Family

Chapter 448 Shifting Forces

By: Major144

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.

Deep within the Underground in the city area known as New Home, Spirit sat at the head of a long table that was in a room used for meetings. It was one of Spirit's favorite rooms in the mansion that served as her and her sisters' lair. Spirit was alone in the room. Demonica was at the neighboring factory keeping an eye on Smithy and Cyan had left the mansion to go with Grodus and some troops to go visit Dr. Cranken in Waterfall and get the location of the Vault of Valefar.

Spirit looked at the eleven empty chairs and felt a bit of sadness as she was reminded of the loss of Fay Soff and Cinder. Both of whom were taken from this world before the return of their beloved mother, Shadow Queen. Spirit had used her magic to find out who was responsible and had placed a hefty bounty on their heads. The mission to find the Crystal Stars and free Shadow Queen came first, but a part of Spirit wanted to personally kill the ones responsible for her sisters' deaths. Spirit just had to let others do the killing for her as she focused on the mission.

It was then that Miss Mecca and her squad returned to the mansion and factory. Miss Mecca headed to the meeting room along with her sisters Mirage, Spinner, and Anne Droid V2.1. Demonica was also called into the meeting room. Spirit looked at each of her sisters, before focusing her attention on Miss Mecca who was ready to give her report on the attack on the Doctor's lair.

"The assault on the Doctor's lair was a complete success. We killed many bandits and Mants, along with one of the Doctor's elite warriors. We also killed the Queen Womant, so the Doctor can't resupply his Mant forces as well as a fair number of Legion of Light soldiers. A good portion of the base and vegetation was destroyed in the attack."

"What of the Doctor?" Asked Spirit.

"I spotted him and tried to kill him with one of my missiles, but he used Balrog as a shield and survived. We would have continued on with our attack and ended him, but we came across something more important and decided to end the attack and return to you." Said Miss Mecca.

"What was so important that you ended the attack on our enemy?" Asked Spirit.

Miss Mecca smiled as she pulled out the Crystal Star that had been recovered and placed it on the table. Spirit picked up the Crystal Star and examined it.

"Well this appears to be our lucky day. Another Crystal Star is in our procession and we're one step closer to freeing our mother. Good job sister." Said Spirit.

"Thank you sister." Said Miss Mecca.

Spirit put the Crystal Star on the table and then she tapped the table with her righthand. The table lite up and a tiny ghostly imagine of Jota in his normal form appeared on the table in front of Spirit. Jota bowed before Spirit.

"Jota how is your mission to retrieve the Crystal Star from the Coliseum of Fools coming along?" Asked Spirit.

"We arrived at the coliseum, but once we arrived we were surrounded and confronted by Hoaxe and his forces. There was a standoff, but we came to an agreement. One of our warriors has been entered in a tournament and if he wins and beats the champion Carrera, then we get the trophy with the Crystal Star on it. Axem Black has entered the tournament." Said Jota.

"What's the plan if Axem Black loses the tournament?" Asked Spirit.

"We will snatch the trophy from it's case during the other matches of the tournament or snatch it away from the winners. Either way I guarantee the Crystal Star will be in your hands." Said Jota.

"Excellent. I expect nothing, but the best from you." Said Spirit.

Jota and the mini ghost image vanished. Spirit turned to her sisters.

"So we currently have two Crystal Stars in procession. Jota is working on getting a third, Grodus and Cyan are heading to Waterfall to get the location of the Vault of Valefar, which mostly likely has a Crystal Star, and Fawful is repairing his Crystal Star locator to find the group of thieves that stole a Crystal Star from our forces in Snowdin. That's five stars and with Fawful's locator finding the other two will be easy."

"All our work and effort is finally paying off." Said Miss Mecca.

"Anything else we need to go over?" Asked Spirit.

"What about the people who murdered Fay Soff and Cinder?" Asked Mirage.

"A hefty bounty has been placed on all their heads. It's only a matter of time before they are located and killed." Said Spirit.

"Well I would prefer if we were the ones to kill them." Said Spinner.

"Yeah. I have an axe to grind. They killed our sisters. It's only right, we get to be the ones to kill them." Said Demonica.

"Very well. I understand your pain. You have my permission to go out and seek revenge, but keep your eyes out for any Crystal Stars." Said Spirit.

Demonica nodded her head, before she, Spinner, and Mirage left the room. Spirit turned to Miss Mecca and Anne Droid V2.1.

"I guess I'll head to my lab and finish up a few of my projects and maybe I might lead an another assault team on the Doctor's lair and finish him off for good." Said Miss Mecca before she and Anne Droid V2.1 left the room.

Spirit opened a portal to her private chambers and placed the two Crystal Stars in a vault and then she opened another portal that lead to Hotland to go check on a little project of hers.

In Hotland, the airship known as the Sovereign was parked. Outside the airship several of Crow's minions were constructing a large weapon called the Doom Howitzer. The weapon resemble a large spiked tower with different levels and at the top of it was a large purple horned robot head with a green face. The Doom Howitzer was going to be Crow's most deadly weapon. One that would surly prove how dangerous Crow was and force Mack the hero to face him. The Doom Howitzer just needed the magic bodies of some princesses and it would be ready to go. Crow was out doing just that.

Spirit snuck past the guards and into the airship. She saw the princess known as Mayapple chilling on the bridge reading a dating magazine.

"I'm so not going to take Mack back once he rescues me. I'm going to make him work super hard to get me back." Said Mayapple.

Spirit made her way deeper into the ship and found a room that appeared to be a study. At a desk with a computer sat Crow's second in command and personal assistant, Becky. Becky was going over the Doom Howitzer's blueprints making sure that the device was being built correctly and would run smoothly. She was thinking of adding a pair of giant robot hands to the machine, when Spirit got behind her and phased her heads through her head and went into her mind. Becky stared straight ahead as Spirit went through her mind and thoughts.

In a way Becky's mind was much like Mack's mind. Both were fairly organized, but both individuals were getting sick of the whole song and dance that was their lives. Becky was sick of Crow losing to Mack and his obsession with the hero. Crow could conquered the world their world easily if he stopped engaging Mack and focused his energy and productive elsewhere. This was a negative thought Becky usually just ignored and filed away, but Spirit decided to bring it up to the surface and let it take flight.

Spirit removed her hands and a serious expression crossed Becky's face. Becky was done taking orders from a fool like Crow. She was going to take charge and show everyone just how dangerous and ruthless she could be. Spirit opened a portal and quickly left the room, returning to her lair to plan and scheme.

In another part of Hotland, the Doctor was taking stock of the damage at his base. About 65 percent of the base was in ruin and 58 percent of the plants had been destroyed. The red flowers were ok, but the Doctor's forces had taken some heavy casualties. Many Mants and bandits were dead along with Bolban and the Queen Womant. Miss Marshmallow was greatly damaged and in need of repairs and Natia and Balrog were both heavily injured and would require a good deal of healing before they could go out into the field. The Crystal Star that had been brought in by the human child and robot was missing. Overall things were going fairly bad for the Doctor and his team and he greatly desired revenge.

The Doctor decided to make a call to Endol and Merak to see where they were at and what they were up to. He pulled out a phone and gave Merak a call.

"Hey boss." Said Merak.

"Merak report. I need to know where you and Endol are and what you have been up to." Said Doctor.

"Well were in Snowdin and we encountered a group of travelers and there's quit a few humans among them. We befriended them and are leading them right back to Hotland for you to capture and experiment on." Said Merak.

The Doctor was both surprised and pleased by this news, but as much as he wanted the humans, he had other issues to deal with.

"I'm going to need you to ditch your little traveling group. Spirit's forces attacked our base and did a huge number on it. I need you and Endol to return to base and help launch a counter attack." Said Doctor.

"Well boss, there was a huge fight in Snowdin and one of the travelers we were with killed Spirit's sister, Cinder. I'm certain Spirit is going to send more of her sisters and forces after this group and I heard some talk that this group plans to take Spirit and her forces down. Maybe Endol and I should stick around and assist them." Said Merak.

"An interesting development. Alright you may stay with them, but I need you both to be ready to return to base incase something goes wrong." Said Doctor.

"Understood." Said Merak before ending the call.

The Doctor then went to go speak with Sol Crusher and Traitor Lord of the Legion of Light.

"As you can see my forces were hit hard by Spirit's forces. I want revenge, but I can't spare too many of my forces to aid you in whatever attack you have planned." Said Doctor.

"Well take whatever you can spare." Said Sol Crusher.

"I'll give you Lunar, Tarus, and Merco." Said Doctor.

"Good. Will take them and will head to Waterfall." Said Sol Crusher.

"You wouldn't happen to know any mercenary groups you can call to lend us a hand, would you?" Asked Traitor Lord.

"I actually do know a group that might be willing to help. I'll give them a call." Said Doctor as he pulled out his phone.

Elsewhere in Hotland, Blockner's crew and Jordan's group were doing some digging in some old ruins, when Pollution came riding up towards them on his metal hobby horse motorcycle. Pollution stopped a few yards away from the group and hopped off his ride. The wheels of the contraption went into the metal shaft making the device look like a big metal staff topped by a metal horse head with handlebars and exhaust pipes sticking out of it's head.

"Who are you?" Asked Blockner has he and the others sized up the newcomer.

"You may call me, Pollution! I'm a servant and herald to a great power of the Nuclear Throne."

"The Nuclear Throne. That's what some of us are looking for!" Said Blockner looking excited.

"Well you're in luck! I know exactly where it is, though it is sealed up and I need help freeing it." Said Pollution.

"I have a team of professional diggers and demolition experts. Will free the Nuclear Throne in no time." Said Blockner.

"Wait, why should my team agree to this?" Asked Jordan raising an eyebrow.

"Look I don't think we're going to find much of anything in this spot. With the power of the Nuclear Throne, I can help clear areas much faster and we can find you some magic items of power." Said Blockner.

"I suppose you have a point. Very well. We will help you." Said Jordan.

It was then that Blockner's phone rang and he answered it. It was the Doctor.

"Blockner, it's the Doctor. I have a job for you and your crew in Waterfall. You'll be working with some of my guys and the Legion of Light and I'm willing to pay you handsomely for your assistance." Said Doctor.

"Gee Doctor, that's great and all, but I'm in the middle of a gig and I can't give you my full force, but I can spare a few of my agents." Said Blockner.

"Fine by me. I'll take what you can spare. Just have your agents meet my troops in Waterfall." Said Doctor before hanging up.

Blockner sent Pedro a text message telling him about the job in Waterfall and then he looked at his troops and decided to send Flame Face and Meduzi to Waterfall to aid in the job. Specter Knight and Insecto Knight stepped forward and said they wanted in on the mission since there wasn't much for them to do on the dig. Blockner agreed to let them go along. With that said and done the groups split up and went their separate ways.

To be continued.