Opening File: The Wilds
The Wilds, also known as the Wildlands is the area existing between the major cities like GrimmFall and Denver and the Darklands, consisting of jungles, forests, deserts and other areas that are crawling with Grimm in every direction. While Nowhere, Camp Kidney and Mt. Blackhead have some development of civilization, and ancient civilizations have ruins in Devil's Bluff and The Ruins, the Wilds are mainly composed of unspoiled wilderness.
Close File
Xxx
"Deserts, jungles, grassy plains stretching as far as the eye can see. What do you call these places? Wild life. Here, you have no rules, no civilization and no indoor plumbing." TOM chuckled as the file closed. "You survive by making do with what you have. So for all of you out there used to the luxury of housing, food set in front of you at table and the pleasures of technology, if you ever wind up out in the wild learn to adapt or you'll be in for a very rough time."
Xxx
"So after all this time we are pretty much going back to the same place we came. Can't believe Van Kleiss was so much closer when we arrived."
"Life is full of surprises, Rex."
Once they had finished interrogating Lime Ricky behind his tavern, Rex Salazar and Agent Six immediately started making plans to journey back to the Wilds. "So he was in the place called…Nowhere the whole time."
"According to the SkyWeb, Nowhere is the most deserted area in the world. It only has a small town and a few farmhouses out there." Agent Six said, having researched thoroughly this dimension's Earth, including the planet's geography and its data networks.
"Sounds like a step up from Abysus." Rex commented.
"Nevertheless, we now know where to go." Agent Six said, producing some technos. "I've managed to acquire some credit used here. We'll charter a ride to Nowhere but we'll have to track Van Kleiss on foot from there."
"Works for me."
Xxx
"Time to get the show on the road."
Wally knew that if his parents found out what he was planning they would freak but he didn't care. He couldn't afford to let them stop him from trying to save his friends. Still he decided to check in on his little brother Joey and at least say goodbye to him.
He owed his little bro that much.
Just as he snuck past the kitchen and was near the door a voice stopped him. "Is something wrong, Wally dear?"
It was his mom.
Stiffening, he slowly turned around, looking his mother in the face and seeing her worried eyes. She always worried about him since he was little when he came home sporting bruises from the fights he had she was there, looking over him, cleaning away the dirt and dried blood while applying bandages and cream to his bruises and cuts. He fussed over it but didn't push her away because deep down he appreciated her care.
And right now he wished he could simply brush off her concern.
"Ma, I….I need to go." Wally said, a lump seemingly forming in his throat. "I need to help my friends…I know I'll be coming back with them."
Silence followed his confession but his heart pounded in his chest as he looked away, unable to bear the no doubt terrified look on his mother's face.
"Wally sweetie, look at me." His mother finally spoke.
He did and stared into her eyes, seeing fear as he expected but was shocked by the smile on her face. "I was always afraid this day would come."
"Huh?" Wally was now confused.
"Ever since you were a little boy you were always a fighter." Liz said slowly. "When I heard your friends went missing I knew you'd drop everything in a heartbeat to go and find them. I wish I could stop you, your father and I wish we could make you stay."
"Dad?" Wally asked and nearly jumped as he felt a hand patting him on the back. "Gah!"
"Still can sneak up on ya, sport." Sid Beatles laughed as he stood with his wife. "So, you are going to find them, huh?"
"Yeah. I know where they are and…I'm not coming back without them." Wally said, standing his ground in case his parents planned on forcing him to stay.
"Yeah, that sounds like something a Beatles would do." Sid admitted. "Always fighting but always wanting to protect and never abandoning a friend in need."
Sid knelt down and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "I know it's been rough on you, sport but you've taken everything the world's thrown at you and came out standing. That's who you are and we are proud of you for it."
"No matter where you go, know that we are proud of you, Wally." Liz knelt down and hugged her surprised son. "You are the best son we could have ever asked for."
Wally shaking now, surprised by what his parents said and reached out with his hands, hugging his parents back. "Mom, Dad…thanks."
They shared a full hug for a moment before breaking away.
"Now, I prepared a lot of food for you so you don't starve and you can share them with your friends. Be careful of getting into fights because there might be a place to wash your clothes." Liz prattled but managed to stop herself. "And make sure you brush your teeth once in a while."
"I will, Mom…I promise."
Wally straightened himself up, looking as brave and proud as he possibly could as he faced the door…Only shedding a single tear when he managed to step outside and onto the road to saving his friends.
"So, where are we going?"
Wally jumped again, looking up to see his Uncle Lou standing on the sidewalk. "Uncle Lou?!"
"Hey there, sport." Lou waved a hand. "Figured you would need help getting to where you need to go."
"Uncle Lou, I can't bring anyone with me." Wally argued, not wanting his uncle to get hurt.
"You are not bringing me. I am tagging along." Lou shrugged. "You may need to rescue your friends but not alone. Now, where are you going?"
Wally hesitated. "…The Forsaken Valley…In the Darklands."
"Hmm…" Lou considered the name of Wally's destination. "Well, I know the fastest route there."
"You do?" Wally's eyes widened.
"I know the fastest way to reaching the edge of the Darklands but any deeper and you're on your own." Lou explained, gesturing for his nephew to follow. "So let's go."
Xxx
Wallabee Beatles was not the only starting his journey to the Darklands.
'I could have come back and watched over them when I learned about their powers.' Omnimon thought to himself, having stopped to see the new Uno house that had replaced the one destroyed by the lava golem.
He remembered the note he had received from Monty Uno…
*Omni, old chap. I hope my note has finally reached you and you are in good health. I am sure much has happened since you began your journey and though I would love to hear about it time is of the essence, my friend. When you stayed with us you asked me about the nature of the Elementals, especially regarding Candy and Slime and I gave you a hint.
I hope you can forgive me for not being entirely truthful for despite beings myths the Elementals are real and possess a great power that many would do anything to gain. The power of the Elementals does not revolve around nature, rather they revolve around the building blocks of life: ice representing water and homeostasis, candy representing glucose and carbohydrates, slime representing proteins and lipids and fire representing oxidation and metabolism. It is said that if all four Elementals came together their powers could be used for both creation and life or death and destruction. The reason I write to you now is because I now know the identity of two Elementals and they are both known to you as well.
My own son, Nigel is the Ice Elemental and the girl my wife and I welcomed into our home, dear Abigail is the Candy Elemental.
Two Elementals living under the same roof, one could interpret that as an act of complete providence. It would certainly explain the attacks concerning that Fallen and later the lava golem that attacked our old home. There are forces on the move in our world even as my son and the girl I have come to see as a daughter have just begun awakening their true potential. I have looked into both of them, my son has had an easier time learning the power he possess while Abigail has spent most of her childhood keeping her gift hidden she has begun to unlock, showing me that soon things will begin to change.
I hope our paths will cross again soon, chap.*
The shock of what he learned from the note was enough to send him running back to GrimmFall just in time to witness Abby unleash her powers on those Grey People. It was enough to convince him that she and Nigel would be safe and that it was better for him to keep his distance.
Now he was beginning to wonder if he had been simply making excuses for himself so he would not have to face them.
'I don't even have the courage to go in and face Monty's wife.' Omni snorted to himself. 'Some Royal Knight I am.'
Still, he planned on bringing the woman's husband and her kids back home to her and he knew where he needed to go.
The Darklands.
Even he avoided going there, knowing it would be dangerous for the Royal Knight. From what he knew the Darklands were infested with an endless army of Grimm, some of which had never been seen before by the majority of the world and home to perhaps the worst enemy he would encounter in this dimension: Sammael.
The Fallen planned on assembling a team to rescue the Elementals from the Gem Homeworld and he offered Omnimon to be a part of that team. Omni's instincts told him Sammael was only using him and would no doubt attempt to kill him when his usefulness was over. Still, this would be the perfect chance to see exactly what he and the rest of the world was truly up against and so he would be there.
'Shannon, Donny, this time you cannot follow me. This time, I must go alone.' Omni thought, turning away from the Uno home.
He had a long journey ahead of him, starting with reaching the Darklands.
'I just hope I won't be too late.'
Xxx
"Ugh…"
When the Candy Elemental finally opened her eyes she wished to immediately close them again. Needless to say she had a pretty restless sleep and that vision with Chatsberry didn't help calm her much. She looked over her shoulder, seeing her friend and fellow Elemental Nigel still sleeping apparently.
Still sleeping on a distant planet, far from Earth.
She reached up to her forehead and felt the jewel still there, meant to drain any of her powers if she tried using them to escape.
And then there was Ed…
Wait a minute!
"ED?!" Abby shouted, causing both Nigel who was next to her and Ed…Who happened to be sleeping on the exact same bed at the other end to awaken.
The Slime Elemental was wearing a dark green robe, apparently his sleepwear given by his Pearl.
"Wha?!" Nigel sat up and rubbed his eyes, staring forward and saw Ed sitting up and stretching like a kitten and yawned. "Ed? When did you get here?"
"I couldn't sleep alone guys." Ed lied back down. "I kept thinking…"
"About being on a distant planet?" Nigel asked and then yawned.
"No, I was thinking how come my feet smell if they don't have a nose?" Ed answered.
…
…
…
"Ugh." Abby fell back down onto her pillow and buried her face in it. "What time is it? Must be too early for this."
"It is the start of the morning cycle."
The three Elementals then looked up, seeing the three Pearls standing just a foot away from the large bed.
"…How long were you three there?" Nigel asked.
"We were assigned to watch our Elementals." Ice Pearl answered. "Both I and Candy Pearl were here when the Slime Elemental entered with Slime Pearl."
"Of course you were." Abby ran a hand over her face.
"Are you all feeling?" The Candy Pearl asked. "Are you all well rested?"
"With bells on our toes!" Ed answered happily, not seeming to notice the confused looks the Pearls were sending him.
"…He means yes." Nigel explained, seeing the confusion.
"We understand that after awakening organics are in need of sustenance." The Ice Pearl walked over to the wall. "Three orders of sustenance please."
The Elementals watched as a small compartment in the wall opened up and out came a tray with three cyan colored gems. The three Pearls took each square shaped gem and brought them over the Elementals on the bed.
"What are these?" Nigel asked, accepting the gem and looking it over.
"These are what the caretakers feed the organics in the Special Zone. They grow from the structures called 'plants' and are enough to fulfill your biological needs for consumption for an entire solar cycle." The Ice Pearl answered.
"Really?" Ed grinned as he tasted the fruit. "Delicious!"
Abby hesitantly took a bite, feeling a little hungry herself. Despite Ed's comment it actually had no taste which made her stop and stare at it for a second but she continued eating until it was small enough for her to swallow whole. To her surprise it felt as if she had eaten an entire buffet!
"Thank you." Nigel said, conveying their gratitude in an attempt to play nice. It wouldn't do much good to act ungrateful right now.
The three Pearls bowed reverently to them, remaining calm and composed.
"So…What happens now?" Nigel asked, deciding to change the subject onto something more important.
"Our orders were to ensure you would be ready upon awakening." Ice Pearl answered.
"Ready for what?" Abby had a bad feeling.
"White Diamond has assigned Blue and Yellow Diamond to watch over your training here on Homeworld." Candy Pearl answered.
"Yellow Diamond is currently off-world, overseeing Gem production on her colonies and scouting for new worlds to colonize." Slime Pearl continued.
"So Blue Diamond has been left to start your training." Ice Pearl finished. "She has an appointment at the moment which gives us time to get you cleaned and ready."
Abby scowled. "I am not wearing that dress again."
Candy Pearl tilted her head slightly. "You wish for an alternate form?"
Abby rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'd like something different."
"Very well. You were all given formal outfits and sleep forms. What kind of alternate form do you wish?" Candy Pearl asked.
Truth be told Abby didn't want anything given to her by these Gems, considering they abducted her and her friends but she knew she needed something to wear if she was going to be here for a while.
"She'd prefer something that's more suited for…combat." Nigel threw in, trying to be helpful. "We were training to be warriors back on Earth, after all."
"A military uniform then?" Candy Pearl glanced at Abby who slowly nodded, figuring it would be better than a dress. "Very well. I shall discuss it with the Pebbles."
"Pebbles?" The three asked.
The Ice Pearl tapped the wall and it opened, revealing small creatures inside the walls. They had grey skin and black eyes and varied in shapes.
"What are those?" Abby leaned forward, unable to suppress her curiosity.
"These are Pebbles. They are a builder and tailor class here on Homeworld." Candy Pearl answered. "They were charged with building your rooms and making your clothes."
"Cool." Ed hopped up and leaned into the hole in the wall. "Hello, my name is Ed!"
The Pebbles however seemed to scared as they quickly ran and hid.
"These guys built our entire rooms?" Nigel got off the bed walked over the wall. "Seems a little cruel to make them do all the work. How can anyone that small have managed to build all this so fast? I mean, I can see them building a counter table but-Ah!"
As if hearing his words an entire counter sprouted from the wall, knocking the Ice and Slime Elementals back.
"They can also modify the room to your liking." Ice Pearl commented.
"Cool!" Ed leaned into the wall. "I am Ed! Make me a door!"
A door appeared in front of Ed, opening and leading outside onto a balcony that was instantly made.
"They can build outdoor pleasantries as well." Ice Pearl said.
"That's…amazing." Nigel had to admit that he was impressed.
"They are also the perfect tailors. Even the Diamonds use them." Candy Pearl stated. "They will have the new outfit ready after the extraction."
Nigel and Abby shared a look before looking back at the Pearls and both had to ask. "Extraction?"
"The process of polishing and removing any unwanted filth." The Ice Pearl explained.
"Oh…You mean washing." Nigel caught on.
"Yes…I suppose that designation is also appropriate." The Ice Pearl nodded and walked over to another wall in the room. "Each Elemental room has an extraction chamber." She placed her hand on the wall and the door opened. "This is the Ice Elemental extraction chamber."
Inside was what looked like a large but simplistic room with four walls and…nothing else?
"How does anyone get cleaned in there?" Nigel asked, looking inside.
"Ask the Pebbles what cleaning method and they will supply it." Ice Pearl suggested. "They have been modified to even clean the gemstones of Diamonds."
"The other Elementals are welcome to join you if they do not wish to use their own." Candy Pearl pointed out.
Abby blushed, realizing what her Pearl was talking about. "Uh…I'll use my own. Thanks."
Ed giggled, apparently oblivious to what was going on as the Slime Pearl led him out of the room, followed by Abby and her Pearl. Nigel sighed and entered his extraction chamber…
Xxx
As it turned out Ice Pearl was right about choosing what method of 'cleaning' in this room. To test what she was talking about Nigel asked for a pool and to his shock a pool was instantly built into the room with the floor in the middle of the room breaking apart and lowering down until enough room was made. A compartment in the wall opened up, creating a waterfall that filled the pool up instantly. The water was warm enough and according to Pearl the water would be laced with none toxic chemicals that could keep organic matter cleaned for an entire cycle.
At the very least he could enjoy swimming in his own pool and forget about his troubles.
When he was done the water drained out at the bottom and the pool and waterfall shifted, changing back into the simple empty room it was before. With that done Nigel's crystal provided him with the clothes he had worn when he first woke up, consisting of his light blue dress shirt with the crystal embedded below the collar with the dark blue coat and pants, black shoes and white gloves. Now that he was finished washing and dressing Nigel decided to go to Abby's room and check in on her.
He knocked on the door, Ice Pearl standing behind him. "Abby, are you ready?" The door opened and Nigel was honestly surprised when he saw the Candy Elemental standing there, adjusting her collar and coughing a bit.
"Abby-"
"Don't say a word." She cut him off.
Instead of the red dress she wore before Abby was now wearing a tight fitting red long sleeved shirt that was similar to the one he was wearing along with red trousers underneath a white tailed single button coat. On her hands were white gloves like before while her feet had knee high white boots, all gold trimmed. Abby's hair had been straightened, falling down her shoulders but had a very sleek look. All in all it gave Abby a new refined look that Nigel had never imagined her having before.
"I wasn't going to say anything." Nigel said after a moment.
"Good. I don't need anyone to say how ridiculous I look." Abby grunted, fidgeting her belt.
"At least it's not a dress." Nigel offered, trying to be helpful.
"That's the only good thing I can say." Abby grunted as Candy Pearl appeared behind her. "Those Pebbles work pretty fast. As soon as I was done in the pool they were all over me and next thing I know I am wearing this. I bet they even put that dress on me when we got here."
"We must move now. Blue Diamond's appointment is over. She awaits us." Candy Pearl said.
"What about Ed?" Nigel asked.
"Don't ask, Ice Elemental." Ed's voice came from behind. They all turned around to see him standing behind them with Slime Pearl next to him. Like them he was dressed back in the formal clothing he wore earlier. "He is already here."
"Come, Blue Diamond is waiting." Ice Pearl said.
Xxx
When they saw Blue Diamond's palace they quickly saw it was even bluer than Nigel's own room, considering his room was colored to represent the Ice Elemental. Above it rested a giant blue arm much like how the giant white statue sat above White Diamond's palace. It was the same on the inside, blue walls, blue floors, blue doors, even blue colored computers.
Colors were obviously important to these Gems.
They came upon a pair of large grand doors, obviously blue like the rest of the palace. Ice Pearl walked up to the wall computer and pressed her hand on the screen. The doors opened, allowing the group see inside.
It was a giant grand looking chamber with intricate markings on the wall and at the end of the chamber was a giant blue throne which Blue Diamond herself was seated upon. Unlike White Diamond who shined bright, stood tall and seemed to make it point to make herself be known Blue Diamond seemed much more composed, withdrawn and seemed to want to hide herself within the floor length cloak she wore. Smaller than White Diamond but still easily towered over the Elementals and their Pearls as they approached, making them look tiny in comparison. Next to her throne was another Pearl, resembling the other Pearls with long legs and arms, and had a tall oval-shaped head with a prominent and pointed nose.
She had sky blue skin and messy, chin-length periwinkle hair. The upper portion of her face was covered by her bangs. Her outfit consisted of a periwinkle bodysuit with an open diamond-shaped keyhole neckline, a sheer, frost-blue, knee-length skirt, and pale blue flats. Her gemstone, a powder-blue cabochon pearl, was located on her chest.
The three Pearls saluted and bowed. "Our Diamond, we have brought you the Elementals."
Blue Diamond remained silent for a moment, reaching up and pulling her hood to reveal her face.
A tear streaked face.
Her skin was azure colored and she had long straight white hair that curled inward at the end. If not for the tears she would have looked beautiful to the Elementals who were seeing her for the first time. Like White Diamond she had diamond shaped pupils in her blue eyes and her tear shaped gemstone was located on her chest.
"How curious." Blue Diamond spoke, her voice saddened, curious and wistful. "I am impressed that the organics of Earth have been able to survive for so long."
While Ed had seemingly taken everything in stride Nigel and Abby had not been expecting one of the ruling class like White Diamond to look so…depressed and frail looking.
"Earth, such a strange planet. Where else could beings as fragile as humans could face off against monsters that could easily kill any Gem while a being as powerful as a Diamond…would perish?"
That was when the Elementals remembered what they had learned in the Special Zone.
Pink Diamond was in charge of Earth's colonization and she was killed. Obviously this Blue Diamond loved her and was still depressed about her passing after thousands of years.
"Were you close?" Ed asked, surprising the other Elementals.
"Very." Blue Diamond responded.
"I am sorry." Ed took a step forward. "It is hard when you lose someone."
That was true.
Though they did not know Ed, Nigel and Abby, especially Abby knew enough the feeling of loss can do to a person. As much as it seemed wrong to comfort someone was perhaps a galactic tyrant they did feel sympathy to her.
Blue Diamond blinked, looking at Ed. "You understand?"
"I lost someone important to me and I almost failed to get them back. Even though I saved them when I thought they were gone I was destroyed." Ed continued kindly. "And then I looked through the memories of another me, someone who lost everything. They watched as their entire home burned and sacrificed themselves to save at least the people but…they are still gone and they are not coming back."
Nigel and Abby shared a look, realizing what Ed was talking about. He had gained the memories of one of his past lives and was using it when speaking with Blue Diamond. They looked the matriarch who leaned forward, looking almost interested what Ed had to say.
"I am surprised a human could understand how I feel." Blue Diamond admitted, looking away for a moment. "It's a shame. There's a geo-weapon incubating your planet that will destroy everything."
Nigel and Abby stiffened, remembering White Diamond mentioning something about a weapon resting in the center of the Earth.
Another reason to get off this planet and get back to Earth before it was too late.
"White informed me that three of the Elementals were brought here." Blue Diamond continued with a light smile. "I must admit, I was apprehensive since the Elementals were our greatest enemies for a time. But perhaps this is a chance to save a few more pieces of her legacy."
The Elementals watched as she slowly stood up from her throne and approached them, kneeling over to look them in the eyes.
"Though we were enemies once I bear no grudge to you or your planet. If anything I wish for a chance to save it so…Her planet and legacy could live." Blue Diamond admitted with another tear sliding down her face but turned solemn. "But Yellow and White will not hear of it. They would rather forget and pretend it never happened. Perhaps if your training yields excellent results they can be swayed to at least…delay the Cluster's emergence."
That was unexpected!
A chance to save the Earth right here?!
Abby and Nigel shared a look, wondering if Blue Diamond could be trusted. Sure, she was depressed and seemed open to the idea of sparing Earth but she was still a member of the ruling class like White Diamond and supported Earth's invasion once. Perhaps the loss of her fellow Diamond, who was possibly like a sister to her had forced this Diamond to change her views.
"I am not sure what to expect of this arrangement, only that I and my court will ensure you are treated well. If you learn well, perhaps Yellow will treat you well." Blue Diamond stated. "White has ordered me to show you our ways here on Homeworld and assist in training you to develop your powers. Yellow thinks this is a mistake but will not argue with White and I…I am not sure on any of this. Perhaps after we have begun things will become clearer to me."
Ed stepped forward. "Okay, what do you want us to do?"
Blue Diamond considered his question. "I suppose for now I will show you Homeworld. Stay close with me and your Pearls."
Nigel and Abby shared another look, both of them wondering if this was really happening but Ed seemed to be the one actually convinced this Diamond to help them in a way. This was really unexpected by they were not complaining.
"Be prepared, humans." Blue Diamond stopped and looked at Abby, noticing her fox ears. "And Faunus. No organic has ever been given the privilege to see all of Homeworld."
Abby was surprised at Blue Diamond noticing her heritage but bowed slightly in acknowledgement. At the very least if she was going to be open minded about this the least Abby could do is see if she could help save the Earth here.
Would they convince the Diamonds to spare Earth?
Or would something else happen?
What mattered now was that the race to save Earth was on.