#wow what a blast! new prey coming to him? for free? to HIS house? it's like ordering take out 😳

[arkarti]

I don’t know why, but I feel like even though your William has his….~hobby~…..If someone broke into his house he’d stuff himself into his closet, clutching spring Bonnie, face like O-O

asghd it would be funny 😂

but are you sure about that? 😳 he has the home advantage after all

Imagine you break into some guy's house and you're greeted by a furry with an axe~

[nnnbells]

some nero pov about - surprise surprise - li, set in the aot dimension. not publishing it on the void bc i have pledged never to write anything from nero’s pov.

wrote this probably last year? kasi it was last edited on feb 2020

Nero wakes with a jolt, sweat damp on his forehead. His heart is hammering in his chest, and when he closes his eyes against the sunlight blasting in through his window, he remembers just a glimpse of sharp eyes and dark, unruly hair, before the image disappears. Nero grinds his teeth together in frustration. 

That dream – that boy – again. 

Most times, the dream would be dark; bleak. Nero would struggle to peer past heavy rainfall, and not too far from him would stand the boy. He stood proud, like nothing could ever cowe him, and when Nero would call his name, he would turn; fix intense eyes on him. 

The ginger hates that dream. He could taste it; taste the boy's name on his tongue, but when morning came – and it always did, and would – it would be ash in his mouth. He would spend long moments laying still, trying to force the boy's name from his mouth as if muscle alone would remember a boy he's never seen before. 

Sometimes, the dream would be loud. Loud, like the world ending, like fear seizing Nero's heart. The boy, with teeth bared, alone and desperate. In those dreams, Nero would be running – or soaring; he could never really remember – quick, but never quick enough to reach the boy before he would wake with a shout and a hand outstretched. Sometimes, the dream would be a nightmare. 

Less often, the dream would be still; peaceful like Nero's never felt before. The boy, on his back, eyes closed in slumber. It almost feels voyeuristic, the way Nero knows intimately how many seconds pass in between each of the boy's breaths by the rise and fall of his chest, but the knowledge that he is trusted with this information calms Nero. 

Rarely, the dream would be bright. Too bright; in an intensity Nero's never before experienced. The boy would have his face turned toward the sky, like he could never have enough. Something akin to hope in his eyes. The wind that would whip at Nero's face in those bright dreams would taste like stolen freedom; a frenzied rush. 

Those dreams had Nero waking with his heart threatening to beat out of his chest; had him waking like he would never wake again. Nero knows where he would chase that dream; chase the free winds and bright sky and hopeful eyes. 

Nero will join the Survey Corps.

*

Years pass; quicker than Nero ever would have imagined. 

It's not long before Nero becomes an integral part of the Corps. He climbs his way up to the vanguard; is revered as one of humanity's best. Is lauded for surviving as long as he has.

Years pass, and he meets people; people who stand by him and fight alongside him and die before him. Nero never follows. He watches people die; watches them scream and cry before disappearing from the world altogether, but he does not follow. He has someone to find.

The boy in his dreams is younger than Nero remembers when Nero finally finds him. Finally, because he never doubted, not once, that he would find him; the boy with dark hair and even darker eyes. 

But when he does, when Nero does find him, the boy stands prouder than ever, the set of his shoulders determined and eyes just as sharp as Nero remembers from his dreams. When Nero does find him, the boy does not find him back.

He stands, stares with blank eyes; the valedictorian candidate of batch 103rd of the southern training regiment, at Nero; a senior soldier of the Survey Corps.

He is a boy. 

*

Still, he is found. 

Still, Nero remembers. 

So, he takes him under his wing; the moment the boy dedicates his life, his heart, to their cause – or to the commander's lofty words, Nero is not sure – Nero knows in his heart the boy belongs to him. So, Nero comes to him, talks to him, trains him, like any good senior officer would do.

But the boy – Li, he says his name is. Nero doesn't find it unusual like the rest of them, this foreign name; it feels like he's been speaking the name for the entirety of his life and all of his past ones. 

The boy doesn't need much training. No, he takes to the sky like a bird of prey. He rides the wind like he was born to fly, and Nero watches him soar, rise higher than all the rest of them; watches him learn what it's like to be free. 

Watches the hope begin to colour those obsidian eyes of his. 

*

The boy's first expedition goes awry. 

They place him near the formation's centre, because no matter how much mastery he possesses over the manoeuvre gear he is still green, so they place him near the centre, much too far from Nero's place in the vanguard. 

They place him in the centre, so when an aberrant suddenly comes barreling through the village they'd been passing through; when it stomps right through the left vanguard and leaves most of them unmounted or dead, the boy jumps to action to prevent it from getting to the right vanguard. 

And Nero watches, from his place in the rightmost of the vanguard, he watches Li weave through buildings and zoom past flailing limbs, alone. He watches his boy, his newly recruited, inexperienced boy, take on an aberrant by himself. 

Nero doesn't think his horse has ever run faster in its entire career in the Survey Corps. He pulls a hard left, breaking formation and ignoring shouts and warnings from the rest; he can't hear anything besides the indignant sounds coming from the titan's mouth as it swings and swipes at the air, trying to catch Li like a particularly pesky fly —

And it does catch him, it finally does catch Nero's boy, grabbing him in its filthy hand, something like joy in its expressionless eyes. “Li!” 

The longest seconds of Nero's life come as he races toward them, him, and he watches the titan wrench its hand tighter around his boy, watches the sheer outrage on his boy's face, and for one terrifying moment Nero thinks, I won't make it; he's going to die, Li is going to die; I can't save him —

And then a figure zooms past him; then two, then the aberrant is tumbling down, Li still snug in its grasp, and finally Nero is close enough; he jumps off his horse without even assessing the environment, frantically grappling at the nearest building, hurtling fast toward the titan's fist before Li gets accidentally slammed into the nearest roof.

Nero's blades break as he chops off most of the titan's fingers in a spin so quick he thinks he might have broken his wrist, but that's nothing compared to the sheer relief that he feels when he sees, from the corner of his eye, his boy grunting in pain as he falls out of the titan's grip and catches himself on a window ledge.

Nero swings off the house he's landed on, stumbling over to the too-tiny window ledge gracelessly in his haste to reach Li, never stopping to even think as he gathers the younger up in his arms like he'll never let go again, the thrum of the boy's heartbeat loud and quick against Nero's own chest. No, Nero doesn't even register the way the boy goes rigid; all the veteran can think is he's safe I'm here I won't leave him he's alive — “I can't lose you.”

Distantly, Nero hears the familiar sound of twin blades slicing through flesh, a heavy inhuman thump following, but in his ears, the words whispered but somehow loud and clear: “Who are you?” His boy – Li, his Li – is stock-still in his arms, and the cadence of his voice is something Nero's never heard from him before; unsure and anxious, maybe even scared.

I'm yours. I've been looking for you; please find me — “I don't know.” He's been living without any sort of real purpose besides finding his dream; no knowledge of why he's even here, and now that he's found him, found the boy of obsidian, the thought of losing him again scares Nero. It's selfish; childish. 

“Nero! Hey, are you alright?”

Above them, on the roof, lands Hamilton Holt, and the momentary distraction snaps Li into action, wrenching his own arms free of Nero's grasp and pushing him away so hard he would've fallen off the ledge had his reflexes failed him. His wrist screams in pain, and Nero is vacantly reminded of the injury he must have sustained when attacking the aberrant, but the look the boy – his boy – gives him is nothing if not alarmed and – and fearful. More so than when he had first faced down a titan. 

Nero reaches a hand out; Li doesn't deserve to be anything but happy, and if Nero had his way nothing impure would ever touch him. 

“Stay away from me;” comes the boy's growled words before he jumps off the window ledge and flies back toward the formation. 

There's another thump, then a pair of boots lands in front of Nero, and when he cranes his head upward it's the Holt boy, looking down at him with a mix of confusion and pity in his face. He reaches a hand out. “Let's go.”

When Nero doesn't move the hulking blond hauls him up forcibly, turning him around and pushing him off the ledge, and it's only reflex that gets Nero safely on the ground, next to his horse that whinnies softly as if telling him it's time to go. 

He's numb and silent as he clambers back on top of his horse, and when he takes his place back in the formation, he trots past the young noble Kabra, who's looking at him with an odd, almost comtemplative look in his eyes before he forges on ahead tailed by the Holt boy.

*

When the Kabra boy becomes squad leader mere weeks later, he handpicks Nero, Li, and of course his two dogs, the giant blond and the brown puppy, as his squad members. 

*

Nero's new squad leader handcrafts team exercises especially for them; drills and practices that have the team weaving together in the sky, slashing down imaginary opponents with beautifully choreographed manoeuvres that wow the rest of the Corps and leave them wishing they'd been picked for the Kabra squad instead. 

By the end of each day Nero feels more and more exhausted, sharper, and faster. With his new squad, he thinks out on the field, he could be invincible. 

In his new squad, he thinks he's just glad Li is part of it too. The Kabra boy won't let anything happen to the Underground prodigy, he knows. 

*

Under their new squad leader, Nero watches Li grow. His skills reach a height soldiers can only dream of, and Nero knows if he had the same years of experience, Li could equal the prowess of Lance Corporal Levi, humanity's strongest. 

Under their new squad leader, Nero watches Li grow into the perfect soldier, shaped by the scheming Kabra through harsh training and subtle manipulations only Nero is keen enough to notice. 

No, only Nero cares enough to notice. He supposes it must be the constant eye he has on Li that brought him notice to the mind games the Kabra plays on the boy. It alarms him, knowing that the Kabra – the Commander prodigy – is trying to create another loyal dog, another flawless soldier so finely attuned to his words. It terrifies him to think of the Kabra completely winning the boy over. 

Nevertheless, Li grows – exponentially – under the Kabra's watchful eye in skill, psyche, and body. The boy from a year ago, the valedictorian of the 103rd Training Corps, had become a steadfast soldier of the Survey Corps, wearing proudly on his back the Wings of Freedom, shoulders broader and eyes sharper, fully a man in every way, and farther from Nero than when he'd first met him. 

*

The next expedition comes only four months after the last one; the 103rd batch recruits' second foray into titan territory. 

The Kabra boy volunteers his squad to be part of the vanguard. 

*

Nero's more than accustomed to being beyond the walls, but he can't deny the palpable tension he feels from the entire regiment, a sort of ironic mix of both nervousness and excitement from the rest of the soldiers. 

He knows why; although not listed officially as one of this mission's objectives, today will be a test run of the meticulously groomed Kabra squad, a bearer of hope for the Survey Corps, long under construction, now ready to be unleashed. 

The Kabra boy – ever ingenious, they say – had suggested a new approach on establishing supply points inside Wall Maria: the carriages, carrying supplies, flanked and fronted by small teams of only the best; a high density of humans tended to attract an even higher number of titans, so a stealthier approach could account for less deaths. 

It's a high risk, high reward situation; but the Commander is not known for being cautious, nor is he known for being sentimental.

He gives the go signal to the little noble's proposal, and places the Kabra squad – fresh recruits and all – in the front vanguard, to lead the first supply cart alongside the Command Centre. 

*

Nero can practically smell the fear from the puppy behind him. No, it's not fear – the boy trusts their squad leader too much to truly be afraid – it's unease. 

Placed at the front of the formation – made up of a single long line of teams spaced far in between – there is nothing to bar titans from reaching their squad with a few meagre steps. No, in fact they are the barrier, the only thing keeping the supply carts and their drivers from certain doom. 

In between their ranks, just slightly behind the young noble who is leading the entire formation, is the Commander of the Survey Corps, flanked by his own men; a meagre number of two soldiers. 

The Kabra squad is the only thing that stands in between death and a failed mission, and the Commander. 

Nero understands the brown boy's unease. Sort of. 

A quick glance to the right shows Nero the way Li grips his horse's reins tightly, an eye keen on the horizon for any incoming danger. He's alert and focused on the objective, just as their young squad leader taught them to be, but the tight set of his eyebrows tell Nero he's also just as nervous as he should be; an inexperienced recruit with less than a year of formal Survey Corps training, tossed into an elite mission for veterans by a madman of a Commander and a scheming witch of a squad leader. 

Nero faces back forward before the boy inevitably catches him looking. There's no need to be scared. He will protect Li; fight tooth and nail for the boy to live, humanity's objectives be damned.

*

They run into their first titan not two hours into the journey. 

Around 5 metres; nothing to worry about, but the 12 metre titan that comes lumbering after it is definitely something to think about.

The Holt boy spots them first, of course, and when he reports it aloud – both to their squad leader, front and centre, and to the Commander – the man on the Commander's right pulls out a flare gun, loads it with a green round. 

Their squad leader pulls back, just enough to ride parallel to the Commander, and Nero watches the young noble exchange words with the other before raising his voice in the unmistakable cadence of an order: “Kabra squad, engage! No rotations.” The Commander's man puts away his flare gun. 

Nero had been expecting it, of course; for the Commander prodigy to show off his well-trained squad like prize horses at the first opportunity. So, as rehearsed, he pulls forward alongside the rest of the Kabra squad, spurring their horses so they can reach the titans long before the rest of the Corps does, the Holt boy calling dibs on the larger one. 

And of course, also as rehearsed and because their rigorous training has allowed them to know intimately the measure of each other's strengths, the boy behind Nero calls out a, “Assisting Nero-san with the 5 metre titan!”

That's settled, then.

He watches Li pull forward, fearless as ever, inevitably gaining the attention of both titans, before he spurs his horse to come up just behind him. There are little to no trees nearby, so he's going to have to get as close as possible before switching to 3D space. 

Li veers a hard right to circle around the smaller titan, and as it turns to look at him Nero takes the opportunity to jump off his horse and shoot a hook somewhere to the titan's side, swinging up and in front to distract it from the younger boy, and in Nero's peripheral he sees Li take to the skies to avoid getting stomped by the bigger titan, its attention appropriately caught now. The Holt boy rides by on his horse, hook catching somewhere at the titan's ankle, and at that point Nero returns his attention to the task at hand. 

Below him, the puppy recruit rides in between the titan's feet, his unease seemingly forgotten in the face of duty – or loyalty to their squad leader, who knows – and he jumps off his horse and does a beautifully elegant turn midair (the boy is a quick learner; he'd picked the manoeuvre up after watching Nero do it a couple of times) before grappling at the distracted titan's shoulder. 

The next few moments come quick and are finalised by two dull thuds, steam blocking Nero's vision, but when he lands safely back on the ground and whistles for his horse his first course of action is to ride out of the fog and swing his head around frantically, looking for the boy in his dreams. 

“Wonderful manoeuvre out there, Li.” 

Their squad leader's thick accent filters in through the haze, and Nero snaps his head toward the approaching party. Li is calmly trotting his horse back toward the formation, welcomed by the young noble's proud smile and flanked by the remaining two members of their squad. 

Nero wills his heart rate to calm down. He knows, rationally, of course, that the boy from the Underground is stronger than probably majority of the Survey Corps; can probably take down a titan all by himself if he wanted. But every second the boy is not within Nero's field of vision is an agonising moment, the irrational fear of losing him to a miscalculation or a distraction too much for Nero to bear. It drives him insane.

It used to be better; back when he'd practically called dibs on the boy, he would demand the younger follow him everywhere under the guise of ‘learning from his mentor.’ He liked to think it was less lonely for the boy, too. He came with a handful of others, the graduates of the 103rd Training Corps who were delusional enough to join the Survey Corps, but the only other recruit he seemed to tolerate was the Kabra's brown puppy. 

Nero learned much from the meagre months they spent glued to each other's hip before the boy's first expedition, and he was confident enough to think that Li trusted him. But he never did explain the reason behind his protectiveness – to the boy or to the other seniors of the Survey Corps – and he supposed it must have seemed strange to an outsider. 

But Nero's breakdown after the boy's near-death encounter during his first expedition had scared him off; now that they were no longer on speaking terms – much less a-metre-near-the-other terms – it's now much harder for Nero to tamp down his possessiveness. Watching the boy's ears turn red with embarrassment from their squad leader's compliment just screams wrong, wrong, wrong, but Nero knows there's nothing he can do about it; nothing he will do about it, because all he ever wants is to see Li safe, and safe is how he is right now, in the Kabra squad.

Nero doesn't need to intervene. 

*

They return from the expedition the next morning with an astounding 80% of the party still remaining; the highest recorded survival rate in a Survey Corps expedition. Of course, it helps that only the veterans had been enlisted for this one. 

Naturally, a party is in order.

The Commander is invited by some rich asshole in Sina to celebrate, and he brings the Kabra boy with him to properly credit the mind behind the new formation (and, Nero supposes, to endorse the future Commander of the Survey Corps in the event that Erwin Smith kicks the bucket prematurely. The Commander likes to think ahead). 

Before their squad leader leaves, Nero watches him place five gold coins in his blond dog's palm, smiling; leaving some instruction, no doubt. And that same evening, said dog comes into the mess hall, puts his fist in the air, and shouts, “Drinks on Ian tonight!”

The resulting cheer is deafening. 

*

Nero is wasted, probably. He can't see much past his own nose, and each step he takes he swears he feels the ground shaking.

So, yes: he's probably wasted.

He can't remember how much he's had to drink, but he does remember chugging down each frothing mug they place in his hand. So, yes: he's probably drunk too much. 

He steps outside the tavern for a little air – it's much too loud, now; and a congregation of drunk soldiers is always a headache – and peers at a familiar figure sitting on the porch steps, facing the empty midnight street. He smiles a little giddily when he realises who it is. 

He plops down rather gracelessly next to Li, almost tipping over in his drunkenness, but the man – boy, who cares? – doesn't even flinch. 

The stars above them remind him faintly of something, but now he can't remember. Nero can't remember much of anything. He wants to go to bed. 

“I first met you in a dream I had when I was young.”

Nero doesn't even notice he's talking until he realises it's his own voice he's hearing. He makes no effort to stop; it doesn't matter anyway, does it?

“You were frightened. Afraid of something I couldn't see. And that made me afraid too. When I woke up I wondered to myself: what's happened to that boy?”

He hears Li shift, and a quick glance to the right reveals the younger man had turned his body slightly in his direction. The Underground prodigy had never been one to hide his motives; now Nero supposes he's curious. 

“When I woke up, I said to myself; I'm going to make sure that boy is safe. No matter what.”

A loud bark of laughter surprises himself more than it surprises Li, but when he shifts to look Li in the face, he finds that the younger man is already looking at him, something akin to wonder in his eyes. It's been a while since Nero's been able to look at those obsidian eyes. He hates that he can somehow see his reflection in them.

“But you don't need saving, do you? I finally find you, and you're the strongest soldier in your entire generation, probably even the next ten. Figures.”

Nero finds his eyes fluttering shut. He's so sleepy. And when in hell did it get so cold?

“I don't know why I'm here. I don't even know why I'm still alive; dozens of expeditions and not one lucky titan manages to off me. I just know…”

He closes his eyes, leans his head against the handrail beside him. Li has gone so silent. Nero wonders if he's still here, or just up and left sometime during his drunken rambling.

“I just know that I'm glad you're finally safe. That's enough.”

*

Nero lingers between a pleasant unconsciousness and bleary awareness as he feels his back hit a particularly unpleasant mattress. 

There's some murmuring about, and Nero's too sleepy to properly wake up and tell everyone to shut up, but he's about to try anyway, propping himself up on an elbow before his eyes even open, until he hears a harsh, “Quiet!” in a voice that's unmistakable.  

The muttering stops, and then an even more unmistakable hand pushes him back down on his back, a momentary pause before pushing ginger strands off his sweaty forehead. Nero keeps his eyes closed; memorises the feeling of calloused fingers almost tenderly wiping the sweat off his brow. 

He feels the warmth of a blanket cover him, and he lets himself drift back off to sleep, a smile threatening to overtake his features. 

*

Morning finds Nero vomiting on a recruit's bed. 

There's another recruit sitting across from him, watching him with a mix of a grimace and dutiful respect on his face, and Nero manages to weakly smile back, wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand. “Sorry 'bout that.”

He's in the newest recruits' barracks, the 103rd kids, and most of them are gone. The boy across from him, sitting on another bed, is not in uniform. It's probably a day off.

The boy eyes the puddle of mashed up dinner on Nero's blanket with barely concealed disgust. “Li will kill you for that. Uh, sir.”

Nero looks up so quick his head feels like it's flying straight off his shoulders. “This Li's bed?” The recruit nods. 

Nero nods back, slowly this time to avoid dislodging his head – it may not contain much but he's still rather fond of it – and moves to get up, narrowly missing hitting his forehead on the ceiling of the bunk bed on top of his – or Li's – squeezing his eyes shut when he's finally upright to give the nausea time to fuck off. 

When he feels he can walk properly without tripping on air he gives a tight smile and short nod to the young boy. “Best you clean it up then; wouldn't want Li to be on your ass about it, hm?”

He leaves just quick enough to avoid seeing the boy's hasty salute.

*

“You couldn't have thrown up on another person's bed?”

Nero looks up from where he's tinkering with his gear, setting it down and narrowing his eyes at Li. The boy is in his uniform polo; he probably still hasn't bought any personal garments for himself yet (he'd discarded of the two shirts he'd owned in the Underground when he came here; had said they reeked of blood and grime). 

“You couldn't have put me on my own bed?”

Li shrugs, “Your bunkmates were noisy.” Nero wonders why now, Li cannot even look at his face, when all this time that Nero had stayed away from him he'd looked upon the ginger with such disdain in his eyes.

Nero goes back to cleaning his gear.

“You weren't drunk.”

It's not a question, but nevertheless Nero hears Li asking for affirmation. He snorts. “I think I had like a barrel worth of booze. I'm not a lightweight, but I'm not exactly Hamilton Holt either. So, yes: I was drunk.”

“Is that the excuse you're going with?”

Nero puts down his gear with a decisive clunk, and faces Li, who finally seems to have found the courage to look him in the eye. He looks... defiant, but in a way, hopeful. Nero wonders what he's hoping for. “What do you want?”

The blunt question seems to off-balance Li. He blinks, steels his glare; “I want — ” He cuts himself off, shifts on his feet. “I – I want…” Nero has never seen the Underground prodigy so nervous. He supposes he's never seen a lot of things.

Nevertheless, he somehow finds it in himself to pity the poor boy, and softens a bit. “Take a seat if you want.” The workshop is empty; they are two of the few unlucky soldiers without family or lovers to come home to.

Li shakes his head, resolute, and hesitates again. “I… was it – was it true?” 

Nero stops. Blinks, and returns his gaze to Li. “You think I'd lie to you?” He may have been drunk enough not to find his way back to his own barracks, but he certainly wasn't drunk enough not to remember all he'd said.

The younger man looks to the floor, mutters a soft yet sure, “No.”

*

A soldier comes flying into Nero's path, and it's only years of experience and extreme skill that propel him to abort his own flight and swing himself the opposite direction of where he was originally going, the speed and force of the manoeuvre so sudden that Nero's ribs hurt in protest. 

Distantly, he listens to the pained grunt of a soldier as he slams against a nearby tree. He lands gracefully next to said soldier, who kneels against said tree, clutching his stomach. 

“I could hear you coming ten miles away, you know.” He tells Li, not bothering to offer a hand up because he wouldn't take it anyway.

Li huffs out an almost sarcastic “Did you?” (almost sarcastic, because Li is physically incapable of ever expressing any emotion other than disdain or anger) before getting up, still grimacing. He turns to Nero, and the older man almost laughs at the sight of Li physically forcing a more neutral expression on his face (almost laughs, because if he had he has no doubt he would have a fist to his jaw within a second). “Tell me how to be better, then.”

Nero blinks. “Huh?”

Li's facade falls, and he looks shy suddenly. Nero remembers the day at the workshop. “You're my mentor after all, aren't you?”

Nero must catch flies from how long he stands there with his mouth hanging open, but when he finally rights himself, he sees pink slowly tinging the younger man's ears, although he adamantly stares at Nero, waiting for his reply. Nero smiles. 

He is found. 

[protagonistprepblog]

Protagonist Prep Ch 14 Team Alien’s Mission: Seeing Double

Just a few miles away from Beach City everything seemed to be peaceful and calm with nary a worry in sight. Until a massive rainbow sized portal ripped through the fabric of reality, out of the portal five figures walked out. One was gigantic nearly the size of a Jasper, one was a small boy with a strange haircut, a girl with purple hair, a insect like creature, a pudgy boy and finally a girl with long hair tied in a ponytail.

             “Alright, team,” the giant man said in an authoritative tone, “let’s go over the mission objective one more time to make sure everyone’s clear.”

             "Zim knows what to do!" The insect like figure exclaimed his voice filled with arrogance.

 "Then please explain what we are doing?" The giant figure asked Zim who quickly clamed up, the giant figure just nodded and turned to the chubby boy.

 "Steven could you explain what the mission is?" The giant asked the now known Steven.

 "We're going to stop a bad guy from disrupting this dimension?" Steven suggested still new to this interdimensional work.

 "Good job!" The giant figure told Steven who smiled at the praise.

 "Why does this place look familiar?" The ponytail figure asked rather confused by this.

             Steven agreed with her sentiment, he looked around and it looked familiar to him as well. He looked further down the beach and noticed a massive monument of a multi armed woman.

 “Connie,” he addressed the girl with the ponytail “This is Beach City. We’re home!”

             "How is this possible?!" Connie asked in bewilderment as she stared at the familiar statue.

 "The multiverse is full of possibilities, so it's not out of the realm of reality for us to come upon a similar dimension." The giant figure told the young girl as he began to rub his chin in thought.

 "New plan, Steven, Connie scout ahead and see if there's anything here that's unusual. Signal us if you need back up." The giant figure told the two as he tried to channel what Sir called his inner boss.

 “Will do,” Connie said as she and Steven ran into the town.

 “So, what’re we going to do?” the purple haired girl asked in an apathetic tone.

             "Look around the area, if Odchodnik has operations here then it must be close somewhere." The giant figure answer, he began to walk fowards to what scent he could catch.

 "Come know accolytes an adventure awaits!!" The giant figure exclaimed and the three kids began to follow him. Meanwhile, in a house resting at the base of the massive stone monument.

 “Come on, dad,” Rose exclaimed, “why can’t we come with you?”

 “Because,” Steven replied with crossed arms, “we’re coming to be investigating a recent rash of child abductions, and we don’t want to risk you getting taken too.”

 “Then wouldn’t it make more sense for us to come with you,” Vihaan asked.

             “Not if the kidnappers return to the scene of the crime,” Connie added, “besides, Jasper will be watching you.”

 “I’ll watch them like hawks,” Jasper reassured them.

 “Steven, Connie,” Garnet called to the couple, “let’s go! We’re burning daylight!”

 Steven and Connie Hughes the kids, “We’ll see you when we get back."

 Steven, Connie, and the gems then ran out of the house, leaving Rose, Vihaan, and Celeste alone with Jasper.

 “You guys wanna get some training done while the others aren’t home,” Jasper asked the youths slyly.

 “Yeah,” they replied enthusiastically.

 They then grabbed their weapons and raced out to the beach to get some training done. As young Steven and Connie were walking through Beach City they noticed that several things were off, the Big Donut had new workers, there seemed to be no sign of the cool kids and Onion wasn't in sight doing anything anarchist.

 "Wow, Beach City really changed while we were gone." Steven joked trying to make the situation light.

 "Well this is different from home, I wonder what's different about it?" Connie mused as she looked around the boardwalk.

             “The rides are all the same, but they look even older,” Steven observed as they walked around.

 Steven then accidentally walked face-first into a statue, since he wasn’t paying attention. He fell backwards and Connie quickly helped him back up. “I know that wasn’t there.”

 The pair looked at the statue curiously, it seemed familiar to them, but they just couldn’t figure out why.

 “Hey, Connie,” Steven asked, “does that guy in the statue look familiar to you?”

 Connie noticed an inscribed plaque at the base of the statue, “Aha! Maybe this’ll shed some light on the subject.”

 She then read the inscription aloud for them both to hear. “Steven Quartz Universe: Beach City’s Greatest Hero?” Connie and Steven gasped, Steven started to read the rest. “He and his Crystal Gems have not only kept Beach City safe from various threats, but have also touched the lives of many of our residents. “

 Steven and Connie looked at each other. “Steven”

Connie got the attention of her friend. “I think we’re in the future.”

 "That's impossible, how could that happen?!" Connie wondered as she pressed a hand to her forehead trying to wrap around the situation.

 "Well maybe interdimensional travel sometimes accidentally sends people into the future." Steven suggested as he was surprised by this as well but that meant there was a silver lining.

 "Connie if the gems are here that means they could help us!"

 “Yeah,” Connie agreed, “let’s go to the temple.”

 The pair then ran back to the temple, hoping for answers and assistance. As the other members of Team Alien were traversing the area Behemoth began to pick up something on his ISO sensors.

 "Children I suggest we proceed with caution there's something up ahead." Behemoth told the trio which some of them began to take out their weapons. As they went further Behemoth saw what set off his sensors, it was a tall Amber colored woman with dark orange stripes, a wild mane of white hair and burning molten eyes.

 "Stay here, I'll try to talk to it." Behemoth told his acolytes and walked out of the cover.

 "Greetings and good tidings, may ask what you are doing?" Behemoth asked the Cheeto woman. Jasper looked at the tall Samoan man, she was surprised to see someone as tall as her.

 “Just getting some training in with the yungins’ here.” Jasper informed the massive man.

 “Don’t turn your back to the opponent Jasper,” Celeste shouted as she fired a blast of magic at jasper, knocking her and Behemoth to the ground. However, from farther away the kids took this as a sign of attack and quickly sprang out.

 "Meteor Strike!!" Gaz yelled out as she swung her meteor hammer down at the one who fired the spell. Celeste quickly jumped back, and just narrowly avoided being hit.

 Rose saw her cousin being attacked and used her scythe to pole-vault herself into Gaz, knocking her away. Dib grabbed one of his bolas and swung it around as he did it began to spark and crackle, once he had enough momentum he threw straight at Rose with enough volts to stun an elephant. Somehow the bolas wrapped completely around Rose like a python around its prey. Rose screamed as the bolas sent electricity surging through her body.

 “ROSE,” Jasper screamed in horror. She quickly ran over to Rose, grabbed the bolas and tore them apart, freeing her.

 Rose fell to her knees. “You okay, kid,” Jasper asked, her voice laced with concern.

 Rose used her scythe to hoist herself back up to her feet and gave Jasper a half-smile and a thumbs up. She wasn’t out of the fight yet.

 Jasper sighed with relief, then flared at Dib. She summoned her helmet, rolled into a spin dash, then charged at Dib with all her might. Before Dib could process the fact an alien Amazon women was charging at him something sped forward and blocked the attack with one arm, and that someone was Behemoth. As easily as one would throw a water bottle, he smacked Jasper away causing her to slide into the sand leaving a 20ft long channel in it.

 “Of course you realize this means war,” Jasper grumbled, her face still buried in sand. Jasper then stood up and dusted herself, Rose, Vihaan, and Celeste stood with her, each holding their weapons. The two teams stood there for a moment, glaring at each other, then charged at each other. Behemoth went with Jasper each of their blows shaking the earth; Gaz and Celeste trying to sneak in some devastating hits on each other; Dib and Rose where playing a game of cat and mouse each of them avoiding each other's attack; finally, Vihan and Zim were going at it like a like two angry wildcats.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, big guy.” Jasper taunted Behemoth. He responded by punching her in the gut, knocking the air out of her. Jasper fell to her knees with a gasp.

“How’s that even possible, I don’t have lungs!” She then pulled out a small communicator, “Steven, Connie, we need you back at the temple. NOW!”

 Meanwhile young Steven and Connie arrived at the scene of the fight with wide eyes.

 "What happened while we were gone?" Connie questioned as they ran down to the  fight and pulled out her khanda ready to fight. Young Steven ran over to Dib and used his shield to deflect one of Rose’s attack.

 Rose stopped fighting when she caught sight of Steven. “Dad,” she said, utterly gob-smacked.

 Vihaan threw his clackers at Zim, only for Connie to deflect them. He gasped at the sight of her, “Mom?”

 Connie on the other hand was rather confused by what Vihaan told her.

 "Ummm, I think I'm a bit too young to be mom yet." She Vihaan and then proceeded to side kick him away. While Steven decided to make a joke about what Rose asked.

 "I guess your Dad must be pretty handsome." Jasper finally noticed the younger Steven and Connie.

 “WHAT THE HECK,” she shouted. That proved to be a bad time to look away as Behemoth charged towards the tiger striped gem and delivered a powerful uppercut to her face. So powerful that it caused a sonic boom and sent Jasper flying through the air until she was nothing more than a speck in the sky.

 “I’LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES,” Jasper called out as she flew through the air. The kids looked at what happened in shock s briefly stopped fighting for a few minutes and Behemoth turned to them and said.

 "May we try to talk peace now?" Before anyone could say anything, a colossal pink shield zipped through the air, and dug itself into the ground, separating the two groups. Upon further inspection, Team Alien noticed the pattern on the shield was identical to Steven’s. A figure then leapt onto the beach, creating a huge cloud of dust. As the cloud dispersed, they noticed some key features about his appearance; he had dark curly hair a bulky frame, and a light red trench coat. It was Steven, the older Steven from this reality.

 "Woah!" Young Steven gasped at amazement at he just saw while Connie felt something but wasn't sure what it was. Cautious Behemoth put himself in front of the kids and spoke to the future half gem.

 "Be thee friend or foe, choose the answer correctly." Steven glared at them, “Depends on your explanation for attacking my kids.”

 While Steven was dealing with Behemoth, Connie checked on the kids.

 “Are you kids alright,” Connie asked worriedly.

 “We’re fine, mom,” Rose said, “but I think there’s something you and dad should see about those guys.”

 Connie then glared at Team Alien and began to march over to the group, intending to give them an unfiltered piece of her mind. Behemoth stood tall as he could and began to explain what had happened to cause these unwanted events.

 "Well first I began to try and talk to a Jasper, was it, about this town. Unfortunately I did not realize this was a training session and one of the children casted a rather explosive spell, my acolytes took this as a sign of attack and one thing led to another I'm afraid."

 “Then where’s Jasper,” Connie asked irritably.

 "Ummm, somewhere in the upper atmosphere I fear." Behemoth told the older Connie, and oddly enough not afraid.

 “WHAT THE HECK, MAN,” Steven roared.

 "To be fair it was a heat of was most would say." Behemoth told the older Steven with a stern voice and glare. Steven and Connie didn’t back down, nothing was more important to them than their kids. They were about give him an earful, but they finally noticed the younger versions of themselves.

 “And now there are younger versions of us,” Steven said in shock. He then pinched the bridge of his nose, “Alright, who’s been messing with time travel?”

 “Don’t look at us, we’re innocent this time,” Celeste replied.

"I can actually answer that, these two are from a Dimension not so different from yours." Behemoth told the Older Steven. Steven breathed a sigh of relief.

 “That’s a relief, I was worried we were all in danger for a second.”

 The kids joined Steven and Connie. “Since no one appears to be asking the big question, I’m just gonna come out and say it,” Rose said, “who the heck are you guys?”

 "My name is Behemoth and I shall let my acolytes introduce themselves." Behemoth told the future crowd, first went the insect like figure.

 "I am the glorious Zim!!" He yelled out at the top of his lungs, next went the girl with purple hair.

 "I'm Gaz, got any food." She lazily told the group with disinterest, finally the boy with a strange haircut.

 "I'm Dib." He shyly introduced himself.

 “I guess you’re already familiar with my wife and me,” Steven said before gesturing to the young ones next to him, “these are our kids, Rose and Vihaan, and our niece, Celeste.”

 "So I'm guessing that you are wondering why we're here." Behemoth said as began to move slightly away from the kids feeling that they weren't in danger. Young Steven and Connie’s eyes shot wide open and their jaws dropped to the ground.

 “WIFE,” they exclaimed in unison, “KIDS?!”

 "Ok, I believe we should hold off on the potential space time continuum destroying information for now." Behemoth told his two older versions of his students with a stern serious voice.

 “Why not,” Rose objected, “it won’t affect our timeline, and it could help you guys out a lot down the line, probably even prevent a couple of mistakes.”

 “Yeah, but we learned from those mistakes,” Steven explained, “some of them even helped shape us to become who we are today.”

 "He's right telling someone an excessive amount of future information could have dire consequences." Behemoth told Rose but currently Dib was getting a little anxious.

 "Ummm, don't we have a mission?" He asked his teacher.

 “Why are you guys here anyway,” Vihaan asked.

 "We're here to arrest an interdimensional crime Lord known as Odchodnik, he's a notorious drug king pin." Behemoth informed the young boy.

 Rose looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “Chokesonwhatnow? That name is going to be impossible to remember.”

 "Here's what really makes me mad, he takes kids from their families and forces them to work for him. All because of some stupid drug called regunitavium." Young Connie scowled as she said that but Behemoth was slightly impressed.

 "Someone’s has been paying attention in Villains 101." Behemoth praised proud of Connie.

 “We were just investigating a recent spike in child abductions around here,” Connie explained.

 "Where there is smoke there is fire." Behemoth told the two groups but that just got him several looks of confusion.

 "What I meant to say was that if there are child kidnappings Odchodnik might be behind this." He explained to the crowd.

 “Well what are we waiting for,” Rose exclaimed as she held her scythe aloft triumphantly, “let’s nail this guy!”

 "Ummm, actually that's going to be a bit difficult." Connie slowly told the daughter of her older self, which felt stranger than everything she's seen.

 “And why’s that... mom,” Rose felt even stranger after stranger after saying that.

 "Well Odchodnik is smart, he's able to hide in plain sight and look like a philanthropist. When he is arrested or something else a mysterious beneficiary somehow gets him off the hook." Connie explained to Rose and slightly caught off guard by the mom statement.

 "She's right, he usually hides his operations quite well meaning we're going to look for a weak link." Behemoth added on to Connie's statement. They all then heard a buzzing coming out of Steven’s pocket.

 “What’s that,” young Steven asked.

 “It’s my communicator,” Steven explained, “one of the gems must be trying to call me.”

 He then pulled out the device and pressed a button on it. “Steven,” a woman’s voice with a British accent came out of the device.

 Young Steven instantly recognized the voice. “Garnet,” he said softly.

 “Everything okay, Garnet,” Steven spoke into the device.

 “We found one of the kidnappers,” she exclaimed, “but we’re having trouble catching him, we need you and Connie, right now!”

 “Thank you, authors,” Rose said softly.

 Vihaan quickly shushed his older sister, “Shh, they may not know about the fourth wall.”

 "Actually my kind not only has knowledge of the fourth wall but we regularly break it, just look at the first few chapters." Behemoth whispered to the sibling pair.

 "Ummm, even though I'm ok with some humor shouldn't we focus on getting the Gems some help?" Steven asked the future versions of his family.

 “You’re right, me,” Steven said awkwardly, “we’ve got no time to lose!”

 He and Connie then latched onto each other. “Let’s go, hun,” Connie exclaimed.

 Steven leapt into town, with Connie holding onto him tightly.

 The kids and Team Alien watched the couple fly through the air. “I guess we’re running then.”

 They quickly ran towards the town, knowing fully well that time was of the essence. As they ran into down they saw the reason why the Gems were having problems catching the kidnapper he wouldn't stand still. Everytime one of the gems would make a move he would either speed out of the way or somehow it wouldn't be able to hit him. He almost got away at one point, but his path was blocked when Steven threw down his shield.

"Woah!" The perp yelled out as he began to skitter across the boardwalk and began to move in a rather discord pattern. Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl cornered him on one side, Peridot, Lapis, and Bismuth on the other. Steven and Connie landed on his only means of escape, he was surrounded on all sides. Team Alien and the kids soon arrived, standing behind the Gems.

 Pearl glanced back at them, “Rose, Vihaan, what are you doing here?” She then caught a glimpse of young Steven and Connie. “WHAAA?!”

 "No time to explain, right now we got to focus!" Young Steven told the gems as they began to help surround the perp. Who was trying to look for a way out but he quickly gave up when he saw Behemoth. Upon further inspection, they all saw that the kidnapper was a giant cockroach. Pearl gagged at the sight of him.

 Steven grabbed the bug by his antennae, “Alright, buddy, we’ve got a couple of questions.”

 "If it's why am dealing on your turf the DJ guy told me that you guys wouldn't mind." The bug creature told Steven as he began to move his limbs nervously.

 “Alright, everyone,” Steven said “let’s get back to the temple.”

 ***

 The two teams found themselves standing in the living room of the temple, with the bug villain chained to a chair. Young Steven and Connie were surprised to see not only how the house had changed, but also how the gems had changed, especially Jasper.

 "So Jasper how exactly did I--- I mean he help you?" Steven asked the former mad warrior Gem of Homeworld, hopefully he won't get too beat up.

 “Well, he and Amethyst fused and beat me in the beta kindergarten,” Jasper explained, “and good thing too, I was so desperate to win that I was willing to fuse with a Corrupted Gem. I mean, who knows what could’ve happened to me if I did. After that, they bubbled me and I stayed in the burning room. Soon I was unbubbled in healing fountain, though I did try to attack you and other stuff I realized something. You kept on trying to help me and heal me, somafter everything was explained I decided to join you.”

 "Wait me and Amethyst fused!?" The young half asked and Behemoth just internally facepalmed at what just happened.

 "Another question what about Blue and Yellow Diamond?" Connie asked as she remembered the stories about them, and from when Blue Diamond was called to the school.

 “I think it’s best we don’t spoil any of that minefield right now,” Steven said. He then turned to the villain, “Now where’s your boss holding the kids!!!”

 "Hey I'm be a coward but I'm not an idiot, if I spill my guts to you no one will hire me and not to mention my head will be on a spike!" The bug creature exclaimed as he tried to wiggle out of the chains.

 “Oh you’re gonna tell us,” Steven said aggressively.

 “And why should I,” the overgrown cockroach exclaimed.

 “Because,” Steven said as he shape shifted his mouth into that of a Predator’s and hissed at him. He then turned his mouth back to normal.

 Young Steven watched with a shocked look on his face. “When do I learn to do that?” he asked Amethyst.

"Ha, please a Yajuta? I've seen more than a hundred of them in a week so unless you got something else, I'd suggest you do better." The bug creature taunted the older half gem with his senses of bravado growing.

 "I know a way to make him talk." Behemoth informed the group as he began to walk towards the bug.

 “Okay, but if this doesn’t work I’m going with plan D,” Steven said as he turned his hand into a drill.

 "It will but I'm going to need someone to take the children away from here." Behemoth told him but his students started to get upset.

 "Come on we want to stay we're heroes too!!" Steven exclaimed feeling a little angry about this.

 "Yes Zim wants to see him squirm!" Zim yelled out in bloodlust.

 "No, this not up for debate." He told them his eyes steely, voice strong and held fast like metal. Steven turned to the kids, “Celeste, take them up to your room.”

 “But we wanna stay too dad,” Rose complained.

 “No ‘buts’ young lady,” Connie interjected, “except for yours going up stairs.

 Rose grumbled as she and the other children walked upstairs to Celeste’s room. Behemoth sighed as he got ready for what he planned to do.

 "You may come out." After that sentence Behemoth's body went slump seemingly lifeless, but that would soon change. His body began to spaz out of control; his suit ripping as he grew bigger; next in some places his skin ripped showing muscle but soon metal filled in the gaps. As he rose, he opened his eyes showing nothing more than swirling metal orbs with unreadable emotions.

 “Reminds me of the first time you entered Diamond Mode,” Amethyst said to Steven quietly. The new Behemoth just looked at the now shivering bug creature and smiled, he stomped towards him and ripped him out of the chains.

 "Fresh Meat!!"

 Connie nudged Steven “Don’t you think you should... you know... just in case he goes overboard.”

 “Oh right,” Steven said, “Diamond Mode.” He then closed his eyes and his gem started to glow under his shirt. He reopened his eyes revealing them to have turned pink with Diamond-shaped pupils.

 "Come on Shrapnel, do we have to do this?" The bug creature asked the new Behemoth in fear as he could feel his thorax being crushed.

 "I haven't been out for a long so I'm going to do what I want." Shrapnel told the roach as he opened his mouth ready to eat the bug creature.

 "Alright, alright I'll talk!!!" The bug creature screamed out.

“You can let him down now,” Steven called out.

 "No, I want to taste his fear!!" Shrapnel yelled back as he began to lower the bug creature into his mouth. He only stopped when a large hand grabbed his arm and stopped him from eating the bug. He turned to see a giant shirtless Steven with pink eyes and Diamond-shaped pupils.

 “I said that’s enough,” Steven ordered. Then in a surprising twist Shrapnel grabbed Steven's hand and began to do something shocking to the Gems. He made the Diamond mode Steven bend to his knees in pain, Shrapnel hissed to the half gem.

 "You have no power over me all you are is vulnerable." Steven looked up at him with a pained smirk.

 “So are you,” he said as he turned his other hand into metal and grasped Behemoth’s throat, choking him.

 "Hahaha!! You think I need air all I need is metal, which you gladly gave." Soon the metal fist collapsed on itself causing a scream of pain from older Steven, Shrapnel seemed to love the sound until.

 "Stop!!" He turned to see younger Steven with his eyes full of horror and terror, soon the metal orbs flashed a seas blue. Then Shrapnel's body began to contort and pulse as he began to turn back to normal.

 "No, no, no I won't go back!!!" Shrapnel yelled out as he was now trapped again. The kids rushed over to Steven and Behemoth.

 “Are you okay, Uncle Steven,” Celeste asked worriedly.

 “I’ll be fine,” Steven panted, “Just need a little time... and some of mom’s healing tears.”

 Connie pulled out a bottle of healing tears and poured a drop on him.

 Amethyst walked up to Behemoth, “YOU WANNA TELL US WHAT THE $&@# THAT WAS?!!!” Behemoth gasped as he was extremely tired from the transformation.

 "That was Shrapnel a being of pure evil, I had to trap him somehow so I chose my body. I only use him for more desperate situations but he's been going out of control." He explained to the purple gem.

 “Ya ever think of freezing him and punching him into deep space,” Vihaan asked.

 "He is not the physical plane but the mental, if I did that, he would just find another host. So, he is my cross to bear." Behemoth explained to the young child.

 Nows not the time for bickering,” Steven said as he put his shirt and trench coat back on, “we have a roach here ready to spill his guts.”

 As the adults listened to the bug squeal on his associates, Steven had a question or two for his hypothetical children.

 “Why was older me giant just now,” he asked.

 “I’m not sure we can tell you that,” Rose explained, “because that would spoil a major revelation about grandma.”

 “That’s kinda ominous, but what about the tattoo,” he asked remembering he saw a tattoo of a rose bud on his older self’s left shoulder.

 Rose crossed her arms, “How are we supposed to know that, you’ve had it ever since I was a baby.” Steven just felt like he now had more mysteries that he would experience in the future or maybe not. Anyway he turned to the bug who was so scared he didn't realize he could've just escaped a few minutes ago.

 "So where are the kids?" Young Connie asked the venom in her deadly enough to kill an elephant.

 “I’ll tell you whatever you want,” the bug screamed, “where my boss is, where the kids are, even my bank information!”

 “We don’t need that,” Rose said annoyed, “we’re filthy stinkin’ rich.”

 “YOU GUYS ARE RICH,” Young Steven and Connie exclaimed.

 ***

 After learning everything about Odchodnik’s operation, they made their way to his base of operations. Soon they were outside a large construction site with a sign that read 'Bright Minds School: For The Future'

 "Well this couldn't be any more obvious hideout." Gaz sighed out at the disguise.

 “Here’s the plan,” Steven said in a demanding tone, “We’ll sneak into the compound and take out all the guards without alerting any of the others. After they’re knocked out, you kids need to lead the kidnapped children to safety. When all the kids are out, then we can take out Odchodnik. Hopefully this’ll be easier than the time I met Peter Griffin.”

 ***

 Peter Griffin walked up to Steven and threw a suction cup dart at him. “I’m really into suction cup darts now,” Peter said without any emotion.

 Steven just looked at him with an unimpressed glare, “You really have run out of ideas, haven’t you?”

 “YES,” Peter exclaimed with eyes full of tears, “And the network just won’t cancel me!!!” Peter then broke down and started crying on the floor.

 ***

 “What was that?” Young Steven asked.

 “A cutaway,” Steven explained, “I was thinking maybe we could try doing them from now on.”

"Ummm, I hate to say something negative but I think the cut away gave us away." Dib told the group as they began to notice the large group of thugs around them. Everybody pulled out their weapons and leapt into battle. In a few short minutes the thugs were unconscious, too injured to move or knew better than to run away; next they began to walk towards the inside of the construction site.

 “Well that was easy,” Pearl remarked, “maybe I will be able to join Mystery for his book club tonight.”

 “Who’s Mystery,” Young Connie asked.

 “A friend of hers,” Connie explained to her younger self, “he and his family moved to Beach City a while ago. If you guys end up meeting them, you’re really gonna like them.”

 While Connie talked with her younger self, Rose walked up to Behemoth. “So why does Chodnodik want that ‘reguvinatum’ stuff?”

 "It's a highly addictive drug similar to human stimulants, reguvinatium can make someone feel young and full of energy again. The odd thing about is the fact it can only affect adults, children or those with long lifespans are unaffected." Behemoth explained to the daughter of the older versions of his students.

 “So then that means Uncle Steven and Aunt Connie are in danger,” Celeste cut in.

 "Yes, that is true though I theorize that Steven may be fine due to his alien half." Behemoth told the magic girl as he put a hand to his chin.

 “Well I don’t wanna take any chances,” Celeste said as she pulled out her wand. She then said a little incantation and a pink light appeared around Steven and Connie.

 “What was that, Celeste,” Connie asked.

 “Just a little protection spell,” Celeste replied.

 “Hmm, you’re getting pretty good with the wand,” Steven remarked.

 "I have to ask a rather obvious question but are of the Butterfly line?" Behemoth asked the young girl while the other kids soon paled.

 “Yeah,” Celeste replied cheerfully, “I’m the daughter of King Marco Butterfly and Queen Star Butterfly.”

 "Well it was nice to know Marco." Dib whispered to Steven who just glumly nodded about what they just heard.

 "Let us focus on the mission, and hopefully Sir won't be too mad." Behemoth ordered his students while muttering the last part of his sentence.

 The heroes quickly and quietly made their way through the base disabling every guard they came across.

 “Well that was quick,” Rose remarked.

 “Alright,” Steven said in a demanding tone, “now you guys need to lead the kids out of here.”

 “But I wanna help,” Rose replied.

 “No ‘buts,’ young lady,” Connie said firmly, “except for yours running out of here with all the other kids.”

 “Ugh, fine,” Rose sighed, “Everyone, follow us!!!”

 All the kidnapped children followed her orders and followed the young heroes to freedom.

 "Seriously the is a breeze!" Amethyst exclaimed but the universe decided to make things a bit harder.

 “Amethyst, no,” Steven screamed.

 "Oh really lassie?" An Irish voice asked the purple gem, soon as the group turn they could see a group of ten all ranging in heights and looks giving them the death glare.

 "Oh dear." Behemoth muttered out in worry.

 “So I take it these guys are the big bad’s closest lackeys,” Steven asked Behemoth.

 "Yes and whatever you do never make fun O'Riley." Behemoth whispered to the older Steven his voice dead serious.

 "So how'd ya like to die?" A short red haired man wearing dark shamrock green clothing asked the group. Amethyst started laughing uproariously.

 “What’s so funny lass,” O’Riley asked confusedly.

 “It’s just– I didn’t expect to be fighting a leprechaun,” she tried to say through her laughter. She then turned back to the others, “Hey! Ya think if I punched him in the gut he’d puke Lucky Charms?!”

 Bismuth raised an eyebrow, “That’s just dirty.”

 ‘Boy am I glad Rose isn’t here right now,’ Steven thought to himself, ‘knowing her she’d add to it and make it worse.’

 The red man quickly began to huff and puff, his face went red, and steam seemed to be coming out from his ears.

 "Ya making fun of me ya dafty little blighter!!?!!?" The leprechaun yelled out extremely angry at what the purple gem said. Meanwhile Behemoth just faced palm at the action of the purple gem. Amethyst started to wheeze, she had laughed too hard. “You’re really not helping your case dude.”

 “Any specific powers we need to worry about here?” Steven asked Behemoth.

 "He's a leprechaun, cousins of dwarves let's just say it's going to be a mess." Behemoth answered and soon older Steven saw why, soon the man launched himself in Amethyst's gut causing her to go flying.

 “They’re aiming for the gut guys,” Jasper exclaimed, “get ‘em!”

 Soon the field was in chaos with everyone trying not to get squashed, impaled or possibly eaten. Garnet was facing off an octopus like creature always having a limb up on the situation. Pearl was facing what seemed to be in a fencing metal man who seemed to be disinterested in the fight.

 "Yeoch!!" The octopus creature yelled out and then sprayed a navy blue liquid at the fusion. Which caused the fusion to let go and try to clear her vision.

 Meanwhile with Pearl and the metal man fencer was a rather strange with the metal man talking while attacking.

 "I must say your style is rather unique if not crude.” The metal man commented on Pearl’s sword fighting.

 “I may be a little rusty,” Pearl said with an upturned nose, “but training isn’t the first thing you think about when you’re raising a child.”

 "Hmm, never understood why people have children to my life givers just think I'm a mistake." The metal sword fighter told the alabaster gem seemingly upset.

 "I'm a general of an interdimensional crime Lord yet they still want me to be a miner." He added as he blocked a swing from Pearl. The metallic man then lunged at Pearl, but she quickly leapt back and sliced off his arm.

 “And I used to be considered a living purse,” Pearl replied, “we decide who we want to be.”

 "First I made from metal remember, and besides I chose to be a general." The metal man told her as the limb soon moved and grabbed Pearls gem. Seeing that Pearl needed help, Amethyst quickly grappled the limb with her whip and swung it around, smacking O’Riley in the face.

 “Thank you, Amethyst,” Pearl exclaimed.

 Amethyst nodded her head ,“No problem, P.”

 Meanwhile Jasper was fighting a four armed creature with only three fingers on his hands and seemed to be doing good at holding the gem back. Peridot was currently having difficulty with a small creature with gravity powers. The small creature smugly chortled at Peridot.

 “You won’t be laughing for too long, clod,” Peri roared.

 She made the index finger of her right limb enhancer spin rapidly. She then pointed it at the wall behind her and fired the finger like a bullet.

 The small creature laughed uproariously, “Ha! You missed!”

 Peridot adjusted her visor, “Did I?”

 Her finger ricocheted around the site before finding its mark in the back of the small creature. It felt like a dull drill was trying burrow it’s way into his back.

 "Ow, you know what no more misses nice girl!!" The creature yelled out and decreased her gravity field causing Peridot and the finger to float in the air.

  “A little help over here,” Peridot called out. Steven quickly threw his shield at the creature, knocking her down. However that distraction caused a huge elephant like creature to try and stomp on him.

 "Look out!!" Behemoth yelled out as he pushed the older Steven and took the stomp. Steven growled at the creature, “Looks like I’ve got to teach you how I earned the nickname, ‘The Forest King.’”

 “I ain’t interested in a long story, old man,” the elephant creature said in a booming voice.

 Steven smirked, “It’s more of a demonstration, really.”

 He plunged his fists into the ground. Colossal vines then shot out of the ground and wrapped around the beast. A small bud appeared around it’s face and released a cloud of spores. The elephant creature then fell to the ground, knocked out by the spores.

 Steven rushed over to Behemoth, “Don’t worry, I’ll fix you.” He quickly spat on Behemoth. Actually, surprisingly Behemoth seemed to be alright despite the fact that he was spat on.

 "I'm believe that my human for might not be a spectacular choice for this fight." Soon Behemoth began to grow as his skin changed to dark greens, two arms sprouted from his sides, a huge tail sprouted from his end, and soon he was no longer human but a 40ft tall crocodile like creature.

 “Oh, I see what you’re getting at,” Steven said with confidence. He removed his shirt and trench coat, and then a light enveloped his gem. When the light faded, his gem had shifted it’s position to point upwards. He opened his eyes, revealing them to be pink with Diamond shaped pupils.

 “Let’s do this,” he said as he grew to the size of Behemoth. Meanwhile Amethyst had O'Reilly cornered and ready to hit him in his lucky charms.

 "So any last words little man?" Amethyst asked really tired of the little man, who looked up and gave her a grin.

 "How do you like kebobs lassie?" The leprechaun asked the purple gem, who looked confused. Until an arrow with the shaft covered in strange runes shot through her head. Amethyst’s form the dissipated, and she retreated into her gem.

 “Amethyst,” Garnet exclaimed. She then launched her gauntlet at O’Reilly, pinning him to a nearby wall. She then raced over to her comrade and picked up her gem, inspecting for cracks and breaks. Unfortunately that proved to be a terrible idea as she was then dropped kick by the archer. Who was a tall human like woman with long silver hair, cold icy eyes, pale snow skin and ears that ended in a slight point.

 "My, my what interesting little trinkets. I wonder how you'll look in chains." The woman said as she withdrew a slender scimitar. Before she could attack Garnet, Connie threw her sandal at the elf’s hand, knocking away the blade.

 She quickly grasped her hand in pain, “Who throws a shoe?! Honestly?!”

 "A mother who has to take care of three kids!" Older Connie yelled back as she dodged a punch from a four armed red alien creature, but she just gave the elf woman an idea.

 "Her nightmares sanda, her fears realitime, care- mana se dreads truth." She whispered under breath, and soon wisps of dark lilac magic flowed from her finger tips into Connie's ear. The sword fighter felt pain but ignored it but as she looked back to face her adversary the environment was different. The sky was darkened blood red, her children hollowed out and stuffed, the gems shattered, and worst of all a huge heart shaped figure was standing above her holding Steven's dead body.

 "Did he honestly think I could be trapped forever?" The heart figure mused as she squeezed the body to pulp.

A chill ran down Connie’s spine, but she still stood tall. “You think this is the first time someone’s tried to pull this stunt on me?”

 She then pulled out another sword and threw it at the figure, causing her, and everything around her to vanish in a puff of smoke.

 The elf stood there, stunned by Connie’s indominable will. “That was your worst nightmare,” she said, utterly agast, “you should be a quivering mess right now!”

 Connie picked up her other sword. “It’s like I said; I’m a mother with three kids to take care of, I don’t have time to be scared.”

 She then pointed one of her blades at the elf. “Now I thinks it’s time I send you back to Middle Earth... crying!”

 As Connie began to rush towards the elf the ground began to shake and rumble, and the higher ups began to smile. Soon a enormous copper colored drill pierced the earth followed by a futuristic drilling vechile. The elf woman kneeled down to it and began to speak a strange language.

 "Λυπάμαι το βασιλιά μου δεν θα μπορούσα να τα καλύτερα." Then something odd began to happen, the vehicle began to shift and change like it was alive. In the vehicles place was a Titan of metal, 50ft tall, shoulders wider, heavy tred like feet, red glowing eyes, and one of his arms was the drill.

 "Don't worry Rania, I'll handle this." The massive machine told his Commander as he stomped towards the group. He pulled out six strange spike like devices from his shoulder and whispered.

 "Seek them out." The six devices then shot out like misses impeding themselves in each of the gems.

 "Ha, what was that for?!" Jasper called out hurt but not poofed yet, the robot just smiled as he pressed a few buttons on his arm. Which caused black hole like portals to open up in the gems sucking all their light into the mini black hole. Amethyst’s gem then flowed and she popped out of it.

 “What did I miss,” she gasped as she saw the state of the other gems.

 “Don’t know,” Steven said quickly, “and I don’t really want to find out!”

 He then turned to look at Connie, “You two take the others and get them to safety!”

 “I’m not leaving you behind, Steven,” Connie exclaimed.

 “He’ll be fine,” Behemoth said, “he has me.”

 Steven looked at his wife, with sincerity and confidence in his eyes, “Trust me, I’m not going anywhere this time.”

 Connie didn’t say anything, she just nodded, grabbed half of the gems, and retreated with Amethyst, who was carrying the other half of the Crystal Gems. "Odchodnik, surrender peacefully and no further harm shall come to you and your family." Behemoth tried to negotiate with the massive machine who just glared at the two giants.

 "Ha, like I would listen to someone of your status Mangler." Odchodnik mocked the two as he walked up to the two as he signaled the others to escape.

 "Oh then eat this!!" Steven yelled out as he threw out an enormous version of his shield, which did nothing as Odchodnik revved up his drill arm and shattered the shield to dust. Steven pulled out two more shields,

 “I’ve got plenty more where that came from!”

 Steven and Behemoth then charged at the titan. Behemoth led first with a hand strike aimed to Odchodnik's shoulder, while it sped towards him the Cybertronian grabbed Behemoth's arm and preformed a Judo throw. Older Steven followed up with a right hook but was foiled when the robot delivered a side kick to his side. Odchodnik laughed, “You organics just don’t know when to give up, do you?”

 “We call it ‘tenacity,’” Steven said as he spat out some blood, “it makes giving up hard for us.”

 “Well then it looks like I need to teach you,” Odchodnik said as he cracked his metallic knuckles, “and after that, I’ll take back my slaves, and add your kids to my collection!”

 At that moment, something inside Steven snapped: everything went red, and the only thing he could see was the transforming robot.

 In his intense rage, Steven raced over to Odchodnik and punched him in the face so hard, he created a dent that crushed his eye.

 “I’LL KILL YOU,” Steven roared. Odchodnik placed his regular hand in his face and felt the energon drip from his face, the crime boss just grinned at the prospect at this.

 "Finally an organic that can actually fight!" He exclaimed as he began to charge towards the half gem with impressive speed and began to deliver a devastating blow. Odchodnik revved up his drill and stabbed it into Steven's upper chest.

 "GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!" Behemoth roared out as he tackled the cybertronian and the two Titans began to shake the Earth, with each punch creating shockwaves.

 “Behemoth,” Steven called out, “keep him busy, I have an idea!”

 He then put his hands together in front of his chest, as if he were praying.

 "I'll try!!" Behemoth bellowed as he began to try and wrestle the giant metal man into submission, but it seemed to be like trying to grab a hold of a slimed hagfish. Odchodnik noticed Steven and tried to get out of Behemoth’s grasp, but every time he got free, he was pulled back in.

 "Are you really willing to risk you're life for this mudling and this planet?!" The metal man roared out as he began to try and stab Behemoth with his Drill arm. Behemoth grabbed the appendage and bent it the other way trying to hold it still.

 "If it means to extinguish the flames of villainy and tyranny then so be it! Steven do it know!!!" Behemoth bellowed out to the half gem. Steven opened his eyes, revealing them to be glowing white. Bright light then surrounded his hand as he pointed his palms at Odchodnik.

 “I call upon Butterfly’s Decree,” he said, voice echoing throughout the facility.

 Odchodnik pushed Behemoth away and charged at Steven, but pillars of light surrounded him then engulfed him.

 ***

 Meanwhile, outside the site, Connie and Amethyst dragged the gems away from the battle.

 “Mom,” the pair heard as they lugged their companions around.

 They looked up to see the kids running towards them.

 “What happened,” Young Steven asked.

 “The guy in charge appeared and attacked them,” Connie explained.

 “Well that explains that,” Dib said, “but WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE?!!!”

 They then turned to see the mine was glowing.

 Celeste gasped, “Butterfly’s Decree.”

 “What,” Rose asked.

 “That’s Butterfly’s Decree, my mom’s most powerful spell,” Celeste explained, “it drains an enemy’s power and will to fight with magical light.”

 "Behemoth!!" Young Steven, Young Connie and Dib yelled out and raced to the mine; fearful for what might've happened to their teacher.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 Back at the mine the light faded away, revealing a still standing Odchodnik and a frozen in place Behemoth as if something was going on in his mind. Suddenly the Cybertronian took a step towards Steven it's face contorted in anger and rage. But before he could get further he fell to one knee and warned Steven.

 "You may've beaten me now, but barely. Next we met and I will be free you and your family are going to be working for me for a millennia." The bot's optics then slowly faded showing that he was unconscious.

 “You’ll die trying,” Steven said softly. Soon the kids arrived at the scene and the the students saw their frozen teacher not even moving a muscle. Young Steven zoomed to him in worry ready to spit on him to try and heal him, The reptile then shook himself awake, as if a chill ran down his spine.

 “What happened,” Behemoth said with his hand on his forehead.

 “Sorry,” Steven said apologetically, “Butterfly’s Decree only hurts the enemies of the user, but for some reason it temporarily stuns anyone within a close proximity.”

 "Are you ok?" Steven asked hoping that there wouldn't be anything too bad.

 "No, just a tad stark but nothing a good rest will fix." Behemoth answered as he began to stretch trying to loosen his muscles.

 "That's good but what about tin man?" Amethyst asked staying away from the unconscious robot.

 “He’s down... for now,” Steven said.

 Celeste look at Odchodnik with a puzzled expression. “That’s weird; people hit with Butterfly’s Decree usually end up pale, quivering, traumatized messes. Why didn’t it do that to him?”

 “Maybe it’s because he’s a robot,” Young Connie supplied.

 "That is a feasible theory, magic tends to effect beings differently. Now all that is left is to take this scoundrel to jail." Behemoth added on to Young Connie's theory and told the group as he walked to Odchodnik.

 "Wait what about the others?" Dib asked looking over his shoulders trying to see any other being. Behemoth was quiet for a bit thinking how to deal with this problem.

 "Nothing right now, we don't know where they could've gone but without Odchodnik they won't get the operations running. We could ask for some assistance but I do not want to bother them." Behemoth answered his young student. The other gems then snapped awake. “What happened,” Garnet asked, very groggy.

 “We won,” Rose explained, older Steven sighed a breath of relief, happy to see his family was okay. Later, the two teams stood in front of the temple, bidding each other goodbye. Steven put his hand on Behemoth’s shoulder.

 “You take good care of me, alright.”

 "Oh don't fret I'll try but you have an aptitude when it comes for finding it." Behemoth assured the older version of his student as he began to open the portal. Young Steven approached his older self.

  “There’s still so much I want to ask you.”

 Older Steven knelt down to his young counterpart. “Now I can’t tell you anything major, but I can leave you with this.”

 He then closed and reopened his eyes, revealing that they had turned pink with Diamond-Shaped pupils. “Not everything is as it seems.”

 Young Steven just quietly gasped in wonder at what he just saw and began to think of the ideas that those pupils meant. Young Connie then came up to her older counterpart with her eyes looking down to the ground.

 "Am I really going to be this great or this just an outlier dimension?"

 “I think you’re on the right track to becoming me,” Older Connie said confidently, “just keep training and talking to Steven, it’ll be very helpful down the line.”

 The young girl just gave a hopeful smile at what her older version said and quickly looked at the two children.

 "I have to say you two are amazing, and I'm lucky to be one of the few people to actually meet their kids before their born." Rose and Vihaann blushed. Without saying a word, Rose hugged the younger version of her mother.

 “Thanks, mom.” The girl told the younger version of her Mom. Young Connie was surprised by the hug bit returned it.

 "Thanks dear, I'm already proud of you." Connie then slowly let go of Rose.

Vihaan then turned to Dib, Zim, and Gaz.

 “Ya know,” he started, “I think I’m gonna try to find out if you guys exist here. Maybe see about meeting up with you.”

 "Well prepared to be amaze by this version mighty me!!" Zim called out his pride echoing in his voice.

 "Just try not to be disappointed too much ok." Dib informed the child, feeling like this world's version would probably be a joke.

 "You probably won't find me." Gaz deadpanned as she began to pull out her game system. As the team began to walk into the portal Behemoth stopped for a bit.

 "I'd feel rather discontented if we did not do anything to mark this chapter of our lives, how many of would like to partake in a picture?”

 Older Steven chuckled “Sure.”

 Team Alien and the Crystal Gems quickly began to get into picture ready group but there were a few problems.

 "Zim desist from using your arachnid legs, and stand with the children." Behemoth sternly told Zim like a parent to a child.

 Zim grumbled something (most likely alien profanity) and joined the other kids.

 Behemoth pressed the timer button on the camera and ran to join the others.

 “Everyone say ‘Future,’” older Steven said jovially.

 “Future,” everyone repeated as the camera flashed.

 After flash died down one could see a picture of mismatched characters of various sizes, shapes, and tones. Some would be a little weird out by this but others would call it friends or family. When Team Alien received their copy of the picture they went back into the portal waving goodbye.

Thanks @ask-sfsf

[hotvideo]

RUSH IT (1977)

COMEDY LEGEND HENNY “TAKE MY WIFE, PLEASE” YOUNGMAN HAS A SON NAMED GARY. I’M GONNA GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY THAT GARY WAS ONE OF THOSE FREE-SPIRITED CELEBRITY KIDS OF THE 1960s/70s, YOU KNOW THE KIND. AN AGITATOR, EVER PLAYING HIS PAN FLUTE FOR THE PEOPLE, JUST HIM AND HIS TRUST FUND AGAINST THE WORLD. THE WORLD, IN GARY’S CASE, WAS NEW YORK CITY. BUT OFF-OFF BROADWAY WASN’T HIS BAG, SO GARY CROSSED OVER INTO FILMMAKING. OLD MAN YOUNGMAN GAVE HIM THE GREEN LIGHT, LINED UP THE FINANCIERS AND GARY SHOT RUSH IT WITH ALL HIS NEW YORK ACTOR FRIENDS, IN HOPES OF USING THE MATERIAL LIKE A 78-MINUTE TALENT REEL. THE CAST INCLUDES FUTURE HOLLYWOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE TOM BERENGER (THE BIG CHILL), JOHN HEARD (CUTTER’S WAY) AND JILL EIKENBERRY (TV’s “L.A. LAW”).  AFTER VIACOM ACQUIRED RIGHTS TO THE FILM, RUSH IT PLAYED A LOT ON MOVIE CHANNELS LIKE SHOWTIME. THE SOLE VIDEO RELEASE OF RUSH IT CAME IN THE FORM OF A BIG OL’ CLAMSHELL VHS FROM UNICORN VIDEO, MARKETED AFTER TOM BERENGER’S CAREER TOOK OFF. I TRACKED DOWN A COPY OF THE TAPE AT EDDIE BRANDT’S SATURDAY MATINEE.  

RUSH IT IS ABOUT A CAREFREE FEMALE BIKE MESSENGER (JUDY KAHAN) MAKING HER WAY IN THE CITY. SHE’S GOT THAT QUASI-ANNOYING ANNIE HALL THING GOING ON, IF A LITTLE MORE JEWISH AND, WELL, BASICALLY HARMLESS BECAUSE SHE’S IN HER TWENTIES AND ISN’T ANYONE’S MOTHER YET. SHE RIDES AROUND MANHATTAN IN A DUMB HAT, SMILING AT EVERYTHING WHILE BUZZY LINHART’S EBULLIENT SONGS BLAST OVER THE SOUNDTRACK. COULD BE WORSE. I MEAN, THE WORLD DIDN’T COMPLETELY SUCK BACK THEN. SURE, WE THOUGHT IT DID. OH, DID WE EVER! WE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER, MAN. THE SIXTIES WERE OVER. THE SIXTIES WERE GREAT! THE SEVENTIES WERE FAR WORSE. THESE WERE THE POST-WATERGATE YEARS. NEW YORK WAS ONE BROKE-ASS TOILET, AND YET IT WAS KIND OF MAGICAL, TOO.

DISCLAIMER: NO ONE WHO APPEARS IN RUSH IT WAS EVER A BIKE MESSENGER. REAL BIKE MESSENGERS DON’T KICK THEIR FEET UP WHILE TRAVERSING DANGEROUS METROPOLITAN TERRAIN, THEY RUN RED LIGHTS, FLIP STRANGERS THE BIRD AND DRINK FORTIES IN THE PARK. IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT, A GANG OF THESE CATS WILL APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE, UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT STRAPS ON THEIR MESSENGER BAGS, MOVE FOR THEIR CHAIN WALLETS AND REENACT A SCENE FROM THE ‘96 X-GAMES. REMEMBER PUCK FROM MTV’s “THE REAL WORLD”? THAT’S A FUCKING BIKE MESSENGER! INCORRIGIBLE, UNREPENTANT B.Y.O.B. PUNKHOUSE SNOTROCKET RASCALS.  

“How ‘bout a date tonight, bimbo?”

THIS LUNATIC PLAYS THE PERVED-OUT DISPATCHER AT THE MESSENGER SERVICE. APPARENTLY JOE SPINELL WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE ROLE, SO GARY CAST SOME ELEVATOR MAN WITH A CHECKERED PAST INVOLVING MANY INCIDENTS OF PUBLIC MASTURBATION. HE’S THE MOST AUTHENTIC SLICE OF THE APPLE IN THIS TURKEY. WHY CAN’T THE MOVIE BE ABOUT HIS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS? LET’S FOLLOW HIM AROUND WHILE HE’S HAGGLING OVER THE PRICE OF A PAPAYA AT HIS LOCAL BODEGA OR CHECKING OUT THE SNATCH ON 42nd STREET.

HERE’S TOM BERENGER DOING HIS BEST BOTICELLI POSE FOR SOME LITTLE CHINA GIRL. BERENGER’S CHARACTER IS A STALLION WHO PREYS ON CITY CHICKS WITH HIS LOOKS, ESCHEWING ALL STRINGS IN THE CLASSIC LOVE ‘EM AND LEAVE ‘EM STYLE. HIS PREFERENCE, ADMITTEDLY, IS FOR “MORE MATURE WOMEN... ESPECIALLY MARRIED ONES.” YEP, IN THE END, HE’S JUST A GIGOLO. OH, BUT WHAT HE REALLY WANTS TO BE IS A FAMOUS PAINTER!

BERENGER TRIES TO PICK UP JUDY, BUT SHE’S HIP TO HIS ACT AND SPEEDS OFF ON HER BIANCHI. THEN SHE BUMPS INTO AN OLD BOYFRIEND, SOME SUIT WITH A FOXY ITALIAN BROAD ON HIS ARM. JUDY CALLS HIM A HEEL AND KEEPS ON PUSHING. SHE DELIVERS SOME SHIT TO SOME ECCENTRIC IDIOTS, INCLUDING A DRUGGED-OUT TALENT AGENT (ANTHONY HOLLAND, ALL THAT JAZZ) AND GAGGLE OF SUFFRAGETTES WHO’VE BEEN CRYOGENICALLY FROZEN IN A GREENWICH VILLAGE APARTMENT SINCE 1917. JUDY TAKES A BREAK AND GOES HOME. HER PAD HAS SOME FABULOUS TOKENS OF SEVENTIES SINGLE GIRL CHIC, INCLUDING HANGING HOUSE PLANTS, CINDER BLOCK BOOK SHELVES AND FRAMED PICTURES OF JANE AUSTIN. SHE RECEIVES A VISIT FROM HER NEIGHBOR, BYRON (JOHN HEARD), WHO’S JAZZED ON SOME GIRL HE JUST MET. JUDY AND BYRON ARE PLATONIC FRIENDS BECAUSE JUDY, WE’RE LEARNING, IS KIND OF A DYKE; NOT SO MUCH IN THE SEXUAL SENSE, BUT IN THE CULTURAL ONE. SHE’S TOTALLY FINE BEING ONE OF THE GUYS UNTIL THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG.

THE SUMMER I EXCAVATED RUSH IT FROM THE TOMB-LIKE STACKS AT EDDIE BRANDT’S, I WAS OBSESSED WITH THE ACTOR JOHN HEARD’S EARLY CAREER. IT STARTED WHEN I SAW HIM IN CHILLY SCENES OF WINTER, THEN GREW WITH BETWEEN THE LINES AND CUTTER’S WAY, THEN CONTINUED ON THROUGH A SLEW OF EXEMPLARY ROLES IN NOT-SO-GREAT FLICKS LIKE FIRST LOVE, ON THE YARD, BEST REVENGE, HEART BEAT, AND CAT PEOPLE. DUDE HAD CHOPS, CHARM AND AN IRRESISTIBLY SELF-EFFACING WIT. BY THE TIME HE WAS CAST AS JACK KEROUAC IN HEART BEAT, STARRING OPPOSITE NICK NOLTE AND SISSY SPACEK, HEARD WAS WELL ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A LEADING MAN. BUT I SUSPECT HE NEVER FELT COMFORTABLE WITH THE  HOLLYWOOD MACHINE, HAVING COME OUT OF THE LESS BULLSHIT-Y WORLD OF NEW YORK THEATER. IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, HEARD ATE AND DRANK HIMSELF OUT OF THE RUNNING. THANKS TO THIS SELF-SABOTAGE, TODAY HEARD IS BEST KNOWN TO THE IDIOTS WHO COMPRISE 99% OF THE MOVIE-GOING PUBLIC FOR PLAYING MACAULEY CULKIN’S DAD IN THE HOME ALONE FLICKS.

BYRON INVITES JUDY TO SOME GET-TOGETHER AT HIS GIRLFRIEND’S PAD. MERRILL (JILL EIKENBERRY) IS A SECRETARY, ER, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO’S REAL HUNG UP ON THAT POST-ROTHKO ABSTRACT SHIT AND ITS MARK ON THE THEN-EMERGING BOURGEOIS HOBBY KNOWN AS DECORATING. FROM THIS INTRODUCTION ONWARD, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT BYRON SEES IN MERRILL. HE SHOULD REALLY JUST GO FOR JUDY, WHO WEARS OVERALLS TO PARTIES AND IS CLEARLY A GAS. 

JUDY MEETS A CHARMING 28-YEAR-OLD JEW NAMED MARK, WHO’S, OF ALL THINGS, A DENTIST. WOW! EDGY! SO THIS GUY STARTS PULLING A LOT OF NUMBERS WITH JUDY, AND SHE’S KINDA DIGGIN’ IT. THEY MINGLE AND GET COZY. THE COMBINATION OF GOD’S EYE AND CARLO ROSSI IN THE ABOVE FRAME IS FABULOUS. 

MARK’S “BLEEPER” GOES OFF, AN EMERGENCY BACK AT THE OFFICE, AND HE LEAVES JUDY WITH A SEMI.

THEN MERRILL MENTIONS TO JUDY THAT MARK IS MARRIED. JUDY’S LOOKING GOOOOOOD IN THOSE OVERALLS, AIN’T SEE? I WONDER IF LENA DUNHAM EVER SAW THIS MOVIE.

THE NEXT MORNING, BYRON COMES OVER TO GET A RECAP OF JUDY’S EVENING. THE USZH, SHE’S STILL 25 AND SINGLE.

THIS IS WHAT A DOOR IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE. IF YOU’RE UNDER 30 AND THE DOORWAY OF YOUR BIG CITY APARTMENT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THIS, YOU’RE WASTING YOUR PARENT’S MONEY. THIS BARE BONES ASSEMBLAGE IS ALL YOU NEED TO PARTY LIKE A TRUE BELIEVER: OLD TERMITE-INFESTED WOOD PAINTED A MILLION TIMES OVER, QUESTIONABLY SECURE, DIRTY AND DELIGHTFUL. MY OLD SPOT LOOKED LIKE THIS. THEN I MOVED. NOW, FOR A MERE $1,000 MORE A MONTH,  I GOT ONE OF THEM NEW CHINESE JOBS MADE OUT OF RECYCLED AMERICAN REFUSE AND PARTICLE BOARD, PLASTIC WINDOW SLATS FROM HOME DEPOT (ALSO MADE IN CHINA!), THE WHOLE PATHETIC PACKAGE.

BYRON’S NEW GIRL STARTS GETTING UPPITY ABOUT BYRON’S ASSOCIATION WITH JUDY. JUST WHAT TYPE OF PERSON CHOOSES TO BECOME A BIKE MESSENGER, PRAY TELL? BYRON REVEALS JUDY HAS HER MASTER’S DEGREE, SHE’S JUST DOING THE BIKE GIG COS HER DEGREE IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS AND IT’S FUN RIDING A BIKE IN A CITY YOU CAN SMILE AT COS YOU REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS, DESPITE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND SECOND WAVE FEMINISM STATING OTHERWISE. 

BACK AT THE BIKE SHOP, THESE TWO JOES PRACTICE THEIR HIGH NOTES FOR SOME FUTURE “CATS” AUDITION.

JUDY SPOTS BUZZY LINHART BUSKING. ALRIGHT! BUZZY KNOWS WHERE IT’S AT.

BERENGER FINALLY GETS THE BEST OF JUDY. HE WRITES HIS NUMBER ON HER BACK AND TELLS HER TO CALL HIM. THAT NIGHT, SHE HAS TO READ IT IN A MIRROR AND INVERT THE DIGITS. TWICE SHE CALLS THE WRONG NUMBER, FIRST IT’S SOME PEPE PERSON AND THEN A PHILIPINO WITH CATFISH WHISKERS. SO JUDY AND BERENGER GO OUT AND BALL. PRETTY SOON, THEY’RE AN ITEM.

BERENGER SHOWS JUDY HIS WORK. HE’S INTERRUPTED BY THE TELEPHONE. IT’S TOM’S OF FINLAND CALLING, ASKING WHERE THE SAILOR’S CAP WENT.

BERENGER TELLS JUDY A BUNCH OF SHIT ABOUT WHAT A SHITTY, SELF-ABSORBED PERSON HE IS -- JUST A SLAVE TO THE MUSE, MAN. BUT HE’S A STALLION, SO JUDY DIGS HIS FEARLESS HONESTY AND ACCEPTS BERENGER IN SPITE OF HIS MANY SHORTCOMINGS.

BERENGER ALSO TELLS JUDY HE���S BROKE AND MIGHT BE MOVING TO PENNSYLVANIA TO LIVE ON A FARM WITH AN AMISH COUPLE HE MET AT NIAGARA FALLS. THAT IS, UNLESS JUDY WILL LET HIM MOVE HIS ART STUDIO INTO HER APARTMENT.

MORE SUPERFLUOUS BERENGER PORN.

JUDY BUMPS INTO BYRON OUTSIDE THEIR BUILDING. HE’S WEARING A SUIT, WHICH INDICATES HE HAS A REAL JOB, PROBABLY IN AN OFFICE WHERE THE EXECS WITH THE GRAYING SIDEBURNS DRINK ALL DAY AND GRAB-ASS WITH THE LITTLE CHIQUITAS IN THE TYPING POOL.

BACK AT HER PLACE, JUDY RAPS TO BYRON ABOUT HER NEW STUD AND HOW TO KEEP HIM. BYRON SUGGESTS A FAKE PREGNANCY.

THEN, APROPOS OF NOTHING,  BYRON DOES A REALLY BAD BRANDO IMPRESSION. THIS IS IN NO WAY INDICATIVE OF JOHN HEARD’S TALENT AS AN ACTOR.

BERENGER COMES OVER AND STARTS MOVING JUDY’S STUFF AROUND.  JUDY DIGS BERENGER’S TAKE-CHARGE ATTITUDE. 

BYRON AND MERRILL HELP MOVE THE REST OF BERENGER’S SHIT OVER. JUDY, MEANWHILE, IS GROWING WARY OF BERENGER’S OPPORTUNISM.

THE NEXT EVENING, BYRON AND MERRILL INVITE JUDY AND BERENGER OVER FOR SUPPER. BERENGER WEARS SOME GONDOLIER’S SHIRT WITH A FUCKING POCKET ON THE ARM FOR HIS SMOKES. AFTER SOME WINE, MERRILL STARTS HITTING ON BERENGER. SHE ASKS HIM IF HE’LL DIG HER PAINTINGS AND LET HER KNOW WHAT HE THINKS. THEY REALLY SUCK. NO ONE SAYS THAT, BUT OF COURSE THEY DO. THEN MERRILL ASKS BERENGER IF HE GIVES PRIVATE LESSONS.

BACK AT WORK, JUDY DELIVERS SOME FILM TO A CASTING AGENCY. THE MANIAC WHO RUNS THE PLACE FLIRTS WITH JUDY. I DON’T KNOW WHY THIS SCENE IS IN THE MOVIE, EXCEPT TO FLESH OUT ITS ALREADY TOO-SHORT RUNNING TIME.

AT HEADQUARTERS, JUDY JOKES AROUND WITH THE HORNY DISPATCHER, WHO SAYS HE WON’T ASK HER OUT ANYMORE SINCE HE KNOWS JUDY’S BERENGER’S OLD LADY. 

WE GET TO SEE BERENGER RUSH IT A BIT, TOO. HE DELIVERS A PACKAGE TO SOME OFFICE, WHERE AN OLDER, STILL-FOXY SECRETARY REPEATEDLY ASKS HIM WHAT SHE CAN DO FOR HIM. ALL HE NEEDS IS HER SIGNATURE, BUT HE ASKS HER OUT FOR AN EGG McMUFFIN. GUESS WHO’S BUYING?

THEN BERENGER CRASHES SOME ART OPENING, APPROACHING THE OWNER OF THE GALLERY WITH HIS SLIDES IN TOW LIKE A TOTAL ASSHOLE. THE OWNER TELLS BERENGER HE’LL HAVE TO SPEAK TO HIS WIFE (CHRISTINA PICKLES, THE WEDDING SINGER), WHO, IN FACT, RUNS THE GALLERY.

WHEN THE GALLERY GASH FEASTS HER EYES ON BERENGER, SHE QUICKLY STARTS ASKING ABOUT HIS WORK AND ITS DIMENSIONS.

WHEN SHE’S SATISFIED, THEY MAKE A DATE FOR A STUDIO VISIT.

BERENGER RETURNS TO JUDY’S PAD ELATED WITH THE GOOD NEWS. JUDY’S HAPPY FOR HIM, BUT ALSO KIND OF BUMMED THAT HE DIDN’T TAKE HER TO THE OPENING.

JUDY AND BYRON HAVE A CHAT ON THE WAY TO THE LAUNDROMAT. BYRON REVEALS THAT HE’S PLANNING TO BREAK UP WITH MERRILL.

WHILE JUDY’S OUT DOING HER OLD MAN’S WHITES, SAID OLD MAN SLAVES AWAY IN THE STUDIO THAT USED TO BE JUDY’S APARTMENT. DIG BOWIE’S PINUPS IN THE THE BACKGROUND!

BERENGER RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED VISIT FROM MERRILL, WHO’S BEEN SUNBATHING ON THE ROOF. SHE ASKS BERENGER IF SHE CAN WATCH HIM PAINT. HE TELLS HER TO COME BACK WHEN IT’S A BETTER TIME TO PARTY, HE’S ON A DEADLINE. 

JUDY AND BERENGER GRAB SOME MALTS AND PARK IT ON THE CURB. THE LIGHT’S REAL NICE AND THE WIND’S BLOWING SOFTLY, MAKING THE SCENE PLAY MORE NATURAL THAN THE OTHERS. IF I WAS ONE OF THESE TWO PEOPLE, I’D CHOOSE THIS SCENE FOR MY ACTING REEL.

WHEN JUDY TELLS BERENGER THAT BYRON’S CUTTING MERRILL LOOSE, HE ISN’T SUPRISED. HE TELLS JUDY HE’LL NEVER LET SOME CHICK COME BETWEEN HIM AND HIS PAINTING.

“Don’t EVER buy me a strawberry shake again. I said VANILLA.”

BERENGER PICKS A CONVENIENT TIME FOR THE GALLERY GASH TO STOP BY -- i.e. WHEN JUDY AIN’T AROUND. SHE DIGS BERENGER’S WORK AND BEGS FOR A CLOSER LOOK.

JUDY AND HER GIRLFRIEND FROM THE MESSENGER OFFICE (HARRIETT HALL) GET TOGETHER IN THE PARK TO RAP ABOUT BOYS AND WHAT HEELS THEY ARE.

WHEN JUDY GETS HOME, SHE FINDS BYRON MOROSE AND CARRYING A BOX OF MERRILL’S SHIT TO DELIVER BACK TO HER. BYRON ASKS JUDY IF SHE’LL COME WITH HIM.

WHEN THEY GET TO MERRILL’S, BYRON TELLS JUDY HER COMING WITH HIM WAS JUST A PLOY TO GET HER TO ACTUALLY DELIVER THE SHIT HERSELF SO BYRON WON’T HAVE TO SUFFER THE AGONY OF SEEING MERRILL’S STUPID FACE ONE MORE TIME. JUDY, EVER THE GOOD SPORT, OBLIGES HIM.

“Oh... it’s you. Where’s Byron? OH. Okay. Well, can you tell him he still owes me $4.37 for his portion of the Con Ed bill from July? Thanks!”

AS JUDY AND BYRON RETURN TO THEIR BUILDING, THE GALLERY GASH IS JUST LEAVING.

B-B-BUSTED! WHEN JUDY ENTERS THE PAD, BERENGER’S IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING HIS SHIRT TO ONE NOT SOAKED IN SWEAT AND SCENTED VAGINAL OILS. HE TELLS JUDY HE GOT THE SHOW. SUDDENLY, WITH THE HELP OF A SHORT FLASHBACK, JUDY KNOWS THE SCORE.

AFTER A LONG, CATHARTIC RIDE AROUND THE CITY, JUDY VISITS THE GALLERY WHERE BERENGER’S GONNA HAVE HIS SHOW. THE PAINTINGS IN THE BACKGROUND REMINDS ME A LOT OF THE KIND OF WORK ALAN BATES’ CHARACTER MADE IN AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, OR THAT ARTIST JEREMY BLAKE WHO ESSENTIALLY MADE THE SAME KIND OF SHIT IN THE EARLY 2000s, ALBEIT DIGITALLY, BEFORE HIS TRAGIC DOUBLE-SUICIDE WITH HIS CRAZY WIFE AFTER THEY DID TOO MUCH COCAINE AND CONVINCED THEMSELVES THEY WERE BEING HUNTED BY THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. IF THIS REVIEW HAS TAUGHT YOU ANYTHING, IT’S THAT I KNOW FAR TOO MUCH BULLSHIT ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ART AND NOT ENOUGH ABOUT MAKING LOVE. ANYWAY, JUDY WINS.

SHE GOES FOR ONE LAST DELIVERY. ONCE AGAIN, BUZZY LINHART’S MUSIC COMES ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

FINALLY, BYRON TELLS JUDY HE’S FOUND THE PERFECT GUY FOR HER: IT’S BYRON!!! WELL, ALRIGHT! JUDY LAUGHS. HARD. THE END.

[ask-the-phan-site]

Phan Cam: Horizon Heist: Day 9

>Cup O’Joe. It is morning and I don’t work until after classes. So I thought I would grab some breakfast before going to classes. As I was sitting down, Peter came in.

Hey, Ren san!

Hey, Peter. Having breakfast with Harry today?

Peter: Naw, he couldn’t make.

Ren: But, isn’t Oz Academy closed today for staff development.

Peter: It is. But, it’s that time of the month.

Ren: Time of the month?

Peter: As part of Emily Osborn’s last wish, Harry was to visit his maternal grandparents at least once a month otherwise Norman loses custody and Harry is sent to live with them.

Ren: I see. Though personally, I think Harry would be better off with his grandparents. Especially since we know that Norman’s...

Peter: I know. But Harry loves his father, looks up to him, respects him. I don’t know how he’ll react if he found out the truth. All we can do is just hope something better will happen for Harry.

Ren: I guess.

Peter: So, what about you? What brings you here this morning?

Ren: Just thought I’d grab some breakfast for the others. Though, I wish they served pancakes here. Akechi would love that.

>Then, someone came in.

What was that about pancakes?

Peter: Aunt May? What brings you here?

May: You forgot this.

>May hands Peter his wallet.

Peter: Oh! Guess I was in a hurry I forgot.

May: I add an extra $20 just in case.

Peter: Aunt May, you shouldn’t have. You need that more than me.

May: Peter, I’ll be fine. Besides, you’ve earned it. Now what was that about pancakes?

Ren: I was just saying how this place should serve pancakes.

Does this look like an IHOP to you?

May: You know, if you want pancakes, you could stop by and I’ll make you some.

Peter: Like I said, you shouldn’t have. Still, I guess it wouldn’t hurt for you visit.

Ren: Thanks.

Peter: I guess I should introduce you two. Ren san, this is my Aunt May. Aunt May, this is Ren Amamiya, one of the Japanese students visiting Horizon.

May: Well, konnichiwa, Ren san.

Ren: Likewise, Mrs. Parker.

May: Oh, you can call me Aunt May if you like.

Ren: Can I?

Peter: I suppose.

Ren: Alright then, May obasan*. Actually, I would like to visit your place once in a while. Me and Peter have been doing a special project.

*Obasan = Aunt

Peter: That’s true. And I know Akechi would like it too.

May: Alright, but while you’re there, you should know I won’t let you have those pancakes for free.

Ren: Really? What do you have in mind?

May: Well, with me looking for work while Peter is studying, I could use some help once and a while.

Peter: Aunt May, we can’t just ask them to do our chores for us.

Ren: I don’t know. This wouldn’t be the first time I was asked do do something like this. And I must say, I’ve become quite proficient.

Peter: Are you sure?

Ren: (whisper) It would be a good excuse to go to your house and find out good ways to secure a route to Octavius’s Treasure.

Peter: Oh. Okay.

May: It’s settled. It’s a deal. You come to my house to help around and I’ll help you in some way.

Peter: Good luck.

>I smile a bit about that.

I am thou, thou art I… Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh they chains of captivity.

With the birth of another Empress Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power…

Confidant: Aunt May

Arcana: Empress

Rank: 1

Ability: Homecoming

Allows you to visit the Parker House in Queens.

>The alarm on Peter’s phone rang.

Peter: Oops! We’re gonna be late.

Ren: I’ll get you some breakfast on the way.

Peter: Thanks.

May: Well, I better go too. See you tonight.

>We part ways.

>The day passed and before I knew it, classes ended for the day. We decided to explore the Palace today.

Really? That was sweet of you Aunt May to invite us for pancakes. And I don’t mind the hard work afterwards. It may help me with my Proficiency.

Glad to hear it. Just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.

I wouldn’t worry. Worse case, she could have him re-shingle the roof.

Crow: Hey, try to have a little faith in me.

...

Is something wrong, Noir?

It’s... It’s nothing. We’d better get going.

>Just as we were leaving, the door to the Velvet Room opens and Lavenza come out.

Joker, do you have a minute?

Hey guys, I’m just going to the Velvet Room for a while.

Alright, but try not to take too long.

>I follow Lavenza into the Velvet Room. There, I see Marie working on something.

Let’s see. To the vulture who seeks out the prey of revenge. To the octopus who wraps himself in the glory... Ugh! I’m not getting any of this. Oh, you’re here.

Joker: What did you wanted to talk to me about, Lavenza?

Lavenza: I know about the newest bond you have formed. And through the Velvet Room, another heard as well... He wishes to speak to you.

Joker: Huh?

>A mist came from one of the cells. When it cleared, a man stepped out of it. I was shocked to see who it was.

I heard about what you’re doing for May and Peter. I know I can trust them to handle things, but I’m sure they could use some help every now and then. I just hope you can do it.

Joker: I’ll do my best, Mr. Parker.

Ben: May already insisted that you call her Aunt May. I think it would be alright to call me Uncle Ben.

Joker: Whatever you say, Ben ojisan*.

Ojisan = Uncle

Ben: I understand that you and Pete are going to steal the heart of one of his teachers.

Joker: Let me guess, you’re going to talk me out of it.

Ben: True, I would advise against this, but I think this one time, it might need to be done.

Joker: You mean, you will allow it?

Ben: Yes... I know why you’re going to do it... I know he’s going to tell Harry about Peter and Spider-Man.

Joker: You know?

Ben: I sometimes take a peek into Peter’s dreams to see how he is doing and I saw the dreams of him as a Phantom Thief. And that lead me to see Akechi’s dreams and I saw them, dreams of things that happened in another time. I don’t know if this will solve anything to prevent that, but If you really want to help Peter and Harry that much, I suppose I can help you with that.

Joker: You would?

Ben: Peter would often look to memories of me when he needs help. I help him get to those memories. I know this won’t seem right, but I might be able to give Peter more help from where I am. By helping Peter look into memories that can help in that world.

Joker: I can see how that would work. The Metaverse is built on the people’s cognition. Perhaps it might affect his abilities there. Alright. We’ll see what we can do.

Ben: Thank you. But I do have a couple of favors for it. First, just keep helping my family when they need it most. And second, and this is most important... Don’t tell Peter or May that you met me here.

Joker: Alright. I’ll take it with me to the grave.

>I can sense Ben’s trust in me.

I am thou, thou art I… Thou hast acquired a new vow.

It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh they chains of captivity.

With the birth of another Death Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power…

Confidant: Uncle Ben

Arcana: Death

Rank: 1

Ability: With Great Power

Allows Spider-Man to use Support skills.

Ben: Well, better not keep your friends waiting.

Joker: Alright. Thank you.

>I leave the Velvet Room and back to the Palace.

Spider-Man: What just happened? You were just standing there with some kind of daze on your face.

We’ll explain later. Let’s go.

>We resume our search from the Safe Room. As we walked along, we noticed a Shadow.

Joker, it’s within range.

Joker: Right, you, Queen, and Spider-Man will come with me.

We won’t disappoint you, Joker. Working at the bookstore has made me more knowledgeable.

Spider-Man: Right. Let’s do this.

>Come down on the Shadow.

Joker: Show me your true form!

>I rip off the Shadow’s mask its true for appears.

Spider-Man: Whoa! Were the guns really necessary?

Joker: They’re just Shadows from the sea of consciousness. They don’t really die. More like, they would be sent back there then come back another time.

Spider-Man: I think I see what you mean... I think.

Oracle: Anyway, let’s see what we have here. Persona!

>Necronomicon scans Yaksini.

Oracle: She’s weak to Nuclear moves. Queen, beat her and move on.

Queen: Okay, here goes. Persona!

Fox: Persona!

Spider-Man: Kind of feel a little left out without a Persona.

Joker: Trust me, Spider-Man, you’re fine the way you are.

>I change Personas.

Spider-Man: ... I rest my case.

Yaksini: Look at you, I may not need to use Dr. Octavius’s invention. Especially when I can do this.

>Yaksini uses Wage War. Thankfully, we all dodge it.

Queen: Charge, Johanna!

>Johanna uses Freila. Yaksini is down.

Queen: We can end this right now!

>After the attack, Yaksini is still around.

Yaksini: I see. I guess I do need it after all.

>Yaksini uses the Octavius MIM. Then, she uses Wage War again, only this time, Fox got hit.

How dare you! Geomon, strike!

Inari, no!

>Too late. Fox has Goemon use Bufudyne on Yaksini. She resisted, but the MIM copied the skill.

Spider-Man: This could be bad. I have a feeling what’s going to happen next isn’t good.

Ben’s voice in Spider-Man’s head: Pete, there’s always going to be problems for everyone. It just depends on how you do it. And what you will do to help them.

Spider-Man: You’re right, Uncle Ben. It’s just as you always said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” ... Huh? Of course, that’s how I’ll help.

>Spider-Man then uses something similar to Sukukaja on me.

Joker: (thinking) Thanks, Ben. (out loud) Go, Ara Mitama!

>Ara Mitama uses Freila. Unfortunately, I missed. Then, Yaksini uses Bufudyne on me. But thanks to Spider-Man’s support, I dodge it.

Spider-Man: Wow. That was close.

Joker: I have you to thank for that.

>Queen uses Harisen Recovery to snap Fox out of it.

Queen: Try once more time, Johanna! Full blast!

>Johanna uses Atomic Flare and Yaksini was gone.

Mona: Well done, you guys!

Joker: Honestly, you have Spider-Man to thank for that.

Spider-Man: Actually, you have Uncle Ben’s memory to thank for. He encouraged me.

Joker: ... I’m sure he has.

>After a little more exploring, we arrived at a Safe Room.

Spider-Man: Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for offering to help Aunt May. Ever since Uncle Ben died, things were tough for us. We didn’t know what to do. I even got a part time job doing janitorial work at Horizon. But with you around, I think things will get more smoother. Thank you.

Joker: You’re welcome, Peter.

>I can sense Spider-Man’s faith in me.

Rank Up!

Confidant: Spider-Man

Arcana: Justice

Rank: 4

Oracle: There’s still some parts of the Palace to be explored to secure a route.

Skull: How big is this place.

Oracle: I’m guessing as big as his ego.

>We all laugh at that as we leave the Palace until next time.