Okay, so, I don't know if anyone has heard about the fifty something tornadoes that have ravaged the east. But, unfortunately, my town was one of the ones that took some damage. Nothing serious fortunately. However it really screwed some stuff up for me, so there wasn't going to be a new chapter in December. (I post on the 20th or 21st of every month in case I didn't say.) so instead of a normal chapter, I'm gonna give you all a recap and a chapter!!! This story is a lot longer than I initially planned when I wrote the first chapter, so I'm worried someone will lose the plot as I upload, especially so with the month long wait between chapters. So I'll do this just as a precaution. I'll also do another recap, when we hit the 2/3 mark of the story. Hope to be able to upload again! I hope everyone had a Happy Holidays, and an amazing New Year (I spent mine in the theaters watching Spider-Man: No Way Home, it was awesome)!!!
Chapter 1: Just Another Day in Pure Heart
Mao Mao, Badgerclops, and Adorabat do what they do best. Fight monsters! During the fight with a swarm of Jade Wasps, Mao Mao got stung, causing a neurotoxin to be unleashed into his system. After the battle, they go to the palace to get it treated.
Chapter 2: A Rumble in the Bar
Elsewhere, Tanya returns from another successful bounty. Reminiscing with Biggs, the owner of the Low-Key bar, she's approached by Violet, who asks for Tanya to take her to Pure Heart. Initially refusing, a fight broke out between them, leading Tanya to give in and take Violet up on her offer.
Chapter 3: Three Days Later
Three days after getting stung, Mao Mao is having trouble with his healing process. Shutting himself up in his room, Badgerclops goes out to get a replacement jar of jam. While at Farmer Bun's farm, a monster emerges from the forest, with a orange caped hero on its back.
Chapter 4: Badgerclops and Minori VS Razorback
At home, Adorabat feels terrible that Mao Mao is in a funk. So she decides to make him a gift to cheer him up. At the farm, Minori and Badgerclops fight the Razorback, eventually taking it down. At the palace, Snugglemane decides to throw a party.
Chapter 5: Road Trip
Meanwhile, Tanya is ticked that Violet has been making her take a number of detours. After their latest detour, Tanya tries to get answers out of Violet, the only one being that Violet wants to go to Pure Heart to right a wrong via apology.
Chapter 6: There's a New Sheriff in Town
Mao Mao wakes up to find Minori in his kitchen. At first he was shocked, whereas Minori was elated to see him, so much so she tackled him. Badgerclops tells Mao Mao that he and Adorabat want to make Minori the temporary sheriff of Pure Heart. Mao Mao plays this off as good news, but really, he feels he's being replaced.
Chapter 7: Where They Grew Up
Shin Mao, standing in the dojo, reminisces about the past, and everything he did wrong as a father. His trip to Pure Heart having taught him a few things, he can't help but feel like he failed. Going back to the Mao Monastery, he finds his wife, Cleo, in the middle of a long distance conversation with Ashaki. This leads him to ask about the rest of his daughters. Brunhilde, training with the unbeatable master. Violet, en route to Pure Heart. Minori, already there. Ashaki, plans to go there after finishing up some business. And Hinata, whereabouts unknown. Cleo asks Shin what the sudden interest is, and why not Mao Mao. Shin assured her that he doesn't need to know what Mao Mao is doing to know he's doing great. And even admits that when he was Mao Mao's age, he was only half the hero Mao Mao is, at best.
Chapter 8: Mao Mao Feeling Blue
Mao Mao attends his now biweekly therapy session with Blue, voicing his thoughts on how helpless he's felt recently, especially now that Minori is a fill in sheriff. Blue listens and tells Mao Mao that he truly has nothing to worry about, that his job isn't one that anyone can fill, and that the presence of someone that can, is merely a coincidence. A crowd of screaming sweetypies run past, triggering Mao Mao into action.
Chapter 9: M4
Earlier in the day, Minori and Badgerclops ask Adorabat what she's been doing, to which she explains that she's been working on a surprise for Mao Mao: a song. Badgerclops offers to help. The monster alarm goes off, urging the heroes into action. Presently, Mao Mao arrives on the scene, left awestruck in the chaos. Having issues with the Minotaur (nicknamed Bessie by Minori) Mao Mao and Minori use a trick from their childhood to defeat the beast.
Chapter 10: Time To Go Back
Brunhilde continues her training, the unbeatable master making easy work of dodging her moves. Brunhilde collapses from exhaustion. Waking up in the master's cottage, he tells her of how her dedication seems to be misguided, that she's forgotten the reason she came to him in the first place. He tells her that she need to find her "spark" once more. Brunhilde starts her search at the beginning, leading her on a trek back to the Mao Monestary.
Chapter 11: It's Been Awhile
Minori, Badgerclops and Adorabat eat lunch at the noodle shop. When they get the alert of a sky pirate attack, Minori decides to go solo. However, getting lost in her own cockiness, she ends up on the ropes. Thankfully, Tanya and Violet arrive in Pure Heart just in time to lend her a helping hand.
Chapter 12: Hello Mittens
Tanya, with some help from Minori, makes a surprise visit at Sheriff HQ. The three women enjoy themselves as they tease Mao Mao. Badgerclops and Adorabat return to find Tanya and Violet in their home. Violet produces a scrapbook and the group looks through it.
Chapter 13: Visions
Mao Mao talks to his sisters about stuff. Ashaki has a series of visions. Minori secretly feeds the sky pirates.
Chapter 14: Training Session Pt 1
Mao Mao has his sisters assist him with Adorabat's training to become a hero. Today's lesson, the compatibility between fighting styles. Violet uses her size and wide arsenal of weapons to overcome Minori's raw fighting ability. Just as Mao Mao is beginning to wrap up, Minori beckons him to spar with her.
Chapter 15: Training Session Pt 2
Mao Mao indulges in Minori's invitation for a duel, and wins. Badgerclops helps the king with the upcoming party. Later in the night, Violet and Minori talk about Mao Mao and how he's changed.
Chapter 16: Dealing With Bullies: Keyes Style
On her way to pick up Adorabat from school, Tanya runs into Violet and Minori, where they set up plans for a girls night out. Tanya, upon arriving at school, finds Adorabat being picked on, and uses her abilities to save her.
Chapter 17: Ladies Night
With Snugglemane's party just around the corner, Tanya, Minori, Violet, and Adorabat take a trip into town to get themselves some dresses, and a tuxedo.
Chapter 18: Cobbler
Mao Mao and Violet return from their turn on patrol. Coming back to a glorious feast, Mao Mao notices that his favorite dish, cobbler, is on the table. Hoping to eat it without his sisters noticing, Mao Mao tries to eat it sneakingly. But his sisters catch him, and berate him for trying to eat the forbidden food. After Mao Mao storms out, Tanya berates the two sisters, and then proceeds outside where she beats the sense back into Mao Mao, literally. Mao Mao returns indoors where he finds his sisters waiting for him with an apology on how they reacted.
Chapter 19: Confrontation
Tanya finally decided to confront Violet about everything. Violet tells her it's none of her business. They fight, and Tanya overpowers Violet. Tanya is able to glean a few bits of information: that the sisters have a pact that they intend to finish on their own, and that everything going on with the pact can be traced back to Dusk.
Chapter 20: Party Preparations
Ashaki makes her way into Pure Heart, avoiding everyone's eyes, she heads towards the palace. Mao Mao goes to another therapy session and is asked to set up a family therapy session with his sisters. Later back at HQ, everyone dresses up for the party.
Chapter 21: Party Time
Mao Mao and the gang go to the party. Adorabat sings her song, Mao Mao dances with Tanya. Violet interacts with the king. All the while, Hinata watches over the party from atop the Pure Heart Spire. Upon hearing a monster in the distance, she soars after determined not to let get anywhere near the party.
Chapter 22: Late Night Call
Snugglemane walks through the halls of the palace, he notices a mysterious light that was coming from underneath one of the doors. After coming back from the party, the group receives an alert from the castle. Mao Mao, Minori, Tanya, and Violet go to investigate. They get ambushed by a Moon Moth, which knocks out Violet and Minori.
Chapter 23: Night of the Walking Zs
Sneaking around the castle, Mao Mao and Tanya searched for the king. However, they are ambushed by an unconscious Minori. Barely escaping her, they eventually find an archive, illuminated by an ominous green orb.