Opening File: Gobb Syndicate
The Gobb Syndicate is a world-wide crime organization, connected by multiple gangs existing in different parts of the world starting with the Red Caps operating in places like GrimmFall while connected to other cells that make up the syndicate like the Ebu Gogo in Indonesia, the Nimerigars in the Rocky Mountains, the Purple Dragons in Empire City, the Orcs in England and the Gremlins of Wind Path in Britain. While mainly focused on organized crime the Gobb Syndicate boasts enough power to actually rival the anti-human organization Satyra. However if all the criminals cells in the syndicate were to unite they would outnumber the Satyra sixty to one.
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Opening File: Pops' Moon Palace
A local diner in GrimmFall set up by retired Huntsman Pops Drake to continue earning money. The diner has become very popular since then but it has become known that Pops likes to try unusual ingredients in his food, some rumored to come from possums, pandas, cougars, seals, horses, Squid, bald eagles, Raccoons. Still it is safer, more friendly and the food is more healthy compared to what you may find in Lime Ricky's, even though there are rumors that Pops and Ricky recently became partners.
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Opening File: The Omen
The mysterious spirit known as the Omen believed to be Japanese equivalent of the Grim Reaper or the Angel of Death. It is possible that the Omen is really or at least based on a Shinigami - a god of death present in Japanese religion and culture. It is considered the Japanese equivalent of the Grim Reaper itself. It also resembles a Nuckelavee - A Germanic Horse/Human hybrid looking Demon that eats humans with a Grimm even named after it. The Omen has been known to appear to Japanese Huntsmen that have feelings of intense guilt or doubt, stalking them to the point that they are filled with intense fear and contemplating suicide.
Many believe the Omen appears to test these Huntsmen at their lowest times and losing their purpose, forcing them to make a choice: continue their mission or commit seppuku(Japanese ritual suicide) for their failure, guilt and loss of purpose.
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Opening File: Mars Polemarchos
A former soldier that once worked General Feral of the Russian army, Specialist Mars Polemarchos was a well-respected soldier amongst his men. Unfortunately his reputation would become his and his family's undoing. After breaking up several operations by the Satyra the terrorist faction chose to strike back at Mars by targeting his family, specifically his wife and daughter. They were taken hostage and attempted to use them to force Mars to surrender himself.
Acting against orders Mars tracked the Satyra cell to their camp but by acting so rashly he had intimidated the Satyra gang into taking immediate actions by executing their hostages. Mars managed to save his wife in time but unfortunately the same could not be said for his daughter. The loss of his daughter drove Mars to kill every single Satyra member involved, killing everyone in the camp. Mars' wife would be placed a mental institution, having been driven mad by watching her daughter die.
Mars would then go on a path of vengeance, taking every mission involving the Satyra and killing every person he knew or suspected to be a member of the organization, even going against orders to capture instead of kill. Mars has come to see it as his personal mission to rid the world of evil at all costs, believing that people like the Satyra, the League of Super Criminals, the Red Caps and even the Fallen must be wiped and exterminated at all costs.
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Opening File: The Gem of Sidorak
The Gem of Sidorak is a relic dating back to the Forgotten Age. It is a gem capable of great power, though it is not a Spiral Gem. The gem is suspected of holding great magic possibly connected to the Spiral Gems but no proof has yet to be found. The Gem of Sidorak is capable of endowing anyone who wears or touches with great power but it eventually comes at cost of the wearer's sanity.
After the death of its previous owner the Gem of Sidorak was lost for centuries, until the Satyra discovered a possible lead to its last known location.
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Xxx
"We've talked about the roller coaster of live before. I've said this before but it doesn't hurt to repeat the message to make sure it sinks in. When you're down, don't stay down on yourself. Things will turn around, trust us." TOM remarked as the files closed. "If there's anyone who knows about coming back against all odds, it's us. But almost as important as that is this, when you're up, help somebody who's hurting, someone who needs it. A friend, a neighbor, some dude down the street, look around and see what you can do to help. If we're gonna get through this thing, we all need to pitch in."
Xxx
Russia Military Base
One Day after Clovis Bray's abduction from prison
Within a military base of Russia there were large aircrafts and weaponry in the hanger as soldiers were hanging around at tables talking, playing cards, whatever. On the side, the captain of a Russian special ops unit was leaning on the guardrail as he was looking over the rest of the base. Military weaponry, soldiers marching in formation, other soldiers moving supplies around, while others who didn't have anything to do were just lying around and talking, drinking beer, playing cards, whatever guys do. The captain of the special operations was the well honored Mars Polemarchos, standing around 6'2, having red hair, wearing a black military uniform, red eyes, and two nasty scars down his face as he was still looking out at the base over the guardrail.
Him and his men just came back from a mission where they retrieved an ancient powerful relic from a splinter group from the Satyra that had even more extreme intentions then the Satyra themselves. But Mars and his men took care of it, him and his men slaughtered them all.
No mercy to those who sin... Just death.
Mars was still looking over the rest of the airbase with a disdainful look on his face as he thought. 'We do all this for the people... And for what? Just to get a new shiny medal? I want to protect the people the RIGHT way. So nobody else...'
His mind wondered off as he paused for a full minute, and reached down as he took out a picture. It looked like to be a younger, happier version of Mars, a woman next to him, and a little girl that was bouncing on his lap. He remembered...
Why he now uses lethal force.
They ALWAYS criticize him for it.
But the higher ups didn't understand that LETHAL FORCE WAS NE-!
(BZZZZZZZZZ) (BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ)
Mars reached down into his other pocket with his free hand and took out his Tablet. It was a message from General Feral that he wanted to see him in his office at once. Mars let out a slight sigh of annoyance and anger as he turned around, put his scroll back into his pocket, and walked in the direction of Feral's office. After walking down the bleak hallways, he started to think about what Feral called Mars in for this time.
Suffice to say that they barely saw eye to eye on many things, they have had many arguments in the past about how to handle threats. They both did agree on one thing, that there needs to be a strong military force around to protect the people and scare off evil doers. But, Mars believed in a much more extreme philosophy of handling villainy. Mars thought that they needed to kill every single scumbag, maniac, or scandal that decided to hurt, destroy, steal, and sin.
Each one of them needed to be executed so they won't be able to hurt anybody else ever again. Thus when he would go on missions, leading the special ops he would often order them to slaughter all enemies regardless of who they are. Him and Feral had many fights about that, the only reason that Mars was even still around was that he was an incredible captain and soldier who has unbelievable tactical and battlefield intelligence, amazing skills in all forms of weapons and firearms, and possessing many other skills that made him valuable. But after his last mission, what he did may have been the action that has broken the camel's back.
Mars passed a few soldiers that were marching down the hallway, as he finally made his way to General Feral's office. He stood in front of the door as it opened up revealing a room with several pictures adoring the wall, a metal desk sitting in the middle of the room with several objects on it, and the General of the Russian army himself Feral sitting there with his hands folded in front of his face. Mars stood there as he stood straight and saluted the General Feral.
"General Feral, sir."
"At ease Captain Mars, please take a seat. There's a matter we need to discuss." Said the General as the Captain walked forward and took a seat in the chair that was opposite of Feral.
"And what matter would that be, General?" Asked Mars in a husky voice.
"During your operation, reports say that you barged into the old warehouse where that the Satyra splinter group were hiding out at. As you then ordered the unauthorized execution of all of them. Retrieving the target during the aftermath." Said Feral as Mars stared at him unapologetically. "Yes, I don't see the problem. My team completed their mission, as we terminated the splinter group and retrieved the target unharmed. It's in our custody now.
"The Satyra has been COMPLETELY inactive ever their attack on Japan, Mars. We haven't got ANY information of where their hiding or what their planning. The splinter group could've been the only lead we had to tracking down the Satyra and stopping them. But now those leads are down the toilet because of your decision to terminate them in sight.
"It was good that you got the Gem of Sidorak, but now we have zero leads on the Satyra. You've been playing this game too long Mars, you've been given chance after chance to capture them instead of killing them ever since-..." Feral stopped as Mars and Feral stared at one another with an air of awkwardness surrounding them.
"...Ever since my family was taken hostage five years ago by those Satyra scumbags... I tried to save them but... My daughter..." Mars put his hand over his face as he remained silent for several moments. Both men grimaced as they remained silent for another moment before Feral decided to speak up.
"Polemarchos... I'm sorry I ever brought it up, I didn't mean to-..."
"Whatever... Let's just move on." Feral gave a groan as he immediately complied with the captain.
"You can't just slaughter enemies whenever you want. We need intel and information, and now because of you... We have neither."
"... Okay then, can you please tell me exactly what the Gem of Sidorak does and why it was so important to retrieve?" Feral already knew that Mars already knew the answer to that question, but just wanted to prove his point. Feral wouldn't show weakness to this so he decided to play along.
"Yes. The Gem of Sidorak is an artifact of immense power not unlike the four Elementals. Legend says that thousands of years ago in the Forgotten Age a warlord traveled across the land moving from village to village slaughtering and looting all the villagers. The warlord was only known as Lord Sidorak, one day he found a strange red stone out of the middle of an open field him and his vicious tribe was passing by.
"But as he touched the stone he felt his entire body be filled up with an unbelievable amount of energy, his aura level and his semblance were over a few dozen times more powerful then they originally were. He soon walked across all the land using the incredible power of the gem wiped out other tribes and any Grimm that dared to stand against him. The Gem made him grow stronger and stronger over the years... Along with his insanity as he started to order and personally commit the execution of thousands. His own power would consume him as he would finally meet his fate.
"The Gem has been lost for centuries, that was good, so no other power hungry maniacs could use it to cause that level of destruction ever again. It remained lost until a few days ago when our intel said that the splinter group actually found the stone. If that stone fell into the hands of the Satyra, the Injustice Friends, Robotnik, the Redcaps, or... Someone even worse, it could mean the end of all humanity. Luckily you retrieved it from the splinter group and now is safely in our possession." Explained Feral as Mars leaned back in his chair.
"Could you imagine what would happen if any of those maniacs came in physical contact with that Gem? They would become unstoppable, they NEEDED to be PUT DOWN." Said Mars.
"I'm sorry Mars, but this unruly behavior has gone too far. I have given you ORDERS over and over again to NOT kill the enemies. You have disobeyed them multiple times without regret. I apologize, but I'm dishonorably discharging you." At this, Mars eye's shot wide open as he looked at the General.
"You don't understand General... You just using your army to SHOW power and not USE IT! People are DYING because of the Red Caps, because of unruly thieves and murderers, because of madmen like Robotnik! Because of those monsters, the Fallen! Because of the Satyra!
And because of YOU AND ALL THE HUNTERS! YOU CLAIM TO BE PROTECTORS OF PEACE BUT LOOK WAT JUST HAPPENED! AN ORGANIZED ATTACK THAT COST LIVES AND AN ENEMY ACTUALLY BREAKING IN AND ABDUCTING A PRISONER RIGHT FROM UNDER OUR NOSE ! YOU JUST SIT BACK AND LET IT HAPPEN! YOU CAN EASILY USE FORCE INSTEAD OF JUST SHOWING IT, GIVING THE ENEMY SOMETHING REAL TO FEAR BY WIPING THOSE PIECES OF TRASH OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!
"... You are just as much to blame as the criminals who do whatever they want and the Hunters who decide to do NOTHING to stop them!" Exploded Mars as Feral just sat there calmly as two soldiers entered the room.
Mars glared back as them, as he turned back to Feral.
"Please clear out all your possessions Polemarchos, and return your military ID badge at once. I am sorry it has to be this way." Said Feral as he calmly held out his hand, expecting for Polemarchos to give him the ID.
Mars just looked down and glared at Feral for what he was doing. He was trying to HELP people, and he's FIRING him for doing the RIGHT thing and killing those animals! Feral was still waiting for the ID badge to be given to him as the two guards walked up from behind Mars who still continued to glare at Feral, as he spitefully took out his ID card and dropped in on the floor.
"I hope your happy General..." Said Mars as he turned around and shoved the two robots out of his way as he walked over to the automatic door. "Enjoy watching this world burn because of your incompetence, Feral." Said Mars spitefully as he walked down the hallway. As he walked down the hallway he couldn't help but be absolutely livid.
'I WANTED TO BRING REAL JUSTICE AND REAL PEACE! SO NOBODY ELSE WOULD BE HURT! SO NOBODY ELSE WOULD DIE! THE SATYRA IS STILL OUT THERE PLANNIG! THERE IS AN UNKNOWN ENEMY WHO HAS INVADED A PRISON AND NOBODY KNOWS WHO THEY ARE! THOSE FALLEN MONSTERS ARE HIDING AND PLANNING AS WELL! AND THE RED CAPS ARE RUNNING AMOK IN GRIMMFALL WITH NOBODY TO STAND IN THEIR WAY!... They all need to be taught that they just woken up a sleeping dragon... They should all BURN... Including the Hunters and Authorities that just stand by and let it happen. They will all pay...' Mars thought spitefully.
But that's when another thought passed through his mind... He walked down the hallways once more passing metal door after metal door as he was walking.
Mars kept walking intently until he finally made it to his intended destination. He made his way to the large metal door with the huge words written on it 'High-security Weapons Vault. DO NOT ENTER.' Even though Mars was a captain in the special ops unit he still didn't have the clearance to enter. That actually meant he didn't have the high-security keycard to get inside.
It wouldn't matter anyway, he just handed his ID badge over to Feral a few minutes ago. He was about to think of another way to get inside as someone walked passed him and brushed past him. Mars was about to turn and yell at whoever brushed him since he was ESPECIALLY not in the mood to be prodded, even if by accident. Before he yelled he saw that the man was actually very high security, a high ranking commander that he saw walking around the base several times.
He never really caught his name, he seemed to appear out of thin air one day. The only way he even knew that he was high-ranking was from the ID badge that was on his chest and the uniform he was wearing. Mars was about to say something, but was stopped as the man reached into his pocket and handed Mars something. It was the high ranking keycard that he needed to get inside.
He just stood there another minute perplexed of why this commander would just hand something of extreme value to him like this. For no known reason! They stood there like that for another food minute as Mars just stared at the commander, thinking about his next move. If he should honestly do what he's thinking about doing.
This could be his ONLY CHANCE to make Russia and even the rest of the WORLD SAFE again! His thoughts were still fighting it out in his head, the chance to do what he was thinking about was LITERALLY being handed over to him.
Another few seconds passed... He made his decision.
Without another pre-thought he snatched the key from the commander and walked over to the giant metal door to the weapons vault. He doesn't even care at that point why the commander would hand Mars the keycard in the first place. Whatever, it was Feral's problem anyway. As he swiped the keycard the giant metallic doors opened up to reveal a whole superabundance of highly advanced Russian military weaponry that hasn't even been shown to the public yet.
Mars walked through the giant room all the war machines were in as he continued looking around at all the advanced weapons. A new black series of mechs similar to the Shinkalions in Japan, all meant for all-out war, aptly called the Black Knights. Either against Grimm or even another military force. From just looking at all these weapons, he already knew that these weapons were far more deadly and advanced then anything the Russian military were currently using.
They were going to be helpful, but there was one thing that Mars had his eye on. He walked over to a large glass container where he saw a battle suit on display, as he logged into the computer next to it. It was a new battle armor, the Scorched Earth war suit. Just what he needs, but he still needs one last thing truly kick off his plan.
The Gem of Sidorak.
Xxx
As the silent commander who handed Mars the keycard in the first place was walking down the hallway, he grew a smirk on his face as he took out his scroll and started to speak to the man on the other side.
"It has been done sir."
"Excellent, now the seeds of fear and anger have been planted... And will take their first steps in germination among the population..."
Xxx
Present
"Look girls, there's no reason to go for all this." Sam tried to reason with her friends who she believed were overreacting when they dragged her into the medical room. "Look, so I had an upset stomach, nothing to worry."
"Uh, yeah and you were eating like you missed breakfast, and distracted." Clover told her.
Alex nodded. "Whatever it is, you've been acting up and we're only acting out as your friends, plus Ross would be worried too if you're sick."
Not wanting to admit defeat but they had a point, plus she didn't want to mention this to her parents, her mother gets overreacted and was always shown concern for her wellbeing long before she found out about her secret as a spy. "Alright, might as well ask the doctor for this, but I'm sure its nothing."
"Something the matter?" They see Ross enter the room to find them.
Sam was about to answer until Clover butted in. "Perhaps you can reason with Sam to get a look at her, she's probably scared to see a doctor to check on her."
"Clover!"
When he heard what she said, something stirred from his mind from something. "Hold up, maybe we should cause you did been to the bathroom this morning and the other day. I think it wouldn't hurt to try it."
"I thought you were supposed to be on my side as my husband!" The red haired spy argued and would have appreciated if he were.
"I am, just sticking to the vows 'in sickness and in health', remember?" Ross smirked to see her reaction of using the vows when they got married and knows one thing that could convince her when Sam can get rarely stubborn. "Look, you girls probably heard about a mission called up and I just want to make sure you're safe, I don't want to risk you in danger if something is serious."
Decided he had a point and perhaps just being moody all of a sudden to show she was fine, but when she heard about this assignment the mayor had for them, she was worried for him since unlike all the other past dates and crushes she had Ross was the one person who she considered the perfect match.
Sam sighed and gave in. "Alright, maybe we should call the doctor to check up on me."
"No, need, red! I got some on me!" Yara came in with a pair of blue sunglasses. "Worked on these from a few gadgets from WHOOP, helps to use x-rays and detect anything on the human body."
Erika was curious about it and wondered if it works. "And what exactly are you hoping to find?"
"Whatever is up with her and I think I got some idea." If what they told her was certain, Ross and Sam will be in for a shock but was keeping it to herself to play safe. She put them on and pressed the button. "Okay, going through internal." From the glasses she sees a lot of people through skeletons and organs through their skin and clothing.
"What do you see?" Ross asked as she sees his tail flicked.
"All well. I tried it on before and saw some on the kids… but one of them, ugh, I swear the one with the green jacket named Ed, talk about needing serious hygiene." The moment she saw what goes on in his stomach made her almost lose her lunch and dared not use zoom on him. "Now to… huh…wait, what have we…?" The moment she turned to Sam, she saw something and double-checked to be certain.
"So what is it?" Sam asked her, anxious to find out. "Is it something I caught?
Yara lifted them and looked at the two. "I think… you have? North, you pick up something inside her?"
The Ape Mobian was confused by her reaction but proceeded and focused on Sam, for a moment nothing until… there was another life inside her and was astonished to find out. "I… believe I have."
"Guys, come on just tell us, is there something wrong with Sam?" Ross asked what they found out and was getting worried if it was something bad.
"Actually it is the opposite. In fact she is expecting a new life." North confirmed and waited for their reaction.
"Wait, what do you mean 'new life' that would mean…" Then Sam blinked and immediately caught on to what he was saying, reaching for her stomach to where it was expecting. "I'm… I'm… I-I'm… pregnant?"
Ross looked at her with astonishment and startled to hear this. "Wait, She's... really?" Looked at his friends to be certain.
"Yeah, it reads out, she's just a few days pregnant!" Yara confirmed from the data to see their faces. "Wow, I should say congrats!"
"AHHH!" Alex squealed so loud along with Clover who both launched themselves at their best friend and hugged her. "OH SAMMIE! You're gonna be a mom!"
Sam overcame her shock and looked at them. "Well, I never thought… I mean, well I almost thought it was just a stomach flu or something."
"I can't believe it." Ross whispered, looked at her in shock and almost couldn't believe it. "I never… wow, we're gonna have a kid."
Sam couldn't help but blush at the thought of it and unable to resist the urge to smile. "I know! I mean, I did wanted to have a family but never expect to be this sudden."
"Yeah, me neither. YES!" Ross came over to embrace her and lifted Sam from her feet, causing her to giggle, almost wanting to share the news with the others, but then his brain geared to the realization. "Wait! If you're gonna be a mom…. Then, that would make me… a f-fa-t-"
"Yep, you a dad and Sam a mom!" Clover said with a bright smile, patting on his shoulder, not aware that he was stuttering and then…
THUD!
To everyone's surprise, Ross collapsed to the floor by the overwhelming news of becoming a father.
"Wow, I thought he'd handle that better." Yara never thought to see Ross, their team leader and one of the best huntsmen faint.
Sam sighed and resisted the urge to sigh over his response. "Well, it was a shock to me too, I mean, of course we once talked about it earlier and these things don't usually plan out." But then she realized something else that worried her and panicked. "Wait, what if we're not ready? I mean, I never raised a child before and seriously takes a lot of responsibilities!"
"Hey, not to worry, you're the most mature person we ever met and no doubt will learn." Alex assured her to give support.
"I'm certain even Ross is thinking the same thing. But man, I can't believe he fainted!" Yara mumbled under her breath, resisting the urge to snicker of how he reacted. Reached out a cup of water to splash his face causing Ross to cough.
Xxx
"The Crystal Gems are in the dropships now, sir. One is heading for the Crystal temple and the other for the power signature belonging to the Gem known as Jasper."
Shen nodded, watching the screen. "Very good."
"Sir, if I may ask is it wise to be trusting Gems, even rebel Gems?" The officer asked.
"These Gems might be this world's only hope and perhaps the only hope the universe has with making peace with the Gem Empire." Shen stated. "We have to trust in them for now."
Xxx
"RAGH!"
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Now that we have removed the twins from our person can we please go on the offensive?
As soon as they dropped Dipper and Mabel at the farmhouse Double and Armatae quickly shot away, luring Jasper Plasmius away from the farmhouse and far enough where they could fight her without endangering any innocent lives.
"Yes, it's safe to engage her now." Double D answered.
Finally
Double D spun around as miniature cannons appeared on arms and wrists and immediately opened fire. Jasper stopped in mid-air allowing the energy bolts to hit her head on. As the Ultimate Quartz Jasper was able handle insane amounts of brute force but as a Gem/Ghost hybrid her durability had only increased. She didn't bother going intangible as she saw it as a power used only by cowards.
True warriors faced everything head on.
"Is that all you got?!" Jasper summoned her crash helmet and shot straight at Double D, curling and spin dashing as she flew.
Double D quickly generated a shield from his arm but Jasper still sent him skidding along the ground.
Jasper stood victoriously. "Looks another waste of time."
Double D slowly got up, glaring at Jasper from under her helmet. "Before we continue I'd like to ask a few questions."
"And why would I bother answering?" Jasper grunted.
"It's obvious I'm no match for you but since I've never seen you before I feel like I should understand why I have been targeted for death by you." Double D reasoned. "Allow me the honor to have my curiosity satisfied before you finish me off."
"Hmm…." Jasper frowned, considering his request for a moment. "Fine, it's not as if you could do much anyways. I don't really know what the creep who sent me is but his name is Bill Cipher."
Double D narrowed his eyes. "I should have known."
Indeed.
"As for me, I'm Jasper the Ultimate Quartz and top soldier in the Gem Empire, answering directly to the Great Diamond Authority themselves." Jasper stated proudly. "I only came here to finish off a band of rebels that destroyed the colony that was meant to be made here but I am sure not complaining about the upgrade I got along the way."
"Bill Cipher gave you those powers, didn't he?" Double D probed. "Obviously he must have had some reason to do it."
"Doesn't matter much to me. I only want to destroy all of my enemies." Jasper remarked. "I don't know why he sent me after you. Seems a little overkill to me. A human in some cyborg suit? Please, like that would be worth the effort."
Double D frowned but stopped when he looked up, noticing something falling from the sky. Deciding to keep Jasper distracted he immediately asked his next question. "So you're only here because of a grudge."
"That's right."
From above a small ship hovered in the sky and a hatch opened. "We're right above that Gem. This is as close as we can get without her seeing us."
"Fine by me!" Amethyst was the first to leap out. "Time for payback!"
"Amethyst, wait!" Pearl called out, jumping out next and was followed swiftly by Garnet.
Meanwhile back on the ground Double D continued stalling for time. "So if you don't know what Bill Cipher has planned why agree to anything he wants at all?"
"I don't care what he wants and I'm not here because I'm his subordinate. I'm the most powerful Quartz Gem to exist and the only stain on my record is the fact that I lost to a bunch of defective rebels that betrayed everything they were meant to be." Jasper snarled. "All Gems have a purpose, to serve the order of the Diamonds. Anyone who refuses that purpose must be purged!"
Jasper noticed a falling shadow on the ground in front of her. "Speaking of which…"
Jasper jumped back, watching as Amethyst, followed by Pearl and Garnet landed on the ground, kicking up dirt everywhere and leaving a small crater.
"Well, now things are starting to look up." Jasper chuckled as Amethyst slowly approached her. "What do you want, runt? Here for a rematch?"
"I'm here to win!" Amethyst shouted back.
"That's a laugh. You were doomed the moment you came out wrong." Jasper retorted.
"There's nothing wrong with her!" Pearl shouted, brandishing her spear.
"Well, well. Rose's Pearl, the runt and the fusion." Jasper remarked looking at each of the Crystal Gems. "Where's Rose?"
"You will content with us, Jasper." Garnet said, summoning her gauntlets.
"Won't be hard." Jasper said, gathering energy into her hands.
"EVERYONE GET AWAY!" Double D shouted from behind the Crystal Gems.
They all turned to see Double D summoned an energy sword and plunge it into the ground.
"What is he-"
Red energy traveled along the ground underneath Jasper who looked down, watching as the ground began to crack open with red energy, resembling a volcano about to erupt.
"What are you-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jasper screamed as the red energy shot up through her body.
"Move!" Garnet pulled Amethyst and Pearl back as Jasper was engulfed in an explosion and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Double D shot forward, grabbing Garnet who held onto Amethyst and Pearl as they were lifted off the ground and shot up into the sky as the battlefield was engulfed in a massive explosion. A moment later they landed, seeing nothing but fire and smoke where they had previously been.
"What was that?" Amethyst asked, looking at Double D.
"I chose that area because my scanners detected Fire Dust under the ground with a natural gas leak." Double D explained. "I figured I could stall her just long enough to set off the Dust which would also ignite the gas. Ghosts can naturally pass through solid objects but they are vulnerable to Dust, even intangible."
Armatae had briefed Double D as they lured Jasper away from Dipper and Mabel. Ghosts can be harmed by several earthly substances with one of them being Dust for some apparent reason. The energy of Dust could harm them if they were exposed to it.
"That's what you were planning on from the beginning." Garnet stated. "You purposely lured her there."
Double D nodded. "It was my only option. Speaking of I can see you are Gems like her."
"We're not like her." Pearl quickly denied. "We defend this planet, Jasper doesn't."
"She mentioned something like that." Double D sighed in relief. "At the very least she was likely to be heavily injured by that explosion. Though it is hard to say she survived or not."
"We'll search for her." Garnet stated. "Jasper cannot be allowed to roam freely with the power she has."
Xxx
"There she is."
Steven and Connie returned to the Gem Temple and immediately found the bubble containing Peridot's gemstone. It was easy to pop the bubble and both watched Peridot reformed in a flash of glowing green light…
"You maniacs!" Peridot shouted, thinking she was still on the moon but stopped when she noticed she was somewhere else.
"Oh…my…gosh." Steven's eyes turned into stars. "You are so…cute!"
"M-my limb enhancers!" Peridot exclaimed upon seeing her arms and legs were so…small. "Where are my limb enhancers?!"
She was now the same size as Steven and Connie and even the latter had to admit that without her limb enhancers Peridot did look…cute.
"You're like an angry little slice of pie!" Steven continued gushing.
"Stop talking!" Peridot glared at Steven. "What hap-" Peridot stopped when she saw all the bubbled gems. "Oh my stars…You're going to harvest me?!"
"What?" Steven asked, raising his hands to try and calm Peridot down. "I just-OW! That hurt."
Out of nowhere Peridot hit Steven in the face and looked confused for a second. "It did?"
"Yeah, a lot." Steven said before Peridot hit him again. "Ow!"
"Yes! Feel my unbridled rage!" Peridot said as she started hitting Steven.
"Hey!" Steven grabbed the green Gem's wrist to stop her and then pointed at something on Peridot's chest. "Hey…hey. What's that on your shirt?"
"What's a shirt?" Peridot looked down only for Steven to flick her on the nose. "Ow! That does it!"
Connie simply watched as Peridot and Steven rolled across the ground, the green Gem slapping away at Steven as he tried to run but Peridot was relentless.
'Is this for real?' The Human from the Special Zone thought to herself.
"Why are you doing this?" Steven cried out.
"You got me blasted into a limbless cloud! You trapped me in your bubble dungeon. And you called me…cute!"
Needless to say it would take a while for Steven to calm Peridot down.
Xxx
"And here is your room." Stan opened the door, showing Zoe and Frida a nice looking room with a couch big enough for them to sleep on opposite sides.
"Pretty fancy compared to the attic you have the twins." Zoe complimented.
"Yeah. They told the carpet in here made them switch bodies." Stan chuckled. "The things kids come up with."
RING-RING-RING
"Now what?" Stan groaned and walked over to the phone. "Hello?"
*Phone talk*
"Yeah, this is Stanford."
*Phone talk*
"Yeah, I know a Dipper and a Mabel. What is this?"
*Phone talk*
"Seriously?" Stan laughed. "Okay, I know a gag when I hear it. I know the kids are up in their room hiding away from the world."
*Phone talk*
"Look lady, I don't know how I can spell it out any clearer." Stan said as he walked up the stairs. "The kids you have with you are not mine. Trust me I have been through something like this more than once only I usually have to do a few tests to prove it."
*Phone talk*
"Oh yeah. I am going to prove it right now." Stan opened the door to the attic and walked in. "Kids, some old lady is saying you're at her house and not here."
…
…
…
…
…
The room was completely empty.
"Okay…" Stan held up the phone. "Okay, they are not in their room but that does not mean they are the same kids with you."
*More phone talk*
"Oh yeah. Well I am positive cause I know my kids wouldn't be crazy or stupid enough to steal my car." Stan said as he walked down the stairs. "I parked it right there in front of my…Hold that thought I want to be right at the door when I prove you wrong." He stopped at the front door. "Okay, as I was saying I parked my car right in front," He swung the door open. "Of my house!"
…
…
…
…
…
No car.
Stan simply stared at the empty space where his car used to be.
*More phone talk but you can just hear the sarcasm*
"…They stole my car…THEY STOLE MY CAR?!" Stan held up the phone. "Guess what lady? You are the proud grandma of two new kids! Have a ball! See if they are any better with you!"
*Phone talk*
"Dipper, what did you and Mabel do with my car?!" Stan shook the phone. "Standing up to me and humiliating that little rodent Gideon is one thing but you are not high up enough on my 'Like List' to get away with stealing my car!"
*Phone talk*
"Double D?" Stan glanced around, remembering the kid with the sock like hat. "I might know a couple people named Double D. Guy or girl?"
*Phone talk*
"It's never the girl." Stan sighed.
*Phone talk*
"Save Mabel from being a brainwashed Princess?"
*Phone talk*
"Wait, are we talking about the sing and dancing kind or the spoiled brat 'Off with their head' kind?"
*Phone talk*
"The singing and dancing kind? And you saved her from becoming that." Stan sighed in relief. "Oh man, that's the worst of the two. So when are you bringing my car back?"
*Phone talk*
"Fine but if you steal my car again to go off on a rescue mission without telling me don't bother coming home. The car will be your new home. Now hurry back I got a surprise for you." Stan said before hanging up and sighing. "Man, kids these days."
Xxx
"HA!" June shot right at Nyx, leaping up and somersaulting down, aiming her foot down on Nyx's head.
The Lady of Chaos jumped back and June's foot smashed into the ground, kicking up dirt and dust as the impact left a small crater and enough force to shake the entire forest. Nyx did a dramatic flick of her head while her hair coiled around her like a serpent and then shot at June like a whip. The Te Xuan Ze ducked and rolled away as the hair whip sliced through several trees. Nyx raised her hand and a bolt of pink lightning shot out from the tips of her fingers.
June raised her arms and her Aura surrounded her as she took the blast head on, managing to remain standing with only a bit of smoke rising from her clothes.
That had been her plan.
Once Nyx's attack was over June shot forward, delivering a powerful blow to Nyx's stomach and sending her flying back.
The Lady of Chaos halted herself in the air and hovered a few feet away from June. "Not bad for a puppet."
"What was that?" June narrowed her eyes.
"You heard me. I only came here to find out one thing…Which is stronger a Warrior of Order or a Sorceress of Chaos? LET'S FIND OUT!"
As second later was June surrounded by summoned purple flames. June covered her face as the hea of the flames seemed to get to her…
Until her Aura surrounded her and she pulled out a charm that caused the flames to extinguish.
"You think I wasn't prepared?" June tossed her charm up and caught it. "I've read all about you Chaos types. Just a bunch of obsessive compulsive freaks. You cause trouble because you can't do anything else."
"While I might have been a slave to Chaos, at least I'm not a tool for Order like you!" Nyx retorted.
"I'm no one's slave or tool!" June argued back.
Pericles flew in front of Junes face. "You must face the facts Mädchen that you and your ancestors before you, are and have always been nothing but weapons and pawns to those so called magical elders."
"Shut up!" June growled and punched Pericles only for her fist to go through him revealing him to be an illusion.
Junes whirled around at Nyx's voice who's nonchalantly leaning against a tree with her arms cross and eyes close, while Pericles is shown to be either on be landing on her shoulder.
"No matter how much you deny or lie to yourself, I think deep down you know that Pericles and I are only speaking the truth." Nyx pushed herself off the tree. "I think the two of us are quite alike crack mirror images in a way."
June's eye brow arched in disbelief. "Oh yeah what makes you say that?"
Nyx looking deep into Junes eyes with mischievous smirk while standing across her as Pericles landed on her shoulder. "Simple the two of us had powerful forces enter our lives when we were young who took away our freedom while trying to turn us into their weapons. For me it was the Lords of Chaos more specifically Klarion, while for you it was the Lords of Order or as you know them the…" Nyx rolled in her eyes. "…the so called magical elders."
Pericles' one eye flashed as he used his Semblance to project images of Nyx's previous life into June's head, making her understand in an instant. "There we go. I used this same power on Nyx to show her previous life…Not that matters much to a Lady of Chaos."
To Nyx, the memories of her pathetic childhood self was only a reminder of how better off she was as a Lady of Chaos.
No emotional attachments, even to her mortal sister.
Just her familiar, her magic, her new found immortality…
And motivation to be wary of Klarion in the future.
June's eyes softened with understanding and pity, having seen Nyx's entire childhood. "Listen what happened to you was beyond messed up, but you have to believe me the Magical Elders aren't like that, they aren't like-"
"Klarion? Are you trying to convince me or yourself here? Because from where I stand they certainly seem to have a similar style of doing things. Since they did practically the same thing he did to me to not just you but quite a number of your ancestors."
Pericles scoffed in disgust. "True you might now have a bit more freedom actually being allowed outside that barrier to the rest of Earth."
Nyx took over. "But ask yourself this how long will this small taste of freedom really last before it's stripped away, and your once more made a prisoner and glorified errand girl slash guard dog?"
Pericles once more continued on. "As it stands you've only been given longer leash and that's only because your masters couldn't ignore various other powers and players like Cipher and Sammael being on the move."
June looked confused. "Sammael?"
Nyx and Pericles actually stopped in surprise before looking at each a silent conversation seemingly held with these looks and then turned back their attention to June with Nyx asking in slight disgusted disbelief. "Wait your seriously telling me that you the current Te Xuan Ze don't know about Sammael?!"
"It appears that the Lords of Order and even her own grandmother have been keeping her in the dark about a number of things." Nyx stated with a disgusted look. "This no longer entertains me. We're out of here."
In a blast of purple fire Nyx and Pericles were gone, leaving behind a symbol of a phoenix burned into the ground for June to stare at.
Xxx
"YOU! I KNOW YOU! THE DAUGHTER OF TOHOMIKO! HOW DARE SOMEONE LIKE YOU STAND ON SACRED GROUND?!"
Danielle glanced Kimiko. "Friend of yours?"
"More like an old friend my dad's and they didn't part on good company."
"YOIYOIYOIYOIYOI!" Hidekazu raised his weapon as did his men but stopped when he saw Danielle stand protectively in front of Kimiko. "WAIT!"
Everyone stopped and watched in stunned confusion as Hidekazu fell to his knees with his staff in front of him and bowed to Danielle. "Forgive me, miko-san!"
"Wha…" Danielle trailed off.
"It is bad enough to have to damage this sacred temple, even to gain the divine powers of the great SAM-R-I but to raise a weapon to a young maiden." Hidekazu started doing multiple slow and steady dance movement in threatening gestures but Danielle and Kimiko simply stared. "Disgraceful! The Tetsu Kirazu are modern day honorable samurai. We'd rather die than dishonor ourselves by killing a young miko!"
To prove his point Hidekazu out a katana and aimed the tip of the blade to his abdominal section, making Danielle and Kimiko's eyes widen.
"Dude, wait! It's a misunderstand-"
"SEPPUKU!" Hidekazu yelled as he stabbed himself…Only for the blade to shatter against his magenta colored Aura that he forgot to turn off. "…I CAN'T EVEN DIE RIGHT!" He yelled as he started to sob. "Or…Perhaps it is your love that protects me, dear mother in heaven!"
"I'm not a shrine maiden!" Danielle shouted.
Hidekazu stopped sobbing and stared at the ghost girl. "What?"
"I lost a bet and I have to wear this till the end of the week." Danielle explained, gesturing to her clothes and then wiping the sudden sweat from her forehead.
"You…You dare to deceive me?!" Hidekazu stood up with an angry look on his face, brandishing his Hageshi Fukushu, the buzz saw end spinning to life. "YOU SHALL PAY!"
Danielle immediately changed in her ghost form, jumping back and grabbing Kimiko before flying through the wall and out of the temple.
"…How'd she do that?" Hidekazu wondered aloud.
"That's not your concern, Hidekazu."
The leader of the Tetsu Kirazu spun around, seeing Genki and Kani Sanban and Kari glaring at him from the temple entrance.
Hidekazu narrowed his eyes. "Genki Sanban."
Xxx
Danielle sighed as she and Kimiko leaned against the wall outside the temple. "That was close. He's a little…tense."
"Is that your way of saying he's not the sharpest katana out of the rack of swords?" Kimiko asked dryly. "Yeah, he's a drama queen but he used to be an actor so it probably comes naturally to him."
"So what's his deal?" Danielle asked.
"Hidekazu and his family used to be stage performers in a kabuki theater. Then Shoji Fuzen, Tokyo's former crime lord and his partner Taro tore down the theater so they could build a Dust shop and sent the entire family into poverty." Kimiko explained. "Hidekazu survived and he took over the Yakuza branch here in Tokyo, rebuilding it into the Tetsu Kirazu to exact his revenge."
"So what's his problem with you and your dad?" Danielle asked the next obvious question.
Kimiko winced. "Well…"
Xxx
"FRAUDS! CHEATERS! WHAT A RIP-OFF!"
Toshiro could not believe his lost to his virtual nemesis so quickly but that was not the real problem.
The real problem was he was playing his hand held game in the audience of a theatre with everyone misunderstanding his reaction, thinking it was centered on the play.
And embarrassed his daughter greatly while he was at it.
Xxx
"You're kidding, right?" Danielle couldn't believe what she was hearing. "He played his game in the middle of a play and threw a fit?"
Kimiko sadly nodded. "Yep. I took away his video game privileges after that but by then the damage was done. So pretty much all the rich people in Tokyo are on his hit list."
Danielle slowly digested what she had just learned. A crime boss here to steal the helmet of SAM-R-I with a massive grudge against pretty much every rich person in this part of Japan.
Including…
"Oh crud! The Sanbans are here!" Danielle realized, shifting back into her ghost form. "I have to go help!"
Xxx
"You…" Hidekazu growled as he faced the Sanbans.
"Hidekazu Kobayashi." Genki stated calmly, mentally thanking Sayoko for retrieving her sword and for taking her daughters home as soon as she heard the attack. "How dare you violate the sanctity of this temple."
"Spare me your self-righteous lecture, Sanban!" Hidekazu growled, practically spitting Genki's surname as he pointed at her and her husband. "I have come for the helmet of SAM-R-I. It shall be put to good use instead of collecting dust."
"You cannot have it." Kani protested. "It's meant to only be used by a righteous soul."
"Like you?" Hidekazu threw his head back and laugh. "Where was that so-called righteous soul when you let Taro and his puppets tear down my family's theater so they could build another Dust shop that was just another front for their criminal enterprise!?"
"We did not allow that to happen! Fuzen confessed to all the officials that allowed Taro to get away with that." Genki argued. "We now have proof of what they did."
Hidekazu only chuckled. "You think that matters now? My father died of heartbreak after the theater was destroyed. And now…I'm going to take what made you powerful and use it to take from everyone who ruined my family!"
With that Hidekazu took out his large Khakkhara and swung the buzz saw end down on Genki's blade, sparks flying as she quickly blocked. The two quickly broke apart and immediately crossed their weapons again, Genki's swift and sleek fighting style facing off against Hidekazu's lethal combat skills. Karai shot forward as members of the Tetsu Kirazu surrounded and attacked her. Even Kani helped, despite not being an official hunter he had still be trained to defend himself in this very temple.
The Tetsu Kirazu were all armed with swords and wore samurai armor but Karai was fast and she was able to defend herself while even taking a few thugs out. Kani watched as his wife faced Hidekazu and wanted to help.
But he could do nothing against someone like Hidekazu.
Not without…
Closing his eyes, Kani sighed. "It must be done."
Sneaking past the fighting with his wife keeping Hidekazu occupied, Kani made his way into the room where the helmet of SAM-R-I was kept.
"YOIYOIYOI!" Hidekazu spun his staff in his hand and aimed it at Genki as it changed into its sniper form, firing several shots.
Genki swiftly blocked each shot with her nodachi and shot forward, delivering several slashes that were surprisingly shrugged off with black spots forming on parts of Hidekazu's body where her sword had touched.
Hidekazu's lips curled into a dark smile. "Have you forgotten my Semblance? Even without it I trained day and night with my Aura until it could make my body harder than the strongest steal."
Genki remained silent but it didn't matter. She indeed remembered how Hidekazu's Semblance, Iron Will allowed him to create impenetrable armor around his body that was strong enough shrug off almost anything.
"Time to die!" Hidekazu shouted before charging forward.
A green beam of light shot past Genki and slammed into Hidekazu's chest, forcing him back. His magenta Aura flared, taking the hit and though smoke rose from the spot there the blast had hit him, the wound did not seem very serious.
"Okay…That was supposed to knock him out."
Looking over her shoulder, Genki spotted Dani in her ghost form as she flew into the temple. "Danielle, stay back!"
Dani stopped in mid-air, looking confused. "But-"
"But nothing." Genki cut her off. "Despite your powers you shouldn't be running off to every fight, especially against very dangerous criminals. These are not low time thugs, they are trained killers. Please, for your own safety get out of here and look after Kimiko."
Before Danielle could say anything Hidekazu stood up, holding his staff as a burst of lightning emerged from the very top. Dani turned intangible but the lightning blast still hit her, causing her to scream and sent her flying out of the temple and crashing into the ground. Eyes widening and then narrowing Genki spun and around and charged Hidekazu, slashing at him in anger. Spinning his weapon in one hand Hidekazu knocked Genki's blade aside and attempted to slash at her with the buzz saw end of his staff.
Genki ducked and fell back with Hidekazu quickly seizing the advantage pursued her, slashing at the Demon Blade of the East who blocked and moved her head back to avoid the buzz saw end of the staff touching her. Genki quickly went back on the attack, launching a few slashes that pushed Hidekazu back who then spun around and aimed the buzz saw end at Genki's head but she easily blocked the attack with her sword. She then pushed Hidekazu back with a considerable amount of strength and immediately followed by trying to knock the crime lord down.
Xxx
Kani stared at the helmet of SAM-R-I. "Each time I try to put this helmet away I am forced to seek it out again…"
Would he even be able to take it off again after this?
It was one thing with Crom Cruach but he could not allow Hidekazu to have it.
Xxx
Dani groaned as she sat up, looking up to see three Tetsu Kirazu members approaching her. Her body was still aching from that blast of lightning Dust but she managed to get back onto her feet as the thugs pulled out their weapons.
Luckily she had help.
From behind the three thugs Kimiko leapt in, delivering a kick to the back of the middle thug's head, taking the other two by complete surprise. Kimiko immediately followed up lashing out with a kick to the second thug's stomach and Dani quickly blasted the third one with a ghost ray when he tried to attack her from behind.
"Thanks." Kimiko nodded with a smile.
"Returning the favor." Dani quickly said back. "You never mentioned knowing how to fight."
"My mom comes from a family that have trained in kenpo karate for generations. My grandmother wanted me to know how to defend myself." Kimiko explained and then noticed Dani was limping slightly. "You okay?"
"I was intangible and that guy's lightning still hit me." Dani answered, groaning a bit. "Dust can affect me even if I am intangible."
That was a surprise but Dust was a mysterious element with unknown origins. All anyone knew about it was that it was a valuable source of energy, both for powering the majority of the world's technology and for use against the Grimm.
Xxx
The fight between the Sanban matriarch and the Oyabun of the Tetsu Kirazu continued as Hidekazu blocked another slash from Genki and then spun his staff to again try cutting her with the buzz saw end. Genki dodged and spun, launching a vertical slash that Hidekazu caught and parried, elbowing Genki in the face and swiping at her with his staff. Genki felt her Aura shimmer as Hidekazu's attack touched it and she fell back.
"YOIYOIYOI!" Hidekazu was on the full offensive now, even jumping as he slashed at her head twice which she barely managed to block.
He tried aiming low but Genki still caught the attack and ducked as he then again aimed at her head. Genki stepped back, catching another slash before she jumped and kicked Hidekazu in the face. Hidekazu stepped back, his Aura taking the hit but he snarled at his opponent all the same.
"You think you are worthy of being the next SAM-R-I?" Genki asked with a small smile. "I wouldn't expect much with your current skill level."
Hidekazu snarled. "You are not so impressive yourself, Demon Blade of the East."
"Don't worry." Genki prepared to continue the fight. "I am only getting started."
She immediately went on the attack, actually pushing Hidekazu back as he hastily dodged or blocked her strikes before retaliating. Genki somersaulted back with Hidekazu chasing after her. She blocked one strike and then ducked under another as Hidekazu charged right past her. He then spun around and raised his Hageshi Fukushu to finish her off…
Just as a bolt of lightning slammed into him, knocking him off his feet.
Genki spun around, seeing a familiar figure in blue samurai armor emerge from the temple. "You put it back on again…"
SAM-R-I unsheathed his katana, facing Hidekazu as he got back up. "Your fight is now with me, Hidekazu Kobayashi."
Hidekazu stared at the blue armored hero, growling in anger. "You wouldn't wear it until facing down an evil god and when someone comes to take it? You really are just like all the others, hoarding power to yourself and keeping others away from it!"
Hidekazu let out an enraged roar as he tore off his all his upper clothing, exposing his muscular chest as his Semblance activated, causing his skin to turn entirely black. Once his Semblance had covered his entire body Hidekazu now resembled a demon with fangs, pointed ends on his fingers like claws, and his eyes glowing magenta to match his Aura. His staff was also changed, becoming pitch black due to his Semblance affecting it as well as his body and looked even more deadly. He let out another roar and then charged at his new enemy with the intent of taking the helmet by force…
And becoming the next SAM-R-I.
As both warriors clashed their weapons, the power of SAM-R-I and the Lightning Dust in Hidekazu's staff causing sparks to fly Dani felt a sudden chill come over her. She opened her mouth, exhaling a breath of icy cold air and felt…something.
She looked around and noticed a green mist nearby.
Her eyes widened when she saw a figure in the center of the mist, resembling in man wearing samurai armor sitting on a horse.
And glowing green eyes staring back at her.
'What in the world?' Dani wondered, staring at the strange figure before it turned its head to watch the fight. 'What is that?'
She was so busy staring at the strange creature she didn't hear the sound of a train nearby.
Xxx
"All right, everyone! Dig in!"
Pops promised a feast for everyone after training and sparring was done in the Hall of Heroes and boy did he deliver!
He had perhaps emptied his entire kitchen to prepare this feast but no one was complaining. From steaks and ribs to fried chicken, cooked fish and even pasta. There was also fried potatoes and a special gumbo soup made with a special spice that came from an ingredient Pops kept secret from everyone. For drinks alcohol was available for the adults along with anything else they wanted while the children would just have juice, water or soda.
Future Huntsmen and Huntresses or not, the rules of alcohol would be enforced for the good of the kids so they could grow up to be responsible and healthy.
"Now that's the stuff!" Scotty laughed as he chowed down the haggis Pops had made for him.
"You said it!" Keanu said as he took a sip of the large glass of beer he had been given.
After a long day of fighting and training everyone now was just hoping to relax.
Well, almost everyone.
When Ed found out his mom was in a mental hospital and his sister had disappeared again he had started moping.
It didn't help that Eddy was nowhere to be found.
"Cheer up, Ed. I am sure Sarah will be found." Nazz said, patting the lovable oaf on the shoulder. "Besides, they made you your favorite. Pudding skin." She winced at the mention of Ed's favorite food, wondering how he could stomach it.
Then again this was Ed.
"Yeah, Ed." Jonny sat next to the sad Ed. "She's probably off on her own adventure like we were when we were kidnapped by those rock ladies."
Ed wiped some tears off his face. "But what if something happens to her?"
"This is Sarah, Ed. She's as strong as you are and she's probably just out looking for Jimmy." Nazz pointed out. "Come on, some food can cheer you up. I'm sure they will find Sarah and your mom will be back."
"And until then, long in the neck Ed-boy can be a guest in the home of Rolf." Rolf said. "Rolf would not be able to sleep at night knowing homeless Ed-boys out free in the street."
"Plus we can help look for her." Nazz said, causing Kevin who was sitting next to her to suddenly stiffen.
"We can?"
Nazz lightly elbowed him.
"Uh, yeah we can!" Kevin quickly nodded but then quietly groaned. "Aw man."
Ed looked a little hopeful now. "Really?"
"Really." Nazz nodded with a smile. "We can even help look for Eddy and see if we can call Double D and find out what he's doing."
"Can I skip the part where we help look for Eddy?" Kevin asked.
"Plus we can share with her all our souvenirs. Your dragon, your rock lady." Jonny pointed to Nester who was eating from a bowel of fish on the floor and then Slime Pearl who was sitting with Ed and then pulled out a pair of glasses. "And these glasses I found in the bathroom."
"Ew. Jonny." Nazz winced.
"Check this out." He put the glasses on. "The sum of the square root of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the same root as the remaining sides."
"That's a right triangle, kid!" Superboy said from a nearby table.
"Doh!"
Xxx
Outside the diner a pair of eyes watched the people inside, zeroing in on Rolf and the cane he was holding.
'That is him. That is the one…'
Xxx
Rolf looked outside, feeling someone or…something was watching him. He spied something white hiding in the bushes and narrowed his eyes. "Excuse Rolf for a second."
He quickly got up and walked out the door, leaving his perplexed friends behind. He walked out of the restaurant and spotted what looked like a white wolf staring at him. After his experience with Fenrir Rolf was naturally on guard around anything resembling a wolf.
But for some strange reason this wolf gave off nothing to make him feel wary.
In fact he felt something else as he stared at it.
Some sort of…connection.
Xxx
At another nearby table Krunk was happily eating spaghetti and meatballs while Valhallen was having ribs while sharing the table with Kazemon, Lowemon and Agunimon. They actually managed to create special knives and forks for Krunk to use without breaking and with time, effort and patience the Infraggable one was able to eat his food politely and with enough self-control he almost never broke anything anymore.
Almost never but it never hurt to have a bit of insurance ready.
"So, you two sure you want in on this Red Cap mission?" Valhallen asked, dropping a bone on his plate. "Cause this mission is volunteer. If you don't want in you can just say so."
"Thanks, but we talked about it and we want to help." Agunimon answered with Kazemon nodding in agreement. "As Legendary Warriors we don't turn our backs on people in need."
"And it sounds like many people will be in need of help." Kazemon stated.
"No joke about that, Kaze." Valhallen relented. "Just thought to remind you guys that no one's forcing you."
"Red Caps no fun." Krunk said, slurping on his spaghetti.
"True that, Krunk. True that."
At another table, the reunited Uno family and their charge were happily getting reacquainted with their old friend who they had no seen for over a year. Wally was nearby, eating with his uncle and parents as he excitedly told them about his adventures on the Gem Homeworld.
And his mother looked closer and closer to having a heart attack.
"So how long do you plan on sticking around, Omni?" Abby asked as she took a bite of her burger.
"A little while, I believe. I think helping with the Red Caps and Van Kleiss will help me find my friend." Omnimon answered while being the only one at the table without any food. "I'd like to make sure these Gems don't try coming after you again any time soon."
He eyed Anna and Elsa who were invited to sit down, having been previously standing next to their Elementals before being asked to sit. As for Omni he sensed no hostile intentions from them so decided to leave them in the hands of their 'owners'.
It seemed collecting lost people from other worlds was a specialty to the Uno family.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that, old chap." Monty said with a small smile before looking at the kids. "Now, I think you'll both like what we have planned."
Nigel and Abby looked at Monty and Jennifer, both smiling eagerly.
"Before your little…space adventure, I found out my brother who I thought was lost at sea after a boating incident is still alive and living in Moana." Jennifer explained happily. "Not only that but he has a daughter around your age."
"I have a cousin?" Nigel asked, shocked by the news.
"That's right." Jennifer nodded. "Her name is Tara and she sounds like she is a lovely little girl. I believe you three would really hit it off if you had the chance to meet."
"We discussing plans to fly down to Moanna to meet her before we got sidetracked." Monty chuckled. "And after everything that has happened I believe a vacation is in order."
Nigel and Abby glanced at each other.
"What do you think?" The Ice Elemental asked.
Abby smiled a bit. "A chance to go down to an island in the Caribbean? Who would pass that up?"
"Perhaps you should come along as well, Omni." Monty suggested. "You've had yourself a rather rough time as well. A vacation would do you good."
It wasn't as if this was just an excuse to keep the Royal Knight around for a bit longer. He had been though a great deal in the past few weeks. From entering the Darklands, reaching the Gem Homeworld, fighting against Blue Diamond that almost got him killed and then his fights with Gentle-Jim, Boris and just recently he had went to help against the evil god Crom Cruach. As powerful as he was, even the second in command of the Royal Knights had limits and fighting against so many powerful adversaries in such a short amount of time was dangerous if not outright suicidal.
"I'd like to take you up on your offer but now that I've recovered I should get back on my search for my friend. I actually found him once…Here in GrimmFall of all places." Omnimon replied, leaving out the part where he had found him after he tried seeking Nigel and Abby when he learned they were Elementals. "I am certain he's with the people who brought the others here. I believe it's important for me to help them out on this mission with the Red Caps and then their mission involving these dimensional kidnappers."
"I see." Monty sighed. "Very well but here is a small gift from us."
Monty handed out a small device that Omnimon recognized as a Tablet. "A Tablet?"
"Almost everyone has one these days." Monty smiled and chuckled. "I suppose if we are ever in trouble again this will make finding you easier."
"Abby and I already programmed our numbers into it." Nigel spoke with a smile. "It's very easy to use and can come in handy."
Omnimon opened the tablet, seeing the wallpaper being one of him with the two Elementals that was taken during the time he was still staying at their home and recuperating. "Thank you. I'll put it to good use."
"Just make sure to call or even text us a bit." Abby said, dipping a few fries in some ketchup. "It's nicer if we hear from you aside from any time we are in danger."
Omnimon nodded. "Don't worry I will."
"Speaking of danger, Abby have you given any thought to our suggestion?" Monty asked, changing the subject.
Nigel and Omnimon looked at her as she shifted a bit. "Well, I didn't want you guys spending money on me but…"
"What's this about?" Nigel asked.
"We offered to sign Abby up for gymnastics to better help with her training." Jennifer explained. "While my husband has done a good job coaching you both so far it doesn't hurt to have some help, especially in making sure nothing in the house gets broken."
"If you guys are up for it…" Abby trailed off.
Monty nodded. "We are fine with it, Abby. If it's what you want we will help."
Omnimon nodded in agreement. "I believe it will be good for you."
Abby shifted again, looking embarrassed but smiled from all the encouragement. "Thanks…I'll do my best."
Xxx
Raven was the only person who had not joined in the feast Pops had decided to throw for everyone. It was not out of not wishing to socialize with everyone there. It was because of what she had sensed earlier and had decided to find out if what she feared was true.
She floated off the floor in the room she had been given and crossed her legs before uttering her incantation. "Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos."
Her soul self-left her body and began its journey, following her empathic connection to the one she had sensed.
Beast Boy.