Oz: Crossroad of Legends

Yancy shuffled in her seat uncomfortably. "I'm a war medic," she said. "Specifically, first aid. I only do basic things, though, and I'm used to working with more... technologically advanced equipment."

And I'll have to be careful with using Wish. We won't be able to recover PP as easily in this world.

You don't know our world, buddy.

"Not yet," John Doe replied. "I figured we should come here first, as it concerns the Outlanders the most."

Nobunaga leaned back in his chair. Beneath his mask, a single eyebrow shot up. "General Alvis didn't send word to you? I'm afraid you won't see any of the other Outlanders at this time. The Outlanders left on a mission to Yggdrasil a short while ago, under the command of Lady June, to aid General Alexus in confronting the dragon. I suspect they are already in the thick of battle."

Nobunaga inclined his head apologetically. "I take full responsibility. I assumed General Alvis would seek you out and inform you, but as this was a crucial matter, I should have done so myself. You have my apologies. Lady June is the Outlander who joined us in the middle of combat against the Ephesian forces. I recently asked her to be the Vice Commander, and the rest of the Outlanders didn't have any issue with it. They left just after breakfast, and were teleported directly to the mountain garrison not far from Yggdrasil. Once my magick has sufficiently recovered, I intend to join them. You are welcome to join me, or stay here and wait for their return."

Nobunaga didn't hesitate. He had already decided to trust Yancy. "Yes, I did. And Yancy is welcome to stay with you while you do."

He turns to Yancy and smiles kindly. "Forgive me for all this cryptic nonsense. My wife is always telling me to be more straightforward with people. I have two children, a boy and a girl. I keep them hidden until I know who I can trust, in order to protect them. Now that I've seen your heart, I know you're a compassionate, trustworthy soul. I'll let them come out and introduce themselves to you."

Right on cue, Aris and Leo materialized into existence, shimmering into view. Aris gave a small curtsy, and smiled. "My name's Arista. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're one of the few people so far my father has chosen to trust."

Leo was a bit more shy and needed some gentle encouragement before stepping forward, his eyes on the floor, his hands behind his back. "Uh... Nice to meet you."

Vincent smiled and ruffled his son's hair, then turned back to Joshua. "I won't be leaving for a while yet. I still need time to recover. And that dragon won't be defeated so quickly."

Irving managed to hit the metaphorical emergency brakes right as the barrier of light materialized a mere two feet away from his face. A short ways behind him, Alexus also halted in his tracks. The Legionnaire general observed the barrier, taking note how it encompassed the tree entrance and prevented entry. He shot an experimental fireball up at the barrier, watching it as it bounced off the wall and land harmlessly in a patch of grass elsewhere. He clenched an angry fist as he looked up to the Monkey horde about to strike once again. He roared to the Outlanders within the barrier.

"Hear me, Outlanders! The wench's barrier is preventing us entry! The Witch's coming is at hand, and its spawns will continue their relentless assault until the time comes! If you do not wish to sacrifice the lives of Yuleian soldiers, or your brethren outside of the barrier, make haste in killing the wretched Ephesian! Your punishment and personal cost shall be severe should you fail!"

Irving punched the ground in frustration, jumping backward and slinging his ryfel across his back, switching to his pistol and machete, one in each hand.

The horde came down upon them, and Irving swung at the first one that targeted him.

Bowser was lumbering away from the tree with July taking care of the Princess he was looking for his real opponent. "Show yourself Puff the magic fog machine, your stupid purple fog, and monkey minions are annoying," Bowser shouted towards the sky. Unfortunately, between the fog, the sound of gun fire, monkeys and soldiers screeching it was hard for him to locate where this dragon was. "Me and lord minion face are going to have to have a talk about this when I get back," Bowser grumbled. The petty piranha Bowser summoned earlier was starting to get overwhelmed by the shear number of monkeys. One struck a critical blow as the Petty Piranha poffed in a puff of smoke.

Another monkey was closing in on Bowser's blindside when Mario arriving last second jumped right on top of the monkey squashing him. "Hmm took you long enough Mario," Bowser grumbled.

"Like the old days," Mario said to Bowser.

"Hmph, your lucky that my minions are useless, and that you know what ever let's just deal with grunt's" Bowser grumbled towards Mario.

"Let's ago," Mario said adjusting his cap. Mario took out a Tanooki Leaf to make himself Tanooki Mario. Mario then proceeded to jump off of one monkey after another. Mario then proceeded to as he made his way to the top swing his hammer as hard as he could and unleashed a Big Banga attack in the middle of the group.

"Hmph still annoying as always," Bowser grumbled. "Well time to show you chumps why I am just so much more awesome then all of you," Bowser said as he drove his fist into the ground. A pillar of flames erupted immediately incinerating a punch of monkies that were caught up in the flames.

Bowser then drove the lance he was carrying into the ground. Afterward Bowser launched himself as high as he could into the air like he was about to ground pound them but instead he retreated into his shell. Bowser then began spinning his shell as fast as he could while breathing flames from the opening. Yet this was different from his usual Hydro Flames (named after what it looks like when a Squirtel does Hydro Pump) the lance also responded to his flames and the faster he spun the bigger this flame tornado became. After Bowser finished spinning the flame tornado disappeared as all the monkies were instantly destroyed. "Gwa ha ha, see that's all Bowser right there," Bowser said looking upon his handy work.

Mario landed next to him and let out an oh yeah. Yet just as quickly as Mario and Bowser took care of that group of monkies two more groups appeared. "Oh no," Mario replied.

"Really you taken on my Army multiple times, and this gets you nervous," Bowser huffed. "Well you caneed sit there and Ma Mia all you want I am going back to the tree stupid, foggy, dragon," Bowser said. Bowser and Mario were surrounded by the monkeys, until one of them froze in place and then shattered.

"Well then you boys need a hand," Aylassa said. A monkey tried to sneak up from behind only to get impaled by her tail. "Now then where we're we oh yeah huddle up," Aylassa said as she flew down in between Bowser and Mario. "Watch and learn as I show you the power of the frozen dragon," Aylassa said as she dropped her blade into the ground an pillars of ice surrounded Bowser, Mario, and Aylassa. Aylassa then snapped her fingers as the pillars exploded into tiny little shards it almost appeared like it was snowing. When the tiny ice shards touched one of the monkies an ice flower bloomed on the monkey. As more ice flowers bloomed on the Monkies they seemed to becoming more solid. Finally, as the snow stopped Aylassa then lifted her wings which were sheltering Mario and Bowser from the move and all the monkies surrounding them were gone.

"Come on guys now while we have a chance," Aylassa said as they began to make their way to the barrier.

June stares at Elia in disbelief. "We can't just... let the others... ngh..." She clutches her head and starts breathing heavily. June roars angrily and suddenly makes a sloppy, uncontrolled chop at Elia.

Horatio quietly returns the Berserk staff to his back and swaps out a Physic staff, then returns to healing the wounded.

Location: Dimento's Mind

Dee stands to one side of Dimento's mind looking throughly unamused at the display that was going on. "Hmph you have five seconds to...," Dee said until Dimento chimed in.

"Peace Dee we should hear him out," Dimento told Dee.

"Yeah this could be all sorts of fun," Minnie a child like aspect of Dimento said. "Imagine all the fun and games we could have this is going to be oodles of fun," Minnie said with much glee.

"Arrrggg not you again," Dee sighed.

"Excuse me for a moment," Dimento said as he tuned out all that was happening in his head.

Location: Villan Con

Dimento opens his eyes and sees all the other people at Villan Con broke off into different groups. Fawful was talking with Dimento's old boss and his grand daughter while it seemed like the pokemon were talking amongst themselves. The guy with the creepy shadow dragon creature also seem to be around his boss. "Well now don't want any interruptions do I now," Dimento said to himself. "I think I will go someplace a little more private," Dimento said as he teleported out of Villan Con.

Location: ??? (Dimento's personal dimension)

"Now then lets get this party started," Dimento said as entered a deep meditative state.

Location: Dimento's Mind

As Dimento rentered his mind he saw Minnie was trying to grab one of the Crows while Dee was holding her back. "Now then friend can we start with a name?" Dimento asked. "Also care to explain this whole thing about being a vessel and whatnot?" Dimento asked the figure.

Joshua glanced at Yancy and the two children.

Well, good to see that their first meeting was more... pleasant... than ours. Also, is Leo being out of character, or is it just my imagination?

"Then if it's alright with you, I think I should go and assemble my team before you need to head out," Joshua said. "I'd rather not get caught with our pants down again."

---

In the mountains northeast of Oz...

"RAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Kyurem stretched his frozen body in satisfaction after finally reaching the summit of the tallest mountain in the snow-covered range he and his familiars wandered upon after making mincemeat of some kind of army -- of which whose performance in combat he would rate as 'below unsatisfactory'. The local wildlife up to that point weren't particularly hospitable to the new arrivals, but those that tried anything were quickly humbled once a few bones were crushed. Not that the Boundary Pokemon particularly minded; that just means that they would ensure that only the most able-bodied of would-be challengers coming after him would reach the top. He likes to think he has some high standards of fighters.

He looked over the area. During the climb, he noted some stone monuments of some such, heavily weathered by the harsh climate. Obviously man-made. Indeed, he was currently looking at a building built at the side of the mountain's peak; a brick roof, support columns, and some stairs leading up to some altar. If he would hazard a guess, he'd think some humans used to reside here some time ago. Possibly ancient by their standards; time feels to pass by quicker for Kyurem.

"A dangerous frozen mountain with lots of crazy critters, a lotta walking space, and a killer view? Not a bad choice for a humble abode. Could use some redecorating, of course. Needs something that pops out; 'come, try your luck at slaying the feral beast!" He turned over to his 8 Cryogonal minions hovering behind him. "Ideas! Now!" he ordered.

"You know what would be, like, soooooo eye-catching? Drawing something cute on the cliffside, like a Vulpix! Of course, someone else has gotta do it, because working is, like, yuck, and I'd rather die before I risk breaking my complexion with manual labor!"

"Nah man. We needsomething more enlightened. More... spiritual in meaning, y'know? Something that makes someone go "wooooaaaaah" instead of "woah", ya dig?"


"We oughtta create a memorial for our fallen comrade at the Battle of the Berlin Wall! Honoring the fallen is our Arceus-given duty as democrats, and any Commies who dare come to us will know how they deserve every last, painful bit that's coming to them!"

The Cryogonal with the injured head crackled unintelligibly. In response, the constantly-spinning Cryogonal changed direction. From clockwise to counter-clockwise.

"Hee hee~. Maybe when he kill something cute, we can hang it up for decoration~?"

"Hmm. I have heard that human tastes better after letting them hang for two days."

"Bah! Useless! All of you! Why’d I even bother?! I'll just settle for 'ice palace', then."

"Master! Look! I found this at the altar!"

Kyurem ceased thinking about how to build his house as one of the Cryogonal ran up to him, something hanging from some chains it conjured.

"What in... Bwaha! Well, didn't see that coming!"

"We'll try not to be long," Joshua said, the two of them standing up.

"It was nice meeting you three," Yancy said, slipping out of the door Joshua held open for her.

"Well, change of plans," Joshua said as they began a brisk walk. "It's almost never that simple for me."

"You and me both," Yancy said. "Lead the way."

---

"Hmmm..." Kyurem began wondering aloud. "What else should I do to attract challengers to come slay the ferocious dragon? Can't expect those other two humans to spread word of my greatness across the land by themselves." He turned to his Cryogonal familiars, all lined up at attention. "Ideas! Now!"

"Eat some hapless villagers after dark again!"

"Hell no, that was just one time and I hated the aftertaste. Next?"

"Create a cold front to ruin the people's crops, sir?"

"Hmm... Not bad. Gotta find the countryside first, though. Next?"

"Woooaaah dude, any you guys remember those, like... tube things some of those Nova bros had back at the cave?"

"Missie launchers?"

"Naaaah man, I mean, those things that come out of those things."

"...Missiles?"

"Oh for the love of-- if you got a point, make it!"

"Well, it's just that... I see stuff that look like them... Getting closer... and closer..."

At this point, something besides the raging blizzard became audible.

"and closer... and--"

"Run, you fools!"

Each of the Cryogonal jumped and scattered away in panic. Kyurem turned around just in time to see the heavy artillery coming to bombard and tear apart the mountain top, as a big could of smoke formed from the explosions.

After about a minute of apparent overkill, the bombardment stopped. The fighter jets circled what remained of the peak, seemingly seeking confirmation of a kill.

Soon, they heard a telepathic voice inside their head... Specifically, a groan of annoyance, mixed with mild pain.

"Uuuugh. So it's like that, huh? Fine. I can play dirty too."

Kyurem pulled itself back to a standing position, as the snowy winds around him grew much fiercer. Looking around, he could see the faint outlines of the fighter jets through his impaired vision.

"Get busy dying!"

With a mighty roar from the Boundary Dragon, giant spikes of ice grew out of the mountains, directly into the paths of the jets. Layers of frost began to build up on the flying vehicles, as the turbulent winds continued blowing.