The Phantom Thieves are from Persona 5 and the Phantom Troupe from Hunter Hunter. Look up their appearances at your own discretion!
Mourning Charlotte
It hides in plain sight, but in veil, waiting for its chance to kill. That was the 12-legged spider, the Mourning Charlotte. The ship's legs allowed it to walk on land, but would curl up when it sailed the sea or sky. For now, it hid cloaked atop an abandoned building.
The round table had 12 seats, wherein two lay empty. The spiders savored their dinner before the hunt. "I really enjoyed Leblanc's." Shalnark smiled. "Its coffee had the kinda taste that livened your spirits!"
"Too many bugs though." Shizuku inputted.
"And no info on these Phantom Thieves, I'm guessing?" asked Nobunaga Hazama, a man in a purple robe and black hair in a topknot.
"Ah, we kinda forgot to ask!"
"I'm sure our questions would've come up empty." replied the captain. He wore an open purple coat, showing his muscular physique, smooth black hair, orb earrings, and a cross-shaped tattoo on his forehead. "We can expect the thieves to appear at the auction."
"And if they do, we'll CLOBBER 'EM!" Uvogin punched his palm! He was a Goron with spiky gray hair, brown-furred boots and waist wear. His spider tattoo was sideways on his back, numbered 11.
"And will girl be there?" moaned Franklin, a Frankenstein with long earlobes, blue overalls, and a white coat with a black Triforce on the back.
"We've confirmed it." answered Pakunoda, a slender woman with a purple suit, short blonde hair, and aquiline nose. "Don Quixote Sugar was hired as the auction's opening act. Intended to draw in lots of patronage."
"Then not only the treasures," the captain smiled, "but the perfect Devil Fruit is within our grasp." Veins like roots seemed to form around his torso.
"And, and we get to keep the rest of the treasures, right?" Kortopi asked hopefully. He was a short Jawa (a Secco alien) with blue-gray hair completely covering his head, leaving only his big blue eye to peek through, and a blue tunic.
"Only if you pull your share of the weight." replied Bonolenov, a man wrapped like a mummy, with red boxing gloves, boots, and orange shorts.
"Yes… let's all make sure this auction goes smoothly. Who knows what other guests we can expect?"
"Aye, Captain Chrollo." said Feitan, a man in a dark cloak and skull bandanna over his mouth. "But, after tonight… will it be time for the pirate world to recognize us?"
"It's hard to say… perhaps no one may have any recollection of tonight."
Ace Hunter
"So, these Phantom Troupe," Senku recapped, "are some shadowy pirate crew no one knows the members of… and Suika happened to spot one of them in a coffee shop in Tokyo?"
"If Suika wasn't small," the child shuddered, "she would've been seen… and k-killed…"
"I'm so sorry, Suika." Kohaku knelt down and hugged her.
"But why did Illumi give you that poster?" Carrot wondered.
"I don't know. Maybe he's a member, or an affiliate, and he passed this as a warning message."
"Then we should call the Earth KND and tell them they're in Tokyo."
"We could do that." Rupert said. "Although… they might be pretty busy at the moment."
"I figured." Augustus agreed. "…Maybe… I should go down there."
"Excuse me?" Tressa cocked a brow. "You just said Illumi gave you that poster as a warning, now you wanna totally ignore it?"
"For one thing, a lot of innocent people could be in danger, and by the time we warn the KND, or even try to call GUN, it could be too late."
"But why are they even in Tokyo?"
"There's an auction taking place." Stewie reported from his handy-dandy laptop. "Entrepreneur Eddy is holding an array of valuable items up for grabs, and dozens of nobles are going to be there. Sounds like a mass robbery to me."
"That's funny." Senku said. "This card you guys found seems to be addressed to Eddy. 'Eddy the Scam King, you are a greedy noble who robs people of fortune by deceiving them with phony merchandise. We will take your greedy desires and make you confess your sins. Yours Truly, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.'"
"So, they ARE targeting him!" Carrot gasped.
"No, no, the Phantom Thieves and Phantom Troupe are completely different!" Stewie explained. "The Thieves are primarily active and popular in Japan, while the Troupe have committed crimes on other worlds."
"Really?! That's so confusing!"
"But if both groups are targeting Eddy, does that mean they'll clash?" Tressa wondered. "Or are they working together?"
"Somehow, I doubt it." August replied. "And I doubt the Thieves even know what they're getting into. Don't you think we should do something?"
"I…I don't disagree, but…" Kohaku said hesitantly.
"If August'n thinkst we must go, then we must!" Tama declared.
"S-Suika is scared…"
"Actually, I… rather you didn't." August said.
"BAH?!" Tama gawked, heartbroken at the rejection.
"Children's Day isn't over, yet. I still want you kids to take it easy. Heck, I'll go by myself if I need to. If nothing else, I at least need to figure out what the other Troupe members look like."
"I cannot let you embark on this alone." Hinahoho stamped his harpoon. "I shall go!"
"No offense, Hina, but you'd stick out like a whale in a city." Tressa stated. "Auctions are my style, anyway, so I'll come along."
"At least allow me to wait on standby!"
"Thou really… dost not want me to come?" Tama wept.
"It's been a busy day, Tama. You kids should get some rest. I promise to come back when you wake up!"
"Tama canst not sleep knowing August'n is on such dangerous mission!"
"I have an idea!" Rupert perked up. "Timmy, you can bring the kids to the Tree of Beginning! Suika can meet more Pikmineers and maybe we could set her up with some Onions."
"Suika… would like that." She smiled weakly. "Suika wishes we could all go."
"Kohaku does, too." Her elder sister said. "But this sounds like something we need to do. You kids can have a fun, relaxing mission and leave this to the grownups."
"Hai…" Tama bowed in somber acceptance.
"But Nel go, too." The cavegirl grew into a grownup. "Nel is grownup, too. She go protect Augsus."
"That goes double for me!" Pea perked up. "I can be grownup anytime I want! As much as I adore the Minish, this should come first."
"Still, the kids do need a supervisor." Kohaku said. "Senku, I'm putting you in charge of that!"
"Heh heh heh. I can't turn down a direct order from you."
"Well, the captain will need some brains along, so I'm electing to go as well." Stewie said. "Maggie should also be very vital."
"Then I guess I'm bringing all the unaging kids." Augustus smiled, sighing.
"Then can Konayuki go with Tama and Suika, please?"
"Very well, Kona." Hina complied. "But I expect you to be on your best behavior. And please watch where you step!"
"Don't worry, you'll all have to shrink to get into Minish Kingdom." Rupert smiled. "Synthia, I'll leave you to Timmy and Mujika for now."
"Wait a minute!" Timmy gasped. "Don't tell me YOU'RE going with them?!"
"I'm the Top Pikmineer. I'd be crazy not to help them!"
"WITHOUT your Newborn?!"
"Synthia can't shrink 'evil' people, anyway. I'd just risk getting her captured."
"And I don't really do small, anyway." Gus remarked, starting his new lollipop. "You can come, I guess, but you and your ants better watch yourselves."
"Captain!" Stewie yelped. "I just learned the auction hired a singer to advertise them! It's Sugar!"
"You mean the same Sugar who saved all the brainwashed Mobians?!" Carrot exclaimed. "Now I HAVE to go!"
"The auction will take place about 7pm in Tokyo's time. That's still quite a ways away."
"I guess we have some time to rest." Gus said. "Let's try to head down maybe two hours from the auction. Hopefully, we'll have enough leeway to figure out their plan."
"Indeed. I'll try to tip off the KND and GUN about this. Perhaps we should try to meet these Phantom Thieves as well…"
Tokyo; Leblanc's
"You lost the Calling Card we drew up?!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"I swear, no one came up here!" Futaba panicked. "I mean, I was in the zone, but my peripheral vision didn't spot anyone! Morgana can vouch for me!"
"Uhhh…actually…" The monochrome cat appeared sheepish. "I did see a couple of little people."
"Little people?!"
"I think they were Minish. I see them around sometimes. It looked like they were cleaning up the bedroom, and they even grew that plant over there. Helped me out with a parasite problem, too, hehe. But I didn't see them take the Calling Card!"
"You don't think they intended to deliver it themselves, do you?" Joker wondered.
"Perhaps I should craft another one just in case." Yusuke suggested.
"The auction is about 2 hours from now." Makoto said. "We just have to steal Eddy's Treasure before it ends. If he ends up ripping off anybody, he'll have time to refund them."
"I can't imagine what sort of boss we'll fight." Haru said. "His cartoony dreamscape is bizarre enough."
"Then we'd better get started now." Morgana said. "Let's make a new Calling Card and get to sleep."
The gang proceeded downstairs to the coffee shop—"Would you NOT put your boots on the table?!" they heard Sojiro shout.
"Yo, I'm just stretching my legs." Augustus stated, guzzling his third coffee. "They get stiff after just waking up. Say, this coffee's the best though! If I drink 100 of these, you think I can move at lightspeed?"
"Most people can get by with just one!"
"Yeah, well I'm going partying tonight, old man, I need the adrenaline! And speaking of parties, what is THIS little crowd pouring out of the attic?!" The gang of teens weren't exactly indiscrete in this setting. "Didn't think high schoolers loved coffee this much. I'd expect you to be sneaking in bars illegally or something."
"Well, now that they're here," Sojiro inquired, "perhaps you can straighten this delinquent out."
"Yes, we can't have someone treat this place like their personal playroom." Makoto stepped forth with a polite demeanor. "I hope you're at least planning to pay for those cups."
"Uh…uh, ahh…"
Hearing an odd moan behind her, Makoto faced Ryuji. His mouth was stuck agape, dumbstruck. "Uh…are you okay?"
"Uuuuuhhh, aaaaahhh, AAAAAHHH!" Ryuji nudged Makoto aside, stomping in a bizarre fashion. He planted one hand on the table and pointed the other at the customer. "Yoooouuuu'rrrre… THE PIRATE, 'STONE FIST' AUGUSTUS!"
"Never gets old." The captain smiled. "But I'm called 'The Gobstopper' now."
"They updated your epithet?!" Ryuji quickly checked his phone. "Your bounty, too! Dude, I'm so behind!"
Haru looked over his shoulder. "Oh, my! He really does look like that fellow… but, it couldn't be."
"What are you doing here?" Joker glared.
"Well, I was just in the neighborhood," Gus put his feet down and scooted out of the seat, "when I saw a couple ants carrying this." He withdrew the card from his vest pocket. "They said it came from here."
"Yo, that's our Calling Card!" Ryuji exclaimed.
BONG!!! Ann conked him in the crown with such clean motion that he fell right down. Her brow twitched with frustration… and Gus's brow twitched, baffled by his clueless outburst.
"What he MEANT was," Ann forced a cheerful smile, "that's the collectable Calling Card we bought from a Phantom Thief fan because we're Phantom Thieves fans! Riiiiiiiiight?"
"…I hope you ain't in acting school 'cause that was terrible." Gus said.
The pigtailed blonde flared up and wanted to slap him, but Yusuke restrained her. "Look, Mr. Pirate," Sojiro began, "right now, it seems the only 'thief' in this room is you. So, why don't you get going before I call the cops?"
"First of all, pirates are completely different from thieves. We have different methods and traditions. And second, I'm not the criminal you should be busting."
"What do you mean?" Joker asked.
Gus withdrew the spider wanted poster. "The… Phantom Troupe?" Ann read.
"Ten billion?" Makoto gasped.
"C-Can someone help me up…" Ryuji grunted.
"Wanted for… numerous murders and thefts across several planets?" Yusuke was horrified by the notion.
"What does this mean?" Joker eyed the captain skeptically.
"Sigh, I guess I'm closing shop early." Sojiro walked over and flipped the sign on his door. "You better make this quick…"
"This morning, one of my crewmen snuck into your shop to steal some tomatoes and coffee ingredients."
"What?!"
"You probably didn't notice her because she's… quite the small sort."
"Does he mean the Minish?!" Mona gasped.
Gus glanced at the cat after hearing its meow. "Nice cat! Anyway, while she was here, she witnessed a murder. In the bathroom."
"WHAT?!" Futaba flinched.
"And, this part sounds crazy even to me, but… apparently, the murderer sucked up the corpse and blood with a vacuum?!"
"How in the…" Yusuke couldn't believe such a claim.
"Now that you mention it," Sojiro said, "that woman followed the glasses girl into the bathroom… but only the glasses one came out."
"And she had a black sweater and gold necklace, right?" That's what Rupert described, since Suika was too shock-ridden.
"Yes, that's… Where are you going with this?" Joker asked.
"Because my friend said she had a spider tattoo, just like this. I think the Phantom Troupe are in this very city."
The knowledge of intergalactic murders lurking in their town mortified the kids. "And…" Joker stepped up, his spectacled gaze meeting Gus's shades. He was a few inches shorter than the captain. "How does this involve you?"
"Honestly… even I don't know. At least, I would like to know what the others look like. At best, I would like to see them arrested. My friend is trying to put the word out to the KND and GUN, but by the time they get here, the Troupe might get away. My best guess is they're planning to rob an auction about to take place… and it sounds like the Phantom Thieves are targeting it, too. If both groups wound up confronting each other, would the Thieves be able to stop them?"
"Hmmm…" Actually, part of their plan entailed stealing Eddy's treasures from the real auction, which would thereby limit the arsenal of the dreamscape's guardian. They wouldn't bother explaining their true methods, but if Gus was telling the truth, they may have to cancel their original plan. "Does this mean," Makoto began calmly, "you would be willing to assist the Phantom Thieves in catching these guys?"
"I don't wanna put my crew in danger… but in reality, that's the price of being pirates. We're already being targeted by bounty hunters and governments alike. I'll bet this Troupe will target us someday, too. Only difference is they'll have the element of surprise… so, maybe we should surprise them first. I really don't know."
"So, what do you expect us to do?" Joker inquired.
"I would like it if the Phantom Thieves could share what they know on the auction. Perhaps that'll help us work out what the Troupe's plan."
"Almost sounds like you're tricking them into helping your own robbery."
"Dude, I'm a Gourmet Hunter. I don't care for phony treasures. But I don't like seeing innocents get hurt either. I doubt the Troupe will just make a 'clean' getaway."
The kids eyed their messy-haired leader, awaiting his decision. He glanced at Futaba and nodded. "Fortunately, the Phantom Thieves have eyes everywhere." Futaba smiled. "I'm sure they're already planning to speak with you now."
Downtown
"DON'T WAIT UP! DON'T BE LATE!" the impish entrepreneur yelled from his high podium. "Buy your seats now for Eddy's Auction Edstravaganza! We got fossilized ancient squids from Planet Glomour, silver hexagonal blocks from Legola, and this CROWN!" He raised a crudely designed crown made of crudely stitched metals. "Crafted from an ancient material from Planet… uh, Yvolktaska! These can all be yours with a starting price of twenty-five… hundred dollars! So, get those wallets ready NOW!"
"He's got to be kidding." Tressa cringed, watching from across the road. "That 'silver block' is clearly a normal Lego he painted gray and crammed into a bolt. This auction's gonna fall apart big time. By the way, you're really 'rockin' those clothes, Nel."
The child was wearing a slightly oversized white shirt with a black rock, labeled 'Rock,' some baggy black pants, white shoes, and a roofless white hat. "Why Nel have to wear Futur clothes?"
"So we don't stick out too badly. You'll be waiting at the restaurant with Hina, but you won't be ready for combat if everyone's studying you like an exhibit."
"You ought to dress up as well, Tressa." Stewie approached them. "You have a wanted poster now, too, there's a chance someone could recognize you."
"I guess you're-" Tressa turned to him—her face fell. Stewie was in a Princess Peach dress with a blonde wig and crown. "YOU'RE STICKING OUT WAY MORE!"
"This was the perfect chance to try out my new Rose Queen Lipstick! It took me hours to get it just right!"
"Maybe you can join Captain's harem." Kohaku remarked, wearing her light-blue dress with white heels. This was certainly a better setting to wear these than Zou. Beside her, Carrot had on a puffy white hat, shading her eyes. "And Carrot, you'll need to hide more than just your ears to blend in."
"I'm not trying to hide them. There's a full moon tonight. I'm wearing this so I don't look up by mistake."
"What's wrong with a full moon?"
"Mobians enter Primal Fury when we look at one."
"A power boost like that will certainly help!" A masculine, jovial voice declared. "Best use when we need it!"
"EH?!?" The crew gawked at Pea: she was in her Hoteye Mask, with wavy green hair, a sharp mustache, and polygonal face. "Pea, why did you choose THAT form?!" Tressa asked.
"It's an auction, right? This form FITS the bill! Besides, just about each of my masks stand out here, anyway."
"Then you should go in your normal form!" Stewie said. "Your wanted poster depicts your Zathurian form, anyway!"
"Sorry, but I've already paid for my seat! I have Kohaku's and Tressa's as well."
"Then I guess we're all set to sneak in!" Tiny Rupert peeped out from Kohaku's cleavage.
"Uhhhh…" The warrior stared down at him with concealed anger. "What the fuck are you doing in there?"
"I kept getting tangled in your hair, so I traded for someplace comfy!"
"Well, you're gonna get back up there," her eyes twitched, "or I'm gonna have blood on my fingers."
"Yip!" Rupert quickly whistled Wing Pikmin to lift him back to her hair.
"Wow, he's gonna grow up to be just like Augustus." Tressa sighed.
"She's here! She's here!" A bunch of people began swarming past them, amassing on the sidewalk's edge.
"Sugar-chan! Sugar-chan!" some boys were cheering.
A limousine painted with a neon song sheet parked at the auction house. The fans were in a craze as a pair of rainbowy heels stepped out, worn by smooth, thick, and flexible legs. Don Quixote Sugar did a twirl for her fans, blowing kisses at the young men and casting Music Notes at the girls. "S-Sugar!" Carrot gasped. "It's really her!"
"THAT'S RIGHT, TOKYO!" Sugar flinched when Eddy leapt and shouted atop the limo. "The one, the only, 'Neon Dancer' Sugar will be dancing for our auction! You wanna see her in action? See her sexy moves? Then PAY for your ticket NOW!"
"See you tonight, every—WUUUH!" Sugar was yanked into the building by the half-pint noble with erratic, cartoonish speed.
"Guys… I have to meet Sugar." Carrot sighed in admiration. "I saw her performance at Cook Fest, but I didn't have the courage… but this is my chance now."
"I actually knew Sugar before she was famous." Rupert boasted. "She almost swallowed me. Bet that's closer than any of her fans got."
"I think I'm gonna crush you, anyway." Kohaku said.
Stewie heard a beeping from his Infi-Cube. "What's this?" The infant walked into a parking lot away from the crowd as he withdrew his laptop. "Somebody's hacked my computer!"
Am I speaking to Stew Griffin? A message was typed.
"That's not my name! It's either Stewie, Stewart, or Evangeline Michelangelo!" Stewie wrote back.
You reacted as your captain predicted.
"What? Who are you?!"
I'm Oracle. The eyes of the Phantom Thieves. We heard you were in town. We heard there was a worse threat in town. You wish to help us stop it, is that correct?
"We can't really promise anything. We only barely know what two of them look like, so we have no idea what they're capable of."
Promise that no one dies. That you won't betray us.
"If we can count on you, you can count on us."
Then we'll gamble on it. Here are the blueprints for the auction house. We'll use them to coordinate a possible counterattack.
Stewie received an email with the blueprints. "Then I'd better get someplace more comfortable. …And a washroom because my dress brushed over some spilled soda."
7:00pm (Play "Whims of Fate" from Persona 5!)
The patronage was dense as soon as opening time was near. Between wealthy, middle class, or anyone that had thousands to spare for the sake of livening up their house. "There sure are a lot here." Kohaku said passively, wearing her hair down. "If they're only planning to steal the treasures, they shouldn't need to hurt anybody."
"Don't say that so loud!" Tressa whispered. "But you are right. It would be hard to kill so many people and get away unseen… but it's not impossible either. We better be ready for anything."
Rupert's Wing Pikmin were overlooking the chamber from high up, the audience paying no mind to the tiny bugs. "…!" They recognized the two from the coffee shop: the girl with big glasses and cross necklace, and the boy with the light-purple outfit. They flew back to Kohaku's hair and started humming frantically, pointing either direction. "Kohaku!" Rupert swung down a strand of hair beside her ear. "My Pikmin saw them!"
"Huh?! Where?"
"Turn your head right… slowly, STOP! See that smiling guy over there?"
"He's one of the ones you saw?"
"Yeah. Now keep turning… okay, stop! There's the girl he was with."
They could only see the back-right of Shizuku's head, but Kohaku's enhanced vision provided enough detail. "The one Suika saw…"
"They really are here." Tressa said worriedly. "But how many others could be with them?"
"Just keep an eye on them." Kohaku touched her earpiece. "Guys, we spotted two of the Phantoms. Er, the bad Phantoms."
"Just call them spiders." Stewie said. He was sitting across Hinahoho at an outdoor, rooftop restaurant, stationed across from the auction house. The Imuchakk was wearing a simple, large trenchcoat. "I'll inform the Thieves. They should be surveying the building from all angles."
"Have you two decided what you'd like?" The waiter approached them.
"We, um, need more time." Hina answered nervously.
"Ah, yes. Is everything fine?"
"She's, um, helping a coworker with a problem. Heh, they can't find enough good help these days."
"That's because Lucy had to take time off to help her mother after her shoulder surgery!" Stewie shouted in anger.
"Oh, dear." The waiter gasped.
"Yes, and I wanted to go shopping for a gift, but this blowhard was too busy playing darts with George and Michael!"
"What?!" Hina flinched at the accusation. "I, uh…what are we talking about?"
"I dunno, what ARE we talking about?! You never listen to me, you're always stuck in that big head of hair of yours!"
"Stewie—I mean, Evangeline, just calm down!"
"Er, pardon me…" The waiter nervously backed away. With one last glance at the strange, mixed-size couple, he mumbled, "Man, foreigners are weird."
Carrot carefully poked her head up out of a sewer lid, seeing an alleyway door. A guard walked out and turned away, smoking a cigarette. Carrot quietly climbed out of the sewer, slid the lid back, and slipped into the door behind him. She saw a janitor coming up the hall, so Carrot hurried the other way. She didn't need bunny hearing to pick up on Eddy's voice. "WHADDYA MEAN ONE OF THE GIRLS DIDN'T SHOW?!"
"Tatsuki broke her leg." A backup dancer replied. The three girls and Sugar were wearing bunny ear headdresses and one-piece dance suits. "She had to see a doctor to get it checked."
"Fine, but this better not hurt my profits!"
"Mr. Eddy, why do we have to wear these?" Sugar asked. She wore a glittered neon suit while the backups wore black ones.
"This country loves bunny girls, don't it?"
"Where'd you hear that?"
"Some dude named Mashima told me. Now, get ready," Eddy walked out of the room, "you girls are up in—huh?"
"Ah!" Carrot flinched as Eddy stopped directly at her, already fearing she blew her cover.
"Heh-hey! You showed up! Now, get in your outfit, you're on in five minutes!" Eddy grabbed and swung Carrot into the changing room. The rabbit was almost face-first with a taller woman's chest… and when she craned up to meet her eyes, Carrot fell silent.
"Wow!" Sugar beamed. "They really paid extra for your costume!"
"Su-Su…Sugar…"
"Want me to help you change?"
"Ah, ooo, I, um…I'll be fine! On my own."
"Well, see you on stage!" Sugar walked around her and left, the dancers following as they passed confused looks to Carrot.
She stood, processing the exchange and realizing what she'd gotten into… and once her emotions were on fire, she scrambled to fit into a suit. "Yes! Thank goodness it fits! I'm gonna do a dance with Sugar, garchuuuuuu!"
One of the nearby apartment buildings had potted plants hanging from the balconies. …One of the plants popped up, Maggie underneath. She surveyed the roofs with her Zoom-Zoom power, noting the shadowed figures moving across them. They seemed to hold out their cellphones and flash a red light. This was to convey they were the Thieves.
Captain Chrollo straightened his tuxedo as he smoothly stepped into the theater. He rubbed his hands of tension and his top-hat concealed his forehead mark. After assuring that his two crewmen were in position, Chrollo made his way to the men's room. He opened the vent by the ceiling and withdrew a bundled-up cloth from his sleeve. He stuck the cloth into the vent as it enlarged, and Kortopi scrambled out of it. "Don't get lost, Kortopi." The Jawa beamed at his boss's smile and quickly crawled through.
"Carrot, how are things on your end?" Kohaku asked. "…Carrot? Carrot, come in."
"Kohaku, the song's starting!" Tressa pointed.
"Champagne flutes and… Dinner suits that… Keep your focus, Away from the cheating hands!" The bunny dancers mirrored Sugar's motions with great synchronicity. The men and even some of the ladies were already in love as Sugar's notes graced the hall.
"Seriously? Bunny costumes? I didn't think she would sell out like that."
"Hey, I think I'm gonna survey the stage." Rupert said. "There's a chance that-"
"You are NOT going up for a closer look at those girls!" Kohaku hissed.
"But one of them could be a spider in disguise! Like, uh… isn't that Carrot?"
"I know they look like bunnies, but…?!"
"So, we roll – the – dice! See where they may faaaaall!" The dancers turned to shake their false bunny tails… but most eyes fell to Carrot's bigger, fluffier tail. "Come on, why don't we spin the wheel? See whom it may caaaaaall." The dancers faced forward and rotated their torsos, flapping their ears. "Give in to temptatioooooonnn!"
The girls were agape. That bunny on the right was unmistakably Carrot… What the heck was she doing?!
"Why is she singing the same song they were already playing on the speakers?" Stewie wondered, hearing the song through the comms.
"Don't let it distract you. Stay focused." A girl's voice said.
"Who is this?"
"It's Oracle, who else? We tuned into your comms' frequency. I made it in the building's power room and hacked the camera network. I haven't seen anything too weird, yet. I'm watching the treasure room. Honestly, Eddy's treasures are all bogus, so we don't really care if they get stolen, but we can at least watch and see what they…what the-?!"
"What's wrong, Oracle?" asked Queen, who was in the room with her.
"The cameras are glitching up! Something's wrong! I'm gonna try to get them back online!"
Shalnark typed his horned cellphone with satisfaction. "That takes care of the cameras! Once you two are in position, I'll cut the power." Pea stood close to the boy, just barely overhearing him.
"Hey, Tressa!" Kohaku yelped. "That girl is going somewhere! Should I follow?"
"Leave it to me!" Rupert whistled his Wing Pikmin to carry him away. "If she catches you, it could get ugly."
Shizuku shuffled her way through the audience and made her way to the ladies' bathroom. She checked to make sure no one else was in, unaware of Rupert sneaking under the door. He was in time to watch Shizuku tear open the vent and climb in. "Agh! It's always the vents!" Rupert quickly instructed his Pikmin to fly him up there.
"Aaaalright…" Shalnark drawled. "Cutting the power n-"
"OH, WHAT A GORGEOUS DAY FOR AN AUCTION!" Pea hoisted him up from behind and gave him a big hug. The act was so sudden that he dropped his phone.
"AGH! Mister, w-what are you doing?!"
"Auctions just make me so happy! I want to hug anybody I see! I sure can't wait to spend my buckets of cash!"
Chrollo cast a glare at the interloper. He touched his earpiece, "Pakunoda, Plan B."
As Maggie skimmed the area outside, she saw a woman lean out of another building window. "Mw-mw!!" The woman aimed a gun at a telephone pole and fired, hitting an antenna lodged in the pole. An EMP explosion coursed into the auction house, resulting a total blackout. (Play "Dark Clouds" from Naruto.)
The house was in a frenzy as people scrambled to turn on their flashlight phones, but as Chrollo dashed through the crowd, he slapped the phones out of their hands. Confused by the darkness and cluster of sounds, Sugar was unprepared as Chrollo leapt onstage, throwing a large cloth over her. "AAAaaaahh…" Her scream faded as the cloth entrapped and shrank her.
"S-Sugar?!" Carrot heard the scream and heard someone running backstage. The rabbit quickly put on her shock glove and flashed it on. "GUYS!" Her friends looked up. "Someone's taking Sugar! This way!"
"Carrot, wait!" Kohaku and Tressa scrambled through the crowd.
Shalnark grabbed another antenna and cut Pea's hip, the muscular man-child wincing as she slammed Shalnark to the floor and tried to beat him to a pulp. "Why did your ally take Sugar?!"
"How do you know about—never mind! HELP, SOMEONE HELP! THIS MAN'S TRYING TO KILL ME!"
"Someone call the police!" The crowd struggled to pull Pea off him, using their phone lights to see.
"No, you have it wrong, he's the bad guy!"
Chrollo raced through a back hallway. A security guard saw him with a flashlight and drew a gun. "Hey you, freeze! What do you think you're-" Chrollo easily dodged the gun and snapped the man's neck, afterwards slipping out the door.
Carrot raced through with her shock glove as light. She stopped in horror as she recognized the smoking guard, dead on the floor. Growling angrily, Carrot hurried outside. She was in time to hear climbing and barely saw Chrollo climb the next-door building in time.
"Heheheh!" Kortopi laughed as he and Shizuku landed in the treasure room. "Wow, look at all this stuff! We're gonna be rich!"
"Then best get to work." Shizuku requested. Kortopi began to touch each treasure with his left hand. A replica would spawn from his right hand, thanks to his Fake-Fake Fruit. Each replica would vanish after 24 hours, by which time they would be long gone. Shizuku would then slurp each treasure with her vacuum arm, thanks to her Vac-Vac Fruit. The woman grew more chubby with each item.
"Holy crud!" Rupert gasped. "Quick, you guys, get into that lady's back pockets!" The Wings saluted and buzzed down.
"Alright, that's the last of them!" Kortopi said. "Hurry, let's get out of here before the-" the lights flashed on, "the power's back on?!"
"PRESTO!" Oracle cheered. "Backup power saves the day! Now to fix the cameras!"
"Come on, Shizuku, let's split!" Kortopi leapt back into the vent while Shizuku was forced to take the exit with her portly frame, hurrying to a backdoor.
"HEY!" she heard Eddy shout. "What were you doing in my-?!" The greedy noble dashed into the treasure room, but it seemed everything was intact. "Ugh! Damn window shopper!"
Pea had shoved the crowd onto Shalnark just as the lights came back on. The spider pushed them off, searching for the green-haired man, but he was gone. Little Pea managed to stay hidden in the crowd, hurrying to the exit.
Chrollo leapt from building to building with the squirming cloth in his sleeve. "HEY!" He stopped and faced back as the rabbit leaping in the moonlight. "Give back Sugar!!"
"And so, the frolicking grasshopper leaps unwarily into the spider's web." When Carrot leapt down to kick him, Chrollo swung his Haki-imbued leg and kicked Carrot over the next roof and onto the following.
"CARROT!" Kohaku and Tressa made it atop the roofs in time to see this, but their roof-hopping was cut short by a katana swing, followed by a boxing glove punch. The girls dodged the attacks and looked up at Nobunaga, the swordsman, and Bonolenov the mummy. Kohaku whipped out her katana to clash with Nobunaga, their speed at ends, while Tressa twirled her staff to deflect Bono's advances and tried to blow him off.
Chrollo, meanwhile, leapt to Carrot's roof and approached the rabbit slowly, wanting to bask in her fear as she held her aching hip. Fearing her chances in this battle, Carrot gazed up at the moon… only to meet a passing cloud. "NO! Not now! HACK!"
Chrollo seized her neck. Carrot stabbed his chest with her shock glove, only to get a minor wince, and her punches and kicks barely bent the man at all. "It's funny. I just read an article about a Mobian tribe and its dangerous rabbits. A tribe that a certain pirate crew apparently conquered. Tell me, child… who is your leader?"
"You got somethin' to say to me?" (End song.)
Chrollo about-faced. There was the man he expected… the mastermind behind this intervention. A lollipop sticking dancing to his whim. He coolly crossed the opposite roof and stopped on the edge. "Augustus von Fizzuras. What a coincidence we would target the same-" He found the lolli stick stuck to his nasal bridge.
"Let her go, buddy."
Chrollo grinned. He threw Carrot with violent force into the next building. If it weren't for her fluffy tail, the impact would've been a lot worse. She fell to the street, but landed in Hina's waiting arms. "Are you alright, Carrot?!"
"Hinabro…"
"We came as fast as possible." Stewie and Nel were running from further up, fast as their tiny legs could. "Perhaps we should-"
"UVOOOOO!" A boulder came rolling out of the alley. When Hina saw the sentient rock bowl toward him, he threw Carrot overhead and stopped it in his hands. Stewie grew into a Hulk and caught Carrot. Hina saw the spider symbol marked on the boulder shortly before Uvogin unraveled, grabbing Hina's hands. "It's time for the spiders to step out of the shadows." Uvogin dwarfed the tall Imuchakk by more than a foot! Stunned by this, Hina let himself be picked up and slammed into the wall.
It was then Stewie found himself under fire from the opposite alley: Franklin had opened his fingertips, shooting bullets with the speed of a minigun. Stewie's Hulk arm shielded Carrot and withstood the fire. "Nel! Take Carrot!" He lay her beside the cavegirl before running to engage the Frankenstein. Nodding affirmably, Nel grew to adult size, her big shirt becoming a midriff and big pants becoming shorts. She picked Carrot up and bolted through town.
"Not so fast." Pakunoda ran from her prior building and tried to shoot Nel from afar—"AH!" but the gun was shot out of her hand. She glared up at where the bullet could've come, noting the potted plants. She grabbed another gun and shot all the plants until Maggie fell out.
"I am very curious how you figured out our plan." Chrollo said. "But more so why you're trying to stop us? Did Eddy hire your crew for security? Or was it the Phantom Thieves who found out and reached out to you for assistance?"
"Neither. We were just in the right place at the right time. I heard about your crew… and people who operate in the shadows shouldn't call their selves pirates. I wanted to discipline you."
"How foolish." Chrollo threw off his disguise, unveiling his purple coat. "You're going to wish you stayed out of our party. I, Chrollo Lucilfer, will make this city dance to my requiem."
"How about we dance to mine instead?" A shadowed youth came flying above the roof and threw card shurikens at his back. Joker landed, smiling coolly.
Chrollo smirked at either youth on his sides. "Kids take so long to mature." (Play "Rivers in the Desert" from Persona 5!)
Augustus threw his Gob-Spinner, Chrollo catching it with his palm and withstanding the twisting. He dodged Joker's knives, but Joker swiftly evaded Chrollo's punches and managed to cut his gut. He left no wound on Chrollo's strong skin, but the captain felt a light shock. Gus inflated a Bounce Gum to jump to the roof, surprising Chrollo as it popped over him. Gus landed hardened punches, but Chrollo socked him in the gut with enough force to knock him two roofs away. He ripped the gum off him and ducked Joker's knife, grabbing his leg in attempt to twist it, but Joker threw a smoke pellet at Chrollo's face and shot his grappling hook to pull himself to safety. The thief leapt back and threw more bladed cards, Chrollo grabbing, hardening, and throwing them back. Joker ran in a circle to evade, his coat taking some cuts, and afterwards surprising Chrollo with handguns.
"Heh. You really shouldn't use pacifist bullets on me."
"Antikill will numb your senses a little at a time."
"And in case they don't," August rammed Chrollo with Rock Candy, his shoes scraping toward the roof's edge as Chrollo pushed back, "I'll knock your daylights out!" Chrollo pulled back his leg and kicked the candy back, but Gus broke out and rolled forward, wrapping Chrollo's leg with Licorope and pulling up to punch the spider over two roofs.
Kohaku's sword was flung from her grasp, the warrior grabbing her shield to block Hazama's swings. When Kohaku swung a kick, Hazama grabbed and flipped her over. He leapt for a jump slice, but a whip snagged his leg and flipped him, Kohaku rolling away. Her savior was a pigtailed girl in a red panther costume, passing Kohaku a friendly wink. Kohaku smiled in thanks and dodged Hazama's cut, swiftly striking his shoulders with her daggers.
Bonolenov was punctured by Tressa's wind-powered arrows, but despite them flying clean through his body, no blood spurted out and the mummy was unbothered. "No use shooting an undead!" Tressa went back to whacking with her staff, but Bono dodged with flips and socked Tressa in the jaw.
"If you are undead, then I needn't hold back!" A dark-clothed man in a kitsune mask sliced Bono's back with a katana, the mummy dodging enough only so his bandages were cut.
"Nice!" Tressa beamed. "Are you the Phantom Thieves?"
"Fox and Panther, at your service."
"You are quite mistaken." Bono smirked. "I am no undead. These bandages were for YOUR protection!" With that, he threw off the torn bandages, repulsing the heroes: he was a scrawny, purple man with holes around his body. Luckily, he kept the shorts. "We of the Gyudondond Tribe are the most graceful on Avalar. I swear upon the spirits that I will defeat you."
"Gyudondond?" Tressa asked. "I've never heard of you."
"Yes, we were small in number and in land… especially after the Kou Empire ran us off to build a shopping center! I hope to get revenge someday, but first!" With his dance, wind coursed through his holes, generating a melody, and with it, musicbending. His notes turned into spears that would jab Tressa and Fox were they not careful.
"Panther, I think it best we switch opponents!"
"I was just thinking the same!" With that, Panther's nimble motions would dodge Bono's notes as she whipped the purple-skinned, while Fox and Kohaku would combine their katanas against Hazama.
"Maybe it's time to stop holding back." Chrollo smirked, leaping across several roofs. His body shone as swirly roots grew on his skin… the design of which reminded Gus of Devil Fruits. He opened his palms, the right one stamped with an up arrow and the left palm a down. Joker shot bullets, but Chrollo leapt forth and tackled him, shoving Gus down as well. When he recovered, he saw the two roll around before pushing the other off. He quickly leapt to stomp Chrollo's face-
"OW! GUS, STOP, IT'S ME!"
His voice was different. "J-Joker?"
"AGH!" 'Joker' kicked 'Chrollo' seven buildings away. Gus glared at the thief in suspicion. "You switched bodies?!"
"The Convert-Convert Fruit trades forms, not bodies. Thanks for the help~" Chrollo punched Gus, but he grabbed and twisted Chrollo's hand, followed by a Knife to the hip. Chrollo pulled away and kicked his stomach before retreating over the roofs. His body glowed again as he morphed back to normal, and Gus saw Joker regain his normal body when he made his return. Chrollo pulled out Sugar's cloth and reinforced its hold on her. "Not yet, little lady. …Ah, that place looks good."
"Where's he…?" Gus was concerned and confused as Chrollo leapt into an apartment balcony. He broke into the room and killed the woman inside, sparking rage inside both boys. They rushed to chase him through the corridors, Chrollo slaughtering any unfortunate worker or resident he passed by. He finally saw an inward-open door and slipped inside, hiding behind said door. Gus and Joker ran inside, expecting the balcony window to be broken open—Chrollo immediately shut the door and unleashed two large, boney fish from his body. The fish chomped Gus and Joker's bodies apart, leaving the remaining chunks afloat in the air, with white mist at the edges. (Play "Past from Far Distance" from XC2.)
"Ahhh…w…what happened to us…" Augustus panted, his upper-left head gone.
"The Indoor-Indoor Fruit lets me summon these fish." Chrollo answered, the fish peaceably floating about the bedroom. "They can only survive in closed rooms. Don't fear. When these fish disperse, your bodies shall return. Be glad… I'm merciful."
With that, Chrollo proceeded to beat what was left of them black and blue, bones broken or flesh swollen. He then flicked the window and shattered it. The fish disappeared and their bodies returned, collapsing on the floor. "Keh…tuh…two Devil Fruits?!" Augustus coughed.
"Oh, I'm much more than that. Let me show you…" Chrollo opened Sugar's cloth and released the singer, back to normal size.
"Hey!" She was forcibly pulled to her feet, blowing a Song Beam directly at Chrollo's face, but he endured as he headbutted her, dizzying the woman and knocking out teeth. "W-What do you want?! I swear if you try to force yourself-"
"Please, none of that. I thought you'd like to know I killed several people in this building. And now I will kill these boys… and anyone else that I see… unless you do me a simple favor. I want you… to use your power on me."
"I just shot you with music, but if you'd like more-"
"Not your music! Your Devil Fruit power."
"?!?" The mention of that fruit was more horrifying than his threats of murder. "What… are you talking about…"
"My sources say you consumed a very special fruit. A fruit that can wipe someone's existence from people's minds. Now, Sugar…" He held her hands firmly, but gently. "I want you to use your power on me."
"You… I…I swore to never use this power again! I would never use… something so-"
"But I'm a criminal who has killed people, and I will kill more. Wouldn't it be better if my existence was gone?"
"Even the most horrible person doesn't deserve…"
Chrollo knelt down and grabbed Gus's neck with a free hand. The captain punched his knee, but Chrollo jumped, slammed him atop Joker, and they crashed all the way to the bottom floor, uncaring who he crushed along the way. "Guhg!" Gus coughed blood. "What… kind of monster are you?"
"Now, Sugar! Transform me or this boy dies! I'll kill him in three, TWO, ON-"
POOF! In place of Chrollo was now a wooden sombrero doll. It hung limp in Sugar's hand. Augustus and Joker were confused, wondering why they were so beaten up. Did Sugar do this? …Rather, the singer was staring horrified at the doll, feeling eternally damned for what she had done.
"Hu-?!" But then the doll glowed. An energy was coursing into it, from Sugar's body. It was a pink, Bang Gas-like energy traveling along roots within her very flesh. It was both disgusting and slightly painful, and as it persisted, Chrollo's body grew back to normal… and the boys remembered their nightmare.
"Ha ha ha…thank you… Sugar." And so, the Neon Dancer was now a Barbie doll.
"What?" Gus asked. "Why'd you make a Barbie? H-HOW'D you make a Barbie?! How many powers do you have?!"
"I possess the greatest of all Devil Fruits… the Tree-Tree Fruit." Chrollo faced the boys menacingly as those same swirls formed, and Devil Fruits of varied design grew from him. "A fruit Dr. Clown planned for himself, before we stole it right from under him last year." The fruits receded back into him. "With it, I can sap the Bang Gas from other fruit users and add them to my collection. My targets need to first use their power as I touch them. I can only use one power at a time, while the previous power's effects can stay for five minutes, unless I switch back to it in time. This also includes my stealing power. As a bonus, my strength increases for each new power obtained."
"That's… unbelievable…" Joker grunted.
"You're horrible…" Sugar pushed herself up. "Don't you DARE use that power!"
"Even if I do… you won't remember." With that, Chrollo grabbed Gus and Joker, turning them into a Gingerbread Man doll and clown doll.
"Nnnuu…" Carrot achingly pulled herself up, using Nel for support.
"Bunny okay? Need Nel to bring back to boat?"
"I'm fine… I need to…?" Carrot seemed confused. "Nel? Why are we here?"
"What Carrot mean?"
"Why are we… fighting these Phantom guys again?"
"Because Captain Augs…Augu…huh?!" Nel fell to her knees. "Why… Nel… feel funny?! What happen to…"
As Bono performed an orbital dance, a tremendous illusion of Planet Jupiter appeared over the city. Jupiter crashed onto Tressa and Panther, its gaseous sensation knocking out the last of their stamina. As they lay exhausted, both girls questioned their career choices. Why did Ann stick with the Phantom Thieves this long? How did they even last this long? Why did Tressa decide to become a Gourmet Hunter? Who roped her into this crazy adventure?
Kohaku and Fox also felt a tremendous lapse in their reasons, a lapse that allowed Hazama to slice them in the guts. Both fighters held their wounds as they dropped.
As Pea searched the town for Shalnark, the Kokiri faltered. Why was she in this crew? Shouldn't she still be leading her Kiddie Corn? Why did her heart feel so… empty?
Uvogin bulldozed Hinahoho through several buildings, the Imuchakk unable to fight the Goron's roll. It was only after hitting an indoor fishtank that Hina forced Uvogin off with Fishman Karate. When Uvogin unraveled, Hina hurdled his harpoon at his belly, the Goron wincing just a bit. Uvogin threw punches that Hina tried to counter, but the Goron's fists were the stronger.
Hulk Stewie and Franklin locked lands and wrestled each other. In that position, Franklin opened his fingers to unload bullets in Stewie's eyes, leaving an opening for Franklin to uppercut the Hulk. He shoved his other fingers in Stewie's stomach, charged power, and shot a stronger blast that blew the Hulk into the restaurant, crumbling it. "Ha ha ha! No one beat Franklin!"
A missile flew at him from the smoke, exploding his face. Stewie quickly changed back to Hulk form and leapt to hammer-fist him! "What's your last name? Stein?!"
"It Bordeau!"
"Well, thanks for being original." Stewie took a punch before grabbing Franklin's head and headbutting.
A bleeding Maggie crawled her way through an alley, a shadow cast on her by the looming Pakunoda. The baby's arms twitched holding the rifle. "Mommy should've taught you not to play with that."
Nel and a panting Carrot made their way toward the chaotic street, their spirits faltering at the losing battle. "Hahahahaha…" Chrollo walked out of the apartment. His crewmen were delighted by their captain's spirits… and wondering why he was holding three toys. "With this power… I will easily break into GUN and Zordoom Prison! I will have a gold mine of Devil Fruits and no one will know who they belonged to! Before long, the Phantom Troupe will be the only pirates standing! I WILL become an Emperor! No… I'll be King of the Pirates! Hahahahahahaha!"
"GUYS! HELP!" Augustus screamed. "CARROT! NEL! STEWIE! IT'S ME! AUGUSTUS!"
"SKULL! PANTHER! Can anyone hear me?!" Joker shouted.
"PLEASE, you have to remember us!" Sugar pled.
"How does that toy… know my name?" Carrot wondered.
"Hahahaha…" Chrollo raised Sugar to his malicious grin. "You know the best part of stealing abilities? It's exploring the darkness in their original owners. That is the true pleasure… of being a Skill Hunter." (End song.)
"Sah…suh…" The toy's voice resonated with Sugar's ears… and her eyes lit up. "SUGAAAAAR!"
"?!" Chrollo faced her in shock.
"CAPTAIN!" Stewie shouted. "Captain, is that you?!"
"Augustus, are you okay?!" Tressa yelled.
"JOKER!" Queen, Skull, and Oracle raced up the road. "You okay?! You never get that loud!" (Play "Heaven Shaking Event" from Naruto!)
When Carrot finally processed the toys in Chrollo's hands, anger welled within her. And to her fortune, the moon was bright and clear now. "HOOOOWWWWWWLLLL!" The rabbit transformed into a taller, majestic form with flowing white hair, a bigger flowing tail, and glowing fur. Her eyes were a sharp red. With relentless speed and power, she lashed out at Chrollo, who dropped the toys to combat her just as quickly. Nel began to swing stone-hard kicks at him from the back, but Chrollo caught her ankle to swing her at Carrot, who flip-dodged and kicked his head.
"Her power only lasts a few minutes?! That's not what I was told!"
The toys pushed up. "Guys… I remember you two!" Sugar exclaimed, extreme joy in her voice. "My Hobby Fruit lost its second effect! Is it because I awakened my musicbending?!"
"Maybe it can turn us back to normal, too!" Gus said. "Music can fix supernatural ailments, right?"
"I'll try!" Sugar began to sing a rhythm mimicking the song.
"Any first words, brat?" Pakunoda asked Maggie. "AGH!" A light grenade struck her.
"It's very rude to point your gun at a child!" yelled Noir, the pink-haired thief bouncing a grenade in hand.
Pakunoda grit her teeth and tried to shoot the evasive thief, Noir getting close to swing an Antikill axe. Maggie knew the woman's Haki was watching out for her, so instead, the baby aimed at the underside of a parked car. After waiting until Pakunoda was in the right position, Maggie shot. The bullet was in a slight curve up, bounced against the car's bottom to get in a slight curve down, hit the wall of the opposite building, then bounced against the sidewalk. It angled up high enough to pierce the car's windows and hit Pakunora square in the head. Blood spurted out as the woman fell dead. "OH, MY!" Noir gasped. "Well, um, er…we'd best go now, yes!" She grabbed Maggie and ran. ("Mw-mw!")
Stewie and Franklin both locked the other's heads in their hands. Stewie shook and tugged with all the power he could muster, while Franklin prepared another charged shot from all fingers. The resulting burst burned the Hulk's flesh, but it gave Stewie the adrenaline boost to rip Franklin's head off. "YEAH, baby!" Skull cheered. "Let's get that freakazoid outta here!" He used his bat to dent Franklin's head, ensuring he stayed down.
"FRANKLIN!" Hazama gasped. "I'll teach those kids not to—HUUAAAHH!"
Kohaku and Fox zipped past and cut both sides of his hip. "Huff…I almost forgot about… that idiot captain…" And both collapsed again.
"Heh heh heh." Hazama held the wounds. "I guess the perfect Devil Fruit wasn't worth the wait."
Carrot threw a storm of claw jabs at Chrollo, his hardening withstanding her, but an upside-down Nel caught his neck between her ankles and tried to twist it. Chrollo withstood and tried to slam her in the ground, but Carrot caught her arms and spun Nel's legs across his jaw knocking the captain over. As light filled his peripheral vision, he saw Augustus, Joker, and Sugar revert to normal form. Unfortunately, the boys were both still injured. "Huff…huff…how you like… them apples…" (End song.)
Sirens and bright lights flooded the air. GUN trucks, GUN copters, and 4x4 ships surrounded them on all fronts. "ALL OF YOU PUT YOUR HANDS UP IN THE AIR! You're under arrest for mass property damage and murder! Make no attempts to resist or we'll open fire!"
"Hold your horses, Commander!" a gray-haired woman, Sae Niijima yelled. "We don't need to arrest all of them. Those kids were acting in self-defense."
"Sis!" Queen exclaimed.
"Hey, Captain!" Uvogin plowed down a building. "The blue-haired guy I was fightin' got taken by a white lady! You see him anywhere?"
"Uvogin… I think it's time for us to go."
"What?! Uh, did we win?"
Chrollo got up on his feet, Carrot and Nel ready to counter him. The captain smiled and raised his hand. A web suddenly shot down from the sky and pulled him up. Hazama flew up as well, and Bono blew a raspberry as he was taken up. "DWUUUUH!" Uvogin was caught a little off-guard, 20 webs needed to lift him. A storm of cannonballs shot down the 4x4 ships and helicopters as the Mourning Charlotte disabled its cloaking device. For the first time, the terrible, 12-legged spider darkened the sky. The Phantom Troupe left this world with this symbol etched in their hearts.
The ship blocked the moon, causing Carrot to shrink back to normal. She passed out in Nel's arms. Pea, in her Zathurian form, warped beside her crewmen. "Let's go." One by one, she began to splorp them, along with the Phantom Thieves, away.
"What are you standing around for?" Sae asked. "You have civilians to check up on! Hop to it!"
"YES, MA'AM!"
Ace Hunter
"SIIIIIIGH…" Their rest aboard the flagship didn't feel like a victory… but it was sure as hell great to be back. "I am in soooooo much pain!" Tressa cried.
"Man, we got our butts beat BIG time." Augustus groaned.
"I'm so sorry." Noir bowed. "I should've helped more."
"Honestly, this battle felt way out of our league." Queen sighed. "If only we could've used our spirit powers."
"You guys have…whatever, tell me later." Gus slumped back in his seat.
"I'm sorry, Oracle." Stewie said, head wrapped like a mummified football. "We couldn't keep our promise… people still died."
"It wasn't your fault." Oracle frowned. "But you guys really helped out big time. They may have gotten away, but thanks to you, we were able to expose them."
"And that's not the only good news!" Rupert marched up to the crews, his Pikmin carrying a horned cellphone. "That one guy left his phone in the auction house! Managed to find it."
"Awesome!" Oracle hopped over like a giant frog, bouncing the tinies as she took it. "I can use this to counter that guy's hacking technique! If they ever come back, that is."
"Well, if they do, at least I would know. I had some Pikmin stowaway on that vacuum girl. If they're on their ship, my 'Pikmin Senses' can track it. Provided they're still on the planet."
"Whatever you say." Gus sighed. "I don't think we're ready for Round 2. I'm ready to just pick up the kids and get moving."
"I feel like this never would've happened if I didn't come." Sugar stared at her open, trembling hands. "They were after my Devil Fruit… that horrible power I just wanted to forget…"
"I never knew you had something like that." Carrot's hands lay softly in hers, the singer meeting her sympathetic irises. "I won't ask how or why, but… I'm sorry, Sugar."
"It's alright…" Sugar stared at her hands with a warmer outlook. "At least now I know I don't need to worry, anymore. The curse is weaker now. And thanks to him… I'm finally rid of it. I'm… free now. I wonder if I can even swim?! Haha, I need to find out!"
"Hehehe! That would be great!"
"Yeah! And, before I forget:" Sugar stood and embraced the little rabbit in a hug. "Thanks for coming to save me. You're the bravest backup dancer I've ever had!"
"Awe, Sugar!" Carrot joyfully nuzzled into her softness. "Garchu so much! Garchu!! Owie…" She sank when she remembered the pain she was in.
"Hehe! Too bad I'm not a healer…"
"You know, I actually know a good doctor." Joker said. "I can swing down, bring her up here, and get us a decent treatment."
"Well, the only good doctor I know is probably on a big mission, so sure."
"In any case… it was good working with you, Augustus." The leader stood, reaching into his collar as he approached the tired captain. "I'd like to share something with you."
"Yeah?"
"We're sort of part of this intergalactic, online group of master thieves. We call ourselves the Forty Thieves. Some of our other allies are on Mobius. If you're ever up there… try looking for this." Joker slipped him a card with a blue and white, raccoon-like symbol.
"Hm…noted!" Gus stashed it in his pocket. "…Actually, maybe not in there, these duds are going in the washer. But yeah, it was great meeting you, J-Man." He shook the thief's gloved hand. "Any of you wanna join me? Skull, you would fit right in."
"HELL YEAH!!" the delinquent screamed. BONG! Panther slapped him.
"Haha! I'd really better get that doctor."
About an hour later
Senku was glad to finally bring Tama, Suika, and Konayuki back to ship. "AUGUST'NNNNNN!" The crying ninja jumped in her captain's mummified arms. "August'n, thou art hurt! Wherefore didst thou get injured so?! Wherefore didst thou not take Tama?!"
"I'm sorry, kiddo… I wasn't strong enough. If I'd taken you… I'm worried I wouldn't be able to protect you."
"Brother Hina…" Konayuki held his injured hand.
"I'm glad you weren't there… to watch my disgrace, Kona. I am not… worthy of my title…"
"Is O-Tama… not worthy either?"
"Tama… just having you with me by the end of the day is all I need. And I hope we never have a mission this dangerous again. But when we do… I'll be stronger. And I know you will be, too. So, let's both do our best, okay?"
"Hai…!"
"Then Kona's gonna start training, too! Nel, spar with Kona tomorrow!"
"Okay!"
"Let me join in, too!" Carrot cheered. "I need to be better before I dance with Sugar again!"
"Uh, you're training for something completely different." Tressa remarked.
"If you guys are done reflecting," Senku said, "Suika needs to show you something!"
With everyone's eager attention, the melon opened her hand. In it was something very tiny: a Pikmin Onion. "Whoa!" Rupert flew onto Suika's hand to study it directly. "What is this Onion?! There's so many colors—and a rocket engine!"
"Senku helped make it! He tore apart a bunch of Onions, learned how they work, and made them into a Super Onion! He needed Gonshiri's lifebending to help make it complete though, huhu!"
"We already have some Pikmin inside!" Synthia soared around them. "Now Suika can be a Pikmin Master, too!"
"Look what else they made me!" Suika showed off a beaded bracelet coursing with an orange-gold chi. "A bracelet filled with Synthia's chi! Now Suika can get small," she squeezed it and zap down to Minish size, "whenever she wants to! And friends can come with her!" Rupert held the bracelet and grew big with her. "See?"
"We already could've done that with my ray gun or Shrink Sweets." Stewie said.
"This way feels nicer."
"I'm proud of you, Suika." Gus smiled. "You'll be a great hunter with that!"
"I wish I could stick around to see," Rupert said, "but I got places to be. Good luck, Suika! Hope to see you soon!"
"Goodbye, Rupert!"
Once the Pikmineer left the ship, the crew made for the bedrooms. Hinahoho felt warm snuggling with Konayuki, glad that her brother survived another hard battle. Suika cuddled with Kohaku, glad that a nightmare had passed. And Augustus slept soundly with Tama and Nel on his sides. It was terrifying to think they forgot him, even for a little bit. He didn't think he could go on without the love and support of his crew, these kind children especially. Without the adventure or the gourmet, all he wanted was to keep exploring with them. And he hoped that other great people could join the fun soon.
Outside Tokyo
"Man, I didn't make a single buck out of this joint!" Eddy shouted, riding away in his limousine, followed by a truck full of the fake merchandise. "Stupid thieves, stupid pirates. Let's try to hit China next. I bet they'd pay a fortune for-" the limo abruptly stopped. "HEY! You'll give a guy whiplash!"
Chrollo Lucilfer approached from the darkness. Uvogin from the left, Feitan from the right, each direction filling Eddy with dread. "Would you explain to us," Chrollo raised the fossilized squid, in reality a bunch of rocks crudely glued together, "what these are?" The rocks crumbled apart in his squeeze.
"Uh, h-hey, hold on," the pirates approached the limo slowly, "I'll compensate ya! I'll give ya a mountain of jawbreakers! No, a whole basin of royal butter! All the fudge you can eat!" The other spiders emerged from the darkness. "No! Ah-ah-ah! Mommyyyyyyyy!"