Preparations

April 1st, 10:16 AM

Edge of the city.

As Jinn sat in his tent, sharpening his sword, known among his men as {Death Cutter}, a fellow warrior walked in.

As he looked up, he saw a familiar face. It was Ed, who was a bit sweaty, perhaps from running.

"Ah, Ed. What brings you here?"

"I came to report, Killjoy. Most of us are ready. Trace is scouting the area one last time."

"I see. Thank you. Tell her to take a quick break whenever she comes back. We need all of our people well rested if we wanna win."

"But... It's just Matt and a few other losers. Surely, we can win very easi-"

Jinn pointed his katana at Ed, and looked him in the eye. It just barely missed his nose.

"We will not underestimate Reaper and his men. Got it? Either fight with your all or fuck off."

"Y-Yessir."

Jinn sheathed his katana, and stood up.

"Good. Any signs of Oliver? Or Nicole?"

"Uhh... From what I remember, no sir. But we believe that they joined Matt's forces instead of ours."

Jinn sighed, and walked out of the tent. Right outside it, was something that could only be described as an army. Almost all of the kids from the A.C.T.P. and some soldiers as well, prepared by Alfred.

He grinned.

He was confident.

He's was gonna beat that motherfucker, Anderson Matt!

"Alrighty... Hey, bring Andrew and Bund here. I'm gonna go give one helluva speech."

"On it, sir."

When the two got there, Andrew used his Agily to make a giant rock pillar Jinn could stand on, and he got up with Bund.

"Make my voice louder, so the whole camp can hear me. But no further, got it?"

"...Alright."

Jinn cleared his throat, then spoke up.

"Hello? Can everyone hear me alright?"

Everyone below looked up at him, and he could hear some people talking.

"I'm gonna guess that's a yes. So, listen up. From now on, we who have Agilies will use our codenames. If you don't have one, come up with one, as soon as you can."

Killjoy sat down, and started swinging his legs from the top of the pillar, like a little kid.

"The soldiers are, as we talked before, in teams from Alpha to Echo... Each team has about fifty soldiers, blah blah blah... Anyway, that's all the boring stuff."

Then, Killjoy jumped down from the pillar. It wasn't a small jump either, it was about 20 meters, or 65 feet.

Everyone watching gasped, but right before hitting the ground, he caught himself with his Agily.

"Now, look. We're here for one reason. To... Uhm, safely dispose of Reaper. That's basically it, right? So, that's exactly what we're gonna do."

Killjoy then unsheathed his katana, and pointed it upward.

"Listen here! Whenever my right hand, Trace, gets here, we're gonna start our attack! Got it?!"

Everyone in the camp screamed, at the tops of their lungs, "Sir, yessir!"

"Good!"

He then sheathed his katana again, and waved at Bund, also known as Soundwave now, to stop using his Agily, before turning to Ed, or Quake, and asking him something.

"Hey. I forgot to ask before but, are there any signs of Sam?"

"Uh, no, I don't think so. We haven't been able to contact him at all... Not him, and not the other two either. They haven't showed up at the A.C.T.P. since this all started."

Killjoy clenched his fist.

"Goddamn it. Where is he..."

He then remembered something. He also has his number, from way back, when his Agily first started manifesting.

Killjoy pulled out his phone, and quickly called him.

After ringing a few times... He actually picked up.

"Holy shi... Sam? That you, man?"

"Ah, 'sup Jinn? How ya' doing?"

"Dude, I'm kinda about to fight a war and shit... Where are you? We've been trying to recruit you for like two weeks... But we couldn't find ya'..."

"Ahh, I see... Is that why I was suddenly so popular? My phone kept ringing and ringing, man..."

"Yeah, I guess..."

"Well, anyway. Sorry to say, but uh, you're a tad bit late."

Killjoy felt his face getting red with anger, and he clenched his phone in his hand.

"...What?"

"Well, y'know. As I said, I've been popular lately... And, there was just someone who got to me sooner."

Killjoy's hand was pressing down on his phone so hard, it was about to pop open.

"Hey, Sam... Who... Who got to you sooner...? Who the fu... Who the fuck is it?!"

"Sam, y'say? That name's outdated... I go by uh... What was it... Ah, Demon, was it? Am I right, Reaper?"

The ground started trembling around Killjoy, and objects were floating near him as well.

"What the fuck... Did you just say...?"

On the other side of the line could be heard some rustling, and then a familiar, but hated voice came through.

"Ah? Jinn? Jinny? That you, buddy?"

Now, not only were object flying around, but also some people started to feel lighter, and the tent behind him started tremble.

"It's you... Matt!!"

"Long time no see! Or uh, talk. Anyway... I'm not Matt. I'm Reaper, dumbass... Get it right, okay?"

The random objects kept making circles around Killjoy.

"How fucking dare you... Even mutter my name?! And call me a dumbass?! You fucking worm!!"

"Woah, Kinky. Calm down. You're scarin' me, shit..."

"Where are you?! I'll come kill you myself!"

"Yeah, there you go again... There's children around, asshole, watch your tone! Anyways~ I'll come see you soon, Jinny. Don't you worry."

"Oh? You'll come to me? I guess you want to die, just like your father? Is that it?"

After a few moments of silence, followed by Reaper muting the phone's microphone, he finally spoke up after a while.

"...Right."

"Oh, now you're quiet? Hahaha! Did I scare you or what?! Fucking loser! I'll kill you brutally, just like I fucking promised!"

"...Ah, sorry, what? Quiet? No, no. I just caught a little rascal running around us. Your little... Girlfriend, I'd guess? That's what was reported to me, anyway."

All of the objects flying around Killjoy suddenly dropped to the ground.

"...What... Did you say...?"

After a few more moments of silence, Reaper once again spoke up.

"Ah, yeah. I'd recognize the white hair anywhere. That's Chloe, for sure."

"...You... You... You fucking asshole!! Scum! How fucking dare you!! Even lay hands on her?!"

"Yeah, yeah, boo-hoo. Keep cryin', loser."

"I'll fucking murder you!!"

Reaper could be heard laughing, then responded after he stopped.

"Just try, bitch."

After that, he hung up.

As Killjoy was pacing around the camp, Trace suddenly came back, running.

"Chl... No, Trace! How'd you escape?! Did he hurt you in any way?!"

"No, he... He let me go..."

"That asshole... Did what...? I'll surely kill him... I'll kill him... I will..."

Killjoy then screamed at Soundwave, who was sitting down on a chair, eating a sandwich.

"Hey! Soundwave! Start it up again!"

"Yeah, yeah..."

Poor Soundwave...

Killjoy then, once again, announced to the whole camp.

"Everyone! We're going! All men, go east! That's where that assh... Reaper is!"

After his troops started moving, he went up to Trace, and spoke to her.

"Hey... You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Good, that's good. Sorry, but I meant to ask... Did you, by chance, see how many troops he has?"

"Yeah, actually. About... 300...? 400? Or something like that. I didn't really see them all, I think..."

"I see..."

He smiled. That meant that he has more men overall, with about 250 soldiers, and everyone from the A.C.T.P.

"Ah, one more thing. They all looked like... Kids? Younger than us, too..."

"Oh, is that so? Well, thank you."

Killjoy was really grinning now. He was barely holding himself from laughing out loud. This meant one thing only...

Victory was guaranteed!

Really, he could barely hold his laughter. Knowing that he was gonna completely destroy Reaper made his heart dance.

Well, anyway. Killjoy's army kept advancing forward, towards presumed victory.

"Seems like we're gonna stick to plan A. Trace, please gather around everyone who can control metal."

"Ah, we're still going with that?"

"Yup. Operation {Iron Golem} is in full effect."

A few kilometers away.

Also on the edge of the city.

"What do you mean you 'let her go'?!"

"Exactly that... But, c'mon, Fountain... It's all part of the plan."

"How so?! You just gave them one of their best fighters back!"

"I needed her to give Killjoy fake information."

"...Well... How?"

Reaper chuckled, and clapped his hands.

As he did that, about 200 kids suddenly appeared all around them.

"These guys were invisible the whole time. We're up 200 unaccounted for men."

Fountain sighed.

"C'mon, Reaper... Were you always this smart...?"

"Who knows. Let's just say that my brain had a long time to think about things, 'kay?"

Reaper clapped again, and everyone turned invisible again. He then called out to Disappear, who soon appeared near him.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"There's my official backpack and weapon supply. How's everyone holding up?"

"Pretty good. Begone still hasn't returned, but he messaged Anemo a while ago saying that all is fine."

"Perfect. Now... Hmm, let me think..."

Reaper thought for a second, revised the plan in his head, then spoke up.

"Alright, got it. Go get Anemo, Tree and... Nevermind, she's already here. Go get those two."

"Be right back."

When Disappear... Well, disappeared, Reaper turned to Fountain.

"I need you."

"...Y'know ,that sounds cheesy. Straight from a rom-com."

"No, not that kind of need. I meant your Agily."

"Ah, so you don't want me that way?"

"I'd love to flirt right now, but if I stop thinking about this plan and how to execute it, I'll fuck it up, and badly... The answer's 'Yes, I do', by the way."

Disappear then, y'know, appeared, and tapped Reaper on the shoulder. He then turned around.

"There y'are."

"Hey, I got them."

"Thank you. Well, I believe this is the first time we've talked face-to-face in a while, huh... Welcome to our army, Nicole and Oliver! Or, Anemo and Tree... But whatever..."

The two stood there, awaiting for whatever Reaper had to say.

"Anyway! I need your guys' Agilies!"

Fountain sighed, "That's not how you worded it before..."

"Well, that's why we're here... But how?"

Reaper chuckled.

"I'm glad you asked, Anemo! Tell me, what happens when you add water to a sapling?"

"It, uhm, grows?"

"Great answer, Tree! Now, what happens when said water is extremely powerful?"

"It... Makes the tree grow even more?"

"Perfect! Now, add electricity in the mix! What happens?"

"Well, the sapling usually dies...", said Tree, a bit sad.

"But what if it's perfectly controlled electricity?"

The two sat and thought for a second, then Fountain answered for them.

"...It grows more and faster?"

"Bingo!"

"Wait, I'm kinda stuck... What's the plan?"

"That's easy. Tree is gonna make us a, well, a tree, Fountain and me are gonna make it grow incredibly fast, and using your Agily and mine... We're gonna have a fucking golem!"

Fountain then asked, a bit confused.

"Like... In that videogame that we played?"

"Exactly, Fountain. In short, I'm ripping them off! I'm even stealing the name!"

"Wait, so that makes it..."

"Yup! The Tree Sentinel! One that we, or I, can control!"

Anemo laughed, and Tree chuckled.

"Fine then... Let's get to it. I just need to make a tree as big as possible, right? Easy enough."

Fountain rolled up her sleeves.

"You're so stupid... But whatever. Let's do it."

Reaper clapped his hands, and sparks started appearing all around him.

"Alright then!"

As the three tasked with making the shell of said golem started, Anemo stood there, watching in amazement.

"Damn... Can't believe we're really doing this."

"Yeah, it's honestly crazy, right?"

"J-Jesus!", screamed out Anemo.

Standing next to her, was the one and only, Begone. This guy really liked sneaking up on people, huh...

"Oops, sorry, did I scare ya'?"

"Obviously... What're you doing here?"

"Same as you. Watching."

Anemo laughed at that.

"Yeah, fair enough..."

"...In a few hours we're going to war."

"Yeah..."

"...I'm scared, to be honest."

"Yeah..."

Begone sat down on the ground. When Anemo looked down at him, he pat the ground next to him. She sat down as well.

"But I'm sure we'll be fine. We have him, after all."

In the distance, the three worked hard at making that golem, or the Tree Sentinel, as Reaper called it. Things weren't going all that good at first though...

"Goddamn it... Again!"

There were a lot of burnt saplings around them, but Tree just kept making more. It was just a matter of time before they made a shell good enough to be controlled with wind, water and electricity.

"You have a lot of confidence in your brother, huh."

"I do. He's the only one I've got left, after..."

Begone stopped mid sentence. She knew why, though.

Anemo leaned onto him.

"I miss the friendly and cheery you from before, y'know? The one who loved wearing pink and all that..."

"I'm still here, mostly. Just... Buried under some stuff right now."

"Yeah, I know. I'll wait until you dig yourself out though."

"...Thanks."

As the two were sharing a moment, screams of joy, surprise and amazement could be heard from the three working on the Sentinel.

The two boys ran at each other, and high-fived.

"I... No! We fucking did it! Holy shit!!"

"You're the fucking best, Tree!"

Fountain clapped a bit.

"Good job, good job. But give me some credit too, y'know?"

Reaper ran up to her, picked her up by the legs and started spinning.

"Great work, Fountain! You're so fucking awesome as well!"

"W-Wait! Stop! Put me down...!"

After spinning for a little while longer, he put her down, and Reaper looked upon what he and his friends created. It was something that could only be described as a giant golem, made from wood.

"Now that's a golem..."

Reaper looked at his friends, and shouted.

"Let's take 'er for a spin, shall we?!"

And, that's exactly what they did.

Anemo and Fountain prepared themselves, while Reaper went on top of it.

"Anemo, put your wind on it's joints! Fountain, fill it up with water! Salt water, specifically!"

They followed as commanded, then Fountain asked curiously.

"What'll you do?"

To that, Reaper chuckled before responding.

"Me? That's simple enough... I'll be it's fucking battery, obviously!"

With that, he put his hands on its top, and started pumping electricity in it. After a while, when it was done "charging," Reaper got up from his knees, while maintaining his electricity, and when he did so, the Sentinel soon followed.

Begone, who was still sat down, couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Pfft... Look at him go..."

Anemo looked at him with a look of satirical surprise.

"Oh? So you can laugh, huh?"

"Heh. Maybe."

Reaper, who was currently riding atop a literal giant made from wood, was like a girl messaging her new boyfriend. Giggling, screaming, and was close to sitting back down again just to kick his feet around in the air.

"Holy shit...? Holy shit! It's like I'm fucking flying!"

"You're not, Reaper! Keep on channeling your electricity or you'll fall!"

"This thing's got enough electricity in it to keep itself alive for a while even if I stop! I'll be fine! Uhm, possibly. Maybe!"

"What do you mean, maybe?! If you fall down and die I'll fucking kill you!"

Anemo put her hand on her shoulder, and sighed.

"Hey, Em, that's not how that works..."

"I don't care! He's so stupid!"

"Of course..."

Then, she laughed a bit, before continuing.

"But, is he, though?"

"Y-Yeah... Shut up..."

Begone then screamed at him.

"Hey, Reaper! Be sure to stop at some point so I can get on him too! I need to {Unlock} it before teleporting!"

"Ah, 'kay man! I'll be right there!"

Reaper then went close to Begone, crouched down again, and retracted all of his electricity from the golem. Very soon after, it slowly came down, back on the ground.

"Well, there y'go, bro."

"Ah, thank you."

Begone climbed up on the Sentinel, unlocking the ability to now teleport on it. This could prove useful in battle, when he needed to regroup with Reaper fast. He then jumped off.

"Alright. Well, now we know that it works."

"Yeah, you looked like a magician while on top of it."

"Pfft... Thanks. Anyways... Hmm..."

Again, Reaper remained in thought for a moment.

"Alright, got it. Even though I barely used it, we'll refill it with brand new salt water, and recast the wind on it's joints. Juuust to be sure. That fine?"

The two girls then exclaimed.

"On it."

Reaper then thought for a second... But this time, nothing new came to him. No new idea, no new plan.

"Hmm... I think that's all."

Begone laughed at him.

"Oh? Finally out of brain juice power?"

"Shit... Yeah, dude..."

"Took you long enough, man. You had way too many ideas this last week."

"C'mon now, I had to prepare everyone..."

"I know, I know. I'm just kidding, don't worry."

"But still, I feel like... I'm missing something... Or that maybe I forgot to do something."

"C'mon bro... There's no way. You gave everyone weapons, taught them how to use their Agilies, even if only a little, taught them basic close-range combat... You did everything that you could've, so calm down, aight?"

"Shit man, maybe you're right. I'll stop thinking about it."

"That's more like it. C'mon now, let's go. We're gonna start soon, right?"

"...Right. Let's win this war!"

As the two brothers went over to the golem and the two girls, it would seem that this was the beginning of the end.

It would also seem that Reaper really didn't forget anything, which was good. There shouldn't be any flaws or mistakes in this battle.

Except, that's not the case in this situation...

In a cabin in the woods... The same cabin which was used by the original four to hide in, there was... Something there.

Something which Reaper... No. That's not it. Something which Matt forgot about. A singular flaw in his plan.

In that old, beat up cabin, was none other... Than Matt's backpack. And in that backpack, his father's journal. Unread, and untouched, by neither Matt nor Patt.

And over this backpack was a shadow. A shadow of... What seemed to be a man. As the shadowy figure opened the backpack and put his hand on the journal's cover, it's inside began to glow in a bright purple, which seemed familiar... But old...

"I see... So it's time..."

The shadowy figure then put the journal back in its place, and left, leaving everything as it was originally, as if he was... Never even there in the first place.

And he was right, for it was indeed time...

Time for them to return.