Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Waves of Brutality
2015
The sun sets on another day in Los Angeles, the fading light reflecting off of the ocean's surface.
On the beach, looking out at the waves were a man, woman, and a small girl. The girl, Candice, was standing in the water, playing with the little fish swimming by her.
The atmosphere around the adults was much more serious.
"So...your mind is made up." Elpizo said.
"It's *been* made up. I can't go with you." Bobbi replied.
"Can't? Or won't?"
"Don't try that with me. I've passed my bar exam. I finally have a career that's going to take me off of the battlefield. And New York is my home. My entire family is there. I can't tear Candice or myself away from them. We have to stick together, especially now that Johnny's gone rogue. Max would fall to pieces if I wasn't around."
"It's not a request that I make lightly. But His Majesty has summoned me home, and I cannot turn down the word of my king. I...can't live in that city anymore, so distant from these waters I know so well. My place is in Lemuria. And it can be yours, and hers."
"I can't. I'd be as alien there as you feel back home. I'd spend my days wishing that I could go back."
"So, we are at an impasse. Then...what of Candice? Are we to force her to travel halfway across the globe to see us both? Or...is this choice to cost me her as well as you?"
"I would never keep her from you. But I can't keep her from her cousins, either. So...I'll bring her here. And you'll be here. Because she needs you as much as me."
Elpizo put his hands on her shoulders. "And I need *you*. My life is owed to you. And you've given me the most incredible gift of all. And yet...lives where you and I can live happily...cannot coexist. It is a cruel thing, and yet...I have to accept it."
Bobbi somberly nodded. "Tell me that poem again. One more time."
"Of course. 'Ocean, bringer of life. Center of happiness. Daughter of the Earth. Only my love is deeper.'"
The two kissed. After it ended, a tear fell from Bobbi's eye. "Candice...little mermaid, could you come here, please?"
"Okay, Mama!" The girl hopped over. "Huh? Why do you look so sad, Mama?"
"Honey...your Daddy's going to be going away for a while."
"Huh?! Why?!" 
"I have to go home, my little guppy. I've been away for a very long time. I miss my friends. I need to go see them." Elpizo picked Candice up.
"But...but...am I never seeing you again...?" She began to cry.
"No, of course not! I'm going to come back and visit, I promise. I want to take you home with me someday. It's a beautiful place, where everybody lives as one with Mother Ocean. And you can meet His Majesty. He is a wise and just man who watches over our home and protects us all. I promise, I'll show you one day."
"But I don't want you to go! I want you to stay with me and Mama! Why do you have to leave?!"
"I'm so sorry, mermaid. But...your dad has to be where he's happy. Just like I have to be where I'm happy. Sometimes that just means that we have to be in different places. It doesn't mean he'll be gone forever." Bobbi assured.
Candice could only snivel and continue to cry, as her parents did their best to soothe her. Eventually, she calmed down. The moment came where she and her mother watched her father walk out into the sea, giving one final turn and wave before he dove into the water.
---
"(And that was that. Mother Ocean welcomed him into her grasp and returned him home. He kept his promise and came back to that beach to see me. For years, until I was old enough to go visit him myself. That day is sewn into my memory.)"
"(Sixteen years have passed since then. It remains the one time I ever saw my mother cry. Her public persona became cold and businesslike. It was only in private that she would return to the doting mother I know. I knew not who the Frost Queen was. I only knew my attentive, loving mother.)"
"(I have held her hand so often. I can feel the pain and loneliness she feels. I know, deep down, she yearns for my father. Her love has never faded. Nor has his love for her. Yet their worlds cannot become one. That is simply how the world has willed it.)"
"(And yet, I always believed in my heart, that fate would return them to each other one day.)" Candice thought.
---
November 26, 2031
The boat slowly moved through the scarcely-lit cavern, illuminated only by glowing blue runes. "We're almost there." Candice said.
"Stay on guard. We don't know what's waiting for us at the end." Bobbi stated.
"(Pain. It's gonna be pain.)" Max thought.
The boat reached the end of the cave. To its left was a dock, with another cave leading out. The three got off the boat. "No one around. We don't know if that's going to last." Bobbi turned to the boat captain. "Turn back out to the edge of the barrier. If there's anything suspicious, don't hesitate to turn away. I'll ring you up on the comm if we need you to get us. Stay safe out there."
"Yes, ma'am. You be careful, too. Good luck."
The boat began to move back out. "Alright. Candice, you lead the way."
"Of course. Right this--" Candice began.
"Hold on. I just realized...is she gonna be okay to go without seawater?" Max asked.
"I'll be fine. There's sea salt ingrained into every rock and building. Once we get into the city, you'll notice that the air feels very salty. I won't lose my sight so long as I'm here."
"I see, so it doesn't even need to be in water for it to work. It's a curious condition you have."
"Some might call it a curse, but I've learned to live with it. Everyone back home is so accommodating. I've come to better appreciate the things I can see. Ah, but there'll be time for that later. We have work to do."
"Right you are." Max took on his armor. "....." He looked at Bobbi in her fur coat and underarmor, then at Candice in her blue P.D.F. wetsuit. "Well, what a group we are."
"Good thing we're not here for a fashion contest. Jumping the gun a bit with the armor, though, aren't you?" Bobbi asked.
"It's force of habit. Back home our Metaverse uniforms make us invisible to people without any spiritual awareness. Helps in the sneaking department. None of that applies here, obviously. But in case there's any danger around, I'll be ready for it."
"Smart move. Unless we're totally wrong and instead you just look threatening."
"Uggh..."
"Okay, enough chuckles. Candice, take us to the city."
"Of course. Right this way." Candice directed them into the tunnel.
They walked up a set of stone steps. "To think this is how I finally visit this place. After turning down your father so many times over the years. Now I'm bailing him out of trouble." Bobbi said.
"Regardless of how it came about, he'll be happy to see you again." Candice assured.
"Oh, I'm sure. That man has the persistence of a hungry cat. I bet he has about 50 poems prepared for when he sees me."
"(Shakespearean elves, now sea poets. Is this 1600?)" Max thought.
After a bit more walking, the light from outside was just a short distance away. "Not much further. Just one more push." Candice said.
"I know a guy who'd be fainting from all these stairs." Max commented.
They at last exited the tunnel.
"Huh? What..." Candice uttered in disbelief.
The Lemurian city was one of grand limestone structures, with many statues and fountains taking in and dispersing seawater. In normal times, fishermen would be returning to share their catch with the rest of their fellow citizens. Children would be playing in the fountains. Drones would be flying about, taking measure of the day's weather conditions.
That was not what was happening this day. 
The city was deserted. The buildings and streets had all taken visible damage. The signs of battle were clear.
"What...no...what happened here?" Candice ran to one of the local markets. No recent catch to be found. What was present smelled of rotting, as if it had been left unattended for days.
Bobbi analyzed the ground. "Scuff marks. Whatever happened must've been hard to leave these kinds of markings."
"How does a whole city's worth of people just vanish? Whatever did this, they got caught totally off-guard." Max looked around.
"Nothing could've opened the barrier except for someone of Lemurian blood. Only one person in that category would've done this..."
Bobbi looked up. She could see the heavy concern on Candice's face. She walked over to her. "Let's keep looking. Is there anywhere they could all be hiding?" she asked.
"The one place I can think of is the Panionium, the royal palace. It's at the apex of the city, at the end of all these stairs." Candice replied.
"If Calypso is the one behind this, that's probably where she'd be. A patricidal maniac with dreams of a throne couldn't resist." Max asserted.
Bobbi comforted her daughter. "Let's take this as it comes. We still don't know what happened here. Maybe they all fled. Is there another port on the island?"
"Yes. On the opposite end of the city. It's where the fishermen leave for their excursions. They could have taken off from there." Candice replied.
"There, see? We have to stay hopeful. Let's go check the palace."
The three started to traverse the steps up through the city. Along the way, more signs of damage were apparent. Max took notice of several broken devices that resemble circular jars, with runes on them. "What are those? I'd say they were broken pots, but you can see the wires in them."
"They're research drones. They keep track of the weather and the surrounding water temperature. Oceanic research is a core facet of life here. Many scholars venture out for hundreds of miles to satiate their curiosity. It was on one such journey that you came across Father, isn't that right?" Candice asked.
"That's right. He was tracking the migratory routes of great white sharks when he got caught up in a storm and washed up on the beach in Los Angeles. When I helped him come to, he was more upset about losing his data than the fact that he'd been shipwrecked. It's a common trait in Lemurians, from what I understand." Bobbi recalled.
"What were you in Los Angeles for?" Max asked.
"It wasn't uncommon back then for soldiers to be sent to different branches for training. Wasn't like how it is now where facilities are so advanced. I was there with Sonia, Anna's mom. It was a few years before..." Bobbi sighed. "Before Johnny stole her sanity."
"I see. Sorry for drudging that up."
"You sure do apologize a lot. It's fine. It's all in the past. We should keep moving."
"I wonder, though...why destroy these drones if they're only used for data collection? I get the impression that the Wolfpack loves indiscriminate destruction, but you'd have to go out of your way to attack flying drones that aren't after you."
"I think it's because of who Calypso is. Most Lemurians lead simple lives, studying Mother Ocean and living off of her bounty. But there is also a radical minority that believes we should be more assertive and stake our claim to all the world's waters. They despise this peaceful existence that's been cultivated here. And most vocal among them was Calypso." Candice explained.
"What about the old king? Did he have the same mindset?"
"From all accounts and everything Elpizo told me, King Phorcys was a benevolent ruler. An enthusiastic explorer in his youth, too. Nothing like his 'heir'. So naturally, she had him assassinated. Thought it was the quickest path to the throne. But she didn't count on her conspirators ratting her out. That's how you go from 'queen-in-waiting' to 'globally-wanted terrorist'." Bobbi replied.
"And if she's that willing to murder her own father..." Candice trailed off.
"Then we don't have any more time to waste. Let's go." Max directed.
"Right." Bobbi affirmed.
After walking past more damaged structures and downed drones, the three arrived at the steps of the royal palace, more closely resembling an ancient Greek temple. "Looks like the damage wasn't kept to the city." Max observed.
In front of the palace, a life-sized stone statue of a bearded man was lying in fragments beneath its pedestal. "This statue was built in remembrance of His Majesty after his passing...is your disdain truly so great for your own father, Calypso?" Candice pondered.
As the question hung in the air, an overbearing sensation fell over the three.
"Ngh...what the hell...? You feeling this?" Max asked.
"The sensation of...overwhelming evil..." Candice uttered.
"Grr...I've felt this pressure a hundred times. You have to be kidding--" Bobbi said.
They heard a whistle. Someone was trying to get their attention. "Yo! How's it hanging? You my tour guides?"
Johnny was staring down at them, seated with one leg dangling over the roof of the Panionium. Along with his sunglasses, he wore a flame-pattern tropical shirt, khaki shorts, sneakers and a wide-brimmed sun hat. 
"Sheesh, ya know how long I've been sitting here? I get here, and the place is all wrecked with no one around! The service here sucks! This is the last time I let Cally pick our vacation spots..."
"You! What are you doing here?" Max asked.
"What am I--did you not get a word I just said?! I said I'm here on vacation! Ya know how much fighting you do-gooders takes outta me? All I wanted was a bit of chaos and a suntan, but here you are."
"Johnny." Bobbi said.
"Oh, hey, Babadook! How's your judgemental scowl?"
"Don't play dumb. You lured us here."
"Where are all of the people?! What have you done?!" Candice demanded.
"Oh ho ho, is that you, Candy Cane? Wowzer, haven't you grown? You sprout any gills yet?" Johnny responded.
"Quit fooling around and answer the--" Max replied.
"Ah ah ah, I was getting to that, kiddo." 
Johnny suddenly appeared right behind the three, causing them to jump back. Bobbi shielded Max and Candice, and forged a blade of ice.
"Now, I'll admit, this is the *exact* kinda thing I'd do. Lure y'all here with a cute lil' lie, just to find everything trashed and me here to knock your teeth in. Which is why I was so proud of Cally for coming up with it! She gets her throne, our shared enemies are wiped out, it's a win-win!" Johnny explained.
"So that *was* the plan. Where are all the people?" Max demanded.
"They are waiting for the main event."
Behind the group, at the top of the palace steps, was Calypso, trident in hand. She signaled, and a large swarm of armored Wolfpack grunts poured out of the building, surrounding the trio and pointing their rifles at them.
"Calypso, why?! What have you done to Father and the others?" Candice asked.
"Quiet, halfling siren. You'll speak only when the true Queen of Lemuria allows it."
"You're not the queen and you never will be. You lost that right when you murdered your father." Max retorted.
"Ah, so the outworlder knows of our history. What I did was ensure that our people have a future. The world has forgotten that the seas are our domain by right. And yet Father was content to waste away the years on frivolous research. The future of the world lies with Lord Jonathan, and I will ensure that Lemuria has a seat at that table when the time comes. I will reclaim what is rightfully mine, and so too, will Lemuria."
"I could spend all day counting the reasons why that's bull. A crown on your head would be the end of Lemuria. Do you really think this two-timing animal is going to honor his word? He'll take the island for himself if given the chance." Bobbi retorted.
"'Animal'? Weak. 'Beast' sounds way more badass." Johnny quipped.
"Answer the damn question, witch. Where are the people?"
"They are all waiting in the coliseum. There, the cowardly council will relinquish control over to the rightful heir of Lemuria, in front of the entire citizenry. Once that is completed, I will purge the weakness from this land once and for all. All those that conspired to usurp my throne will die by this trident." Calypso dictated.
"...!" Candice looked grim.
"That's right, you disgusting worm. After you watch your beloved father and the rest of his ilk spill their blood onto the soil, I will mount your head on a pike. All will know that the penalty for treason is a swift, painful end. And as for you, so-called 'judge'. And you as well, off-worlder. I will allow Lord Jonathan to do with you as he pleases."
Johnny looked ecstatic. "I get to play around with sissykins and the super-twerp?! Aw, Cally, ya know just what I've been needing! Vaycay's been salvaged!"
"Your Honor...any ideas?" Max whispered.
"....." Bobbi mumbled. "I have to think about it."
"Think faster, then!"
"There'll be no salvation for you today, mud-dwellers. Take them!" Calypso ordered.
Max, Bobbi and Candice were led away by the horde of grunts. Johnny followed after, taking out a digital camera. "Ooooh, I love it! This is gonna be a helluva rodeo, I do reckon!"
---
The Lemurian coliseum was typically used for theater productions, large-scale meetings and sporting events. Unlike its Greco-Roman counterparts, it was never utilized for bloodsport.
Today was going to be different.
The Lemurian citizens, all blue-haired and bearing azure markings on their bodies, were seated throughout the structure. In front of the seats were armed Wolfpack soldiers, under orders to fire upon the crowd should any disruption occur.
At the center of the field was a stage. Before this stage, Max, Bobbi and Candice were forced to their knees, with guards pointing weapons at them. Calypso took the stage.
Johnny, meanwhile, sat in the audience, eating a hot dog. "These are the splash zone seats, right?" He elbowed the captive man next to him, who bore a nervous look.
"Candice. You can control any water so long as it's salty, right?" Max whispered.
"Yes...but there isn't any around..." she whispered back.
"That's not true. I think I know how we can get out of this. It's not pleasant, but we're out of options--"
A guard struck Max on the head. "Zip it!"
"Grrr..." Max looked back at Candice. He whispered even lower. "The thing you're afraid of. Use it."
Calypso clanged her trident on the ground. "Brothers and sisters. Sons and daughters of Lemuria. Today marks a new beginning for our people. Today, I, Calypso Trianja Phorcys, assume the role that was bequeathed unto me upon my father's passing. I carry in my soul the future of our race."
"You murdered your father and you have no soul." Bobbi muttered, earning a strike from one of the guards.
"Hey, c'mon, save some for me." Johnny drank a soda.
"For too long, we have had our true purpose suppressed and hindered by weaklings calling themselves intellectuals. The path to Lemuria's future shall be built on strength, not cowardice. And so, today, those who fancy themselves stewards of the throne shall bestow upon me my birthright, before offering their lives as tribute to our great future. Bring them in!" Calypso continued.
The grunts ushered in a group of six robed men and women. The first to enter was a bearded Elpizo. He made eye contact with Bobbi and Candice.
"Father..." Candice uttered.
"No...!" he panicked. The guards shoved him along.
Bobbi turned to her daughter. "Candice. What Max is suggesting, you have to do it. I know it's scary, but we're out of time."
"Wait for my signal. You'll know when you see it." Max added.
"I...okay." Candice uttered.
"Traitors masquerading as prophets. You have denied me my rightful place for far too long. The least you can do now is kneel before your Queen." Calypso ordered.
"Never to you, witch." one man retorted.
The guards knocked them onto their knees.
"Good. Now that you're in *your* rightful place, groveling at my feet, we can proceed. Name me as the true, unquestionable ruler." Calypso demanded.
"We'd sooner die than do such a thing!" one woman responded.
"Oh, don't worry. One way or another, your lives are forfeit. But there can never be stability if the monarch isn't officially recognized, can there? Is your duty not to ensure that our society functions to the best of its limitations? The only way that can happen is if there is one guiding voice to lead with a firm hand. So, do it. I may let you bid farewell to your loved ones if you do."
Elpizo shook his head. "I served His Majesty dutifully for my entire life. It was my pleasure to live under his wise gaze. It pains me that his lone scion would turn out to be our doom." He turned back to Bobbi and Candice, before turning around again. "I will do as you ask. Only if you allow them to live."
"Father, no!" Candice called out.
"Don't be an idiot! She's going to have us killed, anyway!" Bobbi shouted.
"I appreciate your offer of compliance. At least one amongst you has something resembling a brain. But so long as *your* scion exists, there will be those among the people who will pine for her. Truthfully, there's nothing you can offer that will keep me from executing her. But I will gladly take my crown, regardless." Calypso responded.
"I see. I didn't think that was going to work. In that case..." Elpizo shot a glare at her. "I'll see you in hell."
"Feh. Very well, you senile old fool." He jumped off the stage, in front of him. "Save me a boiling pit, if you wouldn't mind."
She raised her trident into the air.
"Dammit...!" Bobbi growled.
"No...!" Candice uttered.
Before the trident came down upon him...
"SHEEEEEYA!"
A giant, silver-and-red arm slammed into Calypso, sending her flying into the bottom part of the stands.
Everyone present--the guards, the captive citizens, the council--looked stunned.
"Gasp." Johnny feigned surprise.
"What just...?" Elpizo pondered.
Bobbi froze her bindings, shattering them. She froze her hands into claws, quickly rose up and slashed at the guards behind her. "Way to be subtle, kid."
"It worked, didn't it?" Max asked.
Calypso emerged from the rubble. "Kill them! Slaughter them all!"
The guards raised their weapons...and failed to fire.
"What are you doing?! Pull the trigger! Kill them all!"
"Hey, lady. I'm gonna assume you aren't as dumb as you sound. I've got a couple questions for you." Max said.
"What do you want, outworlder?"
"Just filling you in. The salinity in the air is unusually high. What have your lackeys been breathing in this whole time? And...what is every organism's blood primarily made out of?"
"...!"
Candice's eyes glowed. "I won't let you hurt anyone else, Calypso. Not today."
"Damn this nonsense! Push through it and shoot them dead!"
"ENOUGH." Candice's voice echoed.
The guards all reeled and dropped their weapons.
"Everybody, head for the exits! Make for the docks and get out of here!" Bobbi ordered.
The citizens all got up and frantically started to run.
Johnny sat in his seat and shook his head. "Now I know how Statler and Waldorf felt."
Bobbi freed Max and Candice from their bindings. She and Max then ran over to free the council members of their restraints.
"Barbara..." Elpizo uttered.
"I swear to God, don't try to kiss up to me now! Not after what you just tried to pull!" Bobbi replied.
"Alright, I won't. Thank you. And who would you be, young man?"
"I'm Max. Not the one you know, I'm from another world. Long story." Max looked at the strand of hair sticking out from Elpizo's head. 
"Is there something on my face?"
"Oh, sorry, no." "(I guess every Barbara has a type.)"
"There'll be time for chatter later, just get to those boats." Bobbi ordered.
"Yes, of course. Thank you." Elpizo said.
"Father!" Candice ran over and hugged him. 
"I'm sorry to make you worry, my dearest. I couldn't bear to see you harmed in any way."
"I'll chastise you for it later! We need to get everyone out!"
"Go. We'll hold them off." Bobbi stated.
"Alright. Stay safe, Barbara." Elpizo fled with Candice.
"Pft. Who do you think you're talking to?" Bobbi turned her attention to an enraged Calypso.
"Grrr...are you satisfied, 'Your Honor'? You dare to pass judgement on me, knowing not the laws of this land?" she questioned.
"Oh, shut up, bitch." Bobbi formed a large mallet. "You had this coming. Max?"
"Yeah. Got it." Max stared down Johnny.
"Who, me?" He looked around, acting flabbergasted. "Sweet! Let me get my prize!"
He appeared in front of Max, then delivered a hard enough punch to send him flying out of the coliseum. He disappeared after.
"Kid!" Bobbi exclaimed.
"Don't turn your back to me!" Calypso lunged at her, and the two clashed weapons.
Farther away, the citizens ran for the docks. Wolfpack guards appeared and pointed their weapons. They were promptly halted by Candice.
"Keep running! Go!" she ordered.
Several people disarmed and knocked out the guards, as the people continued to flee down the path. They reached the docks, and began filing onto the boats. "Children and the elderly first! Quickly!" Elpizo directed.
Candice joined her father in moving people onto the boats. She looked up, and saw something in the distance. "Something is flying this way...more Wolfpack soldiers? No...that color scheme is..."
Back at the palace, more guards began running out, towards the coliseum. There, Calypso and Bobbi clashed their weapons. The former raised her trident, and storm clouds gathered. She gestured, and lightning crashed down at Bobbi, who moved out of the way.
Calypso angrily swiped at her. Bobbi parried, and knocked her back. "Fighting exactly how an angry, spoiled brat would. I wouldn't let you near an office chair, much less a throne."
"And who should have it? Your weak progeny? One who would rather frolic along with turtles than do anything productive?"
"She doesn't want any part of ruling, don't you get it? Whoever does get it, I can assure you will do a much better job of it than you. You can't even lay a finger on me, Ms. Warmonger."
"Maybe I don't need to."
The guards all arrived, and began to fire upon Bobbi. She put up an ice wall behind her, but with her attention diverted, Calypso took a swipe at her, knocking her away.
Max crash-landed into a house. He got to his feet, as Johnny appeared in front of him. "Candygram!"
Max threw a punch, which Johnny effortlessly blocked. The two exchanged blows, Johnny punching Max out of the building and onto the street below. He got back up, and drew his weapon.
"I'm really gonna enjoy this." Johnny cracked his knuckles. Max swung at him, but he dodged, got behind, grabbed his arm and slammed him down. He got up again.
Johnny blew a spark of shadowy flame out of his mouth. "Stubborn wanker, ain't ya?"
"Let me guess. Just like your Max?"
"No. You're not like that boy scout. There's a lot more to ya than that. Something so much darker that I *love*."
"You don't know me."
"Don't I?"
Max swung at him, but he grabbed the blade. "Zeke learned a lot in your neck of the woods. Your pals, oh so terrified of what you did. The good boy who was so sick of how broken his world is, that he tried to change it, and everyone he cared about called him crazy for it. We've got more in common than you think." Johnny dictated.
"You're a monster. I'm nothing like you. What I did was wrong. You'd never admit that much."
"Ha, too true. You wanted to make the rules, I'm content to break as many as I wanna. You caved as soon as your pals fought back, and now you're gonna kiss up to 'em." Johnny swiped the sword aside, and punched Max away. "You could be their god, Maxie. You've been blinded by pesky morality. Gods don't need to be stopped by the rules, we *make* the rules. You don't need to be like my weak-ass brother. You're so much more than that."
The silver arm appeared and punched Johnny away. Max flew over to where he landed. He was largely unfazed, merely shaking his head and sitting in place. "Aw, c'mon..." He took out his camera, which had been broken by the hit. "You have any idea how much the chumps I stole this from paid for this?" He got up and tossed it aside.
"Do you do anything except talk?"
Johnny sighed. "You're bumming me out, sport. Won over by broski and sissykins' holy war. Nothing pisses me off like wasted potential."
Max held his weapon up to fire, but Johnny drew his own gun and fired, hitting Max with a blast of flame, knocking him over. The fiend walked over, grabbed his head and punched him to the ground. He repeated this over and over, breaking his helmet to pieces. He grabbed Max, and tossed him away."
At the coliseum, Bobbi tried blocking the gunfire with an ice shield in one hand as Calypso continued to attack her.
At the docks, more guards arrived, and Candice struggled to hold them back.
"Looks like you've got your hands full, Candy."
"Huh? Is that...?" Candice looked up.
Blasts of blue and pink energy came down on the guards, sending them skyward. Landing between them and Candice was an armored figure.
"Who the hell...?!" one guard exclaimed.
The figure made a dramatic pose. "An emissary from Hell, Cindy-O!" She put her blasters together, and fired a combined pink-and-blue beam of energy into the crowd of grunts, scattering them to the ground.
"YAHOO!" Cindy jumped into the air and flashed a peace sign. "Victory!"
"Cynthia! What in the world are you doing here?!" Candice questioned.
"The hero always waits til the last minute to arrive! Maxie gave me a heads-up that things were looking dicey, so I scrambled together some backup and came flying!"
"How could you bring people here? The barrier..."
Cindy poked her head. "Galaxy brain, remember? I couldn't bring anyone we know cuz they'd all bounce right out! But here's the thing. Who do we know that doesn't follow our world's rules?"
Candice had a realization. "Max? So, did you..."
"Bingo! Now, next question. Do we have any toys lying around that'd let me find peeps like him?"
At the coliseum, Bobbi stood firm, but was panting. Her ice weapons were chipped.
"Hold your fire. This past-her-prime wench is mine." Calypso held up her trident, then threw it at Bobbi.
"Grr..." Bobbi held her hands up to try to block...
But the trident was blocked by a shield of light, bouncing and landing harmlessly on the ground.
"Huh...?" Bobbi looked.
"What kind of...?" Calypso was dumbfounded.
Suddenly, the guards dropped their weapons. They all began slapping their heads in unison, before dropping to the ground, as if it was choreographed.
"Have you all lost your minds?! What witchcraft have you cast on them?!"
"I didn't..."
Someone landed between them, clad in glowing white armor. He carried a girl in a black and blue hoodie on his back, who stepped off of him. "Hi." Kibō greeted, and drew his sword.
"We're here to crash the party." Barbara added.
Bobbi blinked. "Who in the world...?"
Back in town, Max tried to get up from the rubble. 
"Misery, misery. I hate seeing potential wasted. I feel like I'm putting down Lassie. Ah, well. See ya in the funny papers, kiddo."
Johnny prepared to fire his gun. He began to press the trigger.
"Hands off of my nerd, freakshow!" 
An arrow of light came down, and knocked Johnny's gun out of his hand. "What the fuckstick?!" he questioned.
Max blinked. "That arrow...am I hallucinating?"
"Good God, Sparky. Always needing us to bail you out."
In front of Max, a figure in a black and pink catsuit landed, daggers drawn. "Not my idea of a tropical vacation, or a family reunion. But it'll have to do."
Kat was soon joined by Carrie, Natalia, Kenneth, Ibuki, Sakuya, Sahir and Tabby, all in their Metaverse uniforms.
Johnny blinked several times. "Who the HELL?!"
"Hi there, Mr. Vagrant. We're your friendly neighborhood Ashen Artisans. Welcome to PAIN." Kat greeted.
Back at the coliseum, Calypso looked confused. "What madness is this? How did you get past the barrier? It should repel every outsider that comes near..."
"Every outsider with your kind of magic. But that's not what we have." Kibō brought out a large shield with a black cross displayed on it.
"So you're more outworlders? Come to assist the heralds of 'righteousness' that pacify us from gaining any power? Your arrogance is laughable."
Barbara went over to Bobbi. "Hi. You're Candice's mom, right?"
"How do you know my..." the older woman looked at her younger counterpart. "...Barbara? Barbara Jadefang? Max Jadefang's sister?"
"Yep, that's me. The commander that brought him here is your brother, right? So that makes you...me."
"This is...so surreal."
"You're telling me. Let me see your wounds. I can heal with water. Your ice should do the trick."
"Just like my Candice...the kid was right about you."
"What's that?"
"Heh, nothing. Thank you, Barbara. Wooow, that felt weird to say."
Calypso stared at Kibō. "Out of my sight. My trident thirsts for that woman's blood. It won't be sated by a middling fool fancying himself a knight."
"Sorry to break it to you, but I'm not a knight." Behind his helmet, his eyes flashed yellow. "I'm *the* knight."
Materializing in front of him was a muscular figure in silver-and-gold armor, face covered by a helmet adorned with a jeweled crown, a gray cape flowing from its back. A shining longsword engraved with the word 'Caliburn' was in its hands.
"Teach her a royal lesson, Arthur."
The Persona lunged at Calypso, who blocked its sword strike. "Outworld plebian...do not speak to me of royalty...I *am* royalty...!"
"And yet, I'm not bowing."
The Persona's pressure caused the trident to buckle, and with a final push, the weapon broke into pieces, and the crazed ex-royal was sent flying into the deserted stands.
Meanwhile, in the city, only one thought was passing through Max Jadefang's mind.
"(WHAAAAAAAT.)"
"Hey, dumbass. You gonna sit there and blink at us, or are you gonna get back up?" Sahir asked.
"I...I don't...HOW?! How are you all here?!" Max fired back.
"Sheesh. And here's me thinking you'd be happier to see me." Ibuki looked back at him with a grin.
"Ibuki..."
She held out her hand. "C'mon, you doofus."
Still in shock, Max did nothing at first. Kat proceeded to hold her hand out, also.
"Probably harder to get up with that tin can you're wearing. Not that Bookie ever needs the extra help." 
Wordle, Max took both their hands, and got back up. "Thanks. I...don't know what to say right now."
"Save it for after we're finished, then." Sakuya replied.
"Oh yes, beautiful. Totally, such a tender tear-jerker. Makes me wanna barf out rainbows." Johnny said.
"Who is this jerk?" Natalia asked.
"He smells like expired motor oil..." Tabby held her nose.
"This must be the Jonathan we heard about. Though I can scarcely believe that maniacal Zeke could call this buffoon 'Master'." Kenneth surmised.
"Oh, the cojones on y'all, riffing me to my face. You really don't know who you're dealing with." Johnny responded.
"Guys, don't push him. He might look like a joker, but he's the most dangerous crook on the planet." Max warned.
"What, *this* guy? I'd sooner see him being obnoxious on a safari tour than being some criminal overlord..." Sahir responded.
"No, Maxwell is right." Carrie had a purple, holographic screen in front of her. "This strength...it's monstrous. I've only ever felt this kind of raw power once before..."
"Yeah, I'm getting serious shades of Kirby-chan from this creep. Game faces, people." Kat ordered.
"Hey, I just noticed...did Barb and Keeb not come with you guys?" Max asked.
"They went to go help the judge lady out. Barbie said not to worry about her. The silver-haired girl kept talking the judge up the whole way here, so they oughta be good." Ibuki replied.
"Cindy, of course. I ask her for backup, and this is what she does. Not gonna complain, far from it."
"Any warnings you feel like giving us about this fiend?" Kenneth asked.
"Don't let him breathe on you. It causes crippling fear in whoever it touches. I learned that the hard way."
Johnny made mocking gestures with his hands. "Talk, talk, talk, you gonna try beating my face in, or what?"
"Well, Krew? Let's oblige the man, shall we?" Kat stated.
The Artisans scattered.
Sahir attacked first, forming a fireball and kicking it at the bored-looking Johnny. He responded by flicking it, dispersing the fire. Appearing from behind the flames, Sakuya slashed at him, only for him to evade each successive strike. "Sweetie, you're gonna have to--"
Sakuya stood on one hand and proceeded to kick him in the chest at a blinding pace, finishing with an upward swipe, knocking him into a wall.
"Guh...shoulda recognized the look of a trained killer. Y'all should know not to bring sticks to a gun...fight."
Johnny checked his pockets, looking confused.
"One should learn to keep a tighter grip on their possessions." Kenneth smirked.
Johnny took notice of Tabby leaping across the buildings--with his gun in-hand.
"Hey! That's my thing! Gimme back my thing! Ya can't just go around stealing people's shit!" he yelled.
"You just admitted to stealing a camera five minutes ago..." Max uttered.
"Grrr, they don't teach you brats any kinda respect these days! I'm gonna--"
Pieces of nearby rubble flew over and pinned Johnny against the wall. Natalia's eyes glowed as she held out her hands. "You guys wanna...hurry this up? He's crazy strong..."
"Tough bugger for a guy that looks like he doesn't eat. Bookie, Sparky, gimme a hand." Kat ordered.
"I'll give ya two, Kitty Kat." Ibuki aimed her bow.
"Could use a bit of extra juice." Max added.
"I got just the girl for that. Ready, gorgeous?" Kat asked.
Carrie was plugging away at her screen. "Already on your wavelength, Kitten."
A purple aura went over the three. "Blast the creep on three. And...three!"
Kat summoned Selene, who charged and fired her cannon. Ibuki fired off a rapid volley of arrows, and Max let off a beam from his palm. All three attacks combined connected with Johnny, causing an explosion of dust and rubble.
"Did we get him?" Natalia asked.
"Stand back. He's worse than a cockroach, from what I've heard." Max cautioned.
"Dude just took the brunt of yours, Kitty Kat's and Fireball's best, there's no way he...can..." Sahir trailed off.
As the dust settled out, the silhouette of a figure slumped against the wall became clearer to see. A pair of glowing, yellow eyes flared.
"How the SHIT?!" Ibuki asked, bewildered.
Johnny's clothing was in tatters, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his deceptively scrawny frame. His shades were broken off, and those intimidating black and yellow eyes were glaring at the group. Wounds were visible throughout his body, and a ghostly, black flame came through. "That's a real biter of a trick, those ghost-things you all got."
"How is he still moving?!" Sahir questioned.
"Max-kun...is this man even human?" Sakuya asked.
"'Human' is a bit of a stretch, sweetie. 'God-adjacent' has a much better ring to it." Johnny stood up.
"Looking a whole lot like the other one to me." Kat responded.
"Is this what dark magic does to people?" Max questioned.
"That's just a title given by spineless crones jealous of the gifts the old tomes can bring. I thought it was my bro and sissy blinding your potential, but all your mates have the same disease, don't they? Dressing up in colorful tights, just to beat up on people broken down by an unforgiving world." Johnny spoke.
"Don't act like your some 'champion of the people', you're a thief and a murderer."
"I'm the product of a world that doesn't have much room for people who don't wanna fall in line. This strength I've got is a gift. A permission slip to run wild and break down every fragile pillar holding this plastic planet up. And gifts, my pals, are meant to be given." Johnny put on a menacing, toothy grin. "Lemme show ya just what a gift it is."
He disappeared in a cloud of shadowy smoke. "Where's he going now?!" Ibuki questioned.
"Did anyone see which way Tabitha went?" Kenneth asked.
"I'm going to look." Carrie brought up a screen.
"Sparky...what kinda lunatic den did we just walk into?" Kat asked.
"...we need to get to Keeb and my sister. We'll grab that Tabby girl and then we get the hell out of here." Max responded.
"Something tells me Skeleton Man isn't gonna make that easy." Sahir replied.
Elsewhere, Tabby hopped inside of a window, then looked out to make sure she wasn't followed. "OK, I should be alright. I just have to find somewhere to stash this miserable thing." She looked at the gun in her hands. "I might make a right mess out of everything else, but I should at least be able to hide a gun."
"...oh, Kitty Kat...I'm really not good for anything but running away, am I? The others are all so brave, standing up to these menaces, yet here I am, going as far away from that as possible." She shook her head. "That's enough self-doubt for one day. There's more than one way to be useful. Let's keep moving."
As Tabby continued to distance herself from the group, Kibō, Barbara and Bobbi continued their fight with a spent Calypso, on her knees with the pieces of her trident scattered around her. "Ugh...ugh..." she panted.
"Are you really not ready to give up yet? You're obviously at your limit." Bobbi questioned.
"Never...not while I still have breath in me will I ever acknowledge defeat to such lowly creatures as you...!"
"You're just making it worse for yourself! If you really want to lead your people, then why come in here and destroy the place and scare everyone? What kind of queen tries to hurt the ones she's supposed to be watching over?" Barbara questioned.
"Silence...! I'll not be lectured by fools who know nothing of our world! You remind me of this one's detestable spawn...so spineless and frail..."
"Kindness isn't weakness. If you can't understand that much, you don't belong anywhere near a crown. I don't care who you are, that's true in any world." Kibō retorted.
"There's nothing left for you, Calypso. Nothing but pieces of your broken weapon. Surrender, and you might at least be able to walk out of here with your life." Bobbi dictated.
"Grr...I...will never..." Calypso growled.
A whistle sounded out. "Oi, Cally. You look like a conch's asshole right about now."
She looked up. Johnny was at the top of the coliseum. "Lord Jonathan...are you injured?"
"Oh, I'm feeling peachier than a Georgia spring morning about now. But I gotta tell ya, Cally, ya picked a shit-ass resort for us to stay at. This has gotta be the worst room service I've ever gotten!"
"Johnny..." Bobbi groaned.
"This guy's your brother?" Barbara asked.
"Oh-ho-ho! And who do we have here? You must be the kid's sissykins, aren't ya? Heh...you look like you'd be easier to snap than the ice queen, anyway. Wonder how that'd make the twerp feel..." Johnny sneered.
"I'm not gonna get worked up over the words of some schoolyard bully. Try acting your age, why don't you?"
"Oooh, and a mouth on top of it!" Johnny began to let out a sinister laugh.
"This guy's giving me the creeps..." Kibō said.
"Join a very open club, kid." Bobbi replied.
Johnny stopped laughing, slumping over, his long hair drooping over his face. "Well, Cally. I don't think our new friends from beyond are taking me seriously. Howzabout we teach them how it feels to be the prey?!"
"My Lord, wait...you don't mean..." Calypso uttered.
"Oh, I mean! Don't gimme that face, don't you wanna tear them apart?! You gonna do it with bits and pieces of a giant fork?!" Johnny lifted his head up. "Time to get wild! It's time to hunt, my Wolfpack!"
He let out a loud, wolflike howl, that echoed across the island.
"Oh, no." Bobbi uttered.
On top of a roof, Tabby put her hands over her ears. "Ugh, what is that horrid howling?"
"There you are, Tabs!" Kat arrived with the others.
"What is with this noise? They got sea wolves in this place?" Sahir asked.
"I've got a majorly bad feeling..." Ibuki said.
Back at the docks, the last ship was departing with the citizenry on board. Candice and her father had elected to join them, leaving Cindy alone. "Phew. Least they're out of danger!"
She began to hear the howl. "Who called the dogs in?! We're too far out for...oh."
The unconscious Wolfpack soldiers suddenly stirred. Their eyes all jarred open, and took on the same black and yellow shade as their boss'. All of them rose to their feet, their limbs twisting and writhing in unnatural ways. Their bodies were overtaken by darkness, their hands and feet becoming clawed, a number of tendrils sprouting out of their backs. Their faces became canine in appearance, and their eyes, of which they now had four each, were glowing yellow. They began to emit guttural growls from their vocal cords.
"My lady...I highly suggest we run." Hugo advised.
"Agreed, agreed, fly awaaaaay!" Cindy flew off as the transformed grunts gave frenzied chase.
At the coliseum, the downed grunts had all undergone the same transformation. Calypso was struggling against it, but she too began to turn, to the horror of those present. Her form became a dark shade of blue, and the tendrils on her back were longer and greater in number. Sprouting from her head was a long mane of shadowed, fanged snakes. Her frame was much larger than those of the grunts, as she towered above Bobbi and the two youths.
"What just happened...what is this?!" Barbara asked.
"The Wolfpack...they've all been injected with a small amount of Johnny's blood. Once he gives the command...this is what they turn into." Bobbi explained.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Johnny manically laughed. "It's feeding time, boys and girls! SIC 'EM!"
Out on the boats, Candice and her father tended to the wounded Lemurians. "Just lay still. Putting weight on it will only make it worse." Elpizo advised one man.
On the next boat, Candice healed a small boy with a scrape on his knee. "There. Good as new."
"Th-thank you, Lady Candice."
"Bless you, your ladyship." the boy's mother said.
"Lady Candice, my arm was broken by those brutes..." said one man.
"My knee, your ladyship..." a woman followed.
"One at a time, everyone. I'm more than happy to be of service. I'll be with you all as soon as I can." Candice assured. "(Who would do something so horrid to their own home? And now with that awful howling...I don't know if there's even going to be a home once this is all over.)"
Back on the island, the Artisans looked down. Numerous transformed grunts were walking around on all fours, growling.
"Those soldiers...are they all loup-garou?" Carrie asked.
"Lou what-now?" Ibuki questioned.
"Loup-garou, they're basically French werewolves." Natalia clarified.
"All I know is that freak disappeared, then that awful howl, and now there's a bunch of hairy guards stalking around." Sahir said.
"Eloquently stated, my learned friend." Kenneth responded.
"I'll pretend like that wasn't sarcasm."
"Didn't you miss us, Sparky?" Kat joked.
"Like Keeb misses a euphemism." Max replied.
"Gang waaaaaaay!" Cindy flew over and landed, nearly on her front before catching herself. "Phew! I thought I was dog kibble. Oh, heya, Maxie!"
"Hi."
"I brought your friends!"
"I can see that."
"I had to come up with a way to get people past the barrier, and then I remembered oh, Maxie knows people like him, and I know you like, CRAZY miss them so I thought it'd be cool if I used our transporter to bring them over for a bit, like I started with one but then they kept suggesting to bring backup and it turned into a big reunion and--"
"Slow down there, Cotton Candy, you're gonna short-circuit at this rate!" Kat cautioned.
"If you couldn't tell, Cynthia-san was very persistent." Sakuya said.
"She threatened to post all of my in-progress work around town if I didn't come." Kenneth added.
"CiCi kept swatting at her robo-parrot..." Natalia said.
"Are you people all purposefully getting it wrong?!" Hugo griped.
"Well I think she's a cutie patootie." Ibuki put an arm around Cindy's shoulder, squeezing. "And she had some *very* nice things to say, Sparkplug."
"Oh...?" Max asked.
"'Oh, wowie, you're even prettier than Maxie says you are! He talks about you *all* the time, like, you're 98% of what he thinks about! I bet he's gonna fall apart the second he sees you!'" Ibuki put on a 'cutesy' voice.
"....." Max sighed.
"Aaaaand there's the blush." Kat teased.
"Tch. Anyway." Max shot Cindy a glare.
"Ahehehehe..." she nervously laughed.
"We need to get to the coliseum. The one thing blocking our way is the horde sniffing around down there."
"The stealthy approach might get us there without much trouble. Sticking to the roof could keep us outta their range." Kat surmised.
"I mean, I could just snipe them from up here. You game for that, girlie?" Ibuki asked.
"Ooh, target shooting, my fave! Yes, please!" Cindy exclaimed.
"(I don't know if them being chummy is a good thing or a disaster.)" Max thought.
"I mean, we could put it to a vote, what do you guys--" Kat looked to the others. "--um. Where's Tabs?"
The group looked around. Sure enough, Tabby had disappeared. "Aw, no. Don't tell me she ran off on her own..." Sahir groaned.
Carrie brought up a map screen. "She hasn't gone far, it seems. Looking at this, she should be..."
Everyone looked where Carrie directed. Down below, hidden behind a building, was Tabby, holding Johnny's gun.
"The hell is she doing...?" Ibuki wondered.
Tabby pointed the gun at a piece of pottery across the path. She fired, shattering it. The guards' ears all perked up, and they all looked in the direction of the noise.
"The H-E-Twin French Fries is she doing?!" Kat exclaimed.
"You know, when she spoke about being a fan of Wolves, I don't think this is what she meant." Kenneth uttered.
Tabby got further out of sight as the canine grunts all trotted over to where the noise came from.
Ibuki brought out her bow. "Homegirl's gonna get herself killed like that! We gotta start picking those mutts off!"
"Welp, so much for the stealthy approach!" Kat exclaimed.
The grunts inspected the broken pottery. With their attention elsewhere, they were caught unawares by a barrage of wind blades, spreading out over the crowd and leaving them yelping as they fell.
The firing stopped, and the turret went back inside the jar of Eos, who dispersed from behind Tabby. "WOO-HOO!" She leapt in the air. "Hey, did you guys see that?! I did it! All by myself!"
Everyone blinked. "Heart attacks. This girl's gonna give me heart attacks." Kat uttered.
"I'm sorry. She's new at this." Max said.
"Hey, she's got spirit. Can't beat that." Cindy replied.
"Maybe someone should tell her not to do that with a gun in her hands?" Kenneth suggested.
By this time, Tabby was floating a few meters off the ground, figuratively patting herself on the back. 
"Ace shootin', Tex."
That came to a screeching halt when Johnny appeared, standing on the side of the adjacent building, and grabbed the barrel of the gun. "Mind givin' me back your six-shooter there, pal?"
"BAH!" Tabby lost focus, and was left dangling from the gun.
"Oh, shit!" Kat exclaimed.
"'Sup, folks? How you liking the dog show? I'd love to stay and shoot the shit some more, but I got places to be." Johnny quipped.
"Let Tabby go!" Natalia ordered.
Johnny looked down. The wolf guards had gotten up, and were drawing closer. He shrugged. "'Kay."
He disappeared with the gun.
"GAAAAH!" Tabby began to fall, frantically conjuring up wind to keep herself from the ravenous jaws of the snarling grunts. Before she hit the ground, she stopped--but not because of her wind.
Natalia, with her eyes glowing, telepathically lifted Tabby away from the leaping horde and back onto the roof. The rest of the group began to rain beams and projectiles on the wolves, leaving none standing as they all reverted to human form.
Tabby had her hands on her knees. "Bloody hell, I thought I was a goner!"
"You damn near could've been! Why would you go do something that crazy without us?" Ibuki questioned.
"The silent approach would have gotten us past them without drawing any outside attention. Why be so reckless and potentially alert others to our presence?" Sakuya asked.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I just...I want to be useful. The more time I spend around you all, the more I feel like a burden. I needed to prove to myself more than anyone that I could do something to help. You all make it look so effortless..." Tabby conceded.
"Well we've had these abilities for over three years at this point. And we've had more time to get used to working with each other. You just need time to get a full handle on your powers. Try not to be so down on yourself." Max advised.
"Hunh, whaddya know. Sparky can be insightful when he wants to be." Kat said.
"Hey, come on..."
"I'm just teasing you, blockhead. But he's right, Tabs. Leaping headfirst into a crowd of baddies sounds like a ripper of a time, but you've gotta be sure you can pull it off. And it helps to have backup of the badass variety. Right, Fireball?"
"Ain't that the truth, Kitty Kat." Ibuki chimed in.
"We just want you to work with us, Tabitha. No one wants to see you needlessly hurt. It all comes with patience." Carrie reassured.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I'll follow your lead from here. I frankly wouldn't mind not having to look that brute in the eye again. It's like gazing into a black hole..." Tabby replied.
"Unfortunately, that might not be an option now. He's likely where we're headed." Kenneth gestured at the coliseum in the distance.
"Back there with Her Honor, and...my sister and Keeb. Let's not waste another second." Max urged.
---
The last of the wolves was knocked to the ground.
"Guh...what a pain." Kibō uttered. "Barb, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm okay. I think she might need a hand, though..." Barbara replied.
Bobbi was fighting with the transformed Calypso, while holding a frozen mallet. The deposed royal took two swipes at her, which she evaded, then followed up with a hit to the side of Calypso's head, staggering her.
"You really sure about that?" Kibō questioned.
On the opposite end of the coliseum, Johnny reappeared in a seat. He cracked open an energy drink. "Oh, goodie, I haven't missed the fun part."
Calypso began to swipe at Bobbi with her tendrils, before managing to wrap one around the judge's leg, pulling her up and dangling upside down. She growled as she opened her jaw. Bobbi formed a frozen girder, which the beast bit down on, her fangs getting stuck in the ice. Bobbi then froze the tendril, forcefully breaking it and landing harmlessly on the ground. She reformed her mallet, then swung at the giant wolf, sending her flying up to the top of the coliseum.
Calypso uttered a guttural growl, then got up and collected herself. From where she was, she looked out towards the sea. She caught sight of the boats. She zeroed in on Candice.
"Prey" was the word that echoed in her head.
"What's she looking..." Bobbi came to the realization. "...no!" 
Calypso leapt from the top of the seats. Bobbi gave chase up the steps, tossing her coat aside.
"Is she seriously gonna jump from there?" Kibō asked.
"Barb!"
Barbara turned around, the rest of the group arriving. She spotted her brother. "Maxie?!"
"You're gonna have to wait for the reunion, we've got a situation up there!" Kibō pointed.
"Aunt Bobbi? What's she doing?!" Cindy questioned.
"That lady with the trident transformed and jumped over the ledge! I think...I think she's going after Candice!" Barbara stated.
"Shit...!" Max flew off towards the ledge.
"Right when we said not to go off on your own! This guy hasn't changed at all!" Sahir groaned.
"Always gotta play the hero. Stubborn dork." Ibuki sighed.
"Ehhh, what's up, that's some good old-fashioned action and suspense, ain't it?" Johnny chimed in.
Ibuki, without looking, drew her bow, aimed and fired at him. He teleported off before the arrow hit.
Calypso landed in the water. She began swimming towards the boats.
Elpizo saw what was coming. "Speed up the boats! As fast as you can manage it!"
"What in the seven seas is that?!" an older man questioned.
On the other boat, Candice closed her eyes, listening to the voice of the ocean. She opened them. "Calypso..."
"That rabid beast is the former princess?" a man asked.
"Father. I'll lead her away."
"What?! No! I won't allow it!" Elpizo refused.
"It's my head that she wants. She'll pursue us to the ends of the Earth so long as I'm here. I'll take her as far away as I can."
"And then what? If she were to catch you, what then?"
"Then...you all would be safe."
"Don't speak like a martyr! Do you know what losing you would do to me and your mother? Life would lose its very meaning if that happened! Please, don't throw your life away!"
"Father...hm?"
Someone else had jumped from the coliseum. As Bobbi fell, a slide made of ice formed beneath her, which she slid down at rapid speed. Once she'd closed in on Calypso, she leapt off, and came down on her with the mallet, causing seawater to shoot up from the impact.
Bobbi rose from the water, but now at a disadvantage, she was grabbed by Calypso, and tossed into one of the pillars surrounding the island, fracturing it. With its breaking, the barrier surrounding Lemuria shorted out and vanished.
Johnny watched all this from the top of the coliseum. "Well, ain't that something. Guess that's my cue to exit stage left..." He vanished.
As the pillar collapsed, with Bobbi nowhere in sight, Calypso returned her attention to her quarry.
"Mother..." Candice uttered as she looked at the sight of the maddened royal.
Before Calypso could move, a beam shot down at her. Max landed on her back. The beast's tendrils grabbed him by the arms, flipping him over into the water, before she swiped him away. He forcefully landed on one of the boats, as his suit short-circuited. Candice ran to tend to him. "Max, are you alright?"
There was no time to respond. Calypso's clawed hands reached out and grabbed the rear of the boat. Her massive frame rose out of the water, looming over everyone on-board. The Lemurians all backed away as Candice looked directly at her eyes.
At that moment, Calypso let loose a murderous roar. It was looking like things were about to get worse...
...when a colossal, frozen hand rose out of the water and grabbed her.
She struggled, as the rest of the icy giant emerged from beneath the ocean, shaking the boats. Bobbi was now completely coated in ice, her eyes glowing red, with horns jutting out of her head. 
As the transformed Calypso angrily snarled, Bobbi hurled her into the sky. Her eyes glowed, and two beams of light fired out from them, hitting Calypso and freezing her solid. As she fell back down towards the water, Bobbi turned her hand into a spiked ball, and with a single, ferocious swing, struck the frozen royal with all of her might.
With that, Calypso shattered into several pieces, all falling into the sea below.
The ice around Bobbi began to crumble away, and she herself fell. Elpizo grabbed her before she hit the water. "I've got you."
She opened her eyes. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
"Disappointed it's not someone else?"
She looked away. "No. Not at all."
---
The boats returned to port. The Lemurians all filed off of them, leaving to survey their damaged homes.
"Most of our survey drones were destroyed in the assault. Be that as it may, our main concern should be with repairing the buildings. Not to mention getting the barrier up and running again." Elpizo dictated to the P.D.F. boat captain, inside a medical tent.
"That should be the priority. There's nothing stopping Johnny from marching back here with a bigger force to finish the job. With Calypso dead, they wouldn't have a way through the barrier." Bobbi surmised, sitting on a bed.
"We'll put in a request with nearby branches to send supplies. And maybe provide extra soldiers in case of another assault." the captain said.
"Send that request to the Tokyo branch. The old wyvern won't say no to me."
"Yes, ma'am. We'll get right on it." The captain departed.
"Right, time to see what the damage really is..." Bobbi tried to get up.
"Not another step, Mother. You need to rest. Even you have your limits." Candice stopped her.
"A wise general knows when the battle is over, and the need to fight has to end, Barbara. We have plenty of people surveying the damage. Please, rest." Elpizo agreed.
"Ugh...I don't even have the strength to argue. Fine." Bobbi relented.
"Heyyyy. How's our patient doing?" Cindy arrived, with the Artisans behind her in street clothes.
"Grouchy and intent on overworking herself. So, normal." Candice teased. "Ah, wait...Barbara, is that you?"
"Hi, Candice. Long time no see. How are you?" Barbara asked.
"I'm doing just fine now, but what are you doing here?"
"Our resident supergenius went and used the dimensional transporter again. And I'm going to guess without your dad's permission, right?" Bobbi assumed.
"Ahehehehe..." Cindy scratched her head, nervously.
"So you all are Max's friends, then?" Candice asked.
"'Friends' might be stretching--" Sahir started, before Sakuya wordlessly pinched and twisted his side." "YOOOW!"
Kibō stared at Elpizo. "....."
"....." the Lemurian man returned the look.
"Your hair..."
"Yes?"
"Does it...ever go down?"
"Not for long, it doesn't. Even with all the swimming I do. Yours?"
"I've tried everything. I was hoping you'd have some kind of secret way to..."
"Unfortunately, no. Sorry."
"Well. Guess we have a type, don't we?" Bobbi asked.
"Yep." Barbara giggled. "Say, do you know where my brother is?"
"He's in the tent next to this one. His injuries were a little more severe." Candice answered.
"That boy's gone through so much punishment since getting here. You'll have to accept my apology on our behalf." Bobbi said.
"That's Sparky for ya. Guy can't stop himself from taking the hit for someone." Kat said.
"Remind you of anyone, Kitty Kat?" Tabby asked.
"Nope. No clue who you're alluding to."
The Artisans left to go next-door. "So, Barbara...about what needs to be done..." Elpizo spoke.
"You've got me on your island, and now you're gonna beg me and her to stay. That sound right?" Bobbi asked.
"Mother...I can't go home now. Not when the people here need help more than ever." Candice said.
"Exactly why I'm not leaving either."
"You're...really going to stay?" Elpizo asked.
"Our mermaid is right. The island's more vulnerable now than ever. At least until the place is safe and secure again, I'll go where she needs me. On one condition. You don't force a crown on her head."
"I wouldn't dream of it. Leadership shouldn't be a burden. But it's clear that the people here need someone to turn to. A guiding voice when they really need it."
"I can make one suggestion." Candice spoke.
"...Candice. You don't mean me, do you?"
"Why not? You've been managing the council so far without issue. You're a brilliant man who has Lemuria's needs at the forefront of his mind. The people here would welcome you as their king with open arms. Don't you think so, Mother?"
".....yeah, sure. Just don't get any illusions about me being your queen or anything. I'd slap you on the spot." Bobbi replied.
"Now, hold on! I haven't even said I would do it yet! Don't go assuming--" Elpizo griped.
"You were thinking it. I can read it on your face."
The two began bantering. Candice smiled warmly. This was exactly what she'd wanted.
---
In the adjacent tent, Max lied on a bed. "Owwwww." 
The group entered. "I'm here to see my brother, is he in here?" Barbara asked a doctor.
"Hi, Barb." Max weakly raised his hand.
"Maxie, oh thank God you're okay..."
"I wouldn't exactly call this--"
Barbara gave him a hug. "I'm sorry if this hurts. I've missed you so much, Starbolt. I'm just happy you're alright."
"I've missed you too, Moonbeam. I've been better, but I've been a lot worse."
"Hey, don't I get a piece of this?" Ibuki asked.
"You're gonna have to give her a second."
Ibuki got on the other side of the bed, then gave Max a kiss on the cheek. "Didn't feel like waiting. Sorry."
Max looked at the others. "I ain't kissing ya." Sahir said.
"Wasn't gonna ask." Max looked to Cindy. "You see what I have to deal with?"
"You know you love it." Kat replied.
"And now you can keep loving it for another day! At least until we get back home. Aren't you excited?" Cindy asked.
"Yeah, Sparky, don't you wanna show us your new digs?"
"I call his couch." Sahir spoke up.
"And leave us to sleep on the floor? Where are your manners?" Carrie asked.
"He clearly left them at our apartment." Sakuya responded.
Max groaned. "How about I just...stay here in agony?"