//------------------------------// // Chapter One: The Ten Meet // Story: Guilt of a Phantom: New Destinies // by Crepusculo //------------------------------// Sorry this took a while, been busy with other things and after I had the time my muse just wouldn't come visit me. The DBZ watching binge helped, kind of. Anyway here is the next chapter. Ch 1-The Gathering For a long time Jack stared at the scene before him, slowly processing what he had just witnessed within the last few minutes. And after careful analysis of the sequence of events there were only five words that could sum it up accurately. “Yeah, we are all screwed.” “Huh? What the hell do you mean by that?” Boruto asked as he turned towards older boy standing a few feet away and right next to that... thing. “Well...” Jack began pausing to take off his Fenton earphones as Ember's hit song stopped and pocketed them. Running a hand over his hair he looked over the group in front of him, four of them on their backs. A strained smile on his lips as he looked back at Boruto. “Where should I start?” A growl was Boruto's reply, being the only one really paying any attention to him as the other four were tending to those on their backs. Jack merely gave him a blank look with a fake smile as he held up a finger. “Well, first off. ALL of you were screaming like little girls watching a horror movie.” Boruto blushed at as Jack pointed at him, his sister, and his friend. “You three however got a hold of yourselves, huddle together with weapons drawn and whispered a game plan to each other while keeping an eye out for trouble. It's obvious that you had some kind of military training and knew how to keep calm under pressure. So points for you on that.” Jack praised but Boruto didn't care for it and kept on glaring at him. Shrugging Jack point at the red head boy wearing a lab coat whose head was lying in Sarada's lap. “That one however kept screaming as he tried to turn and run, only to trip on his own two feet and knock the other red head,” Jack point at the boy in the mage outfit in a similar position as Dexter, but his head was on Himawari's lap instead, “into purple girl while lab coat stumbled into blue girl.” Jack pointed at said girls, both on the ground with their limbs twitching every now and then as they foamed at the mouth. Both their heads lying in the lap of the puffy haired girl who looked frantic as she tried to get them to talk to her. Behind her the yellow and red haired girl looked-on conflict and unsure on what to do as she looked at the trio before her while occasionally taking glances at the youngest girl in their group. Looking closely Jack could see the fear in her eyes every time they looked at the girl, making no attempt to keep herself from shuddering. Jack couldn't help but laugh at what happened despite his own fear of the small girl welling up inside him. “Blue girl pulled lab coat into a bone crushing and suffocating hug out of fear while purple girl got knocked down along with the other red head and somehow both of his hands ended up on her chest..... Lucky little bastard.” Jack muttered the last part to himself, thankfully no one heard him. “And man did she go nuts over that! Just shot right up on to her feet while holding the kid up with both her hands and started to strangle the poor boy.” “She does seem to be the crazy type...” Boruto said as he looked over to the mentioned purple girl, only to look away as Adagio leveled a harsh glare at him as he had said it out loud. “Well IF she is the crazy type then your sister is the scary type.” Jack shot back with a nervous and strained smile, taking a few steps back, keeping his eyes on said sister. “HEY WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH MY SISTER, YOU PRICK!?” Boruto yelled at Jack and began to marched towards him. Or rather he would've if that 'thing' hadn't been floating so close to him. “I-I mean she tried to stop those two girls.” “True but having failed to get them to listen to her, she did the whole 'tremble with rage' thing and then her eyes changed color with veins bulging all around her eyes and looking all scary.” Jack emphasized by pointing at his own eyes. “And then she raised both her hands with only her index fingers up and went all 'Fist of the North Star' on those two.” “Uuuhhh.” Boruto gave him a blank stare, completely lost at this point. “It's a comic from where I'm from about this guy in a post-apocalyptic world where he protects people from tyrants and bandits using a fighting style that's a lot like what your sister did.” Jack explained, unable to keep himself from mimicking the moves from the comic. “Oh.” “Except the people he jabbed and poked would explode from the inside out, their blood, guts and other parts flying everywhere! One huge bloody and horrible deadly explosion!” Jack added as he demonstrated by poking the middle of his chest and with both of his hands stimulated the best he could of it exploding from the inside. He even made the noises that would be associated with it to the best of his abilities. Looking around Jack saw that Boruto, his friend, puffy hair and bacon head were all staring at him, all wide eyed and pale with their mouths open in horror. They all slowly turned mechanically to look at the young girl, who was currently rubbing the boy's neck as he lay in her lap, her hand glowing a faint green. Feeling their eyes on her, she looked up and around with a cute, puzzled expression. “What?” The seemingly harmless girl asked as she looked at each one of them. “....Uh....” Bacon head squeaked out, looking even paler as she took a few steps back. “NOTHING!” Puffy hair said instantly with a very high pitch, giving the girl a strained smile. “Ye-yeah Himawari-chan, it's nothing to worry about.” The siblings' friend said with a hollow tone as she looked at ground, not feeling like meeting the girl's gaze. “....Yeah....No-nothing.” Boruto said devoid of all life and emotion, his eyes blank as he couldn't help but envision his own violent death thanks to what Jack had said. “Oh I was just telling your brother about how what you did with your fingers just now was so scary similar to the fictional martial arts 'Fist of the North Star.'” Jack informed the girl, right out ignoring the looks of horror from everyone else and their frantic attempts to silently tell him to shut his trap. A sadistic smirk was his answer. “All that's missing is for them to blow up from the inside out on every part you hit them.” “WE'RE GONNA BLOW UP!?” Sonata screamed as she finally regained her wits and clearly heard most of the conversation. She sat up so fast that her head collided with Adagio’s chin and was unfazed as she tried to unsuccessfully get on her feet and walk. But after a few steps she gave up and just sat where her rump had landed and began wailing. “WHY GOD!? WHY!? What did I do to deserve this? Was it selling Adagio’s phone numbers and emails to people on the internet?” “WHA!?” Adagio screamed and wincing in pain with tears leaked out her eyes as she tried to find a way to sooth her tongue she had bitten thanks to Sonata's thick skull. She would kill her later for what she did. 'She could have at least been more selective of who she sold them too!' If she was going to be pestered by random males of all ages over the phone and internet then they better meet her standards, damn it! “Was it taking pictures of Aria when she thinks she's alone in the house and walks around in the nude? Or using them as bribes to get free tacos? Or photoshopping them so more guys would want them?” “WHAT!?” Was the group cry as they all stared at the blue girl, expect for Aria and the two red headed boys as they were lying on their backs and unable to move to even look at her. But they were all sporting bright red blushes, one redhead playing possum while the other reacted out of instinct. Aria, who was still unable to speak, manage to let out a squeak that was followed by a loud and scary snarl as she gathered as much strength she could muster and lunged at Sonata. Seeing her coming Adagio was able to dodge the purple tone missile. Unfortunately for the murder seeking girl she fell flat on her face, her fingers just a few inches from Sonata herself. “Gonna kill you, painfully and slowly.” Aria promised, her words muffled by the dirt below her mouth. Sonata didn't hear or even notice her close encounter with death. “Is it the manga I write and draw and sell over in Japan featuring me, my sisters and the Rainbooms doing stuff together that I can't get into detail because there are kids around?” “Wait you made a Japanese comic about me and my... friends?” Sunset asked out of sheer curiosity that overrode her common sense. And following the blue siren's series of confessions, was now very afraid of what Sonata would say. “Yeah, I love manga and you guys are great source material. You and the shy girl Fluttershy are really popular by the way.” Sonata cheerfully said, her tears drying up instantly at being asked about her hobby and part time career. “Oh, well. That's good to know, I guess.” Sunset muttered as she let out a sigh of relief at the brief response, refusing to process the bit about her and Fluttershy being popular. She could take a guess why, given her past experiences on the internet while researching the human world. How she wishes she could use magic and cast some memory wipe spells on herself. Or create a living virus that hunted down certain sites and individuals. But a mare-turned-high school girl could dream. “Yeah, you two would make a great couple. At least, that's what a lot of the fans think.” Sonata went on with a smile, which then shifted into a thoughtful look as she tap the side of her cheek with an index finger. “At the least, that's the expression I'm getting from all the fan art about you two they keep sending me.” “....Ah...uh... wha?” Sunset stuttered out as her jaw dropped, eyes wide in disbelief as her face glowed a bright red. “I mean, I draw some pretty intense stuff. But damn, some of the fan works make them look like nothing!” Sonata exclaimed. Ignoring the looks she was getting and kept going. “In one fan drawing Fluttershy had you cornered with her friends and they were all ready to-” “WEREN'T YOU AFRAID OF BLOWING UP JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO?” Sunset yelled out, not wanting to hear about it, her face burning for more than one reason, many she would never admit for obvious reasons. Sonata just looked at her confused for a few seconds before it finally clicked. “Oh right....AHHAAHHHAHHAH! I HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR! SO MANY TACOS TO EAT! SO MANY NUDE PHOTOS OF ARIA TO USE AS BRIBES! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! ESPECIALLY NOT FROM BEING BLOW UP FROM THE INSIDE FROM THE BAD TOUCH OF A SCARY LITTLE GIRL!” “Uh, you're not.” Himawari said with a deadpanned stare before looking to the side with a thoughtful expression. “I still need more training before I can do that. Maybe in a year or two, according to grandpa Hiashi.” At that every set of eyes turned to look at the girl with a terrified expression. Some, like Sonata and Sunset, wore it clearly on their face. While others, like Jack, Boruto, and Sarada, masked their features with a strained blank look or smile, but their eyes and cold sweat betrayed them. Aria shot up in sheer fear, having managed to pull herself up by grabbing onto Sonata's shoulders (who was too busy screaming in fear to even notice her), the girl's admission sending a wave of dread through her like an icy cold knife. “....Y-you're jo-joking right? Hima-chan?” Boruto asked with a shaky voice, barely keeping his pitch even as his face turned very pale. He knew the Jyuuken AKA the Gentle Fist style of his mother's clan, the Hyuuga, was known to be one of, if not, the deadliest taijutsu style in the world. Sending one's chakra into an opponent's body with every strike and causing serious or fatal internal damage at worst or paralyzing and blocking chakra flow at best. Sure there were more advanced techniques to deal with foes that attacked from a distance but Boruto never thought it was possible for a Jyuuken user to blow up someone from the inside out. Let alone it being, in the possible near future, his own baby sister. Bad enough she had the Byakugan and could find him no matter where he was And man was she terrifying when she was mad. Something that according to her father and previous two Hokages she had inherited from their late grandmother Kushina. “M-my Hima-chan, you... sure are... talented?” Sarada said slowly and unsure of what to say at this point as her imagine of the perfect and cute little sister was shattered. Now she couldn't help but imagine the girl using her deadly skills on those who had crossed her or her loved ones. Then again it meant less possible competition for Sarada if Himawari helped keep other girls, the shallow one especially, at bay from Boruto. “......” Sunset's mouth moved but no words came out, other than weird sounds as she gave the girl a nervous smile and the thumbs up; legs shaking and looking ready to bolt, flinching as Himawari turned to look at her with a bewildered look. Adagio merely sat where she was, giving off a placate smile which was obviously fake as the sides of lips and eyes twitched so much that one would think her face would crack. When the young girl's gaze landed on her, she suddenly became very interested in a small pebble by her knees. Himaware then looked at the two red boys and saw they were both still out cold. Well, the one in her lap was. The one in Sarada's lap was awake if the gulp he took when she looked at him was any indication. She looked over to Jack, who had been staring out into space with disinterest before meeting her gaze when he felt her eyes on him. He gave her a slightly nervous but cheeky smile, apparently enjoying how everyone else had been reacting to what she admitted. Giving him a small glare of disapproval made him flinch back slightly but he merely laughed it off with a smile. She couldn't tell if he was genuinely not afraid of her, or if he was putting up a front. She then looked over at her two 'victims', both sitting just a few feet away from her. The blue girl had stopped screaming when Himawari locked eyes with her. Or rather, she lost her voice and kept on screaming in silence. Her shoulders were being painfully gripped by several purple fingers, the owner behind Sonata trembling in fear as she very cautiously peeking out from behind the blue siren. The instant their eyes meet Aria let out a squeak and hid right back behind her blue human shield. Himawari let out a long tired sigh as she knew she had to nip this in the bud or else it will turn out like last years class. 'Geez, take out a jounin with one hit during a sparring lesson at school and suddenly everyone is either brown noses you or is too afraid to even look you in the eye.' “Excuse me, uh, Blue Girl I-” “YES MISTRESS, uh DEATH TOUCH! HOW MAY I SERVE YOU MISTRESS DEATH TOUCH!” Sonata yelled out with her voice several notes higher, her pupils now no bigger than pinpoints as she gave Himawari a crazed, terrified smile. Her left eye twitch, with her hands clasped before her and trembling along with the rest of her body. Himawari merely gave her a blank stare before pinching the bridge of her nose and let out another sigh. Barely able to push down the bout of anger she was now re-experiencing again as she muttered out. “Listen, please don't call me mistress or-” “OH NO! OF COURSE YOU WOULDN'T LIKE BEING CALLED MISTRESS!” Sonata wailed out as tears streamed down her face as her fingers dug into her face in terror. “IT'S MASTER RIGHT? YOU WANT TO BE MASTER LADY DEATH TOUCH!” “WHAT!? HELL TO THE NO! LISTEN YOU BLUE DIMWITTED BIM-” Himawari angry retort was cut off by the last thing anyone expected. “POP!” Several loud crackling pops made them all jump, the noise causing the boy in Himawari's lap to sit up in alarm like a spring. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Himawari had decided to look down at him the instant she felt his head move. The end result? The two ten year olds' lips met in a small, innocent and accidental kiss that left them both stunned as they stared into each others' one eye gaze; the optic organs having gone wide with embarrassed shock. Both remained motionless for what felt like an eternity, and the only change they were aware of was their body temperature as both their faces burned bright red. Thankfully the awkward moment was broken by another series of loud crackling pops, causing the pair to break apart as they both jumped at the unexpected noise. They both sat on the dirt in a similar position on their rump and supported by their arms as they stared at each other, a heavy blush on their faces. Negi, having had more than his fair share of accidental kisses, felt he needed to say something. “I-” “WHAT THE HELL MAN!? WHY DID YOU THROW TWO SETS OF FIRECRACKERS SO CLOSE TO US, THAT'S DANGEROUS YA KNOW!?” Boruto yelled, apparently and thankfully having not seen his baby sister lose her first kiss. But now everyone was staring at Jack who stood with a lit lighter in one hand while the other held another bundle of firecrackers the fuse just a few centimeters away from the flame. With a simple shrug he put away the two items and gave the others a devious smirk. “Well how else was I supposed to get everyone's attention while shutting you all up at the same time? And you can thank, or rather, blame my... Well, mentor probably is the best way to describe him if you use the word loosely. Very loosely.” “Your mentor?” Sunset asked out loud, mirroring the thoughts of the others. “Yep, he taught me a whole lot about hunting and how to survive with just my wits. Great teacher but lousy counselor, he actually encouraged me to do the things a teen SHOULDN'T be doing at my age. But at least he tried.” Jack said with a wide smile that slowly fade as he looked away in the distance and features turned grim. “He was also a very sadistic and twisted slave driver when it came to his field lessons. He threw firecrackers at me to wake up, get my attention, catch me by surprise or just for laughs.” While there were many questions on their minds, and a small desire to comfort the teen, Boruto decided for the group to press the conversation forward. “Uh that sounds like it really sucked but why did you throw another bundle? I mean you already had our attention after the first one.” “For reasons.” Jack replied as he looked over to Himawari and Negi with a slight mischievous grin, making them blush as they realized he had seen their kiss. Boruto and others however didn't notice them as they all starred as Jack with anger at his answer, the floating entity behind him being the only reason they didn't jump him. “And they would be?” Sarada asked as she helped the other red head boy, Dexter, stand as she gave Himawari and Negi a quick glance. “My reasons.” Jack simply said with a smirk and chuckled as they all fumed at him. “And while I could stand here all day and laugh my ass off at you guys' banter and bickering, with the youngest girl amongst us being the most deadliest and terrifying, and the perverted blue skined girl (who right now is my favorite, blame my hormones), we need to get back on track.” “Wait a minute!?” Sunset suddenly said and everyone turned to look at her. “Did you bring up that exploding death touch thing that the girl over there can do-” “I said that I can't do it. YET!” “-just to watch us squirm?” “Heh, yeah I did. I figured it would break the ice. Or give me a few laughs.” Jack admitted as he snickered despite the glares he was getting. “I hate you right now ya know?” Boruto said as he flipped Jack the bird. But he just shook his head and gesture to all of them with his arms “And yet that there is another reason we are SCREWED as a group. Not even thirty minutes together and we're already at each other's throats and tried to kill-” “I WASN'T TRYING TO KILL ANYONE!” “-each other. Now, we can stand here and talk about a how big of a jerk I am, OR we can find out a bit more of why Mr. Allseer here summoned us.” Jack said as he gestured to the ghost behind him with his thumb as casually as if he was pointing out the weather. “Okay, and that's another thing. Why aren't you freaking out over that THING!?” Boruto shouted the him before flinching away, along with the others, as the ghost's many eyes turned to look at them. Jack merely raised an eyebrow at him as if he were a child being silly. He turn to look at silent Allseer for a brief moment before looking at back the others. “Well for one thing I lived and grew up around ghosts all my live, met some good, some bad and some creepy ones. And this guy here is not even on my top 10 list of the freakiest and scariest ghosts I've ever seen.” “What could possibly be creepier or freakier than that thing?” Sonata asked as she was now trying to pry off Aria's hands of her shoulders. Jack just stood there as his mind drift back to one event he would never forget. **** One day, back when he was three and a half, his father had taken him out for a walk around the city while his mother was at an appointment. As they neared the park a male ghost appeared out of an alley in panic. Screams of a female in pain came from the same alley, worrying the two Masters. “Someone help! My wife's having a baby! I need a doctor!” The ghost screamed as he began to hyperventilate, more out of habit than the actual need to breath. Vlad grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him to get his attention and calm him down slightly. “Sir! SIR! Listen to me. There is a hospital nearby that treats both humans and ghosts!” Vlad explained to the ghost as he began to calm down and listen. When he was sure he had his attention he continued. “Now it would be faster if you were to fly there and get help. At full speed you should be back in no less than eight minutes.” “But what about my wife!?” “Don't worry about her my good sir, I, Vlad Masters, will stay with her until you return.” “Oh, thank you sir! Thank you!” The ghost cried as he flew away while Vlad turned to his son and kneed down to his level. “Now Jack, daddy has to help out with the miracle of life.. uh, afterlife... whatever. Now, I need you to stay out here and not come in or help me in anyway. Understand?” Vlad smiled at Jack's nod as he began to suck on his thumb. “Good, now stay here.” With that Vlad entered the alley to assist the female ghost in labor. Jack was treated to the sight of several green tentacles flailing out the alley, with his father held in one of them as he screamed while being slammed into the walls and sidewalk. And Jack just stood there, sucking his thumb, just outside the range of being hit by either the tentacles or his own father. “Ooof! Jack help!” Begged Vlad as he tried to free himself before he was lifted up by the tentacle. “....” Jack just kept on sucking his thumb his eyes following his father into the air and back to the ground. “Ow! Jack please help me!” “...” “OH DEAR HEAVENS! For the love of god Jack! Please help daddy!” “...Daddy told me not to help.” “.AHH” Vlad screamed as the tentacle retreated back into the alley and all went silent for a quarter of a minute before Vlad let out another scream as he was thrown out of the alley. But there was something in his arms. Jack went up to his father and instantly recognized what was in his arms despite its unusual appearance. “BABY!” Jack cried out happily as he jumped up and down and pointed at the squid like human based ghost infant, giving it an alien appearance. Just then the father and several ghost paramedics arrived. “Oh, right. I forgot to tell you that my wife transforms into a tentacle creature whenever she's in pain or in distress. My bad.” The husband sheepishly said as he went over to Vlad who glared at him. “Yes. That would've been extremely helpful to know before hand!” He couldn't help but snap at the father with a glare. But the sounds of infantile gibberish and coos drew his attention, and as he looked down at the creature his eyes soften and creaked a small smile. “Still, though. I must admit that the sight of this new being makes that whole horrendous ordeal worth-” Vlad didn't get to finish as the baby suddenly jumped at his face and wrapped it's tentacles around his head. Vlad then jumped to his feet and began running around as he tried to pry the baby off him. Despite his mouth being muffled one could clearly hear him yelling 'Get him off me!' over and over. Jack just stood there out of the way and sucking his thumb as he watched his father being chased around by the father ghost and the paramedics. This went on for hours until the mother recovered and put an end to it. **** “SO many things that I don't even want to go into it right now. Or ever.” Jack stated with a lifeless and blank expression as he now had a different perspective on that event, as well as other, similar events. The group merely looked at him, unsure what to say as they took in his words and current expression. All except for one. “Tentacle monsters.” Sonata guessed as she stared at Jack who grimaced at her words. “Tentacle ghost monsters.” Jack said with a flat tone, looking very uncomfortable at moment. “....” “....” “....Can you tell m-” “NO!” Everyone cried out at Sonata before she could finish her question, the siren looking slightly hurt and pouted with her arms crossed. “MOVING FOR THE LOVE OF FUDGING GOD ON!” Jack said rather loudly to draw their attention again and gestured once more towards Allseer. “I believe Allseer here has some things to chat about with us. Now gather around children. That is unless you're scared?” That last sentence was quite true but the way he said it along with the smug smirk made something snap inside of them and felt driven to prove him wrong. They all took baby steps towards the two, Sarada and Himawari staying with their respective redheads just in case, while Aria and Sonata were helped by Adagio and Sunset respectively as they made their way over. Once they were as close as they were willing to get to the ghost, Jack turned to look at him and motioned for him to speak. “Now that you are all done with your episodes we can get to the matter at hand.” The entity spoke to them telepathically which only served to freak them out, minus Jack. The way his many eyes all over his body darted around didn't help. Nor did his two blind ones, looking forwards unmoving and right at them. And then there was the way the six orbs surrounding him flickered with his every word as they shifted colors. “First off, let me apologize for how my extensions have behaved towards you. I created these orbs to act as my messengers, albeit I have limited their abilities and allowed them to develop their own personalities. But still, they share some similar traits.” “That's right!” “We are all our own individual...... orb thing.” “We love you daddy!” “I just want to say something and be a part of this!” “You guys are gross, I peeked into your thoughts! Shame on you! SHAME!” “I have no comment.” “Quiet my children.” Allseer then paused to give them a chance to ask questions as he had foreseen, but they gave none so he continued. “Now, to recap about myself and the situation. I am the Allseer. And as most of my orbs have explained to you, I am an entity that has existed since the beginning of time. And along with many other entities, I was charged with, or rather born for the task of watching everything. And by that I mean EVERYTHING. The past, present and future. Every single possible variation, all outcomes, the minor and major factors responsible, critical decisions and so on. And I have ran into a very troubling problem.” “This keystone reality you mentioned?” Sunset asked out loud, having muster a bit of courage to talk to the Allseer, and barely managed to kept herself from shrieking when his eyes looked at her. “That is correct,. You see, as most of you may know, there are an infinite number of alternate universes and timelines, all stemming from the creation of the first original universe. The best way I can describe it is that you try and picture a seed that explosively sprouts limbs that spread and branch out in all possible directions, indicating the different events, decisions and such that lead to the various outcomes and created a new reality and timeline. And amongst those infinite realities and timelines there are ones that I like to call Keystone Realities. Think of it as a really big and thick branch or root, one that is directly connected to the core of the tree with many other branches or roots attached to it. And, unfortunately, this particular reality has run into a bad patch of soil.” Allseer explained as he looked over the group he noticed that a most of them seemed to understand what he was saying. For the most part, as most of them still gave him blank looks. “To elaborate. A series of events and actions of others in this reality has caused, or will cause something to occur that will lead to it's total destruction. And by extension, the destruction of all other realities.” The entity stated as he took in their reactions of shock and fear. “And what is this something that we need to stop?” Boruto piped up with a hint of disbelief in his voice, a small part of him thinking this was all a really weird dream. Allseer remained silent for several moments before saying the one last thing one would have expected of a self-proclaimed all-seeing entity. “I do not know.” That got looks of utter disbelief and outrage from the entire group as more than one of them exploded. “WHAT!? HOW IN THE FLIPPING HELL DO YOU NOT KNOW, YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL-SEEING YA KNOW!” Boruto yelled enraged. “THAT’S RIGHT! SHANNARO!?” Sarada and Boruto yelled, the girl's volume causing her red haired 'charge' to wince in a pain as he covered his poor ears. “All-seeing entity my purple butt.” Muttered Aria under her breath. “Your fat purple butt.” Sonata chirped out loud, earning her a smack from Aria. “OW!” “How about you all shut up and let him explain, alright?” Jack sternly address the group and gave them all a harsh glare that managed to shut them up for the moment. He turned back to Allseer. “Please continue.” “It is the fact that I cannot see that is troubling, and this is cause for great concern. Even if a timeline is meant to lead to it's own destruction I am still able to clearly see it and what set that course of events in motion. But for this one, try as might, all I see is pitch black darkness. No matter how far or deep I see into it's future, past or present, darkness obscures my sight. And I cannot find the source of it. All I see is darkness consuming everything, until there is nothing but pitch black.” Allseer said with his tone getting more grim and ominous with each word. “Unless of course you ten are in that reality and alter the course of events.” “And how exactly are we supposed to help? What is it about us that will change anything?” Sunset asked, now very curious as to what Allseer was talking about. “What are we supposed to do?” “Your presence and actions, and only yours will illuminate the darkness and allow me to see what is the source of it all. But for the moment, all I can see right now are dark and vague images.” Allseer replied, his tone giving a hint of life to it as he spoke. “But it is only by following your own beliefs and hearts, as well as working together, that you can you accomplish this and eventually save this reality and all others. I cannot tell you what do, this is something you must figure out on your own by your own wills.” Looks of awe came over the groups' faces. Allseer's words inspiring something within them, a sense of pride of being chosen and determination to fulfill their divine duty. However, someone just had to ruin the mood. “So, basically you're dumping your problems onto us, and pretty much leaving us in dark like a sadistic tough love camp counselor; or scoutmaster leaving a bunch kids in the middle of some scary woods with nothing but the clothes of our backs while having us fend for ourselves?” Sonata said as her eyebrows knitted together as she thought about it, and came to this disillusioning conclusion. She then noticed the looks everyone was giving her, clearly displeased with her. “What?” “I had the same thoughts, but I wasn't going to bring it up.” Jack chimed in as he gave the girl an amused smile at her airhead antics. “But I seriously have to ask: Why them! Me I can understand, seeing this endangered reality is an alternative timeline of mine and all that, but what about the rest of them?” “Wait, what do you mean?” Sunset asked as she looked at Jack, surprised that there was someone amongst their group, aside from the sirens, that could relate to her on this matter. “The reality that is endangered is one in which the Earth and Equestria have met and are connected via dimensional tears. Jack here is already aware that this version of Earth is following a different timeline than his own. The same for you and the Sirens with Equestria.” Allseer pointed at them all as he spoke before pointing at the redhead next to Sarada. “The same for young Dexter here but his timeline is vastly different from Jack's. As for the rest you, your worlds are connected to that reality due to the offspring of the Tree of Life which have influenced both your worlds greatly.” “Wait, are you talking about the World Tree at Mahora?” Negi spoke up with surprise in his voice. “And the Shinjuu?”Himawari asked, remembering what her father told her when she asked about Kurama's origins. “Yes. Both trees are the children of the Tree of Life which resides within the Ghost Zone, which Jack here will tell you about later. But know that, should something had to the Tree of Life, than your own worlds will suffer greatly as a result. I won't go into details, but it isn't pretty.” “Okay, so not only is the fate of our respective worlds on our shoulders, but also the fates of infinite realities and countless lives.” Jack said with disbelief with a strained, fake smile as he shook his head. “And not only that, but we are basically going in blind; not knowing what to do, what to look out for, who to keep an eye on or anything. Is that about right?” “Well, yes, actually. That is about right.” Replied Allseer rather casually, not the least bit intimidated by Jack's glare as the boy sighed in frustration. “That's... that's really a dick move on your part, regardless of your reasoning.” Jack muttered out loud as he looked right into Allseer's only set of blind eyes. “But really, isn't there anything you can give us? Any advice or clue?” “Why yes, a few things actually.” That got everyone's attention as they looked at the entity and were carefully listening to whatever he had to say. “First off, Jack and Sunset are at the moment the best candidates to lead you, given their knowledge of the three worlds. Second keep an eye on their current protectors, such as Phantom and the Elements as well as major individuals as many of the events will revolve around them. Third seek out the Feathered Ones and obtain their greatest treasure. And finally don't die on your way to them.” “Now hold on a minute! Why are thos- Wait what was the last part?” Adagio began, having been solely focused on the first sentence until she heard the word die. Everyone just looked at Allseer, breaking out in cold sweat with fearful expression. All except for Jack who gave him a frown as he had a feeling where this was going. “Please tell me you're not go-” Jack paused when Allseer waved one of his hands and a flash of green light drew his attention to the ground. Beneath them a vortex of swirling green light opened up, eerily wailing coming out from it. Some sort of force kept them in the air as the vortex spread out until they were all in it's radius. Everyone looked down in horror and let out screams of fear and panic. All except for Jack who calmly and slowly looked up from the vortex that was about to eat him up and gave Allseer a blank look before saying two simple words that summed up how he felt about the spirit at the moment. “You dick.” “I know.” Was Allseer's reply as he released his hold over them and let the group drop into the vortex, their screams overshadowing the wails before the vortex closed, leaving the all-seeing entity alone as he continued his job of watching everything. And he could see that things were changing, little by little, but they were changing. “But will it be enough?”