"Time .. space … reality … it's more than a linear path …" Images of Steven Universe, Star Butterfly, and all that they knew flashed before everyone.
"It's a prism … of endless possibility …" The screen cracked, and within each single fracture, the path that was once clear splintered off, creating new and unknown images.
"Where a single choice can branch out into infinite possibilities." Pictures of Yellow Steven and Mewberty Star pass through the screen as more and more variants come into being.
"Creating alternate worlds from the ones you know." A Star setting boredly behind the desk of a bodega, a Steven trying to run from a Owl Beast, more and more possibilities were being shown.
"I am Glossaryck … and I will be your guide through this vast infinity … as we ponder the question …"
'What if …'
"Really?" Steven asked. "You're the one being our tour guide of the multiverse?"
"We needed a deity based narrator, and you don't have a strong list of candidates." Glosseryck pointed out. "The collector's too immature, Omni's evil in our story, Time Baby's way too busy, Paradox never stays in one place for too long, need I go on?"
"What about the Domino guardian?" Anne asked.
"They're on sabbatical." Glossaryck shrugged. "Big things are coming, and they're getting as much rest as possible to prepare."
"Does it have to do with whatever the authors have planned for how big this multiverse is getting?" Star asked.
"Yes and no … now, onto something far more relevant at the moment." They pulled out a list. "We're doing seven new universes this time."
"Seven new ones?" Luz asked. "So we're just done with the other ones?"
"Again, that's for an epilogue/another author if they're interested enough." Glosseryck nodded. "This is one that 616mcu has been gunning for for a long while … you've all being dragged into the multiverse."
"What do you mean?" Marco asked.
"Well with you all 'saving' the multiverse, you've opened and created several new branches to be explored, new universes to see, one's where some of you met earlier, some even where you've never met at all."
"Why were there air quotes around saving?" Dipper asked.
"So now we're going to be showing off some other universe of what if … one of them is based on an old story that Hazard Overflow and 616mcu plan on rewriting when this is over." He showed them the paper in question.
The kids looked it over. "Whoa." Kelly looked surprised at it. "Wait … how come Marco gets his own spin off but not me!?"
"Hazard made that one, it just fit with the whole 'three toxic friends' scenario." Glossaryck explained. "But yeah, things are about to get super expansive very soon. Some of these will get explored very, very thoroughly at a later point, mainly for the fact 616mcu has Owl House on the brain at the moment."
"You're not going to see me complaining." Luz laughed, before looking serious. "It doesn't look like anything will be the same."
"Oh they won't be." Glosseryck nodded. "When it's all said and done, your greatest challenge has only begun."
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"Hey hey, slinky gorgon!" Finn shouted to the latest monster. "You think you got the best of me? Not when I show off the power of a jello ax!" Probably should've gone for his old rusty but reliable sword, but when PB asked him to take on an evil monster, he wasn't exactly picky about what he had in his arsenal.
"Grah!" The beast roared. "Bring it on! Nothing can match the power of my iron jiggling!" The beasty's body was all fat and gross, but it's jiggly hide was somehow hard like metal, so he could barely get a scratch in with his blade.
"I'll stop that bacon from shaking!" Jake extended his hands, grabbing onto the gorgon. "I got him." The dog smiled, until a few seconds passed and the guy started to vibrate. "Too … much … shaking …!"
"Seriously dude, why do you have to be so gross!?" Finn yelled as his strikes failed to hurt the monster again and again. "It's bad enough you're eating the candy people, but you're being completely shameless. There could be ladies out here watching. No one wants to see you're jiggly junk wiggling all over the place."
"Who cares, as long as I am fed, nothing can stop me-" A blue vortex opened above, as a teenage girl fell out.
"Oww … which dimension did I land in …" She looked … human!?
"Jake, look, another human!" Finn shouted to his brother.
"I'd be…excited if I wasn't….still shaking!" Jake continued to vibrate as his own body became all jiggly.
"It doesn't matter how many people you throw at me, I'm still going to stomp on all of them!" The gorgon walked forward, raising its big and smelly foot right on top of her.
"NO!" He wasn't going to let possibly the only other human left get stomped on. "Watch out..!"
"Super stopy freezy wind!" With the girl's shout, she aimed her stick, which caused the slinky gorgan to freeze over almost instantly. "Monsters, psst, typical, you'd think they'd learn by now."
"Algebraic!" Finn rushed over to the girl, who he realized was wearing a big poofy dress. "That was amazing! Are you some kind of human princess?"
"Huh?" The girl looked at him weirdly. "No no no, I'm a Mewman Princess."
"... A Mewman?" Finn tilted his head in both confusion and disappointment.
"Yep, born and raised proudly in the land of Mewni, the dimension of life, liberty, and corn." The girl giggled before sighing. "Or at least I was until my Mom placed me in Saint Olga's school for Wayward Princesses, just because I have a monster problem."
"Hey, if you're having issues beating monsters up, I can do it for you." He raised his fists. "Just point me in their direction and they'll all hop aboard the knuckle train to the fist planet."
"Heh." The Princess laughed. "Thanks, but my 'problem', as mom puts it, is because I fight monsters." The girl groaned. "She thinks I'm reckless and irresponsible, just because I fight monsters and tame wild unicorns before breakfast."
"That's pretty much Tuesday here." Jake agreed. "... Well not so much the unicorns specifically, they're actually just like people, one of them's my girlfriend."
"Did that dog just talk?"
"Yeah, he's my brother, Jake." Finn wrapped his arm around him.
"...I don't want to alarm you, but you might be adopted." She whispered to him.
"I know, I know. I got mush for brains, but I'm not that dumb." Finn snickered. "Well if you're looking to fight monsters, there's no shortage of evil people around here that need a good kick to the tucas. Though if you're a princess, you might want to watch out for Ice King. He's an old creep that kidnaps them."
The girl laughed. "Don't worry, I can defend myself." She held out a hand. "Star Butterfly, magical princess from another dimension."
The girl wasn't human, but that didn't make her any less fun. "Finn the Human. Aspiring Hero of Ooo." The two of them shook hands, having the feeling this was the start of something truly mathematical.
========================================================================
Luz sat down on the couch of the Owl House. She spent all this time trying to get home, but now … now she could live with her dreams. Now she could grow up and learn under a witch, really learn something.
Plus it could be fun. Eda, King, Hooty, all of them looked like such amazing people and quirky people to hang around with. "Mom, I'm home." … And the new kid that walked into the door. A stocky build, pointed ears, and a single curvy horn that popped out of a head of curly brown hair.
"About time. How was your weekend with the old fossils?" Eda walked up to the kid and ruffled his hair affectionately, confirming for a fact this lady was capable of maternal affection, something Luz semi-doubted upon meeting her.
"Oh, Gramma Gwen was amazing! We harvested fire bee honey as I dodged every question she had about you, just like you said." The boy giggled
"That's my kid." She laughed as well. "Oh, meet Luz, my apprentice." The latino girl waved to the confused child.
"... Apprentice, or girl you're tricking into doing chores?" He asked accusingly.
"I can have both." Eda looked away as she held a smirk. "Luz, this is Lucci, my kid." She put the boy in front of her.
"Nice to meet you." She walked out and held out a hand.
"You two, Lucifer Clawthorne, at your service." He smiled with a light bow as he shook it … before looking worried. "Did someone cut your ears?"
"Nope, mine are naturally round and cute. I'm a human." Luz chuckled.
"Wait, so Mom WASN'T just making up stories!? Those guys are real!?"
The woman laughed. "Kid, when have I ever lied to you?"
"There was that time you said Mountain Dew stopped being made." King pointed out.
"He needed to lay off the sugar that week."
"There was the time you said Hooty would eat me if I didn't clean the mud off of him." Lucci added.
"Look at the weirdo, he'd probably eat all of us if he was smarter." Eda pointed to the house.
"There was the burger queen crown." Luz put in her own answer. "In fact, why didn't you bring him with you on this if you brought everyone else?"
"I said to my kid, not you." Eda pouted. "Besides, I'm a reasonably irresponsible parent. I make sure to not intentionally place my own kid in harm's way."
"You know, besides the occasional attack because my mom's an outlaw." The boy said with an eye roll. Fairly justifiable.
"Wait, if Eda's your mom …" Luz asked. "Who's your dad?"
"Well she has thirty eight ex boyfriends, so I'm working on the list." The boy with a messy curl of hair took out a notepad. "The guy she seems to have the most memorabilia of is some 'S. Pines."
"I highly doubt it's him." Eda said. "He's human, you're a witch."
"Wait, wouldn't a guy witch be a warlock?" Luz asked. "Or am I overthinking this?"
"Eh, around here, we tend to not place any labels on anything." Lucci shrugged as he sat on the couch. "Although I'm pretty sure that's so Mom can claim innocence when someone accuses her when she steals someone's property."
"Half of the people I steal from were asking for it." Eda accused.
"The other half is because it was shiny." King held up a sparkly coin that drew the woman's attention instantly.
"Shiney…Precious…" Eda hopped on all fours and began following King around as she ran after him. "I must have my precious!"
"Heads up, if you wake up early and she hasn't made breakfast, that's the fastest way to get her out of her nest. Her greed allows her to smell money." Lucci laughed. "Other than that, be careful of the bug bites and the hooting, and you'll be ready to live in the Owl House."
"Thanks." Luz laughed. "Not exactly how I imagined my first isekai adventure, but beggars can't be choosers." She joined him on the couch. "So…you can do magic too? Like your mom?"
"Not exactly like mom." Lucci showed off a jewel that was embedded in his stomach. "I usually make potions with mom, but I'm the only person on the boiling isles with a thing like this, so it's my own special magic … if the Emperor's Coven found out i'd be toast."
"Whoa, magic belly button." She gave it a light poke as they both laughed. "Don't worry, I'm going to be the greatest and strongest witch that ever existed, so when things get hectic, I'll be strong enough to protect you."
"Something tells me that's going to be my job for you for a while." Lucci snickered. "Not exactly easy living an outlaw life, so how about we promise to watch each other's backs?"
"Sure thing kid." She patted his head. "So, we doing Pizza tonight?"
"Oh yeah, we should definitely celebrate with some pizza." He smiled brightly. "Let's add some burnt ashes to the toppings."
"I'll assume you mean extra spices and not question from there."
"That is the best way to survive under mom's roof from my experience." Oh yeah, this was going to be one helluva time.
========================================================================
KO noticed another explosion outside of the store. "Hey Star, Boxmore is attacking again, can you mop isle six for me?" He asked.
"Oh come on KO, everyone knows fighting is more cool than some lame old mopping." The latest employee of the bodega complained.
"Yeah, that's why we have the chart." He pointed to the piece of paper on the wall. "I've got Wednesdays and Friday afternoons for anything of a Sharon or lower level threat. And the weekends are reserved for emotional drama."
"Ugh.." Star lazily got up and grabbed her mop. "Why did I agree to get a job in the first place?"
"Because it was either this or go to that school you keep screaming our ears off about." Enid lazily mentioned as she leaned against a shelf while texting.
"Getting a lobotomy almost feels worth it if I didn't have to deal with the boredom." Star grumbled.
"Oh come on, there's plenty of fun stuff you can get to do here." Rad said. "Like burritos, or lightning nachos."
"The burritos are exceptionally good, I'll give you that." Star chirped as she took a bite out of hers with a cup of sugar dumped over it. "But I can live without the burns on my tongue from the nachos.
"The burns toughen you out and make you a stronger hero for it!" KO cheered as he shoved a handful into his own mouth, enjoying the static coursing through his body. "Besides, why wouldn't you want to do stuff like this?" KO asked. "Helping out around the store is still helping someone out, and that makes you a hero."
"Aw, cute, adorable, and naive KO." Star picked him up and squeezed his face. "You're convinced doing part time labor is worth anything."
"It's worth fifteen bucks an hour." Enid pointed out.
"... You guys get paid!?" Star gasped, letting him go. "Since when is that a thing!?"
"Since always." Rad chuckled. "What, did you really think we work here because it's a fun hobby? Not all of us are as optimistic as KO."
"Aww …" The boy in question pouted.
"Well then why don't I get paid?" She asked.
Mr Gar's head popped out of the back. "Community Service for the damages to your town!" He shouted, before going back.
"Don't be too disappointed Star, you're just like me then!" He hugged her leg. "Together, we get paid in experience and good will!"
Star looked like she was resisting his boyish charm, so he upped up his beading eyes and made his lips quiver. "…Oh, your so lucky you're adorable, or I would've ditch this place long ago and live off the land." That was the spirit!
========================================================================
Marco groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. The last thing he remembered was opening that stolen box with Lars and Ronaldo … then light. Now here he was dealing with … "How did I end up in the forest?" He asked no one in particular.
It didn't seem natural, the growth was greener than the local woods, and it seemed … bigger somehow. He stood up, taking in his surroundings. Something was 'off' about this place.
That wasn't even mentioning the ungodly amounts of humidity in the air. Five seconds awake and he was already sweating a storm. The only thing that prevented him from taking off his hoodie was the fact he had nothing else to wear aside from what was on his back.
Seeing that there was nowhere else to go, he began walking north. Thank you boy scouts, for helping internalize a sense of navigation. Marco walked, seeing how strange this forest was. Even the insects looked weird, more pink and vibrant than they should be. "Did I get drugged?" He asked. It made the most sense given his situation.
Seeing a tall bustle of grass, Marco pushed open a path … seeing a giant van sized mantis that was feeding on a corpse of a massive unidentifiable thing. It clicked, turning to him with a growl. Marco slowly closed back up the grass … and began running. "WHAT THE FUCK!?"
Giant bug, giant bug! Why on earth did it have to be a giant bug!? Was this some cruel punishment by the gods for all the times he's accidentally stepped on a grasshopper or spider? If so, then the universe was needlessly cruel!
He kept running and running. When the sound of the mantis chasing him was faint, he only ran faster. This had to be a dream. It had to be a dream! Please for the love of all things merciful, let this all be some crazy drea-
Click
Snag
Marco found himself hanging upside down by a rope trap tied around his ankle, suspending him in mid air. "Right, of course, why did I expect good luck?" He sarcastically asked out loud, trying and failing to reach the rope binding his foot.
He heard noises coming from the bushes, his body tensing at whatever crazed hunter was prepared to face him. "Don't come any closer! I know karate!" Which was pointless if he couldn't move at all.
He watched as the rustling got louder and the thing got closer. And as Marco braced himself for impact, he was met face to face…with a large pink frog wearing clothes and armed with a slingshot.
"AHH! Creepy monster!" It shouted.
"AHH! Talking frog!" He shouted. "Don't eat me! I'm terribly gammy! And I don't have meat on my bones!" Why did he have to insult himself just before his possible death?"
"Don't eat me, part of me is poisonous!" The thing shouted.
"Wait, eat you? I'm the one who's trapped right now." Marco called back out confused. "You know, immobile and completely helpless."
"How do I know that's not what you WANT me to think!?" The frog boy shouted back as he had that slingshot ready.
"Because I have no way to break out of this?" He gestured, trying to swing to no avail. "I'm pretty much prey to that giant bug thing earlier."
"Oh, the fire flies?"
"No, the mantis." He corrected him. "Pretty sure it was eating another frog person before I ran."
"So THAT'S why people keep going missing around here." They noted. "Well don't worry then, I can get you down no problem." They pulled back on the slingshot. "Jut let me aim for the rope …"
"Wait, i'm pretty hiIIIIII-" He hit the ground with a thud. "... up." He groaned as he did his best to wipe the sludge off his own face. "Gee, thanks." He said semi-sarcastically.
"No problem, ugly monster!" The frog boy responded chipperly. "Names Sprig Planter! Have a name, or do I gotta make one up for you?"
"No need. I'm Marco Diaz." He held out his hand, and got a tounge in response. "Gross." He shook the saliva off. "I'm a human being, and unless I got put in a coma recently and this is a dream, I might also be from another world."
"Human …" The frog said the word as if it was confusing. "Never heard of it, so probably." They nodded. "... Unless i'm just a figment of your imagination … or you're one of mine …" They punched him.
"OW!"
"No, I'm not dreaming."
"You're supposed to pinch not punch, and it's too yourself!" Marco rubbed his arm, but turned his head as he noticed the roar of the mantis calling out. "This place isn't safe, we need to duck for cover."
"Oh, i'll bring you to my Hop Pop, he'll know what to do!" Sprig smiled. "Welcome to Amphibia!" … A little on the nose, but then again, he lived in Beach Creek, so go figure.
========================================================================
Mabel filed her nails, looking down at the latest prey. "So, how does it feel to utterly fall without any hope … Gnomes?"
"So…so sorry your majesty…"
"I thought I said to call me Empress!" She let her hands glow with blue fire.
"I'm so sorry, you're empress!" The guy shouted. "Please forgive us!"
"Let them off lightly Mabel." Dipper ruined her fun again. "You always kill off our pawns before we get to use them, and Homeworld isn't going to go down easily."
"Oh brother, you and your paranoia." Mabel rolled her eyes. "You really have to have more faith in me."
"It's not my lack in faith in you, it's my disdain for that banana coated brat that we've agreed to work with."
She rolled her eyes. "When we have a powerful ally, 'we should manipulate him to our whims'. When I make a comment about him being hot, 'he's very suspicious'." Mabel commented. "I haven't said anything about you and Pacifica, you know."
"She's rich, It's best to play the long game. You and I both know how I specialize there." Dipper smirked. "And need I remind you that you go through boy toys like potato chips. In the long run, it is unhealthy and unfulfilling."
"That was before my dear diamond came into my life, brother." Mabel corrected. "Unlike everyone else in this wretched universe, he actually has a spine, and when he talks big, he backs it up."
"Yeah yeah." He rolled his eyes. "So, how do you want to punish these guys anyway?"
She glanced at the group in front of her. "Hmm … I say … hunger games, half survive."
"That still leaves way too many of them left to live in my opinion." The two of them turned their head to see the boy that sent her heart a flutter every time she laid eyes on him. Slick spiky hair, a yellow suit and cape that just screamed the absolute power and authority he held, and two diamond shaped eyes that dug into the soul and intimidated all that dared to look at him.
"We need an army, and despite how pathetic they are compared to us, they do carry some authority with unity that could be good against enemies." Dipper stated. "Unless you think you'll overthrow Pink Diamond anytime soon, alone with that lowly quarry of servants by your side."
"Bite your tongue, Mason, or I'll be swift to slice it off myself." The yellow cutie threatened her brother, something she never got tired of seeing.
"I'd like to see you try, Steven, it'll be entertaining for sure." Her sibling snarked back, his hand glowing with energy they siphoned from Will Cypher.
"Boys, boys, you're both beautiful in your own ways.." One more than the other obviously. "..but no need to get into a death match with each other when we're just getting started." She floated in the air, sensually rubbing her hand against her darling Diamond's cheek. "You want our understanding of magic.." She turned to her brother. "And he has the resources to expand our little plan across the universe. Squabbling like little children is far beneath great beings like us, don't you think, darling?"
Her lovely Diamond sighed. "I suppose you're right, princess." He leaned forward and kissed her hand gently. "So, you still wish to go through with your plan?"
"I want entertainment … and it's either fight for survival among their own kind or a death escape room, and when you have enough people to test mistakes those are boring."
"Oh, what if we have both, and make it a death maze." Her darling Diamond snickered. "Have the struggle separately to survive, and make them battle to the death when they cross paths with one another."
"Wonderful idea, my golden apple." She kissed his cheek as she could hear her brother groan. "Your fate has been decided, death maze!" She blasted the Gnomes into the center of the theoretical thought maze, where the only way out was sheer survival. "Oooh, why don't we sick that Jasper gem you have into the maze half way and just have her bulldoze through them."
"I'm all for eliminating the weak, but it's Jasper, and these are Gnomes." The boy responded. "Even I know that's a level of overkill you shouldn't cross."
"So the banana brat does know restraint, who would've guessed." Dipper scoffed, and that got him a shock of lighting into the back of the head, courtesy of her Diamond. "I will kill you one of these days, and I'll make it…slow and brutal."
"The moment I sense you try to betray me, I blow up this planet and move on to the next, Pink Diamond's treaty or not."
"Is it wrong that I'm considering a threesome right now?" Mabel asked aloud. Her diamond simply sent her that adorable death glare. "Just a thought, nothing more."
========================================================================
Ben fiddled with the currently blue and beeping Omnitrix. "Any time now Ben!" Star, that foreign girl staying with his cousin in order to study magic better, shouted as she blasted one of those weird tentacle guys with transformation masks with cupcake daggers. He would question how someone like her had access to magic to begin with, but Gwen was cool with her, and as long as it wasn't another Charmcaster situation, he supposed he could let it slide for now.
"I'm trying, I think this thing is on lockdown, it's not responding!" He shouted, trying to bash it for any kind of response. "You guys are gonna have to hold them off!"
"It's not easy when your old nemesis is out for vengeance!" Gwen shouted, trying to put a barrier around Kevin, who was completely and utterly NORMAL other than his new metal body, that was a brain scrambler. "How the heck did you even get out of the null void!?"
"That's for me to know, and for you to never find out." Out of all the changes that happened in the past few years, Kevin being a smug jerk was something that stayed completely consistent. "I see I'm not the only one around here who's picked up a few new tricks." Kevin began beating back the barrier. "You even got a new lap dog to do all the fighting for you, Ben."
"I am not a lap dog!" Said girl shouted. "I am Star Butterfly, princess of Mewni, and you will fear my laser puppies!" With a wave of her wand, a literal pile of puppies appeared on the ground, barking cutely as they began shooting lasers out of their eyes at the tentacle guys.
"How does she have access to level five technology!?" The plumber with them asked. "That's what we're arresting him for!"
"It's a complicated situation in her case!" Gwen explained as she did her best to keep Kevin back. "It either stays in her hands or all out war breaks out between dimensions." Wait, what?
"What kind of foreign exchange program did you sign up for?" Ben asked as he ducked for cover, fiddling with his watch as he avoid the debris
"I just signed up for the program, it's not my fault the principal can be easily bribed." Fair point, the guy did ignore JT and Crash for a long while … and their various absences when they still fought crime.
"If you're not going to do something cool with the watch, just leave!" Star shouted.
"I'm trying, but the Omnitrix won't-" Eventually the beeping escalated louder and louder, until the watch began to glow bright green, shifting itself into a smaller and sleeker design. "... That's new." He pressed the button, flinching as a hologram popped up. "So is that." He began dialing at the manta ray, dinosaur, and plant guy. "It's all new aliens."
"Old, new, I'd take something middle aged about now!" Star was started to get swarmed. "Anything that makes us just a little less outnumbered, just pick something!"
"Alright, no time for a trial run!" Ben slammed down on the watch, feeling the old shift once more, his mind and body melting apart into sheer waves as he shrunk and was contained. He looked around, seeing everyone look down on him. "I became a small guy, didn't I?" He asked rhetorically, his voice sounding more garbled and like it was in a chamber.
"Don't worry, I think it fits you perfectly!" Kevin mocked as he finally broke through and changed at him. "It represents how truly pathetic you really are in the grand scheme of things!"
"Oh screw you TOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" He shouted, being slightly pushed back as a wave of sound blasted into the metal body of Kevin, everyone around them being forced to cover their ears. "Whoa, sound powers, awesome!"
"Would have liked a warning, but I won't blame you!" Gwen shouted, rubbing her ears.
"You're a Sonorian!" Lanaris said, trying to shake his head. "You're living sound inside of a self replicating suit."
"Replicating, huh?" He smirked, already knowing what that meant due to past experience as Ditto. "Everyone, cover your ears." Ben began to multiply, feeling surprisingly weaker and more spread out than his past experience. Guess this wasn't a straight up improvement, but beggars can't be choosers.
"Super soundproof echo chamber cloud muffs!" Star pointed her wand in the air and blasted everyone on their side, providing cloudy looking earmuffs. That thing might actually give the Omnitrix competition in terms of power…he wasn't sure if he should be scared or impressed.
Kevin looked at the scene in front of him. "This is gonna hurt." Oh it was.
"On three everyone." He told his team. "Wall. Of. SOOOOOUUUUUUUUND!!!!!!" They screamed, the tentacle guys screaming as they went unconscious, Kevin vibrating violently as his metal skin peeled off. "Everyone okay?"
"THAT WAS SO COOL!" Star shouted, mostly due to the muffs. "ALL THAT SOUND BOUNCING AROUND AND ECHOING EVERYWHERE."
"Yeah, Echo." He smirked, looking at his duplicates, who were all thinking of the same thing. "I'm Echo Echo!" They accidentally sent another blast of sound as the girl glared. "Sorry." He'd have to get used to this.
"Glad to see your naming sense hasn't improved." Gwen said as she took her own muffs off. "It's good to have you back in action, Ben." It felt good to be back. Even if everything wasn't the same, it was starting to feel like good times.
========================================================================
Wander idly played his banjo as Sylvia rode on, their orbble floating the cosmos and watching the beautiful planets pass on around them. Some might call it boring, but it was peace like this that proved life was worth living. "We're getting low on orbble juice, we should pick a planet to stock up on."
"Yeah, though it's been weird." Wander pondered as they looked around. "All the planets in this section have been weirdly empty or abandoned. We've passed by three ghost town everyday for the past three days."
Sylvia gave a hum. "Can't be Hater, he would've taken it over regardless, and it's not like Dominator did it. The planets usually look more cracked and broken than just abandoned …" Just another person in need … wait a second!
"Sylvia, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked with excitement in his tone.
"Oh boy."
"We're going to solve a mystery!" He pulled a magnifying glass out of his hat, adding onto the detective theme.
"We don't need to solve a mystery, we just need to find a planet to restock on our…oh, there's one." Syliva pointed out as they approached the surface. It looked just a tad bit dark and gray, but it looked like something was being built there, so that meant this one at least had people on it.
"Let's land near one of the ships, we can ask a local where to go from there." He said as they slowly approached the atmosphere. As they got closer, Wander noticed some of the ground looked … dead. Not broken, or barren, just … dead. It gave him an unusual sense of unease about the situation.
"Okay, so it's not exactly the most scenic of places, but we've been to worse planets." It both brightened and worried him when Slyvia was the one trying to be the more optimistic one.
"Yeah, of course, it's probably just tourists not knowing what they're doing." He nervously chuckled as they finally reached the ground. "Now where-"
"Stop right there!" They looked, watching as a small child was being chased by multi colored ladies. "Please my Diamond, don't flee!"
"Leave me alone!" The little kid ducked away as he tried to hide behind a couple of rocks, only for him to trip and stumble onto a ledge. "Ahh!"
"Slyvia!" Wander pointed.
"I know, Wander, I'm on it!" Slyvia, with all of the might and speed her legs could give her, rushed in as she scooped the kid up by her tail before he could fall over. "You alright squirt?"
"Yeah, thanks." The kid nodded, before looking at them with fear and trepidation. "Organics, I thought they were all.." The boy shook his head. "You need to get off the planet now! It's not safe for you to be here!"
Sylvia scoffed. "Kid, I'm tougher than I-" A blaster went by her head, melting through raw steel. "Leave the planet you say? Sounds like a plan!" She started running with them on board. "Wander, get the orbbal juice ready!"
"You got it, Slv!" He reached into his hat…and found nothing. "Darn it! We're completely empty!" He was starting to panic. "Ah, kid, not that I want to be a burden to you, but you wouldn't happen to have any orbbal's in your possession, do you?"
"No, the gems have already depleted the planet of all its natural resources." That was a mighty shame. "But you're looking to make a floating bubble, right?"
"Yep. That's how me and my best bud Sylvia travel around the galaxy!" Wander said proudly. "It's a slow trek, I'll admit, but the journey is just as amazing as-"
"WANDER!" Slyvia shouted as she dodged more lasers."
"Right, not the time." He pulled out his banjo. "I don't suppose I can get you to stop fighting for some music!?"
"Release our Diamond and your deaths will be quick and painless!" The giant buff yellow lady shouted. Guess they weren't big music fans.
"Diamond? We don't have any diamonds!" Slyvia shouted back. "Kid, do you have any idea how to get these psycho's off our tails!?"
"I've been trying to do that for the last five years." The boy sighed before shaking his head. "I can get you guys off the planet, but you'll have to take me with you."
"Sure thing, as the old saying goes, the more the merrier." He smiled and shook the kid's hand.
"Alright then." The boy sighed. "Focus … focus … and bubble!" Suddenly, they were enveloped by a pink orbble. "Yes! I did it!"
"Whoa, now that's the prettiest looking orbble I've ever seen!" Wander couldn't help but stare in awe. "Mighty fine handiwork you've done here, my good sure."
"Save the thanks for when our butts aren't about to be fried!" Slyvia raced forward and leapt off a cliff, where they finally made it into the air and began getting away. "AHA! So long, you multi-colored suckers!"
"My Diamond…NOOOOOOO!" They shouted as they finally made it off the planet's atmosphere, and into the galaxy's sky once more.
"Thanks for rescuing me …" The boy gave a sigh of relief.
"You're the one that saved us from those lasers, think nothing of it." He patted the boy. "So, what's your name, little fella?"
"Steven Diamond Universe." The boy politely bowed.
"Wait, Diamond?" Slyvia looked to their new friend. "Ah..you wouldn't happen to be someone important to that planet, right?"
"Um …" He looked nervous. "Does … being one of the four royals of a race of rock aliens bent on eliminating all organic life count as important?"
"Not at all!" Wander spoke up as he stopped Slyvia before she could protest. "What's important is that you're a friend. A new buddy for us to travel the galaxy with."
"I …" They looked confused. "What's a friend?" Oooh, that was bad. Looks like they got him off that planet just in time.
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Anne shouted out as she walked into the main halls of their secret base, using her 'important shit' voice. "Who are all the pizza bagels!?" She shouted. "They were clearly marked for 'later tonight'!"
"We have seventeen fridges due to super appetites, what's one snack missing?" Odd asked.
"A little thing called boundaries." She retorted. "We don't eat Steven's pastries all the time."
"No, you guys just devour half my remaining supply of Cookie Cats." Steven rolled his eyes. "I'm saving those for a rainy day! Once they're gone, there's nowhere in the universe we can ever get them again." He sighed. "Believe me, I've checked. There's some civilizations out there that don't even have the concept of ice cream!"
"Dude, chill, I didn't get on your back when you used up all the eyeliner." Luz snorted
"I had a date with Connie, I wanted to look my best." The boy blushed, looking away and tapping his fingers together.
"Speaking of, who lasered all my dresses to ash!?" Star barged into the room with a pile of soot in her hands.
"Sorry, I was testing out a new alien and a buckshot ran wild." Ben apologized to her. "But I have to admit, the ricochet was on point."
"How about I test mine, the end shot is your skull!" She threatened.
"Guys, guys, I get it." Ladybug was the voice of reason once more. "We all aren't used to sharing a living space with so many people, and there are bound to be some problems."
"Like sleep." Chat Noir came in with a yawn. "I've only rested five hours this week."
"Five? That's three more than I've got." Jake sagged his shoulders as he practically melted on the couch. "Gramps is already giving me hot water for 'exposing' my dragon form publicly, between his training, school, and you guys, I'm running on fumes."
"Better than the Nomicon spending an entire week giving me the same vague and confusing lectures over and over again." The ninja sat on the wall, eating gravy fries.
"But we can get over this." Ladybug said with conviction. "We'll adapt, we've done it worse. And when that time comes, we'll be ready to take on any-"
WIRR. WIRR.
And the villain alarm went off once more .. "Threat." Ladybug grumbled. "Dipper. Is it sci-fi or mystical this time?"
"Let me check …" There was typing noises, before he groaned. "Akumatized Kevin Eleven Thousand."
"Well, at least Monarch is getting creative with his process this time." Chat Noir stretched his arms out. "Heh, remember that time the Huntsman got a hold of gem tech?"
"I'm still feeling the lasers on my back." Star shivered. "Or when Eclipsa fell into that vat of Chemical X?"
"Fifteen destroyed cities within an hour, still holds the record for strongest mortal villain." Anne answered. "So, we rolling out?"
"Yeah …" Ladybug sighed. "Come on everyone, team Hero!"
"It's Hero Time!" Ben banged on his watched and transformed into Wild Mutt.
"It's Ninja O'Clock!" The Ninja unsheathed his sword.
"Dragon Up!" Jake went into dragon up.
"Calamity Squad's a go!" Anne's eyes glowed blue as her powers flared up
"Witches, assemble!" Luz got her seals ready.
"It's time to fight the forces of evil!" Star readied her wand.
"As a team!" Steven smiled, forming his shield.
========================================================================
"So we got involved this time around." Ladybug muttered. "At least we still had our powers active, we still have to keep our identities a secret after all."
"Is it that big of a deal here?" KO asked with those big innocent eyes. "That's not really a thing where I'm from."
"Normally it would be fine, you guys seem trustworthy." Chat Noir explained. "But our supervillain can read the thoughts and memories of anyone he turns into a villain, meaning our identities would be exposed the moment someone who knows becomes akumatized." He turned to her with a smirk. "No matter how charming their smile is."
"Gotta say, that one was pretty neat to see." Luz smiled as she plopped a few kernels of popcorn into her mouth. "Nice to know that even across different universes, we've still managed to meet up and become friends."
"A little disappointed I wasn't in it, but go figure." Kelly shrugged, holding onto Steven tightly.
"I'll be honest, the Wander adventure seemed like it'd be pretty fun." The boy said aloud. "Traveling the universe and seeing it sparkle."
"The Ben one seemed like pretty interesting too, like where were these sci-fic agents or cops or something." Star knotted. "Kind of weird he was a teenager though, but guess the timelines don't all have to match up."
"A universe where Keven Levin comes back, now that sounds like a nightmare." Ben groaned.
"I seemed to get pretty awesome, magic powers expanded." Gwen smirked. "You thought so too, right Mabel?" There was no response, they all turned to the girl. "Mabel?"
"I saw myself in Gideon's clothes … I can never wash my brain hard enough." She muttered.
"Okay, so that universe left some things to be desired, but that's that universe, not ours." Luz waved off. "It's not like you have anything in common with that one and have some psycho crush on Steven."
"Yeah…not psycho." Mabel turned her head.
"So I get the Calamity crew's skills in combat … awesome!" Marco shouted. "Then again i'm stuck with Lars and Rholnaldo so … take and give."
"In the super one, I actually keep my powers." Anne smirked. "That last one is actually already pretty close to ours. We just don't have a secret base."
"Well, we didn't plan on making it a secret." Steven turned to everyone. "If there's one thing this batch of universe's have shown me, it's that we all work together really, really well together. Me, Star, and the others had this plan to build a whole city dedicated to the community that we've built to represent that, and we could all use your guy's help."
"We're gonna be super heroes!" Mabel shouted.
"Technically I already am one, but the rest of you can join in." At Ben's remark, Chat Noir cleared his throat. "And the Miraculous crew too."
"I take it that's a yes?" Star asked, and everyone nodded their heads. "Awesome. We're taking one step into the future, people. Let's give our all to make sure it's an amazing one!"
"That's why we're kids after all." Bubbles chirped happily. "We grow up with the world." And they'd make it spectacular.