One Day Ago
'Once upon a time, a meteor fell from the heavens and impacted the world, wiping out all life.
In time life would return to the world but at the same time the comet would release powerful forces of destruction that would threaten that life one day. In response to this menace a new comet would come to the planet only a thousand years after the first one's impact. This one was an agent of change, affecting the planet's fundamental particles, creating a new quality of elasticity. The effect the comet on this world made the thresholds that separated all alternate universes became more 'flexible', allowing the creation of portals to other universes.
Furthermore, the comet affected Time itself, turning it into a more 'fluid' dimension. This also resulted in entirely new races and species coming into existence, able to wield energy that interacted with the laws of science. To ensure life would always endure on this new dangerous world, six entities of immense power and knowledge appeared to maintain the fragile balance.
The first was a being of light and creation.
The second was a being of darkness and destruction.
The third was a being of form and structure.
The fourth was a being of dreams and desires.
The fifth was a being of life and love.
And the sixth was a being of time and space.
These six cosmic entities brought forth a new age that merged magic and science together, creating a marvelous civilization, protected by four guardians that harnessed the power of four elements that could create life itself.
Until it was all undone.
A woman shrouded in black appeared one day, able to command the destructive force that impacted the world, summoning creatures of darkness and set them loose with the intent of destroying everything, leading to a Great War fought with science and sorcery that consumed the entire world. The woman recruited followers, all of them women and baptized them in darkness to create a new kind of warrior to bring about the end of the world.
Mortals infused with the power of destruction.
Soldiers of the Pit of Hate.
The first attempts were crude and those who were offered as test subjects died, sacrificed to the darkness, their bodies merged with the darkness. These new warriors were without thought or feelings, driven only to destroy but it was still not enough. The woman sought to create a being with power of darkness combined with the intellect of a trained warrior and unfortunately through years of conflict she eventually succeeded.
She had discovered that a new comet would impact the planet, bringing forth an agent of change as it did before. Only this time it ensured destruction much like the very first one did. One of the four elemental guardians came up with a plan to create a powerful object that would grant the owner's deepest wish. Seeing this as her chance she followed the guardian and when the time was right she stole the wish maker, a golden crown with three rubies embedded in it.
Seeing this as her last chance she found a child who was born sick and would likely die, using her charisma to convince the desperate mother to come with her to the land where the destructive force came from. She took the child from the mother's arm placing the crown on her head and told her to wish for her child to live. As soon as she said those words she dropped the child into the black pool that spawned the evil force. The mother, in her hysterical grief wished with all her heart her child would not die by sickness or by the destructive force that threatened him and through the crown she wore something emerged from the pool.
A child, completely healthy but now had the blood that spawned the creatures of darkness pumping through its veins.
The elemental guardian had come to take back his crown and saw what the mad woman had created. In an attempt to stop her from unleashing a brand new evil upon the world he used his power to freeze the entire land in ice. His fellow guardians appeared and helped to seal the pool away, stopping it from spawning more creatures of darkness and destroyed the mad woman's cult.
However it was too late.
Eventually the comet impacted the world, crashing through the moon first and shattered the land that had been ravaged by war. The great land broke apart, splitting into smaller pieces that drifted apart, taking their new places far across the sea. Nearly all of civilization was destroyed but life endured and eventually rebuilt. Sadly the four elemental guardians perished and the six cosmic entities disappeared, leaving behind only few hints of their existence.
Thus marked the end of what the historians of today call: The Forgotten Age.'
"And that is the story of the first Elementals." Elsa smiled, finishing her story to Nigel.
"Wow…So the first Ice Elemental was basically…A big jerk?" Nigel asked, not exactly happy to hear that.
He had asked to learn about the first Ice Elemental, Urgence Evergreen and needless to say he was not impressed by what he had learned. Evergreen, upon having visions of a comet that would destroy the world in the same manner as the one that created the Grimm, called a meeting with his fellow elementals to discuss his need for them to activate a magical crown he created that would grant his inner wish to destroy the comet. The three other magical beings refused as they saw a flaw in Evergreen's plan if his true wish was not the destruction of the comet. This led Evergreen to freeze his fellow elementals before seeking out three magical rubies which happen to be the eyes of a fearsome magma beast in order to power the crown.
Evergreen was joined in his quest by his hopeful apprentice Gunther, a mutated therapod dinosaur who was more like a slave than an assistant. Nigel just hoped Abby wouldn't hold Evergreen's actions against him, considering his past self had attacked hers.
"Jerk? Jerk?!" Elsa was suddenly replaced by the image of Evergreen. "I was the wisest of the four and considering my successors I still am!"
"I don't think so. You strike me as a guy who just likes bossing people around and freezing them up when they don't listen." Nigel shook his head. "You attacked your friends just because they didn't like your idea."
"It was a brilliant one. The others just didn't understand."
"It was stupid. Making a crown to grant reality altering wishes? Do you even wonder if taking out that comet was really what you wanted?" Nigel asked, watching Evergreen scoff and turn away. "You bossed your dinosaur student around, never taught him anything except how to be your foot stool and you even helped in creating the Fallen!"
Evergreen stiffened. "The Fallen were around before I made my crown. That was not my fault."
"Really? I just saw your past memories in Elsa's story. You let your crown get stolen and it helped make the Fallen become more than just mindless beasts." Nigel said, not putting up with Evergreen's arrogant attitude. "You didn't care about saving the world and the people. You just did it because you wanted to show everyone you were better. Well guess what, pal. As my friend Wally would like to say: you're just some dumb cruddy old man."
Evergreen lashed out, attempting to grab Nigel but was stopped when he suddenly fell over, changing back into Elsa who sighed as she sat up. "Did you really have to insult him?"
"He did have it coming." Nigel argued as Elsa stood up. "He made things worse because he thought he was better than everyone. How can you accept him as a past life? How can I accept him as a past life?"
"Because for better or worse he is the first Ice Elemental, his powers and memories are a part of you as much as mine are." Elsa said, kneeling down in front of the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to forgive him or let go of what he has done but remember you are not him. You are yourself, carrying his power that has passed down to you and it is only who decides what to use it for. Understand?"
Nigel shifted a bit. "Yeah, I do."
"Good." Elsa smiled. "I believe it is time to wake up now."
Xxx
TOM walked through the hallways of the Absolution, stepping into the media room. "Hey GrimmFall fans. No words of wisdom from me today but I got something just as a fun."
He pressed a button and the camera looked to the screen on the media computer that showed nothing but black for a second.
Once a powerful team, now broken.
A single man stood in the middle of a desert.
Now one of them must journey across the world.
"He broke into General Specific's office and downloaded everything he could before the General commenced a total lockdown."
His former teammates wanted by the authorities.
"Don't tell me: his Semblance makes him a natural tracker."
"It does."
"Asked you not to tell me, Sebben."
Now he must find them before the others do.
"He's tracked Kurt and Roberto to a desert region: Nowhere."
Before it is too late.
"Be careful. I've already had too many students buried."
Presenting:
GRIMMFALL: RAGNAROK
"Oh thank Glob. For a second I thought we were all going to die."
"I think we are."
"Don't tell me that!"
"But-"
"I don't want to know and I don't want to care."
Xxx
"Log Date: 7 10 13. We have arrived on former Gem colony Earth and have begun our search for the organics known as the Elementals. Fortunately we have a lock on the three we were ordered to locate and they are relatively close. Two are in close proximity and one is mobile. We will intercept the one moving first and then move onto the other two."
Captain Emerald ended her log and looked around the bridge, satisfied to see the Nephrites at their posts, carrying out their duties perfectly.
Seated in her command chair she turned to her operations Nephrite. "Status report."
"Our stealth shields are activated and all systems are at optimum efficiency." The Nephrite reported.
"Good. Take us down to the first coordinates." Emerald ordered.
"Yes, please do hurry."
Emerald suppressed the urge to scowl as a Gem flew into the bridge. She was literally flying thanks to the butterfly like wings sprouting from her back and was flanked by a large hulking Gem.
"Aquamarine." Emerald greeted stoically. "I was just about to inform we are tracking the first target."
"Yes, well hurry up." Aquamarine said impatiently. "To think someone would like me would be assigned a simple retrieval mission. But I suppose when White Diamond herself called I could hardly refuse since she trusted no one else besides me to handle this mission."
"Technically it was her Pearl who ordered us here." Emerald said quietly.
"What?" Aquamarine looked at the green Gem sharply. "What was that?"
"Nothing." Emerald said with a forced smile. "Nothing at all."
"Good. Now get to work on finding the three."
"What about the forth signature?" Emerald pointed out.
"White Diamond said to retrieve three of these Elemental humans. There are three closer than the fourth so they will be the ones we retrieve. We can worry about the fourth when we have extracted the first three back to Homeworld." Aquamarine replied, turning to the door. "Topaz, get ready. We will take point on this mission and-"
"Aquamarine." The entire bridge crew froze for a second as a Pearl, White Diamond's Pearl floated onto the bridge. "I hope you are not disturbing Emerald and her crew."
"O-Of course not." Aquamarine stuttered but quickly regained her composure. "I would never do such a thing."
No one had the nerve to argue that had been exactly what she had been because they were just as fearful of White Diamond's Pearl as she was. The Pearl that served White Diamond was always composed, smiling and barely even moved from her pose as she moved and spoke. Rumors stated that she was literally the eyes and ears of White Diamond herself, thus putting every Gem around her, even members of White Diamond's own court on edge.
She was a Pearl, a servant like the rest of her kind but she was a Pearl no one would dare cross.
"I will be taking point on this mission with my escort." White Pearl hovered towards the center of the bridge, stopping next to Emerald. "We will take the first Elemental: Slime. You will go after Ice and Candy and rendezvous with us when our tasks are complete. We will discuss the fourth after the other three are accounted for."
She turned around and hovered out of the bridge, sparing her fellow Gems not even a glance as she left.
"The two of them on a mission. Who is the scary one? Her or the human she's got with her?" A Nephrite whispered and was quickly shushed by her fellow Gem.
Xxx
"Finally, I'm back."
Pearl was all too happy to be back home. After leaving Berk Pearl swam through the ocean, returning to the Homeworld Warp Pad and also finding Peridot and the human she was with long gone but they were the least of Pearl's concern at the moment. All that mattered to her was returning home to Steven, Amethyst and even Garnet, even if the fusion would still be unhappy to see her. She still planned on making things right with Garnet somehow but first she just wanted to see Steven.
"Steven." Pearl called out, stepping off the warp pad. "Amethyst? Garnet? Is anyone here?"
The house was empty.
She looked around, seeing it was completely clean which meant they had left shortly after she had when she cleaned the house up. The only difference was the note left on the table.
The note!
Pearl picked it up and read it aloud. "'Dear Pearl, we have gone to look for Steven who has gone to look for Malachite in the Darklands.' The Darklands?!"
The Darklands was one of the few places on Earth that the Crystal Gems completely avoided, even when Rose was still with them and for good reason. That area was swarming with Grimm who were considered the Gem's enemy as much as they were the enemies of the Earthlings.
What was Steven thinking going there?!
"I need to get there as fast as-" Pearl stopped when she heard a noise and looked up, seeing something near Steven's bed.
It looked triangular like…
"Peridot!" Pearl summoned her spear and threw it at the shadow.
The triangular shadow moved, jumping off out of the way and landed on the floor in front of Pearl. Peridot raised her arm, readying her blaster while Connie jumped out from behind the couch, unsheathing her sword.
"What are you doing here?!" Pearl summoned another spear from her gem. "How dare you sneak into our home?!"
"Coming from the Gem who keeps breaking my things and chasing me? Not to mention using my own escape pod to track me when I use the warp pad?" Peridot retorted. "Didn't you learn your lesson from the last time?"
"Actually I have." Pearl answered, keeping an eye on Peridot and the Human. "I'm bringing you both in. Homeworld does not control this planet anymore and I am going to make sure you get the message along with any more invading Gems who want to come and finish colonizing here."
"Colonizing? You really are defective." Peridot chuckled. "My mission has never been about colonizing a planet full of rebels."
"What?" Pearl faltered slightly. "Then why are you here?"
"None of your business." Peridot snarled. "All you need to know is that we're getting off this planet and we'll be satisfied when it's long gone."
"What do you mean 'gone'?" Pearl narrowed her eyes. "What has Homeworld done?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Peridot smirked.
"Yes…I would." Pearl fired an energy blast from her spear, knocking Peridot down before she could fire. "And you are going to tell me everything."
Connie leapt forward, clashing her sword with Pearl's spear. The Human and Gem faced off again, Pearl mostly on the defense as Connie attacked her. Peridot got up and aimed her tractor beam at Pearl, firing when she thought she had a shot. Pearl jumped up, leaving Connie to be caught by the tractor beam.
Pearl landed on her feet and ran at Peridot who quickly deactivated her tractor beam and dropped Connie on the floor, slashing her spear at the green Gem. Peridot hastily raised her arms, blocking Pearl's spear as the white Gem pushed her back towards the Warp Pad. Connie quickly ran to help, slashing at Pearl who spun around to block the slash to her head.
As this happened the phone started ringing but for obvious reasons Pearl couldn't answer and so the answering machine came on.
"Hi, Pearl!" Steven's voice spoke, making the three stop. "Hope you are back home by now. Garnet, Dad, Amethyst and I are in GrimmFall. We didn't find Malachite but we made it out of the Darklands alive and we're staying at Johnny's. We might stay here for a little bit, take a small vacation and then we'll be back. Hope to see you again."
"Steven…" Pearl whispered as the message ended.
"So that's where he is!" Peridot exclaimed, taking the chance to aim her blaster while Pearl was distracted.
She took one shot and hit Pearl in the back, sending her flying out the door.
"Let's go." Peridot said to Connie. "We will locate this GrimmFall and then the Steven."
Both ran onto the Warp Pad and vanished just as Pearl staggered back into the house.
"NO!" Pearl shouted but too late.
They were gone.
And they were going after Steven.
She looked at the remains of Peridot's escape pod and saw that it was completely wrecked, along with any chance she had of tracking Peridot.
But she knew where they were going.
"GrimmFall." Pearl muttered.
She needed to get there before Peridot did.
Xxx
Nigel woke up, groaning a bit as he sat up. "Man, these dreams with my past lives make it hard to believe I ever actually slept."
He went to do the usual morning things such as taking a shower, brushing his teeth and having breakfast.
Today was an important day after all.
"Better hurry or we'll miss the fishies!" Monty called out.
Nigel suppressed the urge to groan. It's not as if he hated fishing with his dad but sometimes Monty Uno could be a little overenthusiastic at times which would be very embarrassing if there was anyone else fishing with them on the lake and Abby had so much fun rubbing it in his face.
Speaking off Abby…
Xxx
'Once upon a time a great comet impacted the planet, shattering the moon and broke the once great super continent into many smaller lands.
On one island that floated so far away from the others a powerful new form of life was born. These forms of life were created from the remains of the first Candy Elemental, mutated beyond recognition into a mass of living beings made of bubblegum. This mass was sentient and for next thousands of years lived under the island in solitude. Back above the surface another form of life, born from the remains of the first Candy Elemental, made from various forms of candy except for bubblegum.
It took the form of a woman who wandered the island which she had been born on, seeing the island had been infected with the very same substance she had been born from. She discovered she had a connection with the substance, a form of magic that allowed her to manipulate and shape the candy substance of the island around her and use it to create an entirely new island. She created buildings, forests and even rivers that one would think existed only in childish fantasy. She explored the ruins on the island, learning from any books or scrolls she could find, learning about the world's history and people.
And then she traveled under the surface and met the mass of living bubblegum known as the Mother Gum.
She found herself unable to control or manipulate it like she had done with the rest of the island and that it was actually a living, breathing creature. For a very long time they remained underneath the island, attempting to communicate with each other, the Candy Woman telling the mass about the kingdom she had made on the surface of the island. Though she did not have a voice she communicated with the mass through her link, telling the mass about the island
Then one day, the mass suddenly dissolved into smaller pieces and before the woman's eyes created an entire race composed of bubblegum.
The mass learned so much from Candy Woman's knowledge, learning the languages, cultures and history of the outside world and used it to create an entire new race, sacrificing its own existence to bring about this miracle. The Candy Woman became the caretaker of this new race and eventually the queen of the newly made Candy Kingdom. She taught them about the world's history, about the Grimm and the other species they shared the planet with but told them that in order for them to live they must not reveal themselves.
To do so would be catastrophic for both worlds. Over the years the Candy Kingdom thrived but with their newly bequeathed sentience came emotions.
And with emotions also came the negative kind.
And negative emotions brought the Grimm.
The Candy Kingdom would suffer attacks from the Grimm, forcing the people to build weapons, to learn how to fight and to ensure the Grimm did reveal them to the world. The Queen would one day-'
RING-RING-RING
Abby groaned as she woke up, rubbing her head as her alarm clock went off which she immediately turned off. 'Lousy Elemental dreams.'
She had been getting a lot more of them lately, ever since that day in the park. When she was little she got a few of them but only on rare occasions.
And the voice telling the story of the Candy Island…
It was male but she didn't recognize it compared to the last vision she had.
'Candy Island…' Abby thought briefly. 'An island with so much candy a child would die happy there.'
Xxx
"You know the plan?" Abby asked as they walked out of the house.
"Wait for when we are on the boat and ask my dad about Omni. Very simple." Nigel shrugged and smirked. "Simpler than your fourth flavor plan."
Xxx
(Flashback)
"Why are we here again?" Wally groaned, wishing they could just leave.
Him along with Hoagie and Nigel were on watch duty while Abby was holding a magnifying glass and was looking over a tapestry that showed three ice cream bowels with their own flavors: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.
"We're to make sure our friend does not spend the night in jail." Nigel remarked, rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.
Abby waved a hand and watched as the drawings on the tapestry slowly changed, likely reacting her to Elemental magic and revealed a fourth bowel of yellow ice cream held above the three.
"Aha!" Abby pointed to the fourth bowel. "Just as I suspected. There is a fourth flavor."
Wally and Hoagie looked at Nigel who simply shrugged. "Don't look at me. Candy's not my element."
"Give me a second and I'll know where to find it." Abby said, holding her magnifying glass up to the fourth ice cream.
"So what happens when the guard comes along and sees the tapestry looks different?" Hoagie nervously asked.
"…Run away?"
"Like little girls?" Hoagie pressed.
"Little girls will look brave in comparison." Nigel affirmed.
"Oi! I take offense to that! If anything I'd be a manly little girl." Wally declared.
Xxx
"Well we proved there is a fourth flavor." Abby retorted, getting into the car. "So stop doubting me and come on."
Nigel rolled his eyes and followed her into the car.
There was just no winning with her.
Xxx
Suburbs are crazy.
That was the one truth Kevin believed in all his years of living in Peach Creek. Born on the same day as Double D, not that he cared since Kevin's only interest was his bike and watching the X-Games and when not riding his trusty bike, he usually hangs out with Rolf and Nazz in the Lane. He, like every boy in the show except for Jimmy and Rolf, has a crush on Nazz. Kevin is a gym assistant and hall monitor at Peach Creek Jr. High and enjoys playing sports.
Kevin is most popular for the many athletic achievements accomplished on his beloved bike and the occasional skateboard trick, and also for his skill in sports. He is especially respected by the nonathletic children, such as Jimmy. However Kevin is also very cocky, cynical and can be a bully - mostly to the Eds, but sometimes also to Jonny and Jimmy. Even Rolf has fallen victim to Kevin's mocking and sarcastic attitude on occasion, even though Rolf is his closest friend.
For various reasons, including their usual scams Kevin despises the Eds to the point of distraction and even to the point of paranoia. He can be friendly to Edd and he tolerates Ed, but he holds nothing but contempt towards Eddy and his constant schemes and hunger for attention. Kevin is most happy when he has the opportunity to utterly humiliate Eddy, but when you look at the big picture, they are very similar: both have high ambitions, they often show off, and both feel the need to be in charge.
And the Eds training to be Hunters with Nazz under Rolf's tutelage didn't improve things between. His constant mocking of them during training had even led to his friendships with Rolf and Nazz to become strained.
"Why do you mock us at every turn?" Rolf had asked one time.
One of Kevin's issues would be that his mother had passed away when he was little and his father had remarried since then but to say Kevin and his stepmother did not get along was an understatement. He often got grounded for mouthing off to her and it didn't help his father often agreed with her. When he was home he hid in the garage, keeping his bike in perfect condition. He dreamt of one day riding off on his bike, leaving Peach Creek and never coming back.
No one knew about it.
Why would they since nearly everyone had gone off to GrimmFall to get Jimmy, aka Fluffy back from the Justice Friends in their fancy headquarters, leaving him back in the cul-de-sac with Sarah who was under house arrest after her near death experience.
'One day I will be out of here and I'll never come back.' Keven thought, pumping air into his front wheel.
He would just ride off and go wherever he wanted.
"Excuse me?"
"Gah?!" Kevin jumped and spun around.
Standing behind him was a very weird woman and a guy dressed like a mime.
Kevin hated mimes!
The woman had two buns on the sides of her head and wore a two piece black and white outfit with a little lace skirt. What freaked him out most the crack over where her left should have been. It was almost like the eye had been popped out of its socket.
"Do you know where we can find this human?" The woman asked, the round jewel on her sternum projecting the image of Ed.
Kevin just stared, looking at the image and the woman. "You want the dork? Why? Going to some freak convention."
"Where is the human?" The woman asked again, her voice completely robotic.
"Lady I am not sure what you are but I am not the dork's keeper. Now scram or I'll-"
"He is not talking." The woman cut Keven off, the mime behind her stepping forward. "Let us see what he knows."
The mime stepped out from behind the woman and raised his hand.
"Get away from me!" Kevin raised his wrench, ready to use it to bash the mime's hand.
Only when the mime grabbed the wrench something happened. The wrench turned grey and Kevin watched his skin turned pale white next, starting from his hand and going down his arm. His green shirt and red hat turned grey, his black shorts remained their same color and his eyes became white.
'Kevin…' A woman's voice whispered in his head.
A woman towered over him, giving off a radiant white glow, her eyes and mouth being the only parts of her face he could see.
'Kevin…'
She was bigger than any building he had ever seen and yet still as a statue. Her hair was spiked, shaped pentagram and shaped like a large crown.
He was in absolute awe of her.
He felt absolute peace.
No anger.
No fear.
No happiness.
He did not feel these emotions and or want to feel them again.
'Kevin, what an amusing name.' The woman said, smiling down at him. 'You should feel honored. You are the first human in a long time to see my light. Do you know this human?'
The image of Ed appeared again.
Kevin did not speak but he didn't need to. His mind was completely open to her, allowing her to view his memories as if she was reading a book.
'Good, good.' The woman said serenely. 'You do know him. Where has he gone?'
Silence.
'Yes. Excellent. Lead my precious little Gems to him.' The woman sounded almost motherly. 'Welcome into my light, Kevin.'
Kevin smiled. "Thank you, My Diamond."
Xxx
"Go Wilfred!" Rolf declared as the wagon rolled along the highway…excessively slow with most of the pre-teen citizens of Peach Creek's cul-de-sac in the back.
"Why did we take the pig carriage again?" Eddy groaned.
"Well we can't drive." Jonny listed. "We can't walk all the way, you don't want to spend money on bus fare and- oh, good point Plank! We're all terrified that if our parents really found out the full story about what happened to Jimmy and Sarah we'd be grounded until we have grandkids!"
"Well put, Jonny Wood-Boy." Rolf nodded.
"Well, I kind of imagined going a little faster." Eddy complained.
"Come on, Eddy. Let's not spend the whole trip complaining." Nazz said, looking out across the grassy land. "We'd still take like a whole day to get to GrimmFall anyways."
"Yeah. A whole boring day." Eddy groaned.
"Hey guys, why is the moon fully round and coming straight at us?" Ed suddenly asked.
That caused Eddy, Nazz, Johny and even Rolf to look at Ed who was looking back.
"What are you talking about, Ed?" Eddy sat up.
Ed pointed. "That."
The kids looked back, watching as…white bubble was flying straight at them.
"Is that a bubble?!" Nazz exclaimed.
"Cool!" Jonny smiled excitedly.
"Step on it, Rolf!" Eddy shouted.
"Fear not, Ed-Boy! Rolf is saving secret weapon!" He reached into his jean pocket and produced framed picture of…
"Wilfred's mom?" Ed scratched his head.
"Hush and behold." Rolf leaned forward and held the picture in front of Wilfred. "Go Wilfred! Go with the speed of a thousand rabid gerbils!"
Wilfred squealed and immediately took off at speeds that left automobiles in the dust. The kids screamed as they clung to the sides of the wagon, desperately trying to keep from falling out…or being outright flung out.
"How does a pig go so fast?!" Eddy shouted, hanging on for dear life.
"The love for a mama pig is strong in this one, Ed-boy." Rolf replied, holding on so Wilfred didn't leave them behind in his dust.
The orb flew after them, chasing them as Wilfred led them off the highway and onto the grassy meadow in an attempt to lose it.
"It's still on our tail!" Eddy shouted, watching the orb as it chased them.
"Tailgaters! Rolf does not tolerate such inconsideration!" Rolf barked, urging Wilfred to go ever faster. "May mama piggy give you strength, Wilfred!"
"I got this." Nazz held up a fist, activating her Semblance.
The sunlight shining from above allowed her to power up and release a blast of multi-colored light at the pursuing orb. The orb ducked, vanishing into the ground much to the shock of the Peach Creek kids.
"Uh…Do you guys see what I don't see?" Eddy asked.
"I think so. What do you think, Plank?" Jonny asked his wooden friend. "What do you mean we should turn? It's not there's something we're going to hi-GAH!"
The orb shot up from the ground which in front of the carriage and Wilfred hastily jumped out of the way, pulling the carriage so hard it fell onto its side and sending the kids flying out of it and landing hard on the ground.
Eddy landed on his head and rolled a few feet before stopping, getting up a second later with a dazed look. "Grandad, you ran another stop sign."
Ed sat up, chuckling. "I think I swallowed a beetle."
Nazz rubbed her head as slowly stood up. "Talk about road hogs."
"Rolf must say, Rolf has not encountered such a menace since the Killer Meatball that stalked Wilfred in the dead of night." Rolf muttered, straightening his back as he got up.
"What's that about a meatball?" Jonny groaned, sitting up. "No thanks. I don't eat meat. I'm a vegetarian."
The orb that had knocked them now floated in front of them, the top opening and splitting down to reveal…
"Kevin?" Nazz gaped, seeing the jock of Peach Creek standing next to a weird woman.
Was that woman missing an eye?!
"Slime Elemental, your presence is required." The woman said, staring blankly at the kids.
Eddy shook his head as he stood up. "Slime? Elemental? What's this broad talking about?"
"Um…" Nazz looked at the woman who remained utterly still like a statue. It was hard to tell if she was even breathing. "Who are you talking about?"
"Only the Slime Elemental's presence is needed." The woman said as she and Kevin floated forward and stopped in front of Ed.
"Ed?" Eddy looked at his friend who just stared at the woman and Kevin. "What's going on here?"
Ed shrugged. "I forget."
Shaking his head, Eddy walked up to the one eyed woman. "Look lady, I don't know what you are but I think you're missing a brain along with an eye. So why don't you go away?"
"But leave Kevin with us." Nazz cut in, looking at Kevin and noting how strange he looked down. "After you turn him back to normal."
"That will not be necessary." The woman simply said. "White Diamond requires the Slime Elemental. A new batch of specimens is also acceptable."
"Say wha-" Eddy started but was cut off as the orb reappeared, engulfing him, Ed and Nazz in it along with Kevin and the woman.
"Release Rolf's friends!" Rolf shouted, pulling out a pitchfork.
The orb shot forward at Johnny and Rolf, seemingly swallowing them before taking off into the sky, leaving behind a ruined carriage and a runaway pig as a sign of what had happened.
Xxx
There was nothing like a day out on the lake, sitting on a boat and fishing.
The sun shining down on you, wind blowing a gentle breeze and the relaxing sound of the water to make you forget all your troubles.
And yet, Monty Uno had a feeling that was going to be a little more difficult this time, sensing something off with Abby as he rowed the boat out into the middle of the lake. "Well then, what say we get down and see if the fish are biting today?"
"Monty, I have something I need to ask you." Abby spoke just as Monty was reaching for his fishing rod.
Monty sighed, lowering his hand. "Yes, I believe you do."
"Back in the park, when those grey freaks came after us I called upon my powers. I had visions…Back when we were little and we met someone. They saved us from a red cat Mobian and then from…A Fallen." Abby clenched a fist. "He attacked us, took control of me and…We lost our memories."
Monty listened carefully as Abby spoke.
"His name was Omnimon. You found him, brought him into your home like you and Jennifer did with me but after that Fallen attacked us…Why did he leave?" Abby glared at Monty. "He just up and left us when we were still hurt. How could you let him just leave like that?"
"He left because he needed to find his place." Monty answered, calm and serene. "He was from another world, lost in a new one and immediately thrown into conflict. He felt his presence around the two of you would bring more danger as it did when the Fallen named Skarr came to our old home, looking for him. Skarr's attack forced you both to forget, the trauma too much for you to handle at the time."
"Trauma? He abandoned us!" Abby's eyes flashed gold. "We needed him around and-"
Nigel placed a hand on Abby's shoulder, stopping her rant and she looked at him for a second.
"This is about more than just Omni's absence isn't it, Abby?" Monty spoke, earning the children's attention. "Omni leaving when you both lost your memories, your sister leaving you with us after you both lost your parents. You feel it's your fault that all of it happened, don't you?"
Abby looked away, staring out at the water.
"It hasn't been easy for you. Your powers being a constant reminder of hardships you have faced and your training up to now has been your way of hoping it never happens again." Monty started. "You have come a long way and you should be proud-"
"It's nothing to be proud of." Abby interrupted, looking back at Monty with an angry face. "Sebben explained that the Elementals have been hunted by the Fallen for a long time now. Getting their powers is a death mark and I've watched it take nearly everyone around me. My parents and my brother, my sister ran off and your house was sunk by a lava monster working for the very monster I saw in the park when those people came for us. What exactly is there to be proud of, Monty?"
"Abby, you are in no way responsible for what has happened. Those powers of yours are not a curse, no matter what you may think of them. You helped save Nigel and your friend Wally when the lava monster attacked; you fought off those grey agents and saved both of yourselves at the time. You believe you have to protect everyone close to you and you have." Monty grasped Abby's shoulder. "You have never been a curse or a burden in our home and I know you never will be."
Abby shifted a bit, looking down as Nigel sent a small smile. "It is true."
The young Faunus seemed to shake now, a small tear trailing down her face. "And what happens the next time this happens? What happens when Sammael comes for the both of us?"
"I imagine there will be a great amount of pity for whoever ends trying to come after you with the intention of causing trouble." Monty smiled, sitting back. "Especially with how strong you've gotten in such a short time."
Abby seemed to hold in a chuckle but offered a small. "…Maybe."
"Well, now that is out of the way what do you say we get to fishing?" Monty picked up his fishing rod. "Let me show you both how it is done."
Xxx
"Bonnibell's Personal Log: Day 38. After finally reaching the land known as America I began my long towards the location of the current Candy Elemental. Using advanced holo-technology I blended in and using the money I amassed I gained transportation that took me to the city known as GrimmFall. It is my understanding that GrimmFall is the capital city for organic warriors known as Huntsmen.
Due to number of warriors of living there I took all precautions to stay 'off the radar' as organics say. I have managed to track the Candy Elemental and I see that she is in the company of the Ice Elemental. From my visual studies show the Candy Elemental is female and still in the infant stage, likely twelve organic years, has a Faunus heritage which likely allows for enhanced senses such as vision and hearing. My sources indicate she has only started using her Elemental abilities very recently which is alarming.
I will continue my studies and decide what to do from there."
Bonnibell Bubblegum shut off her recorder and looked at her binoculars again, spying the Elementals on the small boat fishing with the elder man.
Organics, the species that her people 'shared' the planet with.
The Queen had told her people about them along with the Faunus and the Mobians, all of them organic and all of them spread across the world. Bonnibel had been a child, like the rest of her people when the Mother Gum gave birth to them, gifting them with the knowledge it had learned from the Queen. Bonny was particularly gifted, taking her place as one of the great scholars of Candy Island. Her brother was a warrior and was perhaps the greatest warrior of their people, able to morph his body into a dragon that was strong enough to take down any Grimm that dared set foot on the island.
But deep down Bonny wanted so much more.
She believed her people deserved better than hiding on an island, hounded by the Grimm.
That was why she spent the last few hundred years of her life learning about the outside world, learning about the countries, the superpowers, the organic warriors that fought the Grimm and especially the Elementals.
Her people had been born from the first Candy Elemental whose remains were mutated by the comet that caused the cataclysm of the Forgotten Age. The mutation created Queen Candy who was born with the intellect and the ability to manipulate the candy she was made from to create an entire kingdom and the Mother Gum that was created with the ability to give life to the bubblegum it was made of.
Queen Candy and Mother Gum.
Their existence and powers made as two halves of the Candy Elemental's power: Queen Candy who shared the Elemental's power to manipulate candy and the Mother Gum that had the power to make life from candy.
And for that reason alone, she needed to acquire this Elemental before someone did something shortsighted and killed or imprisoned her.
That was what brought her to the shores of a water mass where the organics came to hunt as a leisurely activity, teaching their children to hunt and kill early on, or cruelly toy with the aquatic life forms by the act of 'catch and release'. The Elementals were with their guardian, or…parent, partaking of this pastime. Now that she had their location she just needed an opportunity…and a plan.
Her first thought had been just to abduct the Candy Elemental, come what may, but her time journeying across Organic civilization had taught her one thing: parents took umbrage to having their children taken from them, at least the ideal ones did. If they didn't then others would act on the child's behalf, as evidenced by the amount of media attention surrounding instances of kidnappings or disappearances. If she had a reliable means of transporting the Candy Elemental back to Candy Island she would be willing to risk it, but travel overland proved to be tedious and slow, rife with opportunities for her to be identified and intercepted…especially if she had to compel a child with exceptional abilities to travel with her.
In short: she needed a Plan B and was ashamed that she hadn't considered one in the time it took to get this far. When she'd first left her island it had all seemed like it would be straight forward, but she knew now that she was the product of a relatively simple society that had used the ruins of another as a frame of reference without gaining the wisdom that went with developing societies. Things were black and white, rules were simple…and it had left her entirely ill prepared for her self-appointed task.
"Hm…" She observed the surrounding environment. "Wide open terrain, far from heavily populated areas. If I acted now I could have a head start, but- no…" She sighed and shook her head. "In any scenario where I try to take her by force, I'm doomed to fail. Perhaps…"
Perhaps the solution lay in something profoundly simple.
Could it really hurt to open dialogue and see if the Elemental would aid her willingly? They are known to demonstrate traits favorable to a society in need, and hers was in need in a way that only this one Organic could provide.
"Well Bonnibell…nothing ventured, nothing gained." She sucked up her courage and waited near the docks where the fishing boat would eventually have to return to be moored.
Xxx
"We're coming upon the second targets. They're in the middle of a large mass of water. There's a life from nearby."
"Who are cares about that?" Aquamarine remarked impatiently.
"I believe our orders were to avoid being spotted by the population." Emerald pointed out, her tone slightly scathing. "Either we eliminate the life form or take it and drop in the special zone."
Aquamarine sighed dramatically. "Very well. Topaz, get ready."
The lumbering yellow Gem followed Aquamarine out of the bridge.
Xxx
It happened so fast.
One moment it was all quite.
And the next…
Something fell from the sky, landing in the lake and causing a big enough splash that the three ended up soaked.
"What in the world?" Monty exclaimed, wiping the water from his eyes.
Nigel and Abby watched as something came out of the water. It appeared to be a giant green sphere, floating up in front of the boat.
"…So much for a relaxing Sunday." Nigel muttered.
Back on the dock, Bonnibell took out her binoculars and used them to get a better look at the object that impacted the lake. "A sphere of unknown origin. I cannot make out what it is made of from here. This is not organic or gum technology. It has to be…Gem."
The sphere shot at the boat as Monty Uno calmly stood up, shooting his fist forward and unleashing a blast of white fire that collided with the sphere, knocking it away. "Nigel old chap, could you please take us back to the dock? I'm afraid our relaxing fishing trip may be over."
Nigel nodded and quickly turned on the motor, directing the boat back to the dock. The sphere immediately chased after them. "It's on our tail!"
Monty remained calm, firing several more blasts of white fire at the sphere that dodged each one. The sphere sped after them, almost right on top of them. Nigel quickly made the boat swerve, trying to shake the sphere off but it kept up with them no matter how hard he tried.
"I believe it's time for you to try, old bean." Monty said to his son who nodded.
Abby grabbed the motor as Nigel stood up and held up his hand. In the palm of his hand appeared a blue flame that emitted a chilling air as he threw it at the sphere. The flame collided with the sphere, causing ice to form all around it and it crashed into the water.
"Good job, Nigel old bean." Monty patted his son on the back. "You are getting much better at this."
"Thanks dad." Nigel sat back down. "So, government goons again or is this something else?"
"Probably something else." Abby answered, seeing the water bubbling. "Government freaks don't fly alien stuff."
"Then we better get back on land." Monty surmised, taking hold of the motor. "If you'll be so kind to take us back to the docks. I think we have overstayed our welcome."
Just before he could take them back the sphere shot up again, right from underneath the boat itself which knocked it over and sent its passengers into the water. The three gasped for air as soon their heads came up to the surface and the sphere hovered over them.
That was when something slammed into it, knocking it back again.
"Hurry!" A voice shouted from the dock. "Get out of the water."
The three immediately started swimming as Bonnibell shot at the sphere again, only to miss as it flew after its targets. Flying past them it landed on the dock and split open, revealing two strange beings. One resembled a little blue skinned girl with a tear shaped gem on her cheek under her left eye, navy blue eyes, no nose, and chin-length, cerulean-blue hair worn in a bobbed style. Her clothing vaguely resembled a prep school uniform, consisting of a blue vest worn over a dark blue dress with a white collar, white wrist-length gloves, white knee-high socks, dark blue flat shoes, and a dark blue hair bow that she can turn into her wand.
The second was a hulking yellow skinned woman with two gems where her ears should have been. She had light yellow hair in a short, flat top-like fashion, yellow skin, and a tinted orange visor that covers her eyes and the sides of her head. She wore a maroon vest with a yellow diamond insignia, a mahogany top underneath, and dark brown bottoms that cover her feet. She has a large, broad, and muscular build with relatively short legs and large, powerful arms.
She also had a square head and chin.
"Topaz, fetch." Aquamarine ordered.
The yellow skinned woman stomped forward, holding a long crystal-headed pugil stick. Bonnibell aimed and fired her pistol at Topaz who spun her weapon, blocking the incoming shots easily. The Gem known as Topaz glowed and split apart into two identical copies of herself, only with one gemstone on the left side of the right Topaz's face and one on the right side of the left Topaz's face. The two rushed at Bonnibell, grasping their hands and just as they were right on top of her their bodies were engulfed in a bright blinding light.
Before Bonnibell could do anything she found herself struck.
Her body along with her arms and legs were trapped in the giant Gem's body, leaving her neck hanging out of its back.
"Good. Now that she is out of the way." Aquamarine sprouted her wings and flew up to the trapped Bonnibell, looking her in the eyes. "We can get this mission done without any trouble."
She looked behind and saw the three humans swimming onto shore, attempting to run away. She pulled the blue ribbon out of her head, smiling as it changed into a wand and she pointed it at the humans, catching them in a beam of blue light.
"Now, Topaz." Aquamarine commanded.
Topaz rushed stomped forward towards the humans, ready to split apart to capture them like she had with Bonnibell.
"Run away!" The gum woman shouted, despite being unable to see what was happening from Topaz's back.
Topaz split apart into her original selves, the one on the left holding Bonnibell as they ran at the humans and refused around them. Nigel's head and torso were sticking out of Topaz's shoulder, Abby was buried up to her head in Topaz's right hip and Monty was right under Bonnibell.
"Excellent. Mission accomplished as expected." Aquamarine landed on Topaz's head. "And just in time as well."
"No…No!" Abby shouted, her eyes shining gold.
Her skin and hair started to turn pink.
"Topaz!" Aquamarine shouted.
Topaz raised her fist and brought it down on Abby's head. The last thing she heard was Nigel and Monty crying out her name as she blacked out. Nigel glared at Topaz, his eyes flashing with frosty colored flames but Topaz repeated what she did to Abby to Nigel next, knocking both Elementals out cold.
"Now let's go."