Chapter 11: Team Building part 3
"So let me see if I got this right, there are these monsters called Grimm that are causing harm and havoc across the realms and controlled by this guy named, uh, Teserra guy who controls them." Brandon asked after listening to their story.
"Yep. And it's Tezzeret." Ben confirmed.
"And you are keyblade wielders, like the ones we read about in history books? Almost thought to be made up." Riven said.
Mal rolled her eyes. "And yet we're in a dimension full of magic isn't?"
"She makes a good point." Tecna said before he could respond to that remark but admitted she was right, not that he wanted to say it out loud.
Timmy was taking much of the data as he was listening. "And also you guys were picked because it's also happening in your worlds?"
Taren nodded and replied. "Yeah, that's about it." He was somewhat still a little edgy about being taken away from home against his will, wishing he could at least help his parents, clinging to the day to see them again someday. Taren felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to see Brandon with a smirk on his face.
"Gotta admit, you guys are full of surprises." The blonde-haired squire said, causing Taren to smirk back.
"Trust me, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Sorry for not saying anything but we had to keep it a secret, it's just that we didn't want to risk panic around here to find out that a powerful enemy is hiding here."
This surprised the Specialists to know the reason why as they were so secretive about it. But they wondered just how powerful and dangerous this foe is.
"When you put it that way, it makes some sense." Brandon said.
"Guess we can now confirm that the Nevermore was responsible for your ship being hit." Mal said, earning the surprised and puzzled looks on the Specialists' expressions.
"What are you talking about? There's no way something like that could've attacked us without even being seen." Timmy told them.
Tecna shook her head in response. "Not if it was cloaked by someone for an ambush. We found a couple of claw marks that match the Grimm from earlier." She showed them photos of the damages done by the Grimm and was surprised they didn't realize it.
"So it was the cause for the Troll's escape. Then whoever used that monster wanted to free him." Brandon thought it started to make sense then.
"Uh, guys think you might wanna see this." They heard Musa call out as she was looking at something.
"What is it?" Taren asked and when she showed them, there were some trees knocked over, trampled, and cut in pieces. They see lots of debris scattered everywhere.
"So much damage, what could have done this?" Flora asked, she felt bad for the trees being torn.
Taren, Sky, and Brandon walked over to find whatever had done it but so far nothing until they found holes dug into the earth in a line pattern.
"Odd look how they seem to be in two lines." Sky crouched down to look closer.
Taren nodded and noticed something about them. "If I didn't know better, I say they looked somewhat like... footprints."
"But it has to be huge to make such damage, way bigger than the Hunting Troll." Brandon said.
"Could it been the Grimm?" Bloom suggested.
"As is it wasn't bad enough to watch out for both the Troll AND the Grimm. Things couldn't get any worse?" Stella complained.
They suddenly stopped to hear the sound of girls screaming nearby.
Bloom recognized the scream as it belonged to one of the Alfea students. "That sounds like Amaryl!"
"Let's hope that's the Troll and not the Grimm." The prince said. They rushed towards the screaming and found the three students backed up against a wall by the Troll.
"There's the Troll!" Riven said while pointing at him. The Wielders recognized him back on Earth.
Genie leaned towards the keyblade wielders and whispered to them. "Uh, some heads up about this guy?"
"He was on Earth and used to follow Taren's scent like a dog." Mal explained and Bloom nodded.
"And was one of the monsters to attack my house and parents. We gotta save those girls before they get hurt." Bloom said in worry.
The prince nodded and thought of something. "No worries, I got an idea but we gotta be quick about it." He turned to the wielders. "You three try to distract the Troll, that way Brandon and Timmy will grab hold of him. Then Riven and I can slip the handcuffs on him"
Ben nodded and shouldn't be a problem. "I think we might have someone for the job. Genie?"
Genie transformed into a medieval knight with the lamp as an emblem on the chest plate, unsheathed his sword, and stood to attention. "I shall smite the foul creature and save the fair damsels."
This would turn in their favor with numbers on their side as Brandon turned to the girls. "While we keep him busy, you get those girls out of danger."
Stella finds it suitable for them without getting hurt. "Not a problem and good luck." She hopes they succeed, and for Sky to not get hurt.
The troll moved ever so closer to the terrified students he had corned until he heard a whistling sound.
"Hey! You big ugly brute! Over here!" The Troll turned around and saw a red-haired boy waving to him, he instantly recognized him from the world after sniffing his scent.
"Remember after we just kicked your a-WHOA!" Taren was interrupted when the troll roared and tried to attack him with his large fists but instead hit a blue genie who had his arms crossed over and a smile on his face.
"Yeah, he remembers us alright." Mal stated and kept clear from the troll.
"Alright buddy, put your hands in the air!" The genie turned into a gunslinger, drew his guns out, and aimed them at the troll. "This town ain't big enough for the two of us." The troll did not seem astonished by the genie, let out a beastly roar cry once more, and pounced on the surprised Genie who didn't anticipate this. The two then wrestled, thus causing a dust cloud to conceal them, punches and kicks shot out of the dust as they fought.
Genie hoisted one of his legs over his back to pin him down.
The troll gives him a nuggy in the head.
They poked each other in the eyes, causing them to cry out in pain. They poked each other in the eyes, causing them to cry out in pain. Then finally Genie tied him up like a rodeo show, much to the Troll's surprise how it happened. "Well, all in a day's work when dealing with a butt ugly Troll." Brushing his hands together as the monster growled and tried to break free from his restraints. The keyblade wielders surrounded them, summoning their keyblades ready if needed.
Taren and Ben knew it would work with Genie's help to apprehend the Troll and now get him cuffed up before he could escape. "Okay, guys, now your chance!" Calling for the Specialists to do their part.
"Right, come on!" Brandon proclaimed as Riven and Timmy brought the cuffs to paralyze the troll.
All of a sudden the cuffs broke into pieces, startling everyone by how they did that. "What the? What did you do?!" Riven exclaimed.
Timmy was baffled by how it happened. "I-I don't know! They broke into pieces."
"So sorry about that." A male voice spoke in a mild-mannered tone.
The Specialists were startled to see a man with long grey dreadlocks in a brown coat and light armor pads suddenly appear out of nowhere, standing perfectly still with a calm face as he looked towards the keyblade wielders then paying attention to others. They could see a cybernetic right eye with a menacing red/pink glow from the eye socket.
"We don't know who you are, but if you're somehow involved in this we'll have to have you to come with us." Brandon said drawing his phanto-blade along with the others. The blonde noticed the three were tensed and glared at him with intense glare, even Taren looked ready to fight him. Something about this guy made him worry.
"Yeah, so start talking." Riven told him. But he simply ignored them and walked past them making his way toward the keyblade wielders as if they hardly existed. "Hey, don't ignore us, pal!" Ran approached him with his saber out to use force to make him surrender.
Mal's eyes widened and she knew what he was up to. "RIVEN DON'T!"
But Riven ignored her and was about to grab his shoulder when he felt a strong fist collide with his stomach and send him back a few feet across.
"You should listen to the young witch." He told him, causing the boy to growl.
The rest of the Specialists were about to attack after what happened until Ben suddenly appeared before them with his arms spread out to stop them from doing anything. "Guys! Don't! That's Tezzeret."
Brandon stopped and realized who that guy was after what they told them. "You mean... that's him?"
Coming right at him with his back turned, a barrage of light orbs flew towards him along with numerous vines shot out towards him. Only within arms reach did the orbs disperse and the vines were incinerated when they clashed into a barrier. The smoke cleared and Tezzeret simply stood where he was without moving an inch, his right hand was held up and the sleeve rolled up to reveal it made out of metal and almost like a skeleton.
Tezzeret noticed it and made a fake sigh, gazing at his right hand. "Well, now you know one of of my secrets."
Genie was grossed out by it even if it were metal, it looked somewhat like a skeleton and creepy. "Ew!"
The Winx Club, Wielders, and the Specialists gasped after witnessing his power when they now knew who he was. Especially seeing his right arm that was glowing with dark energy from it. Bloom couldn't understand why but she could feel a strong power flowing from this very dangerous villain. Growing ever concern for her friends.
"Although your magic seems skilled, but nowhere as strong as mine with great cost." Tezzeret proclaimed, pulling his sleeve until only the hand remained exposed and turned to the brunette. "The prince of Auradon. So good to see you again, a little far from home aren't we?"
The memories of what he did to his home caused Ben to grit his teeth, focusing his energy on controlling his emotions and pointing his keyblade at him. Tezzeret turned to meet the other two, gazed at the purple-haired girl, and brought his left hand to stroke his bearded chin. "So you must have been chosen by the keyblades as well? This is a surprise, from a family such as yours to be given such power."
Mal suddenly quivered and felt her heart skip a beat, swallowed nervously but tried to remain as calm as she could.
Then he turned to face Taren who was most obviously raging with anger towards him, not at the least affected by the roaring power coming from the boy. "And last but not least... the child of Destiny Islands. Indeed looking close you resemble your father very much so, the last time we met was brief and short."
Taren glared at him and gripped hard on the handle. "If you did anything to my family, you'll-"
But Tezzeret stopped him with his hands held upfront. "No need for such threats, I haven't done anything against them... for now. But I have other plans and make certain the masters don't intervene."
Uncertain if he said was true, nevertheless, if he did Yen Sid would've mentioned it or would've heard anything. Genie was here and told them that their parents were safe so that was a great relief. At least then he knew they weren't in danger.
Then Genie popped out of thin air and stood before Taren. "Alright, buddy, leave my friends out of it if you know what's good for ya!" If it's one thing he couldn't stand, it was bullies who mocked others and didn't like how he was making the three emotional after what he did to them.
Tezzeret gave a soft chuckle at the appearance of a Genie. "And what have we here? The comic relief? And I thought your father was clever than this, how he defeated Xehanort is a mystery."
Genie wouldn't let that comment slide and promised Sora and others to watch over the kids. "Nobody talks about my buddy that way and gets away with it. And if you want them." Began growing in huge size, all buffed up with muscles flexed and ready for a fight. "You'll have to get by me first! Your puny metal hand against my semi-phenomenal NEARLY COSMIC GENIE POWERS!" Challenging him to a fight.
Mal blinked her eyes and could've sworn she heard him right. 'Did he say NEARLY cosmic powers?' Somehow that doesn't feel right when he's tempting fate.
Bloom felt uneasy about this and was not sure if it was a good idea to tempt him. "Uh, Genie, I don't think that's such a good idea."
Genie didn't pay attention to her. "Come on, do your worst."
Unfazed, yet seemed more unimpressed, Tezzeret rolled up his right sleeve and flexing the metal arm. Pulls it back before giving a strong thrust.
POW!
Genie went screaming as he was hurtling high up into the sky and hurtling over the swamps by Tezzeret's surprisingly incredible punch.
"Oh, he's going to feel that in the morning." Musa winced, yet stunned of how that warlock could easily overpower a genie.
Before the Wielders and Specialists could do anything metal spikes rose out of the ground to form a wall. He tapped on the bounds of the Troll, setting it free to move again from the restraints and make an escape. "Well, that was a good warm-up. But unfortunately, I must depart for other important things, so for the hard trouble I present a little gift." Tezzeret opened up a dark portal with his hand and simply walked through it.
The metal spikes vanished once he was no longer around.
"Great, any more surprises for us?" Riven said.
A familiar avian cry caught their attention, everyone looked up to see the Nevermore coming back for another round. The wielders and Specialists readied themselves as it flew over them and landed on the large rocky cliff when looking down at them with both wings spread out.
"Well, that's just great." Sky muttered.
Little did they realize it wasn't alone as the trees were trampled upon by a gigantic scorpion, it was all black except for the white carapace that covered its body from head to the stinger, along with the upper pincers, the red markings on the carapace clearly showed it was also a Grimm just like the others.
Mal turned to Riven who had to open his big mouth. "Is THIS enough for you or do you want more?"
"Oh shut up." Riven muttered and readied himself to face off the monsters.
"Oh man, RUN!" Stella exclaimed and the girls ran for safety as the scorpion was coming right at them.
Brandon looked at the Nevermore and thought of an idea. "Taren, Timmy you two distract it!"
The two heard him and got what he was on about as they ran out into the open. "Hey, oversized turkey! Over here!" Taren shouted out, summoning the Light's Rebellion to draw its attention by firing multiple orbs of light magic at it. Timmy helped out by firing energy arrows at it, unlike last time they were upgraded to fire as fast as bullets. A few only managed to land a hit on the Grimm as it took the air once more and flapped its wings to release a barrage of feathers at them. This time Taren created a defensive shield to cover them while Ben took his chance and unleashed a lightning bolt straight at it, striking its head and causing the Nevermore to stagger before it flew around in the air for defense to recover.
As the Deathstalker moved towards the girls it threw its stinger at them, but out of nowhere a large humanoid creature made from bark and plants used a shield to take the hit before creating a sword to draw the Grimm's attention away. The girls saw this and discovered it to have been made by Mal who was using magic to control it. "Get them out of here prince, we'll hold it off."
Sky nodded and was grateful for her help as he rushed over to help Stella up after she tripped over. "Don't worry, you're safe." Mal decided to create another as a protector for the students and the Winx since they can't risk using their magic without failing because of this and not wanting to risk getting into further trouble.
The blonde didn't say anything and tried to hide the blush after being picked up by the prince. While doing so the Deathstalker used its pincers to crush the tree creature and went towards Mal but to her surprise Riven and Brandon jumped in and clashed their phanto-blades with its pincers and slashed against its face but little damage to the armor.
Genie returned, but with his head all springy after being sent flying by Tezzeret. "Uh, lesson learned: never tempt an evil cyborg into a fistfight. Anything I miss?" Asked after fixing his head back in place. Before anyone could respond the Nevermore gave another loud battle cry as it battled the wkeybladers.
"You okay?" Brandon asked her and received a nod. "Amazing magic you did there."
"Thanks, need it against them." She mentioned.
Brandon had a thought of something and seeing Ben and Taren fighting off the Nevermore, they needed to do something to save the girls and themselves too. "Mal, can you make more of them?"
"Yeah, why?" She asked him.
"Might have some idea, might be crazy."
Mal only smirked at him. "What we''re dealing with this, why the hell not."
Both the Specialists and Ben charged in towards the Deathstalker, it threw its right pincer at Brandon but the squire raised his phanto-shield that took the hit, tried using the other but Sky came to his aid and swatted it away with his sword. Ben raised his keyblade and cried out "Quake!" Summoning the magic to generate a small tremor pillars of rock struck the Deathstalker's underbelly, taking the hits and staggered back.
"Look at that performance there, Brandon and Prince Sky were taking heavy hits on the Deathstalker's pincers but held their ground with their shields, then Ben came to their help and raised the ground under its feet. Literally." Genie said as a sports announcer holding a microphone and a mug of coffee in the other. "Despite the numbers advantage of the three against the Grimm, this scorpion has the weight and size 9 times the advantage which is unfair for them. Whaddya think 'ere, Bill? Do they have what it takes?"
Beside him was a buffed-up boxer with boxing gloves, an upper lip, and crunched eyes. "I think the main man's got a stinging on anything under the gym, but you really want any and then basically John's dig his name but it's needing on a big scale." Spoke quickly and mumbled nonsense to the announcer.
"Whatever it is you just said, I'm 100% with ya. Now let's resume the fight and see how our heroes can beat these monstrous Grimm."
The Deathstalker turned its attention to the wielder of the Beast Within and struck down with its stinger, but Ben jumped and grabbed the tail to land on its back. The Grimm thought it had him until it was distracted by Brandon, Sky, and Riven attacking its legs, becoming utterly annoyed and trying to strike the wielder off its back with the stringer. However Ben thought of an idea, using his keyblade for some idea as he pointed it down. "Time to try out my new technique. AERO!" Creating a strong wind blast to send him flying straight up like a rocket.
"What's he doing?" Riven asked and got out of the way of the Deathstalker's legs.
"Is he trying to fly?" Stella looked up.
Tecna however, had a complete understanding of his body in a position for a projectile. "No, I think he's on to something."
Proving right as he brought his keyblade upwards, his legs bent and fought up as if he were about to touch something above him, a circular barrier appeared, and made himself into some sort of projectile with his keyblade forward. The prince let out a battle cry and slammed the Beast Within into the Deathstalker's protective carapace, causing it to stagger and collapse when succumbing to its fatal wound.
Timmy couldn't believe what he saw and was amazed as pretty much everyone but the wielders were. "That's one down, Ben killed it!"
"Good, now we need to take care of this one!" Mal said and more focused on firing magical projectiles alongside Taren with his fire magic at the flying Nevermore and to avoid the feathers. They needed to get this thing in one spot to make a perfect blow, only an idea lit up in her head, and smiled.
"Heads up, it's going for another attack!" She heard Taren call out to them and seeing it flapped its wings forward to fire multiple feathers towards them, this could do well for her plan. "STOPRA!"
Fires a beam of magic with her keyblade and adds some of her own to fire at the Nevermore and its feathers to be stopped in motion, unable to move after being caught by time magic.
Timmy adjusted his glasses and was baffled. "What did you do?"
"Used magic to freeze it in place, but won't last." Mal explained and knew it wouldn't be for long, she saw Taren land next to them.
"You stopped it? Great now what?"
She turned to him and gave a smile before asking a question. "How good is your Flowmotion technique?"
He was uncertain why and said. "Uhh, rusty but uh-"
"Good enough." Before the boys could ask a large vine sprouts out of nowhere and grabs Taren adjusts itself for her command and hears him shouting at her for answers. "Just be sure you take that bird down before it moves!"
"You sure this would work?" Taren asked her, feeling slightly unsure about this plan of hers.
"Of course." She said with confidence. "Well... Almost."
Taren looked at her and his eyes widened, not liking this at all when starting to have doubts. "'Almsot'? You know what maybe-YYAAHHHHH!" He was too late to escape and was flung straight towards the Nevermore. It was now or never to try out the Flowmotion with the frozen feathers in the air and slowly begin to move with the spell starting to wear off. Focusing on the magic he needed to use, concentrating on his body. Without knowing it, his body started to glow in a bright purplish color, and feeling the energy building up, his eyes glowed in orange color and visualized where to go. His feet impacted on the first feather and then the other, sprinting from one after the other until he was within reach of the Grimm.
The Nevermore started to move again and by the time it had been freed from being frozen in time, the keyblade wielder was flying straight towards it. Startled and tried to get away but was too late upon being struck by the keyblade's teeth in the chest. Taren pressed his feet into it and ran straight up to drag the Light's Rebellion up to its neck, leaving a trail of its light magic burning until he came to the base of the neck and cleaved it right off. The Nevermore's decapitated body started to fall as it would slowly dissolve into black ashes.
The Winx Club couldn't believe it and was amazed by their defeat the Grimm even with the help of the Specialists, almost as if they were on a completely different level compared to them.
"Wow." Flora was in awe of Taren's bravery against the giant bird Grimm.
"That was awesome! Especially after Ben squashed that giant bug, but not without the Specilists' help." Stella exclaimed. "I bet Taren had a lot of courage to do that."
"Uh, I'm not so sure, more like he seemed a little... nervous when Mal threw him." Tecna said when she used the goggles to get a closer look and even thought the one named Timmy was brave enough to fight that thing. However, after observing the abilities the Kyeblade wielders used against the Grimm she immediately added some data to know more about them for future studies.
Bloom didn't say anything and seeing them in action to fight the monsters, especially witnessing the man who was the start of it all... her heart couldn't stop pounding and this strange urge to do something out of inspiration for the Winx to learn from them and knew it was something of a big step to think.
"Wait...can Taren make a landing from that high?" Bloom asked and realized it when the rest of the others noticed.
"Uhhh, I think... I might have sent him a little... too high." Mal said with a nervous smile on her face. He would no doubt fall straight down and probably use up his magic. No doubt some people she can imagine would be very crossed with her.
"What are we gonna do?" Timmy asked when worried about what could happen.
"No worries, I have a solution. GENIE!" She yells out to Genie and hoped he heard her to catch Taren before he would hit the ground.
Genie sat on the couch watching the TV of what was happening when he heard Mal calling out for him and brought out the script for the story, brushing a few pages until he found what he was looking for. "Hmm, let's see... Mal catapults Taren into the air. Nevermore's head cut off... falls to his impending doom-" He gasped and looked at the time on the clock when he realised what was happening now. "I'M LATE!"
Taren was falling with very little magic he left or even a parachute to save him, and all for letting Mal throw him so far. Just as he was a few meters from the ground, Genie appeared wearing a baseball outfit with a huge glove for a person his size to catch Taren safely in the nick of time. Sghed in relief and was glad it was all over. For now.
"Phew! Thanks, bud." Taren thanked Genie.
"Genie puts him down and smiles. "Ah, nothing to it for one of my buddies. But I think we might have a little problem."
Taren sighed and understood what he meant, they needed to tell Macbeth what happened, no doubt without the Troll theyhave no evidence of what happened on Earth.
Taren and Genie returned and saw Riven and Sky argue about something, no doubt about the Troll that escaped thanks to Tezzeret despite defeating the two Grimm. He sees the Winx Club come over to Bloom. "Everyone alright?"
Bloom looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, the girls we rescued are ok and headed off, luckily they didn't see anything that happened other than the Troll." She suddenly crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "While what you did was brave, it was stupid without thinking. You could've gotten hurt if it wasn't for Genie."
He backed up and chuckled nervously at the way she scolded him, not that he could blame her but wasn't his idea. "Yeah, actually it was Mal's idea to do that without sharing her ideas with us."
She figured it be Mal's and might have a word with her next time on how she plans things out. "Well, that explains a bit, but just don't do anything reckless like that next time. Ok?" She asked him out of concern.
"Don't worry, I promise." He smiled and didn't know he made her worry for him. They noticed Brandon sitting on a log and looking a bit depressed, Bloom decided to check up on him to see if he was ok while Taren joined him for support. "Hey, Bran, you ok?"
The squire looked up to see the two and smiled a bit. "Oh, hey guys. Well, I guess not everything's ok, to be honest."
"Why is that? We beat the Grimm didn't we?" Taren said while uncertain what he meant.
Brandon shook his head. "No, it's not that, it's just that... we're not real Specialists, not yet at least. Just a bunch of Rookies and all we do well is argue."
"Oh come on, that can't be true, you saved those girls and probably said their thanks." Taren said to cheer him up.
Bloom wasn't sure how to put it when they weren't there. "Umm, that might not be true. They only saw you guys get beat up and thought the Troll did it from around the corner. And thought you were bad."
"So much for gratitude." Genie whispered to him in sarcasm after what they've been through as Taren would agree after being catapulted into the air.
Taren sighed and tried another way to change the subject a bit. "Well, at least they should be glad you came to their help anyway, plus you helped us out fighting the Grimm so they can't hurt anyone else. Besides, we usually argue as well, mainly me and Mal over some stuff, and didn't get along at first, but my dad told me arguments and differences can help build up a better team to understand each other."
Brandon smiled and somewhat better by Taren's encouragement. "Your dad must be smart, but guess we got a lot to work on. But was it true, what that Tezzeret fella said?" Asking the redhead keybearer who suddenly stiffened and was now downcast with the memory of him taken away still in his mind.
"Yeah, he's the one we're after, more like he found us. For some reason, he suddenly released the Grimm on many worlds and my dad knew him, possibly that they were enemies no doubt but was sent away to hide and learn to use the keyblade I recently gained for months."
This started to make sense to Brandon as it was a personal thing, he must be missing his family at home. For Bloom, she couldn't help but feel terrible for him to being taken away from his home and not able to see or hear form his family for so long. "I'm sorry to bring it up, hope your family's okay." The squire said.
Taren nodded and was not upset about it. "No worries, I sent them a message saying I'm fine and hope to see them realsoon. Wanting to be a strong wielder as I can to defend myself and help others like my parents have done." This caused Bloom to smile and be relieved to see him speak about doing a noble cause, even Brandon was glad to hear it as at least he wouldn't use his keyblade's powers for a selfish cause.
Guess we have something in common then, I wanted to take this path to be a Specialists because of some great heroes I got inspired, especially the Keyblade wielders who saved my home that my dad told me about."
This caused Taren to arch an eyebrow and be interested to know who it was he looked up to. "Really? So who was it you looked up to?"
Scratched the back of his head and chuckled nervously. "Well, it might sound funny thinking I'm some sort of fan, but it might be-"
"Hey guys, the Specialists managed to patch things up." Musa called out to them before the blonde could finish his sentence. They decided to pause the conversation and walked over to see Riven and Sky shake hands.
"Riven and I have decided to call a truce." The brunette said.
"Glad to see everything worked out in the end."
Everyone turned to find Macbeth standing out of the forest with his arms behind his back. The wielders were so nervous and think he was mad at them for revealing their secret again. "After I saw Genie in the air, it was obvious where you were."
"Macbeth, before you say anything we had no choice, Tezzeret showed up and we-" Mal tried to explain until he cut her off.
"Tezzeret?! You fought him?" Making certain he heard her correctly.
Before any of them could answer Brandon stood up. "It was, sir, and only for a moment before the Grimm attacked and set the Troll free after we almost caught him, we decided to help them after what they did for us since it was the right thing to do." The wielders were surprised by his words and willing to take some of the blame from them.
"He's right, we know it's not our business but you guys are short on numbers and if they need help we're willing to lend a hand. Isn't that why you came here to help them improve their skills?" Sky added as he stepped forward.
"Please don't be mad at them. The Specialists helped them face off two large monsters and while protecting us, they showed good teamwork in defeating the Grimm." Tecna decided to add her part of the reason.
Giving a long thought and crossed his arms over his chest, making everyone worry even the girls and also the Specialists. "Well... If that is what you are all thinking of, then I have something to say."
Genie gulped and was sweating.
Mal closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.
Taren sighed and knew what was coming as Macbeth raised his hands and then...
They landed on both Taren's and Ben's shoulders with a smile on his face. "Excellent work."
Taren, Mal, and Ben blinked their eyes and almost thought they heard him right. "huh?" Which they all thought at the same time.
"Well, I had some talking with the headmasters and also Master Yen Sid, though it may be dangerous but truth is you are right we need allies as we can to accomplish this mission. But I was indeed watching just to be certain and while you might have failed your mission, you showed good teamwork and helped each other out in situations, especially against the Grimm and adjusting in battle." Macbeth smirked at them. "True, I would've come sooner had I known he was here, but you were just lucky. For now."
He turned to Brandon. "You might be rookies, but I feel you have what it takes to reach your full potentials, and take word for what young Taren has said, even if they aren't a perfect team in time they will improve." Giving praise to the blonde whosmiled and felt much better.
"Thank you! I'll take word for what you guys said."
Genie flew over and pulled Ben and Mal in a hug. "ALRIGHT! Way da go guy!" This somewhat made the witch a little uncomfortable but
Nods his head and then thinks of asking them. "But correct me if I'm wrong but did you say you almost caught the Hunting Troll?"
"Yeah, almost had the beast until that guy showed up and let him loose." Stella said.
Macbeth pondered and stroked his bearded chin. "Most odd, it just so happened I found the Troll's body a while ago in the woods."
"Wait, hold up, you found him? Then why didn't you... b-body? What body?" Riven stuttered at what he just heard.
"Yes, after we learned it escaped I decided to check up on you but on the way I found it but unfortunately I was too late. Possibly he was ambushed by one of the Grimm in the debris it left behind." Macbeth answered his question. This goteveryone confused and all thinking of the same question until Bloom spoke up.
"But that can't be, he was just here moments ago before."
"If what he said was true... then what was the thing we were after?" Flora said.
Musa had a thought and decided to share it with them. "First they sent the Grimm to help him escape, then they helped him in the swamp and made a copy out of him."
"Unless it wasn't a Troll. Maybe Tezzeret was using a fake or something to trick us." Taren suggested.
"But why would he want to go all the trouble of doing this?" Timmy asked.
"To know of his potential enemies." Macbeth responded. "It makes sense, he's never fought you in person and decided to know about each of your skills and powers."
Mal started to understand where this was going. "And I bet he used those Grimm to test his theory, it was all just to study us?"
Macbeth nodded. "I think so. But let's get you back to the professor, he is worried about your long absence." In his mind, he couldn't help but worry about what Tezzeret was up to, and after the demonstration they pulled, perhaps they should focus on working together and perhaps build a team one day when the others are ready.
The 'Troll' stepped out of the woods and finally away from those annoying brats that almost caught him, waiting for him was the Trix and finally Tezzeret who stepped out of the portal.
"You did a marvelous job, my friend! Almost had me think you were the same Troll under the look."
THe Trix were confused of what he was talking about. "Wait, this isn't the Troll we broke out?" Icy asked him.
"Oh indeed it was, but this happens to be someone who took his place after the... unfortunate demise. Why don't you introduce yourself to the team."
The Troll's body glowed and vanished like a projection, in its place was a seven-foot tall humanoid with a body made of living liquid and a silver metallic outfit with blue linings and a platform where its 'feet' are connected to and even a single orange eye with a yellow pupil slit.
"What is... that?" Darcy asked and never seen a creature like this before.
"Ladies, allow me to introduce a close ally and member of the team. Aqua Seneschal, a Cyber Lord." Tezzeret introduced him to the Trix as Seneschal held one arm over his chest and bowed before them in a manner of greetings.
"Greetings, a pleasure to meet the Descendants of the Ancestral Witches whose deeds are also known to some outside the Magic Dimension." Seneschal spoke politely with a bow. "I will provide information and data for our mission, the test was indeed a 100% success as I have calculated."
Tezzeret nodded and was pleased about it. "It will be like old times, my friend." Held out his artificial hand to Seneschall who accepted the gesture and shook it. "Now then, we must depart before anyone finds us." The Trix nodded and used their magic to transport the group out of the swamp.
With the ship now repaired thanks to Genie's magic along with Tecna and Timmy's knowledge of the tech, they dropped off the girls before making their way to drop off Mal at Cloud Tower and then back to Red Fountain, Macbeth promised to vouch for them of what happened so they won't get into too much trouble for what they went through.
"Well, that didn't turn out how we expected it." Ben said.
"Yeah, we indeed lost the Troll, but it was a great experience in what you guys went through." Sky said, much to their surprise.
"You sure? After what what happened you guys want to help out?" Taren asked him unless he hit his head too hard.
Timmy nodded. "Yeah, I mean this mission made me feel like I was part of something. It may be dangerous but that's what we came here to learn to try over overcome, right?"
"Yeah, and also to kick some Grimm's tail next time." Riven added.
"Good to hear that you all feel confident." Macbeth walked down from the ship. "I will speak with Saladin in the morning about the arrangements, but until you are fully prepared to go with us, you'll have to go through some training. Get some sleep lads, you'll need it to rest for the morning." Walks away and leaves.
Brandon thought of something and turned to Ben and Taren. "So just to give a heads up, is training from Macbeth tough?"
The boys looked at each other and figured out a correct way to answer. "You'll find out, but if you stick with your goals, you'll be fine." Ben said and patted him on the shoulder.
Taren smiled and leaned to Genie to whisper. "Better bring up the first aide for the training." The genie winked at him and had a feeling it would be something like that.
So, that was the third and last chapter of the Team building arc and hope you enjoyed it, I thought of how to show what they can do by looking at some battles from RWBY which was a good example and added another villain from a show I watched Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters! Also a way for the characters to know each other. ^^ Hope you enjoyed it very much and any questions at all just pm or review! Have a nice day!
So anyone found a little easter egg I left out in this mini arc? Here's a little hint, it's something that drives a duck bonkers.