A hyperspace window opened right in front of the Absolution as TOM walked past the media room. "If you haven't noticed yet, we're making another jump to hyperspace with a new set of movies arcs are showing up in the GrimmFall verse. First off, we got our young heroes traveling through the land of ice to save a friend in GrimmFall: The Ice Queen."
The screens showed the introduction of GrimmFall: Ice Queen.
"At long last, I'll regain the powers that rightfully belong to me." She said with a smile. "I wish to become the Ice Elemental once again."
"Your family killed mine and I'm going to make you all pay!" Frost shouted as claws made of ice formed around her hands.
"Wait!" Nigel Uno held up his hands. "My dad would never hurt or kill anyone."
Frosta tries to attack only for Dani to hold her back. "Let go!"
"She says she was supposed to be the Ice Elemental. She's after me and she's freezing everything to do it." Nigel said in horrified realization.
Abby placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well she's not the Ice Elemental and we're not letting her get her hands on you."
"Then we have a new chapter in the Shinkalion Arc, GrimmFall Shinkalion: Dark Double Daze." TOM said as the screens showed the mentioned movie. "Sit yourself down, grab a drink and snacks and watch as these new arcs are brought to life on your screen."
TOM stepped into the elevator with the camera Clyde following him.
"And don't forget to keep watching GrimmFall and its other spin-offs." TOM said with the screens showing the racers of GrimmFall: Accleracers shooting through the Metro Realm.
"Seek and ye shall find." The Vehicon General Jetstorm spoke on the screen before attacking the racers.
"As I used to say in the good old days, get your ticket come get with it." TOM said as he walked onto the bridge. "Only these days it's a little more free. So kick back and relax."
He sat on his chair and rested with his hands behind his head. "We got you covered. And remember to be as jolly as you can this season. Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas."
Xxx
"Very well. Bring it on…Baby Cakes." Pacifica taunted with a daring smile.
The mere audacity of Pacifica giving her such a nickname caused Mandy to growl as her Aura flared around her. As this happened dark vein like markings appeared around her eyes and began traveling down her face and spreading to her body. Pacifica watched in fascination while Kevin in fear as the sclera of Mandy's eyes turned black, completing her Fallen appearance but it didn't stop there. The markings spread all over her body, turning her skin pitch black and the redness of her eyes grew and began to glow.
Mandy was a Newborn Fallen, the lowest of the three ranks. The Newborns were stronger than an average human but weaker than the Noble class Fallen which came after Newborn and the Majesty class that was the final rank. Newborns had yet to fully master their Grimm powers and instincts, forcing them to hold back the instinct to kill but the instinct did not remain dormant. It grew over the years until finally ready to overtake the Newborn and force them to either succumb or master it.
Mandy's own darkness was strong, very strong for a child her age and thus the Grimm instincts within her became even stronger to the point that they were ready to overtake her before she had fully matured which was the norm for all Fallen. Now the darkness covered her body and even her hair, white teeth pocking out of her mouth, fingers and toes ending in sharp claws and to top it all off orange devil like wings with black stripes sprouted from her back. The full Grimm form of Mandy let out a snarl followed by a roar as it looked to Pacifica as its first prey.
"Well, that's neat." Pacifica said as her eyes morphed, the sclera turning yellow while the pupils turned into red slits, resembling the eyes of Bill Cipher when he possessed Dipper.
Her hands became engulfed in blue fire and the marking of Cipher appeared on her forehead.
"Let's really kick things up!" Pacifica said before she and Mandy charged at each other again…
BOOM!
Kevin watched as the entire landscape became littered with craters as the Fallen and the Cipher/human hybrid fought without any form of restraint.
It continued this way until all of time seemed to literally stop…
"YES!" Pacifica battered and bruised yelled with a psychotic smile. "It's happened!"
Mandy took the chance to punch Pacifica so hard she crashed into the ground, creating a giant crater but it didn't matter to her.
The machine had been activated.
"You've failed, Mandy. The machine's on." Pacifica giggled madly up at the winged Fallen. "You lose again."
The Fallen let out a roar as she fell to Earth with a high powered kick but before it collided with her Pacifica disappeared in a flash of blue fire. The kick created an even deeper crater and Mandy let out another roar as she began thrashing around the crater, kicking, punch and clawing anything in her way. Eventually she looked at herself and began clawing at her own body, ripping at the dark liquid skin covering her and slowly tearing it off. Kevin made it over to the edge of the crater in time to see Mandy rip the dark essence covering her face off and letting out a primal scream that shook the surrounding forest.
Falling to her knees the remaining dark essence receded into her, showing its obedience to her as she looked up with red eyes.
Red eyes and a black sclera.
Mandy had evolved from a Newborn into a Noble Class Fallen.
Taking a deep breath Mandy looked down at herself, seeing her skin had become even more pale than before and felt…
Amazing.
So this is what it was like to be in control of the Grimm instincts within her.
Then she remembered what Pacifica had said to her.
"You lose again."
That smug look Pacifica had flashed in her mind and it was enough to make Mandy almost lose control again but she tempered it.
"I don't lose." She spoke quietly.
She just chose when not to win.
And next time she would win.
"Uh, Mandy?" Kevin asked slowly from behind her.
"…Find me some lemonade." Mandy said as she stood up. "We've got work to do."
Xxx
"It's fine. These shields were made for this exact reason." Frosta shrugged and gestured for Danielle to follow. "Let us continue."
Danielle followed Frost out back, shivering as she stepped out into the wintery land Frosta's home was built in. "Don't we need some coats or something?"
"The cold doesn't really bother me or my clan." Frosta said, watching as Danielle shivered a bit. "The cold shouldn't bother you much either."
"I'd like to point out I'm not from your clan." Danielle reminded with a sigh as she stepped outside.
"Just feel the cold power within you. It'll make being out here much easier." Frosta said as her Aura flashed around her. "Feel your Aura. Hunters can use their Aura to hold off the cold for a while but with us it's a lot easier."
Taking a deep breath Danielle flared her Aura and felt a lot better. "Okay…Thank you."
Frosta turned around, not reacting to Danielle's gratitude as she gestured for the ghost girl to follow again. A little stung by that Danielle frowned as she followed but said nothing. They walked out into the snow, not stopping until they reached a field where a few bulls-eye practice targets were waiting for them.
"This is the next stage of the training. Learning how to practice precision with your power." Frost said, holding up her hands.
Danielle watched as Frosta thrust her hands forward, conjuring daggers of ice that hit each target perfectly. The Frosta had moved and nailed each target showed the ghost girl that she had practiced daily and perhaps for hours to get each strike perfect.
"Our Semblance conjures the ice from the coldness our Aura creates and produces inside our bodies. The next stage is using our Aura to launch that ice from our bodies as if our arms are like a slingshot." Frosta spoke, lowering her hands. "Conjuring ice is just the beginning. Next is learning how to control and shape that ice as you use it as a weapon, practicing over and over again until you are able to hone your skills to near perfection."
Danielle had watched and listened to Frosta's demonstration carefully before stepping forward.
"Be sure to straighten your posture so you aren't knocked back." Frosta stepped up and looked at Danielle's feet. "I suggest widening your stance by about two more inches."
Doing so Danielle took a deep breath as she raised her hands.
"Now, gather the coldness in you and then channel up your arms into your hands. You should feel gathering until it is ready to burst like a balloon. Once you are at that stage, release it without hesitation." Frosta said, taking a step back.
Danielle did so as she transformed into her ghost form again. Gathering the cold power inside of her she felt the icy Aura surround her again and she tried gathering it into her hands. The power seemed to react that way a little too well as it did what she wanted and she barely could keep it contained. Yelping Dani staggered back as she fired a barrage of ice shards that flew at the targets…
And missed every single one.
Dani grunted as she fell on her back, shifting back into her human form. As she got up Frosta walked up to her, frowning. "What was that?"
"What do you mean? I managed to at least do something." Danielle replied.
"Why did you shift into your…other form?" Frosta questioned.
Danielle shrugged. "It's easier to control."
"Easier? You missed the targets, you fired a literal cloud of shards that would have skewered anyone if we weren't out in an empty field, you didn't even aim or keep your balance" Frosta pointed at the targets.
"Well, these ice powers come from my ghost powers so why wouldn't I use my ghost form?" Danielle retorted.
"So you can't use any of your powers in human form?" Frosta questioned.
"Well…" Danielle held up a hand and turned it invisible and then transparent. "I can use basic powers in human form." She fired a small ghost way from her finger that left a tiny hole in the snow covered ground. "But they're a lot weaker."
"Maybe that's the problem." Frosta suggested.
"What problem?" Danielle asked, not liking how Frosta was speaking.
"You have Aura like everyone else but you're not using it. You're relying on your…ghost powers as if they give you an advantage. I was there at the Golden Castle, remember?" Frosta recalled. "I watched you fight against that gold lunatic."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Danielle asked, scowling now.
"He used his Semblance to control every part of his golden body, even when he was made completely of gold. He outsmarted you in that fight and turned you to gold." Frosta explained, adopting a thoughtful look on her face. "Speaking of, how did you break free of that curse?"
"I didn't." Danielle sighed. "I hit the bottom of the ocean and tumbled out of the statue I was in. I just turned intangible when I felt myself hit the ocean floor. I think I was stunned and I just…reacted."
"Hm…" Frosta raised an eyebrow before getting back on track. "Anyways, I want you to try again only this time I want it done in human form."
"But these are my ghost powers, not my Semblance. I won't be able to use all of it." Danielle pointed out.
"And maybe that's a good thing." Frosta pointed at the target. "Try it with your Aura instead of your powers. Just follow my instructions from before."
Biting back a retort, Danielle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She faced the targets, raised her hands and split her legs apart to make sure she was properly balanced like Frosta said. She then tried summoning her ice powers again. Her Aura flared around her like it did in her ghost form, only this time was a mix of blue and green, matching the color of her eyes.
She then worked to gather that power in her hands and sure enough it felt similar to before, only smaller. The time it took to gather that power was slightly slower than before but she felt it building up in her hands. Instead of before, when a cloud of shards fired from her hands this time only one shard the size of an apple was fired and hit the center target, hitting below the bulls-eye. Danielle looked at her hands, surprised to see she could use her ice powers in human form.
"It seems you have better control when in human form." Frosta said, walking back up to the ghost girl. "You didn't fall over, your aim improved and you made only one but looks like you were more focused on making one rather than a dozen."
"Yeah, I think I was." Danielle admitted, thinking it over in her head. "I wasn't sure if firing a dozen was better but I thought…If I just made one and it hit right then maybe that was all I really needed."
"Hm…Well, precision is a point in this training. Being able to create, fire and aim the ice correctly is essential to learning how to control your powers so your way of thinking was…correct." Frosta said, turning away, hands behind her back. "Now we need to see your limit. At least in your human form and then we can work on your ghost form."
Nodding, Danielle would try again several more times. She worked on conjuring ice in her human form and always managed to make one but when she tried to make more than that she ended up draining her reserves and split her focus so she focused on making just one for now. It became clear to Frosta who was watching that Danielle had higher reserves for Aura than a normal person but wasn't sure if that was the result of her ghost powers or not. Regardless Danielle's aim improved each time and instead of trying to make more than one shard with each hit she focused on firing one and then making one immediately after.
Finally Frosta decided to call it a day. "All right, that is enough for now. It's close to dinner time anyways."
Danielle was slightly sweating by the end of the training despite the cold temperature but she didn't seem bother by it all anymore.
Perhaps Frosta really knew what she was doing.
"Come; let's get cleaned up for dinner."
Xxx
Danielle was led to her room that looked something you would find in a five star hotel, similar to the room she had back at the Sanban Estate. The mere thought of the Sanban home made Danielle pause and wonder about sending a message to Kuki to let her, Mushi and their parents know she was okay. The room had a bed with a couple of chairs at the window, a desk near the bed, a dresser and even had its own bathroom. Of course the furniture was dark blue with white lined fur coating which seemed to be theme in Frosta's home but it seemed to fit the snowy land it was built in.
Obviously a theme here.
One of Frosta's aids came in with a box for her, letting her know it was a set of clothing to wear to dinner.
'Right, I don't have any of the new clothes I had over at Kuki's. It's like I'm back to square one.' Danielle thought as she accepted the box.
When she first awoke near Kuki's home she had nothing but the clothes she was wearing and was dependent on the kindness of the family that took her in. Sure, she had money from the red glass shard she found but with her ice powers acting up having to be sent all the way here it was almost like history was repeating itself.
'I hope this doesn't become a trend or I might start actually feeling like a gold-digger in someone else's home.' Danielle thought as she took a shower.
Once she was done she opened the box and looked at the clothes presented to her before she slipped them on and looked at herself in the mirror. The clothing she had been given for dinner was a blue kimono like tunic that went down to her ankles and was luckily split for leg movement and lined with white trim. The sleeves stopped at her forearms but she had darker blue sleeves that covered the rest of her arms and were more form fitting at the end and she wore dark blue shoes on her feet with dark trousers. Once her hair was tied into its usual pony tail she was led into the dining room where Frosta was waiting, wearing similar clothing but hers was a shade of dark blue and she wore her signature ice tiara.
"So what are we having?" Danielle asked as she took a seat next to Frosta who sat at the end of the table that was made of an ice like glass.
"Ochazuke Chilled Chicken Rice Soup." Frosta answered. "It's basically chilled chicken, rice, chopped spring onion, pickles and shredded nori seaweed with cold water. You don't mind?"
Danielle shook her head. "Considering the last few days I've had I'm willing to try anything. I've already tried out some homemade meals with the Sanbans."
"Hm. I figured you were expecting something like a hamburger or a hot dog." Frosta mused.
"Why would you think that?" Danielle shrugged.
Frosta shrugged. "Simply because I guessed that you were so used to meals in America. They seem to have a…passion for the kind of meals that clogs the arteries from what I have heard."
"Can't argue much with that but some of us know to add a green salad or two over there." Danielle remarked with a small smile, trying to make a little small talk and maybe even learn about this girl meant to help her.
"Are you saying you're a vegetarian?" Frosta raised an eyebrow.
"I think I'm more of an omnivore since I don't mind either meat or vegetables." Danielle said as Frosta's aids brought out the food and she had to admit it smelled good. "And I've been trying lots of new foods recently."
"Well, that makes things easier." Frosta said as they slowly dug in. "Around here you'll find I like my meals to be…more of the cold variety."
"Are you trying to say that without making a cold pun?" Danielle joked a bit while watching Frosta poured cold dashi broth into her Chilled Ochazuke and followed suit before taking a bite.
It tasted delicious.
"Hm." Frosta rolled her eyes. "And I suppose you are the joking type?"
"Sometimes. I admit, I've used a joke or two to try taunting any bad guys I've fought. They get a little sloppy if you know how to press their buttons." Danielle admitted. "So I shouldn't expect anything spicy is what you are saying."
"Essentially." Frosta answered. "I hope you're not a heavy sleeper."
"And why is that?"
"Simply put, today was used as a gauge of how much progress we need to make but as the days go by I will push for more work." Frosta answered. "Every day you'll be up at the crack of dawn, have a good breakfast to have plenty of energy before we get to work."
"Sounds like you plan on being my own personal drill instructor." Danielle commented, picturing Frosta dressed as a military general and smiled a bit.
Frosta stared Danielle right in the eye. "I won't go easy on you if that's what you mean."
That look in her eyes made Danielle feel like Frosta was challenging her and she could not help but smile. "I'd be insulted if you did."
"Hm." Frosta hummed, seemingly pleased with Danielle's answer as she continued eating her meal.
"Frosta, sorry if I sound personal about this but…are you the only one who lives here?" Danielle took a bite of her meal.
"Aside from my family's aids, yes." Frosta nodded stoically, giving away practically nothing in her voice. "I actually prefer to live in the dorms of Yamanouchi Academy but when Sensei Splinter explained your condition and suggested I relocate here to help teach you I agreed. This is my clan's home, built deep in the Shiga Highlands. You will find due to our family Semblance that revolves around ice we prefer to live in places like this, even outside of Japan."
Danielle wasn't sure if it was right to ask any more questions around Frosta's family.
"Oh, by the way. You should expect a professor from Yamanouchi to arrive here." Frosta changed the subject.
"A professor? From Yamanouchi?" Danielle repeated in confusion. "Why?"
"I am taking an extended leave of absence from the academy to help train you. While Sensei promised to give me extra marks for teaching you and demonstrating my abilities as a mentor I didn't want to fall behind so he sent for a teacher to help me keep with my studies." Frosta explained, glancing at Danielle. "Studies you'll take part in if you want to attend Yamanouchi one day. You do wish to become a real Huntress right?"
Well, that not something she expected but Danielle privately admitted she wasn't exactly wrong about that. "Well, I have done a fair bit of studying with the Sanbans. I mean, it's pretty obvious I'd have to be able to speak and read Japanese since I can't expect everyone to know English or give me notes in it either."
"Glad to see you understand." Frosta admitted. "By the way, you have noticed I've been speaking English the entire time I've met you."
"Well, yeah." Danielle chuckled a bit. "Were you worried that I wouldn't understand you if you spoke in your native language?"
"A bit but I decided to be hospitable since you are the first person to come to my family's home in a while. So can I count on you to be at least competent in speaking Japanese?" Frosta asked.
"Well I won't claim to be an expert but I have done my best to learn what I can though I haven't exactly been here very long." Danielle admitted. "I wouldn't want to grade me at the moment to be honest but I'd try my best."
"Well, I suppose for now that will do." Frosta said as they finished their meals. "Well, as you say in America, make yourself at home but know that there are places off limits to outsiders so please be sure to respect my family's rules here. As long as you do that and work well every day I am sure we'll get along."
Somehow Danielle had a feeling it wouldn't be that easy but Frosta had accepted Splinter's request to help her and though she had been…rough earlier Danielle had benefited from the training enough that she wasn't constantly freezing anymore.
The least she could do was give the girl a chance and see how things would play out from there.
Xxx
Pericles was perched June's shoulder, the two of them trading looks of concern as they looked at Nyx who had returned to her pocket dimension in a foul mood staring silently into the purple flames of her fire place, with a dark glare as energy crackled around her hands.
She glared down as she brought up her hand into fists, and growled to herself. "Who does that pompous arrogant fool think he is!?"
"And what do you think you are?" Preston retorted, keeping his smile. "You want to a big player on the board? That's why you've been sneaking around, trying to gather followers like that weak willed magical guardian you've picked up. You want to act all big just so you can prove you're nothing like the weak willed child you were but you can never erase who you once were and who you truly are."
Nyx's eyes flash purple in repressed rage but actually chuckled as she turned to face June and Pericles. "Still the weak willed little girl am I?" She snapped her fingers and walked to the center of the room as a table with a chess board is conjured into existence, with the pieces modeled after many familiar figures, but Nyx's attention was on the pieces representing her with June and Pericles pieces besides it. "Well we'll just see who's the weak one when the game truly kicks off, won't we?"
"What do you mean?" June asked.
Nyx turned to June and Pericles over her shoulder. "It's just as I told Sammael I want to become a player and join the table, so it's time to really start playing the game."
Nyx picked up a piece that to June's eye resembled a lizard mobian in a business suit. "We still need to approach and deliver our business proposition, but I think the lawyer lizard will be interested in what we have to say."
Nyx placed Toffee's piece in front of her own. "But for the road ahead I need true allies and followers, not just those like Toffee I can make a deal with and work with because of aligning goals, those I can truly really trust to stand with me by my side, and preferably known to have some fun."
Nyx put her hand to her chest with a smug look.
"I might be powerful yes, but I'm also no idiot, crazy." Nyx shrugged. "Eh probably, but not crazy enough to think I can take on the entire world or even universe, and all those that want a piece of it on my own."
Nyx looked over at the pieces representing Sammael, Bill, Klarion, Canaletto, in their respective corners on the chessboard with other pieces representing their allies and followers. "After all Sammael has the Fallen, Invisible Hand, the Grimm of course, and who knows what else. While Cipher currently has that suck up Preston, the poison apple of his eye Pacifica, and his Zombie magician, on his side of the board right now in play."
June crossed her own arms as she took a stand next to Nyx with Pericles fluttering down onto the table. "Don't forget those Blind Eye freaks, though you said they got taken out right?"
Pericles chuckled and nodded at June. "Yes right you are there. Ivan is no more, and the other elite members with the exception Bud Gleeful have been captured and currently held in the cells of the Justice Friends headquarters the Hall of Heroes," Pericles hummed thoughtfully. "Though whether Cipher will deem to free them or silence them cutting those loose ends, is up in the air."
Nyx smirked at June. "As for all the other lower ranked members of the Blind Eye, they got the axe with Pacifica burning them to a crisp, their souls absorbed by Blind Ivan, before his own demise when Bill let him go for his screw up."
Nyx's attention turned toward the Bill Cipher piece. "But despite that loss Bill is already working to fill in the void the Blind Eye left with some new players on his side. Though that ghost Gem got outwitted by the sockhead and is bubbled, while water boy is probably on the moon by now after almost flooding GrimmFall."
Nyx turned her eyes back to June, Pericles, and her own pieces. "But I digress as I said it's time to start looking for some new friends to join us." Nyx reached out and petted Pericles a bit. "Right now I have my faithful brilliant familiar," Then moved her hand onto Junes shoulder. "And of course my new friend who's breaking the chains that have held her down for too long, but likely going to need more than that."
Nyx brought her hand to chin while muttering to herself. "Of course got to keep in mind that your own aid might be temporary."
Junes blinked and looked at Nyx questioningly. "What do you mean by that?"
Nyx smiled at June. "Don't you remember I said I wanted to give you back your freedom and the chance to choose your own path. I'm thrilled that you've taken my offer and accepted my friendship, and agreed to help in my plan to deal with your old bosses and my fellow Chaos Lords. But what happens next?"
June found herself falling silent, with Nyx gently 'tsking' at her. "While I'm all for living in the moment June, you've also got to think long term too sometimes. But whatever you choose afterwards is," Nyx puts heavy emphasis on her next two words. "Your choice. If you want to stick with me and really embrace your freedom despite what others might think or say about you."
Nyx with a wild smile gave a slap to June's back. "Then AWESOME!"
Nyx then gained a serious look on her face. "But if you choose to go your own way, then I'll let you walk away no fuss or muss." She smirked at her. "Though do hope you don't cut ties completely and remain in touch as friends. No matter what you choose it's your choice and I'll respect it."
She snorted. "Heck even better if you need me I'll even help with it, because if you choose to start completely fresh start we can fake your death, with me taking the blame, while you start fresh somewhere new."
Nyx hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe the Kingdom of Moana, supposed to be quite the nice place."