~~000~~

Tales of the Multiverse Bit 246

"Yeah! You deserved to be booted! You're nothing but a piece of garbage!"

Sora Aozora erupted in anger at Owen Brannons, who began to cry in reaction. Meanwhile, Crusher the Highland Goat, Kouta Fujiki, Marcus Reservoir, Sharpshooter Jane, and Soaphie Lapislazuli looked on at Sora with complete shock and disbelief.

~~000~~

Eventually, the members of The Dan Army, Chrys Heart and Romance Detective, shows up at a weird garage, looking to get some assistance from Lupin McLupin, even though they can't stand him.

"We got away." Chrys uttered in relief.

"Thank, Vince McMahon!" Denton "16-Years Old" Gibson exclaimed while wiping the sweat from his brow.

"They weren't far from behind." Romance Detective pointed out, "We may be trapped here for a time being." she remarked.

"She is right." Elise Pearson exclaimed in agreement, "We really need to sort this out quickly!" she beckoned.

Just then, Lupin showed up looking pretty annoyed, "Who goes there?!" he barked but then he realized it was them, "Oh, it's you guys," he muttered.

"Hey there, slick!" Dan Mandel chimed in, "I trust you haven't erased us from your memory." he said with a sly look.

"Listen..." Chrys begun, "We need your hel-" she was trying to say but is interrupted.

"I am not allowed back at any of my sweet Canary's concerts because of you people!" Lupin exclaimed angrily.

"W-What?" Chrys squawked, "What are you blaming us for?" she questioned, "What did you do?" she added.

"Totally!" Mandy Rosal chimed in agreement, "All we did was score you a ticket to the Canary concert!" she reminded.

"Which you got by pulling a fast one on us!" Trixie Lulamoon jumped in.

"I set some special fireworks I made, but apparently that's enough to kick you out of the venue!" Lupin explained angrily, "The ultimate expression of my love, stomped out, just like that!" he lamented.

"Isn't that your own fault then?" Chrys pointed out.

"You reap what you sow." Ninja Dave Bauza chastised.

"You gave me the ticket!" Lupin reminded, "If I hadn't gone to that concert, I'd still be able to see her again!" he exclaimed.

"The blame may not be entirely his own...'' Romance Detective admitted.

"This is all on him!" Dan exclaimed in disagreement, "He can't blame us for the mess he made!" he declared.

"Exactly!" Chris Pearson chimed in agreement, "He totally manipulated us into giving him those tickets!" he said.

"Just as they said." Chrys uttered out loud, "What in the world makes you say that, detective?" she asked.

"Lupin." Romance Detective begun, "The roses in this city have gained a strange power." she shared

"What?" Lupin uttered in confusion.

"They can manipulate your thoughts, causing you to take impulsive actions in the name of love." Romance Detective explained, "They are very dangerous, and we've come to ask you to help us to get rid of them." she stated.

"What is she on?" Lupin asked indecorously.

"Not drugs." Trixie quipped with a blank look.

'I-It's the truth!" Chrys insisted, "I know it sounds crazy, but you have to believe in us!" she pleaded.

Lupin thought about it, "Hmm..." hummed out loud, "All right, I'll play along." he accepted, "With a price." he added with a grin.

"I knew there's a catch.'' Brick McArthur muttered in disbelief.

"You already owe us a favor!" Chrys pointed out, "You said it yourself!" she reminded.

"Yeah!" Kafuu Kalawaiʻa exclaimed in agreement, "So be a man and lend us a hand!" he urged.

"Yeah, yeah, you need something to exterminate those roses, hmm?'' Lupin uttered nonchalantly, "Might I suggest a flamethrower?" he suggested.

"Too dangerous." Romance Detective replied.

"She's right." Mandy said in agreement, "The roses emit a terrible smoke when set ablaze." she explained.

"So, fire is no good, huh?" Lupin acknowledged, "I'll blast them to the moon for you." he offered, "How about that?'' he urged.

"That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever encountered!" Dan declared, "Let's go for it." he added while maintaining a neutral expression.

"S-Send them to space?" Chrys uttered in surprise, "That could work...'' she considered.

"Can you do it?" Romance Detective questioned.

"Oh, sure, I could build a rocket in my sleep." Lupin declared, "But there is one tiny condition." he added.

"You're in no position in bargaining with us." Chrys reprimanded, "I could still have you arrested for what happened yesterday!" she threatened.

"The boys could end your life at this very moment." Elise reminded while Dan honed his knife, only for Chris to swiftly take it from him.

Lupin, though clearly shaken, maintained his calm demeanor, "However, I can't assist you if I'm incarcerated." he noted, "Is that truly your desire?" he inquired.

Romance Detective groaned in response, "What's your condition?" she asked.

"This cop has to go on a date with me." Lupin replied with a grin.

The revelation caught everyone off guard, even more so than Chrys herself, "Absolutely not!" she exploded, "I refuse!" she shouted emphatically.

"You despicable scoundrel!" Denton insulted, "First it was Canary, and now Chrys." he listed off, "What on earth is wrong with you?!" he shouted in disbelief.

"So, you've developed feelings for her as well..." Romance Detective murmured.

"Feelings?" Lupin questioned, "Ha!" he breathed out, "Not a chance!" he retorted mockingly, "Canary will always be my top choice." he declared, "But I could consider her cousin." he added with a smirk.

"Oh no..." Honne Nohotoke whispered.

"He realized that Chrys is related to Canary." Elise muttered in frustration.

Chrys clenched her jaw, "Ugh!" she groaned out loud, "You're revolting!" she shouted.

"A degenerate!" Mandy interjected.

"You make Trixie feel ill!" Trixie growled.

"Complete human garbage!" Romance Detective shouted.

"Yeah!" Isamu Oohori and Shuuhei Shinozaki exclaimed in agreement.

Lupin appeared to be affected by their taunts but maintained his composure, "Your insults mean nothing!" he lied, "I abandoned my pride long ago!" he added. "So, will you agree to it or not?" he inquired.

"She won't." Romance Detective remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

"Nobody asked for your opinion!" Lupin retorted angrily before turning his attention to Canary's cousin, "All you need to do is agree, and I'll construct as many rockets as you desire." he instructed while flashing a confident smile.

"Chrys, what are you thinking?" Elise inquired.

"I-If it benefits the city, then I..." Chrys hesitated with her voice trailing off.

"No, Romance Cop, I cannot permit this!" Romance Detective interjected firmly.

"However, he isn't really leaving us with many options," Chrys countered. "Okay, Lupin, I'll—" she began but was cut off.

"SHE WON'T DO IT!" Romance Detective exploded, "ROMANCE COP IS MY PARTNER!" she pointed out, "I WON'T LET YOU HAVE HER!" she shouted with her voice echoing in the area.

The sudden outburst left everyone stunned while Chrys felt her cheeks heat up, "Wow..." Ninja Dave whispered in astonishment.

"Detective, are you alright?" Elise asked with her concern evident.

"Whoa, if she's your girlfriend, you should have mentioned it earlier!" Lupin exclaimed, "I can respect that!" he said rather unexpectedly.

"D-Detective?!" Chrys exclaimed in shock.

Romance Detective hid her face beneath her hat, "You misunderstood, I-I said partner!" she stammered, "Not..." she faltered while trying to deny the implication.

"Hmm, so you can't assist me after all..." Lupin trailed, "... very well, out of the kindness of my heart, I'll build you a rocket." he declared.

"Huh, really?" Chrys uttered in surprise.

"Yeah, I've given you enough of a hard time already but..." Lupin trailed, "... you can't arrest me after this, deal?" he beckoned.

"To be honest, I was kinda looking for that." Chrys admitted.

"Amen." Kafuu quipped.

"But..." Chrys trailed, "... fine." she conceded, "How long will this take?" she inquired.

"A few hours, maybe." Lupin estimated, "I already had plans to build a giant rocket and just needed a reason to begin construction." he explained, "This was destiny.'' he declared.

"All right then..." Chrys trailed, "... you had fun with that." she urged.

"In the meantime, we will devise a plan to collect all the roses in the city." Mandy remarked.

"All while avoiding the individuals who wish to fuck us." Trixie added with a frown.

"Hah!" Lupin breathed out, "You're plan is so crazy that I like it!" he acknowledged before exiting the garage to begin his work on the rocket.

"We're still planning to confront him after this, correct?" Brick inquired.

Dan cracked his knuckles, "Absolutely, we will." he responded with a grin.

"So now all that's left is to figure out a way to gather every roses in this city." Chrys remarked, "Any ideas, Detective?" she asked.

"With the chaos outside, things will be difficult." Romance Detective pointed out, "Unless we used it to our advantage, but..." she trailed.

"But what?!" Dan demanded while throwing his hands in the air.

"Use it to our advantage?" Honne uttered out loud, "How?'' she asked.

"I have a plan and it could work." Romance Detective replied, "But some of you might disapprove..." she remarked.

"Well, go on, don't make me start guessing." Chrys egged, "What's the plan?" she asked.

Romance Detective then walks ahead of them, "Just follow me, we're going outside." she beckoned.

"Wait, before that, Detective?" Chrys tried to asked.

"Focus on the case for now." Romance Detective insisted, "We'll talk later after the roses have been dealt with." she considered.

Chrys smiled in response, "First things first, huh?" she mused, "All right, let's go." she beckoned.

With that, Romance Detective and Chrys stepped outside while The DAN Army exchanged glances for a moment before shrugging and promptly following them.

"I have to be honest, I believe the detective and Chrys would make a lovely couple." Mandy confessed.

"I'm not really into that sort of thing but I have to agree." Brick said in agreement.

Meanwhile, Honne was lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the back of a certain jerk and unbeknownst to anyone, her eyes took on a faint pink hue.

As the group emerged, they were met with the sight of an adoring crowd eagerly awaiting their arrival, Daisy Sarasa, Heather Murphy and Stephan Lersch included.

"Look, look!" Daisy beckoned, "They're here!" she pointed out and everyone started to cheer.

"Oh dear..." Ninja Dave muttered nervously.

"Uhh, Detective, can you please get your plan into action?!" Denton exclaimed in panic.

Romance Detective nodded in response before stepping forward, "Listen well, citizens!" she beckoned, "I have a challenge to propose!" she shared, "Whosoever brings my partner and my friends the most roses by midnight..." she trailed, "... will get to go on a date with one of them!" she declared.

"W-What?!" Chrys and Trixie squawked in shock.

"That's your plan?!" Elise exclaimed in disbelief.

"Romance Cop and friends..." Romace Detective trailed, "... I know this isn't ideal but you must all play along to make it work!" she reasoned.

"O-Oh, um, I'm sorry, uh...'' Chrys stammered, "Yes, that's right!" she exclaimed, "I love roses!" she semi-declared, "Please bring me lots of them and I'll take you out to lunch!" she shouted.

"What she said!" Elise yelled out loud.

"Trixie will go out with any of you if you give Trixie roses!" Trixie shouted.

"I'll bake you a cake!" Mandy added.

"We'll go to the amusement park!" Honne hollered.

"Just get me those damn roses and I'll fucking go out with any of you bitches!" Dan demanded.

"A date?" Stephan uttered, "We accept!" he declared with everyone bursting into a loud cheers.

"Remember to bring the roses to the park by midnight tonight to be considered for the prize!" Romance Detective advised.

"I'll gather more roses than any of you!" Heather boasted, "My love for Chrys will outshine any of yours!" she declared, "Wahahahaha!" she let's out a laugh and started running away from her fellow lovestruck people.

"C-Chief, you're embarrassing yourself..." Chrys grumbled.

"In that state, I don't think she cares." Kafuu quipped.

"We all need to collect roses too." Romance Detective beckoned, "So, we need to stay together!" she advised.

"O-Okay..." Chrys obliged.

"Just don't stick too close or else!" Dan threatened.

Later that evening in Lovebloom Park, the group can be seen collecting numerous roses and carefully placing them into a large basket that Dan discovered.

"Wow, this city really has an abundance of roses." Chris remarked while placing a bouquet into the large basket.

"I'm surprised Stephen's shop doesn't have any roses." Denton noted, "I mean, it is a flower shop, after all." he pointed out.

"That's an interesting point." Kafuu replied.

Dan was busy digging up a rose from the ground when Honne walked by and her eyes momentarily tinged with pink.

"Are the others still collecting roses?" Elise inquired.

Brick glanced into the distance, "Yeah, they are." he confirmed, "While getting into each other's throats at the same time." he added.

"Unbelievable what people will do for love." Ninja Dave muttered.

"Hey, everyone." a voice called out and they turned to see Drake Garek approaching them, "What brings you all here?" the blue-collared worker asked.

"Drake!" Mandy exclaimed in surprise.

"Forget us..." Dan dismissed, "... what are you doing here?" he questioned.

Drake shrugged in response, "I grew up in this city, so I come back here occasionally." he explained before noticing the roses, "What's with the roses?" he asked in confusion.

"It's a long story, Drake." Elise responded, "We'll fill you in later." she said.

Romance Detective and Chrys arrived, both carrying roses and upon seeing Drake, the former froze in surprise, "By the heavens..." the enigmatic woman trailed, "... I never thought I'd see you again.'' she admitted.

Drake stared at her for a moment before sighing, "Of course, you'd be involved in something like this." he uttered out loud.

"You two know each other?" Mandy asked, astonished, pointing at them.

Romance Detective looked away, "Yes, we do..." she confirmed, "He is..." she trailed, "... my ex-boyfriend." she admitted nervously while Drake rubs the back of his head.

Everyone stopped what their doing for a minute as they stare at them with bewildered expressions.

A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Jamesdean5842, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.