Hey guys and welcome back to chapter 7. As we continue unfortunately with the filler, I know I know y'all are going to try and throw a bunch of crap at me but I have a plan, I promise they'll be violent which is what 90% of us come here for violence.
I know I do but it will not be in this chapter different chapter however this is important anyway let's continue this is.
Chapter 7 To Patch we go
Ruby and Phantom made their way down to the hospital cafeteria, the fluorescent lights above casting a pale glow across the room. The air was filled with the mingling scents of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon.
Ruby dragged her feet, exhaustion clinging to her like a heavy blanket after the grueling training session Phantom had put her through.
Her body ached, muscles protesting every step, but a small smile still managed to grace her lips. Despite his cold and calculating demeanor, Phantom's training was fair, pushing her to her limits without breaking her spirit. In a strange way, she admired him for that.
They settled at an empty table near the window. Ruby slumped into her seat, her arms resting limply on the table as she stared blankly at the surface.
Phantom, ever the composed figure, moved with precise efficiency, his steps soundless as he made his way to the food counter. Even his posture was disciplined, back straight, shoulders square, every movement deliberate and measured.
While Phantom gathered their breakfast, Ruby's thoughts began to drift. She found herself reflecting on the past day—how Phantom had appeared out of nowhere, mysterious and unreadable behind that mask of his.
He was a puzzle, one she was determined to solve. Yet, despite his stoic exterior, she couldn't help but feel a sense of safety around him. There was a softness beneath that cold, calculating demeanor—a kindness he kept well-guarded.
Her musings were abruptly Interrupted when something soft and furry collided with her face. "Mmph—!"
Ruby's startled cry was muffled by the black and white fur that filled her vision, followed by an enthusiastic barrage of wet, sloppy kisses.
Laughter bubbled up from her chest as she pulled the small creature away, her silver eyes lighting up with delight. "Zwei!" she exclaimed, hugging her corgi tightly.
Zwei barked happily, his tail wagging at lightning speed as he nestled into Ruby's arms, licking her face with unbridled affection. Ruby's exhaustion seemed to melt away in an instant, replaced by sheer joy at her pet's unexpected appearance. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him until this moment.
Returning with two trays piled high with fruit, eggs, waffles, and glasses of milk, Phantom paused at the sight. His head tilted slightly, the only indication of his surprise as he took in the scene before him—Ruby laughing uncontrollably as the little dog licked her face with reckless abandon.
For a moment, Phantom simply watched, his expression hidden behind his mask, yet his posture softened just a fraction.
He approached the table, setting the trays down with precise care, his movements smooth and controlled.
"Didn't realize breakfast included a dog," he remarked, his voice calm and composed, carrying a subtle undertone of curiosity.
Ruby looked up, her face flushed from laughter as she scratched Zwei behind the ears. "I didn't either, but I'm not complaining!" she replied, her voice bright and cheerful.
Phantom's stance remained relaxed, his arms folded as he regarded the energetic corgi. "Just don't let it get in the way of training," he stated, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're doubling the routine tomorrow."
Ruby groaned, her shoulders slumping at the news, but she didn't protest. She knew better than to argue when Phantom made up his mind, especially when he was right. Even so, the smile never left her face, her fingers absentmindedly scratching behind Zwei's ear.
Phantom's gaze shifted to the dog, who stared back at him with wide, curious eyes. "So, who's the dog?" Phantom asked, his voice even, devoid of judgment. He extended a gloved hand toward Zwei, who sniffed it cautiously before nudging his head against Phantom's palm.
Phantom's fingers instinctively found the soft fur behind Zwei's ears, his touch surprisingly gentle as he scratched in slow, rhythmic circles.
Zwei's eyes drooped, his little body relaxing as a low growl of contentment rumbled from his throat.
Phantom continued the motion, his fingers deftly finding the spots that made Zwei's tail wag with lazy satisfaction.
Despite himself, Phantom felt a flicker of warmth in his chest, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth beneath his mask.
"This is Zwei," Ruby explained, her voice soft with affection. "He's my family's dog. My dad mailed him here before… before everything happened."
Her smile faltered for a brief moment, a shadow passing over her features before she quickly recovered.
"He even sent months' worth of dog food and a can opener. I have no idea how he fit it all in one tube."
Phantom's hand paused mid-scratch as he processed her words. He stared at her, his masked face tilting ever so slightly in confusion. "I'm sorry, what?" he asked, his tone carrying a rare note of incredulity.
Ruby nodded, her hands mimicking the shape of the container as she continued, "Yeah, it was a tube, about this big and this wide." She gestured in the air, her movements animated as she relayed the story.
Meanwhile, Decca's tiny form sprang to life, her holographic body projecting from Phantom's armor.
Her digital eyes narrowed as she began scanning Zwei with the sensors built into Phantom's suit. Data streamed across her vision, her processors working overtime to analyze the dog's composition.
Her brows furrowed, her expression one of intense concentration. "This defies all logic," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Phantom shook his head, the confusion evident in his posture. "Eat. Your food's going to get cold," he instructed, his voice firm, carrying that unmistakable note of authority.
Ruby blinked, her attention snapping back to her plate piled high with waffles and eggs.
She picked up her fork, ready to dig in… until she realized something important. Phantom was about to eat, too. Which meant… he'd have to take off his mask.
Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in anticipation. This could be her chance—the moment she finally saw the face behind the mysterious mask. But as Phantom prepared to eat, his mask emitted a faint green glow.
A section around his mouth shifted, parting just enough for him to slip food inside without revealing a single feature. It was seamless, mechanical, efficient.
Ruby's jaw dropped, her hopes shattering as she watched him chew, his face still completely hidden. She looked away, anime tears streaming down her face as she muttered, "Not fair…"
Phantom's eyes flicked toward her, his posture relaxing as he resumed his meal. Decca's hologram floated above his shoulder, her lips curving into a teasing smirk. "Did you forget his armor is made out of nanites?" she chimed, her voice playfully mocking.
As they continued eating, Zwei barked, his tail thumping against Phantom's leg. As Zwei's stomach growled, Phantom picked up a piece of ham from his plate, offering it to Zwei, who devoured it happily. A comfortable silence settled over them as they finished their meal.
Breaking the silence, Ruby looked up, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Do you think there's any more Earth media I'd like?" she asked. "I've been thinking about it since our Star Wars marathon."
Phantom considered her question before answering, "Power Rangers and Pokémon come to mind. You can watch them on the ride to the docks. Your sister texted. I responded for you. We leave today for the island of Patch."
Ruby's face lit up with excitement, her chair nearly toppling over as she bounced with joy. "I can't wait to see Dad again!"
Phantom watched her with a softness in his eyes, the faintest hint of a smile hidden beneath his mask. "We have about an hour before we leave," he said, his voice calm and composed. "Anything you want to do?"
Ruby thought for a moment before grinning. "yeah there's something I want to do."
Phantom tilted his head slightly as he surveyed the scene before him. "And what would that be?" he asked, his voice even but laced with curiosity. But before he could get an answer, Ruby activated her semblance, vanishing in a blur of rose petals.
For a moment, Phantom simply stood there, momentarily caught off guard by her sudden departure. Then he glanced down at Zwei, who was wagging his tail enthusiastically, his eyes practically begging to follow. With a small sigh, Phantom scooped up the corgi and took off after her, his long strides carrying him effortlessly through the halls.
When he emerged onto the rooftop, he found Ruby standing at the edge, staring out at the remains of Beacon. The once-grand academy now lay in ruins, its shattered remnants scattered across the landscape like the broken pieces of a forgotten dream. The wind tugged at her cloak as she hugged herself, her expression distant and heavy with memories.
"The day we first got here," Ruby murmured, "Yang said this was gonna be our new home."
Phantom remained silent for a moment, letting her words settle in the cold air. Then, gently, he placed Zwei down beside him and took a step closer. "Losing a home like this… it's not something you just get over," he said, his voice steady, yet tinged with an understanding that ran deeper than words. "It changes you. But it doesn't mean you can't build something new."
He reached up absentmindedly, rubbing the back of his head. The movement caused the hood of his jacket to slip down slightly, revealing the neatly tied blonde ponytail at the back of his head. The sides of his hair were shaved clean, a single deliberate line tracing from the nape of his neck to the front.
"The foundation's still strong," he continued, shifting his gaze to the ruins in the distance. "Beacon may be in pieces, but the land beneath it? That hasn't changed. It's still here. That means there's still something to hold onto. Home isn't just walls and rooftops, Ruby. It's the place where you decide to build your life, and as long as you're standing, you still have the chance to rebuild."
Ruby swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around her arms. She didn't speak right away, but something about Phantom's words settled the ache in her chest, if only just a little. Then, as if sensing her lingering sadness, Zwei trotted up and pressed himself against her leg, his ears drooping slightly. His big brown eyes gazed up at her, filled with quiet understanding.
A small, bittersweet smile touched Ruby's lips as she bent down to scoop him into her arms. "You always know when to show up, don't you, buddy?" she whispered, stroking his fur gently.
Phantom remained beside her, saying nothing more. He didn't need to. Instead, they both stood there, side by side, gazing out at the ruins of what once was—and perhaps, what could be again.
(With Ben's group Vali hospital normal POV)
Ben, Jaune, and Pyrrha stepped into the hospital cafeteria, the lingering buzz of their recent phone call with Calypso still fresh in their minds.
The space had begun to clear out as visitors finished their meals, leaving behind the scent of coffee and warm food.
As they scanned the room, Ben glanced toward the serving area, where staff were starting to pack up the remaining dishes.
"I'll grab us something before they close up," Ben offered, gesturing toward the counter.
Jaune and Pyrrha nodded, instead setting their sights on their friends already gathered at a nearby table.
Gwen sat among them, engaged in conversation, while Coco lounged back with her usual air of confidence. Ren sipped his tea, looking as composed as ever, while Nora's lively energy filled the space around her.
Noticing the trio approaching, Yang and Nora immediately took action, dragging their table closer to make room and swiping extra chairs for Jaune and Ben.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Coco teased, adjusting her sunglasses with a smirk.
Ben returned moments later, setting down a tray of food before settling into his seat. Ren glanced at him curiously. "What took you guys so long?" he asked, his tone calm but inquisitive.
Ben waved a hand dismissively. "Not much. We just got off a call with Pyrrha's mom."
At the mention of Calypso, the group reacted with interest—but none more so than Nora. Before Ben could react, she had seized him by the front of his sweater, lifting him slightly off the ground as she shook him excitedly.
"YOU TALKED TO CALYPSO?! What was she like?! Did she like pancakes?! Was she nice?! Is she super energetic?! Does she like sloths?!" she blurted out, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Nora—" Ren started, but the redhead was already in full interrogation mode.
"Nora, calm down," Pyrrha intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder. "And to answer at least one of your questions—yes, my mother is very kind. She's a little on the shy side, though."
Nora froze mid-shake, processing the information. "Shy like polite-shy or Ren-shy?"
Ben, still regaining his bearings, muttered, "Somewhere in the middle, I think…"
Coco chuckled, watching the scene unfold. "So, what you're saying is, she's probably nothing like Nora."
Jaune laughed while Gwen shook her head. "I think we're gonna need more details than that," she said, resting her chin on her hand.
Nora, still brimming with excitement, finally set Ben down and clapped her hands together. "I HAVE to meet her now!" she declared.
Ren let out a knowing sigh. "I saw that coming." Pyrrha chose that moment to speak up, her voice warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, Nora. You'll get to meet her later—she's coming to visit us on Patch."
Nora's eyes lit up at the thought of meeting Pyrrha's mother, but before she could bounce out of her seat in excitement, Ren placed a firm hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her back down, giving her a knowing look.
Meanwhile, Ben leaned forward with a curious expression. "So, where are Blake and Sun?"
"They went to visit Sun's teammates—Sage and Scarlet—along with Neptune," Gwen answered casually. At the mention of Neptune, Weiss let out an irritated huff, crossing her arms as a frown formed on her face. Clearly, she still hadn't forgiven him for shamelessly flirting with Team NDGO.
Gwen, unfazed by Weiss's reaction, continued. "Anyway, we should start getting things sorted. Make sure everything's packed, and we need to figure out who's riding with who. The ferry won't wait for us."
Before anyone could say anything, Yang shot her hand into the air like an eager student. "Dibs on bringing Shift with me!" she declared, pointing at Ben with a confident smirk.
Ben blinked. "Wait, what?"
Yang grinned. "You're riding with me, Benny boy. Bumblebee's got room for one more, and I know you're dying to experience the wind in your hair."
Ben crossed his arms. "Oh yeah? And what makes you think I want to ride shotgun with you?"
Yang's grin widened. "Because I'm the best driver here, I've got the best taste in music, and let's be real—you can't resist the thrill."
Ben opened his mouth to argue, but Gwen just sighed, rubbing her temples. "Just make sure nobody ends up in the ocean before we even get on the ferry."
Yang waved her off. "Relax, Gwen. I got this."
Weiss, still fuming over Neptune, muttered under her breath, "That's exactly what I'm worried about…"
"Alright, listen up," Ben said, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. "Gwen, you're driving my car." He casually tossed his keys to her.
Gwen caught them with ease, arching an eyebrow. "oh? What makes you think I want to drive your car around doofus?"
Ben smirked. "Because you're the only one I trust not to wreck it. Just try not to pull a Kevin and destroy my ride, okay dweeb?"
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Of course. Just try not to fall off, doofus." Kevin immediately shot him a glare. "Low blow, Tennyson. Low blow. And for the record, you're the one who keeps wrecking my car."
"Oh, come on," Ben scoffed. "Those were accidents! …Most of the time."
Kevin folded his arms and gave him a flat stare. "Just be grateful I haven't made you start paying me back for all the repairs and replacement parts I need because of you."
Gwen sighed, clearly used to their bickering. "Moving on," she interjected, "I don't mind driving. As for Pyrrha, I think it'd be best if she took the Rustbucket. It'll be easier to get her in and out with the wheelchair."
Jaune nodded in agreement. "I'll go with Pyrrha," he said, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness but also a touch of determination.
"I'll go with Phantom," Amber spoke up for the first time that day. At that moment Ren spoke up "me and Nora will ride with Gwen."
"Me and the rest of my team are going to be staying here to help protect the city," Coco spoke up with her team nodding in agreement.
"besides I'm pretty sure it's going to be cramped with all of you guys living at your dad's house might as well make it a bit easier."
Weiss knotted in agreement as she was on her scroll "that indeed makes things easier" getting curious Yang turned to her teammate and asked "so Weisscream who you texting?"
Weiss answered immediately "just texting Ruby asking her who she wants to go with." Yang knotted and quickly had an idea "I should probably text Blake and see who she's going with."
"Good idea All right so we're all in agreement if we were going with correct?" Kevin asked Everyone at the table who is going nodded in agreement and Kevin smiled.
"good I'll go back upstairs and grab it the DVD case the rest of you get ready once we hear back from Blake and Yang we'll roll out."
Everyone agreed as they began to pick up the trays and clean off the table All of them going off to mentally prepared for the journey ahead.
(Room 616 Vail hospital normal POV)
Blake sat by the window, arms crossed, her golden eyes fixed on the view outside. The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of monitors and the occasional murmur of conversation. The air smelled of antiseptic, the kind of sterile scent that made the room feel colder than it was.
Across from her, Sun and Neptune were chatting with Scarlet and Sage, who were still recovering from the injuries they had sustained during the Battle of Beacon. After everything that had happened, seeing them stable was a relief.
Blake had been half-listening to the conversation, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place. She wasn't sure why she had come in the first place—maybe out of respect, maybe because Sun had invited her. Either way, she kept to herself, quietly observing rather than engaging.
Then, a vibration in her pocket gave her the perfect excuse to step away. She glanced at the screen, then stood. "I need to take this," she muttered before slipping out of the room.
The door shut behind her, leaving a moment of silence before Sage, still propped up against his pillow, smirked and turned to Sun.
"You like her, don't you?"
Neptune and Scarlet immediately turned to look at Sun, matching grins forming on their faces.
Sun let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. His tail flicked absently behind him. "I mean—she's really cool, yeah, but—"
"Dude." Neptune leaned forward, smirking. "You don't have to play it off. We can all see it."
Scarlet, despite looking a little worse for wear, let out a quiet chuckle. "Might as well go with her if you're that interested."
Sun hesitated, glancing toward the door. Then, with an exhale, he grinned. "Yeah… yeah, maybe I will."
Neptune gave him a knowing nod. "Go for it. We'll catch up later."
With one last glance at his teammates, Sun slipped out of the hospital room, his heart pounding just a little faster.
Outside, Blake had just finished reading the text. With a sigh of relief at avoiding a long ride with Nora's boundless energy, she typed back a quick response: "Okay, I'll go with Kevin."
Just as she was about to turn toward the exit, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Hey, Blake?"
She turned to see Sun stepping out of the hospital room, his usual carefree smile in place. His tail flicked once behind him as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
"This ride got room for one more?" he asked, head tilting slightly.
Blake blinked, caught off guard. "You sure? What about your team?"
Sun glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting them to barge out and drag him back inside. Instead, he just grinned and rubbed the back of his neck. "They'll be fine. Actually, they kinda told me to go." His smirk widened. "So, am I coming, or do I have to recreate the way we first met?"
Blake narrowed her eyes at him, unimpressed. "If you try to stow away again, I will throw you overboard before we even reach Patch." Sun chuckled, completely unbothered. "Noted."
She exhaled, shaking her head before finally nodding. "Yeah, there should be two more spots in Kevin's car." Sun beamed. "Sweet! Guess that means we're riding together."
As they started walking, Sun shot her a sideways glance. "You know, if we do end up stuck with Nora, I'll make sure she keeps the energy focused on you."
Blake side-eyed him. "Then you're getting thrown overboard."Sun just laughed, hands behind his head. "Totally worth it."
(Vail hospital roof normal POV)
Ruby was completely exhausted, hunched over and breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her face. Phantom, as composed as ever, silently handed her a towel and a bottle of water, now mixed with electrolyte powder.
She gratefully took it, downing the drink in a few gulps before wiping off as much sweat as she could.
"That's enough for today," Phantom stated coolly. "We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow. For now, dry off—we're heading to the docks."
Ruby groaned, looking up at him with a tired smirk. "Let me guess—you picked up my scroll again?"
Phantom merely shook his head. "It was Decca."
From inside his mask, Decca's voice suddenly rang out in protest. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, YOU SNITCH!"
Phantom showed no outward reaction, simply offering a hand to help Ruby to her feet. She took it, still catching her breath as they made their way downstairs, where the rest of the group was already waiting.
Nearby, Ironwood and Glynda were exchanging final words. As Ironwood turned toward them, Ben, Gwen, and Kevin fell in behind Phantom.
"There you are," Ironwood said, his tone laced with measured authority—though the underlying hint of skepticism toward Phantom remained.
He reached into his coat and pulled out four black cards, handing one to Phantom and the others.
"Each of these is linked to a special account in the Atlas military," he explained. "Consider it a token of appreciation for helping protect Vale."
His gaze shifted to Ben, and a slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "And Ben—you seem the most… impulsive. Try not to blow it all in one place."
Ben grinned, slipping the card into his wallet. "No promises, General." Gwen and Kevin did the same, offering polite nods of thanks.
Phantom took the card without hesitation, slipping it into a compartment on his belt. Ironwood raised an eyebrow at the movement, prompting Phantom to speak up.
"Yes, I have a physical utility belt. It's not just for show." His tone remained unreadable, but there was a faint undercurrent of amusement.
"In case my tech ever fails, I prefer to have a few essentials I can access quickly. Anyone have a problem with that?" Silence followed—until Kevin smirked. "Nah, man. Just surprised you plan ahead."
"Unlike you," Gwen quipped. Kevin scoffed, and Ben just chuckled as the group prepared to head out.
Kevin just rolled his eyes, resting one arm on the door of his car. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Just don't forget how many times me and my ride saved your butts."
Ruby stuck her tongue out playfully, but any further banter was cut short as the group began piling into their respective vehicles.
As Ben settled in behind Yang on Bumblebee, her scroll buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Blake's name on the screen before answering.
"hey, blakey, what's up?" yang greeted, revving bumblebee's engine.
"kevin, gwen, and max don't know where to go," blake's voice came through the receiver. "kevin asked me to tell you to lead the way."
"got it. Tell them to keep up." Yang ended the call, slipped her scroll back into her pocket, then turned her head slightly to ben. "hang on tight, hero."
Ben chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist for support. "just don't throw me off, alright?"
Yang only laughed as she took off, keeping just enough speed to ensure the others could follow.
(Inside Phantom's Car normal POV)
Ruby leaned lazily against the car door, gazing out the window as the cityscape blurred past. Phantom drove at a steady pace, positioned near the back of the convoy, right behind Ben's vehicle.
With nothing to do, Ruby's mind drifted back to something Phantom had mentioned earlier while Zwei slept on her lap. "Hey, what were those Earth shows you said I'd like again? Pokerangers and Powermon?"
Without taking his eyes off the road, Phantom tilted his head slightly toward Ruby, acknowledging her question. "It's Power Rangers and Pokémon."
"Right, that." Ruby hummed, then smirked. "So, since we're stuck in the car for a while… can we watch them?"
In the backseat sitting next to Ruby was Amber perked up at the mention of Earth media, raising an intrigued eyebrow.
Before Phantom could respond, Decca's holographic form flickered to life from the ceiling-mounted projector.
"they're both tv shows from earth, made in the 20th century," she explained. "power rangers is about a group of teenagers fighting monsters with spandex super suits and giant robots. Pokémon—short for pocket monsters—is about a ten-year-old boy and his electrified mouse traveling the world to become a pokémon master."
Amber and Ruby exchanged glances, intrigued yet mildly confused. "Power Rangers does sound kinda interesting," Amber admitted.
Before they could ask more, Decca's hologram vanished, and a screen flickered to life in its place.
The scene displayed a desolate beach, where two men in bulky white suits were digging through the sand. They pried open a metal lid, revealing an old trash can.
Suddenly, a dramatic guitar riff kicked in as the camera cut to a strange, elaborately dressed woman standing triumphantly.
"Ah! After ten thousand years, I'm free! It's time to conquer Earth!"
Monsters surrounded her, roaring in agreement.
The scene shifted to a massive energy tube, where a bald figure addressed a clunky, nervous-looking robot. "Alpha, Rita's escaped! Recruit me five teenagers with attitude!"
The robot frantically pressed buttons, and in the next cut, five teenagers stood assembled. A close-up revealed a red-suited figure, a strange emblem on his belt.
Then, a massive humanoid robot came to life, its silhouette flashing against a bright logo as the rock anthem reached its peak.
"Go, go, Power Rangers!"
As the guitar shredded through the speakers, Ruby's eyes widened in excitement. "Okay, yeah, I'm already into this!"
Amber nodded along, a small smirk forming. "It's got flair, I'll give it that."
Phantom remained quiet, keeping his focus on the road, though Decca's teasing voice chimed in from the speakers. "I figured you two would like a bit of flashy heroism."
Ruby, grinning ear to ear, leaned forward slightly. "Oh, we're definitely finishing this episode before we get to the docks."
Unknowingly to the two in the backseat, Phantom was tapping his fingers along with the theme song, whispering the words underneath his breath quietly enough where the girls did not hear him.
(Inside The Mark 10 with Gwen Ren and Nora normal POV)
Gwen gripped the steering wheel tightly, resisting the overwhelming urge to drive the car straight into the nearest crumbling building.
The only thing keeping her in check was the repeated mantra running through her head: It's not my car. It's not my car. It's not my car.
Meanwhile, Nora was doing everything in her power to make the drive a living nightmare.
She made random noises, hummed loudly, and at one point, even attempted to drum on the dashboard.
Each time, Ren would gently—but firmly—place a hand on her arm, silently reminding her to behave. Not that it stopped her entirely.
When words failed, Ren took a different approach and attempted to engage Gwen in conversation, his voice calm and measured, though there was a trace of apology in his expression when their eyes met in the rearview mirror.
Gwen sighed. She wasn't about to let herself be worn down that easily. Thinking quickly, she reached into the center console and pulled out a small, blue-and-black device. Without taking her eyes off the road, she held it back to Nora.
"Here, this should keep you busy."
Nora snatched it eagerly, flipping it open with wide, curious eyes. The device had two screens—one on the top and one on the bottom—with a speaker on each side of the upper screen. On the right side, near the middle, was a small gray switch labeled OFF and 3D.
The bottom half featured a D-pad, a circular control stick, and the classic A, B, X, and Y buttons. Below the screen, there were three additional buttons: Start, Home, and Select.
"Ooooh, fancy! What is it?"
"It's called a 3DS," Gwen answered, her focus still on the road.
"A… 3DS?" Ren repeated, intrigued.
"Yeah. It stands for 'dual screen.' It was made by a company called Nintendo—one of the biggest gaming companies in our world."
Nora had already found the power button and pressed it, watching as the home menu loaded. The first thing that caught her attention was a small rectangular icon labeled Pokémon Sun.
"Push A to start, Nora," Gwen instructed, her tone even, as if she had done this a hundred times before. "Ben already transferred all his important Pokémon to Pokémon Bank, so you can start fresh. Oh, and let me show you how to delete the old save file first."
With a few button presses, Gwen guided her through the process. Once it was done, Nora wasted no time diving in.
"Okay, but seriously—what's a Pokémon?" she asked, tilting her head.
Gwen took a deep breath, already expecting this question. "Think of them as creatures with special abilities that people catch and train to battle, compete, or just have as companions. They come in different types, like fire, water, grass, electric, and so on."
That was all Nora needed to hear before she was fully invested. She sat up straighter, her fingers gripping the console tightly as she reached the part where she could choose her first Pokémon.
On the screen, three creatures appeared: a small, round owl with a leafy bowtie, a sleek black-and-red kitten with piercing eyes, and a playful blue sea lion that clapped its flippers excitedly.
"Oh man! There's no lightning type?"
"Electric type," Gwen corrected automatically. "And not in the starters. The only game where you could start with an Electric-type was Pokémon Yellow for the Game Boy, and Let's Go Pikachu! For the Switch.
But don't worry—there are some great Electric-types in this game." Nora hummed in thought, tapping her fingers against the 3DS as she weighed her options.
"Okay, okay… tough choice… but I think I'm going with—" She pressed the button. "—the kitty! Litten!" Ren leaned in slightly, watching over her shoulder as the fiery little feline stretched and meowed on screen.
As Nora moved to the next prompt, she realized something. "Oh, hey! She's a girl!"
Gwen raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? That's rare. Only about a 12.5% chance for a female."
Nora grinned proudly, as if she had won a prize. "Guess I just have amazing luck!"
Ren smiled softly. "So, what are you going to name her?"
Nora tapped her chin thoughtfully, staring at the name input screen. "Hmmm… I need something cool… something fitting… something awesome!"
She fell deep into thought, ready to give her new partner a name worthy of its fiery spirit.
(In Kevin's car normal POV)
Kevin's car rumbled along the broken road, sandwiched between the others in the group. Through the rearview mirror, he caught a glimpse of Gwen driving Ben's car trailing behind, handling the terrain with ease.
Up ahead, the Rust Bucket carried Sun, Max, Jaune, and Pyrrha, while Ben and Yang led the way.
Somewhere further back, Phantom 10 was driving Ruby and Amber. It was a strange lineup, but then again, nothing about the past few days had been normal.
At least, for now, his car was peaceful. Weiss and Blake sat in the backseat, both completely absorbed in their books. It was their first real exposure to Earth media, and from the looks of it, they were already hooked.
"This is actually quite an interesting book," Weiss murmured, flipping a page in The Magic Tree House.
She followed the adventures of Jack and Annie with fascination, her expression shifting as she imagined the time-traveling siblings' journey.
Kevin gave a nonchalant shrug. "Not exactly my thing, but Gwen likes it. It's not bad."
Beside her, Blake briefly glanced up from The Hobbit, her golden eyes curious. "I didn't take you for a bookworm."
Kevin smirked, eyes still on the road. "I read sometimes," he admitted. "Not as much as Gwen, but I've got a few favorites. Berserk's pretty solid. Some of the Halo books too."
Weiss looked up from her book, intrigued. "What's Berserk?"
Kevin let out a dry chuckle. "Okay, before I answer that, let me ask you something first—do you like stories that are really dark, sad, and depressing?"
Weiss immediately shook her head. "Not particularly."
"Then I'm gonna do you a favor—you don't wanna know." His voice was firm, almost protective. "It's dark, bloody, and soul-crushingly depressing. That's all I'll say."
Blake and Weiss exchanged a glance before Weiss hesitated, then asked, "Are there any books you like that aren't super depressing?"
Kevin didn't miss a beat. "My Hero Academia." Weiss furrowed her brows. "I don't know what that is."
"It's a manga," Kevin explained. "Like a book, but with pictures. Sort of like a graphic novel, except you read it right to left.
I got volumes one through twenty with me. Remind me to show it to you when we get on the ferry."
Weiss's expression brightened with curiosity. "That sounds interesting. I'd love to read it."
Blake gave a small, knowing smirk before returning to The Hobbit. She could already tell Kevin had a deeper appreciation for stories than he let on.
He wasn't just some rough-around-the-edges bruiser—he cared about the things he liked, even if he didn't always show it outright.
The drive continued, the remnants of Vale slowly passing by outside the windows. The silence returned.
Broken only by the occasional turn of a page, the low hum of engines, and the ever-present weight of what they'd all been through.
For now, at least, things were peaceful. And in a world that had been flipped upside down, Kevin would take whatever peace he could get.
(In the rough bucket normal POV)
Inside the Rust Bucket, the air hummed with the quiet drone of the road beneath its tires, the occasional jostle of the vehicle making the objects on the table shift slightly. Seated around the metal table in the RV's cozy interior, Sun Wukong, Jaune Arc, and Pyrrha Nikos found themselves battling a common enemy—boredom.
Sun, ever the restless one, bounced his foot against the floor, his tail flicking back and forth as he leaned against the table with his chin in his hand. His golden eyes scanned the interior of the RV, looking for anything—anything at all—that could break the monotony. Jaune, sitting across from him, slouched with his arms folded, occasionally drumming his fingers on the tabletop, while Pyrrha, ever composed, sat upright, hands resting in her lap, though even she was beginning to feel the weight of the uneventful ride.
From the driver's seat, Grandpa Max glanced in the rearview mirror, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Years of traveling with Ben had taught him to recognize the telltale signs of a group itching for something to do. And, as always, he had a solution.
"If you kids are bored, I keep a couple of card games in the bottom drawer in the kitchen," Max offered, his deep, reassuring voice breaking the silence. "Feel free to take a look."
Sun's ears perked up, and in a flash, he was off the bench, practically leaping over to the small kitchenette. He crouched down, yanked open the drawer Max had mentioned, and rifled through its contents. There were a few different games inside, but one, in particular, caught his eye—a red box with bold black and yellow writing that read UNO. He pulled it out, inspecting it curiously before turning back to the table.
"Hey, how about this one?" he said, holding up the box.
Max let out a hearty chuckle, already envisioning the chaos that was about to ensue. If only he had a camera to record their first experience with this game. "Now that's a good one," he said, nodding approvingly. "That's UNO."
Jaune and Pyrrha exchanged glances, intrigued by the name alone.
"How do you play?" Pyrrha asked, tilting her head slightly, curiosity gleaming in her emerald eyes.
Sun flipped the box around and squinted at the back, scanning the description before reading aloud. "Alright, so, each player gets seven cards to start with. The deck has a bunch of cards numbered one through nine, each coming in different colors.
The goal is to get rid of all your cards by playing one that matches either the number or the color of the card on the pile in the middle. If you don't have a card that works, you have to draw from the deck until you do."
Jaune furrowed his brows. "That doesn't sound too hard," he remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Pyrrha nodded in agreement. "Seems simple enough," she added, her usual grace making even a casual conversation sound elegant.
Sun smirked and held up a finger. "Ah, but there's a catch! There are ability cards." He popped open the box and pulled out a handful of cards, laying them out on the table for the others to see.
"There are five power cards in total. Skip cards let you skip the next player's turn." He tapped the card with a bold 'SKIP' printed on it. "Reverse cards flip the order of turns." He flipped over a green Reverse card with a grin. "Wild cards let you change the color being played, so you can mess up someone's strategy."
Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Okay, that could be pretty useful."
"Yeah, but then you have these two bad boys," Sun continued, his grin widening as he pointed at the final two. "The Wild Draw Four does the same thing as a normal Wild card, but the next person has to draw four cards and lose their turn."
Jaune's eyes widened. "Wait, four cards?! That's brutal!"
Sun laughed. "Oh, we're just getting started! There's also the Draw Two card, which forces the next person to draw two extra cards and skips their turn."
Pyrrha leaned forward slightly, a small, amused smile forming on her lips. "So it's not just about getting rid of your cards—you can actually sabotage the other players."
"Exactly!" Sun said, pointing at her. "And there's one last rule. When you're down to one card, you have to shout 'UNO!'" His grin turned mischievous. "But if someone catches you before you do, they can call you out, and you have to draw two more cards!"
Jaune let out an impressed whistle. "Okay, this game just went from simple to savage real quick."
Max chuckled as he watched them absorb the rules, amused by how quickly they were getting into it.
Sun clapped his hands together. "Alright, I know for a fact I'm not going down without a fight. Let's do this!"
Jaune rolled his shoulders, shaking off any remaining drowsiness from the long ride. "Bring it on," he said, grabbing the deck and starting to shuffle.
Pyrrha chuckled softly, her competitive spirit stirring just enough to make things interesting. "This is going to be fun."
As Jaune began dealing out the cards, Max leaned back in his seat with a knowing smile, already anticipating the chaos that was about to unfold.
This was going to be good.
(With Yang and Ben on bumblebee normal POV)
Ben held on tightly as Yang weaved Bumblebee through the streets, the roar of her motorcycle blending with the rush of the wind. His arms were wrapped around her waist, and while he tried to focus on the ride, he kept getting distracted by the golden strands of her hair whipping wildly in the air. More than once, he had to turn his head to avoid getting a face full of it.
The steady thump of digital beats pulsed through Bumblebee's speakers, a high-energy techno rhythm that seemed to match Yang's fearless driving. Ben found himself nodding along to the track before chuckling.
"You've got an interesting taste in music," he remarked, smirking as the light of passing street lamps flickered across his face.
Yang grinned, keeping her eyes on the road as she shot back, "Well, you've got a techno-logical bike right now. Not many motorcycles on your world have radios?"
Ben shook his head. "Not really. Most are just your standard two-wheelers. You'd have to mod one to get music."
Yang chuckled. "Well, just don't get so caught up in the jams that you make us crash from laughter."
Both of them snickered at the pun, the song coming to an end just as Ben noticed something—Yang's scroll was plugged into the bike's aux cord, and the input jack looked just like the ones on his phone. That gave him an idea.
"Hey, mind if I play something?" he asked, already reaching into his pocket.
Yang raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Go for it. Just don't distract me too much, hotshot."
Taking that as a green light, Ben carefully unwrapped one arm from around her waist, fumbling only slightly as he swapped out Yang's scroll for his phone. He scrolled through his music, found what he was looking for, and pressed play.
A heavy guitar riff blasted from the speakers, immediately followed by pounding drums and an enthusiastic chant:
"HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!"
Then came the lyrics, bold and energetic:
"It started when an alien device did what it did! And stuck itself upon his wrist with secrets that it hid!"
Yang's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a grin slowly creeping onto her face as she processed what she was hearing. "Wait—this is your theme song?"
Ben smirked. "Yep. One of the few things my fans made that I actually like. Figured you'd hear it eventually, so might as well get it over with now."
Yang let out a low whistle, her head bobbing in time with the beat. "Gotta say, it's got a solid groove. Not bad, shifty."
Ben smirked, satisfied with her approval, as they continued their ride toward the docks. The city lights blurred past them, the rush of the wind mixing with the music as they rode on. Something about the moment felt right, like they had just closed one chapter of their journey—and a brand new one was about to begin.
AN
There we are folks chapter 7 is done and we're finally OUT OF THE CITY OF VAIL MAN IT TOOK FOREVER!
But I did it and now we're on our way to Patch One of the things that I'm excited for is the introduction of the new military base, that Phantom will be renovating and the fact that we're getting closer to the next major arc of the series.
And yes the theme song is from Ben 10 race against Time Go listen to it if you haven't it is good.
Also a little something I want to give the fans okay you guys since March is my birthday month I decided to give you all a little gift All of you can PM me with names for Nora's litten!
Also sorry for all the transitions I honestly didn't know what to do for the last part so I decided to end it on a bit of a high note.
Anyway next time as Ben and friends make it to the island of Patch the group meet the Xiao Long patriarch, and talk about the ride. down there along with making their way to the new base of operations, next time on dimensional heroes of Remnant stay safe out there.