Opening File: The Curse of Peach Creek Estates.
The Kanker Clan is well known for being a family of thieves and con-artists but they also have produced powerful warriors in the last century. During the founding of Peach Creek estates in the 17th the Kanker Clan was hired for protection from the Grimm but unfortunately for the people of Peach Creek the Kanker Clan soon acquired the deed through extortion, making Peach Creek their main home despite moving from time to time. The Kankers have been noted to be powerful, having Semblances that focused on manipulating their bodies such as enhanced strength, illusions, and even powerful mental Semblances. Though powerful in a fight they hinder the clan's ability to interact with outsiders, not that the Kanker clan care much for interacting with outsiders or even having friends.
This is especially true for any potential wives or husbands they come across.
Close File
"You ever meet someone who is not someone you'd like to be near. It could be any kind of reason, bad manners, lack of deodorant, or even because they are bullies and they like making people miserable. I suppose in one reality they could be a good friend and in the other, an even bigger problem. So you can either try to avoid the problem or face it head on." TOM 3 said, closing the history database. "Just be prepared because things don't always work out the way you want."
Xxx
"Ah Peach Creek, it hasn't changed much since the last time we were here." A tall woman said, looking across the suburb her ancestor won in exchange for defense against the Grimm.
It has been some since she had been here with her family due to them traveling across the country. It was dangerous to stay in one place for too long but there had been a reason she had chosen to return to this dump of a land.
Her daughters.
Lee, Marie, and May Kanker, each of them she conceived with a different man in her travels to keep the Kanker clan alive and each of them personally trained by her to be strong. It was a cruel world and they needed to be strong or they would die. The Kanker family only decided to accept the deed of this dump estate was so that the family would have a place to return for a potential mate. And the daughters of the Kanker Matriarch were reaching the age where they needed to begin looking for someone to at least be their mate or possibly servant.
Lee was the oldest, having red hair and a third eye that was the result of the Kanker bloodline in her. The Third-Eye Semblance is not something that could simply be turned off as it was the result of a physical mutation going back hundreds of years. It allowed enhanced vision, allowing Lee to see through even physical objects but its real strength was the power Perception Manipulation. It allowed her to influence the senses of everyone her third eye makes contact with and there is no known defense against it.
The second youngest, Marie was the smartest of the three and blessed with a Trojan Semblance that allows her alter her appearance at will to any form she wants. And finally the youngest, May Kanker who was a bit of a ditz compared to her sisters but just as powerful and her Semblance had the power to shrug off any form of pain and keep on fighting, making her physically the strongest of her daughters.
"Perhaps they will find someone interesting in this dump." She scoffed at the idea though. "And what do you want?"
A shadowy figure appeared behind her, all of its features concealed save for the outline of its silhouette. "I see the Kanker Clan has returned to the land it acquired through extortion. How poetic. As for why I am here it is to speak to you in regarding the bargain your clan made with my master."
"What about it?"
"If you are truly committed to our deal we want proof and it'll be your daughters who will be the ones to provide said proof." The figure said insistently.
"Oh?"
"If they are as committed as the rest of your clan then they should have no trouble dealing with a…test."
The Kanker Matriarch looked over her shoulder. "And what is this test?"
"They are several noteworthy opponents training their children or have taken on disciples. If your daughters are as strong as you claim them to be they should have no trouble challenging and defeating a simple…sparring match."
The Matriarch smirked. "Is that all? Give me the names of these so-called opponents."
"Excellent."
Xxx
"Is this the best you can do?! Rolf has seen better performance from a pile of rats fighting over corn!" Rolf, the self-proclaimed 'son of a Huntsman' barked at the 'Hunters in-training'.
The trainees in question were the three Eds along with two more kids from Peach Creek. Jonny 2x4, a kid who loves nature with his best friend Plank who happened to be a piece of wood with a face drawn on it because he was lonely as a child. The other was Nazz Von Bartonschmeer, a single daughter of hippy parents and described as a flower child who nearly every kid in the cul-de-sac had a crush on Nazz wanted to try to become a Huntress because she looked up to her grandmother who was a Huntress even though she had a falling out with Nazz's parents. The grandmother considered her son and his wife to be idiots, looking for peace in a world plagued by evil and though Nazz loved her parents dearly she inherited her grandmother's intellect and fierce heart.
She was friends with everyone, including the neighborhood mechanic Kevin who was the son of a worker at the local weapon's factory and had a fascination with bikes. It was rumored that his father designed a weapon disguised as a large wrench but no one ever asked. Kevin mostly kept to himself and acted like a tough jock and occasional bully but never threatened anyone with his weapon and didn't seem interested in being a Hunter.
The Eds themselves had different reasons for training, even if one of them was not so much interesting in becoming a Hunter.
Ed and Sarah's father was killed in a Grimm attack, causing their mother to become depressed and emotionally distant from her children. As a result Ed retreated into a world of fantasy, reading about Hunters and weapons and eventually deciding to become a Hunter. Sarah adopted a bossy attitude to fill in the role left by their parents, attempting to be independent but it wasn't easy since she considered her brother an idiot. Her only friend was a kid named Jimmy who rarely associated with the rest of the kids since his parents considered him too fragile and too naive to be around other kids like the Eds who were training to be Hunters.
Edd/Double D was a gifted child, already preparing to attend college but was raised by strict, emotionally distant parents who pushed him to be the best and to be clean and neat in every way possible…and then some, making for a stressful childhood upbringing. Unfortunately that life ended when Double D was nearly killed in an explosion caused by explosive Dust that scared his head and burned his hair, thus leading him to always wear the sock hat to cover his scars. Double D then met Ed and Eddy and though he has no wish to become a Hunter he believes that the power of Aura can one day heal his scars. And then there was Eddy, who had an abusive relationship with his elder brother but cherished it deeply before his brother was kicked out of their home and leading Eddy to decide to become someone strong enough that his brother would never push him around again: a Huntsman.
And their trainer Rolf who moved to Peach Creek with his family after his village in the old country was destroyed by rampaging Grimm Rolf had been trained to be a Hunter since he was a small child and he had showed himself to be as strong as even Ed.
"You make Rolf sick!"
And a very harsh trainer too.
"If you were up against a Grimm you would all be goners, Ed-Boys, Jonny-Wood Boy and Go-Go Nazz Girl." Rolf said, looking over the exhausted trainees once they made it through the obstacle course he had prepared.
The obstacle course included a pit Rolf had personally dug out with a tree he had knocked down as the only way across. The trainees had fallen in a dozen times, coming out muddy and bruised each time, followed by a jagged run that they had tripped on more than once, and struggling to avoid a stampede of barn animals.
End result: five beaten, exhausted, and nearly traumatized kids.
Rolf shook his head. "You shall return to Rolf's training course each day and do it again and again until you have mastered it and yourselves!"
The kids all groaned but were too tired to argue.
"Impressive."
Rolf looked over his shoulder, seeing three strange girls appear in his backyard. The one on the right had blond hair with buck teeth and wore a gray T-shirt, red shorts, red shoes with black soles, and yellow socks. The one on the left wore a black tank top that halted above her midriff, a pink belt, and green non-camouflaged BDU pants. Her hair was short and blue and it covered her right eye.
The last one and the one in the middle wore a white tank top with red polka-dots on it and a pink belt with blue jeans and golden earrings. Her hair was red and it covered her eyes and she had a few freckles on her face.
"And who are you and why do you trespass on Rolf's home?" Rolf asked calmly but could feel something off with these girls.
"I'm May Kanker." The blond girl answered, sticking her tongue out under her teeth.
The blue haired girl popped a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. "I'm Marie Kanker."
"And I'm Lee Kanker." The red haired girl finished. "We're the Kanker Sisters. We just moved in. Nice to see the place our ancestors bought is still in one piece."
"Bought?" Nazz asked.
Double D's eyes widened. "That's right! The Kanker family gained the deed to Peach Creek at the time of building in exchange for protection from the Grimm."
"So they own the cul-de-sac?" Eddy asked.
"You betcha, small fry." Lee answered, smirking.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SMALL?!" Eddy shouted, looking like he would have tried to attack the Kankers but tripped and fell over.
"Eddy, calm down! No one was saying that." Double D said as he and Nazz helped Eddy back onto his feet.
Lee chuckled. "Looks like we got a fighter here girls."
"Cute chubby cheeked ones too." Marie agreed.
"Maybe we should see how tough they are." May suggested with an excited look.
Rolf stepped forward. "There will be no fighting with Rolf's students. Newcomers come looking for a battle you may speak to this son of a Hunter."
"Oh, sounds like a challenge. You heard him girls." Lee said, crossing her arms.
"I get first dibs." May said, taking a step forward.
"Fine but leave enough of him for me." Marie said, stepping to the side.
May took off, lunging at Rolf who spun out of the way, tripping May and watching as she skidded several times across the ground. "Charging Yellow Head leave herself wide open, she practically screams her attack before she makes it."
May got back up, shrugging off the dirt and turned around with a smile. "Okay, let's get dirty!"
May preformed a hand stand before leaping up and preforming a spinning kick at Rolf who ducked. May aimed her fist down but Rolf jumped back, watching as May's fist hit the ground, creating a small crater.
"Charging Yellow Head compensates for lack of skill with brute strength." He continued to lecture her as she charged for another assault.
"Whoa!" Nazz gasped at May's strength. "Is that her Semblance?"
"Unlikely." Double D answered, his mind keenly analyzing the fight.
May moved at high speed, attacking Rolf with deadly ferocity but Rolf remained calm as he dodged her blows until she threw a punch. Rolf grabbed the arm and used the momentum to throw May over his shoulder, sending her flying back at her sisters, landing on the ground in front of Marie.
"Why am I not surprised?" Marie said, stepping over May with an eager grin. "Not bad, Farm Boy. You held off May but let's see how you do against me."
Rolf could tell that his new opponent was a lot smarter than his previous one and it showed as Marie stopped just a few feet away and readied herself. This one was not going to rush at him like her sister had done.
For a moment they remained there as Marie exhaled, slowly blowing a pink bubble of gum. Rolf realized almost too late that it was not ordinary based on the glow which originated from within…
Kicking off, Rolf launched himself backwards as the bubble popped and unleashed a concussive wave which traveled outwards. Maria was left unharmed by it, but the ground ahead of her was torn up, kicking up grass and dirt into the air and propelling Rolf back further before he dug his feet in and crossed his arms in front of his face. Just as he lowered them he found Marie in front of him, winking up at him as she resumed chewing her gum and threw a swift kick up towards his head which Rolf dodged and simultaneously spun, sweeping Marie's grounded foot out from under her and followed up with a second kick to Marie's side as she fell, sending her sliding back.
"Blue Girl demonstrates keen use of strategy, but wastes opportunity to brag instead of striking." Rolf noted, cracking his knuckles as Marie climbed back to her feet. "Tricks and toys shall only carry you so far, Blue Girl."
Clenching her fist, Marie ground it into the dirt and launched herself towards Rolf much like May had, once again stopping short and launching a series of punches and kicks at Rolf, who effortlessly dodged or blocked them while also putting Marie off balance by tugging her forward when she over extended her reach, not even bothering to strike back. However, she made good use of her gum, repeatedly blowing an explosive bubble when Rolf least expected it, and each bubble seemed to have a different effect based on the type of Dust that had been used in its creation.
A stream of fire, a stream of air so cold that it froze part of Rolf's yard, one even created a burst of electricity which Rolf was only protected from by his Aura.
However, Rolf had not been idle in this fight, observing Marie after the first few bubbles to see when she would blow another. He realized that the signal was when she began to chew faster in the moments before she exhaled.
After kicking her back again, Rolf observed this and shot forward as she began to blow a bubble…and covered her mouth with one hand. Marie's eyes widened with panic, realizing that the weaponized Dust Gum in her mouth had already been primed and was charging up to explode!
Rolf returned her earlier mocking wink and jammed his hand upwards against her lower jaw, making her bite down on the gum while it was still in her mouth and generating a vortex of air which rocketed her backwards while only pushing Rolf back a few feet. Marie flew across the yard and slammed into May, leaving Lee Kanker to face the Son of a Hunstman.
Letting out a low whistle, the red head clapped slowly. "Not bad."
Rolf watched as Lee clapped a few times, taking a few steps forward. The entire time Lee had remained composed, even as Rolf took down her sisters.
"Well, I suppose it is my turn." Lee cracked her knuckles and with that rushed at Rolf who only shook his head.
It seemed these Kanker girls were little more than children, masquerading as true Huntresses.
However just as Rolf blocked the first punch and grabbed Lee to end the fight quickly her image vanished and a fist to the face sent Rolf staggering back.
"Whoa! Rolf didn't even react!" Eddy said, watching as Lee slugged Rolf who did not even defend himself right in the face.
Rolf rubbed his jaw gently, looking at Lee who was still smirking.
"Looks like you ain't so tough after all." Lee remarked.
Lee then lunged at him again, launching a few quick strikes which Rolf dodged, stepping back carefully and trying to analyze his opponent. Just as he was about to block another fist to the face he let out a grunt as a foot slammed into his torso, knocking him down. Rolf jumped back up to his feet and stepped back, trying to see what it was that was making this girl able to slip past his guard.
Could it be her Semblance?
It was possible she had some form of super speed Semblance or an illusion based one.
"Come on, Mister Son of a Huntsman. Is that all you got?" Lee taunted.
Rolf remained composed, remembering his Hunter training from when he was a little boy. The foolish rushed in and met their ends. Rolf saw one thing and felt another…
That was it!
Rolf closed his eyes and activated his Semblance.
"No? Then I'll make the next move!" Lee said, charging again.
"Rolf, move!" Nazz shouted.
Rolf made no attempt to move as his body flashed and a screech was heard inside his mind. As Lee moved into range she let loose a barrage of punches that Rolf blocked or dodged. Lee grinned and looked at him, projecting her intended attack for him to see while aiming a kick at his knees. Just as she swung her foot Rolf reached and grabbed it, catching her attack.
"What?!" Lee gasped, shocked at seeing Rolf catch her sneak attack.
"So, this is how Red Bushy Top has been sneaking past Rolf's guard." Rolf grinned, keeping his eyes closed. "Your Semblance, it projects images into Rolf's vision. Red Bushy Top has been using this to sneak past Rolf's guard. Fortunately, Rolf has a counter for you see if Rolf simply closes his eyes and relies on his senses enhanced by the Semblance of this Son of a Hunstman your power is no match for it!"
"Your Semblance?" Lee asked before Rolf swung her over his shoulder, tossing right at her sisters and knocking them down.
"Rolf's Semblance allows him to take on the certain attributes of animals." Rolf said, turning to face the Kankers. "I can choose the agility of a cheetah, the strength of a gorilla, or even the camouflage of a chameleon but in this case Rolf chose to be blind as a bat!"
Rolf opened his eyes, showing that he was now blind.
"Your blind?!" Lee exclaimed.
"With Rolf's vision now useless Rolf's other senses were enhanced, especially my hearing." Rolf deactivated his Semblance, allowing his vision to return. "Your ability is powerful but Red Bushy Top relied on it too much, giving Rolf a chance to understand and adapt! Now that Rolf understands how you three fight you may be free to leave the property of Rolf's family!"
Lee smirked. "…Fine, since you showed just how interesting you and those ankle-biters behind you now are. We'll leave quietly, for now. But remember, Farm-Boy, this cul-de-sac belongs to the Kanker Clan so we actually own this ground you stand on. We'll be watching so you better be on your guard and you'd better make sure those students of yours amount to something good…Or else."
With that the Kankers let out one final laugh as they turned and left.
"Those girls are crazy." Nazz said once they were gone. "I really wish we'd seen the last of them."
"Unlikely, given their claims and attitudes." Edd sighed in relief that the fighting was over for now.
"Guess that means we better be on guard, uh guys?" Eddy asked.
Rolf turned and faced the kids. "That is enough training for today. Come back again and be prepared. For the appearance of multi-colored demon girls means that training will be more serious than ever!"
Everyone groaned at that.
"Do not groan like lazy sloth students of Rolf! Rolf expects discipline and dedication!"
Xxx
"It seems your children are not as skilled as you claim."
Mama Kanker narrowed her eyes at the disrespect of her daughters. "They underestimated the Farm Boy. It's not like we expected this dump to have any worthy fighters."
"And that was your first mistake."
"And you will be your making your last mistake if you speak one more word of disrespect." Mama Kanker threatened as her Aura flared.
Her guest chuckled. "No need for violence…Yet. In fact I was suggesting that your daughters meet an apprentice of ours."
"Oh?" Mama Kanker said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. She's become an important addition to our ranks and her training is nearly done."
"And where is she?"
"The Devil's Bluff."
Devil's Bluff was home to an ancient village lying on a cliff face located in the Wilds which was among the most dangerous areas in the country. The Wilds consisted of jungles, forests, deserts and other areas that are crawling with Grimm in every direction, so it was wise to stay alert when traveling through that area or you would be dead. The Wilds were mainly composed of unspoiled wilderness and was crawling with Grimm.
"Oh, now you've got my attention." Mama Kanker said, knowing that only someone very powerful could survive in those lands. "And who is this apprentice?"
"You'll see."
Xxx
Hal Fulbright watched as the limo pulled out in front of the mansion and out stepped a rather large man. He had red hair that bordered on being orange, a barrel chest, and disproportionately small legs, one of which was replaced with a machine gun. He wore a white furry shirt with a red Scottish kilt, black boots and a black belt with cat symbol in the center.
"About time we got here! This car was so small I was literally curled up into a ball and thought I was going to roll out the door! I thought richie folk were supposed to pay for transports that are comfortable!" The man complained as he walked out. "I've been in gutters that were more comfortable!"
Well, his wife did say the man liked to talk…A lot.
Hal stepped forward to greet the new arrival. "Welcome to the Fulbright Home, Mr…"
"Mister? What do I look like? A fancy shirt, tie-wearing stiff? I'm a bonefied Hunter! I'm the best one on the planet!" The man boasted loudly. "So don't you be calling me mister! I'm Scotty Blake but ya can call me Scot if Scotty's too hard for your stiff brain to remember!"
Hal had to keep himself calm as the man barked at him and just as he was about to speak…
"Oi, shut up you old fart!"
Scotty stopped and looked past Hal, seeing a little red haired girl march out of the door with an angry look on her face. She wore a green sweater and an orange skirt with long red hair going down her shoulder and freckles on her face.
"What'd you call me?" Scotty slowly asked.
"I called you an old fart! You sure sound like one! And being the toughest Hunter on the planet? My grand-daddy could take you on with probably one hand!" The girl barked, marching up to Scotty and looked up at him, staring straight into his eyes.
Scotty leaned down, making Hal worried and about to pull Fanny away. "Do you know who I am, little lassy?"
"A loud fart with bad teeth? I've seen rats with cleaner mouths than you! Do you brush with a skunk after you beat to death with a stinky fish?" Fanny barked.
Hal was just about to put Fanny back, thinking Scotty was going to hurt her but was surprised when Scotty threw his head back and laughed loudly. "That's quite a mouth you got on ya, wee-lass. Ya sound like me wee-lass and you even got the same hair as her! So your daddy wants me to train ya to be a Hunter. You think you got what it takes?"
"Do you got a big gut?" Fanny pointed at Scotty's body.
"This is all muscle!" Scotty barked but laughed again. "All right, now you got my interest. All right, wee-lass, from this point I'll be showing you how to be a Hunter, a real Hunter. So you better be ready or I'll kick your little behind across this fancy house you got."
"Bring it, Scotty!" Fanny grinned.
From that day a new bond between teacher and student was formed. Hal could only imagine how she would react to her second teacher.
And that she didn't start acting like Scotty around other kids at school.
For perhaps the millionth time Hal wondered just what exactly he had gotten himself into.
Xxx
"Cruddy school." A small blond haired boy wearing an orange hoodie, blue pants, and white shoes kicked the ground as he walked to the entrance.
He had been forced to move to a new home with new people he didn't know and had to go to school and his parents thought he would have fun on his first day?! He'd rather be working on his weapon but his uncle told him to wait until he brushed on his studies of mechanics before he actually tried constructing his weapon. But his uncle told him to wait until he was finished speaking with his new boss, a Mr. Fulbright or whatever.
"Hey kid."
He turned and saw a big kid smiling down at him. "First day?"
"Uh...ya." The boy nodded slowly, stepping back.
Two more big kids walked up to them.
"Well, welcome!" The first one said happily. "First day's never easy huh? How about we give you the grand tour?"
"Oh...sure, you seem like a nice bloke." The blond haired boy said, happy that so far his day was going fine.
"There's just a little thing we need you to do." The big guy leaned down and whispered.
"And what's that?"
"Your lunch money."
"Wha...HEY!" The blond haired kicked was picked up and hanging by his feet as the large kid shook him down.
Coins fell out and the leader picked them up, laughing until he looked at them. "Hey! This is Australian money! This is no good here!"
"Help!" The blond haired boy cried.
"Leave him alone!"
"Or what?" Ernie laughed.
"Yeah what?" The two other bullies stepped forward.
"Still picking on new kids, Ernie?" The bullies stopped when they heard a voice with an English accent.
They turned around to see a brunette haired boy walking towards them. He wore a red turtleneck sweat with a vest, gray shorts, and brown combat boots. What was perhaps the most noticeable about him were the sunglasses he wore over his eyes.
"Nigel Uno." The boy called Ernie growled. "And it's Ernest!"
"Drop the kid." Nigel said softly.
"Or what? I don't see that crazy girl Abigail with you." Ernie laughed, making Nigel scowl.
"Let's beat him down while we have the chance!" One of Ernie's friends stepped forward.
He looked up with the sun reflecting off his glasses as the bullies surrounded him, laughing sinisterly...
Until a foot kicked Ernie in the face, knocking him down.
"Maybe you didn't look hard enough, Ernie." A girl's voice sneered as she appeared in front of him.
Ernie growled as he sat up, holding one hand over his eye as he glared at the one who kicked him. "Abigail Lincoln."
Abigail, better known as Abby wore blue shirt with white stripes that fell down to her hips, covering the black bicycle shorts she wore, and white shoes. Her black hair was pulled into a single braid that traveled down her back and as always she wore a red summer cap that covered her Faunus ears. When inside the school when she wasn't allowed to wear her hat she disguised her fox ears as a headband keeping her hair back.
She looked back at Wallabee, noticing that like her he was a Faunus. He had a monkey like tail sticking out of his pants. It figures Ernie and his cronies would try and pick on the newcomer. They might be not prejudiced against Faunus but they like to pick on anyone they think cannot fight back.
"You still never learn do you, Ernie?" Abby remarked, placing one hand on a hip in a condescending fashion.
"It's Ernest!" Ernie backed as he stood up, rubbing his eye. "And you two idiots are stilling Hunters from the looks of it."
"Who's playing?" Nigel asked rhetorically.
"All right, that's it! We're teaching you two a lesson!" Ernie barked as him and his two friends rushed at the two.
"You want first crack?" Nigel asked, glancing at Abby who smirked.
"I got this." Abby answered, seemingly only paying partial attention to the charging bullies.
Nigel mirrored her smirk. "They're all yours."
Just as Ernie threw the first punch Abby grabbed his wrist and used the momentum to throw the big bully over her shoulder. The two bullies and Wally both gaped as Ernie screamed and plummeted to the ground with a loud thud. Nigel on the other hand was smiling the whole time, watching as Abby made short work of Ernie who was groaning in pain while lying on the pavement.
"Is that all you got, Ernie?" Abby asked, smirking at the downed bully.
Ernie growled as he stood back up to attack Abby but was stopped when his legs were frozen.
"Now, now Ernie." Nigel held up his hand that was engulfed in a blue flame and white mist. "That's no way to behave and treat a fellow student."
Needless to say Wallabee Beatles' first day of school in America got a lot more interesting, especially when a hall monitor came out and saw Ernie half frozen. "What is going on here?!"
Xxx
Ten Minutes Later
"Take him away boys!" A chubby boy wearing goggles said. "Book him a nice afternoon in detention."
In class he wouldn't be allowed to wear his goggles but he wore them almost all the time, in memory of his father. Another kid wearing a hat and coat led a kid down to the hall wearing handcuffs towards the detention room.
"Well Joe, another lunch money thief for detention." The boy turned to his partner.
"Keep this up, Hoagie and you'll make all us other hall monitors look bad." Joe remarked.
"Just doing my job Joe." Hoagie opened up a janitor's closet.
Inside was a desk with paper work making it look like an office instead of a janitor's closet. Inside were two boys, one dressed like another hall monitor while another was...
"Nigel?" Hoagie asked.
"Hi, Hoagie." Nigel greeted with a simple smile. "Sorry about the surprise."
"What's going on?" Hoagie walked around his desk to get look at his friend.
"He got busted beating down some kids at the front entrance of the school." The hall monitor standing next to him stated.
"What? Nigel's not a bully!" Hoagie protested.
He had known Nigel since kindergarten and as far as he knew Nigel had never been in a single fight, preferring to distance himself from anyone who might.
"But the kids picking on a new kid on a first day of school were." Nigel pointed out. "By the time the hall monitor stepped in the bullies ran off but..."
Hoagie sighed at Nigel's heroism, seeing that it got him in trouble again.
He didn't have to as the door was busted open by the same boy who Nigel saved.
"Ya got to let him go! He saved me from those guys!" The boy protested.
"He technically still committed a crime by beating up those guys on school ground." Joe pointed out. "Even if its true he'll still have to serve a day in detention."
"But..." The boy was about to protest but Nigel cut him off.
"It's all right." Nigel stood up. "I did technically break the rules and I'll accept the detention."
He turned around and smiled reassuringly at the blond haired boy and black haired girl with him.
"Sorry that your first day of school was not what you expected." Nigel held out his hand. "But still it's nice to meet you..."
"Wallabee Beatles, but just call me Wally." The boy sadly said.
Nigel smiled and walked out of the office with the hall monitor leading him down to detention. "If those guys bother you again talk to Hoagie or a girl in my class who wears blue."
Hoagie sighed as Nigel was escorted to detention and sat down in his office chair, picking up a book labeled Aura Integrated Mechanics for Beginners (Dummies).
Xxx
Recess had started and the kids were outside, having fun with the playground in the backyard of the school. Unlike most of the kids Abby was not laughing happily on the swings or climbing the monkey bars, rather she seemed to keep herself distant from the rest of the kids. She didn't mind playing but she would have preferred if Nigel was here so at least she'd know he was okay.
"After today I've got to tell Nigel to stop getting himself in trouble."
She swore ever since he finally learned how to use his Semblance he's done one heroic stunt after another.
"Hey!"
She turned around and saw the kid Nigel had saved, Wallabee Beatles standing behind her.
"You were the girl with the guy who saved me?" Wally asked.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Abby crossed her arms.
"He saved me from those jerks so I want to help! Leave it to me and I'll bust him out!" Wally pressed a fist into the palm of his hand.
Abby raised an eyebrow. She'd actually be fine with busting Nigel out on her own and she could slip in and out of detention before anyone knew about.
But there was something about this kid that she sensed and felt like she should give him a chance.
"Well, okay, but don't get caught!" Abby pointed at him. "Come, on I know the quickest there and I know to not get caught."
"Ya got it!" Wally nodded.
Xxx
Detention was a lot quieter than Nigel had thought. The room was a mess with dirt on the walls and wall paper ripped and hanging out like an open wound. There was no light except for the sunlight coming out of the only window that just so happened to shine down on Nigel.
'Seriously, these adults have all these extracurricular activities but not enough money to pay to have this room cleaned up?' Nigel shook his head and went back to reading the book he had brought with him.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Nigel looked up to see another kid, a big hulking one that he recognized as one of the bullies who were picking on Wallabee Beatles.
"You got caught for trying to pick on the new kid or did you get busted for picking on another kid, Ernie?" Nigel raised an eyebrow.
"That's Ernest! And it don't matter; I can now hand out some pay back!" The bully growled.
His left check was swollen, from the punch Nigel had given him when he wasn't looking.
"No hall monitors and no crazy girl to save you this time you little popsicle!" The bully grinned.
Nigel didn't react do the insult. He stood up, closed the book and took his regular glasses off. The bully watched as Nigel stood up to him, the sun shining down from the window onto him as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a pair of …sunglasses?
He slipped them onto his face and suddenly, the polite Nigel Uno was gone, replaced by someone else. He smirked at the bully and the bully suddenly felt a little afraid and not so confident, staring down the kid whose back was turned to the sun light shining down on him, darkening his front but he could still see the intense look of the eyes behind the glasses.
Xxx
"Wow. This is amazing!" Wally whispered excitedly as Abby led him down the hall.
"Shh! You want to get caught fool!" Abby hushed him. "My Semblance doesn't eliminate your voice if your loud!"
Abby's Semblance was a special one, labeled by Monty as Void of Presence. It allowed Abby to cloak herself from complete sight, concealing the sound of her movements, her scent, heat signature, and even her aura. It also worked with anyone next to her through physical contact but it didn't conceal them as well as her.
She peered around the corner and saw the door to detention.
"Hang on, mate. I'm busting you out!" Wally growled.
He looked around the hall and saw the coast was clear. With a growl he leapt forward and rammed his shoulder into the door, busting it open.
"Hang on, mate! I'm getting you...out?" Wally stopped in mid-sentence.
His eyes widened in complete shock and awe as he stared inside the detention room in front of him.
"Whoa!"
Abby walked in and smirked. "Couldn't help yourself huh?"
Nigel was sitting at his desk, looking completely innocent with Ernie encased in a block of ice up to his neck so he could breathe through his chattering teeth. "In my defense, he threw the first punch."
Wally stared in complete shock. "…Who are you guys?"
Xxx
"The machine is ready." A cold metallic voice reported.
Deep beneath the surface of Earth, in an underground laboratory complex a man with long black hair with white streaks smiled. He wore a long dark coat over a black and grey striped shirt, dark grey pants and boots and golden armor over his torso and neck. What was most noticeable about him was the golden mechanical arm where his right arm would have been.
"Good." The man said, looking at the screen showing the surface of the world they had appeared in.
It was a fascinating world.
One where humans gained powers from their souls, apparently and constantly fought monsters for thousands of years. When he and his cohorts first arrived in this world they had been forced to survive in a world they knew nothing about. The Grimm were relentless and it seemed that no matter how strong they were they would not survive.
And then they had been saved by someone who showed them this world and everything about it.
And they had proposition for them.
In return for helping in whatever their client wished they would be given a place to live and a place to survive. He had even been given new powers in the form of his Aura being awakened and a new mechanical arm, based off the designs of his old one but enhanced by his Aura and Dust. In addition he had been given the equipment needed to build this underground laboratory for him to use.
"Gentlemen, since we found ourselves in this world we have been alone but now the Pack shall expand and rebuild." The man announced, stepping past his two cohorts.
One resembled a mechanical wolf that stood on its hind legs with long hair emerging from the back of its metallic head. The second resembled a large fat lizard with crystals sprouting from his body. And in front of them was a large ring machine and in front of it was a girl that was chained to it. The girl had black hair that fell over her face and green eyes, wearing a school uniform and had four arms.
The top arms were large compared to the normal looking pair of arms under them.
"And my dear Breach will make it all possible." The man said with a smile, even as the girl glared hatefully at him. "You did after all bring us here when we tried to escape your pocket dimension. Trying to torture us in a misguided attempt to exact revenge."
The girl named Breach didn't say anything, settling for just glaring at the man with ever growing hate.
"Thanks to our new benefactors your powers will allow us to bring forth new beings from multiple dimensions. New EVOs created or even humans with powers like the ones from this dimension, all part of the new Pack."
A new world for them.
A new world to conquer and dominate.
And no Rex Salazar or Providence to stop them.
"So now Breach let us begin looking through the multi-verse for anyone willing to join our Pact." The man looked at Breach who remained defiant.
Up until the machine glowed and she started screaming.
Van Kleiss remained silent the entire time, smiling at the possibilities.
Xxx
Grandpa Dexter looked at his grandson, feeling a rush of pride to see little Dexter rushing through all of his studies and absorbing the information like a sponge. It seemed that he and his son were correct when they believed Dexter inherited the Semblance of their family that was connected to intelligence. Specifically Dexter's Semblance increased the activity of his brain, enhancing the formation of cognitive pathways in the brain to make thought and reason more complex. The Semblances of this family were always focused mentally with the Intelligence Semblance focused on enhancing the mind while the Imagination Semblance was able to generate matter into a physical form.
The Imagination Semblance of Dexter's uncle, Fergus O'Reily was able to generate 'magic', making any trick he performed as real as close as literal magic could be and while the Semblance of Dexter's sister, Dee-Dee created a guardian to protect her and even be her literally real imaginary friend. And the Semblance of Grandpa Dexter was intelligence based like his grandson. And the Semblance of Grandpa Dexter was the power of Transmutation. By concentrating his powers Grandpa Dexter could use his Semblance to alter the shape of anything he touched, breaking it down and reconstructing into an entirely new shape.
It sounded easy but he needed to know the base elements that made up whatever he was transmutating, making him possibly a real-life alchemist. It was during his time as a young man he learned how to control and harness free energy, replacing Dust and other power sources as the main source of power for humanity. It was what led to his founding of Dex-Labs, the top corporation for research and development in America.
All of them very powerful and it was why Dex-Labs existed.
The protection of his family.
It was because of the enhanced intelligence and imagination powers that his family had been targeted many times by people wanting to exploit them. And right now Grandpa Dexter was watching as his grandson was trying to chase his sister out of the lab he had been given down in the basement.
"Oh! What does this one do?"
"Dee-Dee, get out my laboratory!"
The sight of his frustrated grandson shouting at his sister made their grandfather smile. The ones in the family with the Imagination Semblance were always light-headed, care-free and had a love for causing trouble to their more serious relatives. However despite how often they butt heads both siblings would need each other just as his daughter and son had needed each other.
Intelligence and Imagination only worked best side by side with one to guide the other.
The Intelligence allowed Dexter, his mother, and himself to be capable of thinking smarter and more rationally while the Imagination allowed Dee-Dee and her uncle to see the world more clearly, possessing great wisdom and understanding for all life that existed on the Earth.
Knowledge and Wisdom were needed hand in hand to create harmony.
BOOM!
"DEE-DEE!"
Well, in defense of his grandchildren they were both still young.
Xxx
A Beowulf's head fell onto the ground from a single blade. The blade was a small sword, carried by a girl who had half-long blonde hair that went up on the ends with a black headband. Her eye color was black. In contract to the dark forest she was in she wore a short pink dress with a thin white stripe on the bottom. She had a yellow flower with green dot in the middle on her shirt attached to white bands from her dress and she wears Mary Jane shoes.
Three more Beowulfs lunged at her roaring but she was faster. First she stabbed the first through the belly, killing it quickly. She then spun and delivered a kick to the head of the second Beowulf, following up with a stab to the head, killing it. She then threw her blade at the last one, piercing through the heart of the final Beowulf, causing one final scream before its body dissolved.
The girl watched without pity or remorse as the three dead Grimm resolved. It had been this way since she was a baby raised in the wild, fighting to survive, the strong killing the weak, and training herself to be every bit as strong as the monsters that had raised her.
"It is time." A voice whispered to her from the forest surrounding her.
She didn't react as the presence appeared behind her, watching her from the shadows with glowing yellow eyes.
"We are growing in numbers. We are growing in strength. You will be the lead infiltrator."
"And the others?" The girl asked, staring forward.
"They will be arriving. It will be up to you if they are worthy candidates."
"Good." The girl said. "I like having leeway."
"Of course." The shadow said as it vanished.
Xxx
"I smell her. Marceline, why are you here?" Hunson Abadeer wondered as he looked at the apartment building in front of him. "I smell two humans but one of their scents is…Odd. Perhaps the Nightosphere would be a safer place."
Marceline felt a chill up his spine as Betty picked up her plate.
"What is it, Marcy?" Betty asked, seeing Marceline's shaking.
"I-I don't know." Marceline looked around. "I haven't felt like this since…Daddy."
"What?"
A dark figure burst in through a window, landing in the center of the apartment. "Marceline!"
"Daddy!" Marceline gasped, not expecting to see her father.
"Daddy?" Betty and Simon gasped as the man that was Marceline's father stood up and straightened himself.
He had light blue skin, pointy ears, flat dark blue hair, a dark business suit and light yellow eyes with slit neon pink pupils. He certainly didn't look human by Simon or Betty's standards.
"Marceline, I have been looking all over for you." Hunson said with a smile.
Marceline smiled as she ran up to her father and hugged him. "I was so scared. But Simon and Betty looked after me."
"Really?" Hunson looked at the two humans. "You have my thanks."
"You are…Welcome." Betty said, unsure of the man who was Marceline's father.
"I believe now is the time I take my daughter home." Hunson said.
Marceline pulled back from her father. "You mean…The Nightosphere?"
Hunson nodded. "Yes. You will be much safer there."
Marceline shook her head. "Daddy, I want to stay here. I want to be a Huntress like Betty. I want to protect my friends like they protected me."
Hunson stared in surprise as Marceline. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Marceline nodded. "Please. Mommy said the Nightosphere was a bad place for me and that I wouldn't like it there."
Hunson stared into his daughter's eyes and saw how much she wanted to stay. "All right. You can stay in this world but I will be visiting you. All right?"
Marceline smiled. "Okay, Daddy."
Hunson looked at Betty and Simon. "Take care of my daughter. Losing my wife was heartbreaking. I don't know what I'd do if I lost my little Marcy."
"We understand." Simon said, feeling slightly better.
Hunson stepped back and summoned a portal back to the Nightosphere. "Farewell for now, my sweet little Marcy."
He vanished into the portal and Marceline turned around, grinning sheepishly at Simon and Betty. "Well, I think I forgot to mention a few things about my dad."
Xxx
Name: Rolf
Aura: Blue
Semblance: Call of the Wild
Description: The ability to gain the abilities of any animal base on the spectral image Rolf summons, including the speed of a cheetah, the strength of a gorilla, and even the camouflage abilities of a chameleon.
Weapon: None
()
Name: Dexter
Aura: Silver
Semblance: Neuron Enhancement
Description: Enhances communications between the neurons in his body, allowing for increased thought complexity and
Weapon: None
()
Name: Dee-DeeAura: Rainbow
Semblance: Koosalagoopagoop
Description: An imaginary guardian that Dee-Dee brought to life whose abilities so far remain unknown
Weapon: None