Chapter 60: Family Meetings
"GGAAAHHHH!"
Hot burning flames burst across the room by a loud echoing anguish scream, burning the lot in the room and two terrified imps tried to evade the fires from getting burned. The flames slowly died down and the room was a total wreck.
"Ughhhh… nice shot." A painful groan escaped from the depressed fat purple-red imp with little horns and a bitten bat wing on the left side.
His butt was scorched after being made as a target practice.
"Gee, you're really getting better with your… emotional rage, sir!" The second imp said with a more startled and cowardly tone, he was a very thin green-blue imp with long horns curved back with a long pointy nose.
The one in charge was none other than Hades, lord of the Underworld. Hardly much of his appearance had changed over the years with his signature blue flaming hair and the gray skin. Smoke came from his body after recently using his flames on the imp minions to let out his anger until he slowly calmed down. Clearing his throat and running his hand through his 'hair'. "Well what can I say, when you have a lot of anger you need to take it out on something. Or in that case you two." He was still showing some restraints of his rage, rubbing his fingers onto his eyebrows. "It is so unfair! Why this had to happen of all days?"
"What's the prob, your evilness? Zeus is nowhere to be found." Pain brought up Zeus' sudden disappearance and thought it would be a good time for their boss to take action.
"Yeah, this is the perfect chance for you to take over the luxury suite!" Pain agreed with him in hopes of cheering their boss from his mood.
Under normal circumstances, Hades would agree and would have immediately set his plans against the gods. "Oh, on that I would agree but on two little… drawbacks." He begins his explanation and brings them up for his minions to catch up on the latest situations. "One: Cronos, King of the Titans who had been overthrown and locked away in Tartarus has escaped in case you numbskulls didn't hear the latest gossip. Which means my plans for taking over the cosmos are more complicated than ever! He's not the sort of sharing type! How am I to take over when my old man is on the loose?"
Hades continues on to his second reason. "And for two which is more concerning for me: There are these new heroes of mortals by an old man's vision to be the only ones to stop him." Hades told them with a hint of disdain of the new generation of heroes in the gods' protection. "Not only bad news for Cronos, but for me! And worst of all… one of them happens to be Wonderboy's brat, who's also tough and strong as him!"
How much he loathed and despised Hercules since the day he barely had teeth, tried to get rid of him to avoid his plans to be thwarted by destiny and failed. Even joined the band of villains to take over the universe to compete against the Organization XIII and were defeated. Upon finding out he has a son who could be the next hero had a serious increase to his migraines.
"Ugh, the Gods in their cushy homes seriously put too much faith in kids these days." Hades could still not believe it. "Just because they saved the Earth one time, but did they stop Cronos? No! He's still out there!"
While he complained and grumbled, Hades suddenly heard the alarm system go off to catch his attention. "Wha-intruders?" Hades groans with frustrations and massages his forehead with his fingers. "Ugghh, I'm too tired to deal with it." Rather than know who it was, be it his father or some heroes, making his way to the balcony to whistle with his fingers. Receiving a response from a series of growls below his palace with six pairs of red eyes from the shadows. "Ceberus, go get 'em!"
The beast let out a growl and sprinted off to search for the intruders.
"So this is the Underworld? Really does live up to the name." Archie started to think coming along to the Underworld wasn't such a good idea, not because of the danger with how gloomy and dark it is. It's just when they started to cross the River Styx it was full of spirits of the dead which creeped him out, and not the only one to think that way.
"Oh yeah, sure lives up to its reputation." Mal muttered under her breath, while a little nervous of being in this place.
As they were closer to Hades' castle, the teen heroes and keyblader could see the structure that resembled a skull for anything they should know about. "That's where he lives? Urgh, sure has his sense of taste."
"Probably not his choice given how eager he is to take over Zeus' place in Olympus." Mal had heard about the rivalry between the two brothers since they overthrew their father and wanted to be the ruler of the known cosmos. He was even responsible for Herry's father, Hercules, to be taken away when he was a baby and turned into a demi-god. Only his super strength remained and used it to help others with training to be a hero and foiled his plan and also with the help of others such as Taren's father, Sora. With Cronos now freed, no one knows what he would do next. "But without a doubt he is powerful and sneaky. We just need to work a way to get that cloak from his palace."
A simple spell to conceal their presence would give an advantage for the time being. They approached the shore and disembarked the boat. "Now comes the hard part, we need to keep his guard dog busy." They too
THUMP!
The group stopped to feel a short tremor, but enough to
"Please tell me that it was someone's stomach?" Atlanta grew nervous. "Herry?"
THUMP!
But Herry didn't think it was him. "No way was that me."
Mal could hear it much louder and a series of growls. She turned around, she felt her jaw drop and eyes wide as plates. "Uh, I think it had something to do with… that?!"
But Herry didn't think it was him. "No way was that me."
Mal could hear it much louder and a series of growls. She turned around, she felt her jaw drop and eyes wide as plates. "Uh, I think it had something to do with… that?!"
Startled the group was a giant black furred dog, known as Cerberus bearing down on them with powerful crushing jaws and its red eyes. What was known about Cerberus was it's three heads staring directly at the intruders.
"Woah! That's Cerberus?!" Atlanta couldn't believe the size of the beast.
"A lot (Gulps) bigger than I thought it was." Archie pulled out his whip before he jumped to the side to avoid being caught by one of the heads.
Atlanta was ready for action along with Mal summoning her keyblade, dodging the sweeping claws and using Seeker Mines to make a direct hit onto the torso. Atlanta helped her by tossing the Steel Bolas towards one of their jaws, sealing it shut and trying to pull it off with one of the other heads. With the monster distracted, Archie made his move and jumped high and used his whip to snare one of the legs. While it seemed to have worked, they did not anticipate it to notice and leap high in the air, throwing him off balance and tossed around like a rag doll until slamming its feet back to the ground.
Herry caught him in time, only for Cerberus to break off the steel rope from the jaws, now able to focus on the heroes.
"That is a lot bigger than most Monsters we fought." Mal could see why this Cerberus was Hades' top guard dog. She yelped when it sprinted towards them and tossed her in the air. She cried out and was about to fall into one of its jaws but was fast enough to use her magic to create flickering lights to light up and surprise her. "Eat this!" Propelled herself towards Cerberus and clubbed its heads with her keyblade, surprised by the amount of hits it was receiving and yet it was staggering. Herry then charged in and threw himself into Cerberus' torso, forcing it into the wall and slowly collapsing but not yet down.
"Nice job, but don't think that's gonna hold him." Archie wasn't an expert on Greek myths like Jay, but when it came to fighting off monsters it was easy to know that some can be hard to bring down.
Despite her efforts, Cerberus was starting to recover and ready for another fight with them.
"There's got to be something to take this three headed dog." Atlanta wasn't sure how long they could keep up with it.
Mal had tried to think of some ideas when one came up and realized what she remembered. "I think I got one. I just hope it works."
"Whatever it is, I'm all ears." Herry was willing to see what she has in mind.
Watching as Mal slowly approached, now fully recovered and all its three heads stared menacingly at her. She made an audible gulp and hoped this worked, using her hands to perform a spell that created, to everyone's surprise... a cake.
"Cake?" Herry was not expecting this. "Is it now the time for a snack?"
"Wait, something's happening." Archie took note of Cerberus and started to sniff the scent of the cake in Mal's hands, seconds later its tail started to wag and slurped up the cake into its mouth.
Upon eating the cake, Cerberus who originally intended to attack them made a complete turn of its behavior.
"You think it worked?" Mal was uncertain if it worked until it gave her a slobbering lick, coating her in drool. "Ugh!" She found it gross and disgusting, not noting that Cerberus was now hanging it's tongues out.
Atlanta snorted at the state of her while trying to hold it. "Looks like you got a new friend."
"Gee, thanks(!)" Mal took noted of Cerberus' new found liking to her.
"What happened?" Archie was curious.
"Before I came to Earth, I did a quick research on Cerberus and any ways to gain passage." Mal explained. "There were two options: Get a cake which is it's favorite, or music played by the lyre."
This came as a surprise to the teen heroes to find out about it. "For real? Cake is one thing, but a lyre? That's so lame." Atlanta couldn't believe it.
"Well, either way, he doesn't seem too hostile now." Herry noted and gave the large dog a stomach rub, and was shown to like it. "You like that, boy, huh?"
"Hey, what's going on here?"
The heroes spotted two imps near the corner and took cover to hide.
"Maybe Cerberus got those pesky intruders, Hades would not be happy if they get past it." The green one said in a nervous tone.
"You mean IF they get past it." Pain countered.
"If. If it is good." Panic nodded with a grin on his face
"Now where could that oversized dog get to?"
Needing to get past them and deal with the situation without getting caught, Mal had to deal with them. "Cerberus?" The guardian dog perked and looked to her for a response. She gave a mischievous grin and pointed towards the two imps. "Go get them!"
Cerberus sprinted in action to obey her commands, barking and ran towards them. Before Pain and Panic could know where the heroes were, they spotted Cerberus coming towards them with no intention of stopping. They cried out in fear and ran for their lives.
"Good doggy! Nice doggy!"
"Heel! Watch the teeth!"
"That should do the trick." Archie didn't know whether to feel bad for them or not.
"Almost felt bad for them." Mal was amazed how that easily worked. "Now comes the hard part. Hade's fort."
Making their way towards Hades' palace, still a little creeped out by its appearance after safely crossing over the river.
"That must be it." Mal knew this was now or never.
Herry knew the danger when confronting a god like Hades. "If it's here, we grab that cloak, get out of there fast."
They took the stairs and walked all the way to the end. Once they reached the entrance they found it to be dark and dreaded looking as they expected, even spotted several scorch marks.
"Woah, looks like someone had a party here." Herry wondered if there was a fight going on in here
Mal would agree but couldn't take the risk. "Remember, he could appear any moment and have to be swift."
Following her advice and crept inside the hallway, thinking it would be a good idea to use her shadow magic when Atlanta stopped them by throwing her arm out.
Archie stumbled back and turned to the redhead. "Hey, what give-"
"Shh!" She shushed him and pointed her finger to the direction and spotted Hades slumbering on the throne with a pair of shades over his eyes. instantly recognised him from the descriptions. "I think that's him." She whispered with her voice low.
"Oh yeah, no doubt about it." Mal noted. It was no mistake of his appearance, but they did not expect to find him asleep on the throne.
"Not what you expect for the Lord of the Underworld." Atlanta was told of the stories about Hades being the feared and ruthless god. However, they didn't want to take any chances and snuck through the room to find their way inside.
"I can sneak in with my magic, you guys keep a watch in case he wakes up." Mal suggested, giving her abilities in dark magic to do the trick. "If he wakes up, warn me."
"Got it." With the descendant of Artemis the fastest of the group, she would run in and get Mal out of there in no time.
Archie and Herry were reluctant to agree but admit it being a sound solution, Archie then nodded to the plan. "Good luck."
The teen heroes watch from the doorway in silence while Mal descends into her shadow and re-emerge behind the sleeping Greek God's throne. So far he was still asleep by the snoring, all she needs to do now is sneak into the vault, get the cloak, and get out of there before they get caught.
"Looking for something?" Hades mumbled without taking his shades off, startling Mal but held back a gasp. The teens reacted without making a sound, did he somehow know she was here? The teen witch quickly hid behind his throne while the others took cover when Pain and Panic walked in, who earlier were chased by Cerberus were covered in bruises.
"Sorry to ruin your nap, boss, sir! We were doing some cleaning up when suddenly Cerberus decided to chase us. Panic?" Pain narrowed his eyes at his companion named Panic who he believed to be the cause of it
"Don't look at me!" Panic argued. "It must be those intruders who snuck past us. You should've been aware of that."
"You mean like..." With a brief moment, Hades' left hand then morphed into dense smoke and grabbed Mal by hand so fast before she even saw it coming. Gasped as she was hoisted from the floor and dangled above the ground to his height. "This one?"
The impish demons were surprised to find her in the palace. "That could be her, your evilness!" Panic nodded his head fast.
Pain went along with it and put the blame on her, "Yeah! Yeah, I bet she was the ine who somehow manipulated Cerberus to attack us! What should we do with her boss? Throw her in the dungeon? torture?"
Archie mentally gasped and tried to think of something to get her out of the situation. Atlanta and Herry were ready to jump in to help her but Archie stopped them with his hand reaching out and noticed Mak signaling them to halt when she showed no sign of struggle.
Hades then turned his head to meet her with his shades still on, looking straight towards the girl who somehow snuck into the Underworld, used his guard dog to attack his minions and almost snuck passed him. He put her down and sat back in his chair to stare at her.
Mal sighed and knew the jig was up, decided to do what she never did in her life. Facing the Lord of the Underworld face to face. "Hi... dad."
The three teens blinked and looked at each other and before returning their baffled gaze in Mal as if she grew another head. Even the two minions were shocked to hear the girl call Hades, lord of the Underworld, God of the Underworld and one of the powerful Greek gods known to mortals... her dad?
"Dad?!"
"Aw, Mirta, she's absolutely cute!" Stella gushes over the sight of Salamon when Mirta introduced the Digimon to the Winx in their nbn. They were surprised to find out the creature she found is in fact a Digimon, and she wasn't the only one who came through the rift. They noticed how she seemed to stay close to Mirta, possibly being the first fairy she met and trusted.
"And you're saying she's another Digimon?" Musa couldn't believe it.
Mirta nodded to confirm it while letting Salamon rest on her lap. "Yeah, Zing and I found her and another that seemed more eager to have us for a meal."
Zing quivered in fear with the memory of the Digimon still fresh. "Sure was! It was big, green and could easily slash us in half with those claws."
"And you said it was… what was it? A Snimon?" Tecna was curious about this Digimon, she was able to get the data from Taren's digivice to know about the creature such as its abilities and possible weaknesses.
"From what I was told it's a hunter due to it chasing us, luckily the headmistress set up a barrier to keep it out of the school until it's dealt with." Mirta explained to them.
"Just when we had to worry about the Pixies, this had to happen." Flora brought over fresh tea for Mirta, explaining to her what happened with the Pixies who suddenly had the urge to go home because of a spell. Wanting to keep them secured until Bloom can find a healing spell to help them. "Since Zing is the only one unaffected, it's best to keep her safe here for the moment."
"I just hope my friends will be alright." Zing was concerned for her fellow Pixies. They believe it would be better for her to stay in Alfea for the time being.
"I'm more worried about that large bug that's out there." Stella didn't like the look of the projection of Snimon, mainly by its teeth and blades. "But how did that thing and this little fella find their way here?"
"Salamon said something about a rift, if that be the case we need to be sure it's there and send Salamon safely back through." Tecna advises after they destroy or capture the Snimon for research.
"I tried to, but no luck, it closed afterwards which means I'm stuck here." Salamon stated. "I don't know why it opened, but I had this feeling that was telling me to come here for something."
Uncertain what it could mean, but Flora knelt down to assure her to not lose hope. "Don't worry, for the moment, you can stay with us and spend some time with the Digimon here. I'm sure we'll find a way to send you home."
"Also, what about the pixies? Shouldn't someone keep an eye on them?" Stella was curious to know.
"Taren had an idea to keep a close eye on the pixies and suggested someone to help them out." Flora answered.
"Now to be sure I understand the situation, don't let the Pixies who are under a spell let loose. Something I think will be a piece of cake." The one who spoke to Agumon and Gomamon was none other than Mushu who was summoned for a little help, filling him in on the situation to watch out for anything strange happening while guarding the pixies.
"If only we had cake, I'm already starving." Agumon rubbed his stomach upon the mention of food.
Mushu jumped onto his snout. "Don't get distracted. Remember, villains could come out of nowhere."
"He's right, we need to keep our eyes peeled." Gomamon agreed, and suddenly hears Piff crying. "Is everything alright in there?"
The pixies were still being held in the box, and Piff then started to cry.
"Piff is homesick." Chatta said.
"We've gotta get her back to the village." Amore told them.
"I'm sorry, but we can't. You girls are under a spell and Darkar could be out there." Gomamon argued, much as he hates to deny them going home but not with Darkar possibly watching their every move.
"Yeah, so just relax and Bloom will have you cured in no time." Mushu said, the doors opened and startled the three. "Halt! Who goes there? Just a warning you are dealing with three powerful magical beasts! Even an all mighty dragon!"
They received no response when a hooded figure stepped into the room, Agumon sniffed something from the intruder and knew he smelled trouble. But before the Digimon could charge in to attack, the intruder blasted him with a spell to send him to sleep, surprising the remaining two.
"Hey! Nobody does that to one of my buddies and gets away with it!" The hooded intruder was about to do the same to them when Gomamon grabbed Mushu by the tail and sprinted to the side to avoid being blasted by the same magic.
The pixies were oblivious of what was happening while in their box.
"What's going on?" Lockette heard something.
Digit realized those sounds were footsteps. "Someone's here."
Lockette was now scared. "Oh, who is it?"
"Most importantly, what is he going to do to us?" Not certain what happened to the Digimon or the dragon, but afraid it would do the same to them.
Minutes Earlier...
Herry couldn't believe what he just heard and thought it was his imagination when finding out the enemy of his dad has a daughter. It was unbelievable. "Did she just call him 'dad'?!"
"I heard it, and thought I was the only one." Atlanta wasn't sure what's going on, but seemed to recall how Mal seemed hesitant to come and said nothing much when they came to the Underworld. Does that make her a Demi-goddess?
Hades showed no reaction with his neutral face, lifted his shades up without taking his eyes off Mal, gave her a little wave and rested his chin on his arm. "Quite the show you put on."
"I see that you've been keeping yourself busy." Mal replied back.
"Well what can I say, being the Lord of the Underworld has its moments." Hades smiles and rises up from his throne with his arms up. "And been dying to see you ever since you came out of the egg. Boy, the moment I heard about it, I would die of shock. Which is impossible as a god." Chuckles of a sense of humor. "Look at you, grown up and now meet your old man. Must have been a shock to find out that the big bad Hades is your father."
Mal crossed her arms over her chest. "Hera told me when I first came to Olympus High, although at first I didn't believe it until I found some information about you and my mother." She never would have guessed being the daughter of not just the Dark Fairy, Maleficent, but also the Greek God Hades.
Hades sighs and smiles. "Ahh, Maleficent. Hashib baba! Now there was a ghoul of my type, we had the same management and was the one babe to warm my soul. Heh, if I had one." Not seeing Mal rolling her eyes and groaning as he continues. "You see, at some point after my failed attempt to take over the cosmos, she approached me with the idea of having an heir, a successor if she was gone and took part of my essence... the magical traits and thus, you came along."
'I did not need to hear that.' Feeling her face turn green and not wanting to know the details. "So you two had me and no idea how she... uh."
"Well unfortunately, she was vanquished by someone I have no clue, but if her soul was here it would have by now. Different worlds have their own afterlife." Hades explains the rules. "A pity too, we could have had a great time. And now you're here to take her place as princess of evil! Kinda has a ring to it, huh?" Nudging his elbow to her. Not aware of her being less interested in the idea.
"Tempting offer, but I'm not interested and a keyblade wielder, I got other things to worry about with other villains trying to take over and cause chaos." Mal told him, even if she did have a few incidents of tricks, pranks and other... things she did not wanna bring up in her history.
"Not interested?!" Hades was in shock at his daughter's response. "Oi! Those little goodie do gooders did a number on you. If your mother was here to hear you say those words, she'd be flipping in her grave." Slapped his hand on his face and groaned, mumbling 'where did we go wrong!' until he calmed himself down. "Come on! it's in your blood as a villain. I can smell a little bit of villainess in you."
"Well alright, maybe I did a little bit of some pranks. But mostly out of boredom." Mal reluctantly admits it was mostly for fun. Since she first met Taren, she had thought to pass the time making him her target of pranks when he returned the favor during their training as keyblade apprentices, she still remembered the moment of 'accidentally' turning him into a ferret.
Hades smiles and patted her on the shoulder. "Ya see! A little daddy's would-be villain. Being anti-villain might not be tolerable... but wield a keyblade?! That I didn't see coming. But I guess I can tolerate that since ya ruined your grandpa's plan to destroy all life on earth."
Confused, she didn't understand what he meant by that before trying to find some info on the cloak while has time. But couldn't help but let her curiosity get the better. "My what? What are you talking about?"
Hades turned around and was somewhat surprised by her lack of understanding. "Uh, yeah, Cronos? My dad? Your grandfather?" Giving the hints of their heritage to the utterly shocked and stuttering witch.
"M-M-My... grandfather?!" Mal's face turned pale upon realizing that Cronos is her grandfather and fought him, not even aware of seeing her friends' faces took a new level. Trying to process this into her brain with the sudden shock. "You mean, Kronos? The mad Titan? Who almost destroyed the world, is my grandfather?!" Unable to believe this was true and wished that it was some twisted dream. Learning about her mother was one thing, but to discover the rest of her heritage took the whole level of craziness to her life. "I come from a crazy twisted family."
"It's in your blood, kiddo. Basically runs in the family." Her father chuckles with a sense of pride in his godly heritage. "Only if I had a chance to take him on, but can't blame a guy for both looking up to and hate for swallowing me. Believe me, it was nasty and cramped." Hades shivered from the memory. "I would have beaten him had Zeus not been switched with a rock. But better than how he did it to his old man with his scythe."
"What did Cronus do?"
"Trust me. You DON'T wanna know!" Hades advised her on it. "But let's cut to the chase. I bet the reason you came all the way down here was for a simple thing I have?"
Caught off guard and not expecting him to be on to her plan, could he be aware of her friends as well? "Uh, need to bring up a little hint." Acting oblivious to what he was about.
To prove her right, he pulled out of his robes a black-purblish cloak in his hands, which surprised her that was with him the whole time. "Ta-da! The Cloak of Dark Illusions. Belonged to Queen Kalima of the Infinite Dark. Ring any bells?"
The heroes were able to get a look at it, they took note that it must be what they were after. Also noted of how... alive it was and creepy. Mal could feel strong power from it, yet as her fingers were within reach the cloak suddenly reacted to her presence and lashed out its shadowy tendrils, starling the keyblader to back off a little.
"Look at that, sure sense strong darkness in you. But watch out this thing has a mind of its own." Hades warned her.
Mal never found anything like this before and noted how it seemed drawn to her. "How did you come by it?"
"Let's just say it was 'found' if you can put it. Sometime during the Keyblade War Maleficent knew it would be a perfect use to control an army of monsters. And I think would be a perfect gift for ya." Mal was surprise and thought he be offering to give it. However, he pulled it back and stuffed it back into his robes "But nah, keep it until your strong enough to use it."
She couldn't believe he would not give it to her, even if she was his own daughter. "Wait, that's not fair! I'm strong enough to control my darkness and we need that before Kefka would get it and do whatever it is he's got planned for it."
Hades paused for a moment and spun around to her in almost a state of panic. "Time out! Time out! Kafka? Kefka Palazzo? The clown psycho with the bizarre get up?"
Seeing her father in this behaviour arched an eyebrow. Did he know her? "Yeah? How d'you know him?"
From being shocked to now being annoyed as he slapped his hand to his face with a groan. "UGH! Why him? After all these centuries he had to come back! This just gets better and better!"
"Wait, you know him?" Mal pondered Centuries? How is that possible and makes this guy that made Hades sound annoyed. If he has knowledge about Kefka, this could be her chance.
"A former God of Magic who tried to destroy all of existence, not to mention a nutcase! When I heard he was no longer a god and vanished I thought that would be the last of him. That would explain how pops got out of his cell!" Hades couldn't believe how much luck was low for him. Unable to risk letting him get his hands on the cloak when his daughter also wanted it. "More reason to keep this cloak out of his hands if he's after it. Until you're a full grown villain. No deal."
It was typical for Mal who groaned, seeing as she can't get him to change his mind and thought of something that made her mentally smile. "Fine. You win, if I can't have it yet, at least be sure it's locked up safe. Can't argue with my father."
Hearing her sudden acceptance and smiles. "Good to know you came to some sense. Not to worry, you'll have your chance of being the queen of evil in no time. But if you keep messing with your grandpa and Kefka for me, I'll let this whole thing slide. But a little something to do before you leave, keep on tormenting that keyblade hero's brat for me."
Shrugging her shoulders as something she can do easily. "Gotta need something to pass the boredom. Later." Making her leave as quickly as possible.
"Ah, kids these days, always need a little talk over." Hades said as he lounged on his throne.
"Still can't believe she's actually your daughter, boss. I mean, what are the odds?" Pain could still hardly get the idea in his head.
"But you sure told her to know her place, but I mean... a hero?" Panic hardly picture the daughter of the baddest villain they serve as a hero.
But Hades seems least concerned about it. "Boys, relax. It's just a phase, she'll come around. And takes after me like her mother..." Then suddenly he paused with something that came up. Reaching his hand to his chin to think. "Wait a minute. If she took after me, she'd never have given up."
Something didn't seem right. She would have had the opportunity to take the cloak from him without being aware of it. And she suddenly turned round and left? Digging his hands into his robes to be certain it was still there, only to his utter shock and disbelief that it wasn't.
"It's gone! Where is it? I had it right here when-" Then it hit him where it might be. "She stole my cloak! My own daughter tricked and robbed me!" Annoyed of having been deceived by his own daughter, uncertain whether to be proud or mad at her. Flames burst from his body in a fit of anger, chanigng from blue to blazing orange. "She is so grounded for this!"
"Let's get out of here before he finds out and gets real mad!" Mal races towards the port with her friends after they had successfully fooled the God of the Underworld to steal the cloak.
"I still can't believe that Hades is your dad!" Atlanta would never have seen that coming.
Herry would agree with her being the daughter of his dad's enemy. "Me neither, at least we got what we came for."
"I'll say. It's trying to keep it in the backpack, the hard part." Archie was having a hard time with the cloak trying to break free from its containment with a shadowy tendril slithered out of the zipper. "Jeez! This thing is alive!"
"It must be what Hades said, my powers are connected to darkness." Mal never saw this happen before and had to be careful handling it. "Until we get back it'll be put in containment with the sword. Last thing we need is for this to fall in the wrong hands and cause trouble."
"Like me perhaps?"
The team sprinted into action when they discovered Cronos standing in their way of getting to the boat. The Mad Titan gave a devious chuckle. "Well, isn't this a surprise? Here I am about to steal the Cloak of Dark Illusion from my no good son, and find you kids saved me the trouble."
"How do you know about it?" Atlanta was ready to take him on.
"And why do you want it? It's not one of the Greek Gods' designs." Mal questioned him but knew it was no good for them.
Immediately recognised the purple haired teen who helped the young heroes foiled his plans a while ago. "Ah, one of the keybladers. That certainly explains a lot. Mal, correct? While you're correct about it. I was told by my associate of its abilities to summon and control powerful creatures." Forming a sinister grin with such plans. "Just imagine the destruction of a whole army of Kaiju to wreak havoc."
"Associate?" Only to instantly realize who he was referring to. "Let me guess, Kefka? Well sorry we got it first and you have to take it by force."
Cronos chuckled by her defiance and summoned his scythes in his hands. "I was hoping you would say that."
Mal knew they can't stay around for long and needed to get out of there fast before…
"MAL!"
'Oh crap!'
Too late when a burst of flames erupted behind the heroes, Hades manifested from the flames with a stern and angry look on his face. While he expected to confront his daughter, he finds her with a group of three teenagers. "Well, this explains everything. Let me guess, the young heroes destined to beat Cronos? Names Hades, lord of the dead how ya doin'?" Giving a quick introduction to the teens. "Now, hand over the cloak or I'll have you three become. Permanent. Residents." Threatening the heroes with flames coursing around his body.
Slightly fazed by his threatening gaze, Archie gulped nervously. "Oh boy."
"Well if it isn't one of my sons. How good to see you Hades." Cronos was unfazed by his son's threats. "Still trying to take over your brother's job? Glad to know you haven't lost your touch."
Hades spotted his father standing in front of the teens and chuckles. "Dad, how's it going? Love the suit by the way, got it from Italy?" Taking note of his new suit. "But listen, while it's great seeing ya out of Tartarus, taking out Zeus which would save me the trouble. But if anyone is gonna take over the business, it's gonna be me." Pointing his thumb to his chest. "You had your chance, now it's my turn."
Cronos was expecting something like this from his son. "As if you would after that failed attempt years ago? Cost five of the great Titans to be defeated by one Demi-god."
Slowly growling at the mention of Hercules, Hades breathed steadily to stay calm. "Oh yeah? And like yours was any better by wrecking the planet I called dibs? Oh great idea, pops. Besides, if you're taking that cloak, think again. I stole it fair and square."
"So you did steal it. Figures." It was hardly a surprise to Mal to hear this.
"Sweetie, not now when in the middle of something." Hades responds to her retort, earning Cronos' attention for the way he talks to her differently. "But on that subject, Mal. I am giving you one chance to hand that cloak back and let it slide."
"Like we let you have it." Herry stood beside Mal to keep it from either of them. "We need that to prevent a disaster from happening."
Turns his attention to Herry and takes notice of his traits that remind him of someone he hates the most. "Well look what we have here. Broad shoulders, super strength. Let me guess, you're Hercules' brat, right?"
"Yeah, and proud of it." Herry proclaimed.
"Good for you! I just have the perfect place for you. In the UNDERWORLD!" Ready to cast a fireball to incinerate him, Mal swooped in and used Barrier to repel the flames. Cronos took the chance and slashed one of his blades into the backpack, tearing it and about to grab the cloak until Atlanta ran past to snatch it. He goes after her, sweeping his blades to get her or force to let go.
"Atlanta, over here!" Mal waved her hand, Atlanta decided to take the risk and tossed it to her. Mal caught it, casting magic to create a sphere to contain it before the cloak could try to latch itself onto her. Using a spare bag to trap it inside. With the cloak secured, she decided to end this quickly by bringing her fingers to her lips and made a loud whistle.
Loud footsteps rumbled, Cerberus came towards them.
Cronos was surprised to find the large three headed beast. "Cerberus?"
"What are you doing here? Get back to the gate." Hades yelled.
Mal smiles and thought to give it a try. "Cerberus!" The beast looked at her direction upon responding to her call, much to the surprise of Hades and Cronos. "Roll over!" Twirling her finger with a smile.
"Wha-" Before Hades knew what was happening, he saw a huge shadow cast over him and Cronos and then looked up to see Cerberus roll on his side. Right on top of him and his father. "NO! Cerberus! Not on me! I'm your master! Attack them!" Waving his hands out in a state of panic until he was simply smothered by the guardian beast.
"AHH!" Cronos tried to run but not fast enough when he was crushed by Cerberus.
Atlanta winced and couldn't help but look away. "Ooh! That's gonna leave a mark."
"Oh, man! Wait til the others hear this!" Herry let out a laugh of how funny this was. They can hear the two beneath Cerberus muttering and surprisingly still moving.
Pleased and smiling with mischief on her face, she reached out to stroke one of it's ears. "Good boy!" Cerberus panted and enjoyed the treatment. But now I need to leave. "Come on guys, let's get going. Thanks for the cloak."
The others agreed and rushed to the ferryman who was waiting for them to return, giving the rest of the payment as promised. Before joining them, Mal left some departing words. "Nice seeing you and also thanks for the cloak, dad. Guess I do take after you."
Giggling while she jumped on the boat and then took off. Just when Cronos pulled himself out by the waist and to discover she was in fact Hades' daughter. Thus making her his granddaughter "'Father?' That makes a lot of sense where she gets that rebellious side."
Only a pair of Hades' hands were exposed as he was still underneath Cerberus. "What can I say? It's not easy being a parent."
After the incident with the monster plant, both Taren and Bloom needed to speak with Faragonda about what happened and find out about the book they found. They knocked on the door before opening it to find her with a hovering hourglass before noticing them.
"Ah, Bloom, Taren, come in." She welcomed them in.
"Thank you, Ma'am. I've been working on my healing spells but nothing seems to work." Bloom explained.
"Well, except it did something quite the opposite of healing." Taren stated.
"I see, and this is the book you've been using?" Faragonda noticed the book in Bloom's arms.
Bloom handed it to her, believing she might know what it really is. "Yes."
"Let me see." The headmistress examined the book and immediately knew it was not a sort of book Bloom would use. "Oh my, where did you get this book?!" She gasped and drops the book out of shock.
Both the redheads were baffled by her reaction and simply told her. "At the library?"
"It's not from our collection." Faragonda stated.
Now Bloom was confused about how it was in the library when it shouldn't. "I don't understand."
"Someone planted it there." Faragonda could guess. "Perhaps as a trap. You're lucky nothing serious happened."
Taren said nothing and should have known it was off, maybe sent by Kefka or one of the Trix as a trap. He didn't want to think what would happen had it been used on the Pixies.
Faragonda went to the bookshelves, reached out her hand and selected a book that would be perfect for the spells she needed. "Here." Pulling the book out and handing it to Bloom. "Take this one and go check on the pixies. Remember, they cannot be allowed to lead Darkar to the Codex."
"I made certain they were watched over by the Digimon and with some help, I'm sure they can handle it." Taren was certain of it.
"I'm pretty sure that we can't handle this." Mushu said as he and Gomamon peaked to watch while Agumon was lying on the floor, softly sleeping when still under the effects. So far he appears unharmed when the unknown intruder was more focused on the pixies in the box, he then started to use his magic on the box holding the pixies. Watch in shock as the side of the box falls away and the pixies are set free.
Chatta stepped out to catch a glimpse of the hooded intruder. "Hey, he set us free." She also noticed Agumon sleeping and with a plate of food. "And that's why, guess Agumon's sleeping on the job."
"But, we're still in danger." Amore had to remind her.
Digit agreed with her. "Right, first thing we gotta do is get back home."
"Hold it right there, pixies!" Mushu jumped out with Gomamon who didn't fall for the trap. "That may have worked on Agumon, but not us! Now go back in the box and we'll forget this ever happened."
"You can't go back home, it's still dangerous."
"We'll be much safer there." Amore told them. "We have to."
"I figured, Gomamon, time to go big!" Mushu proclaimed. Unaware of noticing the nervous look on Gomamon's face.
"Uhh… might have a slight… problem." Gomamon didn't know how to put it. "I can't without Layla to help me Digivolve."
Digit nodded her head to agree with the Digimon. "He's right, unless he's able to do it on his own. Gomamon can't digivolve to Ikkakumon and would be too big in this room."
An answer that Mushu didn't like to hear ruined the mood. His face slumped and arms dropped after hearing about this. "Now you tell me."
With this only chance to escape, the pixies took flight before the two could catch them. Mushu groaned and slapped his claw on his face. "Aw, man! They're gonna be so mad about this!"
"Come on! We gotta warn the others!" Gomamon immediately sprinted off to alert the Winx that the pixies had escaped. Hoping to at least find them in time before it's too late.
Darkar observed the actions of the pixies' escape and no doubt be on their way back to their home village. "Run home, little pixies." To make sure the plan is a success, he changes the image of his monstrous minions located near Alfea to follow his next command. They will deal with the Winx, but with the keyblader it would be a problem.
However, earlier on he had sensed a dimensional tear and one of his minions located a fascinating creature with skills and traits of a voracious predator. A hunter after it was chasing one of the pixies as prey.
The creature called a Snimon would be a perfect use of a predator to deal with them.
And make certain it will hunt the right prey.
"What do you mean they escaped?! Weren't you supposed to be watching them?" Stella couldn't believe the news about the pixies' escape.
Taren was shaking the startled dragon in his hands. "And what happened to Agumon?"
Mushu who was dizzy and felt his eyes roll in different directions until getting his bearings back to answer. "He fell asleep by the intruder who cast a spell on him!"
"And would have been for all of us right now and not able to tell you. He's back in the room but we had to warn you." Gomamon was a little guilty of leaving his fellow Digimon behind.
"I should have stayed with them." Taren believed this to his fault had he made sure to stay with them. He felt a hand on his shoulder, belonging to Flora who was beside him.
"It's not your fault, none of us knew this would have happened."
"Right, we need to find Layla and get them back, if what we know is true the Pixies are in greater danger than we thought." Bloom said. "I'll finish off my research on the healing spell, the rest of you find the pixies and bring them back safely."
"I'll come too, if that Snimon comes I can maybe keep us from being spotted." Mirta suggested
The Winx and the others agreed and went off to the forest as the likely place the pixies would
Layla arrived back at the school, landed in the quad to look around when she felt something knocked her over to the ground. A little sore from the bump but easily brushed it off to see Musa on the opposite end, possibly running into her by accident. "Musa!"
"Oww." Musa rubbed her head after accidentally running into her friend, getting back on her feet to apologize. "Layla, are you alright?
"I'm fine, what's the rush?"
"The pixies have escaped!" Musa told her.
"Escaped? How?!" Layla couldn't believe it and was certain they were safe and secured. She even let her Digimon partner to help guard them.
"Oh, well, someone set them free." Musa explained to her.
Layla didn't like this at all. "Oh, I don't like the sound of that."
Tecna, Stella, and Flora arrive to find them outside.
"So, Layla, where have you been?" Stella asked, having not seen her for a while.
"I- uh- never mind. Come on, we gotta catch the pixies!" Whatever it was she wanted to say was replaced with the more important matter such as the missing pixies. She then noticed Bloom was absent. "By the way, where's Bloom?"
"Still working on a way to reverse the homesickness spell." Tecna answered. "Taren will catch up with us after he gets Agumon.
"No time for chit-chat, girls. Let's move!" Musa told them and hope to catch up to them in the forest.
The pixies, having escaped, took their chances of flying through the Gloomy forest, Tune and Digit had to carry Piff who was easily tired out and fell asleep. Due to the distance it would take, they decided to take turns carrying the infant pixie, but little did they know that the monstrous minions of Darker were tailing them to learn the location of their village, and they were not the only ones that took notice of them.
Elsewhere in the forest, the girls followed Flora with her strong connection with the trees to know where the pixies had gone. Mirta came along to help them and also hoped for a way to send Salamon back home after the danger had passed. Allowing the Digimon to tag along which surprised Layla to learn about this. She focused on the voices of where to go, hoping to find them in time.
"Flora."
Flora turned around to hear Musa calling her name. "Huh?"
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Musa didn't want to doubt her abilities but thought to ask.
"Yes, the forest plants know exactly which way the pixies went." Flora replied.
"While you're at it, Flora, you could tell those thorny bushes not to rip my clothes." Stella suggested, having a hard time of watching out for the branches to get her clothes caught and torn when unable to see in the night. With the help of Solwing to take the sky to track them down easier to help Flora.
Gomamon and Salomon were with them, while Gomamon was not a fast runner like the others, he had to cling onto Layla's backpack for transport. He peeked his head up and caught a scent that triggered his instincts to kick in.
"Gomamon, what is it?" Layla noticed her partner's behavior changed.
"I smell something. It could be that Snimon is nearby." Gomamon said.
Even Salamon's expression shifted when she was familiar with it the most. "It's somewhere in the forest, it must be on a hunt."
Flora did feel something was off when the trees warned her of a creature flying through the woods, a dangerous threat and similar aura to the Digimon but different. "It's true, something is close but following the pixies' direction."
Layla was worried for them after they explained to her what sort of Digimon they were dealing with. "If what you said is true, then the pixies are in greater danger than we thought."
"Found anything in that book?" Taren came over to Bloom's desk, resting his hand on her shoulder and hoping this would be the real thing. He was going to get ready and catch up with the others but wanted to be sure Bloom was alright, she didn't mind his presence and thought to help the girls out, yet didn't want to risk leaving Agumon who was still asleep on her bed.
Bloom found something and read it out for them. "Let's see, this spell will cure magic induced sadness and longing." Closing the book to bring with them to use on the pixies to cure them. "That's got to work, but there's no time to try it out."
"Let's take the quicker route."Not wanting to leave his partner behind and beams him into his digivice. Thinking of using the Rod to make the fastest way possible, a light cycle would be preferable to not give away their position. A jet would be too big and too high to find the winx or the pixies. Transforming the Rod into a Light Cycle, he hopped on to the seat and waited for Bloom to climb on to hold on.
She was surprised to be doing this for the first time and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You know it's funny how I always dreamed of doing this with someone."
"Maybe next time I can take it for a spin on our date." Taren offered.
Smiling at the thought of it, she gave him a peck on the cheek and embraced him firmer. "As long as you don't have another crash."
Mentally groaned and figured she'd hear about it. "Haha."
"Hey wait for me! I'm not gonna miss this out!" Mushu jumped onto the bike, climbing into Taren's hood for the ride.
Started up the engine and drove into the forest to find their friends and the pixies.
Chatta didn't know how far they had gone into the woods, believing it to be safe to rest up before going further. "Let's take a little break."
The pixies agreed and landed on the ground, Amore and Lockette who were carrying the sleeping Piff gently set her down before they heard a rustling noise from the bushes.
"Did you guys hear that?" Digit asked.
"What?" Chatta wasn't sure what that noise was.
Lockette became terrified and believed it to be a monster. "Oh, I knew it we're gonna be gobbled up by furry monsters."
"Ahem, no you're not." Surprised the pixies were Winx, Mirta and the Digimon who found them, obviously not so happy about the stunt they pulled..
"You're coming back with us." Stella told them, having to walk through the forest looking for them she was not very happy.
"Leave us alone, okay?!" Chatta told them.
Tecna could understand they were still under the spell, and had to bring them back safe and sound before Darkar or that wild Digimon found them. "Come on, pixies, be reasonable."
"Yeah, whoever it was that freed you has to be working for the bad guys." Gomamon told them.
Layla agreed with him and had to bring them back now. "Alright, we've wasted enough time-" Before she could use her magic, she was startled by a loud growling.
Two monsters came out of the fog and approached them, one was dark purple. It is large and is shaped similar to that of a cone on its side. Its body appears to be plated. Its head is longer, narrower, and smaller than its body. It has three red eyes on both sides of its head, a horn, and two front feet. The second one accompanying it was a quadrupedal creature, shaped somewhat like a canine, with dark gray skin, coat of spines protruding over the back, red eyes, large claws on its feet and spines on the elbows of its forelimbs and hindlimbs. They were sent by Darkar to follow the pixies to their village and startled the fairies
"I knew it! We are gonna be gobbled up after all." Lockette cried out in fear.
But Musa, nor the girls would let that happen to the pixies. "No way. Magic Winx!"
The Winx Club, including Mirta transformed into their Winx forms.
"Gomamon." Layla then let her partner join the fight.
"Right!" Gomamon would then digivolve to help them. "Gomamon, digivolve too…" Transforms into Ikkakumon. "Ikkakumon!"
The Hell Mastiff proceeded to attack by running towards Stella as it's first target, she tries to attack by throwing an energy ball at it but it swiftly dodges and then shoots spikes from it's back. Too quick to stop them, she was forced to duck to avoid them and let the try behind her take the hit. The Hell Mastiff had her cornered and was ready to run at her again, but Tecna came to defend Stella by using her magic against the monster, which sent it flying into another tree upon impact with .
"Roots bind that monster fast!" Flora made a quick spell to use her magic to tie the monster to a tree with the plant roots and vines.
With the beast immobilized, Stella would finish it off. "Now, I'll get you!" Using her sun magic to blast it to oblivion. Destroying one of Darkar's monsters. "Finally."
As the battle raged on, the pixies watched the Winx fend off against the monsters and felt the urge to help them, yet the spell that influenced the urge for them to return to Pixie Village was too great to ignore .
"Come on, let's go while they're busy fighting." Chatta told them while they had a chance.
However, Tune didn't wish to leave their friends in danger. "We shouldn't abandon our fairies at a time like this, but we must get back to pixie village."
"Yes! Pixie village!" Chatta proclaimed and then led them back home, unaware of being influenced by Darkar to show them the way.
Darkar was observing the pixies' actions when they were reluctant to abandon their bonded fairies in the middle of the battle; he can see through his magic that they were closer to their home village. Closer to finding the piece of the codex that he has been longing to find. "Yes, show me the way to Pixie Village! To the Codex! And to your doom!"
With the fairies and the keybladers distracted, nothing could stop him now from being another step ahead of them.
Musa spotted the remaining monster sneaking up on Flora and called out to warn her. "Flora, watch out!"
The remaining monster was right behind Flora, but she was able to fly into the air before it could get her.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" Ikkakumon used his primary attack to hit its armor, throwing it off guard and allowing the others to attack and coming from above to tackle him.
"Nice shot!" Layla joined in to help. "Here, choke on this." Throwing an energy ball at the monster, it opened its mouth to catch it and swallowed it.
"Yummy, isn't it?" The monster simply stopped and caught the girls by surprise of what they noticed about its appearance. "UGH! He's got two mouths!"
On both sides and on the armored back were a set of snapping jaws
"Two? More like twenty!" Musa said.
"We need to keep away from it." Mirta told them, keeping hold of Salmon in her arm for safety.
Salamon was surprised by the appearance of the monster and watched as the fairies fought them, she decided to help. Giving a deep breath for a moment. "Puppy Howling!" Unleashing a super high-pitched bark directly to the multi-mouthed monster, taken by surprise of her attack when it was then paralized and not able to focus.
"Did that little fella do that?" Stella was amazed.
"Wow. That's some bark." Mirta commented on the Digimon.
"Her attack must have parazlied it, now's our chance." Tecna knew it was their one shot to take it down. "Musa, can you send the monster in the air?"
Musa had an idea for it and stomps her foot into the ground. "Bounce!" Her attack shook the ground, hurtling the monster in the air by her magic.
"Ikkakumon." Layla called out her partner.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" Using his attack to finish it off, the missile made a direct impact on its exposed chest and exploded in the air. However, they failed to realize the monster was made from tar and were about to be covered in it.
"Oh no. Not again!" To Stella's misfortune of being close in range as the tar splattered on her as well as the others. "Tell me this isn't happening."
"Usually the monsters we fought just disappear." Mirta grimaced of the state she was in, even Salamon despite being protected, took some on her face and tried to wipe it off by shaking her head.
"Uh, sorry." Ikkakumon realized his mistake and apologized.
Flora wiped the muck from her face, and noticed something "Wait! The pixies are gone again!"
While they were fighting the monsters, the pixies had suddenly vanished, again. Possibly took this chance to escape while they were fighting.
Musa realized their wings could not support them as they were covered in the remains of the tar monsters. "Our wings are covered in that sticky stuff, we can't go after them."
"Oh, what's that sound? It's getting closer." Flora heard something coming towards them.
Mirta's ears picked up the sound, a sound she immediately recognised and had hoped not to encounter. "Oh no. It's here!"
"Twin Sickle!"
A familiar purple crescent wave flew towards the girls, unable to fly out of the way, Flora and Stella were fast enough to create a protective barrier to take the hit. Emerged from the trees was Snimon after tracking them down and made its move with their guard down after their battle with Darkar's monsters.
"Snimon!" Mirta shouted out in alert of the dangerous Digimon.
"AH! It's even uglier in person!" Stella shrieked at the sight of its menacing appearance. She spotted her Titan, Solwing flew down and was ready to help them. The Avian Titan flew in front of Snimon, drawing its attention to the Titan as it tried to crush it with its jaws or slash it with its blades, but Solwing was too fast for it to catch.
"Let me help." Musa offered to help out and summoned Shinobi with their wings damped. "Be Swift, Shinonbi!" With Shinobi called into battle, he sprinted into action to strike Snimon, the Mantis-Digmon noticed a new opponent and blocked the attack with its bladed scythe. He suddenly vanished and took the digimon by surprise when it left a few cuts on the armor, Snimon let out a roar in pain and backed off.
"Nice work!" Layla commented on their Titans.
"That should do it." Tecna said.
Snimon blocked the strong winds made by Solwing with its arms and flew back, taking the air to gain distance. It came up with a new tactic and used a different attack by cutting down the tree branches, forcing Solwing to dodge them swiftly, but did not take note on Snimon's next move being fast and some of the attacks struck the tar, inadvertently struck Shinobi by surprise and exposing him for the attack.
This allowed Snimon to attack out in the open, disappearing for a moment and reappeared before Shinobi for a sneak attack. "Shadow Slash!" Slashing the Titan with its scything blades swift and fast, however Shinobi clashed his blades with it to evade them. However, Snimon used the same tick and the same attack to attack the Titan from behind and struck horizontally. Defeating its opponent in one blow.
"That thing is too fast!" Layla noticed with the Digimon being fast.
"Not for long." Ikkakumon charged in to attack, but not fast enough with Snimon evaded his horn attack and took flight.
"I don't think so!" Stella offered to help out by blasting a sun beam at the wild Digimon, a successful hit but not enough to damage it. But now Snimon turned it's attention to them.
Mirta had an idea to buy them time to recover. "I can make an illusion to scare it off, someone has to go after the pixies-" Suddenly Salamon was wiggling out of her arm, trying to break free from her hold. "Salamon? what are you doing?"
Salamon did not respond as she ran towards Snimon, dodging it's attacks. "Sledge Crash!" Charged in at full speed, slamming her body into it's torso with some effect. Causing Snimon to stumble a little and tackled by Ikakkumon.
The mantis Digimon recovered and avoided the second tackle, this time appearing behind the startled Salamon for an open attack.
"Super Vibration!" A dark beam shot out and struck Snimon from the back, sending it against the tree. The one who attacked was Mirta coming over to Salamon with concern.
"Mirta?" Salamon was surprised that Mirta came to her rescue the second time.
"Salamon, be careful! I promised that I would get you home. Isn't that what you wanted?" Mirta didn't understand why, maybe it was the instinct to fight, or maybe something else.
As Salamon originally thought of it, but something was telling her another reason. "I did. But now I know why I came here and for being sent here!" Salamon tells her. "I felt a calling, telling me to find someone who is possibly my partner. To help me grow stronger through a bond we share."
"A bond?" Mirta wondered what she was on about.
Salamon nodded and turned to gaze into Mirta's. "When I first came here, I didn't know where I was until I met you." She proclaimed.
Snimon got back on its feet, its wings lifted its body and snarled at its two selected targets.
"Guys, look out!" Stella cried out.
Mirta could only watch as the Digimon spread its blades open for the attack. What happened next was something no one expected when Salamon jumped in between them, her body then glowed in a pink aura and bright light engulfed her form.
"What's... what's happening?" Flora didn't know what happened.
"Something is happening to Salamon!" Tecna could not know what was going on. A new attack? Or...
"No way..." Layla recognised it when she first witnessed Gomamon's first digivolve. "She's digivolving!"
"Salamon... Digivolve to..." Her body transformed as the light dispersed. Grown slightly bigger, more feline form, like a white Egyptian cat wearing a pair of large lime yellow and red striped gloves with black claws sticking out of them. Her ears were larger than her previous form with tufts of purple hair on the tips reminiscent of a caracal. Her tail extended with purple stripes with a tuft on the end and wearing a gold ring on it. "Gatomon!"
Snimon backed off after witnessing a digivolution of Gatomon. Shocking all the girls and Ikkakumon to witness this. Layla held her digivice out to scan her.
Salamon
Champion Level
Vaccine Type
Special Attacks: Lightning Paw, Cats Eye Hypnotism, Heaven Knuckle
"Salamon?"
"Call me Gatomon. Now let's show this bug who's boss!" Now ready for action in her Champion level. Gatomon made the next attack. "Lightning Paw!" Swatting her gloved caw on its face and launching a roundhouse kick. "Spinning Cat Kick!"
Mirta smirked and this time joined in using her magical blasts to assault it. "Not so tough now, huh?" She mocked it and was ready to teach the Digimon a lesson.
"Harpoon Torpedo!" Ikkakumon launched another vulcan missile onto Snimon.
The Winx cheered and decided to help by capturing the Digmon in its weakened state. Stella used sunblast to confuse it, Musa helped with her soundwaves for Layla and Flora to snare it in vines to immobilize it. Unable to move and weakened, it collapsed to the ground.
"Great work, girls!" Stella proclaimed with a smile.
"Couldn't have done it without Mirta and Salamon-uh, Gatomon is it?" Flora asked if it was correct.
Feeling her face flushed and smiled by the praises. "It was nothing. I just wanted to help." A small glowing sphere manifested before the surprised former witch and took the form of a digivice, only for hers to be white and pink. "Uh, what the.." Catching it in her hands and not certain how.
"Wait? I don't believe it. That's a digivce, and that means..." Layla knew what it meant.
"That means you're my partner! The one I was looking for." Gatomon smiled and jumped in her arms. Then she glowed and reverted back to Salamon.
"Guess that means she's staying with us then." Musa smiled.
Tecna pulled out a device and attached it to the unconscious Snimon's forehead. "This should keep it from going hostile until we can get transport." She could get a chance to study these creatures and their behavior until they would somehow send it back.
"Better to have it away from school as possible. Right now we need to find the pixies." With no idea how much time they had wasted and have to find them before it's too late.
"Hey, is anyone out here?"
To everyone's great relief it was only just Bloom in her Winx form and Taren behind her with his keyblade coming through the bushes.
"Bloom? Taren?" Stella was surprised to find them.
Having been forced to run through the thick dense forest, Bloom was a little tired out with all the running. "We… got here as fast as possible."
Taren noticed the state the girls were in and Ikakkumon in his Champion level which indicates that there must have been a fight going on. "I guess you had some bit of trouble?"
"You could say that." Mirta helped Flora up on her feet.
Mushu emerged from Taren's jacket to notice them. "Man, you guys look like a mess and-AH!" He cried out at the sight of a captured Snimon. "Big bug! Squash it T!"
Before they would take action Tecna stopped them and explained what happened. "Relax! We took care of it and thought it would be a chance to learn about them."
"Did you find a counterspell?" Stella asked Bloom, ignoring Mushu's comment of their appearance and hoped she found it to help the pixies.
Tecna could not afford to waste time and had to find the pixies before it's too late. "Here, take this and go." She handed Bloom a device that she attached to her skirt, switching it on.
"Where are the pixies?"
"The trees are talking." Flora said as she listened to what the trees were telling her of their location. "The pixies are almost home."
"Then we gotta go after them. Mushu, you stay here with the others." Taren turned to Bloom who was ready to tag along to go after them as she flies off while Taren runs with her using his enhanced magic to keep up.
"Any news?" Kefka walked into the throne room and could hear the excitement from his ally.
Darkar noticed his presence and response. "The pixies are close to their village, and with it the secret location of the codex piece."
This was something that made the mad scythe user smile. "Really? In that case, I would like to watch."
He was too focused on the pixies to deal with Kefka's annoying presence, already feeling it within his grasp, eager for the pixies to reveal the secret location of their village. "Show me the secret path!"
As Bloom and Taren continued onwards, they were following the directions given to them through the communicator. "Flora, where are they?"
"Straight ahead!
"Hurry up!"
"If it wasn't so dense, we'd see them by now." Taren mutters under his breath.
Fortunately for them, Bloom was able to spot them dead ahead. "There they are! I see them! I sure hope this works. I better pronounce this right."
"Quick use it!"
Bloom then used the spell, remembering the language from the book to cast on the pixies before they could proceed to open the portal to their village. The two watch as the spell takes its effect on them, much to their delight. "It worked!"
Taren let out a sigh of relief that it was over.
Chatta, now freed from the spell, was confused as to why they were in the village, having no memory of what happened to them. "What are we doing?"
Tune also recovered and remembered some of the events. "We must get back to our bonded fairies and lend them a hand."
Taren smiles and offers his hand to Bloom to help her up. She agreed to help her up. "You did great."
Smiling back to hear the praise from her boyfriend, she leaned into his arms to rest and recover to help the others.
"No! I was so close!" It was unbelievable, they were within moments of the pixies to open the portal and then that fairy and keyblader foiled their plans. "This battle is yours, young heroes. Next time you will not be so fortunate." There will be another chance to get the fragment.
It would also appear he was not the only one when Kefka learnt about the cloak found and in the keybladers' hand, yet found something about it that would be interesting.
"Good work, you guys. You got the cloak!" Riku commented on their return from the Underworld and noticed Mal with the bag to contain it.
"Yeah, but ran into Cronos who was also after it." Herry told them, surprising the others to hear about it.
"Cronos was there?" Jay knew this could mean trouble.
"If he is aware of the Kaiju artifacts and what they can do, then this will be a greater situation than we thought." Hera dreaded the thought of her father to use them to unleash an army of Kaiju onto Earth."
"He's working with Kefka to get them. Now we need to watch out for him as well." Mal told them.
"Then we better take that cloak back to Gaia and secure it." Riku would suggest.
"I'll say." Neil couldn't agree more and found the cloak unsettling. "That thing is an eyesore."
"Trust me, this thing is harder to keep in the bag and I want to wear it." Mal told them.
"Indeed." Hera couldn't agree more. "Obviously this cloak is more dangerous than we imagine. I would advise extreme caution of using it if necessary in the future."
Riku nodded to take her word for it. "Don't worry, we'll be sure it's put away safely. And thanks for the help, guys."
Mal also nods but before she would leave, she leaned into Archie, Herry and Atlanta to say something. "What you guys heard in there, rather be kept between us for now. Not sure how to explain this to others."
"No prob." Archie accepts the suggestion.
"Wouldn't change anything since we're family." Herry smiles and pats her on the back, again unable to control his strength and knocks her down.
"G-great." Mal groaned, this was gonna be a lot of getting used to.
Finally! Manage to get this done and longer than I thought with work taken much time. Was thinking of how Mal's interactions with Hades would be like and had some bit of trouble. Then came for when Salamon becoming Mirta's partner and the battle. Originally the ending was gonna be with Mal having trouble with the cloak and have it affect her, but thought maybe for another time when. Now that she has found out about her family heritage, things won't be the same now. Sorry for the delay but I'm sure the wait was worth it. And hope everyone had a nice summer now that Autumn seems to be hear.