"So, what's up with this city in the Life universe?" Akane asked.
"Well, just like we saw in the images, the strange occurrence there is that one half the city is completely messy like a twister went through the place, and the other half is squeaky clean and shiny. The locals in the city don't really seem to know why the place is half and half. Yo-kai are definitely involved, we just don't know which ones." Miu said.
"Hmmm…. I don't have a clue on the dirty part of the city, but me and my team might know something about the clean part." Hope said. "Back when we visited Springdale at the start of the Time Crisis, the first Yo-kai we ever met as part of the whole thing was obsessed with cleaning."
"Oh yeah! I remember that little guy!" Akane said.
"Really? You guys know the culprit of cleanliness? What did they look like?"
"Well, the Yo-kai we encountered was small. He was dressed as a Samurai in all blue and white… and he had a push broom as a weapon." Mahiru said.
"Searching Yo-kai database for matching description…." 042 said, as a few moments passed. "Database match confirmed." he said, showing an image of a Yo-kai looking exactly how Mahiru described it, a small, Black skinned yo-kai with small, cyan eyes surrounded by red. On its head was a white hat with blue kanji on it (清, meaning "clean") to match the blue and white samurai-esque outfit. It wields a brown push broom with green bristles, often covered in soapsuds.
Brushido
Brave Tribe
"Brushido. A Brave Tribe Yo-kai who is obsessed with cleaning. Each Brushido uses its broom to clean anything and everything until it sparkles, even in locations that humans normally neglect or can't reach. Anyone inspirited by a Brushido begins to adopt its neat-freak behavior and start spontaneously cleaning." 042 explained.
"A samurai that cleans?" Klonoa asked.
"Looks like it. Yokai can pretty much be anything…" Lei said.
"But wait, something doesnt make sense. One Brushido couldn't possibly be enough to clean half of an entire city, not by itself." Mahiru said.
"Analysis indicates that Brushido often appear in armies. Wherever there is one, more are often seen, under the command of a Yo-kai known as Washogun." 042 said, showing an image of a shogun with the same colors as Brushido, and in his hand is a bottle of germ cleaner.
Washogun
Brave Tribe
"Now, these guys, I can get behind." David said.
"Oh yeah, you're a total neat freak." Kokichi said.
"Yeah, couldn't tell with the way I fight, could you?" David asked. "I'm the type of guy that likes to keep my files and my stuff organized. Shuichi and I are in the WDO now. We have to set an example."
"Which reminds me, have you guys and Vector gotten any assignments from them yet?" Adora asked.
"Not yet. We were only just inducted, after all. We are hoping that we'll run into something during our adventures that will prove our worth. They are the best of the best, after all." David said.
"No kidding. I've heard the Master Detectives are quite the bunch. In terms of detectives, they are… unique, to put it lightly." Adora said.
"We know. They are said to have…Forensic Fortes, I believe they called it." Shuichi said.
"Basically they have metahuman abilities that let them solve cases." Vector said. "I've heard some of them are pretty wild. I've heard one of them can actually look back at a crime scene BEFORE the crime even happened!"
"Sounds like something you wished you have." Kokichi said.
"I know… I'm kind of jealous, to be honest." David said.
"Don't you already have something like that, though?" Tenko asked.
"Tenko's right, don't you have a cognition ability yourself?" Noel asked.
"Well, yeah. Kind of. It did help me out a few times while we were working with Phoenix, Apollo and Athena." David said. "But these guys… They're on a completely different level."
"It's true. They are not like us." Vector said. "Anyway, we're here."
They arrived at the half clean and half dirty city where they saw the Brushido army trying to clean and battling against a number of look-alikes in red armor and spreading more dirt.
Messyrai
Shady Tribe
"What's with the color swap samurai on the dirty side?" Akane said.
"Those are Messyrai. You could say they're Brushido's archenemy." Hope said.
"Hope's knowledge is correct. Analysis indicates Messyrai oppose Brushido in the ways of uncleanliness and stagnance." 042 said.
"Not these guys again…the last time I was close to them, they revered me as some sorta deity of filth or something." Jibanyan said.
"That does not surprise me. You kinda leave trash wherever you go." Sunset said.
"What? No I don't." Jibanyan said, walking away while leaving a trail of chocobar wrappers in his wake.
"You know you're proving her point, right?!" Bow asked. "Anyway, should we try to get these guys to stop fighting?"
"I… don't know if we should jump into this conflict head first." Noel said. "We'd just get caught in the middle."
"Besides, I doubt Washogun, Brushido and the Messyrai are the only contenders in this war. This is a universe based on health, a lot of dirty and sickness causing Yo-kai could be lurking around." Sunset said.
"Well then, maybe we should start by gathering information. If Brushido and Washogun are all about maximum cleanliness, they should know what kind of messy yo-kai are lurking around besides the Messyrai." Vashyron said.
"Let's get one of the Brushidos' attention and see if it can take us to Washogun." Adora said.
"I've got it." Entrapta said as she skipped over to the clean side of the city and then gave a whistle. "Greetings, stalwart soap warriors! I come in peace!"
Entrapta's loud greeting caused a bunch of Brushido to stop what they were doing and lock eyes with Entrapta.
"Filth!" they said as they jumped on her as a cloud of soap bubbles formed before they jumped away as she looked squeaky clean.
"Honestly, this is one of those 'What did you expect?' kinds of moments." David said at the sight.
"Well it has been awhile since I washed up." Entrapta said.
"How often do you work with machines again?" Fulgore asked.
"All the time. Sometimes I don't even eat or take baths." Entrapta said.
"So you just casually skipped into their line of sight just so the Brushido could give you an insta-clean?" Glimmer asked.
"Hey, I'm not complaining, I bunk with her. I haven't seen her this clean in days." Flamberge said.
"We are proud to be of service." a Brushido said before looking at Hope. "Oh, why it's you! One of our scouts in Springdale encountered you and your group once before. Have you come to aid us in our war against the filth?"
"Yes. How can we help?" Hope asked.
"The army of the gross has spread across half the city. While some have joined our cause, we are in dire straits." another Brushido said.
"It has to do with a bunch of Sickness based Yo-kai helping the Messyrai, right? Would you mind taking us to Washogun so he could tell us what you're up against?" Glimmer requested.
"Certainly! Right this way, our leader commands us from that building there." another Brushido said pointing to a nearby clearing supply store.
The group headed there and came face to face with Washogun himself.
"So…we face allies of our clean freak army." Washogun said.
"That's correct, Washogun. We hope to assist you in any way we can." Toriel promised.
"We think there may be some other yokai infesting the Messyrai territory based on sickness and filth. Do you know anything about that?" Adora asked.
"Unfortunately not. However, we know they are trying to lay claim to this clean city." Washogun said.
"Well we won't let them take it." Nami said.
"And we're gonna start by giving you guys the edge. We'll head straight into Messyrai territory and drive them into a corner." Glimmer said.
"Messyrai can only be defeated through the arts of cleanliness. Tell me, what can you offer that can purge this city of dirt and disease?" Washogun said.
"Lapis and I can give the buildings on the enemy side a pretty good power wash." Mermista piped in.
"Perfect. Lil Blue Bathing Hood and Bubble Beth could benefit from your help." Washogun said.
"Well, the three of us do have some minor experience with cleaning up bad acts. Figuratively, and literally." Cap-P proposed, referring to Alkal and Emo.
"Well, I'm sure Ghostess would appreciate your backup." Washogun said.
"Ghostess? What is she…." Emo began as a hand touched his shoulder. "Ah!" he said as he saw a woman with many hands made from her hair and dressed in a robe.
Ghostess
Heartful Tribe
"I will do all I can to serve you, my masters." Ghostess said.
"Oh, I've heard of her. She's got the best healing skills in all the Yo-kai World. She will provide service so good, you may never wanna move or do anything ever again." Sunset said.
"Sounds rather counterproductive, I must admit." Cap-P said.
"Uh…yeah, just follow our lead, and you should do fine." Alkal suggested to Ghostess.
"I'll show you all the best hospitality you can ask, master." Ghostess said.
"Ugh, this is gonna be a heck of a day…" Emo groaned.
"You have your assignments! Those who can manipulate water, met up with Lil Blue Bathing Hood and Bubble Beth to give this city a magnificent scrubbing! Ghostees, take your three volunteers and help those in need of healing. Now…begone!" Washogun ordered.
In the dirty part of the city, Mermista and Lapis silently stealthed their way through the streets, avoiding the many patrols of Messyrai that continued to spread dirt and filth.
"Jeeze, not even Amethyst could stand all this…" Lapis remarked.
"Well we have scrubbed this place clean and…and…" Mermista said as she started looking a little green around the gills.
"Uh, Mermista? Are you alright?" Lapis asked.
"All of a sudden I'm not feeling so good…probably because there's a Yo-kai on me, can you check?" Mermista groaned.
"Gimme a second." Lapis said, shining a light around Mermista to reveal a small green and nauseous looking Yo-kai floating above her.
Spewart
Eerie Tribe
"Ew, gross….!" Both girls said, noticing the yokai.
"*Urp* Ugh…so…you girls can see me…" Spewart said. "I…ugh…I don't see watches on either of you, so…*urp* you gotta be friends with someone who does, r-right?"
"Yeah, that's right…er..?" Mermista said.
"Spewart. I cause motion sickness." Spewart said.
"Ugh… I know a few people who would take your Inspiriting a whole lot worse than me." Mermista groaned, fighting to keep her lunch.
"Yeah, I'm…ugh *gulp*...sure you do." Spewart said. "Sorry 'bout this, it's nothing personal. These guys promised they'd pay for some services I need, so I…*urp*...g-gotta Inspirit the both of y-you. Having a l-little trouble with your friend there though; her soul isn't where it's…ugh…s-supposed to be."
"What kind of services would you need, hospital bills?" Lapis asked.
"No, helicopter repairs." Spewart said.
"You? Fly helicopters?" Mermista asked in disbelief.
"It's true. I run a flying service in the US. We…ugh *swallow*...a-all got our day j-jobs." Spewart said. "A-Anyway, g-gotta get back to figuring out how to Inspirit the blue girl."
"How about…this…instead?" Mermista gritted out, summoning every bit of will she had to conjure a bit of water for Lapis to use as a fist to knock Spewart away from Mermista. Spewart, while sent flying, dropped his medal which Lapis picked up.
After Spewart was out of Mermista's range, her stomach stopped turning and she immediately recovered.
"Huh…suddenly, I'm feeling a lot better." Mermista said.
"Great. That gets us back on track." Lapis said.
"So…. being a gem makes you immune to inspirits that physically affect bodies, huh?" Mermista asked.
"No, we can get sick if we sustain just enough damage right before we get poofed." Lapis said. "Can't say that I've ever heard of a Gem getting motion sickness."
"Guess it makes sense since you don't have any actual organs." Mermista said.
"And yet, Amethyst likes to eat despite not having a stomach." Lapis quipped. "C'mon, let's go find those two Yo-kai Washogun told us about."
"Yeah. Lil Blue Bathing Hood and Bubble Beth right? Ugh, he could've at least told us what they look like." Mermista said.
"Uh…I think I see one of them." Lapis said, looking into a building to see a small girl in a blue hood sitting in a bathtub.
Lil Blue Bathing Hood
Heartful Tribe
"Bingo." Mermista said the two of them went inside. "Hey. You Lil Blue Bathing Hood?"
"Why yes I am. And who might you be?" Lil Blue Bathing hoof asked.
"The reinforcements. Mermista and Lapis Lazuli. Washogun sent us." Mermista said.
"Oh good. Cause we have some trouble here." Lil Blue Bathing Hood said, referring to the halls filled with lots of shedded hair.
"Shedded hair? Let me guess…" Lapis started.
"Yes, it's one of the Messyrai's allies." Lil Blue confirmed. "Bubble Beth went after them, but I don't know if she'll be able to beat them on her own. Could you go see if she needs help?"
"Uh, and what are you doing during all this?" Mermista asked, sounding annoyed.
"Taking a bath, of course." Lil Blue answered.
"...Right." Lapis shook her head as the two hydrokinetics made their way through the halls, washing out any hair barriers they came across.
"Where is all this hair coming…from?" Mermista said before seeing a large moving hairball as people were losing their hair.
Shedwin
Eerie Tribe
"Ahahah! What fun!" Shedwin chortled, before he caught sight of the two Alliance members. "So, Washogun sent two more clean freaks after me, eh? Well, you'll just have to go back empty handed…and completely bald!" he laughed.
"Who is this kook? He can't…actually…." Mermista said as she saw her own hair falling out.
"That's Shedwin. He makes hair from humans and Yo-kai fall out and scatter." Lil Blue Bathing Hood said.
"Oh boy…" Lapis said as Mermista was upset at her own hair falling out.
"Hahahahaha…! Haha…huh?" Shedwin said, seeing the Mermaid Princess angry like a storm on the horizon. "Oh…well I'm screwed aren't I?"
"Right on the money." Lapis said.
"You'd have it worse if it was Yang or Shantae…but all the same?" Mermista said as water rose around her. "No one messes with MY hair!"
Shedwin was then hit with a massive flood that pushed him all the way through the hallway and out of Mermista's range. Lying on the ground was his medal.
Mermista sighed, looking back at Lapis. "Please tell me that thing wasn't near me enough to give a bald spot."
Lapis stared at the big bald spot on the back of Mermista's head. "I'm sorry, Mermista. He got you." The Gem said bluntly.
"Ugh…. whatever. Furdinand can grow it back once were done here." Mermista siad. "Let's find Bubble Beth and…" she said before smelling a floral scent, feeling relaxed before collapsing.
"What the…?" Lapis asked. "Oh great, is this another scent yo-kai like that butt faced guy?"
"Oh she's just relaxed." a voice said as Lapis saw a girl in a bathtub full of flowers.
Bubble Beth
Heartful Tribe
"Bubble Beth, I presume?" Lapis asked.
"Yes. I was already dealing with someone." she said, pointing to a dark skinned butt faced Yo-kai who was unconscious.
Cuttincheez
Eerie Tribe
"I see. Well, guess it's mission accomplished then." Lapis said.
"Not yet, I'm afraid. This is only the start." Lil Blue stated. "Now that we're together, the hard part begins: washing out the Messyrai forces making the city dirty."
"Well, I don't see you doing anything. All you did was take a bath." Mermista said.
"Indeed, I did do that." Lil Blue nodded, before gesturing out the window with a tilt of her head. "Fortunately, I'm quite adept at multitasking."
The two water users looked out the window to see multiple unconscious Messyrai floating in pools of water that dotted the street.
"They were coming after you, I believe." Lil Blue remarked as the two were shocked into silence. "Luckily, I was able to take care of them while you distracted Shedwin. Well done you two!"
"Yeah…well done." Lapis repeated.
"Jeeze…never judging a book by its cover again." Mermista remarked.
"Continue…to…fight it…" Cap P said as his fingers were being forced towards his nostrils as he faced against a small green Yo-kai that was picking its own nose.
Snottle
Mysterious Tribe
"Okay, we've met plenty of weird Yo-kai on this quest, but this is where I draw the line!" Emo yelled. "Why the hell do you exist!?"
"...To pick noses." Snottle said plainly.
"...Yeah, I walked into that one." Emo remarked, summoning a Magic Missile and launching it the Yo-kai, who dodged out of the way.
"Now…pick your nose!" Snottle declared, preparing to Inspirit Emo, before he was intercepted by Alkal.
"Not today!" Alkal said, grabbing the Yo-kai and throwing him away. "You seem like one of the more capable Yo-kai we've met…but even so, you won't win!"
"Yeah, get lost! Can't you see you're not wanted here?!" Emo yelled.
"...That's what he said too…" Snottle said sadly, before getting angry. "The Messyrai accepted me for who I am. I will not fail them!" he declared, charging.
"Honored Masters, allow me to help." Ghostess said as she went to heal the trio and free them from any Inspiritings, while also Inspiriting them as well, making them feel stronger.
"At last, I am free!" Cap-P declared as he saw Snottle charging. "It is time…Parkour Powerup!"
The captain was enveloped in purple aura as he met the Mysterious Tribe Yo-kai's charge with his own, unsheathing a razor at the last moment, cutting Snottle across the nose as he passed.
Snottle was left swaying on his feet as, for the first time, his fingers left his nose. "Maybe…I'm meant…to be alone…" he said as he collapsed, his medal rolling up to Cap-P's feet.
"...Not for much longer." Parkour said as he picked up the medal. "Sunset will be happy to accept you."
"We will not fall here." The Messyrai called out.
"Yeah well…ugh…" Emo said before he started coughing uncontrollably.
"Hey, what's…huh?" Alkal said seeing a large urchin floating in the air.
Coughkoff
Eerie Tribe
"Emo….are you…achoo!" Parkour said as he sneezed as he saw two duck-like Yo-kai with long snotty noses.
Snotsolong
Duchoo
Mysterious Tribe
"Hang on. I'll…uh?" Alkal said before holding his head as if he was dealing with a pounding headache as he saw another urchin and a small daruma.
Hurchin
Eerie Tribe
Dulluma
Tough Tribe
"Not…good…we need some…help here."" Alkal said. "Why… the heck… is this working…on me?"
"Nya!" a voice called out as they saw Jibanyan flying in and ramming into Coughkoff as they went into a building.
"Huh…where did…" Emo said.
"Are you three fellers safe?" a voice said as the three turned to see Tomnyan standing there.
"You? Why did…" Emo said.
"Well, I've come to like you fellas quite a bit. Meowserrie." Tomnyan said.
"Heh…you're not so bad yourself…" Alkal replied, before realizing that Dulluma and Snotsolong were targeting the cat Yo-kai. "Watch…out…!" he called out as both enemy Yo-kai went to double poke Tomnyan.
"Achoo!" a voice called out as thorns went and knocked down Hurchin, Dulluma, Duchoo and Snotsolong.
"Ugh…that was a sneeze." a voice said as Jibanyan was emerging from the building. Though now, he was green and covered in thorns.
Thornyan
Charming Tribe
"Ouch, got Inspirited again there, buddy?" Emo asked.
"Yeah. I become Thornyan when Coughkoff Inspirits me." Jibanyan said.
"So…any other soldiers you guys wanna throw our way?" Tomnyan asked the Messyrai.
They all looked at one another before waving a white (stained) flag. "We surrender." they said.
"A marvelous idea." Cap-P nodded before turning to the present company. "Call the Washogun. We have victory!"
They returned to the camp, all sides having finished their missions.
"Yes. Well done, all of you." Washogun said. "We've won the Clean Wars."
"Glad to help. And thanks to all the Yo-kai, we've gotten the use of a few Legends. Elder Bloom, Poofessor and Dandoodle. Plus, we've officially passed the 200 mark." Sunset said.
"Wow…at this rate we'll have you fully reconnected in no time." Asta said.
"Though we should consider our next…" Aelita said as a buzz sounded off.
"That's…from my comm?" Sunset said as her comm jumped up as an image showed a certain black suited man.
"Hello, Sunset Shimmer. You don't know me and you don't need to. You can call me Agent X. And I'll spare you some trouble…I work for the Ghoulfather and the Yo-kai Alliance." he said.
"He looks like second-in-command material, dontcha think?" Eddy remarked.
"You're probably wondering why I've decided to contact you. See, here's what's gonna happen…3 days…the Sunset Mall…you'll be handing all of your medals in the medallium." Agent X stated as though it were a fact.
"What? That's crazy!" Jexi said.
"Why would she do that?" Odd asked.
"Cause if you don't…" Agent X said holding a bound and gagged Nate and Katie. "These two are going to pay the price."
"Nate? Katie?!" Sunset said in surprise and horror.
"Originally, we wanted to leave some of the people of our homeworld out of this, but…things change." Agent X said. "You making it so hard to get some of our guests especially. Just wanted you to know that…this is your fault. And…just in case you think we're bluffing…"
Agent X snapped his fingers as a Leadoni was thrown at his feet from off screen. He then raised his fist and brought it down on the Yo-kai, the unfortunate victim unable to do so much as cry as it was pulverized, not even a spirit left behind. "You have three days." he said as the call ended.
"He is not bluffing." Sunset said in horror. "He's…he's gonna kill them. We…We have to stop him. We have to stop him now!" she exclaimed frantically.
"Sunset, it's gonna be okay. We're goin' to get them back." Applejack assured her.
"Right…right." Sunset said. "Hmm…I need a plan to make it out with both Nate, Katie and the Medallium."
"Yes. What he is trying to do is morally inexcusable. We can't let him get away with this. He won't have his way!" David said.
"Can such a plan even exist?" Hope asked.
"Yes. But…we're gonna need to take something from a certain someplace." Sunset said.
"Oh…boy." Jexi said.