Chapter 4: Fragments of Truthed

The flickering green aura from John Stewart's ring cast long shadows across the cracked pavement as William leaned against a charred lamppost. The survivors were still huddled nearby, whispering anxiously as John kept watch. William studied the Lantern's disciplined demeanor, calculating the best way to press forward.

"This world..." William began, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, but his words carried weight. "It hasn't changed, you know. It's always been chaotic."

John glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "You've noticed it too, huh? This isn't normal chaos. Something's wrong. Feels like reality got smashed together like pieces of a broken mirror."

William nodded slowly. "Yeah, but it's more than that. It's not just chaos—it's wrong. Like the rules of the world are breaking apart, reshaping into something... unnatural."

John tilted his head, intrigued. "Go on."

William reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone he'd scavenged earlier. The screen was cracked but still functional. "I found this earlier. Thought it might have some answers." He unlocked the device and began scrolling through the photos and files he'd uncovered while in the digital realm.

Turning the phone toward John, he first showed him a series of headlines about Beach City. Pictures of the Crystal Gems standing victorious against colossal monsters flashed on the screen.

"Beach City," William said. "Small coastal town, usually quiet... except for these guys." He tapped the image of Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl posing heroically in front of a defeated beast. "Looks like they've been dealing with alien-level threats for years."

John frowned, his ring scanning the image. "Those don't look like anything I've seen in this sector. They're not Lantern-classified."

William swiped to the next set of photos, showing the destruction of Raccoon City. Smoke-filled skies, streets swarming with mutated creatures, and desperate survivors being airlifted out dominated the screen.

"And this? Raccoon City. Bioweapons. Zombies. Chaos. Sound familiar?"

John leaned closer, narrowing his eyes. "Yeah... these creatures look similar to the things we've been fighting here." He paused, processing the connection. "You're saying these monsters came from Raccoon City?"

William smirked faintly. "I'm saying it's not a coincidence. Whatever's happening here is pulling things from... other places. Other realities."

John's expression darkened. "That explains the alien tech we've been finding in random spots. The Corps thought it might be a dimensional anomaly, but this is bigger than we realized."

William swiped to the final set of images: Gravity Falls. News clips of bizarre events in the small Oregon town scrolled past. Grainy photos of creatures like gnomes, multi-headed animals, and glowing symbols appeared on the screen.

"And then there's this place," William said. "Gravity Falls. Doesn't look dangerous, right? But it's wrong. Look at it long enough, and you realize it's the kind of weird that means trouble."

John crossed his arms, his emerald gaze locked on William. "So, you're telling me all of this—Raccoon City's monsters, Beach City's Gems, and whatever's going on in Gravity Falls—is connected?"

William nodded, his voice low and deliberate. "Not just connected. Combined. Fused. Something—or someone—has smashed these worlds together. And now, the rules are breaking."

John processed this for a moment, his jaw tightening. "If that's true, then whatever's causing this isn't done yet. This chaos... it's just the beginning."

William pocketed the phone, his smirk returning. "Exactly. The question is, do we survive the fallout... or do we find a way to use it?"

John gave him a sharp look, his ring glowing slightly brighter. "You talk like someone with experience handling chaos."

William shrugged, his tone light but his words calculated. "Let's just say I've lived through a lot worse. Chaos and I... we're old friends."

---

The air grew tense as the distant sound of growls and shuffling footsteps reached their ears. The survivors stirred nervously, and John's ring flared brighter as he moved to stand between them and the approaching threat.

"You armed?" John asked William without turning.

William smirked. "Always."

He felt the system hum in his mind, offering him the option to transform again. But for now, he held back. Let the Lantern do his hero thing—he'd step in when it was necessary, and when it suited his plans.

As the shadows closed in, William couldn't help but grin. He had the information, the time, and now, the perfect ally.

For now, he'd play his part. But deep down, he knew this fused world was a game waiting to be rewritten—and he intended to write himself as the one pulling the strings.