Opening File: The Mobians
Even though it has been decided that Humans and Faunus are the main species that live on Earth there is a third faction that is known only to a few, known as the Mobians. Faunus were Humans who gained Animal-features while Mobians were the exact opposite, Animals who gained Human-features such as growing human like bodies, hands, legs with the ability to walk on, and the ability to speak. It is had been regarded as impossible since animals could not have the ability to any human features without millions of years of evolution but the emergence of the Faunus made it possible. When the Human ancestors of the Faunus mixed their Auras with the souls of Animals and nature, gaining Animal-features it had an effect on the animals that became noticeable several generations later.
Animals such as canines, felines, badgers, foxes, birds, insects, and even hedgehogs were born with human-like features and they began to learn. A new race had been born amongst the war between Humans and Grimm, Mobo-Sapiens better known as Mobians. They learned quickly how to speak, how to reason, and that the world they had been born into was one of endless violence and conflict. They learned quickly how to fight, how to survive and while many found a home with the Faunus and Humans who were sympathetic to their plight many of them believed they could not be safe and thus sailed out to find a new home where they could live in peace.
It is unknown if they ever did find the peace they sought.
Close File
Xxx
TOM closed the history files. "Well, another bit of history explained just how much things can be changed because of one cataclysmic event. The question on everyone's mind though is can things be better or worse? Can a world where everyone is just fighting to survive be better or is a world where there is nothing to unite them and they just go about their own daily interests? You got to wonder, just which kind of life would you prefer?"
TOM brought up a few images of some well-known characters fighting Grimm. "A life of endless fights where you have to risk your life, protect the innocent, with awesome powers? Or a life where that is all someone else's problem? You got to wonder, if you were ever given that choice what would you choose what kind of person would you become?"
Xxx
A blue blur raced through the canyon, chased by three large robots that were shooting at it. The blur traveled nearly 750 miles per hour, breaking the sound barrier and easily outrunning the robots chasing it. It jumped up, spinning as it bounced off the canyon walls and shot at the robots, smashing through the middle one. The robots spun around, firing their guns and missiles but the blur dodged them all easily as it swung around and flew back at the robot on the right like a homing missile.
The last robot tried to shoot the blur but was hit from behind by an electric blast that short circuited it and left it as a powerless husk. The blur stopped in front of the dead robot, revealing itself to be a blue furry humanoid like hedgehog with blue spiky hair and wore white sock with red sneaks.
The hedgehog smirked as the blue plane landed in front of him. "Nice shot, Tails."
How the plain came a short yellow and white furry humanoid fox. "Thanks, Sonic. You lined them up perfectly. Eggman's got to be freaking out now."
"No doubt about it. Better hurry back to the village before Amy comes looking for us. She can be as scary as Grimm when she's angry." Sonic the Hedgehog nodded.
"Yeah, no kidding." Tails agreed.
Through a camera lens of one the dead robot a man dressed in a red coat with a brown moustache and blue lenses over his eyes growled at his enemy defeating his robots. "This is not over yet, Sonic. I'll get you yet. No one humiliates Dr. Robotnik and gets away with it!"
Xxx
Hoagie Gilligan Sr. put on his best smile as he and his family entered the Sanban Mansion, having been invited over for dinner to discuss the benefits of the Carrier project. The creation and design of airships had been a dream of Mr. Gilligan since he was a child and it had come a long way with the help of gravity based Dust. He had made many designs and though most of them failed he continued working and designing, catching the eyes of big people such as Hal Fulbright, the head of the Fulbright Corporation. It was even through working his dream job that he met Betty, the woman he would fall in love with and marry, having one son and another just days away from being born.
"Now remember Hoagie, be on your best behavior." He listened as his wife instructed their son on how to act tonight.
"Okay, mom." Hoagie Gilligan Jr. nodded with a happy smile.
They were led into the mansion by one of the maids and entered a simply and yet large dining room. Genki and Kani Sanban, the heads of Sanban Industries were already waiting for them with their daughter, Kuki Sanban who looked at Hoagie with a curious look. Aside from her training at Yamnouchi Kuki hadn't met many people her age, let alone having many friends aside from Yori and another girl named Kimiko Tohomiko who was the daughter of one of the workers at Sanban Industries who was a computer genius, even creating many games that were popular and led to a new company working with Sanban Industries that specialized in electronic and game design.
"Hoagie Gilligan, welcome to our home." Genki said, speaking perfect English as she welcomed the Gilligans.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sanban. This is my wife, Betty." Hoagie gestured to his wife who smiled and bowed slightly to the Sanbans. "With us is my mother-in-law, Lydia."
Lydia stepped forward with a stoic nod that Geki and her husband returned. They knew she was a veteran Huntress and that she wasn't one for social gathering so they accepted her simple nod.
To a Huntress, action spoke louder than words and that was something Genki could respect.
"And my son, Hoagie Gilligan Jr."
The boy smiled, offering a hand. "Hello."
Kani allowed a small smile as he shook Hoagie's hand. "Hello young man. Allow me to introduce you to our daughter, Kuki Sanban."
Hoagie and Kuki looked at each other, exchanging small but awkward smiles since this dinner seemed a little too complicated for their young minds. Still Kuki had been training with her mother in social adequate and Hoagie promised to be on his best behavior.
Best behavior meaning no exciting talks and games about planes at the table.
"Now, let's eat, talk, and try and enjoy this evening." Genki said as they all sat down. "And I'd love to hear about this Air Carrier project."
The dinner was nice and after they had eaten Kuki and Hoagie had been allowed to leave the table with Genki allowing Kuki to show Hoagie around. Having a kid around here that was her age would be good for her, maybe allowing her to have some fun in the following weeks.
Xxx
"The new air craft has arrived in Japan as expected."
"Good. Sabotage the ship so the engines will explode. Sanban Industries will lose another asset."
"Understood."
Xxx
Skips was turning in for the day, watching as the park manager, Benson closed up the park house. To those outside of this country Benson would have been considered odd but in America where Humans, Mobians and Faunus lived together a walking gumball machine was pretty much as normal as anything else around here. Benson was actually the result of attempts to create a synthetic being with an Aura of its own. The fact that Benson was a gumball machine was bit of a joke made by DexLabs but then through the power of the Imagination Semblance that was present in the members of that family Benson not only came to life but he had an actual soul.
DexLabs had given this miracle of science and life the rights of a normal being and Benson had pretty much been living as a normal person since then. Now he was the Park Manager and a very good one by the way.
And his Semblance was not something to sneeze at either.
Skips walked or rather skipped into his house, closing the door and sighed as he walked over to his couch. "What a day."
"It certainly has been, brother."
Skips narrowed his eyes as he spotted cloaked figure in the corner of his living room. "You."
"It has been a long time, brother. Do you still go by that ridiculous name the monks gave you?" The intruder asked.
"You can call me Skips and never call me brother again. I cast aside my relation with you and the rest of our tribe long ago." Skips said scornfully.
"Skips, hm? It actually suits you. As for me I chose a name with slightly more class." The intruder said as he stepped out of the shadows.
"You mean from monster movies, Mr. Argost?" Skips retorted. "Why are you here?"
"Can't a long lost sibling simply stop by and say hello?" V.V. Argost said, feigning hurt. "I had heard you had a chat with the Saturday family and was curious about the subject of your talk."
"If you must know they were asking about your tribe and their blood sport. It seems you made some powerful enemies." Skips commented, sounding casual but was completely alert.
"Ah yes, I suppose that is to be expected. Then again they had already done that when they broke into my humble home and stole a very important stone." Argost said as he looked out the window. "I don't suppose you asked about it?"
"I want nothing to do with your madness. Kur should have stayed buried where he belonged." Skips snapped. "Do you have any idea of the consequences of your ambition?"
"What would I need to fear when the promise of eternal life and power outweighs any consequence?" Argost asked rhetorically as he faced Skips. "How I envy your good fortune. To be blessed with the power of the Guardians of Eternal Youth. Our clan was already capable of long life but you succeeded where so many of us had failed."
"Kur is not some simple animal you can tame. You know he was around even before the Grimm and he nearly destroyed the world in the war he waged. Even if you could control all the Cryptids and maybe even the Faunus the Grimm don't have souls or minds to be controlled. Not even Kur could destroy the source of them." Skips said, pacing slightly while keeping his eyes trained on Argost.
"The same could be said for the Humans, the Faunus, and even the Mobians and especially the Emperor who failed to kill him when he had the chance. The cycles are not ending as they had originally at the beginning, brother. Even you must realize what will happen in the future if we do not have the power of Kur behind us." Argost swept his cloak open. "Soon enough the forces of the ancient world will rise again."
"And if you try to control them you'll destroy yourself. Leave Kur where he belongs, never to be found again. That's my only warning to you, brother. Now leave and never enter my house again." Skips said as his Aura flared. "Or would you like to see if you can defeat me, the Herald of the Guardians?"
Argost stepped back, grimacing. He knew that as strong as he was he could not defeat Skips who was far older, more experienced, and more powerful than Argost would dare to admit. If he tried to fight Skips without an ace up his sleeve he would surely lose.
"Very well. This round is yours, Skips. But when I find Kur we'll see if your so-called power of the Guardians can stand against his might." Argost jumped through the open window that he used to enter the house.
Skips closed the window and sat on the couch. "…I am way too old for this."
Xxx
The Fulbright Corporation is the top company in America that specializes in vehicle construction, both for civilian and military use. And the head of the company, Hal Fulbright was a very busy man, overseeing new designs, managing the budget, and negotiating with other companies like Sanban Industries in joint projects. Hal took his morning coffee and looked out the backyard of his rather large mansion, seeing his eldest daughter, Fanny Fulbright playing with her brothers in a game of Huntsmen with her brothers acting like Grimm and she was a Huntress wielding a foamy claymore. Fanny was the one to inherit her mother's red hair, fiery nature, and her Irish accent so it was no surprise she wanted to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a Huntress.
Fanny's mother was from Ireland, a country that had it's share of Grimm and had produced powerful warriors for centuries. It was that fiery nature tempered with a kind heart that made Hal fall in love with her and it almost hurt to see Fanny as a complete copy of her mother who sadly died on a mission. He supposed he should be trying to discourage Fanny but he saw the look in her eyes and knew it would be impossible.
She could not be stopped and she would not let anyone stand in her way.
That is why Hal started using his connections to track down someone he knew would be able to make Fanny every bit as strong as her mother, perhaps even stronger. During her time as a Huntress his wife had met two powerful warriors, one from Scotland the other from Australia who she claimed were two of the strongest Huntsmen on the planet. Scotland had remained isolated from the rest of the world for the most part, its clans choosing to stick together against the Grimm that ran free across their land while Australia was mostly populated by Faunus and unfortunately was seen as one of the countries the Satyra had a strong influence in. Like Scotland Australia was isolated but had remained safe for the most part from Grimm Hoards, only suffering an attack from a few large flying ones or sea-based ones that had been easily repelled.
The Scottish warrior his wife spoke of was the leader of the clan and was said to be always traveling across the world, almost never home which made it a little hard to track him down since Hunters knew how to survive in the wild with no forms of communication on them for years. The Australian one was a freelancer for the most but he had last been seen returning to Australia.
"Mr. Fulbright?" His secretory knocked on his door.
"Yes." Hal said, allowing her to enter. "What is it?"
"We just had a call from Japan. You recall that the Gilligan family was there on a short vacation while Mr. Gilligan spoke with Genki and Kani Sanban regarding the carrier project?" The secretary asked.
"I remember that clearly. What is your point?" Hal asked impatiently.
"There was an accident on the prototype while it was grounded. The engines were sabotaged, possibly by terrorists working with the Faunus terrorist group." The secretary answered quickly.
Hal grimaced. "Is anyone dead?"
"Around thirty to fifty casualties but they have not yet found all the bodies. Mr. Gilligan was one of the casualties."
Hal closed his eyes and looked out the window. "And his family?"
"Still alive. But the grandmother is demanding they be transported back here immediately." The secretary checked her notes. "The carrier was to be their source of transportation to Japan and back to America."
"Get a plane that's already chartered for Japan and have them set up for first class with full benefits for them when they get back. Do we have any suspects from the attack?" Hal questioned, wanting to know if there was someone to blame for this.
"Any suspects are presumed dead from the explosion. The Sanbans were kind enough to send us a report on what the authorities discovered and they want to assure you they will be looking into the source of the explosion thoroughly."
"Offer them the assistance of any Hunters we have under our employ. I want to know a way to track these extremists and catch them." Hal said, not willing to take this tragedy lying down.
Someone had to pay.
"Of course sir. And there's one other thing, Mr. Fulbright. One of our contacts has located one of the Huntsmen you've been asking for."
Finally a bit of good news. "Is he here?"
"Not yet, sir. He boarded a ship that was chartered for here. It'll arrive in three days. The other has accepted our offer but wishes for his family to be moved here."
"Good. Send a limo to pick him up when he gets here. In fact, send a limo and a few security guards to the airport when the Gilligans get back, keep them out of the cameras of reporters. That's the last thing they need. And book a flight for our friend in Australia along with his family."
"Understood, Mr. Fulbright."
Xxx
Hoagie P. Gilligan Junior was numb.
He had been with his mother and grandmother in the crowd, watching as the airship his father had built and brought them to Japan on explode as it was taking off to show to everyone in Japan.
Explode with his father on board.
His mother had cried non-stop since it happened and his grandmother was quiet, consoling his mother and her daughter while keeping an eye on him as he stared out the window of the guest suite they had been given upon their arrival.
"They got a plane ready for us. We can get out of here and get home." Lydia said as she walked into the room.
"Grandma, what happened?" Hoagie asked, still looking out the window.
Lydia looked at his grandson and decided she could not lie to him. "The ship was sabotaged, Hoagie. Most likely those Faunus lunatics from Satyra who thought blowing something up would make the world pay attention to them."
"Mother! Please don't talk about it!" Betty cried out, sitting next to her son. "I don't want to hear about it!"
Lydia shrugged indifferently while Hoagie just stared up at the sky. His newborn brother, Tommy was sleeping in the next room, having been born during the Gilligan family's extended stay in Japan, not knowing or even capable of understanding why his family's spirits were down.
'From here there is nothing to block your view of the entire world.' His father's words about flying in the sky whispered in his mind.
Hoagie looked down at the picture of himself with his father, standing on the bridge of the airship he had built. 'Dad, why did this happen to you?'
They quickly packed their things and left for the airport, eager to return home. Just before they boarded the plane however the Sanban family themselves were waiting at the gate to meet them. Hoagie barely paid any attention as they offered their condolences for his father's death, preferring to simply stare out at the plane but noticed someone looking at him.
It was their daughter, Kuki Sanban looking at him curiously but he barely glanced at her, too caught up in his thoughts about his father to pay attention.
Kuki watched as the Gilligan family boarded the plane that would take them back to their home country, feeling something when she saw Gilligan boy. Over the last few weeks Hoagie had been over and it was during those times Kuki had actually found herself a friend her age, someone to play with as a kid and simply be herself. A chance to laugh, have fun, ignore social lessons that she had been expected to learn as the future head of Sanban Industries as she and Hoagie shared stories back and forth.
But now that boy that she looked to as a friend was hurting.
Her Semblance that was able to detect danger acted as a precognitive ability and for some reason it activated she saw that boy, as if warning her about what the boy was feeling:
Grief, sadness, confusion, and…Anger.
Kuki's Semblance sometimes manifested without her activating it, suggesting that it was more than just a simple ability to detected danger. The possibility that her Semblance was possibly a manifestation of 'Future Sight' was considered as it was remembered that her ancestor was capable of it.
"Is something wrong, Kuki?" Genki asked, shaking her daughter from her thoughts.
Kuki looked up at her mother. "That boy, he seems so sad."
Genki closed her eyes and sighed as she placed around her daughter. "He has suffered a terrible loss, Kuki. It will not be easy for him to live with."
Kuki watched as the plane took off, wondering what would become of that boy.
Xxx
On the plane after his mother had fallen asleep Hoagie used his scroll to check the network for news on the attack and saw a picture of the airship just after it exploded. There was someone there, perched on the outside of the ship, wearing dark clothes and had long dark hair…
With fox ears on top of her head.
Hoagie stared at her for a long time, just knowing she was the one who blew up the airship and killed his father.
Xxx
"GAH!" Wallabee Beatles grunted as he hit the ground again.
If anyone were to come upon him now they would think he is in a fight and they would be right. Only instead of fighting off a bunch of punks from his school he was fighting only one man.
"You need to tighten your guard, Wallabee. When you threw that last punch you left yourself open on the left." The man standing above him said.
This man was in fact his dad's brother, Uncle Louis 'Lou' Pottingsworth III who was also a Faunus like Wallabee and his dad and a Huntsman at the same time. Lou came back to Australia upon hearing that his nephew wanted to be Hunter and decided that it was best to come and train his nephew who despite was becoming quite the little street fighter. But punks and little idiots were nothing compared to Grimm and bandits and dangerous criminals. Lou had taken to teaching Wallabee what he knew of hand-to-hand combat, mixing it with the street fighting style Wally had learned from fighting the punks that liked to pick fights with him.
He first built up Wally's immunity to pain the old fashioned way, through sparing but held back enough that he didn't end up breaking up Wally's small body. In a fight pain could decide the outcome of an entire fight and thus Lou had to make sure Wally could handle the pain. Needless to say the days ended with Wally having a lot of bruises but he brushed them off and was quickly patched up by his mother. It was a long road ahead but Wally was pushing through and Lou could not help but feel proud of his nephew.
In addition to that Uncle Lou had also been working to teach Wally how to fight smart since a brawler would not last long against a cunning Grimm or even a trained killer. He started by attaching coconut shells to Wally's body, specifically one at each knee cap, ankle and hand with two at the upper chest and back which Wally thought was funny until Lou had him practicing many strikes with the shells attached to him. The purpose was teaching his nephew how to be mentally alert and how to concentrate. Wally tried to repeat the strikes his uncle showed him and made many mistakes even before Lou decided to move onto sparring which led Wally being easily defeated.
Wallabee grunted as he stood back up. "Come on! One more time!"
"No. That is enough for today. You must know when to stop and rest." The man shook his head. "Take a break, Wally."
Wallabee sighed in frustration but relented as they started walking back to the Beatles home. "So, how'd I do Uncle Lou?"
"You are a good fighter, Wally but sometimes you let your temper get the better of you and that causes you to make mistakes which in a life or death battle would mean the end of you. You need to learn how to control that temper or it might be your end."
Wallabee nodded. "All right, all right."
Lou patted his nephew on the head. "You are getting better, Wally. Just keep training and you will continue to get better."
Wallabee Beatles smirked. "Got it."
"Tomorrow we'll get started on your weapon. You'll need to be sure of what you want and to understand the mechanics of building and maintaining it. But make sure to have all your stuff packed up because we're moving to America."
Uncle Lou had accepted a job in America and in exchange for helping his client the Beatles would be allowed to move to America. The Beatles family didn't exactly feel welcome in Australia on account of the Satyra trying to provoke more violence between Humans and Faunus. It was still a small movement but Wallabee kept on getting into fights and his parents knew they could not stay here. So when Uncle Lou accepted a job and offered them a new place in Amerca they accepted without hesitation.
It helped that Lou's client was the head of the Fulbright Corporation.
Xxx
"Yipe!" Nigel yelped as he fell on the ground and rubbed his head, looking up and seeing Abby smirking as she stood victoriously over him.
Monty laughed upon, having watched the spar on a log. It had been a fun last few years, training both kids to be Hunters. He had started out slow at first, having them do small exercises without pushing them too far but then he slowly built them up bit by bit. Walks became jogs, climbing up trees became climbing up rocky hills followed by exercising in a small exercise room Monty and his wife had set up in their house.
Monty often took them out on hikes through the woods, actually doing it before sun rise after a big breakfast made by Jennifer to make sure they had plenty of energy. Jennifer of course made sure that the kids would get a proper education and thus in addition to attending the local school she often had reading sessions with them, making sure they were paying attention and making them as fun as she could for the kids but wouldn't forgive them if they repeated everything she said perfectly. Monty first led them through easy paths, and then led them deeper, bringing them over downed trees and logs over rivers. He even took it a step further, blindfolding both kids as they walked over the logs like how performers would walk over tight ropes at the circus, teaching them the importance of balance and relying on their other senses than just their sight.
It had led to a few drops in the river but Monty had been close enough to save and dry them quickly with his own Flame Semblance. He also coached Nigel on his Semblance with what he knew about the Flame, showing him basic stances and even breath control but Nigel's form was still unique and thus they had to learn what best would apply to Nigel and his Frostfire Semblance. He did not leave Abby out of the exercise, teaching them both exercises that almost seemed like dances but would be important as they grew up. Strength was not the only answer in a battle and when it failed he explained they'd need to rely on speed, flexibility, and intelligence.
Monty had found that Abby's older sister, Cree had left a small paper on fighting styles when she left Abby with the Unos. He looked through them and as he coached both kids on them he saw that Abby was a natural at them. She was agile and flexible with an almost unnatural grace and it showed when Monty finally had the two kids spar against each other. Nigel was beginner and showed a lot of potential but it almost seemed that the usual stances that Uno family had relied on for full use of the Flame did not work fully well with him.
Abby on the other hand took the few combat forms her sister left like a natural and thus was why she had defeated Nigel in the last few fights. In addition to these styles Monty also coached Abby on how to use her Faunus senses as an advantage, training her to use her enhanced eyesight to her advantage by throwing a small ball that she had to catch. At first it sounded easy but Abby ended up missing it and falling over a dozen times since Monty wasn't making it easy for her and he trained her how to use her advanced hearing as an advantage as well. He also had Nigel run laps around the house as many times as he could with Jennifer making sure he didn't stop until he was panting and seconds away from feinting.
Both Abby and Nigel's second training was building up an immunity to pain since working with the Flame often guaranteed a risk of burning, even if Nigel's Semblance didn't burn there was always the risk of frostbite so with reluctance Monty had Abby and Nigel punch trees as hard as they could which hurt of course but they pushed through the training, earning some bloody hands that luckily would heal but not be broken. Abby's next training course was sprinting from one point to another but Monty set up her little racetrack to be rocky and she ended up tripping most of the way. Surprisingly the spars weren't all that rough compared to most of the training as Monty made it clear that the goal was only to knock their opponent down to win.
"All right, that's all for today." Monty said as he walked over, watching as Abby offered her hand to Nigel who accepted it.
Monty was worried that Nigel might feel a little grumpy but to his relief Nigel accepted with a smile. "Good throw Abby. I honestly didn't see the somersault coming."
Abby blushed slightly. "Oh, it was nothing."
"It was not." Nigel shook his head. "You pulled it off so fast I thought you were a blur!"
Monty laughed, gaining both kids. "Glad to see you both had some fun. Still, I think we might have to make a few changes, Nigel. I taught you all the stances that the rest of my family has used for the Flame but they don't seem to work with you all that well. It's possible that since your Frostfire Flame is the exact opposite that I might have gone about the wrong way."
"What do you mean, Dad?" Nigel asked.
"Nigel, I explained that the Flame worked by relying on our body heat, building it up inside and releasing it as air so hot it instantly becomes fire. But your Frostfire seems to rely on something else since the stances and techniques I have taught you do not seem to harness it properly. Perhaps it's because since it freezes instead of heats it's impossible to be used like the others since it does need body heat." Monty brought a hand to his chin. "It's as if the two have nothing in common, completely incompatible. This might require the services of somebody whose semblance is more like yours, a semblance that generates ice instead of heat."
"But won't that still be incompatible with mine, dad? I mean it's still fire I'm making, even if it's...well…cold." Nigel rubbed the back of his head.
"Yes, but you need to remember that each Semblance is the projection of one's soul, and the process by which that spiritual energy is manifested is the link we are looking for." Monty attempted to explain. "Yours manifests in a way that generates intense cold, meaning that anyone with a Semblance operating on that same basic principle might be more qualified to help you learn how to harness and control the flow of your energy so that you can use it more effectively than I could ever teach you."
When she saw how Nigel was still trying to wrap his head around it, Abby presented a more abridged version. "Your soul makes things cold, your dad's soul makes things hot, so you need somebody whose soul makes things cold. Get it?"
Yes…abridged.
"Yeah, I think I understand." Nigel nodded, "But does this mean I won't get to train with you, dad?"
"Oh worry not son! I'll still be more than glad to teach you both about the more physical components of being Hunters!" Monty chuckled, "I might not be able to help you with your Semblances, but your Auras are still a critical part of any fight! They allow you to strike with the force of a hundred men, run like a cheetah, scale a building with a single leap, defy the laws of physics and withstand attacks that would be fatal to anyone else! But for all of these useful abilities there is only one tool more important to any Hunter."
He rubbed his son's head. "Their drive to protect the innocent, son. Anybody can take the training, learn to fight and how to use their Aura, but a Hunter or Huntress is distinguished by how they put all of that to use once their training is finished and they are left to strike out into the world. Every day the Grimm constantly try to breach cities and settlements all over the world, and the only obstacle between them and the people is usually one or several Huntsmen who drop everything to protect those who cannot fight for themselves."
Monty looked between both children. "That is the mandate of any true Huntsman, and I have no doubt that you two will become even greater than I was in my day." He added with an encouraging smile.
That night when everyone had gone to bed Nigel turned slightly in his sleep, a white mist emerging from his skin as blue fire spread across his sheets.
Xxx
(Nigel's Dream)
Nigel opened his pale blue eyes, seeing himself standing in snow. He looked around and saw nothing but snow and mountains that didn't look familiar to him at all.
"Where am I?"
"You are inside your soul."
Nigel spun around in alarm, watching as an old man with a long white beard, icy blue skin, a curved nose and wore a blue robe and golden gauntlets with a sheathed sword and belt with a green buckle appeared a few feet away.
"Who are you?"
"I am Urgence Evergreen, the Ice Elemental. It seems you have awakened our powers." The old man said, looking down at the young boy. "About time too. Seriously how could you take so long?"
"Your powers? What are you talking about?"
Before Evergreen could speak he was suddenly frozen and shattered, causing Nigel to yelp in fright. Everything around him changed as suddenly he was not on an icy mountain but seemed to be in a castle made of pure ice.
"That is better. I think you'd handle this better if you speak with me instead of that egotistical fool." The voice of a woman was heard, full of kindness.
Nigel looked up and was gasped in shock and awe when he saw a beautiful woman, with soft blue eyes, pale skin and platinum blond hair in a braid that fell over her shoulder slowly glide down the stairs towards him, as if she was slowly skating instead of walking. She wore a cyan gown with slightly transparent sleeves and a transparent cape covered in snowflakes trailing behind her that made him think she was some sort of princess.
Or a queen.
"Greetings, Nigel Uno. My name is Elsa and like that annoying old man you just met I am an Ice Elemental." The woman said, stopping in front of Nigel and belt down in front of him, her face showing a gentle smile that put him at ease.
"Oh, nice to meet you, Miss Elsa." Nigel said, somehow feeling safe with this woman. "But what did that man mean about being an Ice Elemental and that I awakened our powers?"
Elsa chuckled slightly. "Well, it's a long story, Nigel. What I can tell you now is that you are very special because your Flame is different because of your soul. A power that has been passed down through the ages, since the time the world began and when the Grimm first rose up."
"What do you mean?" Nigel asked.
Elsa placed a hand on Nigel's head and from her hand came a soft light that made Nigel gasp. "In the beginning, there were four beings blessed with a special power by a traveler to protect life that was growing on this world. The remains of a great evil had fallen onto the world and threatened to consume it so these four sealed it away but soon enough another evil arrived and caused a great cataclysm that later created the Grimm. The four originals had long since perished but their powers eventually reincarnated into new hosts, allowing them to seal the Grimm again but this time they had the help of a hero who emerged, awakening the powers of his soul. Eventually they passed on but their powers would reincarnate again and again as the eons passed, with me being one of them when I was born and you as the newest."
Nigel watched in awe as Elsa took her hand off his head and smiled down at him. "Your soul carries a great gift, one that has altered the dark power your father calls the Flame. Unlike the others, it cannot be accessed by feelings of hate and anger or by the techniques your father has learned. Rely on the thoughts of people that make you happy, inspire you, and stretch out with your feelings, much like you did when you used your Semblance to save your friend."
Nigel remembered freezing himself and the Grimm when it cornered him and Abby. "I wanted to protect my friend."
Elsa nodded. "You took your first step that day. Remember that feeling, remember what you wanted on that day, always remember and live by what you learned."
"NIGEL!"
Xxx
Nigel woke up, hearing someone shout his name and sat upon his bed, gasping when he saw fire…
Frostfire.
It was all around him, not burning him but freezing his room and he heard a bang at his frozen door.
"Nigel! Nigel, are you okay?!" His dad's voice called.
Nigel stood up from his bed and looked at his hands, remembering what Elsa had told him, if it was not all a dream. He took a deep breath and spread his arms out, watching in awe as the ice and the Frostfire dissipated and the door opened, allowing Monty, Jennifer and Abby to rush in and looked around the room anxiously and looked surprised upon seeing Nigel was all right.
"Oh my!" Jennifer hugged her son. "I'm so glad you're all right! When we all felt so cold we were so scared for you!"
Nigel hugged his mother back. "I'm okay, Mom. I'm okay and I think I learned how to use my Semblance."
He held up his hand and conjured a small bit of azure flames that didn't burn him, simply remaining still in the palm of his hand. A white mist emerged from the fire, possible its version of smoke but it didn't burn the air.
It cooled it, bringing forth a chilly sensation that Nigel's parents and Abby felt.
"My word." Monty knelt down and stared at the flame. "You figured it out on your own?"
"Well, I'm not sure. I had a dream and…" Nigel trailed off. "It's really hard to explain."
Monty smiled. "I imagine it is. But we can talk about it in the morning. Since your room hasn't been burned down or frozen can I assume it'll be safe you to sleep in for the rest of the night."
Nigel rubbed the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "I…think so."
Jennifer sighed and looked at her husband. "He truly is your son. At the very least his room hasn't been flooded by melted ice."
Monty laughed as he rubbed his wife's back. "Indeed. Now, let's go back to bed. That's enough excitement for one night."
Xxx
"My lady, I bring good news. The Candy Elemental is alive and I believe I have found them." A man bowed his head to a woman sitting on a chair.
This woman was very strange, even in a world where people had powers, giant advanced airships, and even where animals could walk and talk. She had a large, multi-colored cotton candy head, along with two, flat swirly peppermints for eyes. Her hair and lips were fashioned from red licorice. She wore a long, purple dress and carried around what appears to be a large lollipop.
Additionally, she sported an expensive assortment of candy jewelry, such as a gold crown with rock candy embedded in its sides and rings. Her fingernails were made of candy corn, her shawl was made out of cotton candy, her necklace was made of what appears to be a candy bracelet, and her rings were made of ring pops.
The woman tilted her head and the man nodded. "Yes, the Ice Elemental is near as well. Well one of them. There are two signatures, possibly the work of a relic or something from the Forgotten Age."
The woman seemingly blinked.
"I have not found the other two Elementals yet. I know that the Candy Elemental is close to one of the Ice signatures. Shall I make a plan to extract the Candy Elemental?"
The woman shook her head.
"No? But isn't this what you had been waiting for?"
The woman pointed to her eyes and then to him.
"Keep them under observation for now? My lady, forgive me but I do not understand. We have been looking for the Elementals for years."
The woman pointed at him and made a few hand signs.
"I see…Very well. I will carry out your orders."
Xxx
Sometime in the 1860s the Battle of Pimpleback Mountain occurred when Sherman B. Lumpus was attacked by a hoard of Grimm. He lost and rolled down the mountain into a circus train to be last seen cleaning after the elephants. Since then the mountain had been completely devoid of life, except for the occasional pack of Grimm moving through the forest. So when a blast of light appeared no one was there to see as two beings stepped out of the portal and looked around.
"So this is the other dimension? Doesn't look like the one Ben might have come from." The newly arrived person said. "Looks like a real dump. Well, better get to work. Got some bad guys to track down."
"Stay focused, Rex. If what we learned is true then Van Kleiss is somewhere in this dimension." The other person, someone older and more composed reminded him.
"Right, right." Rex Salazar shook his head. "So where to?"
"I imagine we should make for the nearest settlement and ask for directions, along with making sure we find shelter."
"Sounds good to me."
Xxx
Max Tennyson sighed as he took another drink of cool water, staring up at the stars while his grandkids slept peacefully in the Rustbucket.
"Enjoying yourself, Max?"
Max didn't even blink as an old friend emerged from the woods. "Pops, I heard what happened to your diner. I wondered what you were planning on doing while it was closed."
"Just educating Bunny's boy into being a man." Pops said as he sat down next to Max. "Seems like you haven't been having a boring summer either. Aliens popping up on news reports all over the tri-state area. And look who I find parked out here?"
"It wasn't my intention, I promise you. But," Max looked over his shoulder. "Seems like things are starting up again."
"They usually are. So, you grandkid actually has it? That's crazy but it could only mean…" Pops trailed off.
Max nodded. "I know. He must have actually survived and now he's trying to not only get off Earth but to get it too."
"That's the last thing we need right now. With relations with the Faunus breaking down in a few countries and Satyra causing trouble a return visit from Vilgax could just push us over the edge." Pops shook his head.
"I know but I'm keeping a close eye on Ben. All I know for sure now is that eventually he'll come back." Max closed his eyes. "I should have made sure he was finished."
"You know everyone looked, right? There was no sign of his body at the time." Pops pointed out.
"That doesn't mean we couldn't have found him." Max clenched a fist. "And then there is the situation with the Grimm."
"We have been keeping tabs and everything is calm…For now. Just wait a little longer and we can see how this goes." Pops placed a hand on Max's shoulder.
"I have a feeling I know what's going to happen."
Xxx
"So if I ever want to leave the city I have to bond my soul to another?"
Juniper Lee had only been the Te Xuan Ze for a few years now and she had already decided this job, no matter how fun it was to see magical monsters or go to other dimension or to have super human strength, sucked big time. She barely had a social life and she was trapped in Orchid Bay City, never to leave it with her friends for as long as the Te Xuan Ze like her Amah had been for most of her life and she had taken every chance to go on vacation out of town when she had the chance. She only had her mentor who happened to be her dog named Monroe, her hyperactive little brother Ray-Ray, her older dorky brother Dennis and her newest friend Lila Sasquatch to help her and though they had been a great help she still wished for a way to do more than be the Te Xuan Ze.
Only now she was being offered a chance to leave Orchid Bay but it was under a few conditions and the person offering it was none other than the literal Grim Reaper himself.
She had to admit he looked the part of the Grim Reaper, even though he spoke with a Jamaican accent.
Grim nodded. "Da Te Xuan Ze is bound by da power of the Elders to remain in Orchid Bay City, da border between da mortal and magical worlds. However you can leave by preforming a ritual, creating a soul bond between you and one or more souls then so as long as you remain in close proximity to them you can leave dis city."
"One or more?" Jasmine Lee asked, sipping some tea she had made.
"Yes. It's a bit tricky since it has be done with someone you can absolutely trust and it can be done more than once. Da fallback is that from that point on your souls will be bound together by da invisible strings created by the ritual until the day you die. You will share thoughts and feelings through a link that you can close off from time to time but it will always be der." Grim explained, conjuring up an image of June and string forming between her and a small number of humanoid blanks that represented the people she could soul bond with. "It's a strong link, stronger den even marriage you could say."
"Thanks for that image." June said dryly.
Grim shrugged. "It's da price of finding a way to get through that annoying barrier, girl. Take it or leave it. There are two catches though."
"Gee and I thought this deal was already sweet." June sighed.
"Da Elders will allow you to leave if you do this on da condition you train to be Huntress." Grim said.
"A Huntress?" Juniper asked, not expecting that. "But I'm already the Te Xuan Ze. Why would I need to be a Huntress?"
"Look, I don't pretend I know what da Elders want but they made their conditions. It's up to you to decide to accept or not."
"And the second?" June asked.
"You have to track down the four Elementals and bond with them." Grim answered.
"The Elementals?" Jasmine gasped. "But if the Te Xuan Ze and the Elementals bond it could forever change everything."
"What are the Elementals?" June asked.
Grim decided to explain. "The Elementals are what you could say the Te Xuan Ze's predecessors or fellow employees in the fight against evil. Every generation a single being is blessed with the power of an element without the need for Dust and when one elemental dies their power is reincarnated into a new host."
"So are we talking Fire, Water, Earth, and Air?" June asked rhetorically.
Grim shook his head. "Close but no. It's Fire, Ice, Candy, and Slime. Earth, Water, and Air were already taken."
"What? What kind of an element is Candy and Slime?" June questioned, skeptical that what she was hearing was real.
"They are just as part of an element as Fire and Ice, even more in some ways. Candy is formed from chemical elements needed to make all those treats you youngsters consume, even water which is an ingredient to create your soda. And den der is Slime, a sub-element of Earth that is malleable and can harden itself." Grim shrugged. "Think of them as advanced forms of Earth, Air and Water. They were the first to stop this world from being plunged into extinction by the Grimm before Hunters became widespread and they existed in the shadows of the wars that followed. And now the Elders believe they are possibly in danger or something and need the Te Xuan Ze to aid them."
June sighed. "Okay, I'll take this deal, if only because it gives me a chance to see more of the world now instead of thirty years when I have kids."
"I knew that would be the deal breaker. So who can you dink of doing a soul bond and it can't be with family." Grim said.
June thought it over and only could think of a few people she could do this soul bond thing with outside of her family.
"All right, let me ask first before we do this."
Xxx
"Status report."
A man in a lab coat bowed to the man in the robe, observing the massive tank. "The operation is proceeding on schedule."
"And our lord?"
"The combination of cybernetics and Aura infusion appears to be working perfectly. Lord Diagon is recovering perfectly and we estimate he will even more powerful than previously believed."
"He had better be."
The years of gathering the technology needed to restore their lord to his full power had been long, tracking down the right scientists, stealing blue prints, gathering equipment and Dust. The operation consisted of awakening Lord Diagon's Aura, installing advanced cybernetics in his body, even behind his eyes that would be powered by Diagon's Aura and even enhanced by Aura infusions and Dust.
"We are ready to open the tank."
"Do it."
The tank was slowly drained of water before opening up, allowing everyone to see their master. He stood up, towering over all of them with a powerful and commanding presence. His face was green with red eyes and octopus like tentacles sprouting from the bottom of his face. He wore a black body suit with red armor that was missing its right sleeve, blue colored knee high metallic boots, a yellow gauntlet and a broadsword sheathed on its back.
"Lord Diagon." The robed men and scientists bowed before the tall being.
The being held up his hand and clenched it into a fist. "Finally, I am ready to take my revenge. Do you have the location of Max Tennyson?"
"We do, my lord. And it has come to our attention that his grandson is in possession of a strange device."
Xxx
Max Tennyson smiled as he looked at the rearview mirror, showing his sleeping grandchildren as he drove to the next stop of his summer long journey, passing a sign.
ORCHID BAY
NEXT EXIT
He smirked, knowing how his old friend, Jasmine Lee would react on meeting his grandchildren. She was always a spitfire and he doubted that had been changed even in her old age. As he understood her granddaughter had inherited the same power she had gained and was learning how to use it quickly. Orchid Bay was a hotbed for supernatural activity, yes Max Tennyson knew of the hidden world of magic that was hidden from the rest of the world and like how the Plumbers had been formed by a loose group of Hunters the same could be said for the Lee family, specifically the one who became the Te Xuan Ze. The World of Magic remained separate because of the war between Humans and Grimm, fearing the dangers of both sides.
The Lee Family remained in Orchid Bay since that time, gaining magical powers of the Elders in addition to the powers of a Hunter that made just one of them a literal one-man army that could take down many Grimm or monsters, demons, or many magical creatures that existed. Orchid Bay had luckily not endured heavy attacks by Grimm and the Lee family had not produced many Hunters in the time since the first Te Xuan Ze, preferring to try and live peacefully in the world they all lived in. The magical barrier kept the Grimm from assaulting Orchid Bay directly but every now and then one would somehow slip past the barrier and cause trouble.
Luckily the Te Xuan Ze usually handled it.
Unlike many Hunters the Te Xuan Ze did not normally use weapons, at least the non-magical kinds normally and only one weapon smith lived in Orchid Bay.
Now if only he could-
BOOM!
Max gasped and stopped the van just in time to avoid being destroyed by an sudden explosion in the middle of the road.
"What was that?!" The voice of Max's grandson Ben shouted, having been shaken from his sleep by the sound of the explosion and the feeling of the sudden stop.
Max looked ahead, watching as something emerged from the crater and when he saw what or who had emerged his heart nearly stopped. "No…It can't be."
To Ben it was a large alien with green skin, an octopus tentacle like beard like Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean, red eyes and he was taller than the Rustbucket. "Another alien? I got him!"
"Ben no!" Max shouted but Ben was already out of the van and hit the device on his wrist to change into one of his favorite aliens, Heatblast.
"All right, let's see what you got." Ben had plenty reason to be cocky because he had been dealing with aliens, bad guys, and even Grimm since the day the watch that allowed him to turn into aliens had fallen from the sky during the first night of his camping trip with Grandpa Max Tennyson.
The alien watched as Heatblast raised his hands and let loose a fiery blast that hit the alien head on.
"Huh? Is that it? He didn't even move." Heatblast commented.
But when the smoke cleared the alien was still standing without a single scratch on it. The alien glared at him, not amused by Ben's attempt to fry it.
"Okay, that didn't work. But I still got this." Heatblast said, preparing another blast.
Only this time the alien moved, moving so fast Ben didn't see him even take the first step and kicked the pyro-alien straight in the chest, sending it flying back.
"Ben!" Max shouted, having come out of his van with Gwen.
The alien stopped and looked at Max. "Hello, Max Tennyson."
Max glared back at the alien. "Vilgax."
"Grandpa?" Gwen asked, not sure what was going on.
"It has been a long time, Tennyson. Though as you can see, much as changed since them." Vilgax smirked, watching as Ben stood back up and launched fire blast at him. "I will be with you in a second."
"Vilgax!" Max shouted as Vilgax held up a hand, catching the fire and clenching his fist down on it, extinguishing it in a mere second.
"Wha?!" Heatblast gasped, seeing his attack caught like a simple ball.
Vilgax then rushed at Ben, grabbing him and slamming him into the road with enough force to send cracks traveling through the ground.
"Ben!" Gwen shouted.
Vilgax picked up Heatblast and looked at the symbol on his chest. "So the Omnitrix has been found after all these years. I am in fact relieved the bounty hunters I sent to capture it failed to stop it from being sent here."
"What are you talking about?" Heatblast struggled to break free. "Who are you?!"
"I am Vilgax and you have something that belongs to me." Vilgax answered as he raised a finger to touch the symbol on Heatblast's chest.
"Claws off my grandson, Vilgax!"
Vilgax took his eyes off Ben and was greeted with the sight of Max holding a metal briefcase that transformed into a large advanced looking cannon. It fired a bright beam that slammed into Vilgax, knocking him back and forcing him to drop Ben.
Vilgax slid several yards before the beam dissipated but remained unharmed. "Not this time, Max Tennyson. I am much stronger than I was during our last encounter."
"Then I'll just set this for a maximum burst." Max retorted.
"Not this time." Vilgax grinned as his form glowed bright green and created transparent octopus like tentacles. "I have now unlocked the power of my own Aura and gained my own Semblance. To grab everything in my sight! Behold my Death Wave!"
The tentacles lunged at Max placed his hand on the ground which glowed for a second and then leapt up into the air as if he could fly and fired down at Vilgax. The alien warlord unsheathed his sword and used it as a shield, blocking the beam from Max's cannon.
"Your Semblance still works I see. Allowing you to jump anywhere you wish, even into the air or on water." Vilgax noted, looking up at Max who remained in the air, as if he was standing on something solid. "I believe you called it Omni-Step. An effective power you used against me before. But I am now ready."
"It doesn't matter if you are, Vilgax." Max pointed his cannon at Vilgax. "I've keyed this to your Aura. It'll take you down for good this time!"
Vilgax grinned as Max fired again. "Are you sure?"
Vilgax glowed green again, creating his energy tentacles that collided with the energy blast and absorbed much to the shock of Max.
"My Death Wave drains all form of energy it touches, even the power of your weapon. I can drain even the Aura of my targets!" Vilgax lashed out with more energy tentacles.
Max used his Omni-Step to dodge Vilgax's tentacles, landing back on the ground and fired again. However Vilgax simply created another energy tentacle that absorbed the attack and fired it back at Max who dodged using his Omni-Step, using it to evade the energy tentacles and fire down at Vilgax who used his tentacles to absorb the incoming blasts. Realizing he was fighting a losing battle Max appeared next to Ben who had changed back into his human form.
"Grandpa what-" Ben was cut off as Max grabbed him.
Max then grabbed Gwen and used Omni-Step to flee from Vilgax who watched as they vanished. "You won't get far, Tennyson."
Max reappeared close to Orchid Bay City. "That was close."
"Grandpa, what's going on?" Ben asked as Max put him and Gwen down.
"It's a long story but listen Ben. You do not want to pick a fight with Vilgax." Max said, looking back in the direction he had fled from Vilgax.
"Uh, how do you know his name is Vilgax?" Ben asked.
Max winced.
"Grandpa?" Gwen asked.
Just as Max was about to face his grandchildren Vilgax landed on the ground in front of the Tennysons, smirking down at them. "You thought you could escape me? Haven't you learned anything from our last encounter?"
"He did in fact."
Vilgax looked up in time to see a green blue kick him in the face, forcing him back before a blast of light hit him and he vanished in a flash of light. Max and his grandchildren turned around to see a teenage girl and an elderly woman holding an amulet in her hand.
"Long time no see, Max. What trash have you brought to my city this time?"