By the time the heroes got back to Plumber HQ, Vilgax had escaped to parts unknown once again. They looked around the place. \u201cMan, Khan really did a number on this place,\u201d muttered Ben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe better tidy things up before we go,\u201d said Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBen, you don\u2019t mind the extra help, do you?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it WOULD make the work go faster,\u201d replied Ben. He then turned to his Phury. \u2018All right, you\u2019re the one who memorized everything about this place. What needs doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, the power core needs a magnetic charge, for a start,\u201d answered Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA magnetic charge, huh? Then Lodestar\u2019s the alien for the job!\u201d Ben selected his alien and pressed the Omnitrix core down. He turned into what looked like a gorilla made of red, yellow, and blue Lego bricks. \u201cBLOXX!\u201d he called. His face turned sour. \u201cBloxx can be used for hauling things, Omnitrix. Let\u2019s go with the magnet guy, all right?\u201d He slapped the Omnitrix symbol on his chest and became a gray, six-inch-tall, humanoid frog. \u201cGRAY MATTER!\u201d Gray Matter looked a little more frustrated. \u201cGalvans don\u2019t HAVE magnetic powers!\u201d He slapped the Omnitrix symbol again and became a humanoid Japanese Rhinoceros beetle with a huge underbite. \u201cEATLE!\u201d he announced. That was it! \u201cNOW YOU\u2019RE JUST BEING STUPID!\u201d he shouted at the Omnitrix symbol. \u201cNow look, I want Lodestar, you hear?! I don\u2019t want Humungousaur, I don\u2019t want Four-Arms, I don\u2019t want Way Big! LODESTAR!\u201d He slapped the Omnitrix symbol once more and became a brownish-black and yellow alien with pincer claws and a metal head floating between his large, pointed shoulders. \u201cLODESTAR!\u201d He then folded his arms. \u201cThere. Was that so much to ask?\u201d Lodestar then floated off to the power core. Phury was snickering at the schadenfreude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m surprised you didn\u2019t get irritated,\u201d remarked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, I did,\u201d replied Phury, \u201cbut seeing Ben get annoyed at the Omnitrix\u2019s screwups is always funny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yeah, they always get a chuckle,\u201d mused Megumi. \u201cIt happened a couple of times during the Vortech Wars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once everything was fixed, it was time to go. Life joined the heroes as they were gathering for their ride home. \u201cYou sure you wanna go?\u201d Ben asked Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBen, it\u2019s been fun being part of the Plumbers,\u201d replied Life, \u201cbut I\u2019m afraid my sisters need me. Besides, I want to see the new Chaos. It\u2019s time for me to resign from the Plumbers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, if you ever wanna come back,\u201d offered Phury, \u201cyou need merely come find us.\u201d Life then shook hands with Ben and Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou keep me in the loop on your relationship, you hear?\u201d directed Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLoud and clear,\u201d replied Ben. Life then turned to Megumi and her team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d she said. Megumi then made a call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegumi to Vorton, one rift directly to After Academy,\u201d she requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn its way,\u201d answered Rusty. The rift then appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019ve got control of the Vortonian Gateways, hm?\u201d mused Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven THE Gateway itself,\u201d answered Megumi. \u201cYou might remember it, the one with the Keystones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Main Gateway survived?!\u201d Life whistled in amazement. \u201cI thought Vortech smashed it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, we\u2019ve got a lot to tell you!\u201d Megumi then turned to her team. \u201cTo the Academy!\u201d Everyone then jumped into the rift, and it closed behind them. Ben and Phury looked at where the rift was, and Phury looked a little concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Stripes?\u201d asked Ben. No response. \u201c\u2026Phury?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat woman was me if I went down a darker path,\u201d muttered Phury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you didn\u2019t go down that path, that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, but I made a Royal Bid. You know, where I declare my intentions to be Appoplexia\u2019s Queen? Given how similar she is to me\u2026I\u2019m not so sure I\u2019m not gonna be like her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s totally opposite of you. If your Bid IS successful, you\u2019d rule Appoplexia with the dignity it deserves. You\u2019re not cowardly like her.\u201d Phury smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrue that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone made it back to After Academy. Richard was nearby when the rift opened. He rushed to Megumi and Kaede and hugged them. \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Richard,\u201d assured Megumi. \u201cWe\u2019re both fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMom DID get help this time, I promise,\u201d said Kaede.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd look who we found,\u201d Megumi broke the embrace to reveal Batman and his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBruce?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow\u2019s the Shift Keystone working for you?\u201d quizzed Batman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s working fine, but what are you doing here? \u2026Megumi, did you use the Locate Keystone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBatman was assimilated by the Lords,\u201d replied Megumi. \u201cI only used my Keystone to bring the Batmobile and its passengers to Bellwood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBellwood?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s the Bellwood our Ben came from.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAwesome! How\u2019s he doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDating his universe\u2019s Phury, one that I wish I faced in the 3V2R as she\u2019s far and away more honorable than the one we know. In fact, the Phury we know became a Red Lantern Kamen Rider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd others. Get everyone here. We need to talk about who the Author recruited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHIRO\u2019S BACK?!\u201d yelped Hiroki as Megumi gathered her immediate friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd according to Batman, so\u2019s Igura,\u201d replied Megumi. \u201cFrom what else I\u2019ve heard, Igura gave birth to their daughter while they were in Hell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd Metaltron\u2019s got our Phury on her side?\u201d asked Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot just her, it looks like,\u201d said Batman. \u201cShe has a council, but I don\u2019t know the rest of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn any case, this makes our job harder,\u201d continued Megumi. \u201cThe Author has enemies that know our moves.\u201d While Megumi talked, Hiroki stood up and headed to Sora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA word in private, please,\u201d he said. Sora got up and followed him out of the meeting room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOt\u014dsan, I know this isn\u2019t-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of you,\u201d interrupted Hiroki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Eh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of you, my son. You found an aspect of good to fight for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026B\u2026But I have a ring instead of a belt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Your point is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, you and Mama are Kamen Riders and I felt that you would be disappointed if both me and Gabriella refused a belt and-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSora, I never cared about that! Is that what was holding you back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well\u2026yes, it\u2026it was.\u201d Hiroki then hugged his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy son, I\u2019m sorry for not making what I really wanted for you clear. All I cared about was if you and Gabriella would fight for good. I didn\u2019t care about if you two used a belt or a ring or a wand or dance moves! All I cared about was if you would fight for good and you\u2019ve fulfilled my hope by being a Blue Lantern. If that\u2019s what you feel is your path, then go on it! I will help you however I can.\u201d Sora\u2019s eyes misted, then he hugged Hiroki back and cried happy tears, a great weight being lifted from his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t be serious!\u201d pleaded Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t joke about that, Bonfire,\u201d replied Arsha as she and her fellow Realmers gathered. \u201cDr. Borg is back and, according to Batman, so are her colleagues and spouses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreat, after all the trouble we went through putting them in the ground!\u201d grunted Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, from what Batman said, Oyed\u2019s not involved. However, Intrag is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIntrag?\u201d gulped Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLovely,\u201d muttered Yufantel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Terrorcons?\u201d asked Megatron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll seven, according to Batman,\u201d replied Optimus as he and his friends and family met. \u201cThe Author\u2019s not playing around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to form plans for the other teams,\u201d said Blackarachnia. As everyone planned, Sky Runner got up and headed to Glyph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWalk with me,\u201d she said. Glyph followed the young Autobot Seeker. They went into an empty courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see why you seek that next thrill hit,\u201d chuckled Glyph. \u201cFighting Nemesis was fun!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think you were thrill-seeking?!\u201d snarled Sky Runner. \u201cTake it from me, that was WAY too reckless, even for me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I thought you\u2019d be proud!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a fine line between thrill-seeking and suicide and taunting someone like Nemesis Prime is a good example of crossing it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on! Your dad beat him easily!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t listen to him all that much when he talked about his battles! While I may have been bored during his long history lessons, I still knew how dangerous Nemesis was back then when we fought him today! Dad had to wear him down by using the Chaos Emeralds! He had to resort to trickery later! I expected Dad\u2019s successor to be better than that.\u201d Glyph arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean your dad\u2019s successor?\u201d Sky Runner\u2019s optics went wide, and she took off, transforming into her jet mode in the process. \u201cDon\u2019t just fly off after a bombshell like that, Sky Runner!\u201d called Glyph. \u201cSky Runner!! SKY RUNNER!!!\u201d No response came to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back on the Imperium<\/em>, the Author sat in the throne room with his teammates. He drummed his fingers on the armrest. \u201cThat\u2026could have gone better,\u201d he grunted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCalling me the b-lister of Optimus\u2019 Rogues Gallery!\u201d growled Nemesis. \u201cI ought to slaughter that green midget!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNever mind what she said!\u201d snapped Dr. Borg. \u201cOur enemies have a Source of Flourishment!\u201d Hiro remained silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Nothing to contribute?\u201d asked Metaltron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI went through something like this with the Sources of the Apocalypse,\u201d replied Hiro. \u201cWhen the Sources were gathered, their energy signatures acted as a beacon and guided my organization to Vorton\u2019s new coordinates. Yes, they beat me, but-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuthor, what are you doing?\u201d interrupted Phury. Khan finished writing a new passage in the Tome. He then read it aloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018Once Khan shouted \u2018Happy Birthday\u2019, party decorations appeared and a plate with a slice of cake and a fork appeared in everyone\u2019s hands and a party hat appeared on everyone\u2019s heads.\u2019\u201d He then shut the Tome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNani?\u201d asked Hiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHAPPY BIRTHDAY!\u201d Once Khan shouted \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d, party decorations appeared and a plate with a slice of cake and a fork appeared in everyone\u2019s hands and a party hat appeared on everyone\u2019s heads. \u201cTo our backup plan,\u201d explained the Author. \u201cI had completely forgotten that them gathering the Sources of the Apocalypse was a detriment to our enemies in the long run! I shall let the other teams know that we have a backup plan! Of course, they should still try their hardest in their goals, but we have other means! Once you lot are done with your cake, head on over to 5-P-L-4-T-0-0-N to get Death\u2019s Source and Jason Ikamesh. I have a plan.\u201d The team looked at each other, then simply ate their cake, concerned about the Author\u2019s mental state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By the time the heroes got back to Plumber HQ, Vilgax had escaped to parts unknown once again. They looked around the place. \u201cMan, Khan really did a number on this place,\u201d muttered Ben. \u201cWe better tidy things up before we go,\u201d said Megumi. \u201cBen, you don\u2019t mind the extra help, do you?\u201d asked Optimus. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[754,880],"tags":[14,130,482,9,146,337],"class_list":["post-6343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-batman","tag-ben-10","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6343"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6344,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6343\/revisions\/6344"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}