Standing Together

Standing Together is the second episode of the second season of Ghostverse Adventures, premiering on February 24th, 2019. In the episode, the heroes travel to Kalnar and realize what they have to do to stand against Tobura. Meanwhile, Katana arrives in the Spirituis Galaxy after stowing away on a ship manned by a literal skeleton crew, seeking a fresh start.
==Plot==
The episode opens with a shot of a battlefield, with Kaiden fighting on it against krexxon soldiers. His armor is dirty, but he's dedicated to the fight, slashing through foes and not giving in.
Kaiden (narrating): As a fighter, I've learned to expect the unexpected in any battle. Some foes rely on military might.
The scene shifts to a shot of Kaiden, Elina, Taikari, Felton, and Trent chained up in front of the Soul Grazer, alluding to the events of Hour of Reckoning.
Kaiden: Some foes call upon ancient powers.
The next scene depicts Kaiden fighting alongside Elina and Solotus in a forest, alluding to the events of A Ranger's Duty.
Kaiden: Some are more equipped and ready for battle.
The final, cryptic shot depicts Kaiden in Hyper Mode, crossing his sword with Tobura's scythe. The two of them are staring at each other with hatred burning in their hearts.
Kaiden: But SHE has been the one foe I could never best, even when I thought I did.
Elina: Narrating to yourself?
The scene quickly shifts to Kaiden sitting on a bed aboard Taikari's ship, with Elina standing nearby. She's grinning slightly as Kaiden chuckles.
Kaiden: You know me. Every battle has a story.
Elina: Seems like the encounter with Tobura got to you.
Elina sits down next to Kaiden as he looks at her, wearily.
Kaiden: I thought we had her this time. Everyone was here, I had my fancy new swords, Solotus knew the area. We could've killed her at last.
Elina: Tobura's grown stronger than any of us could have known. If it wasn't for the Spiritwalker showing up, we would've been toast.
Kaiden: I just...want to finish her. She's like a pox on my existence. Wiped my memories, separated me from you, defies death. I...I hate her.
Kaiden sniffles slightly as Elina puts her hand on Kaiden's leg, looking to him in concern.
Elina: Hey...don't do this to yourself. I hate it when you're like this.
Kaiden sniffles again as he looks to Elina, smirking. He then hugs her tightly, crying slightly.
Kaiden: You're...you're right. I was just worrying I guess.
Elina: Once we get to Kalnar, we can figure out a plan to stop her.
Kaiden embraces Elina further, clearly feeling vulnerable in this moment. In response, she returns the hug, the two of them embracing the moment.
Kaiden: Th...thank you Elina. I love you.
Elina: I love you too Kaiden.
The moment is cut short however by Felton and Trent bursting through the door of the room, smirking.
Felton: We're nearing Kalnar. Taikari wants everyone on the bridge.
Kaiden: Couldn't you give us five minutes?
Trent: Geez, what are you two up to here? Alone with your clothes on? Lame.
Felton: Shhh Trent. We're trying to maintain the PG-13 rating, remember?
Trent gulps slightly.
Trent: Whenever you're ready then.
----
A cargo hold can be seen, full of crates labeled "Astrium" on them. However, next to one a light blue-haired woman can be seen kneeling down, feeling some turbulence as well. Two katanas adorn her back.
Katana: What is this Astrium stuff they're hoarding? Some kind of drug?
Suddenly, the ship Katana is in comes to an abrupt landing, with Katana hitting one of the crates as it bursts open, spilling out the reddish Astrium crystals. Looking at them wearily, Katana puts a few in her pockets before darting behind another crate as a giant door opens in the cargo hold, revealing the outside world: a space station. Two skeletons walk inside, taking the crates and pulling them out of the cargo hold.
Skeleton 1: Taking down those Astrium-selling pirates was easy enough. Hopefully we get a promotion from this.
Skeleton 2: Amen brother. The Mistress is gonna like this.
Katana (whispering to herself): Mistress?
Suddenly, one of the skeletons begins to pick up the crate Katana is behind. Rather than retreat, she clings to it as it's carried outside, with the skeletons conveniently unaware of her being there.
Skeleton 2: Hey Bill, check this crate out! It was busted!
Bill: I'll be right there Jim!
As Bill runs off to check on the Astrium, Katana makes a hasty retreat away from the landing area, making her way for the exit. Upon reaching the other side, she puts herself against the wall and begins to pant in exhaustion.
Katana: That was a...close one...
Katana begins to walk again, exiting the hangar to find herself on the streets of the space station. Keen-eyed viewers will recognize it as Neolight Station from past pieces of Ghostverse media. Katana is both in awe and intrigued by the station as she walks around, sighting the various species and sights.
Katana: This place is pretty fuckin' cool. Guess my luck paid off and I can get a nice start here.
----
Taikari's crew has now arrived on Kalnar, with the full group exiting the ship. It seems like most of their injuries from the battle with Tobura aren't as present as they were earlier. Around them, the floating islands and magical energies of the planet flow in the air, with crystals also coming out of the ground.
Taikari: It's just like how I remembered it.
Tamasha: I can sense so much magical energy here!
The group is then approached by a hooded figure, who then pulls their hood off to reveal a familiar face.
Meld: Didn't think I'd see you here Elina. And you brought friends too!
Elina: Good to see you again Meld. Though I wish it was for...more positive reasons.
Meld: Believe me, things have been bad lately. Ripples in the very fabric of magic as we know it. You'd all best come with me to meet with Ralnu.
As Meld walks forward, with the group following, Kaiden looks to Elina with a questioning face.
Kaiden: You two know each other?
Elina: It was moreso recent than anything. Met her while I was getting your swords imbued with magic. She seems to look up to me.
Kaiden: That's nice. Maybe you could show her a few tricks.
----
As Katana walks down the streets of Neolight, she notices a "Help Wanted" sign outside of a building along the street. It looks a bit beaten.
Katana: Guess I have to find work eventually.
Katana enters the building, noticing some...surprising individuals inside arguing: a Torterra, an Incineroar, and a Greninja. The Greninja has a hoodie on, the Incineroar has a trenchcoat, and the Torterra has sunglasses on.
Incineroar: Torv, what the FUCK were you thinking when you took my lunch today!
Torv: Well, some JACKASS called Gekku decided to put mine on the top shelf of the fridge, and as you all know I CAN'T REACH UP THERE.
Gekku: You put your lunch on the smallest shelf! I had to move it because Melroar would lose his shit if we were occupying that much space!
Melroar: Look, I bought us the fridge so we could've dealt with this effectively.
Torv: Maybe you should've got a fridge that's good for the vertically challenged!
Katana, having watched all of this from the sidelines, knocks on the door again. The trio then look to her curiously as they suddenly stop bickering.
Gekku: Ah, so someone finally decided to accept that Help Wanted ad we put out.
Melroar: It was your idea...
Katana: So who exactly are you three?
Torv: We're the Dextectives. I'm Torv, our "leader" essentially.
Melroar: I'm Melroar, our chief supplier and logistics guy.
Gekku: And I'm Gekku. I'm our PR guy and the one who usually goes out looking for cases.
Katana: So you three are a detective agency essentially.
Torv: Yep! We've just been looking for someone to help us out with cases and whatnot. You interested?
Katana: Oh, I just got here from Earth in the Milky Way. I don't know much about this place.
Melroar: Wait...you're not from here either?
Katana: The three of you aren't natives here?
Torv: Nope. We actually ended up here due to the war between the krexxon and the New Zeonian Republic. The fighting reached our homeworld so the three of us ended up bailing. We formed the Dextectives to pay the bills, y'know?
Katana: New Zeonian Republic?
Torv: Oh right, you're from Earth. Anyways, we'll be sure to help you out here.
Katana: Well, in that case, I'm in.
Katana puts her hand out towards Torv as he laughs nervously.
Torv: Quadruped. Can't do handshakes. Gekku, you mind doing the honors?
Gekku: I guess I will boss. I don't know why we chose to make you our leader.
Torv: Maybe it's because I played the shit out of Detective Pikachu and thus I'm the only one with detective experience?
Melroar: He's got a point.
Gekku begrudgingly shakes Katana's hand as she smirks. She could tell these guys were to be trusted.
----
The heroes now stand within a cavern, with giant multicolored crystals coming out of the walls. Runes on the walls are also constantly shifting colors. Everyone seems nervous and unsure of what's about to happen.
Volta: Weird place.
Solotus: Seems exotic.
???: I get that a lot.
Suddenly, a giant green, ghostly entity can be seen floating above the group. Taikari in particular seems to be smirking. This guy was familiar.
Taikari: Long time no see Ralnu. Haven't met you since...
Ralnu: The Circle of Shadows incident. Yeah. I'd love to hear what you've been up to in the meantime.
Taikari: I'd love to tell you but we're in a bit of a...predicament.
Ralnu: Oh, so have we. The necromancy situation has caused ripples in the magical energies of this world. And since all magic flows through it, it can lead to some...side effects.
Felton: Side effects?
Ralnu: Occasionally some necromantic energies leak onto the planet and...raise the dead. These sudden waves of zombie attacks are easily suppressed but they grow in power each time.
Kaiden: So Tobura's been cursing this world too.
Ralnu: Mhm. Fortunately, it's not game over for us. I foresaw this incident years ago.
Elina: A vision of the future?
Ralnu: I mean, I'm the most powerful magical spirit known to exist. Of course I'd be able to see into the fuckin' future.
Elina: Geez, sorry I asked.
Ralnu nods before looking at the combined group before him. A feeling of nostalgia overtakes him, as if he's thinking of the past.
Ralnu: Yes...this will do nicely...
Volta: I'm confused here. What are you thinking about?
Ralnu: Just a time period where there was a group of heroes assembled just like you guys, ready to stop a major threat.
Keraniza: Like the Vanguard of Spirits?
Ralnu: Not really, actually. The Vanguard of Spirits was moreso an army we magical spirits guided the formation of in order to stop the threat of the Nullifier. The heroes I'm thinking of were moreso an older group.
Kaiden: ...go on.
Ralnu: Thousands of years ago, before the Circle of Shadows even EXISTED, lifeforms known only as Sparks emerged.
A shot of a field can be seen, with orbs of sickly orange matter flying around, before spawning ancient, almost robotic beings armed with weapons. Several humans nearby are running away as the Sparks come for them.
Ralnu: Nobody knew what they were, or who created them. They just rampaged for no reason, and didn't really stick to one spot. Some thought there was no hope.
Taikari: So you're saying there was hope.
Ralnu: Of course. And by that, I mean we magical spirits took action and drew together a group of heroes. They called themselves the Hopebringers. They sought to show the galaxy that there was still hope despite the threat of the Sparks. They defeated the Sparks at a heavy cost, but inspired many to continue the legacy of fighting for freedom and hope.
Kaiden: But the Sparks aren't the enemy. Tobura and her necromancers are.
Ralnu: Think about it though. Both are armies of soldiers who simply ravage everything in their way, with no sense of honor or apparent morals. What I see in Tobura's forces is what we saw in the Sparks.
Elina: A second coming...
Ralnu: In a way, yes. And of course, this necessitates a new generation of Hopebringers. One that all of you will be part of.
At that point, the heroes look towards each other, nodding and smirking, before turning back to Ralnu. Kaiden in particular walks to the forefront.
Kaiden: I think I speak for all of us when I say we're up for the task. From this point on...
Everyone: WE ARE THE HOPEBRINGERS!!
Ralnu seems proud as the newly christened Hopebringers cheer before him. This second coming would be fruitful.
Ralnu: Now then, I have some advice for you Hopebringers. A way to stop Tobura.
Taikari: And that is...?
Ralnu: It's...complicated to say the least. How much more backstory are all of you willing to endure?
Trent: Five minutes' worth for me I guess.
Gralnin: Two minutes.
Ralnu: That's enough time for me. Prepare for a shocking revelation.
Ralnu breathes in to himself before looking towards the Hopebringers.
Ralnu: This galaxy...is the product of what we call the Titan. A godlike being who formed the planets and the magical spirits.
Everyone seems to be in shock, with cries of "I knew it!" and "This is a disappointing creation story".
Ralnu: After the genesis part, the history gets a bit muddy. Some say the Titan went to sleep in the center of the galaxy. Other theories say he conducted various experiments before doing so. Some say he departed entirely!
Elina: Are you asking us to find a god?
Ralnu: ...pretty much. I fear that the tide of undeath is too powerful for even we magical spirits to stop. Every mortal kill means another soldier for them. The only way to stop this is to see if the legends are true.
Kaiden, seemingly agreeing with Ralnu, turned towards the others. Despite them having not picked a leader yet, he felt confident in addressing them.
Kaiden: What other options do we have anyways? Throw an army at Tobura and hope we win? Assassinate her directly? Desperate times call for desperate measures. And I'm not one to back down!
Everyone cheers in response to Kaiden's words as he smirks. He knew the battles ahead would be tough.
----
Within the Dextective office, Katana is moving into a small room the group set aside for her. It's a bit dirty, but she sighs in response. Everyone had to start somewhere.
Katana: Looks like this'll be my home for now. Maybe these Dextectives'll help me out.
After putting her stuff away, Katana walked downstairs to the main floor, sitting down on a couch. Nearby, Melroar and Gekku are arm wrestling, with Gekku landing the winning blow. Melroar grunts as Gekku gets up, boasting.
Gekku: Looks like I win again! Maybe you shouldn't have retired from wrestling Melroar.
Melroar: I retired for a good reason. You're such a try-hard.
Katana, rolling her eyes, walks over to the table, and puts her elbow down. She glares at Gekku intensely, with the Greninja coughing slightly in response.
Gekku: You wanna try me?
Katana: Maybe I do. You seem like you're bluffing.
Gekku: B-bluffing?!?! I'll show you!
Katana and Gekku begin to arm wrestle, with Melroar watching. At that point, Torv enters the room, curiously looking.
Torv: Seriously? Gekku's arm wrestling again?
Melroar: You know him. He's uber competitive.
The camera focuses on Katana and Gekku, staring intensely at each other. The tension in the room is high, with Gekku quivering. After some time, his arm gives way as Katana smirks.
Katana: Just as I thought.
Katana gets up from the table as Gekku sits in disbelief. He didn't expect to lose.
Gekku: I've...never lost an arm wrestle...
Melroar: Maybe you shouldn't have retired from professional arm wrestling.
Gekku: Sh...shut up!
----
Back on Taikari's ship, Kaiden and Taikari are standing opposite each other as the rest of the Hopebringers are off doing their own things.
Taikari: So you're our leader then?
Kaiden: I guess. Someone had to take up the position after all.
Taikari: Self-sacrifice. That's noble of you.
Kaiden: I mean, wouldn't you have wanted to lead? You did kill the Soul Grazer after all.
Taikari puts her hand on Kaiden's shoulder, smirking.
Taikari: Tobura's your enemy first and foremost. It's only fitting that you lead the charge against her.
Kaiden smirks in response, gripping his left hand.
Kaiden: Then I will lead the charge. We'll find this Titan, reawaken them, and bring Tobura the punishment she deserves!
The episode fades to black, but there is a post-credits scene...
----
Meld can be seen in a cave of sorts, looking down at it.
Meld: Got into another scrap?
???: You know it. She was too tough.
The camera pans behind Meld to show the Spiritwalker submerged in a pool of water. His body can't really be seen, and his head is concealed by a damaged helmet.
Meld: I told you to spend more time training in netherspace.
Spiritwalker: Maybe I should've. But for now, I better heal up here.
Meld: A good choice. You want me to take off your helmet?
Spiritwalker: Might as well. Nobody's around to see me anyways.
Meld leans over to the Spiritwalker, pulling his helmet off. The camera is positioned in such a way that his true identity cannot be seen.
Meld: Jeez, you took quite the beating.
Spiritwalker: That bitch is tough.
Nearby, a small communications device can be seen ringing.
Spiritwalker: Don't answer it.
Meld: Why?
Spiritwalker: I can't reveal the truth yet.
Meld: Wouldn't they be worried?
Spiritwalker: They're good people. They can work fine on their own.
The camera pans over to the communications device. The number 210618 can be seen on it as the camera fades to black slowly.
==Trivia==
*Torv, Melroar, and Gekku's Pokémon species were chosen due to them being 's favorite Pokémon: Torterra, Incineroar, and Greninja.
Category:Episodes
Category:Ghostverse Adventures