#we started with maplestory and now we're here | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lawain-dimensional-heroes · 1 year ago

Text

Maplestory - Shining Heart Angelic Buster Arc | Chapter 1 - Base of Operation

Maroon alongside his two fiancés: Mercedes, Tear and some of their friends have just gotten back from a fun event after having heard of the situation Tear was facing. Once they arrived at their first destination, Maroon stretched a bit, admiring the eternal night sky that Pantheon or rather the entirety of Grandis was known for.

"Ah, Pantheon. We're here again at last.."

For Maroon it might've been a few days, but it felt like a long time for him. Weeks, months-- that's how it long it felt to him when he was during that event. Of course, one of the friends he was with at the event was the three amigos in his early year in the Mapleworld: Oz, Jack and Yamato, who had been in Pantheon before, but now had the opportunity to look at the place a bit better.

"I can see now why you like it here so much." Oz spoke up, looking up at the sky, admiring the stars.

"It's not just the night sky, Oz." Maroon responded. "It's the place where I've met Tear and Kyle and it's the place where I've stayed while my memories were lost."

"Yes..." Mercedes agreed in a softer tone, but spoke up after a second to get her thoughts together. "This is where we part ways for now. As much as I want to help, I am needed back in Elluel."

"..." Maroon was silent for a second, taking a second to remember that-- yes, even with a small break her queenly duties aren't going to stop like that. So with a smile, he nodded and responds.

"Alright then," the two gave each other a small peck on each others lips before they all said goodbye and parted ways.

The ones that stayed to help were Aran, Tear herself, Kyle, Oz Jack, Yamato and Maroon.

Kyle was the one spoke up first, looking at the group.

"Okay, even though we're on a mission, it is best to start the mission tomorrow. Not only is it late, but I think it's best to start our mission here in Pantheon. It is also good to get to know the place for those new here. Though we should need to look for a base of operation-- a place we can discuss plans and such things on how to locate and find the doppleganger."

"--I know a good spot!" Tear spoke up, with one hand raised. "Come, follow me!" She waved at the group to take her lead while she was heading out to the fields. The group raised an eyebrow, but decided to follow her. Kyle had a feeling what place it could be, although he feels like the one he's thinking is not the best place for such things. Although they weren't the only ones following her lead.

The closer they were to their destination, the more Kyle feels like it was the location he had in mind. And yup, once they arrived at the location, his thoughts were exactly right.

"Tada~" Tear exclaimed, jazz-handing as she motions her arms at the place in question. It wasn't the most special hideout. While potentially hidden, the white wood that contrasts the green leaves and the giant telescope didn't help make it more stealthier. Not only that, but there are clear gaps in the hideout that good sharpshooters can shoot through. With that, Kyle sighed and spoke up.

"...Heliseum Force's hideout?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, why?" Tear responds. "This is the perfect hideout! It's out of sight and we can see any doppleganger from a mile away, right?"

"I mean yes, but..." Kyle facepalmed, almost somewhat embarrassed that this would be the hideout. "...What do you guys think?"

While most were hesitant to speak up, Jack with a chuckle spoke up. "I like it! It's screaming personality already!"

Everyone except Tear side-eyed at Jack, but at least this causes Oz to speak up. "The location seems pretty solid, but the build..."

"...W-we can improve it!" Tear responds. "Kyle and I are pretty good at building stuff and I'm pretty sure with our brains together we can try and make it better!"

"That isn't the point of the mission though, Tear." Kyle spoke up once more. "We're here to find a base of operation, not give the hideout a makeover."

"Hmmm.." Aran looked at the hideout's structure, knocking on the wooden walls a few times. A smile appeared on her face as she looked at the top of the building.

"It isn't the most sturdiest hideout, but it'll do. Besides, we're using it as a base of operation-- how bad can this place be as our hideout?"

Maroon almost wanted to respond, but the group could hear another voice speaking up in the distance.

"It's a horrible place to make it a base if the one you're trying to capture is literally another version of Tear."

"!?" Everyone heard the voice. Those who don't recognize it already had their weapons out and ready to face whoever they were going to face. But those who recognize it did not hold their weapons. And when the person walked towards the group and make themselves known, those who recognize them already notice the green hair and darks horns before speaking up.

"...Veldie?" Tear spoke up, with a raised eyebrow.

The person who came forth was the original third member of the Heliseum force and former knight of the knights of Pantheon and childhood friends of Tear and Kyle: Velderoth.

Everyone but Kyle and Maroon looked at her, but taking note that she knows him.

Velderoth spoke up once more, his sword sheathed as he felt like he didn't need it. "I've heard it from a distance what you guys are looking for. So it is true there's another Angelic Buster out there."

"Wait, you know of that?" Kyle responds with a raised eyebrow, he stood between the group and Velderoth. Not wanting to fight him, yet expecting a potential fight to occur.

"That's right." Velderoth responds. "I found out on the TV during my work labor. Another Angelic Buster seems to be performing still. She did appear differently too."

"...How can we trust you," Aran spoke up, "You're Velderoth, right? Traitor of the Novae?"

"H-he's not a traitor!" Tear exclaimed, now she was between Aran and Velderoth. "He was just manipulated by Magnus that's all. He isn't the kind of guy to betray people that easily! Isn't that right, Veldie?"

She looked at the green haired nova, who hasn't said a thing, but his gaze was focused away from her-- away from the group. An expression of guilt could be seen on his face.

"...He did manipulate you, right..?" Tear spoke up once more. Sheepishly, but she still spoke up.

A sigh escaped Velderoth's lips before looking back at the group, his expression stoic once more.

"...We can discuss my former acts of treachery for another day. Right now we all have a common goal and a common concern. You can ignore my words about what I've witness and treat it as false ru--"

"I believe you." Maroon spoke up, having walked up to the green haired Nova, ready to shake hands. "You were given a second chance by Tear and even by Kyle, so I'm willing to give you a second chance as well. But yes, we're looking for a doppleganger due to rumors at first. So hearing you know of them as well seems our suspicions are true after all."

"..." Velderoth looked the blonde male infront of him. The green haired nova was practically glaring at him instead of returning the handshake. But even so, he let out one more sigh.

"...Yes, you three gave me a second chance... I've made one mistake and it's one I don't intend on making a second time. But I am honest here: the hideout isn't a good spot. She may be a doppleganger, but what if she wasn't really a doppleganger at all?"

The group was thinking, with Oz nodding at that possibility. Maroon too nodded at that before responding.

"Other dimensions do exist, so it is possible for her to come from another dimension. That might also explain her different appearance."

That did cause Velderoth to ponder for a moment, but nodded at that thought. "That makes sense."

"But just because she's either from another dimension or is a doppleganger that doesn't mean that she should immediately know about this place." Maroon continued to talk as he looked at the hideout. "...However, there is a chance that she doesn't know it...But even so I do agree. The risk is unfortunately too high."

He looked at Tear, who seemed to be disappointed by hearing it. But even so, Maroon spoke up.

"Tear, what is your reasoning on picking this place?"

"..." Tear wasn't speaking up this time, she could try and make up an excuse, but she doesn't and didn't want to find an excuse. "...I thought it was the perfect hideout. But hearing why it isn't, I guess it's not."

"...In this situation: it sadly isn't the perfect spot if that's your first choice." Maroon responds, but he had calm smile on his face as he looked at Tear. "However, as Oz said: the location is perfect for a base. We could revisit this place once this situation is over. But we do need a base that the doppleganger or the other you doesn't immediately know without external sources helping her out. In a way, we need to find a base where even you wouldn't figure it out on your own."

"..." Tear started to think. She was saddened to hear that they weren't able to choose that as a base of operation, but it was a potential one for future bases which made her somewhat relieved to hear. While Maroon was looking at Tear who currently was thinking, the group still had their eyes on Velderoth, who let out a soft sigh. Was it as sigh of relief? Or a sigh of annoyance. Either way he wasn't speaking up yet.

After a few seconds of silence, Tear tried to speak up, having gotten an idea in mind.

"...How about a hideout under ground?" She proposed, "And uhh...Use a tree as a secret entrance or something?"

While everyone was thinking about it, Velderoth nodded at that. "That sounds like a solid plan. That way, it would seem as if there's no hideout at all." he responds.

"Actually..." Tear interrupted, "I saw that trick used in a comic book. It seems to work pretty well, actually."

"...Tear--" Kyle responds with a raised eyebrow, "even though it works in a comic book, doesn't mean it should work in real life."

"Not all things in comic books are impossible to replicate in real life." Velderoth responds. "While it does take more time to look and make for a base of operation than using the place of our old hideout when we were kids, back when I used to work for Magnus we've been using many secret entrances and passage ways. However, the issue we're going to be facing is time."

"That's right," Yamato responds. "The quicker we've got a base of operation, the more time we have to search for her."

And they once again were thinking and discussing it. It almost seemed like that's what they will be doing for the whole day, but with a snap of his finger, Maroon had an idea-- a grin appeared on his face.

"Why do we need to dig and create an underground base of operation if we can just hop into a base from another dimension."

Everyone perked up when hearing the snap of his finger, before looking at him in confusion at his suggestion.

"...You have got to be kidding me." Yamato spoke up, side-eyeing at him. "Did Jack's brainrot get the better of you? Even if we know the base's location, how are we going to get there if it's in another dimension?"

Maroon focused his energy to the back of his hand and slammed it against what seemed to be pure air, before said air cracked into glass. A rift in space and time had opened to connect one location to another. A dimension gate had opened.

"There's a headquarter we can make good usage of. The boss of that place practically gave me full on permission to use it for such purposes."

"..." Velderoth was silent on seeing this. It was his first time seeing Maroon use his dimensional abilities. But after taking some time to collect himself, Velderoth responded once more.

"...How can we be sure we can trust the person who's running it? Who's the 'boss' of that headquarter--"

"My mom." Maroon responds immediately and all so casually. While most of them were silent, Jack couldn't help but snicker.

"So you're basically saying our base of operation is your mother's basement--"

Jack got promptly bonked on the head by Oz with her staff, which did hurt the cannoneer. Maroon cleared his throat for a moment.

"I'll be asking her to make sure it's okay. I'll be right back."

With that, he hopped into the portal. In the meantime everyone didn't really speak up much with Velderoth being present and his reputation as a traitor.

It didn't take long though before Maroon returned. "Alright, she's given us permission. And F.Y.I, we're going to an actual headquarter, not my mom's basement."

"Hold on--" Velderoth interrupted. "You said your mother has an headquarter, but what makes the headquarter in question so noteworthy?"

"Cause it's the L.I.G.H.T headquarter, basically a team of heroes ready to help with issues that happened in worlds from other dimensions. And my mother's the head of the police force she operates in."

He have a gesture letting them know that he wants them to follow his lead. Tear hopped in right after him, curious what the place would be. After a second of the rest partially hesitating, they decided to hop in as well.

Once they went through the portal, they all just took the time to just process the size of the headquarter.

"...There's a hideout...And there's A HIDEOUT..." Tear softly spoke up, even if the exaggerated hideout part is more of her speaking up louder than usual.

"It's a little bit over the top for a base of operation in this situation," Velderoth spoke up, surprised himself to see the place. "But...It's at least in a place where the doppleganger is unable to get to, hopefully."

Aran had her weapon still aimed at him in case he decides to strike, so does a few others. But...

"Stand down, lower your weapons-- ALL of you!!"

A loud, demanding voice could be heard nearby. Everyone but Maroon flinched at that sheer volume of it, before looking at the one pink female haired police officer, who had crossed her arms and glared at the group that could've been close to fighting. From her physique she seems to be around their or at most Aran's age for she was the most mature looking of the group.

Maroon saluted at the pinkette, with a grin on his face.

"Yes, mom!"

"M-MOM!?" The group looked at him and the woman, shocked at what he just said. But they all agreed that if that's the case then it's best for them to follow her command. So they sheathed and put down their weapons.

Maroon chuckled, with his hands resting on his waist. "Velderoth's on the path of redemption, but there have been some who felt he hasn't redeemed himself yet. Velderoth's the guy with the green hair."

Jack scooted off to Maroon, softly speaking up. "Hey, matey. When you said your mother had a base of operation, you didn't say your mom's a MILF."

Everyone heard that and everyone side-eyed at him. An annoyed sigh escaped Maroon's lips as he lightly pinches the bridge of his own nose. Maroon's mother, Naona, spoke up, acting as if the compliment went over her head or as if she didn't hear it at all.

"Pardon my intrusion, but we don't allow conflicts to brew here at our headquarter. If you want to take your anger out, we've got a training room for that." She was walking towards them. Now that they know who the boss is, they were willing to listen. Though the order from before helped on that part as well.

"Now that we've got that out of the way." Naona continued, her voice calmer, yet still audible. "I've been made aware of the issue you're all facing. Normally we don't allow travelers from beyond to enter our headquarters, let alone use it as your base of operation. However, after a quick agreement between my son and I, I've decided to allow you all to use it as a base of operation, considering you're all heroes from another world. And considering someone is willing to turn over a new leaf, I do hope that every single one of you can prevent unnecessary trouble from happening."

There were no opposition, as much as they internally wanted to protest. With the lack of people speaking up, Naona took this as a sign that they all agreed on it. With that, soft sigh escaped her lips, before continuing.

"That being said, considering this is our first time we've met, let met introduce myself. My name is Naona, I am the head of the police office in the south-west city area of Lawain City. What're your names?"

"Let me introduce you to everyone, mom--" Maroon responds first, "Considering I was the one who thought up of this idea of bringing them all in the first place."

Which was a good way for the reader to be introduced to the characters of the story.

"First off we have:"

Aran, strongest of the 6 heroes of Maple

Jack, the Cannoneer and best treasure hunter

Yamato, Dual blade of Kerning City and loyal ninja of the team

Oz, the Blaze Wizard and one of the loyal knights, loyal to the empress of Mapleworld Empress Cygnus

"Then we have our friends from Pantheon that are all Novas, a draconic humanoid race. We have:"

Velderoth, former traitor of the Novae that turned over the new leaf and one of the wisest of the three members of the helliseum Force

Kyle, the current reincarnation of the Guardian of the Novas: Kaiser. And the 2nd member of the Helisseum Force.

"And then there's the girl who's helped me through a lot in Grandis and the one who we're helping."

Tear, former idol and third member of the Helisseum force

"Or as some are more familiar with:"

Angelic Buster, Hero of Justice, Idol of the Battlefield and formerly under Eskalade's servitude

"I see.. It's a pleasure to meet all of you then." Naona responds, before looking at Tear for a moment. "So you're the one who you have a doppleganger issue with. Worry not. you'll have the full backing of L.I.G.H.T to aid in the mission."

While everyone was surprised to hear it, Maroon was the most surprised of all. "Wait, you're saying they're coming to help too!?" A surprised look turned into a grin. With a fist pump, he was looking forward to the mission already.

"If requested yes, but I wasn't talking about that. I was referring to the equipment present here. Considering it's a doppleganger you're facing, it's best to have a means to keep eachother in touch. As a solution, we will prepare custom fit earpieces and watches, allowing you all not only to communicate throughout these worlds, but also to make sure that the one you're looking for is the doppleganger. these will be ready in about a few hours, so make yourself at home."

Once they all agreed to it and Naona heading to examine the devices, the group started to discuss their plan of attack. With Velderoth speaking up.

"...This actually sounds useful if that works. We could split up in groups of two people so we can cover more ground and communicate via it."

"Hey, who made you the boss?" Jack Spoke up, which he responds with a shake of his head before speaking up. "I'm not, I was only suggesting it."

Maroon nodded at Velderoth's suggestion with a response. "A solid suggestion, actually. I can vouch for the quality of these devices. They're very effective for what they're designed to do. If need be, we'll have to set up a hub antenna for all of these communicators to be able to reach one another. But I do personally agree with the idea. Any objections?"

After a few seconds, no one has yet to respond or raised a hand. With a nod, they went to go to the next step of their plan. Maroon looked at Kyle, indicating it's his turn to lead. So he pulls out a map of Pantheon and layed it on the nearest table.

"Okay, so if we split into groups of two people, we'll have 4 groups. We've got a lot of ground to cover, so each team is designated to search in one of the directions of the region. Strength wise there aren't any issue here, but we need to figure out who's going with who."

Maroon was the first person to speak up, already imagining where he's needed.

"I'll go on the east. And if it's alright, I'd like Velderoth to accompany me, if there's no opposition."

Everyone was raising an eyebrow at his request. Velderoth was surprised by that request, but decides it's best not to argue with it. After all, everyone else except Tear seemed to not really like him. So with that, he nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"...Okay then," Kyle responds, still a bit taken aback by the request. "...Alright, that makes things easier. Aran, you're with Jack to take the southern side of Pantheon. Oz, I will accompanying you to the Western side of Pantheon. That leaves Tear and Yamato with the north side."

While Jack internally was cursing that he couldn't be with Angelic Buster this time, everyone else agreed to the decision. They've decided on the location they will meet to head to L.I.G.H.T headquarter and thus they'll be awaiting for their devices to start with their mission.

2 notes · View notes