#megaman magical girl au | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

merryfortune · 3 years

Text

Enter! Muse Duellist: the Heroine Who Fights Armageddon with Song

Written for the 100ships Challenge on Dreamwidth

Prompt #31 Cadet

Ship: Petuniashipping | Gakuto/Romin

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS

Word Count: 5,622

Rating: T

Warnings: No Warnings Apply

Tags: Alternate Universe - Magical Girls, Aged Up Characters, Meet Cute, Sci-Fi Elements, Action, Affectionate Parody

AN: The AU is a mash-up of Tokyo Mew Mew & Megaman with other magical girl anime influences but Gakuto/Romin’s relationship is meant to imitate Ryou/Ichigo from TMM and Gakuto & Yuga’s relationship is meant to imitiate Dr. Light & Dr. Wily from Megaman

Yuga shook his head, “You are naive, Dr. Sougetsu,” he chided his dear friend who could only stand there, helpless, as Yuga lectured him, “the future is decided. I can see the end of my Road. The flesh is weak but the mind… the mind is unknowable, infinite. Humans may be finite but I shall not be. Nor shall my creations.”

Gakuto’s hand turned to a fist by his side.

“All our roads shall come to an end and they will be by my design, my creation.” Yuga told him.

Gakuto was unable to bring himself to say something. Not because there was nothing to be said but because there was too much to say. Too much to protest. The future that Yuga saw and desired to bring about was not one of coexistence between forces such as robotics, humans, and A.I. but armageddon. Pure and complete and total armageddon. He wanted to open that box, bring about the apocalypse, shiny and chrome. Yuga thought, at the very least, that it was shiny and chrome. Gakuto only saw rust and endless dust.

It broke his heart but Gakuto knew that he had to be the one to stop Yuga from piling high his monopoly and bringing about this end that he foresaw. But how? If the enemy was inhuman, the solution could only be uniquely human.

Parting ways with Yuga, and with such little time between their verbal and ideological sparring, Gakuto threw himself into art. Literature. Into what was sensitive and poetic; things that couldn’t be perfectly recreated by robotic touch. And in his immense and expansive reading, in every genre and every niche, Gakuto had the epiphany that he was after.

There was an archetypical champion that was trusted instantaneously by the public, adored and rarely ever turned against. Someone who was a paragon of goodness, morality, and put all humanity above themselves for little or more commonly, nothing in return. All because they had an everlasting love inside their heart and a belief in the inherent goodness of mankind. That person, that hero… no, that heroine was, of course, the magical girl.

Gakuto knew what he had to do. The revelation sank deep down to his theatrical bones. He needed to create, to assemble, his very own magical girl. Flashing in his glasses and in his brain, Gakuto already had a name in mind for this cadet to champion the continuation of humanity rather than its end: Muse Duellist.

Racing against his rival who aspired to the end of the world, Gakuto was highly motivated. He threw himself into creating as close to magic as he could using his breadth of scientific knowledge. After all, sufficiently advanced technology was indistinguishable from magic. He embraced those intelligent words from [guy] in the long hours that he slogged to create the perfect frilly armour, the perfect weapons to disarm technology, and so forth.

The only thing that Gakuto could not create, was of course, the girl herself. No, he needed to find her, his Muse Duellist.

He could just harass random young ladies on the street - and Gakuto knew that from experience as he had tried that. He got hounded on by many saviour boyfriends, a few policemen, and even some strong-armed ladies who would have made a brilliant Muse Duellist if only they listened, and believed, in him. The mad scientist on the sidewalk, spouting endlessly about the end of the world.

Yeah, Gakuto wouldn’t want to work with Dr. Sougetsu either, actually, but so went his eccentricity. He had no idea how his beloved Ranze and Rinnosuke put up with him but he was endlessly grateful that they did and were happy to go along with his insane ideas.

But then he saw her on the televisions in the electronics store window display. He was entranced by her music. Gaktuo stood there, enchanted, as he watched this rock and roller on the television slamming on her guitar. She looked like she was having the time of her life; the camera loved; Gakuto loved her. Her smile was wide and sparkling. She looked so good in her high heels and mini-skirt; the partial mesh body-suit and the loose, over the shoulder, 80’s style torn top.

With her wild pinky-purple coloured hair and her bright eyes, Gakuto could all too easily imagine her donning the armour of Muse Duellist. Gakuto had to have her. This… This…

“And that was Roa-Romin with their new hit single! Give it up to Kirishima Romin and her boys!” the announcer rattled off from behind glass.

Kirishima… Romin… Her name was sweet on Gakuto’s tongue. His eyes were all lit up. He had to meet her. How on Earth was he going to manage that? He was some washed up weirdo from the strangest parts of academia. This Kirishima Romin girl was a mega-famous superstar from the reception that she and her bandmates were getting.

So, he did what he did best. He threw himself into yet more research and he discovered something very, very usable about this Miss Kirishima Romin: she was an amateur food critic. She had a very widely known appetite reputed for being humongous and Gakuto didn’t consider himself too bad in the kitchen. Thus, a plan was hatched - and one inspired by one of the magical girl anime that he had watched in the first place in the beginnings of his plan to save the world.

Using what little of his dwindling generational wealth that he had left, and of course the assistance of his beloved assistants Ranze and Rinnosuke, Gakuto set up shop. Literally. He opened Cafe Muse from behind his house and he did his best to spread word of it as far and wide as he possibly could. All so that Kirishima Romin would be attracted to it - and pinging her across various modes of social media about it did help because she did, eventually, agree to come to the grand opening of it.

Kirishima Romin looked so fashionable in a beret and cut-out skinny jeans as she was escorted inside by Ranze, ahead of everyone else who lined up in a queue for the grand opening. She looked around the Cafe. It was a lot more saccharine-looking than she was expecting, she mentioned to Ranze. She sat back casually in a pink metal chair and slung her handbag over the back of it.

“I thought that a newly opened cafe was going to be more upscale than this,” Romin mused to Ranze as she waited hand and foot on her, “but so long as the food was good, I won’t complain.” She shrugged.

Ranze hesitated, “Yes, well, Master Gakuto has always had unpredictable tastes. I wasn’t quite expecting the architectural plans either and I’m one of his investors.”

Romin laughed at Ranze’s humour.

“Would you like anything to order?” Ranze asked sheepishly.

“Oh boy would I.” Romin was already all but slobbering. She ordered a lot of food, much more than Ranze was expecting but she diligently scribbled down every whim that Romin had for her stomach and then excused herself.

Ranze returned to the kitchen, the base of operations for Gakuto, both as chef and as a mad scientist looking to turn this rock star into a magical girl, Rinnosuke slunk out in tandem. He was performing a bit of reconnsanice and of course, he was the waiter and a few guests had already ordered food so that had to be delivered to him. He kept an eye on the one guest that they had been fishing for but his attention was truly hooked by someone else. A familiar face.

Yuga smiled blithely and flagged Rinnosuke down. “Yo.” he said.

“Hello Dr. Ohdo, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Rinnosuke tersely replied, his hackles raising. “Should I go fetch Master Gakuto for you?”

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m just here for a snack.” Yuga said and he drummed his hands on the table in front of him but he was wiggling in his chair, craning his head, trying to catch a glimpse of Gakuto who was out in the back. “Dr. Sougetsu and I had a very heated discussion about our irreparable differences of perspective last time we met, I don’t think it's wise but I'm glad he’s come around. Throwing in the towel, deciding to live the rest of his road to the fullest by opening a restaurant. It's unexpected but he’s always been a weirdo. I used to love that about him.”

Rinnosuke’s expression was dark behind his spectacles but he felt obliged, “Should I take your order, Dr. Ohdo?”

“That would be fantastic, youngest Nanahoshi.” Yuga teased him with a cruel, fox-like smile. “Now, do you guys have any udon or should I just order a strawberry shortcake?”

Rinnosuke gravely took Yuga’s order and scurried off. By the time he arrived back in the kitchen, Gakuto had already realised that his rival in the world’s final fate was here. He blamed himself for attracting too much attention. It was, in hindsight, ill-advised to stir such a hullabaloo but Gakuto was certain it would be worth it so long as he could get Kirishima Romin on board with his plan to save the world.

But how?

Walking straight up to her and asking, Gakuto had learned, was the quickest way to be slapped and disbelieved but deceiving her would be immoral and counterintuitive to his noble goals. It was all very difficult. If only Ranze hadn’t declined; stating she preferred to be the backstage hero, not the heroine on display front and centre amid the fray. They needed someone with a loud and bombastic and friendly disposition, someone exactly like Kirishima Romin.

Wary that he was going to run out of time or that this opportunity would slip through his fingers, Gakuto resolved to act fast. He had been hoping to save this maneuver for later but every episode one had a good, gimmicky little mascot character. It was time to introduce Kirishima Romin to her fateful and adorable little partner: Musa.

Discreetly as possible, Gakuto fed the Tuning Pick to Musa and then slipped over to where Romin was sitting. As soon as he left the kitchen, Gakuto realised that Romin had someone sitting with her. His blood ran cold as he approached her and Yuga.

“Oh, I didn’t realise that you two knew each other.” Yuga said to Gakuto as he inched closer to Romin’s puff pastry perfect table. “I was just saying hi, introducing myself… I’m a big fan of RoaRomin. Are you into them, as well, Dr. Sougetsu? Or should I just call you Gakuto since you don’t seem to be much of a professor these days, running a sweets shop.”

“I was just coming over to thank Miss Kirishima for her patronage. Her celebrity presence has increased our business tenfold from what we were expecting on our first day.” Gakuto said and his heart began to quake as he set down the little, fluffy trinket known as Musa in front of romin; a gesture that Yuga eyed with delight. Resistance, excellent, just what he was expecting. “Here,” Gakuto said, “a small token of appreciation, leftover from my bygone days as a scientist. It has no purpose other than to look cute and hold small items, like car keys, for example.”

“Oh, interesting.” Romin blinked as she picked up the item.

“Its name is Musa, but I suppose you are free to rename it how you please.” Gakuto said nervously.

Yuga cooed at them, “Aren’t you two sweet?” he teased.

“Musa is a cute name, I’ll keep it as is.” Romin replied as she admired the object in question.

It was almost keyring like in that it had a chain link and hoop at the end of it but other than that, it had a fluffy, little body and was a charming pink in colour. It had googly eyes and a cotton ball tail. It was everything that was meant to be cute or adorable, turned into one conundrum of an unidentifiable creature but it certainly served its purpose.

“Well,” Yuga said, “I best be going.”

“It was nice meeting you, Dr. Ohdo.” Romin said.

“And it was good seeing you again, old friend.” Gakuto added, his voice was bittersweet.

“Yeah, see ya.” Yuga said and he gave them both a two finger salute.

He got up and walked away, whistling a little tune to himself, his hands behind his head. The very picture of nonchalance. Meanwhile, Romin and Gakuto exchanged a very awkward look and Gakuto couldn’t take the pressure. He excused himself back to the kitchen, claiming he had much to cook and prepare, namely thanks to her, their current number one customer and Romin laughed half-heartedly. Her reputation, per usual, preceded her.

As Gakuto left the table, he could only hope that Romin would poke and prod Musa until its functions were revealed and Romin’s destiny would be all lit up in a blue hologram. Until then, Gakuto could only hope that everything would turn out alright - and that Yuga hadn’t gotten up to anything awry when they weren’t looking. It was already suspicious enough that he had puzzled out who Gakuto and his team were aiming to make their champion for the future of the world.

Back in the kitchen, Gakuto went through the motions of cooking and preparing food for the patrons to eat. The bombardment of popularity, in any other circumstances, would be seen as fortunate but this place was only meant to be a front for their saving the world efforts so it was more of a hassle than anything else. Still, busying their hands helped distract them from the possibility that Yuga might have something planned.

Throughout the afternoon, Romin single handedly depleted their larder. They ended up closing early because of it but that might have been a blessing in disguise, even if it was an expensive one. Still, within minutes of closing shop, glowing reviews were going out from Romin’s phone which was an appreciated gesture.

Gakuto met her again outside with a wobbly smile, “Thank you again for visiting our humble shop, Miss Kirishima.”

“No problem,” she beamed, chatting idly whilst she texted on her phone; organising for her private chauffeur to come pick her up, “I’m glad I took a chance on this place. Dr. Ohdo was telling me about how good his strawberry shortcake was and he wasn’t wrong. I went for thirds and fourths on it.”

She laughed and Gakuto laughed with her. It was weird to be with her but Gakuto found himself just a little bit infatuated with the rock star in front of him; just like he had been in front of the electronics store, seeing her perform on television for the first time. He took a deep breath.

“And thanks again for this little guy,” Romin said and she took out Musa, letting it hang off the hoop which she had threaded onto her finger, “he’s very cute. I can’t wait to show him off to my friends in the band. By the way, totally bringing RoaRomin ‘round here the next chance I get.”

“We will look forward to it.” Gakuto smiled warmly.

Romin replied with a small smile of her own and the conversation drifted off into silence. Romin was half expecting for Gakuto to disappear back into his own shop behind them but no, he seemed intent on sticking around. It wasn’t creepy, per say, but it was odd. Fortunately, Romin’s phone buzzed in her hand - spooking them both.

“Oh, it's my chauffeur saying he’s about to arrive.” Romin said. “I should get going.” She slipped her phone into her purse.

“Safe travels then, Miss Kirishima.” Gakuto replied.

“Thank you, er, um… I don’t know how to address you.” Romin rambled.

Gakuto didn’t know what to tell her. So he just stood there, awkwardly, weirding Romin out so she took a big, and exaggerated, step back. He waved her goodbye and across the road, he watched a limousine park. That must have been her ride and he really did wish her safe travels.

But she didn’t even make it to the ledge next to this side of the road before she needed such sentiments on her side. The purse that she had slung over her shoulder began to glow - and explode.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Shafts of bright, yellow light branched out from inside the clutch top of the purse and just expanded outward. Romin yelled and screamed as she rid herself of her purse and then there was the bang as something impossible happened. The explosion knocked Romin and Gakuto to their feet. It caused the whole street to tremble; branches on trees came loose and the rumble was felt for miles out.

It was blinding at first. Dizzying, disorentating but when the effects began to wear off, as blurry as that was, it was more than apparent that everyone in the immediate vicinity of Cafe Muse was in great, big danger.

“What is that thing?” Romin yelled as she stumbled to her feet. There were grass stains on her jeans and her wrists felt jarred. Her eyes were wide with defiant fear. “And why the hell is it my phone?!”

A giant monster loomed in front of them. It looked like a smartphone; slick black screen and a phone case on the back, it was even pommed with decorative charms. But there was something else latched onto it, at the top rim beside where the phone charms hung: it looked like some sort of drone had taken hold of it, like a parasite and its host. Thus, it donned abominable arms and legs, ready to rampage, giving a staticky screech.

Gakuto grit his teeth through the horrendous noise. Romin stood there, stunned, by the utter impossibility of a monster looming and screeching in front of her. A monster that had somehow spawned from her phone - and that was definitely her phone case and phone charms.

“I was hoping that Muse would do the explaining, but there’s no time for that.” Gakuto said, his voice projecting far and wide. He ripped off his Cafe Muse apron and replaced it with a lab coat. “Enter! Muse Duellist: the Heroine Who Fights Armageddon with Song! Musa, begin protocol M-U-Five-Three!”

The little animatronic known as Musa began to chirp and chatter. Its little fuzzy wings began to buzz and it revealed the maw that it hid. Romin squeaked in surprise as the little critter tried to escape her finger and it forced itself in her face. It bore its tongue at her and atop its tongue there was a strange, teeny-tiny item that looked like it belonged in some sort of dolly’s playset. It looked like a stick decorated with an… R?

Whatever it was, Musa spat it in Romin’s face and it hit her right across the bridge of her nose. She flinched and she had no idea what was happening next. There was another bright light - white, this time, rather than the yellow of the prior explosion - and then her body was just moving on its own.

The little trinket that had been inside of Musa became a scepter for Romin to wield and from the R-shaped charm atop its crown, ribbons flew out and captured her. The next thing she knew, she was all gifted up in pantyhose and frills. The fashionable, heavy metal style clothes she had been wearing before turned into something truly a one-eighty to her usual.

Romin’s hair, once down, was now up in twin tails adorned with red ribbons. She was wearing a frilly little dress that was pink and white with gold buttons down her sternum. The cherry red high heels were cute though, even if Romin had no idea where any of this wardrobe change came from - or how it had happened at all. She just felt like it happened in an instant, from nowhere but that white light.

Gakuto grinned, “Yes!” he yelled. “Yes, here she is! The magical girl who shall champion humanity and keep us on an eternal road: Muse Duellist.”

“Muse who?” Romin yelped as she scrambled in her ankle breakers close to Gakuto since he seemed to have some idea of what was going on, as insane as it was.

“Muse Duellist, of course, the one who will destroy Dr. Ohdo’s terrible Roads and save the day! The future! The entire world!” Gakuto said and he struck a sharp pose for emphasis.

Romin’s jaw just dropped. She could not take this man seriously at all.

“Now go, Muse Duellist, save us all with your song.” Gakuto said and he pointed at the monster.

The sun was glaring off. It leered and loomed and now that they were making a lot of noise, it seemed more than content to rampage. Merely taking a step forward with its gargantuan body was enough to crack and crater the pavement below.

Romin squeaked, “Play music? Yeah, that I can do. Dunno about that other stuff.” she said.

“I’ll support you as best I can,” Gakuto said and from inside his sweater vest, he drew out a handheld device, “this can detect any robot’s weakness, with just a mighty Scholar Scan, we’ll be able to take it down.”

Romin nodded her head, she had no idea why but she was going along with it. She may as well. It was likely her only option to get out of this crazy situation at all.

“Now go forth!” Gakuto yelled. “Sing your song, Muse Duellist!”

“Okay,” Romin said, her voice completely neutral, “so where’s my guitar?”

Gakuto blinked, “Your guitar…?” he echoed.

“Yeah, I’m lead guitarist, not lead singer, you know that, right?” Romin pointed out.

“But you're in a band, surely you can sing, right?” Gakuto said, blinking again. “Muse Duellist’s entire schtick is that she sings a song that reverberates at the correct frequency to disable and disassemble Dr. Ohdo’s Road.”

Romin blushed, she toyed with the scepter that she held, it was actually quite light-weight and even fun to play with, “I’m tone deaf. I can carry a tune with a guitar, not my vocal chords.”

“Pardon?” Gakuto said in a tiny voice.

“I’m a horrible singer.” Romin reiterated.

Gakuto’s eyes glazed over. He had done hours and hours of research into Kirishima Romin and the band she was a part of, RoaRomin. He learned all her favourite foods, that her blood type was AB, that her zodiac sign was Pisces. He had even happened across her three sizes and her grades even so far back as elementary school. He had scoured dozens of magazines and gossip websites and plenty more too.

Everything that he researched just confirmed in his mind that Kirishima Romin would make the perfect Muse Duellist; he even fashioned the accessory that adorned the Muse Scepter after her initial because of this certainty. Not once did any of these sources that he had inquired into ever mentioned that, apparently, famous guitarist Kirishima Romin was a terrible, no good, horrible singer. It simply did not compute with Gakuto who felt his heart and pride shrink in on themselves.

So, in an even tinier voice than before, Gakuto uttered, “We are so screwed.”

That they were, that they were.

The monster lumbered over and smashed an arm down through where they stood. Romin jumped out of the way, shrieking, but Gakuto was knocked down again. The telephone monster’s fist broke the pavement there, too. Shards of concrete spiked up from the ground. It gave another, awful screech which was raw and staticky.

Gakuto groaned. His pants ripped at the knees and he was seeing stars. Most of them around Romin, his dear Muse Duellist.

Romin felt her heart steel. Gakuto could be hurt. Severely wounded, even. And she had just dashed away like it was nothing, there was something about these clothes, as impractical as they were, which gave her an agility she didn’t realise she had. Gakuto was practically defenseless compared to her. She had to do something. He had entrusted her with this power for some weird, cosmic reason, so may as well use it.

“Hi-yah!” Romin yelled as she surged forward.

She ran towards the monster and hit it with the scepter. She bashed at its back side, over and over again. She grinned whilst doing it, her heart racing as she had an incredibly good time unleashing her inner brutality on it. Totally unafraid of either breaking the scepter or phone which had become the basis for this monster at all.

It was just a shame that it didn’t seem to be doing much at all. Nothing except annoy the monster. It shifted slightly, pulled its arm away from Romin and lunged at her with the other. She yelled as she gave it a great swack, like it was from a baseball bat, and it turned into a gritty parry.

Gakuto held his head and groaned. The Muse Scepter was not meant for close combat but he was suddenly glad that it was reinforced anyway. He knew that bright idea would come in handy for one reason or another.

“Muse Duellist!” he yelled out but his voice had a loose tremble to it. “Use your Maximum Song!”

“Who-? Oh right, me,” Romin murmured as she jumped back from the fray, trying to close in on Gakuto without luring the monster either, she turned her head, “wait, my what?” She took a few more steps back so she could regroup with Gakuto.

Gakuto sighed, “Your Maximum Song,” he insisted, “even if you can’t sing, surely it’ll still work. Put your scepter in front of you, line up your mouth with the R, and sing, Muse Duellist!” He then used that Scholar Scanner of his and lined it up with the monster, like he was trying to take a photo of it.

Romin screwed up her expression. It was a weird instruction but she did it anyway. There was a tremble in her forearms as she aligned her mouth with the R of the Muse Scepter. She swallowed and even though it was against the grain of her talents, she sang a note into the scepter.

Her off-kilter note that she sang warbled through the R but it came out the other side as something else. A weak sonic boom of all things. Her eyes went wide as she managed to shoot her shot though, damaging the side of the monster. But that just made it mad.

The monster shuddered and gave an even grander screech than before. It caused more branches to fall off trees and for tiles on the roof to come loose. It shook the foundations of the cafe, even. Gakuto and Romin could hardly withstand the aural assault but they managed.

Gakuto held onto Romin and he pulled himself up. Romin struggled with Gakuto’s weight but came good once he was on his own two feet. He placed his arm around her waist and brandished a fan - she had no idea where it came from - with passion.

“Seize the sonic wave, Muse Duellist!” he yelled in her ear with a flourish of his fan. “According to my Scholar Scanner, this monster’s weak point is in the middle of its top vertice so aim there.”

“Got it.” Romin nodded.

Gakuto held her steady whilst Romin wielded her scepter once more. Knowing it's true function as a long range, sound based weapon, having given it a crash test, she felt more confident with it. She took a huge breath and felt her diaphragm flex. Even if she didn’t know how to sing in a way that sounded good, at least she knew how to sing in a way that was good for her body.

Romin moved the scepter upwards, she tilted her chin up, too. She could see that funny little device at the top of her phone which had caused this monstrosity to become a monstrosity in the first place. The weak point, she didn’t even need the Scholar Scanner to realise that. Holding on tight to the sceptre, Romin used her finishing attack: her Maximum Song.

She sang the opening lyrics of RoaRomin’s most iconic song into the R of the sceptre and the effect was immediate. It wasn’t just a sonic wave, it was a sonic boom. It was enough to flatten the vicinity of the cafe, Romin and Gakuto barely holding onto each other through the immensity of the sound.

The monster screeched out but began to crack. The sonic boom had been concentrated, funneled through the hole of the R and it assailed the top vertice of the monster. It tried to resist but it began to buzz. To fumble. Its body fell away, piece by piece and Romin could hardly believe her eyes as every iota of the machine was just shed so easily.

Then poof! Another explosion and the monster disappeared. Became its omega and its alpha: in other words, Romin’s phone and Dr. Ohdo’s device that he used to turn it into a monster.

Romin squealed as she raced forward, catching her phone before it could crash land into the ground. Gakuto was also hot on her heels, catching the Road that had infected the technology. They both sighed in relief as neither seemed too damaged and then exchanged a smile.

“Well…” Romin murmured, her high heels clicking as she dawdled, “I think we can call that a success.”

“I think we can.” Gakuto said.

Romin leaned over and peered over Gakuto’s arms. She looked at what he was holding, cupped, in his hands. Some sort of tiny, green drone with frazzled, yellow eyes.

“What is that?” Romin asked, blinking.

“A Kaizo.” Gakuto replied gravely. “One of Dr. Ohdo’s favourite inventions. It's a versatile Road and seeing what chaos it caused today, one he has improved of late.”

“But we broke it, right? Destroyed it? So it's all good, right? We saved the day and never have to do this Muse Duellist thing ever again, yeah?” Romin asked, rambling.

Gakuto shook his head, “This fight was just the first of who knows how many. Your duty as the champion of humanity’s future, ensuring that we have one, just begun, Miss Kirishima.”

“Wh-What?!” Romin stammered in exclamation.

Gakuto put his hand firmly on Romin’s shoulder, “Worry not, you will do well. I shall assist you above and beyond all expectations.” His mind was already brimming with calculations and ideas on how to improve the Muse Sceptre now that he had seen Romin action as a close quarters combatant rather than a ranged attacker like he expected.

“That’s not really the-” Romin gave up mid-sentence. Gakuto was practically shining with his conviction so she sighed. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with any commitments I have with my band.”

“Thank you, Romin, I have no doubt you will be hailed and regarded extremely well in the future, once we have acquired its certainty. We will not allow Dr. Ohdo to end our road in armageddon.” Gakuto said firmly.

“Yeah…” Romin murmured and she looked around, her eyes went wide as she realised that two people were standing them, half-crouched, hands reached up and they were twirling brushes in their fingers like they were meant to be bouquets. “Um, who are…?” She looked around in panic and realised that the impacts and craters from their fight, the fallen branches, a lot of it had been cleaned up and away somehow.

“These are my trusty assistants, Ranze and Rinnosuke, they will be assisting us in our endeavour to protect the future as well.” Gakuto explained.

“Okay, well, good to meet you both.” Romin said.

They ceased their stagehanding with the brushes and got up. They saluted Romin and appeared to return her sentiments: it was good to meet her, too.

“So, um, how do I get out of this outfit?” Romin asked in a small voice. “Just by the way.”

“Musa, activate protocol Three-Five-U-M.” Gakuto recited.

“Mu-Mu-Musa!” Musa chirped.

Romin was flung asunder again, this time in reverse from before. The Muse Sceptre vibrated in her hands and began the de-transformation process. She was forcibly put through the wringer and when she came out the side, her hair was down, her beret was back, and she was wearing her cut-out denim jeans again. She couldn’t believe it.

Her sceptre had also become that tiny little charm again - the Tuning Pick - in her hand. Knowing the safest spot for it was inside Musa, she offered it to the little guy who was brimming with jubilance as it hovered around her like an enthusiastic fly. It happily swallowed up the Tuning Pick and Romin sighed, exhausted.

“What a day it’s been…” she mumbled and felt her stomach growl.

“And what a future it shall be,” Gakuto reminded her and Romin look up at him, the weirdo in a lab coat, shiny orange glasses, he looked bizarre but he also looked like he knew what he was doing, he offered her his hand, “and to thank you for your services, would you like an early dinner with us?”

Romin smiled and she took his hand, she felt her heart skip a beat and now she was the one enamoured with this person from an entirely different world to her, “That would be lovely, thank you. I’ll let my chauffeur know that I’ll be a bit longer.”

“Sounds good.” Gakuto agreed, squeezing her hand, noticing the callouses on her fingertips, and so ending the beginning of Muse Duellist’s saga to protect the future through song on a happy note.

#100ships challenge #petuniashipping #yugioh sevens #sevens #yugioh #gakuto sougetsu #romin kirishima #kirishima romin #sougetsu gakuto #writing tag #i had a lot of fun writing this fic and i hope the affectionate paordy elements convey that way

9 notes · View notes

tkdoodles77 · 5 years

Photo

X Science Fantasy Au

took the best doodles from my sketch book (related to this drawling), cleaned them up and added some color.

My insane ramblings about this au under the cut. cause I need to put them some where so why not here

world- so this au. is science fantasy, think like the setting Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha if you know what that is, if not... go look at the tv tropes page ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ setting - takes place in the human kingdom (ruled by the light family) and the demon kingdom (ruled by wily). The human kingdom is basically made up of all the human characters and the "good" robot characters from the megaman series, and the demon kingdom is any of the wilybots, maverick and neutral non-human characters. The world has more countries than just those two but they're not important so I'm not focusing on them. Anyways, the human and demon kingdoms have been at on and off warfare over their shared border for a couple of centuries at least and the fighting has ranged from full blown "We're gonna destroy their army, invade their land, and conquer their people" to "Hey look I know we just signed a 20 yr. peace treaty and I know we agreed that this particular bit of land is yours, but you see we've got all these troops stationed there and also they're building a fort sooooo... f*cking fight me if you want back!". also both sides have been equally aggressive towards each other and neither is in the right, the fighting is mainly just pettiness and grudge holding at this point. plot- the fighting between the two kingdoms is curently at a halt thanks to a temperary cease fire, but the demon kingdom brakes into civilwar cause the general population is fedup with the all the wars, and also with how bad of a king wily is (he's off his rocker as they say). Zero seeing the writing on the walls deciedes to get the f*ck out of dogde, cause everyone knows civil wars end up with the royal family missing their heads. And so he goes and hides in the last place anyone would think to look for him, the capital city of the human kingdom. X and Zero end up meeting eachother and form an unlikly freindship. magic- magic takes two forms in this world, 1st is organic which just means it comes from a person, and 2nd is inorganic which comes in the form of naturally forming crystals (think the e-crystal from the zero series and refractors from the legends series). the crystals are used as an engery source for most of the worlds technogly. For humans magic behaves sort of like computer code, in that you can get it to do what ever you want so long as you know the right comand and have the necessary items. For demons magic is like a sort of like psychic powers and they can only have one type. so one demon could be telekinetic and another could be cryokinetic, but you can't have a demon that is both telekinetic and cryokinetic. Alright now on to the characters! X- Crown prince of the human kingdom and the oldest child in the light family. He's very skilled in magic especially healing magic and often helps out at hospitals and clinics around the city. X takes his duties as the crown prince serously even if he would rather not have to deal with the constant talk of war all the time. Zero-Crown prince of the demon kingdom, the youngest child in the Wily family, and also the only legitimate heir to the throne (that isn't dead or banished) he only has one full blood sibling all the others are half siblings. He is a very skilled fighter (read had to be to surive all the assassination attempts) and can form any weapon he wants out of his fire magic. Zero would probably take the side of the rebels in the civilwar if they wouldn't kill him on sight for being Wily's son. Rock and Roll- X's younger siblings and the worlds biggest trouble makers. they're fraternal twins. Forte- Zero's older brother and his only full sibling. He was suposedly banished for treason when Zero was 12, but it's more likly that he just p*ssed of their father and managed to escaped before Wily could oder his execution.

#rockman #megaman #rockman x #megaman x #rock #roll #x #zero #forte #bass

51 notes · View notes

hotheadhero · 5 years

Note

📖 + magical girl au! :0)

Let's see how well I can pull this off with my poor magical girl knowledge! XD;

If he/his group get their powers through some small magical critter, it and he are probably not on the best terms because Caspar 100% spent time chasing it around trying to catch it first. It's entirely possible said magical critter was going to bestow its powers upon another group, but Caspar gave it such a headache capturing it that it gave those powers to his group out of spite. (Think what the fairies in Ocarina of Time are reputed to do.)

After receiving said powers, Caspar is the inner to go most ham with them all, acquiring shades of Owain in the process. While I don't think his speeches would be on Owain's level, he would be the one to both put his magic transformation item on a metaphorical pedestal and get way too into the act. Noel Valmore from Wand of Fortune found a "magic ruby" and proceeded to tote it as the most special powerful amulet of all time, something only a chosen one like him could wield, until game protagonist Lulu comes along and says "I had one just like that when I was a kid!". (I'm pulling that Noel line out of my arse, but the sentiment is there.)

You may get a hint of the theatrics from the below screenshot. Similar theatrics abound in how he fights bad guys. Btw, his preferred method of attack would be to shoot lasers/fireballs/etc from his hands Samus Aran/MegaMan style instead of wave or point a wand at anything. Or raise walls of earth from the ground Ed Eric style. I haven't decided what element Caspar would be.

Btw, since I just had to go look for it, here's a CG of Noel getting too into the act. Imagine Caspar here instead.

Caspar would also be the most likely to blow the group's cover, provided the "magical girl" outfit isn't too embarrassing or feminine. After all, it's a fast pass to becoming a hero! Why wouldn't he want to broadcast that to the world?! (Also, Caspar is terrible at keeping secrets. Even if the outfits were embarrassing, I strongly suspect he'd still leak his alter ego to someone XD Be good for at least one episode in a series.)

#meme #ask #headcanon #magical girl #cynthero #// thanks for the ask!#answered #au #alternate universe

2 notes · View notes

magicantare · 8 months

Text

my horrible megaman classic AU where its robot magical girls instead

#megaman #mega man classic #galaxy man #sorry everyone who follows me for puyo or pokemon or whatever. i got into megaman on accident so you're getting this now

374 notes · View notes

waha-no-baka · 7 years

Photo

Sorties de mai 2017, vu sur Akihabara no Sasayaki http://ift.tt/2r79Q5K Sorties de mai 2017 Lundi 01 mai 2017 Good Bye Lilac T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP Hang Out Crisis T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP Hidamari ga kikoeru T.2 Simple (Manga) IDP How to keep me, and how to Scold T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP Mad Cinderella T.5 Simple (Manga) IDP O.B. T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP O.B. T.2 Simple (Manga) IDP The beast is next to me T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP The Dream Land T.1 Simple (Manga) IDP Zhenniao T.1 Simple (Manga) IDPMercredi 03 mai 2017 Altaïr T.16 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga Battle Rabbits T.2 Simple (Manga) Doki-Doki Billy Bat T.20 Française (Manga) Pika Bleach T.73 Française (Manga) Glénat Manga Die & Retry T.1 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam Dream Team T.39 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga Ex-humans T.3 Simple (Manga) Pika Fairy Tail T.57 Collector (Manga) Pika Fairy Tail T.57 Française (Manga) Pika Flying Witch T.2 Simple (Manga) nobi nobi! Freaky girls T.2 Simple (Manga) Pika Igai T.4 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga Karman Gain T.3 Simple (Manga) Doki-Doki L'Attaque des Titans - Before the Fall T.10 Française (Manga) Pika L-DK T.15 Simple (Manga) Pika Les 7 princes et le labyrinthe millénaire T.1 Simple (Manga) Doki-Doki Love & Lies T.4 Simple (Manga) Pika Lovely Hair T.1 Simple (Manga) Pika MIAOU ! Le quotidien de Moustic T.4 Simple (Manga) nobi nobi! Mobile Suit Gundam - The Origin T.22 SIMPLE (Manga) Pika Soul Keeper T.6 Française (Manga) Panini manga Taboo Tattoo T.12 Simple (Manga) Doki-Doki Tôkyô ESP T.9 Française (Manga) Panini manga Tokyo Ghoul [anime] T.1 Simple (Guide) Glénat Manga Twin star exorcists – Les Onmyôji Suprêmes T.10 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Yamato Nadeshiko T.27 Simple (Manga) PikaJeudi 04 mai 2017 Tokyo Alien Bros. T.1 Simple (Manga) Le lézard noir Tokyo Kaido T.2 Simple (Manga) Le lézard noirVendredi 05 mai 2017 Atom T.2 Simple (Magazine) Custom Publishing France Atom - The beginning T.3 Simple (Manga) Kana Detective Conan T.89 Simple (Manga) Kana Hayate the Combat Butler T.34 Simple (Manga) Kana Kushi T.2 Simple (Manhua) Editions Fei L'ombre de Shanghai T.6 Simple (Manhua) Editions Fei La bataille de Yashan T.1 Simple (Manhua) Urban china Mon histoire T.12 Simple (Manga) Kana Seraph of the End T.1 Simple (Light novel) Kana Seraph of the end T.10 Simple (Manga) Kana Short Love Stories T.1 Simple (Manga) Kana Sky High survival T.6 simple (Manga) KanaMercredi 10 mai 2017 Akira T.2 Édition définitive (Manga) Glénat Manga Be my slave T.2 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Chibi Devi! T.10 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Food wars ! T.17 Simple (Manga) Tonkam Food wars - L'Étoile T.3 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam Hibi Chouchou - Edelweiss et Papillons T.11 Simple (Manga) Panini manga Jojo's Bizarre Adventure - Jojolion T.4 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam Kiss me host club T.1 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Le Chant des Souliers rouges T.1 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Online The comic T.5 Simple (Manga) Delcourt Manga Shikigami T.3 Simple (Manga) Panini manga Takane & Hana T.6 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Toi et moi, jamais T.1 Simple (Manga) Panini manga Toriko T.36 Française (Manga) Kazé Manga Tsubaki Love T.7 Volumes doubles (Manga) Panini manga Un baiser à la vanille T.5 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Un Coin de Ciel Bleu T.1 Simple (Manga) nobi nobi!Jeudi 11 mai 2017 Bloody Delinquent Girl Chainsaw T.7 Simple (Manga) Akata Dimension W T.11 Française (Manga) Ki-oon Dragon Seekers T.3 Simple (Manga) Komikku Editions Im T.1 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Im T.2 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Ippo T.2 Saison 5 : Dans l'ombre du champion (Manga) Kurokawa Kenichi - Le Disciple Ultime T.17 Saison 2 (Manga) Kurokawa King's game - Spiral T.4 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Les Fleurs du mal T.4 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Les Royaumes Carnivores T.2 Simple (Manga) Akata Les Vacances de Jésus et Bouddha T.13 Française (Manga) Kurokawa Moving Forward T.3 Simple (Manga) Akata Overlord T.1 Simple (Light novel) Ofelbe Pokemon XY T.6 Simple (Manga) Kurokawa Pygmalion T.1 Simple (Manga) Komikku Editions Soul Eater T.1 Volumes doubles (Manga) Kurokawa Vs Earth T.8 Simple (Manga) Kurokawa Zombie cherry T.3 Simple (Manga) AkataVendredi 12 mai 2017 10 count T.5 Simple (Manga) Taifu ComicsLundi 15 mai 2017 I am Pure and Innocent in Lechery T.1 Simple (Manga) Hot manga Virgin control T.1 Simple (Manga) Hot manga Virgin train T.1 Simple (Manga) Hot manga Wife Swapping Game T.1 Simple (Manga) Hot mangaMercredi 17 mai 2017 12 ans T.7 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga À la folie... pas du tout ! T.1 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam A Town Where You Live T.24 Simple (Manga) Pika Attache-Moi ! T.12 Simple (Manga) Pika Blood Blockade Battlefront T.7 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Born to be on air T.3 Simple (Manga) Pika Chihayafuru T.20 Simple (Manga) Pika D.D.D. - Devil Devised Departure T.1 Simple (Manga) Pika Fûka T.2 Simple (Manga) Pika Gloutons & Dragons T.1 Simple (Manga) Casterman Manga Gunnm T.4 Edition originale (Manga) Glénat Manga Kiss him, not me T.9 Simple (Manga) Tonkam Kiss x Death T.3 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam Kurosagi - Livraison de cadavres T.19 Française (Manga) Pika L'attaque des titans - Junior high school T.9 Simple (Manga) Pika La maison du soleil T.3 Simple (Manga) Pika Les enfants de la baleine T.7 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga Love x Dilemma T.6 Simple (Manga) Delcourt / Tonkam Lovely Fridays T.6 Simple (Manga) Tonkam Museum T.1 Grand format (Manga) Pika Nirvana T.2 Simple (Manga) Doki-Doki One Piece - Color Walk T.6 Simple (Artbook) Glénat Manga Psychic Detective Yakumo T.11 Simple (Manga) Panini manga ReRe : Hello ! T.9 Simple (Manga) Delcourt Manga Stravaganza - La Reine au Casque de Fer T.5 Simple (Manga) Casterman Manga Stray Souls T.6 Simple (Manga) Pika Terra Formars T.18 Française (Manga) Kazé Manga Terra Formars Asimov T.1 Simple (Manga) Kazé MangaJeudi 18 mai 2017 Izana - la voleuse de visages T.1 Simple (Roman) Lumen EditionsVendredi 19 mai 2017 C'est comme ça T.1 Simple (Manga) Matière Daytime Shooting Star T.13 Simple (Manga) Kana Fate/Zero T.12 Française (Manga) Ototo Manga Fire force T.1 Simple (Manga) Kana Gate - Au-delà de la porte T.6 Française (Manga) Ototo Manga Gintama T.43 Simple (Manga) Kana Ichiko et Niko T.8 Simple (Manga) Kana Le Voyage de Kuro T.5 Simple (Manga) Kana Levius est T.2 Simple (Manga) Kana Overlord T.3 Simple (Manga) Ototo Manga Re:Zero - Re:Life in a different world from zero - Premier arc : Une journée à la capitale T.2 Simple (Manga) Ototo Manga Shin Maô Dante T.1 Simple (Manga) Black box Shin Maô Dante T.2 Simple (Manga) Black box Shin Maô Dante T.3 Simple (Manga) Black box Shin Maô Dante T.4 Simple (Manga) Black box Tales of wedding rings T.2 Simple (Manga) KanaMardi 23 mai 2017 Kimengumi T.13 Simple (Manga) Black box Kimengumi T.14 Simple (Manga) Black box Kimengumi T.15 Simple (Manga) Black box Kimengumi T.16 Simple (Manga) Black boxMercredi 24 mai 2017 A Certain Magical Index T.17 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Back Street Girls T.1 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Barakamon T.14 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Black Clover T.6 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Coeur de hérisson T.2 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga DanMachi – La légende des Familias T.4 Simple (Light novel) Ofelbe Deathtopia T.2 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Friends Games T.3 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Kaze no shô T.1 Réédition 2017 (Manga) Panini manga L'Enfant et le Maudit T.2 Simple (Manga) Komikku Editions Le Chef de Nobunaga T.15 Simple (Manga) Komikku Editions Les gouttes de dieu - Mariage T.4 Simple (Manga) Glénat Manga Love instruction T.9 Simple (Manga) Soleil Manga Monster x Monster T.2 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Mushroom T.1 Simple (Manga) Komikku Editions Père & fils T.6 Simple (Manga) Ki-oon Plus jeune que moi T.1 Simple (Manga) Akata Prisonnier Riku T.21 Simple (Manga) Akata Rainbow T.7 Édition Triple (Manga) Kazé Manga Super Mario T.13 Manga adventures (Manga) Soleil Manga The Legend of Zelda - A link to the past & Majora's mask T.1 Simple (Manga) Soleil MangaVendredi 26 mai 2017 Ani no senaka T.1 Simple (Manga) Taifu Comics Hearty T.1 Simple (Manga) Taifu Comics Planète Japon T.38 Simple (Magazine) Nihon Flava production Super Lovers T.9 Simple (Manga) Taifu ComicsMercredi 31 mai 2017 Alice in Murderland T.5 Simple (Manga) Pika Animeland T.216 Simple (Magazine) Anime Manga Presse Chi une Vie de Chat T.12 Grand format (Manga) Glénat Manga Coyote T.65 Simple (Magazine) Tournon Coyote T.66 Simple (Magazine) Tournon Distopiary T.3 Simple (Manga) Pika Dolly Kill Kill T.5 Simple (Manga) Pika Green Worldz T.8 Simple (Manga) Pika Haikyu !! Les As du Volley T.22 Française (Manga) Kazé Manga Les Brigades Immunitaires T.1 Simple (Manga) Pika Lusky, mon ami pour la vie T.4 Simple (Manga) nobi nobi! Megaman Gigamix T.3 Simple (Manga) nobi nobi! Pact T.3 Simple (Manga) Pika Platinum End T.5 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Rainbow Days T.9 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Riku-do T.3 Simple (Manga) Kazé Manga Seven Deadly Sins T.21 Edition limitée (Manga) Pika Seven Deadly Sins T.21 Française (Manga) Pika http://ift.tt/2r7khG7

#Akihabara no Baka : Fanpage

2 notes · View notes

crossroadsdimension · 7 years

Text

World Collision -- Chapter 5

If you guys are following me for my part in the Gravity Falls Brain Trauma AU, this is where most of my inspiration goes on a given day. Maria -- my main OC -- and her adventures across the Multiverse. If you want to know more about Maria, look into my FF profile here. I have plans for some GF-related stuff in the works, but Maria’s not gonna reach that point for a while.

You can start from the beginning of World Collision here on FF, if you want to catch up. The basic summary is that a bunch of worlds got smushed together and something’s gotta be done in order to fix it. Chapter five is also there, if you don’t want to read it on Tumblr.

So, without further ado....

Meeting the World Jumper

When the two girls arrived at the workshop where Myra knew the World Jumper had been taken, Myra was somewhat surprised to find that, not only Captain America was there, but also a small number of other costumed and armored heroes that she had only been really able to see in passing before.

"What are you guys doing here?" Myra asked, looking around in confusion at the small group. "Is it because of the World Jumper?"

She was met with a number of nods in response.

"She's worked with all of us," explained a young man wearing blue armor. His green eyes somehow looked old. "We thought it might be a good idea to have familiar faces nearby to start with."

The figure next to him -- Zero, Myra remembered his name from when she had run into him -- let out a snort. "And they don't want her to go berserk again."

"I...I guess they would be kind of worried about that." Myra looked away at the way she had come from, wondering if she should just head back and let those familiar with the World Jumper handle her. Then she felt something press against her shoulder, and she looked up.

“It will be all right,” Captain America said.

Myra blinked at that, then gave a slight nod in response. Taking in a breath, she forced herself to calm down a bit before looking over at the doorway. "Is she..."

"They're working her through basic tests to make sure that everything's still working as it should," the blue-armored man explained. "Considering the extensive damage, it's probably going to take some time before we'll be able to see her." He paused. "My name is Xavier, by the way. Everyone calls me either X or MegaMan X."

Myra, who had been surprised by the man's name, blinked for a moment before nodding. "I'm Myra, but I guess you already knew that."

"Considering that you and your half-Mew friend are the only ones who just joined the group, you could say that."

Myra turned her head when she heard the new voice, and she blinked a bit when she found herself looking into the tinted green visor of a teenage boy's helmet.

"I'm Gear." The boy held out a hand for Myra to shake; she gripped his hand. “I’m a techno-telepath.”

"Techno-telepath?" Myra blinked in confusion.

"I can talk to computers." Gear shrugged. "It's just been a gift of mine."

Myra was about to say something else when the familiar figure of Dr. Cain appeared in the doorway.

"We've finished the last of the diagnostics," Dr. Cain said, nodding to the group. "She might need some room, however -- there are a lot of new parts that she needs to get used to including a new configuration for her weapons system."

"Did you give her an overhaul?" Zero asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We simply provided the materials; her systems did most of the work. I suppose you could say that she is the reason we managed to finish our work so quickly." Cain stepped out of the doorway, turning to face a figure who was behind him. "Are you ready?"

There wasn't a verbal response to Cain's question -- not one that Myra could hear, anyway. However, she did hear the sound of footsteps as a figure emerged from beyond the doorway, leaning against something that added a third, wooden clunk to the sound of the footsteps.

The figure that emerged looked almost nothing like the armored teenage girl that Myra had seen in the abandoned laboratory. Yes, the hair, eyes, and face were the same, but the World Jumper was no longer wearing armor of any kind -- instead, she was wearing regular clothes: a red shirt, an orange jacket, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes with three red, vertical stripes on either side. In her hand was a tall, wooden staff painted red, with a phoenix carved into the top, wings partially curled around, as though it was protecting something.

However, it wasn't so much her outfit as it was her face that caught most of Myra's attention. The World Jumper looked so serious that it was hard not to wonder how a teenager had managed to get such a look on her face in the first place.

The World Jumper looked around the small group of people that was in front of the workshop for a moment, nodding in greeting to most of them and giving small smiles. When she caught sight of Crystal and Myra, however, the smile faded some, and her eyes almost seemed to widen.

"Khrista?"

Myra couldn't help but stare in surprise at the soft, questioning voice that the World Jumper had right at that moment.

The World Jumper blinked for a moment, then shook her head, frowning. "No, that's not it...."

"I'm Crystal," Crystal said, getting the World Jumper's attention. "Khrista came to my world once. I'm her counterpart."

Recognition crossed the World Jumper's face a moment later, and she gave a nod. "It's good to see you here, and not elsewhere." She looked over at Myra then, and Myra couldn't help but feel nervous as she felt the World Jumper's eyes bore into her. "You must be Myra, then."

Myra looked at the World Jumper and swallowed a bit before nodding. "Th-that's right."

The World Jumper came closer to Myra, making the girl feel even more nervous as the other came to a stop a short distance in front of Myra. "I want to thank you. If it wasn't for you, I'm not sure what would have happened to me or to the others who have been forced to come together on this world."

Myra jumped a bit, startled at the World Jumper's statement. "U-uh, w-well...your welcome, I guess?"

The World Jumper blinked for a moment, before giving a small, almost unnoticeable smile. The expression was gone in an instant, however, and she turned her attention to Captain America. "Cain and Ratchet said I should speak with Bruce about what the situation is; other than the taboo that I know was placed on my name, I have been out of the loop on resistance activities.”

"A taboo?" Myra flinched back when she realized she had spoken her question aloud.

The World Jumper moved her gaze to look at Myra. "Yes. Somehow, they have become aware of the location of someone who uses my name in when they speak. I didn't think that it was possible for anyone to make something that looked for something so specific."

"A few people think it's magic," Gear commented with a disbelieving expression.

There came a snort from Zero. "Considering what's happened since this whole thing started, I'm not exactly sure what to believe anymore."

"Batman seems to know the most about what is going on," Captain America added, gaining the World Jumper's attention again. "He and most of the Justice League have been staying up in the Watchtower." He paused. "Flash says 'hi,' by the way."

The World Jumper frowned disapprovingly. "I should think that Batman would have been sneaking around and causing havoc in his own way, not staying on the sidelines. And Flash couldn't stand to be cooped up for too long...."

"Nightwing is down here."

"Well, I'd expect Nightwing to be 'down here' -- he and Batman never really saw eye-to-eye after Nightwing 'graduated'. How do we get into contact with the Watchtower?"

Captain America motioned for the World Jumper to follow him, then turned and started walking off. "Myra, you're coming, too."

Myra jumped in surprise at the Avenger's sudden statement. "M-me? Are you sure I'm needed for this?"

"Positive." Captain America looked back as the World Jumper started after him. "Come on."

Myra hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed after Captain America and the World Jumper, jogging a little in order to catch up with them. "Why do you need me? I was there when you told Batman that we'd found the World Jumper and rescued you from the MindTech. Does he really need to see me again?"

The World Jumper shot Myra a harsh look as Captain America responded, "Yes."

Myra shuddered a bit, remembering the dark scowl that the man on the screen had.

"I think that Luthor will be able to get a handle on their signal this time, so we shouldn't be standing around for too long."

The World Jumper stiffened, causing her pace to change to something a little more aggressive. "You're talking about Lex Luthor."

Myra couldn't help but stare when she heard the World Jumper's tone. It almost sounded like...she hated the man.

"Unfortunately," Captain America confirmed. "We have a collection of criminals and vigilantes around here, and it makes for an uneasy alliance."

"Well, I certainly hope Luthor hasn't made it uneasy on anybody. Because if he has...." the World Jumper's voice trailed off, leaving Myra's imagination to bring up all sorts of nasty pictures in her mind.

Myra shuddered. She hadn't thought that the World Jumper to act like this.

Time Break

When they arrived at the communications area again, the World Jumper was quick to turn her attention to Brainiac and Luthor. Brainiac had an expression on his face that almost seemed to say that he had been expecting her, while Luthor looked more shocked and fearful than anything else.

"Luthor! Brainiac! You haven't been giving anyone any trouble, have you?" the World Jumper demanded harshly.

Luthor jumped back a bit. "I-I haven't done anything! I swear!"

"Your technological advances surpassed my own enough that I was not allowed to continue assimilating knowledge," Brainiac said. Somehow, the blue-green-skinned man was able to look disapproving.

"All the better for the universe," the World Jumper responded, giving a determined nod. "I hope you've put your abilities to a better use than killing every single being that exists."

Myra stared at the World Jumper in shock, then turned her attention to Brainiac with a wide-eyed expression.

Luthor quickly recovered his composure. "All we've been allowed to do is keep in touch with that stupid Justice League! Do you really think that I'd have enough free time on my hands to cause trouble when we've already got it in the form of those aliens?!"

The World Jumper stared him down for a moment longer; then she sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I wanted to make sure that you weren't." She fixed the two with a glare again.

Myra blinked a couple times out of confusion at the exchange. She was able to keep up to a point, but there were just some things that didn't quite match up with what she knew.

Luthor held up his hands defensively, a nervous smile on his face. "Relax, okay? I'm just an engineer now, remember?"

The World Jumper didn't look happy at that, but she gave a nod in response and stepped back. "We need to get into contact with the Watchtower. Now."

Luthor stumbled with his words for a moment before he nodded. "G-got it." He turned and ran towards the communications area and started working at the controls.

Captain America looked over at the World Jumper with a strange expression on his face. After eyeing Myra for a moment, he looked back at the World Jumper and said, "You're changed."

The World Jumper looked over at Captain America. She closed her eyes for a moment before she said, "When you're put through what I am, you change."

Captain America paused at that, then decided to say nothing.

Myra, on the other hand, frowned at them in confusion. "I understand that Luthor isn't someone you like, but what exactly is the story behind that?"

The World Jumper gave Myra a sour, serious look. "When I visited his world, he and Brainiac nearly killed me and the world of the Justice League. Lex Luthor has been consistently shown to be the kind of person who only does something if it benefits him in the long run. I wouldn't trust him were it not for...." Her voice trailed off as she gained an extremely sour and grim expression.

::Unfortunately, we have been forced into an alliance where we have to work with each other::

Myra looked up when she heard the familiar voice, a slightly nervous expression crossing her face when she saw Batman's cowl-covered face on the screen above them.

The World Jumper looked up at the screen and inclined her head. "Batman."

Batman nodded in greeting. ::Flare-Up::

"My internal clock has gone out of whack; it claims that I was forced into stasis for over 75 years." The World Jumper's eyes narrowed as Myra stared at her sharply. "And I was told that you could explain the situation far better than others could."

Batman remained silent for a moment. ::Time has different paces in different places. I have found proof that different worlds have been forcefully merged together by unknown means, creating Time Barriers that separate different World Zones. And these Time Barriers can age or de-age a person who passed through if they don't have the proper protection. Essentially, time means nothing here::

The World Jumper frowned at that. "I see...that would explain why you still live, despite the fact that you should be dead by my count. Have you found a way to reverse the damage?"

Flash suddenly blurred into view. ::We haven't completely narrowed it down yet, but we think the guy who jump-started it is on top of a tower in that city Cap and Myra found you in. It's kinda a mix of Metropolis and Gotham, and it's also where the Trials were set up::

"Trials?" The World Jumper's eyes narrowed again. "Explain."

::The Trials seem to be a gladiatorial combat tournament:: Batman explained. The interior of the Watchtower disappeared, replaced with a photo of a tall tower that looked like it had had an arena dropped on top of it. ::They've been playing "survival of the fittest" with people across World Zones. No one has come out of it alive yet:: The interior of the Watchtower reappeared.

"Yet?" The World Jumper raised an eyebrow at this. "Are you saying that there's a chance someone could survive one of these?"

"If there is a chance, it hasn't happened yet," Captain America spoke up. He paused, absently rubbing the back of his neck. "And there is proof that the people who enter the arena come back under the control of MindTech."

The World Jumper stiffened, and her jaw clenched. It was…almost like she didn’t like that idea.

Was it possible that the World Jumper was afraid of something?

"How many?"

Myra looked over at the World Jumper when she heard the statement, blinking in confusion.

"How many have fallen?" The World Jumper was gritting her teeth as she spoke.

::You really want to go through that list?:: Flash looked surprised. When the World Jumper nodded, the determined look not leaving, he sighed. ::Well, the main JLA members managed to escape unscathed -- Nightwing and his team prefer to work down there, but everyone else is up here -- and Hawkeye and Black Widow disappeared from that Avengers group. Cap disappeared, too, but you guys got him back, so we'll have to update that later--::

"Cap was under their control?" The World Jumper turned and looked at the red, white, and blue Avenger in surprise.

Captain America looked down at the World Jumper and nodded. "I guess you don't remember that. When Myra and the others found you, you must have reacted to the danger they had gotten themselves into." He motioned to the back of his neck. "I think you melted the device so that it was completely unusable."

The World Jumper blinked a couple times at that, looking somehow amazed for a moment before the more serious expression returned, only this time it was accompanied by a small smirk. "Well then. This is unexpected and welcome news."

::While it is helpful, I doubt that you will be able to rescue every single one of the affected:: Batman responded shortly. ::Considering that it is more than likely that they will still be able to locate your weaknesses, upgrades or no::

The World Jumper's smirk disappeared, and she shot Batman a glare. "I am not about to stand by. I have been repaired and given a second chance to instill the fear of World Jumpers in them; I am not about to simply stand down when I am capable of fighting back."

::Bot Girl, you can't just charge out there and start taking them out!:: Flash argued.

"Don't call me that."

::Well, what do you want me to call you, then?:: Flash scowled. ::We can't exactly say your name without risking getting blasted out of the sky!::

"Flare-Up." The World Jumper shifted her stance slightly -- she didn't look like she was going to attack, but she didn't entirely look like she was completely relaxed, either. Myra wasn't exactly sure what to make of what the World Jumper was trying to convey. "I've taken up the name as a code name on my home world, and Batman was the one who gave it to me. I don't see a reason to stop using it."

Flash and Batman exchanged looks while Myra stared at the World Jumper -- Flare-Up. She wondered if she should ask where the World Jumper got a code name like that, but then remembered the flames she had seen before Captain America had come to his senses. Maybe that was what got her the name in the first place?

::Considering that you are reckless by nature, I doubt I'll be able to do anything to stop you:: Batman finally said in an irritated tone. ::Nightwing or Captain Rogers will give you missions out to the various World Zones. I expect you to work with the teams you will be assigned to, and that you will not go out by yourself. We cannot afford reckless behavior::

"I agree," Flare-Up responded. "But, I am going to ask that I be given some room to maneuver." She looked over at Myra. "And that Myra join me on the missions I take."

The second part of Flare-Up's statement threw Myra for a loop; she looked at Flare-Up in surprise. "Me? W-work with you?" She blinked for a moment before shaking her head. "There's no way -- I'd only end up slowing down someone like you! I can’t do stuff like what everyone else can!"

Flare-Up blinked blankly. "Slow me down?" She frowned. “You won’t slow me down, that I’m sure of.”

Myra felt unusually flustered. She hadn't been expecting to suddenly get this request from the famous World Jumper. And why had Flare-Up even decided that she wanted to work with her in the first place? It didn't make any sense!

::Very well::

Myra turned out of surprise when she heard Batman's response, too surprised to look the least bit nervous. A moment later, though, she attempted to reel in her surprise as she shook her head. "I-it's just...I didn't think that I would ever get a chance like this."

"Well, now you have it." Flare-Up gave Myra a nod, her serious blue eyes locking with Myra's amazed and somewhat confused purple ones. "We're going to be working together from now on."

::Is that all?:: Batman spoke dryly.

"For now," Captain America responded. "You haven't found out anything yet, have you?"

::No::

And with that abrupt statement, the connection was suddenly severed, causing Myra to stiffen out of surprise.

Flare-Up blinked for a moment before sighing and shaking her head at Batman's sudden disappearance. "As blunt and enigmatic as always."

Captain America shook his head as well. "Tony hates him for it."

Flare-Up gained a knowing expression in response before looking at Captain America with a raised eyebrow. "Do you know what our first mission is, Captain?"

Captain America shook his head. "Not yet." He paused. "Maybe you should go and do some sparring for a while in order to get used to your upgrades. It might give the both of you an idea about your abilities."

Myra blinked. "You mean...spar against each other?"

"If you want to, I'd be fine with it," Flare-Up responded.

There came a dark chuckle from Luthor, who had turned to look away from his computer dashboard and was grinning like a maniac. "You're gonna need a medic if you do that!"

Flare-Up ignored him and kept her eyes on Myra, who was feeling a little uneasy.

"I don't think I'm ready to spar with a World Jumper yet," Myra said, shaking her head.

"I think you're overestimating my abilities," Flare-Up responded. "If you saw me fight, would that make you feel any better about sparring against me?"

"I think that would help."

Flare-Up looked at Captain America with a raised eyebrow. "Where do you people spar around here?"

Captain America appeared thoughtful for a moment. "There are a few places, but I think there is one in particular that you should go to first. Nightwing might want someone familiar to spar with."

Flare-Up blinked for a moment, then grinned. "I haven't been able to spar against him in years. This might be a good workout."

Myra stared at Flare-Up. "Might?" She frowned. "Nightwing is said to be really strong, according to the rumors I’ve heard. I don’t think you’d be able to defeat him easily….”

"Well then, I think it's high time someone brings him down a peg." Flare-Up spun her staff in both hands for a moment before slamming the butt of the staff into the ground. "Lead the way, Cap."

Captain America gave a nod in response, then started moving away from Luthor and Brainiac. Flare-Up fell into step beside him instantly, while Myra moved behind them.

"Which World Zone is this one?" Flare-Up asked, giving Captain America a curious expression.

"The locals call it the Precursor Zone," Captain America replied. "This used to be an arena in one of their cities."

"An arena?" Flare-Up looked up, and Myra followed her gaze as they looked up at the stone, arched roof that was high above their heads. "This feels to large to be a simple arena, Cap." She looked back at the Avenger with a curious frown.

"I'm not sure what exactly happened," Captain America responded. "All I know for certain is that a number of worlds were merged together by some hidden force, and they did something to space and time as a result. Tony or Bruce would know more about what's going on than I would."

Flare-Up considered that for a moment before nodding. "Considering that this place doesn't feel like an arena, I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised. I'm guessing that the sparring area is supposed to be the arena's proper size?"

"That's right. They call it Nightwing’s Gauntlet.”

Flare-Up raised an eyebrow at that. “Really? I didn’t think Nightwing would be willing to run a gauntlet.”

“They call it that because he was the first one to beat it as far as I’m aware.” Captain America shrugged. “James and his team apparently beat it recently themselves.”

"James?" Flare-Up frowned.

"You'll meet him soon." Captain America looked over at Flare-Up. “Nightwing’s overseeing a spar now.”

Flare-Up hummed in response. She looked over at Myra. “Have you attempted the gauntlet?”

Myra shook her head. “I-I just got here. I lived on the streets before.”

A strange expression came across Flare-Up's face as Myra spoke -- a mix between a frown and the look of someone trying to figure something out.

Captain America frowned as well. “Consider yourself lucky that you did not end up in the situation that I did. We were careless, I'll admit that, but even the most careful can end up with MindTech strapped to their necks. Like Jak Mar."

Myra flinched while Flare-Up's frown deepened.

"Jak Mar...." Flare-Up looked over at Captain America. "Tall young man? Extremely pointed ears? Has yellow and green hair and a rather nasty temper most of the time?"

"You met him?"

"No. I only knew about him because of video games that we kept in the house. My siblings liked playing them."

Captain America and Myra both blinked in surprise when they heard that.

"Video games?" Captain America repeated in surprise.

"Siblings?" Myra frowned. "I thought you grew up alone in a wild jungle or something...."

"I never thought to bring up all of my family members in any of the conversations we had," Flare-Up responded. She raised an eyebrow at Myra. "If I had grown up in a jungle, I probably wouldn't be wearing these clothes." She paused and looked up at Captain America for a moment longer before looking back at Myra and asking, "What exactly is it that you know about me?"

Myra blinked at the question, a little surprised that the World Jumper had asked such a thing. "Well, a lot of people agree that you were a hero of some kind for a number of the World Zones, and that you are extremely powerful and not someone that should be crossed. Your origins are a complete mystery though."

Flare-Up looked back at Captain America at Myra's statement.

"It was Bruce's decision, not mine. He thought that keeping knowledge of you out of as many people's minds as possible would prevent people from slipping up and accidentally saying something that the enemy might not know about yet." The Avenger paused. "Considering where you were found, he might decide to let people know the truth for once, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon."

Flare-Up sighed and shook her head. "You may as well let the rumors persist. They only know about my physical workings -- not my memories and experiences."

Myra stiffened at that particular statement. Captain America looked a little uneasy.

"That would explain why you were in the shape you were," the Avenger said carefully.

Flare-Up closed her eyes in response, her mouth pressing into a straight line. "They didn't understand what they had. And I thank God for that."

3 notes · View notes