A Different Future… 3
"Aw, come on!" NeoMark went, trying to reach for his copy of the MVC collection.
"No abandoning us to play a game until this is over! The least you could've done is invite us to play it, or at least something I'm familiar with, like Mario Party..." FP11 kept the game out of his hands.
"You ditched us, dude. For Marvel vs Capcom 2. Rude." Came from 61394, who was glaring.
"Should've invited me!" Deadpool said.
"I was wondering, are you in that game, DP?" PFN asks.
"Nah, I was in 3. I missed out on MVC Infinite… dodged the big bullet that time… so if it's 2, I'll stick to Channing Tatum." Deadpool said.
"Channing Ta- oh right..." NeoMark recalled who played him recently.
"This was the year he made a name for himself! Remember it!" Deadpool said proudly.
"And the year some fools were still trying to ice skate uphill." 61394 agreed as Deadpool looked shocked. "Yes, I've seen your movie, don't look so shocked."
"I'm more shocked no one noticed the 97 reference." Deadpool said under his breath.
"Uh...so...would we be playing Marvel Vs Capcom 2 still?" BCFW walked up to the screen. "Cause I don't mind taking a trip down memory lane either." He spoke with a small grin.
"...okay." FP11 let out, being too distracted to stop NeoMark from taking his game.
"Okay… to make it up to everyone, I'll order food from an anime I've been watching on Netflix. But as I make the order, let's see who he chooses this time." NeoMark said as he held his copy so protectively.
"I haven't seen the show but I know I'll have one of everything." 61394 said hungrily.
"Is the anime Toriko?" BCFW tilted his head. The smile grew on his face. "Cause I wouldn't mind having some Mellow Cola with some Garara Gator."
"I'm down for that. Or a chocolate milkshake." Luiz4200 said.
"I would like some chicken and some water." PFN nodded.
"Fine… but don't go off and ditch us again…" FP11 reminded.
"Yeah, at least invite us to play with you." 61394 added.
"Let's just cut to who it is this time, shall we?" NeoMark said.
"I think you're amazing…you're so strong, so smart and so beautiful…I think we truly have something between us…something special…so…what…what I am trying to say is…" With a gulp, he finally said it. "Kimiko Tomohiko, will you please go out with me?"
The Xiaolin monk girl blushed deeply at hearing these words, and she could only respond with one word.
"YES!" She said.
"Kimiko Tomohiko from Xiaolin Showdown is the number 4 girl." NeoMark presented.
"Kimiko, huh?" FP11 said.
"The underdog from the Xiaolin temple who came out on top." 61394 said. "Maybe I should have saved the underdog line for Clawdeen?"
"I'd say so." BCFW nodded.
"From her portrayal in this fic, I think Clawdeen would feel insulted." Luiz4200 pointed out. "Either way, I hope I get to see Tucker's reaction to Danny dating a game company heiress."
"Wow, I didn't expect her to be number four. I thought Kim or Sam was the one that was ranking. Plus, it is one of my favorite chapters." PFN nodded.
"So… elephant in the room here, but she was 4th place in the original poll… and she's top of the new one without the past 3. I will admit, I was unsure about using her since I had forgotten that monks cannot marry." NeoMark scratched the back of his head. "But then 61394 reminded me of something…"
"That Kimiko, Raimundo and Clay aren't traditional Xiaolin monks since they have their own religious beliefs. Omi probably is." 61394 said.
"Right. At first, I was going to make this a lot like Danny's future with Katie from the original story, where he broke off with Kitty and eventually got with Katie, in this case he ended up with someone else instead of Kimiko." NeoMark.
"Who? Was it Leni or Clawdeen?" FP11 asks.
"Kim! Kim! Kim!" Deadpool cheered.
"... actually, Katnappe." NeoMark said, causing varying reactions. "Okay, hold up! I am totally aware of the problem there. She wasn't on a date with him and she's a villainess. I figured it'd be more of a… Roy Harper and Cheshire kind of relationship."
"From the comics or Young Justice?" Deadpool asks.
"Doesn't matter, since 61394 pointed out to me that people who wanted Kimiko probably wouldn't have been happy with the idea that he and Kimiko didn't work things out and he ended up with someone else." NeoMark said.
"I see your point." FP11 said.
"Yeah, you'd upset what few people who actually follow you." Deadpool nodded.
"Well, that's not happening here. I considered the idea of him marrying Katnappe first, she left him after having a kid because she couldn't let go of being a crook, and Kimiko married him to help raise the child… but then 61394 convinced me not to. Still, let me know if you all think that's an interesting idea to explore in a separate story." NeoMark said before seeing the other authors about to speak. "I was talking to the audience."
"It could be interesting, I guess." 61394 said.
"Hey." BCFW relief with a shrug. "Do what you feel works."
"I'm sure someone will want that. I did try to work in a villainess, but between Katnappe and Vanessa, the latter barely qualifying, I knew Vanessa would be the more popular pick." NeoMark said.
"I see. So… the future with who people ACTUALLY wanted?" FP11 asked again.
"Right… ahem…" NeoMark stood back. "Kāishǐ wèilái!"
Every other author stared at him.
"...huh?" They all went.
"Oh... I am so glad this is not a visual medium that requires actual audio... you'd make every person who speaks Chinese murderously angry." Deadpool snickered.
"It's Chinese for "Begin the Future" since Gong Yi Tanpai is supposed "Begin the Showdown" but is apparently pseudo-Chinese… although… Kimiko is Japanese so… Ehhhhh… just start it!" NeoMark said as the future played.
15 years later
Amity Park suburbs, where the certain home of a certain hero was. As his wife was out to work, he looked after the most treasured part of his life, the one thing he loved more than her.
"Daddy!" A small girl's voice called out to him.
Danny, who was in the kitchen getting lunch ready, turned his head.
"Kyoka? What's goin' on?!" He asks as he gets the bowls out.
In came his daughter. A five-year-old child who looked a lot like Kimiko, but had Danny's nose and shade of blue for eyes. She also wore her hair in braids and was wearing a cute little red dress and matching shoes.
"Is Mommy coming today?" Kyoka had a small and innocent smile on her face.
"She sure is." Danny knew Kimiko was a busy woman, but his decision to be a stay at home dad was the practical option. At least for now. "So... promise to keep your room clean while I get lunch ready?"
"What flavor is it?" Kyoka noticed the two bowls.
"For you, shrimp. You're not old enough to try the adult soup." Danny referred to ramen as the adult soup as he figured a small child like Kyoka would be too young to try it.
"Aww…" Kyoka pouted.
"Be a good girl and we'll have your favorite flavor of ice cream for dessert, but only if you promise not to tell Mommy, okay?" Danny winked at his daughter.
"Yay!" Kyoka happily applauded.
"Awesome… so… please take your seat." Danny said as he went to get her soup ready.
Kyoka approached the chair and took a breath as she jumped up into the air, only for her to land on her feet and pout.
"Aww… I still can't fly!" She slouched in disappointment.
Danny noticed his little girl's reaction and shook his head.
He was always worried that if he had a child with someone who has their own powers, there's the risk those powers would likely clash with one another as opposed to mixing, making the child's abilities much weaker by comparison.
"I'll help you." He said, putting the noodles in the pot with boiling water before going to pick up his daughter and help her in.
"Thanks, Daddy…" Kyoka said.
"Kyoka? Are you really upset you don't have all of my powers?" Danny asks.
"A little… you can fly, punch monsters and shoot lasers. WITHOUT Shen Gong Wu! I just wanted to know what it's like…" Kyoka whined before pouting a little.
Danny patted her head.
"You're still little… Besides, my powers aren't natural. Your mom's powers might happen instead. You can burn stuff wi-Uh… You can make pretty fireworks." Danny changed his sentence mid-speech so as to not give his daughter ideas.
"Okay…" Kyoka seemed to have lightened up from the idea.
Danny mentally hoped she didn't get ideas. He did not like the idea of his girl being an arsonist as she grew older.
"If I wanted my kid to be a potential danger to society, I'd have married Katnappe…" He said under his breath.
"Huh? What was that, Daddy?" A curious Kyoka asks.
"Nothing, Kyoka..." Danny patted his daughter on the head as he went to place the noodles in their bowls. "Just glad to know it was your mommy that I married..."
"Meet Kyoka, their daughter." NeoMark said.
"She's cute. I can already tell she's gonna take after both Danny and Kimiko..." FP11 said.
"She is adorable." PFN said.
"So… question time!" NeoMark said. "BCF, question or guesstimate? Also, 61394, please ask a question regarding the two and their relationship."
"It's always gonna be guesstimate." BCFW pointed with two finger guns.
"My question is this. What was that about Katnappe?" FP11 asks.
"So how strong is Danny in this version?" PFN asked.
"Do they have to put up with hostilities from Sam and Raimundo?" Luiz4200 asks.
"Okay, how did Danny and Kimiko balance their relationship with ghost fighting stuff and the shen gong wu hunt as teens?" 61394 asks. "And how do they deal with balancing their romantic family life with their adult jobs and responsibilities?"
"Alrighty, so…" NeoMark prepared.
"This oughta be good." Deadpool sat back.
"So, Kimiko would find out about Danny's powers about 6 months into their relationship. Danny was afraid of her being afraid of him. She does forgive him, but they two broke up, deciding to remain as friends." NeoMark said.
"Ah, there's your bittersweet aspect." Deadpool said.
"Indeed, Katnappe would date him for about a year upon finding out his identity on her own at some point in this timeline, likely around the breakup. Before you ask, she keeps his secret because it wouldn't be as fun if everyone knew it. At first, Danny easily fell for her… but Danny would find out that Katnappe was simply seeing him as a fun distraction rather than feeling any actual love for him. Not helping is her hopes that she'd get him to follow her into a life of crime or be her backup. Danny breaks things off with her, realizing she's too much of a trouble maker to be someone he could love. Kimiko, blaming herself for letting Danny fall for Katnappe's lure, helped him mend his broken heart and the two fell back in love once more." NeoMark said.
"So, like Danny and Felicia but with someone actually 'dating' Danny." 61394 commented.
"I'm glad that Danny and Kimiko worked out after that." FP11 said while smiling.
"So... some people just won't change, even for the people they love, or claim to love. Just ask my ex." Deadpool nodded.
"...which one?" NeoMark asks.
"HA! Fake laugh hiding real pain..." Deadpool sassed. "So, how about the other Grey Delisle girl? And how'd Raimundo handle it since he likely had a thing for Kimiko?"
"Sam and Raimundo were indeed not happy at first, they were also happy when the two broke up despite how wrong that looked… but they backed off after the incident with Katnappe. Sam took longer to accept it though." NeoMark said.
"And the Shen Gong Wu?" Deadpool asks. "Also, elephant in the room… is Chronicles canon?"
"Eh… they eventually made that non-canon so… no. As for the Wu, Danny would lend a hand, all while also getting a little trouble from his ex who still pined for him. He's actually tough enough that, with proper training, he managed to do what all thought was impossible and actually defeat Chase Young for good, getting him apprehended and remains so. Doing so did make him a bit of a target for the Heylin and all associated villains. Still, he and Kimiko would pick up where they left off pretty easily, Kimiko would eventually leave the temple to resume her life and be with Danny before marriage, especially when her dad opens a division of Tomohiko Electronics in Amity Park so that Kimiko can run it and be with her family, especially the little girl he dotes on as a loving grandpa." NeoMark said. "Plus, Danny would choose to be a stay at home dad, putting his goals on hold for his little girl for now. He doesn't mind it, he just does his superhero duty when there's a babysitter or when Kimiko is home. Thankfully, she is not always gone, being the one who runs the US division in the same city it's in has its advantages."
"That about covers it?" Deadpool asks.
"As long as Danny got rid of Hannibal Roy Bean and whatever that armor that scared Dojo from the finale, then pretty much." 61394 said.
"Nicely Done, Neo..." FP11 said.
"So, if he did have a kid with Katnappe, would they have been more son of Batman or son of Tom Strong?" Deadpool noticed the silence in the room. "No, I will not explain who that last one is."
"The former. Although, I'd argue more Lian Harper than Damien Wayne." NeoMark asks.
"Okay, no further questions there." Deadpool said. "Also, your anime food is on the way."
"Then let's resume…" NeoMark said.
Long after lunch, their quaint little house had someone opening the front door with her keys.
"I'm home!" Kimiko called out, her voice echoing through the hallway.
Her husband, Danny, emerged from their daughter's bedroom, having helped her with homework.
"See? Mommy's home." He tells Kyoka, who slid out of her bedroom with an excited smile.
"Mommy!" Kyoka happily ran to her.
Kimiko took a knee to hug her little girl.
"Were you a good little girl for your daddy?" She asks.
Kyoka giggled and nodded, her eyes shimmering with excitement.
Danny chuckled and walked over, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet.
"How was your day, Kimiko?" He asked, kissing her on the forehead, as he was 6 ft while she was 5 ft and 9 inches.
"It was fine, running the American Branch of Tomohiko Electronics is a nightmare." Kimiko said, standing up with Kyoka in her arms. "How about yours?"
"Well, your little monk here had a bit of an incident at school." Danny's eyes twinkled with amusement, hinting at a story to be shared.
"What happened?" Kimiko asks.
"Oh, she tried to act like a superhero by getting into a fight with some of her classmates who had been causing trouble." Danny said in amusement.
"Those boys were being mean to my friends." Kyoka insists.
"Oh? Did you give them black eyes?" Kimiko asks before realizing what she just said was not something a mother should ask with a smile. "I mean... I hope you didn't because that'd be very wrong!" She weakly scolded her daughter.
"Mommy, I wanted to kick but like you did with Uncle Raimundo and Uncle Omi last summer when he made fun of your outfit. You get upset and wanna hit people who hurt your feelings a lot." Kyoka said with a smile.
"I do not! Kimiko insisted.
Danny couldn't help but laugh at this.
"Like mother, like daughter..." Danny said, knowing how temperamental Kimiko can be.
Kimiko pouted at him as she let her daughter down gently.
"Go back to your room, Kyoka. Daddy and I have to have a talk." She said.
"Okay." Kyoka said, not seeing the look her mother sent her father.
As the small girl left, her parents became much more serious now that they were alone.
"So… outside of boardroom meetings, I guess you found out?" Danny asks.
"Chase Young's still doing time, Jack Spicer's got his Lex Luthor level immunity… and Katnappe is still at large." Kimiko looked outright livid upon mentioning her old rival for Danny's affections. "You just had to date her during that year we weren't seeing each other…"
"In my defense, I thought her feelings for me were love and not just an exciting distraction." Danny scratched the back of his head.
"I'm just happy you're responsible enough not to let her get too comfortable with you." Kimiko said, though there was a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"Yeah… I wouldn't let that happen." Danny blushed in embarrassment.
He recalled how close and rather intrusive Katnappe was during their time together. He realized in hindsight that letting her get too close might've been her ploy to get him to fall hard for her while also figuring he'd be so interested that he'd let her cause trouble.
"Well… I'm glad you're not as hormonal as you used to be… Mr. Sneak-Into-The-Girl's-Locker-Room… twice." Kimiko crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"If Tucker wasn't my best friend…" Danny looked away, his fist clenched in annoyance.
Kimiko couldn't help but laugh at his expense before wrapping her arms around him.
"Now… after an entire day of board meetings and keeping up with my old friends… I could use my handsome husband's cooking. Seeing as despite how rich we are, I wanted to save money and give our girl a more modest lifestyle like you wanted, you'd have to do the cooking. Like we agreed." Kimiko went in a playful tone.
That cheered Danny up a bit.
"If you insist…"
Their evening routine began to unfold, a dance of comfort and chaos that they had perfected over the years. Dinner was a mix of Japanese cuisine and Danny's love for burgers.
"I gotta thank Sakura for introducing me to that place that makes hamburger steaks." Danny took another bite with a smile.
"Yeah… and thank your parents for giving you the time to learn how to cook." Kimiko couldn't help but chuckle as she took a sip of her drink.
"What's your funny smelling drink, Mommy?" Kyoka asks.
"Oh… uh…" Kimiko's eyes darted back and forth. "It's… Sak… Sa… ssssoooda! Yes, soda for adults, meaning it'll taste yucky." She lied to make her daughter lose interest.
"Like green bell peppers?" Kyoka asks before seeing her mother nod. "Eww…"
Danny couldn't help but smile at this.
And this is why Katnappe will never really get me… He thought, preferring a loving family over an exciting fling any day.
Later
"Again!" Kimiko insisted.
"HAA!" Kyoka jumped into the air and swung her leg in a kick.
"Good. Again." Kimiko, acting as her martial arts instructor, observed her little girl perform another kick in the air.
She had decided to put on her old gi and use it to instruct her daughter, as despite that they have most of the Shen Gong Wu under lock and key, Master Fung and Dojo figure getting new monks to be at the temple and bring their skills would always be an option.
"HAH!" Kyoka, despite being 5, showed a level of skill that was no doubt thanks to her parents' own physical prowess.
"Good, you're getting the basics down." Kimiko nodded.
"Thank you, Mommy." Kyoka went before recalling proper decorum. "I mean… sensei!" Kyoka bowed.
Kimiko gave a small chuckle at that.
"So… any new power from your dad's side?" Kimiko asks, which results in her daughter groaning.
"All I can do is turn invisible for 10 seconds…" Kyoka whined. Her expression went from grumpy to depressed. "What if I never get cool powers like Daddy?"
"Don't worry." Her father said as he entered the room to check up on them. "My powers aren't natural, so if you don't develop all of them thanks to your mom's fire dragon monk powers or whatever, it shouldn't be a problem."
"That's right. You'll still kick butt, like that creepy idiot, Jack Spicer. Won't that be fun?" Kimiko winked at her daughter.
"Yay! I'd like to do that!" Kyoka went, her mood lifting.
Danny and Kimiko laughed at this before an alert came to Danny's phone. He pressed on the screen.
"Report! The Lunch Lady Ghost is attacking the reopened Nasty Burger! All units, be ready!" The voice went.
Danny looked to his wife and daughter, nodding as he morphed.
"I'll be back." He hovered up. "Kyoka? Keep up the good work, but be sure to be in bed by 9 in case I take a while."
"Aww… can't I come see?" Kyoka pouted before her mother took a knee and wrapped her arms around her.
"Sorry… but this is the part where Daddy works." Kimiko went before looking up at her husband. "Kick butt!"
"I will." Danny said as Kimiko stood up to kiss him on the lips quickly. "I'll be as fast as I can." He then planted a kiss on the forehead of his little girl. "You're a good girl, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy…" Kyoka said with a small nod and a little smile.
"Go, before the city is hit with chaos. Hurry and I'll make sure that game about you gets enough development time." Kimiko said with a smile.
"You got it!" Danny said as he flew off through the ceiling with intangibility, waving to his family as he left.
Kyoka waved to her father even after he left, Kimiko smiling warmly.
"Come on, Kyoka… let's make your daddy proud." Kimiko gestured for Kyoka to follow her.
"Okay!" Kyoka went.
She resumed her training with her mother, genuinely hoping she can be as amazing as her parents someday.
"There we go." NeoMark said. "I'd ask your opinion of her… but I'd rather you guys leave reviews this time as we got one month to go and I got a tight schedule today."
"I see. Still I did like Danny and Kimiko's love story." FP11 said.
"So… where's the food? I was promised a buffet of anime food." 61394 asked hungrily.
"It's on the way…" NeoMark said as he readied the next girl's future.
"Alright." BCFW gave a thumbs up.
"How're you deciding the order of the ties? Flipping a coin or eenie meenie minie moe?" 61394 asked
"I kind of decided the order about a few days prior to closing the poll so it doesn't really convey the order it was last in… but the characters at the top will still be there… you'll see what I mean." NeoMark said.
"This oughta be good." Deadpool sat back.
"Well… let's start." NeoMark said.
Special thank you to the guest authors.
And yes... this chapter is MUCH shorter because of reason I am going through IRL.
Next chapter will be a bit longer, I promise.
RonaldM40196867: No. Dunno. No. Dunno. Just the movies and the comics after the second movie.
Warrior of the Forbidden Flame: That's a good point.
guardian1989: Good to know you've made peace.
61394: I wanted to avoid that trope. Hope Thanksgiving was fun.
Masamune X23: Because Daphne is the more recurring character and has a history while also being more recognizable.
LockAndKey989: Don't worry, he does.
danifan3000: It is. Perhaps so.
Jebest4781: Thanks.
Invader Johnny: I do see him super wholesome for a guy who wants to rule the world.
cybirddude: Of all of them... maybe... Batsu from Rival Schools.
Guest99: Not all.
silverwolf7791: Not at all. She's too mature physically and mentally.
Bob the mammoth: I mean... they mostly employ animals.
FC Tiraspol fan: Not sure how they get along, no and... well, he's a lot older so he might've chanced his mind.
The Disquieting One: Indeed, she is more of that. Also, yeah, anonymity has its pros... and cons.
Luiz4200: Tucker would like her. Sam? Let's say took a while.
Menatron the Angel of Ideas: Look dude... I don't have the time for your idea. I'm trying to finish two stories before December 31.
NiteOwl18: Thanks.
pokemon fan 1991: Yeah, I notice not a lot people have watched it.
Leonardo: The same one.
William Escobar 608: 1) A menos que no se hayan convertido en algo todavía. 2) Sin spoilers. 3) Vale. 4) Ya veo. 5) Porque Heinz intentó dominar el mundo. 6) Sí. 7) Mucho. 8) Heinz es un nombre alemán. 9) No. 10) Ya veo. 11) Deadpool es más un amigo que una influencia. 12) Sí. 13) Sí. 14) Sí. 15) Hámster y Gretel 16) Ése es el punto. 17) En efecto. 18) Sí. 19) El respeto es clave. 20) Sí. 21) Genial.
JDF Legacier Morphicon: 1) Dunno, ask FP since she is his creator. 2) Won't talk. 3) Red. 4) No. 5) Amphibia? Or Owl House.