around them, encasing them into what appeared to be cocoons.
"There is a light for the lost and the meek."
The cocoons were then pulled into the ground until they were buried up to their heads.
"Sorrow and fear are easily forgotten."
From the cocoons small branches began to grow.
"When you submit to the soil of the earth." The voice began to laugh. "Grow, tiny seed."
The branches grew longer and bigger.
"You are called to the trees."
Leaves began growing from the branches as they continued to grow.
"Rise, till your leaves reach the sky, until your sighs fill the air in the night."
From the cocoons of the imprisoned humans and Gem grew entirely new trees that reached full size but had faces on them resembling Steven's friends.
"Lift your might limbs, and give praise to the fire."
The faces on the trees seemingly began to cry, leaking strange black oil from the eyes and mouths.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Steven screamed as the vision ended. "Why did you show me that?!"
"To give you a little spoiler about what's to come." Bill pointed behind Steven and the hybrid spun around.
Steven's eye widened in horror as he spotted the same root like vines emerging from the ground but seemingly stopped in time like everything else thanks to Bill, slowly creeping towards the camp site.
'Yep, ol'Beastie is out hunting and he's got some live ones by the looks of it.' Bill remarked casually. 'Once he's got you nice and tied up he can toy with your minds long enough to turn you into a hunk of dead wood.'
"I have to stop this!" Steven spun around, looking at Bill. "I need to stop this!"
'Oh? Is that you asking for help?' Bill leaned forward, eye seemingly smiling.
"Yes! I'll do anything to save them and Lapis but I can't do it alone! I need help!" Steven cried out.
'Good enough for me, kid.' Bill laughed as he held out a flaming hand which Steven stared at. 'Don't worry, it's not meant to burn ya.'
Steven reached out and hesitantly shook it, feeling no pain. "So now what?"
'Now?' Bill laughed. 'We rock this joint!'
With that said, Bill lunged at Steven and shot straight into his gemstone and there was bright flash of yellow and pink light.