(VG Central; Megamix Dome)
The morning sun provided a lovely light over the bustling city of VG Central, a city known for being a universal hotspot for video game characters to get together and hang out. Our attention shifts to one building in particular, the all-too familiar Megamix Dome, the famous arena that was home to the Megamix Tournament, as well as the first two Battle of the Luminaries. While, the Tournament of Kikai, and the most recent Battle of the Luminaries had taken place elsewhere in Fictograph City, the mind behind this tournament simply felt like going back to where it all started was an opportunity too great to pass up.
Speaking of the mind behind the tournament, he currently stood at the base of the dome, overlooking at rebuilt structure in awe. This young man had silver hair and light skin, and was currently wearing a white t-shirt underneath a dark grey overshirt and grey pants.
"Wow, I c-can't believe he actually managed to get it fixed! And so quick too! Whoever he hired must be miracle workers!" The young man said in amazement.
This was Roxas-Raine, an ascended fan of the UVR-spinoffs. After witnessing them for himself, he knew he wanted to hold his own, and eventually, after many start-up attempts that didn't pan out. He was able to finally get up off the ground with this tournament, to say he was excited was an understatement.
Soon enough, he snapped out of his trance and walked over into the hotel located right next to the dome.
Once in, he pulled out a small digital cube that transformed into a tablet in his hand, he looked over some things on it.
"The other hosts couldn't accept my invitation, that's okay! They all have their own tournaments to take care of, I can handle this on my own. Man, I can't wait!" Roxas said excitedly.
Just then, his tablet vibrated, a notification popped up telling him he was getting a call from someone. Seeing it as his good friend Livia, he smiled and pressed the button to answer the call.
"Hey, Roxas! How is the host life treating you? Good I suppose? You landed okay?" The girl questioned.
Roxas nodded. "Yup! Just getting everything ready! Only one more thing left to cover. The security team! They should be coming in right about now, and I wanted to run them by you."
Livia on the screen narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Okay, you didn't hire any Max's or Psymon Stark's did you?"
Sheepishly, Roxas did an awkward laugh while shaking his head. "No, no! No one like that, take a look for yourself. I made sure to try and cover as many archetypes as I can!"
He then faced the screen toward the doors as five figures entered through the doors, the first of which, who looked to be the leader, was a brunette teenager wearing an eye patch over his right eye, as well as a blue jacket, brown boots and dark leggings. On both of his sides were two cutlasses handing inside sheaths. Lastly, he had a scar underneath his left eye. He wore a confident smile on his face.
"This is Vyse from Skies of Arcadia. Compassionate, charismatic, and determined, I think these qualities would make him the perfect leader for this security team!" Roxas said to Livia on the tablet, who eyed Vyse with uncertainty.
"A little young to be the leader, don't you think?" She said, still eyeing him, not convinced.
Vyse smirked. "Looks like I have something to prove, eh?" He said to Livia, before turning to Roxas.
"No worries, boss! I am to please, and I'm sure once your friend and you see me uphold the peace around here, you'll be impressed! Trust me, you won't regret electing me leader."
With a thumbs up to both of them, he walked past them and stood to the side, letting the other members of the security team get introduced.
Nodding, Roxas turned the tablet back around to face the next member of the team. Another teenager, this time a pale girl with dirty-blonde hair, wearing what looked to be a pink coat, a starry-designed skirt with blue leggings. She had a very dreamy and distant look in her eyes, as if her mind had already wandered off from the conversation that would soon come up.
"Luna Lovegood, hailing from Hogwarts and the Harry Potter series." Livia said, a bit bluntly, as if she was not impressed with this member either.
Still sheepish, Roxas scratched the back of his head as he nodded and introduced Luna proper. "Luna here is quite a powerful witch, able to take part in important and huge battles and come out better off than most. Not to mention, her wisdom and intellect are unmatched among the team, personally, a fitting enough person to handle magic and the logical thinking."
Luna, who had yet to say anything, finally turned to the two and gave a nod and smile, still looking around. "Quite a show you have put on. I wonder how crowded it is already."
That being all she had to say, she walked over to where Vyse stood and took her place next to him.
The next member to come up was probably the most ill-fit looking for the job, yet another teen, this time clad in what appeared to be a very cartoonish sailor outfit, his other notable features included the unruly hairstyle he had, and the spiked baseball bat he held on his shoulder. He wore an arrogant smirk.
"Ah, Steve "The Hair" Harrington of Stranger Things fame. A bit reckless, but sure as heck can take a hit, and dish out them just as easily with that baseball bat of his. Fared better than trained soldiers in taking down monsters." Roxas said as he introduced Steve.
Upon walking up to them, Steve simply gave a greeting to the two with a nod before he turned to see who he was working with.
"That my crew? Looks pretty alright, yeah. I think I can work with this and get things done, and maybe have a beer or two afterward. Peace! For now." Steve said as he took his place in line.
Watching him, Livia simply remarked with narrowed eyes. "Gee, you sure have a lot of faith in children to keep things in check here."
With a sigh, Roxas could only watch as the fourth security team member walked up to bat. This time, it was a bubbly girl with red hair tied into twin pigtails. Clad in a pink top, orange and yellow skirt, boots, and a fur pelt around her waist that held her weapon. She had a bright and sunny smile on her face.
"And this is Oerba Dia Vanille, hailing from Final Fantasy XIII, although just Vanille is fine. What can I say? Her optimism and upbeat nature are great for group morale, along with being able to fight. Her archetype was supposed to be the token girl, but that kinda went out the window when Luna entered the picture. Still, having a friendly face wouldn't hurt."
Vanille simply giggled as she hopped up to Roxas and Livia, greeting them both with a friendly cheery wave.
"Happy to be here! It's awesome that not only will I be able to root for Lightning and Snow in the tournament, but I'll get to watch over and make sure everyone is having fun too!" Vanille said excitedly, a little oblivious to the kinds of conflict this job attracts.
Livia gave a bit of a forced and nervous laugh at Vanille's words as she skipped over to where everyone else was. When she saw it was safe she sighed and glared at Roxas when he turned her to face him.
"I'm trying to see the good here, but I just don't have faith in this team."
Roxas was about to respond when he saw the final member to round out the team come in, his face lit up as he turned the tablet back to have Livia face them.
"Maybe this will inspire some hope in you. If just a little."
The last member of the security force was also without a doubt the most battle ready looking, a strapping young fellow with dirty blonde hair like Luna, only he was wearing armor that seemed to suggest he looked like he could handle himself in a fight. Further suggested by the sword he carried on him. He, like Steve, wore a smirk on his face.
"Last but not least, Soren, a young swordsman of immense talent, being a former member of the Crownguard of Katolis. Not to mention, his physique could lend him to add some much needed muscle to the team."
In a joking member, Soren walked up to the two and did a salute. "Incredibly good-looking and carrier of inexperienced security teams, Soren is at your service." He said, finishing with a bow before heading to the others to finish the line-up.
Livia eyed everyone, still a bit conflicted. "I don't know, I'm not confident in this team, but, nothing is valid until I see them in action."
Roxas shrugged with a smile. "Understandable. So I have sent out the invitations to all the nodes competing, and I think we have a good mix of characters here, even if some are a little bloated."
"Yeah, no kidding. I think this cast has a grand opportunity to deliver, especially the two smash-like nodes. Definitely a lot of potential there."
"Oh, I can only imagine the scenarios those nodes can create, it'll be amazing. Well, gotta go, see you later!" With that, he ended the call as he looked around him again, still amazed this was really happening.
(Gotham City; Wayne Enterprises)
Bruce Wayne looked at the invitation sitting on his desk curiously. He had already read over it many times, but none of it seemed to answer his question.
That question being why was only the Justice League Dark getting invites to this tournament? And even then, why only a fraction of it's overall members?
Bruce shook his head, he shouldn't be spending so much time dwelling on this. Anyone could be invited and, while he never really bothered to think about it, it was rather fulfilling seeing a team from DC that wasn't incredibly well-known get the spotlight, even if it still did only apply to it's most well-known members. Didn't that mean the purpose defeated itself?
Huh, guess it did. In addition, he was surprised that he was considered part of the team, largely because he had been part of it for one instance as a way to draw attention. He couldn't help but think this was another one of those times, a way to include him but not others.
Still, in spite of whatever tactic or technicality it was that allowed him a luxury most of the Justice League wasn't afforded. He wasn't unwelcome to the invitation, Gotham had been quiet for awhile, he could use something to kill time, though everyone knows that could change in an instant.
Bruce then shifted his attention to who he could expect to see there, Diana was a clear choice for likely the same reasons as him, Zatanna was also a no-brainer to include. Then there was John Consta-...
Bruce laid his head back and groaned. Of course, John Constantine, of course the host was looking to bring that man to the tournament. He shouldn't have been surprised but it was aggravating all the same.
With whatever optimism he had now taken a dip, Bruce got up, grabbed his suit jacket and the invitation, and walked to the door of his office. He had a long few days ahead of him….
(Paris; Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie)
Marinette looked at the invitation in her hands in uncertainty, and then shifted her gaze to the Chinese Miracle Box that contained all the Miraculous.
"It's only for a few days, Marinette. The invitation calls for all of the superheroes to compete! No Akumas have come up since then thanks to your charms!" Her kwami, Tikki said as she perked up behind her.
Marinette read over it again, and gave a sigh as she folded into her chair. "I know, and we've already got everything planned to go. It's just, I have a bad feeling."
Tikki simply floated up to her. "You've accounted for everything, Marinette. The city will be in good hands while you're gone, especially since you'll have the Miraculous with you!"
Marinette mustered up a smile for Tikki's sake. Sure, everything in theory should be okay, and in worst case something did happen, Hawk Moth couldn't technically get what he wanted until she and her friends came back. But that was it, what if she was followed? Then what would happen? She'd be indirectly putting a bunch of people in danger. Especially Adrien….
Gah! She couldn't think like that, she had to have her mind of everyone's safety. Not just the love of her life.
"You're right, Tikki." Marinette said with a smile to her kwami. "I've done everything possible, so if a problem occurs, I'll be back to clean it up as fast as possible!"
"Marinette! Your friends are here! Time to leave for that trip your class is going on!" Her dad Tom, had called out to her.
With a look and nod at her kwami, Marinette grabbed her things, plus the Miracle Box, and headed downstairs to greet her friends and catch their train to VG Central.
(Earthrealm; Special Forces Base)
"So some kid wants us to go fight in another tournament for him? Ha! Sign me up, I know how to put on a good show!" Johnny Cage said as he read over the invitation.
Sonya playfully rolled her eyes as she turned to Raiden, clutching her own invitation in her hand. "I doubt we're not gonna run into trouble out there. If our node is invited, of course Shao Kahn is gonna come alongside us."
Raiden nodded. "I anticipate this, I have heard of alliances between villains forming over the course of each tournament I have found info on. No doubt Shao Kahn and his lackeys are seeking an audience with M. Bison."
Cassis then spoke up, with a raised hand. "If he does, we can't let him win, and neither can Kronika. I've heard reports from Kitana that her own minions were spotted in Outworld."
Johnny's excitement seemed to visibly drain out of his body as he shook his head. "Seems things can't ever go smoothly…"
"Indeed, as long as those two live, there will always be conflict it seems." Raiden said solemnly.
Looking to shift the topic, Cassie looked up at her mother. "So, are Kitana and Liu Kang ready to go?"
Then, Sonya got a message on her communicator, reading over it with a smrk. "Looks like it. Well, let's go kick some ass, both inter-dimensional and Shao Kahn's."
Cassie smiled as she got up. "Would be nice to see Takeda and Jin again. Been awhile, nice to see they haven't been forgotten."
Johnny finally spoke up again as he lifted himself up to go. "No kidding. If that roster is to be believed, a few more of those who might've been forgotten will be there."
(Japan; Rooftops)
Juri leaped from one rooftop to another on her way to catch the train to VG Central, In her hands she clenched a invitation. While it wasn't clear, inside she was eager at the prospect of fighting new opponents.
To say she was looking forward to the tournament was an understatement, she loved going to these things, and she couldn't wait to get a taste of the other fighters she might encounter there.
Stopping, she flipped the invitation over to look at the roster sheet, and her smile turned wicked as she eyed the many names. "So many fighters…..so many people I can't wait to get my hands on." She giggled, although it had a sinister tone to it.
To keep it simple, there were many fighters she looked forward to facing, which made her excitement heighten. She wondered if Bison would be there given he was supposed to have been destroyed by Ryu, though it wouldn't surprise the purple-clad woman if he managed to find another body. Regardless, she'll have her fun, no matter if that loser was back or not.
Seeing the train in the distance, her pace once again slowed, but remained steady. If Bison was in fact active, would he likely hatch another scheme at this new tournament? Eh, she didn't really care about that.
"Who cares about him? Honestly, I just want to fight." She said, shrugging to herself.
(VG Central; Megamix Dome)
"Well, that takes care of everything!" Roxas said as he checked off the last things on his list.
Taking another big gander around the room, he decided to just stay there and take it all in. This was it, his big break, it was finally here.
Finishing up his little act of taking it in, he pulled up his tablets, starting to get work on getting the rooms ready for every single fighter.