JohnnyChany

Gotta go with Elixir.

This one is really close. I think both individual fights (Jason vs. Thailog, Scorpion vs, Buzz-Off) would be great set-ups in themselves. I think I'm going Team 1.

I really like the idea of a team of Hisako and Raphael, but I don't think they can pull this off.

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 7 CONTINUED FROM PART 6 The fight ended the way few fights in Gangland ended, with both people still alive. Not because the winner wanted to show mercy, but because somebody more important intervened I was still sitting behind the wheel when the side door of Argent Crown Club burst open. Out stepped Auric Goldfinger. He looked furious. He marched toward the fight. Nearby, Mercy Graves was on one knee and looming over her stood Oddjob. The menacing man had one hand wrapped around the front of her uniform, the other hand held his famous bowler hat. Mercy looked exhausted, her lip was split, and one eye was swelling. But she was still glaring at him like she wanted another round. Oddjob raised the hat. Goldfinger shouted. "ODDJOB!" The bodyguard immediately stopped. Goldfinger pointed at Mercy. "Do not kill her." Oddjob slowly turned toward him. Goldfinger sighed heavily. "Because if you kill her, then I will have to talk to Lex Luthor again." Goldfinger looked physically pained by the thought. "And I have absolutely no desire to do that." Oddjob stared at him for a moment, then casually released Mercy. She hit the pavement hard. Goldfinger continued grumbling. "Complete waste of time." He adjusted his tie. "An absolutely foolish plan." He shook his head. "I knew it would be idiotic the moment he started." Mercy slowly pushed herself upright. Goldfinger didn't even acknowledge her. I wondered what this plan could be that Goldfinger would consider it idiotic. This was the man who found merit in slow moving death lasers. Goldfinger continued ranting. "Silvermane is becoming an old fool. Tampering with things he shouldn't be tampering with." Oddjob opened his door for him and Goldfinger sat in his car. "I only hope the next meeting proves more productive," he stated with irritation. I noticed something. No Pussy Galore. That struck me as odd since they arrived together. Oddjob silently took the driver's position. The gold car peeled away almost instantly. A few minutes passed. Then another group emerged from the Argent Crown Club. This time it was Lex Luthor. Beside him walked Madam Masque. Behind them came Pussy Galore and Lark. I couldn't hear much from where I sat, only fragments. Pussy seemed engaged in animated conversation with Lark. Meanwhile Lex and Madam Masque spoke quietly. As the group crossed the parking area, Lex finally noticed Mercy. "What happened to you?" he inquired Mercy straightened slightly. "I fought Goldfinger's bodyguard." Lex lifted an eyebrow. "He attacked you?" Mercy hesitated before she responded. "Technically..." She cleared her throat. "I antagonized him first." Lex closed his eyes briefly. "Mercy." "I was protecting your honor,” she insisted. That only made him sigh. “You started a fight, and then you lost.” "He insulted you." Lex did not immediately reply, he simply looked her over for a minute. "Now, you are also in no condition to drive.” he stated. “And for what?” At that moment Madam Masque spoke up. "I may have a solution if you would like." Everyone looked toward her. She gestured toward Lark. "I have two capable drivers in my employ that are here with me." Lark blinked. Clearly, she hadn't been expecting this. Madam Masque continued. "As a gesture of goodwill, despite today's meeting not going particularly well, I would be happy to loan Lark to you for your return trip." Lark recovered quickly, and she nodded. "That is very generous," said Lex. His eyes shifted toward Lark. "I am well aware of who you are, and who you once worked for." Lark appeared a little uneasy. Lex smiled. "I would say you're making vertical moves. Good for you." Lark actually chuckled. "Thank you." Lex extended his hand toward Madam Masque. "You have my thanks." Within moments Lark was seated behind the wheel of Lex's luxury sedan. Lex entered the rear compartment. Mercy moved toward the passenger door. "No." Mercy froze. Lex pointed toward the building. "I will not allow you to bleed in my vehicle." "But.." Mercy interjected. "No." His voice remained calm. "You can speak with Silvermane about receiving medical attention." Lex adjusted his cufflinks. "Frankly, it is the least Silvermane can do after today's events." Mercy clearly hated the idea, but she reluctantly nodded. The car pulled away. Leaving only me, Madam Masque, and Pussy Galore. It was clear she was coming with us. I quickly jumped out and opened the rear passenger door. Pussy gave me an approving nod. Madam Masque entered first. Pussy followed. I shut the door behind them and climbed back into the driver's seat. "Back to the Theater District?" I asked. "No,” answered Madam Masque as she crossed her legs. “Drive south.” "South?" I repeated. "To the Gangland Strait." That got my attention. But I didn't ask questions. I simply started driving. The city slowly gave way to the waterfront. From the back seat, Pussy Galore stretched comfortably. "I really should visit the Theater District soon,” she declared. Madam Masque glanced toward her. "Oh?" "I've heard that the Circus of Crime has set up there," said Pussy. ]"That is true," Madam Masque confirmed. “I’ve always had a soft spot for the circus, I was once a trapeze artist myself,” Pussy explained. “I’ve carried that history with me even to this day.” Madam Masque made no mention of her plans with Jay, Lark, and Raven to take over the circus from the inside using Scarecrow. She simply asked. “Are you not concerned they would try to steal from you?” Pussy laughed. “I suppose they could try, but they would fail. It is the same circus of criminals that Joseph Manfredi, himself, used to be a part of, is it not?” "Also true," Madam Masque responded. "I wanted to spend some time talking with him today, given our shared history in the circus world,” stated Pussy. “But I never saw him.” Madam Masque tapped her chin. “Neither did I. It is a little strange, he is usually at most of the meetings set up by his father.” There was a brief moment of silence. “It is interesting thinking about where you both were and where you are now,” Madam Masque remarked. She then turned her attention toward me. "So." I glanced into the rearview mirror. "Yes?" "Tell me about the fight." I spent several minutes recounting everything I'd witnessed. The insults, the challenge, the punches.the destruction. The moment Oddjob nearly killed Mercy. Madam Masque listened carefully. Then she asked: "Did you ever consider intervening?" I nearly laughed. "No." "Not even for a second?" "No." Pussy snorted. Madam Masque smiled. "Another wise decision on your part." I raised an eyebrow. She continued. "From what I hear about your training..." I immediately knew where this was going. "...both of them would've wiped the floor with you." Pussy laughed loudly. I tried not to look embarrassed. Which was difficult because I knew Lark had been reporting my training progress. "You survived because you understood your limits,” said Madam Masque. I couldn't tell whether that was a compliment. Pussy shifted the conversation. "Helping Lex was smart," she declared. Madam Masque nodded. "It cost me nothing." Pussy leaned forward. "Speaking of Lex, you turned him down." "Yes." I glanced back. "Turned down what?" Pussy answered. "The whole reason today's meeting happened." That got my attention. Madam Masque sighed. "Silvermane has been working with Lex." "On what?" "A cyborg enhancement project," Madam Masque replied. I nearly drove off the road. "What?" Pussy laughed. "It sounds insane." Madam Masque nodded. "Because it is." She folded her arms. "Lex was offering specialized LexCorp protection suits for us if we didn’t want to go full cyborg." "Powered armor?" "Essentially." I whistled softly. Pussy shrugged. "I mean... considering current events... If one of Gangland's crime bosses sends their favorite assassin after you, some extra protection isn't the worst idea." Madam Masque sounded unimpressed. "I've spent enough of my life dealing with people in mechanical suits. Tony Stark alone was enough." Pussy immediately grinned. "Between Tony Stark and Joseph Manfredi, you've had quite the romantic history." Madam Masque groaned. Pussy continued. "Have you ever considered switching teams?" I nearly choked. Madam Masque stared at her. Pussy smiled innocently. "You know. My team.” She gestured toward herself. Pussy Galore and her entire team of pilots were all lesbian, much to the dismay of many a man in Gangland. Madam Masque laughed. "Sometimes it's tempting." Pussy also laughed. Eventually she pointed through the windshield. "There." Ahead sat a small boat, waiting at the dock. Several members of Pussy Galore's Flying Circus of pilots and thieves stood aboard. One woman waved as we approached. I parked. The three of us exited. The Flying Circus pilot greeted Pussy warmly. Within minutes we were moving across the waters of the Gangland Strait. A much larger vessel waited ahead. It belonged to Auric Goldfinger, so it was gold, naturally. Madam Masque stood beside me as we approached. "Another meeting?" I asked. She nodded. "Goldfinger trusts Silvermane about as much as Silvermane trusts Kingpin. We had another matter to discuss but he didn’t want to do it in Silvermane territory." That made sense. She looked toward the water. "I sincerely wonder if Silvermane understands what he's doing." "The cyborg thing?" "Yes. The last time Silvermane's experiments got out of control..” She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to. I knew enough about the fate of the man who would become Mister Negative to understand the implication. Eventually we boarded the larger vessel. Goldfinger waited for us. Beside him stood another man, tall lean, and immaculately dressed. In his hand rested an elegant golden pistol. It was clearly Francisco Scaramanga. The famous assassin looked exactly like the kind of man who viewed murder as an art form. He had a perfect suit and perfect posture. The golden gun practically glowed in the late afternoon sunlight. I'd heard Goldfinger considered him his favorite hired killer. Honestly? The gun alone probably earned him the position. It fit Goldfinger's aesthetic perfectly. Goldfinger wasted no time. "Did you get it?" Madam Masque reached inside her coat. "Information isn't free." A member of Pussy's Flying Circus immediately handed over several gold bars. Goldfinger looked annoyed, but he paid. Madam Masque handed the bars to me. "Carry those." I nearly dropped one. They were heavier than I expected. Then Madam Masque produced a manila envelope and opened it. Photographs slid onto the table. Goldfinger frowned. The photos showed a red-haired man. Each photo showed him with a different glass eye. He also had an unsettling smile. One image appeared to show an artificial eye rigged as an explosive device. Madam Masque tapped the photographs. "His name is Mr. Benedict." Goldfinger's expression darkened. "He worked as an assassin for Tony Vivaldi, a boss for one of the other Maggia families," Madam Masque explained. She flipped to another file showing Vivaldi dead in his pool. "Eventually he grew tired of Vivaldi's incompetence." Scaramanga smirked. "So, he murdered him," stated Madam Masque. Goldfinger looked at the file with interest. "He has since become independent.” Madam Masque spread additional photographs across the table. "I have not yet discovered which crime boss hired him to target your organization. But I will.” Goldfinger handed the photos to Scaramanga. The assassin examined them carefully, then smiled a very dangerous smile. "I like him already." Goldfinger pointed at the photograph. "I want his head." Scaramanga looked intrigued. "The challenge interests me." The meeting ended shortly afterward. Goldfinger's territory would soon become a hunting ground. A playground for killers. Mr. Benedict hunted Scaramanga. Scaramanga hunted Benedict. And anyone unfortunate enough to get caught between their crossfire soon learned a fatal lesson. In Gangland, the safest place during a war was often nowhere at all.

Great chapter, Boratz. I assume you must have an outline somewhere to keep all these alliances straight when they involve so many different properties. Good to see Syndrome still active. I am going to go with Gazelle to continue to cut through members of the Star Wars universe.

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 6 CONTINUED FROM PART 5 I'd seen plenty of fights before coming to Gangland. Bar fights, street fights, the occasional mugging that went sideways. Most of them lasted about thirty seconds.The fight between Oddjob and Mercy Graves wasn't one of those fights. It was the kind of fight that made you forget to blink. The two bodyguards circled one another. Oddjob stood broad and immovable. His black suit looked stretched across shoulders that seemed too large for a normal human being. The famous steel-rimmed bowler hat remained in one hand while his expression remained utterly unreadable. Across from him stood Mercy Graves. Her tailored black suit jacket and driver’s cap remained on. Neither looked remotely intimidated. Which should have been my first clue that things were about to get ugly. Oddjob moved first. He lunged forward with shocking speed for a man his size. Mercy slipped aside. His fist crashed into the hood of a nearby luxury sedan. The metal of the car buckled, and the car alarm immediately started screaming. "Jesus Christ," I muttered. Mercy responded with a sharp kick to Oddjob's ribs. The impact echoed across the parking lot. Oddjob barely reacted. Instead, he grabbed her ankle. Mercy's eyes widened. Then suddenly she was airborne. Oddjob hurled her several feet through the air She hit the pavement hard. But she rolled, recovered, and somehow ended up back on her feet before he could capitalize. I was mesmerized. The whole thing looked less like a fight and more like two natural disasters colliding. Mercy launched herself forward. There was a punch, an elbow, and a knee Every strike delivered with precision. Oddjob absorbed most of them before finally catching her wrist. He swung, and Mercy ducked. The punch shattered a decorative stone planter behind her. Flowers exploded into the air. I couldn't look away. And as I watched, another realization settled into my mind. Lark had been right. I always knew she was, but it was crystal clear and in my face at the moment. Not every battle in Gangland ended with guns. Not every enemy stood politely at the other end of an alley waiting to exchange bullets. Sometimes you got dragged into situations like this. Two highly trained killers throwing each other through expensive property. And if you couldn't fight? You died. Simple as that. Back when I first arrived, I'd assumed hand-to-hand combat only mattered if masked vigilantes or heroes ever showed up. That was comic book stuff. Not Gangland stuff. At least that's what I thought. The irony is that the very day I came to that realization was also the day Gangland's first masked vigilante arrived. Or at least the day she made her move. Not that I knew it at the time. Nobody did. And if you'd asked anyone who they thought would become Gangland's first masked crimefighter, nobody would've guessed socialite, Ellen Patrick. Better known in underground circles as the Domino Lady. Back in New York, Ellen Patrick had spent years becoming a ghost story among criminals. A wealthy socialite by day. A masked vigilante by night. The daughter of a district attorney who had gotten too close to organized crime. Too close to taking down Silvermane. The story went that years ago her father had been murdered by killers tied to Silvermane's criminal empire. The crime had never officially been proven. But Ellen never doubted who was responsible. So, she put on a domino mask, picked up a pistol, and spent years hunting Silvermane's operations. One associate at a time, one ruined scheme at a time, and one corpse at a time if necessary. Most people assumed her obsession would've faded eventually. It didn't, it only evolved. She no longer just wanted to stop Silvermane she wanted to punish him. And now that Silvermane had relocated the main part of his operation to Gangland, she had followed him. But Ellen Patrick wasn't interested in simply putting a bullet in Silvermane's head. No. That would've been too easy. She wanted him to suffer. She wanted him to understand loss. Which meant her target wasn't Silvermane, it was his son, Joseph Manfredi. Now, she had her perfect opportunity. Any act of aggression against Silvermane would be seen as a call made by one of the other crime lords, a consequence of Big Boy sending Flattop after Hammerhead. The Domino Lady could target Joseph and extract revenge without bringing any attention to herself. The strange thing about Joseph was how little he resembled his father. Silvermane felt like old, organized crime, cold calculating, and suspicious. Joseph felt different. He was more charming, more modern, and more ambitious in ways his father just didn’t understand. He had the confidence of a politician and the charisma of someone who genuinely enjoyed being around people. If Silvermane ruled through fear and caution, Joseph exercised his power through conversation and relationships. Sometimes it genuinely felt like they belonged in entirely different worlds. Unfortunately for Joseph, that is part of what made him vulnerable, especially lately. The latest rumor around Gangland amongst those in the know was that Joseph hadn't taken his most recent breakup with Madam Masque particularly well. I remembered the conversation in the car. The slight fondness in Madam Masque's voice when she talked about him. The way she laughed when discussing their history. The way she spoke about him differently than she spoke about almost everyone else. I doubted she'd ever admit any of that to Joseph himself. But it had been there. Even I could hear it. Unfortunately for Joseph, loneliness creates openings. And Ellen Patrick knew exactly how to exploit them. She had been cozying up to him for weeks. Days later multiple sources would scatter stories across Gangland about what happened. You had to piece together the fragments of information yourself until a picture emerged. While I stood distracted by Oddjob and Mercy Graves trying to destroy one another, Joseph Manfredi had quietly slipped out of the Argent Crown Club. Beside him walked Ellen Patrick. Joseph looked every bit the wealthy heir. He had perfectly styled hair, a dark tailored suit, and a confident smile. Handsome enough that people noticed him immediately. Ellen was equally striking. Curly blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a form fitting white evening dress and pearl earrings. She had the kind of beauty that made men lower their guard without realizing it. The two crossed through the hidden parking area reserved for Silvermane's most trusted guests. "I still can't believe you're willing to leave with me," Ellen told him. Joseph laughed. "Anything to miss another hour of listening to my father complain about contingency plans." "You make him sound exhausting." "He is exhausting,” Joseph replied. Ellen smiled. "Then disappear with me." Joseph looked at her. "Disappear?" "Just for a little while." She gently touched his arm. "No meetings. No business. None of this. Joseph chuckled. "I don't think I would ever want to disappear from this completely." "Maybe not forever." Ellen’s smile widened. "But for one evening?" Joseph considered it. Then nodded. "One evening sounds nice." "Good." Ellen slipped her arm through his. "Let's go." Joseph never suspected a thing. Why would he? From his perspective he was spending time with a beautiful woman who seemed genuinely interested in him. From Ellen's perspective, she was leading Silvermane's son toward an execution. And somehow, I missed all of it. Every single second. Even though it happened right behind me. Because I was too busy watching Oddjob throw Mercy Graves against a wall. By the time I eventually heard the story days later, it had already become one of the most talked-about events in Gangland. The targeting of Silvermane's son. The mystery of who the blonde woman was really working for. And the escalation of Gangland’s growing internal war. At the time, though? I knew none of that. All I knew was that Oddjob and Mercy Graves were still trying to kill each other in Silvermane's secret parking garage. And somewhere inside the Argent Crown Club, three crime lords were discussing the future of Gangland. None of them realizing that a masked vigilante had arrived on the scene and already made her move.

Was kind of hoping for a Mr. Peanut political campaign, still a creative pairing and I'm taking Mr. Peanut for the upset in the Great Harvest Showdown.

Was just reminded of Balrog's win loss record on the CBUB. Gotta get my guy a winnable fight. Unfortunately, this isn't it. Give me team 1 for the victory.

I'm going with DCAU Power Girl.

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 5 CONTINUED FROM PART 4 The day of the Silvermane meeting felt important. But not loud important, or headline important. Gangland didn't work that way. The city changed in whispers long before the bullets started flying. And that morning, sitting behind the wheel of one of Madame Masque's luxury cars while rain crawled across the windshield, I could feel another shift coming. It was my first major event as part of her organization. My first time seeing how real power in Gangland actually moved. The car itself looked like something a movie star would've been chauffeured around in before the city swallowed Hollywood whole. Long black body. Gold trim. Leather seats that were soft enough to sink into. I sat in the driver's seat trying to look more confident than I felt. Lark occupied the passenger seat beside me wearing one of the sleek black-and-white tailored outfits Melvin had designed after she joined Madam Masque. Gold accents lined the sleeves and collar now, replacing the cold service Iceberg Lounge aesthetic she had been used to. And in the back seat sat Madam Masque herself. She looked like wealth and danger molded into human form. "You know," she said smoothly from the back seat, "you really did stare quite a lot while I was disguised as Nora." I nearly swerved. Lark slowly raised one eyebrow toward me. I kept my eyes locked on the road. I stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about." Madam Masque laughed softly. "Oh, come now." Her tone carried amusement like velvet wrapped around razor blades. "You practically looked hypnotized." Lark smirked openly now. "Seriously?" I gripped the wheel tighter. "She stood out. I didn't know who she was." Madam Masque leaned forward slightly between the seats. "Men are all the same. It’s so easy to grab your attention." Then she tilted her masked face thoughtfully. "Though I do wonder, how much you would've stared if I'd arrived with my real face." One of her gloved hands touched the edge of her golden mask. For one unbelievable second, I thought she was actually going to remove it. Instead, she laughed quietly and leaned back again. "No. I think I'll keep some mystery." Lark immediately spoke up. "You wouldn't need to hide your face from me." Madam Masque tilted her head slightly. "Oh?" Lark's voice remained calm and sincere. "My respect for you goes far beyond physical appearance." For a moment the car became strangely quiet, although Madam Masque seemed to take the words to heart. Then Madam Masque spoke again. "You know, there was actually a period where I no longer needed the mask." That got both our attention. "The Hood healed my disfigurement years ago using the Reality Stone." "The actual Reality Stone?" I repeated in disbelief. "The genuine article." She sounded oddly casual about that. "But by then," she continued softly, "I had grown accustomed to the mask. I enjoy wearing it now." Lark glanced toward her. "For intimidation?" Madam Masque laughed. "Among other things." She turned her gaze toward the rain-soaked city outside. "I suspect the Hood may eventually appear in Gangland someday." "If he did, do you think he'd use the Reality Stone to heal Harvey Dent?" Lark asked. “You know if he still had access to it.” Madam Masque answered instantly. “The better question is whether Two-Face would allow him to." That one lingered with me. Because she was right. Some scars stopped being injuries after enough years. They became identity. I found myself wondering how much of Gangland operated that way. How many people here secretly needed their damage because they no longer knew who they'd be without it. Before I could think much further, Madam Masque changed subjects. "As for today's meeting, this was inevitable." I glanced into the mirror. "Because of Tombstone taking over the Warehouse District?" "Precisely." She crossed one long leg over the other. "Silvermane has a habit of circling the wagons whenever Gangland becomes unstable. He always calls upon me and Auric Goldfinger during moments like this since our territories border his own." Lark smirked faintly. “And because he wants to know where everybody stands." Madam Masque nodded approvingly. "Very good." I frowned slightly. "You make him sound paranoid." That actually amused her. "Another good observation." She leaned back comfortably. "Because he is paranoid." Rain streaked across the windshield while she continued. "Silvermane's power isn't nearly as absolute as the public believes." That surprised me. Most people in Gangland talked about Silvermane like he was untouchable. Madam Masque continued: "He has an extremely testy relationship with Kingpin." That part made more sense. Two men that powerful existing that close together sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. "And in situations like that," she stated, "alliances become extremely important. Especially during periods where power structures are changing." Like Big Boy dying. Like Tombstone rising. Like Gangland reshuffling itself. "So, what do you think of Silvermane personally?" I asked. Madam Masque gave a small, amused sigh. "He was one of my father’s greatest rivals and he gets trapped in old ways." That tracked. Everything somehow came back to Count Nefaria eventually. Then her tone shifted slightly. "I dated his son Joseph on and off for years." Lark turned fully around in her seat. "What?" Madam Masque laughed lightly. "Oh yes. My feelings about Silvermane often depended entirely on how angry I currently was at Joseph." Even Lark laughed at that. Eventually we entered Silvermane territory. The district looked exactly like old money trying desperately to remain powerful in a changing world. There were massive stone buildings and private bridges. As well as industrial plants beside opera houses. The meeting itself took place inside the Argent Crown Club. An enormous private social club overlooking the harbor. Silver lion statues lined the entrance. The valets in front wore silver gloves. The entire building looked designed specifically for rich criminals who wanted to pretend they were respectable businessmen. I parked in a hidden area away from the entrance pointed out to me by Madam Maque. Lark immediately checked outside before opening her door. "I'll accompany Madam Masque inside alone." I nodded. "Too much muscle makes Silvermane nervous?" "Exactly." The logic was very similar to the night with Influence heading toad the Iceberg Lounge. Small crews and respectful appearances. Crime lords trying not to accidentally start wars by bringing too many armed psychopaths into each other's territory. Lark adjusted her coat. "And with the large oaf, Man Mountain Marko around, everybody's already going to be tense." That name alone painted a pretty ugly mental image. Lark pointed at me. "You stay with the car." I nodded. "Keep an eye out," she added. "Three major crime bosses gathering in one place could attract attention fast if word gets out." Then she and Madam Masque disappeared into the Argent Crown Club together. Leaving me alone with the rain. For a while, nothing happened. Then another car arrived. It had a long silver body, armored plating hidden beneath immaculate luxury styling, and tinted windows. It pulled into the only other parking spot in the area. A few moments later, a third vehicle pulled in. It was gold, not subtle gold, aggressively gold. It pulled up right behind the second car. I immediately heard angry shouting from inside it. The rear passenger door opened. Auric Goldfinger stepped out red-faced and furious in an immaculate gold-patterned suit. "What is this nonsense?!" he exclaimed. Then the driver's side opened. His driver and bodyguard, Oddjob emerged silently. He had massive shoulders and an expressionless face topped with a bowler hat. He marched directly toward the silver vehicle occupying the reserved spot and opened the back door. He no doubt intended immediate violence But before he could reach inside, an athletic woman with short hair tucked into a driver’s cap stepped out of the driver’s side front door of the silver vehicle. “If you value your life,” she threatened. “You will shut that door this instant!” Oddjob slowly turned toward her. The atmosphere changed instantly. The woman didn't flinch. "If you want to try me," she continued calmly, "you'll regret it." Oddjob stepped toward her anyway. Then another voice interrupted. "Mercy. Please." To my absolute shock, Lex Luthor stepped out of the car next. Lex Luthor had legitimate public ambitions. Political ambitions. Corporate ambitions. The kind of ambitions that usually required you not to appear in a crime lord haven like Gangland. Even Goldfinger looked stunned. "What in God's name are you doing here?" Lex adjusted his cufflinks calmly. "Silvermane requested my attendance personally." Goldfinger narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?" Lex smiled. "He has a business arrangement he'd like to discuss with you and Miss Frost. One requiring my assistance." Goldfinger visibly disliked this. But after a moment he pushed through it and extended his hand. "Very well then." Lex shook it. "Oddjob. Stand down," Goldfinger barked. At that moment a woman exited Goldfinger's car, blonde, confident, and sharp-eyed. She was dressed in a fitted gold jacket with black gloves and enough swagger to make everybody nearby feel underdressed. She looked disappointed. "Shame." Mercy glanced toward her. The blonde woman smirked. "I wanted to see if Lex's driver was actually bold enough to fight Oddjob." "I'll protect Lex from anyone," Mercy declared. Her eyes locked onto Oddjob. "And I'm not scared of anybody." Oddjob stared at her silently. Honestly? Even at that moment I knew she wasn’t bluffing. Lex looked mildly charmed by Goldfinger’s female acquaintance. "I don't believe we've met." Goldfinger gestured toward her. "This is Miss Galore. One of the best pilots and operators in the business. In fact, she leads an entire crew." Lex seemed genuinely intrigued. "A pleasure." Pussy Galore smiled politely. "We should probably continue introductions inside lest we keep our host waiting," she suggested. Goldfinger nodded. "Quite right." The three disappeared toward the Argent Crown Club together. Goldfinger called back over his shoulder: "Oddjob! Find another parking spot." Oddjob grunted quietly and returned toward the vehicle. Then Mercy made a mistake. Or maybe she simply couldn't resist. "You're lucky they stopped me," she called out. Oddjob ignored her. Mercy smirked. "You should show Mr. Luthor more respect. In face you should apologize to him for the way you went after him.” Still no response. She kept going. "Are you really Goldfinger’s muscle? I've seen scarier men carrying groceries." That finally stopped him. Slowly, Oddjob turned and reached for his bowler hat. I was unsure of what to do, should I get out of the car and try to stop them? Surely a fight between the right-hand man of Auric Goldfinger and Lex Luthor’s bodyguard would only lead to more internal strife in the city. But what would they make of my presence? And was more chaos for the other Crime Lords what my current boss really wanted? In the end, I remained still and only watched it unfold.

Going with Team 1.

Continuing to enjoy this crossover, can't wait to see who pops up next. I'm actually going to go with the Mortal Kombat duo this time around.

Another great entry, Boratz. I'm also going X-Men, especially with a team that big.

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 4 CONTINUED FROM PART 3 The funny thing about survival is that sometimes it looks a lot like cowardice until everybody else winds up dead. I thought about that often during my first few weeks working for Madame Masque. Especially after what happened to the Warehouse District. Turns out Madame Masque had been right. I had made the smart decision. Not noble, not brave, but smart. Because the war between Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice and Tombstone ended exactly the way most gang wars do fast, ugly, and with the overly ambitious idiot who indirectly started it bleeding out on the pavement. Tombstone's coup tore through the Warehouse District like a wildfire through dry timber. A lot of Big Boy's men folded immediately. Some hated him for making the first move against Hammerhead in the first place. Others figured that even if they survived Tombstone's takeover, Hammerhead would eventually wipe out whatever remained for daring to make a play at the docks. Either way, loyalty suddenly became very negotiable. And in Gangland, once people stop believing you can protect them, you're already dead. Caprice went down hard. Rumor was Tombstone personally broke him apart in his own office while the last loyalists tried desperately to barricade the building. I never learned exactly how Big Boy died, only that afterward nobody was laughing in the Warehouse District anymore. Now Tombstone owned it. And me? There was no chance in hell I could ever go back there. Tombstone's new crew would've shot me instantly for previously working under Caprice. Meanwhile, the few survivors still loyal to Big Boy would've happily killed me for disappearing the same night Influence vanished and the whole district collapsed. So, I stayed exactly where I was. The Theater District. Working for a woman whose true motives I still didn't fully understand. Weeks passed. And despite the danger, despite the constant scheming and shifting alliances, I found myself strangely relieved to be away from the chaos consuming the Warehouse District. At least until training hours. Because every morning, Lark beat the hell out of me. The latest example ended with my back slamming painfully against the training mat beneath Madam Masque's nightclub compound. I groaned. Lark stood over me adjusting the sleeves of her fitted black training jacket like she hadn't just rearranged my internal organs. "Twelve seconds," she said. I wheezed. "That feels disrespectfully fast." "It was disrespectfully fast." She extended one gloved hand. I grabbed it. She immediately twisted my wrist, hooked my ankle, and threw me back onto the mat again. Pain exploded through my spine. "There," she said calmly. "Now it was fourteen." I stared at the ceiling. The training room itself looked far too elegant for violence. Dark hardwood floors. Crimson curtains. Vintage boxing posters framed beneath golden lights. Jazz drifted faintly from speakers somewhere deeper in the compound. Madam Masque liked style in everything. Even assault. Lark crouched beside me. "What happens if somebody knocks your gun away?" I rubbed my shoulder painfully. "I improvise?" She smirked. "You die." Fair point. Truthfully, I wasn't a terrible driver. I could handle a getaway route. Knew how to lose tails. Could hot-wire almost anything with wheels. But hand-to-hand? That was another story. Lark, meanwhile, fought like she had been handcrafted in a laboratory specifically designed to hurt men. She was still serving as Madam Masque's chauffeur and primary bodyguard, much like she had for Penguin before defecting. But she and Madam Masque apparently had bigger plans. Which meant I was being trained as her eventual replacement. Unfortunately for me, Lark believed pain was the best teacher. She hauled me upright again. "Again." Twenty painful minutes later I found myself face-down on the mat once more. Lark brushed loose hair strands from her face and exhaled lightly. "Better." "That feels like a lie,” I grunted. "It is." She smirked. "But you're improving." Then she checked the elegant silver watch around her wrist. "Hm." She stepped toward the door. "I've got a meeting." I remained sprawled on the floor. "Convenient timing." She ignored that. "We'll continue tomorrow." Lark grabbed her coat from a nearby chair. "And before you ask: no, you still aren't ready to protect Madam Masque alone." I tried sitting upright and immediately regretted it. "So, you're coming to Silvermane territory this weekend with us too?" I asked. "Of course." She said as she slid her pistol holster into place beneath her coat. "Big meeting. Too many important people." Then she glanced back at me with faint amusement. "And you still fight like a man trying not to wrinkle his suit." The door shut behind her. I watched her leave longer than was probably healthy. Which would've been less embarrassing if I could've immediately stood back up afterward instead of remaining on the mat clutching my ribs. I think I may have lost consciousness for several minutes until I was awakened by another voice entering the room. "Ah. She got you again." I looked up. Gladiator, better known as Melvin Potter, stood in the doorway holding a measuring tape around his neck and several fabric swatches beneath one arm. He had broad shoulders and thick forearms. Melvin was built like a heavyweight boxer who had wandered accidentally into a tailor shop and decided to stay. Most people in Gangland knew him as muscle. But inside Madam Masque's operation, he was also something else entirely. A genius costume designer. He glanced around the room. "Where'd Lark go?" "Meeting with Madam Masque.” "Good, good. I just had a wonderful idea for her new look." He crouched beside me and offered a hand. "Since we're moving away from the Penguin aesthetic." I accepted the help gratefully. Melvin pulled me upright effortlessly. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I could teach you martial arts too if you are looking for a change of pace." I rubbed my ribs. "You think Lark's methods are excessive?" Melvin chuckled knowingly. "I’m saying I'd probably be less rough." I tried shrugging casually. "Lark's fine." Melvin immediately grinned. "Oh, you got it bad." "I do not." "You absolutely do." I attempted dignity. It failed. Melvin laughed. "Come on. Madam Masque meetings never last long. She likes efficiency." We exited the training room and walked deeper into Madam Masque's compound. Her base of operations looked exactly like what you'd expect from a wealthy Maggia princess trying to blend aristocracy with organized crime, velvet curtains, marble floors and golden chandeliers. Antique statues stood beside tommy-gun carrying guards. The scent of expensive perfume mingled with cigar smoke and gun oil. Every hallway looked like a wealthy social club designed by someone fully prepared for machine-gun ambushes. As we rounded one corner, I froze slightly. Two men sat playing cards with several Nefaria Family thugs. And they looked absolutely insane. Ebenezer Laughton, Scarecrow, lounged lazily in a patched brown coat with straw protruding from the sleeves and collar like he'd been stitched together from abandoned farm equipment. His face was gaunt and theatrical, framed by greasy strands of hair beneath a battered wide-brimmed hat. Three actual crows perched calmly around the card table. One sat directly beside his whiskey glass. Meanwhile Porcupine looked even more absurd. Alexander Gentry wore a bulky brown combat outfit covered in mechanical quills protruding from the shoulders, arms, and back like some kind of armored woodland animal. The Nefaria thugs around them wore normal tailored mafia suits. Which somehow made the two of them look even crazier. I stared openly. Honestly, nobody at Big Boy's headquarters would've been allowed within fifty feet of the place dressed like that. Then again, maybe the Theater District changed things. Here, garish costumes and theatrical weirdness blended into the scenery more naturally. Melvin noticed me staring. "They both used to work for Count Nefaria." I looked back at him. "Madam Masque's father?" Melvin nodded. "Now they're trying to get in good with the daughter so they can establish themselves in Gangland." Scarecrow suddenly whistled sharply. One of the crows stole cards directly from a thug's hand. The thug cursed loudly. Porcupine laughed so hard several quills rattled. Melvin sighed. "Personally, I doubt Madam Masque fully trusts either of them. She remembers how quickly they abandoned her father when things went bad. "Then why let them stick around?" I asked. "Because she's always scheming something." We continued down the hall until voices drifted through an open doorway ahead, female voices. One of them unfamiliar. We slowed near the entrance. Inside sat Madam Masque, with Jay, Lark, and Raven standing behind her. across from them, another woman was dressed entirely in red. It was international terrorist, Red Claw. She looked lethal. Sharp cheekbones with black hair complete with a silver streak that went down to her shoulders. She wore a crimson dress slit high at one leg. And on her shoulder that was not covered by her dress, rested the tattoo of a red claw mark. Even seated, she radiated danger. "We require a new training facility," Red Claw said calmly. Madam Masque folded her gloved hands together. "And you believe the Theater District is suitable?" "Discreet. Wealthy. International access," Red Claw responded. “I can think of few places better.” Red Claw smiled faintly. "And your organization appreciates professionalism." Madam Masque lifted her head slightly. "I appreciate respect." Red Claw nodded. "Which is why I came directly to you first." Madam Masque smiled behind the golden mask. Smart woman. The two finalized their arrangement quickly. It was businesslike and efficient. Then Red Claw rose from her seat. As she exited the room, her cold gaze slid over me. I felt like I'd just been evaluated for burial depth. Then she disappeared down the corridor. Melvin immediately entered the room enthusiastically. "Lark! I have a wonderful idea for your new look before the Silvermane meeting." Lark sighed dramatically. "That sentence somehow makes me nervous." Melvin held out a design he had in mind for Lark to look over. Madam Masque leaned back comfortably. "It was refreshing doing business with Red Claw. A proper show of respect." Then irritation entered her voice. "Unlike the recent arrival of the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime." Jay rolled her eyes. "They've been robbing tourists nonstop." "And locals," Raven added. "If Ringmaster believes he can establish operations in my district without permission, or without offering tribute, he is gravely mistaken,” Madam Masque declared coldly. Lark crossed her arms "So what are we doing about them?" Madam Masque waved it off. We’ll deal with them later." She gestured toward the hallway. "First I need to decide what to do with Porcupine and Scarecrow." Jay grimaced and shuddered slightly. "Scarecrow reminds me too much of the Scarecrow back in Gotham. Never liked him." Raven looked toward Madam Masque. "What are you thinking?" Madam Masque tapped one black-gloved finger against the desk. "I haven't decided yet." Lark suddenly smiled. "I have an idea." Everyone turned toward her. "I looked into him, Scarecrow used to be an escape artist at the circus,” Lark began. Madam Masque nodded slowly. "And?" "And he has trained crows. No one would think twice about him trying to join the Circus of Crime." “I like where you are going with this,” stated Madam Masque. Lark continued confidently. "Once inside, he eliminates Ringmaster and takes over the operation." Raven immediately understood as well. "Then all those criminal freaks start working for us throughout Gangland." Madam Masque's eyes gleamed behind the gold mask. "And nobody can trace them back to me." Lark nodded. "Exactly." "What if Ringmaster puts Scarecrow under mind control with that ridiculous hat of his?" asked Jay. Raven shrugged calmly. "Then we eliminate all of them personally and send a message about what isn't tolerated in the Theater District." Madam Masque smiled proudly at the three women. "I knew I was right to recruit the three of you. Let’s do it.” Standing there watching the trio immediately begin planning covert infiltration and assassination schemes mere weeks after defecting from Penguin, I realized they were just as bold as Madam Masque was for going after them in the first place. I wondered if I would need to be bolder for Madam Masque to want to keep me around.

The Gathering: Preamble Here Match #1: Here Match # 2: Here Match #3 Here Match #4: Here Match #5: Here Match #6: Here

THE CRYSTAL NEXUS TOURNAMENT Match #7 VS. ROSA VS. BIANCA The winds outside Baron Castle swept across the stone courtyard in long cold currents, massive banners bearing Baron’s crest fluttered from the castle walls overhead. Two women stood opposite one another in the center of the courtyard. Rosa Farrell of the Crystal Vanguard and Bianca Whitaker of the Luminaries of Legend. Both held bows in their hands. Both wore expressions of calm determination. Neither woman looked eager to hurt the other. But both were prepared to win. “Kasizzle!” Bianca shouted. A roaring wave of fire exploded outward from her hand, spiraling across the battlefield like a miniature inferno. The Crystal Vanguard immediately reacted. “Whoa!” Terra gasped. Rydia’s eyes widened. “That’s strong fire magic!” Rosa darted sideways gracefully, the flames tore across the courtyard stones behind her in a violent eruption of heat and smoke. Before the smoke had even cleared, Bianca already had an arrow nocked. The arrow screamed across the battlefield. Rosa leaned backward just enough for it to miss her face by inches before she retaliated instantly with two arrows of her own. Bianca narrowly twisted aside. One arrow clipped her shoulder. The other embedded into the stone behind her. Aishe whistled softly from the Luminaries’ side. “She’s fast.” Jessica crossed her arms. “And scary accurate.” Seven watched quietly from beside the Crystal Vanguard. “I told her,” she said calmly, “that she never misses when she focuses.” “Not bad!” Bianca shouted with a grin. Then she planted her feet. “Kafrizzle!” A gigantic pillar of fire erupted upward. The heat blasted across the battlefield hard enough that even the spectators shielded their faces. “Good grief…” Faris complained. The inferno swallowed Rosa entirely. The Luminaries erupted hopefully. “Did that finish it?!” Red asked. But then, a glowing green aura emerged inside the flames. Rosa stepped out from the burning haze breathing heavily, white magic swirling around her body as she healed her injuries in real time. Bianca regarded her with disbelief. “She healed through that?” Rosa raised one hand. “Holy.” Brilliant white light burst outward in several glowing projectiles that streaked toward Bianca. Bianca looked around herself in shock. She tried to roll away, but one of the holy blasts exploded against the ground beside her, sending her skidding backward. Then Rosa fired again. Three arrows flew in rapid succession. Bianca blocked one with her own bow, dodged the second, but the third struck her upper arm. The battle intensified. Bianca began using far more aggressive movement, circling constantly while combining fire magic and archery together. Explosions rocked the courtyard. Arrows crossed through smoke and flame. Bianca gritted her teeth. “Kafrizzle!” Another enormous firestorm erupted toward Rosa. But this time Rosa didn’t dodge. She fired directly into the flames. Her arrow pierced through the inferno glowing with holy magic. Bianca barely turned in time, the arrow slammed into her shoulder and exploded in brilliant white light. Bianca staggered backward hard. “Bianca!” Jessica cried out instinctively from the sidelines. Bianca breathed heavily now, but she smiled anyway. “Heh… okay…” She raised her bow one last time. “No regrets.” Rosa slowly lifted hers as well. “No regrets,” she agreed softly. Both women fired simultaneously. Bianca launched a final blazing magical arrow. Rosa’s arrow glowed with concentrated holy light. The projectiles collided midair and Rosa’s arrow pierced through. Bianca’s eyes widened as the holy arrow struck her directly in the chest in a burst of radiant light. The force sent Bianca collapsing backward onto the stone courtyard. Arecia spoke. “The winner is Rosa Farrell.” The Crystal Vanguard erupted immediately. “We won again!” Terra shouted happily. Rydia smiled proudly. “I knew Rosa could do it!” Faris gave a sharp whistle. “That was one hell of a fight.” Meanwhile the Luminaries groaned in disappointment. “Ahhhh, 0-2…” Jessica muttered dramatically. Red folded her arms with a frustrated sigh. “So close…” Aishe shook her head. “She almost had her.” Rosa herself nearly collapsed moments after victory was declared. Her bow slipped from her fingers as she dropped to one knee breathing heavily. “Rosa!” Celes called out. Before anyone else could move, two soft magical lights appeared on opposite sides of the battlefield. Lenna Tycoon materialized beside Rosa and Serena appeared beside Bianca. Lenna looked radiant in her colorful orange-and-blue royal attire, pink hair gently framing her warm smile as she immediately knelt beside Rosa. “You pushed yourself too hard,” Lenna said gently. Rosa laughed weakly. “I suppose I did” Warm healing magic flowed from Lenna’s hands into Rosa’s exhausted body. At the same time Serena hurried to Bianca’s side, her green dress swaying as golden restorative light gathered around her palms. “Oh dear,” Serena murmured worriedly. “You really went all out.” Bianca groaned. “Didn’t wanna lose without trying everything…” Serena smiled softly. “And that’s exactly why you should be proud.” LUMINARIES OF LEGEND The cold air outside Baron Castle lingered around the Luminaries of Legend like a weight none of them could quite shake. Bianca stood near the stone path in stunned silence, her bow hung limp at her side. The normally warm and optimistic woman stared downward as if replaying every decision she had made during the battle with Rosa. Jessica Albert folded her arms beneath her chest and let out a loud sigh. “Well,” she said, shaking her head. “I honestly did not expect that.” Bianca glanced toward her. Jessica immediately raised both hands defensively. “Hey, hey, no disrespect! It was incredible, but a white mage beating a black mage in a straight fight?” She laughed incredulously. “That’s the kind of thing bards exaggerate after too many drinks.” Bianca managed a weak smile, though it quickly faded again. Aishe rested one hand on her hip, her expression far sterner than Jessica’s. The former pirate warrior’s sharp eyes moved between her teammates. “It is disappointing,” Aishe admitted bluntly. “Two battles. Two losses.” Jade winced slightly at hearing it said out loud. “But,” Aishe continued, “lamenting will not change the outcome. We move forward.” She cracked her knuckles and smirked. “Hopefully my battle is next. Someone has to get us started in the right direction.” Red leaned lazily against a nearby pillar, though even she looked less cocky than usual “So where are we headed next?” Aishe asked their liaison, Cinque. “Another castle? Ancient ruin? Weird magical forest?” Cinque opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a familiar voice cut through the air. “There’s no rush.” The group turned. Patty approached them with her usual easygoing swagger; her blue hair swayed behind her as she walked. Her confident smile immediately softened some of the tension hanging over the team. Jessica perked up instantly. “Oh good,” Jessica said. “The fun host is here.” Patty grinned. “I heard that.” She stopped in front of the group and placed both hands on her hips. “You all look miserable.” Red scoffed. “What gave it away?” Patty ignored the sarcasm. “I still believe in this team,” she said firmly. “Remember, I had to work harder than anyone to convince Arecia and Gentiana to include all of you.” Patty continued. “They saw the other teams as safer choices. More traditional heroes from worlds they understood. More obvious chemistry. But I told them this group had something special.” Aishe folded her arms. “Right now, that ‘something special’ looks like an 0-2 record.” Patty pointed directly at her. “Temporary.” Red exhaled through her nose and looked away. “Maybe you should’ve left us alone,” she muttered. “Could’ve saved yourself the embarrassment.” “Oh no,” Patty said firmly. “We are not doing that.” Patty walked directly up to Red and jabbed a finger against her chest. “You are a thief. A survivor. A woman who’s spent her entire life clawing through danger and coming out smiling on the other side.I refuse to let you start moping after two losses that weren’t even yours.” Jessica snorted. “She’s got you there.” Red rolled her eyes but said nothing. Patty suddenly clapped her hands together brightly. “Luckily,” she announced, “I have exactly the thing to improve everyone’s mood.” As she spoke, the world around them began to change. The stone walls of Baron Castle slowly faded. The cool open air warped into warm golden lighting. Wooden floors replaced cobblestone beneath their feet. Shelves of colorful bottles appeared around them. Music drifted faintly through the air. Before long, the Luminaries of Legend found themselves standing inside Patty’s bar. Warm lantern light reflected off polished wood and rows of gleaming glasses. The atmosphere was lively, cozy, and impossibly inviting. Decorative banners and keepsakes from countless worlds adorned the room. Jessica immediately grinned. “Now this,” she declared, “is more my speed.” Patty spread her arms dramatically. “Welcome, ladies.” Jade looked skeptical. “You want us drinking before another fight?” Patty laughed. “All my drinks come with elixir kickers.” The group stared at her blankly. Patty shrugged casually. “They remove negative status effects, fatigue, magical aftereffects, hangovers, all that fun stuff.” Jessica’s eyes widened. “That’s the greatest invention I’ve ever heard.” Jade still looked uncertain. “You’re absolutely sure?” “Positive.” Patty winked. “You could down three glasses and go fight a dragon five minutes later.” Aishe immediately pulled out a chair. “Well then,” she said. “Pour me something strong.” Cinque giggled as the group slowly settled into their seats around one of the larger wooden tables. Patty leaned against the counter. “You know,” she stated, “none of you still really know each other outside of Red and Jessica.” Jessica pointed at Red. “And even then, our relationship mostly involved crime.” “Successful crime,” Red corrected. Patty laughed. “My point is, this is a perfect opportunity to strengthen your bonds.” Cinque nodded enthusiastically. “She’s right! Teams that trust each other fight better!” Bianca finally sat down, though she still looked troubled. Patty noticed immediately. “You’re still thinking about the fight.” Bianca sighed softly. “I just thought I’d do better.” Jade gently placed a hand on Bianca’s shoulder. “You fought well.” Bianca smiled faintly. Before she could answer, Patty suddenly looked toward the doorway. “Oh,” she added brightly. “Perfect timing.” The others turned. A woman strode into the bar with the confidence of someone who fully expected every room to belong to her the moment she entered it. Her long black hair cascaded in lavish curls decorated with large crimson roses. A luxurious white fur stole draped around her shoulders over an expensive pink dress accented with layered ruffles and glittering jewelry. Her eyes immediately swept across the room with open judgment. Bianca’s eyes widened instantly with recognition. “Deborah?!” Deborah placed one hand on her hip and tilted her head smugly. “Well,” she announced dryly, “you all certainly look depressing.” Patty leaned comfortably against the polished wooden counter, swirling a bright blue drink in one hand while Deborah stood beside her like royalty surveying subjects.The glamorous woman adjusted the white fur draped around her shoulders and smirked smugly as everyone’s attention lingered on her. Patty grinned. “I invited Deborah here for two reasons.” Deborah smirked proudly. “One of them is entertainment value, naturally.” Bianca sighed. “Deborah…” Patty laughed softly before continuing. “The first reason is to show all of you an example that no matter how different people are, they can still become valuable allies.” Her eyes shifted between Bianca and Deborah. “You two are basically opposites,” Patty observed. Bianca rubbed her temple. “That’s one way to put it.” “You loved the same man. You have wildly different personalities,” Patty continued. “You probably drove each other insane during your adventure.” Deborah tossed her long black curls arrogantly over her shoulder. “She drove me insane,” Deborah corrected. Jessica snorted into her drink. Patty ignored the interruption. “But despite all that, you both recognized each other’s value. And both of you contributed enormously during your journey.” Bianca glanced over to Deborah because she knew Patty was right. “Well of course I did,” Deborah declared. “I agreed to come here because there were drinks involved and because I’m always willing to attend events where people properly praise me and all that I bring to the table.” Aishe looked over to Bianca. “She really says things like that with complete sincerity.” “She absolutely does,” Bianca replied. Jessica grinned. “I kind of respect it.” She then tilted her head toward Patty. “So, what’s the second reason you invited her?” Patty’s smile became positively mischievous. “All will be revealed very soon.” She raised her drink. “First, drink. Relax. Get to know each other better.” Cinque enthusiastically lifted her own glass. “Hear hear!” The women gradually broke off into smaller conversations around the bar. The atmosphere inside Patty’s bar gradually began to warm. Not just from the drinks, but from the laughter and the conversations. From the simple realization that despite the losses, the Luminaries of Legend were slowly beginning to feel less like strangers thrown together and more like an actual team. At one side of the room, Aishe sat across from Cinque, eyeing the enormous mace propped beside the cheerful girl. The weapon looked absurdly oversized beside Cinque’s petite frame. Aishe finally gestured toward it. “So…” she asked. “Do you actually know how to use that thing?” Cinque blinked innocently. “My mace?” “Yes,” Aishe replied dryly. “The gigantic metal tower beside you.” Cinque beamed proudly. “Oh! I’m actually super skilled with it!” Aishe stared. “You’re serious.” “Mhm!” Cinque puffed out her chest proudly. “I trained a lot with heavy weapons! My mace can smash through armor, monsters, walls, vehicles…” Aishe held up a hand. “Alright, alright, I believe you.” She leaned back in visible disbelief. “I never would’ve guessed.” Cinque tilted her head. “Because I’m girly?” “Yes.” Cinque giggled. “My enemies always think that too! That’s why it works so well!” Aishe slowly nodded. “That’s actually very clever.” Cinque grinned brightly. “You think so?” Aishe folded her arms thoughtfully. “I’ve always made it obvious I’m a warrior.” She looked Cinque up and down again. “Never occurred to me to conceal it beneath a more feminine appearance.” Cinque pointed finger guns at her. “See? Sneaky!” Aishe chuckled. “You may have me reconsidering my entire approach.” Elsewhere, Jessica sat beside Bianca with two glowing drinks resting between them. Jessica swirled hers awkwardly before finally speaking. “About earlier…” Bianca looked toward her. Jessica sighed. “I really didn’t mean any disrespect when I reacted to your loss.” Bianca gave a small smile. “I know.” Jessica leaned forward earnestly. “As a fellow black mage, I was seriously impressed with your magic. Especially your fire spells.” Bianca blinked in surprise. Jessica continued excitedly. “That kasizzle magic? Ridiculous. The sheer output alone...”” Jessica stopped herself and laughed. “Sorry. Mage enthusiasm.” Bianca chuckled softly for the first time since entering the bar. Jessica smiled warmly. “Honestly, losing to a white mage just proves how absurdly powerful the heroes gathered here are.” Bianca nodded slowly. “I suppose that’s true. But it still stings.” Jessica winced sympathetically. “Yeah. Losses usually do.” Bianca tried to lighten the mood. “Well,” she said with a small smile, “I can’t wait to see you fight.” Jessica smirked immediately. “Oh, trust me, when my turn comes, I plan to make a dramatic impression.” Near the bar counter itself, Deborah and Jade conversed while Patty prepared another round of drinks. Deborah slowly circled Jade once, openly appraising her. “I heard you’re a princess.” Jade nodded gracefully. “I am.” Deborah lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t present yourself like one.” Jade glanced down at her outfit. Her practical battle attire was designed for mobility and combat. “That is because of my travels with Rab,” Jade explained. “And because martial arts require freedom of movement.” Deborah hummed thoughtfully. “Practical. But honestly? You’re beautiful enough that weaponizing that beauty could be just as useful as any kick.” Jade’s eyes sparkled knowingly. “Oh, I am definitely aware of that.” Deborah looked delighted. Jade leaned slightly closer. “And I am not afraid to use it to my advantage.” Deborah laughed approvingly. “Excellent. Finally, a princess with proper priorities.” Meanwhile, Red sat beside Patty at the counter, lazily turning her drink in her hand. Despite the lively atmosphere around her, uncertainty still lingered in her face. “I still don’t get it,” Red admitted quietly. “Why me?” Patty glanced sideways at her. “For the group?” “For all this.” Red gestured vaguely around them. “Saving worlds. Hero teams. Tournament destiny nonsense.” Patty smiled knowingly. “You thieves always underestimate yourselves.” Red scoffed. “Most people do.” Patty shook her head. “A good thief is one of the most important members of any party.” Red looked skeptical. Patty continued. “You find things others can’t. You get into places others can’t. You survive situations others wouldn’t.” And sometimes you literally steal victory.” Jessica overheard from nearby. “She’s not wrong.” Patty pointed toward Red. “Other hero types love acting morally superior to thieves. But when things get desperate? They’re always very happy to accept stolen treasures, rare items, hidden keys, or priceless artifacts.” Red’s expression slowly softened. Patty leaned closer. “A rare item can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Between saving a world or watching it die. And personally? I think you’re one of the best thieves in all worlds.” Jessica immediately nodded. “She absolutely is.” That finally earned a genuine smirk from Red. Then Patty suddenly stood upright and clapped her hands loudly. “Alright everyone!” The conversations stopped. The Luminaries turned toward her. Patty grinned broadly. “The next match will feature two of the best thieves in the tournament. Red, you will face Rikku of the Summoners of the Tides.” The room buzzed instantly. Patty nodded enthusiastically. “Because thieves are unique and special, this battle has special rules.” Red narrowed her eyes. “I knew this was coming.” Patty continued. “To win, Red must not only defeat Rikku, she must also steal a valuable item from her before doing so.” Aishe blinked. “What?” Patty smirked. “If Red defeats Rikku without securing the item, the Summoners’ healer will simply restore Rikku and the match restarts.” Red sat upright immediately. “So what’s the item?” Patty pointed finger guns at her. “That’s the fun part.” Red groaned. “You have to figure it out yourself.” Patty grinned with mischievous eyes. “The mark of a great thief isn’t just stealing treasure, it’s recognizing what treasure matters most.” “This Rikku will be trying to steal from Red too?” Bianca asked. Patty nodded. “Exactly.” “So, what’s Red protecting?” Jessica inquired. A smug voice answered before Patty could. “The best thing here, obviously.” Everyone turned toward Deborah. With theatrical flair, Deborah produced an ornate stone artifact radiating soft mystical energy. The Sage’s Stone. The room immediately went quiet. Even Jessica’s eyes widened. “Oh. That’s valuable valuable,” she remarked. Patty pointed dramatically. “And that is the second reason Deborah is here.” “Of course I have the best things.” Deborah stated proudly. She held the artifact out toward Red but didn’t release it immediately. “You better not lose it.” Red met her gaze confidently. “I don’t plan to.” After a moment, Deborah finally handed over the Sage’s Stone. Red carefully examined it, her thief instincts already recognizing its enormous worth. Patty raised her glass one final time. “Alright everyone. Finish your drinks and elixirs. Because it’s time for the next challenge.” She pointed directly at Red. “And time for you to steal your team their first victory.” SUMMONERS OF THE TIDES Outside the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth, the mood among the Summoners of the Tides was subdued. Lulu sat upon a weathered rock near the cavern entrance while faint wisps of white magic still drifted around her body like glowing mist. The lingering pain from her battle with Rinoa rapidly faded as Milly completed the last traces of her healing spell. The young healer from another world smiled brightly as her staff lowered. “There!” Milly said cheerfully. “All fixed!” Lulu flexed her fingers slowly, feeling strength returning fully to her limbs. “Your restorative magic is exceptional,” Lulu admitted. “Thank you.” Milly clasped her hands behind her back bashfully. “I’m happy to help. And I thought you battled magnificently.” Lulu’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. “You are kind.” The magical glow around Milly intensified softly. “Well,” Milly said with a happy wave, “I’ll be cheering for your team!” Moments later, her body dissolved into shimmering white light that drifted upward into the sky. As soon as Milly disappeared, Yuna hurried over. “Lulu!” Yuna knelt beside her immediately, concern obvious on her face. “How are you feeling?” Lulu stretched one arm slightly. “Physically? “Fine. Milly’s white magic is top notch.” Yuna shook her head gently. “That’s not what I meant.” Lulu looked toward her knowingly. “You mean the loss.” Yuna nodded quietly. For a moment, Lulu simply stared toward the distant horizon. “I feel some disappointment,” she admitted. “I do regret letting the team down.” Rikku, Freya, Garnet, and Deuce listened nearby as Lulu continued. “But personally?” Lulu said calmly. “I’m alright.” Yuna looked surprised. “A long time ago, I chose to use my power in service of others. That is why I became a guardian,” Lulu explained. “When I fought Rinoa, I could feel her digging deeper into her power than she ever had before. I pushed her to the brink. And in doing so I think I forced her to truly embrace how powerful she really is.” Yuna listened intently. Lulu looked almost content. “She will be a more formidable warrior because of that battle. and if I played a role in that development… then I do take some satisfaction from it.” Nearby, Deuce’s smirk widened slightly as she listened. Then the young woman suddenly lifted her flute gracefully. A soft melody echoed through the air. The entire team turned toward her.Deuce lowered the flute with a gentle smile. “If everyone is ready,” Deuce said pleasantly, “please follow me.” As the Summoners of the Tides walked away from the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth, the world slowly began to change around them. The jagged stone cliffs softened. The cold winds faded. Ancient Spiran rock gradually melted into polished wooden floors, lantern light, hanging ropes, and massive billowing sails overhead. Before long, the group realized they were no longer walking across Spira. They were aboard a flying ship. The famous Tantalus Theatre Troupe airship. During the walk, Deuce moved beside Rikku. The young Al-Bhed girl looked unusually tense, her energetic demeanor noticeably dimmed. Deuce glanced at her gently. “You seem anxious.” Rikku sighed. “I am.” Deuce placed a comforting hand on Rikku’s shoulder. “It’s just…” Rikku looked downward slightly. “We’ve already lost twice.” Freya and Lulu exchanged quiet looks nearby. Rikku continued. “With Freya, I thought we had it.” Freya remained silent. “And with Lulu,” Rikku shook her head. “I really thought she was gonna win too. But both times, victory just got snatched away from us.” Deuce’s eyes gleamed knowingly. “Almost like victory itself was stolen.” Rikku pointed immediately. “Exactly! I just, I don’t want to let everyone down. They’re both amazing warriors.” She clenched one fist slightly. “And I want the chance to fight beside them against whatever threat is coming.” Deuce smiled warmly. “I have complete confidence in your abilities, Rikku.” At that moment, Garnet suddenly gasped softly. “I know this ship.” Everyone turned toward her. The princess turned queen slowly looked around with visible nostalgia. “The Tantalus Theatre Troupe airship.” A soft smile crossed her face. “So many memories.” Yuna immediately looked fascinated. “You’ve really been on this ship before?” Garnet nodded. “Yes.” Her eyes wandered fondly across the wooden decks and colorful stage curtains. “I traveled with them during one of the most important journeys of my life,” Garnet explained. She suddenly looked toward Deuce. “Is this where my match takes place?” Deuce shook her head gently. “No. This is merely the vessel taking us where we’re going. After two difficult battles in a row, I thought your team deserved a small break.” At that moment, a new voice called out brightly. “The show will begin soon, ladies!” Everyone turned. A small energetic girl approached with lively steps and theatrical flair. It was an acquaintance of Garnet’s group that saved the world. Rubi. The young thief wore a light teal and white performer’s outfit complete with puffy sleeves, white leggings, tiny pink boots, and a massive turquoise ribbon tied around her pale blue hair. She carried herself like someone born upon a stage. “Please find your seats!” Rubi announced dramatically. “Tonight’s performance is one you absolutely won’t wanna miss!” Yuna grinned. “A flying theater ship that travels the world putting on plays.” She looked amazed. “That sounds incredible.” As the group took their seats, Yuna leaned toward Garnet curiously. “Tell me more about them.” Garnet smiled fondly. “Well, they were also notorious thieves.” Rikku perked up instantly. “Now THAT sounds fun.” Garnet laughed softly. “But they also put on wonderful performances. And deep down, they all had very good hearts.” Meanwhile, Rikku settled beside Freya. The Al-Bhed girl looked up at the towering Burmecian knight curiously. “In my world,” Rikku said, “we’ve got the Al-Bhed and the Guado and all kinds of people, but nothing like you.” Freya tilted her head slightly. “I am uncertain whether that is compliment or observation.” “Both!” Rikku answered immediately. She leaned forward excitedly. “I think you’re super cool.” Freya actually looked mildly surprised by the sincerity. Rikku continued eagerly. “What are Burmecians like?” Freya sat thoughtfully for a moment. “Our people were historically isolationist,” she explained. “Burmecia kept largely to itself.” Rikku nodded knowingly. “The Al-Bhed got treated pretty badly too.” Freya glanced toward her. “We were often misunderstood.” “Same,” Rikku said immediately. Then her eyes brightened again. “So how’d you end up making friends outside your race?” Freya looked toward the distant stage thoughtfully. “Mostly circumstance. Somehow, I formed a bond with Zidane Our personalities are very different. Yet I came to respect him greatly.” Freya chuckled softly. “I never imagined one of my closest companions would be a thief.” Rikku leaned back. “Huh.” Freya looked toward her. “The world works in mysterious ways.” Elsewhere in the audience seating, Deuce sat beside Lulu. “I overheard your conversation earlier,” stated Deuce. Lulu glanced toward her. Deuce smiled warmly. “I hope your team turns things around and wins this tournament,” Lulu lifted an eyebrow slightly “Oh?” Deuce nodded. “Your power. Your selflessness. Your ability to see the bigger picture. They make you an ideal candidate for what lies ahead.” Lulu narrowed her eyes. “You continue to speak in riddles.” Deuce only smiled. Lulu studied her more carefully. “I have also noticed something,” said Lulu. “You and the other liaisons wear very similar attire.” Deuce glanced down at her uniform. “We each add our own personal flair,” she answered. “But yes. They are all Class Zero uniforms.” Lulu folded her arms. “So, Class Zero is Arecia’s personal army of young women?” Deuce laughed. “Oh no. There are boys too.” “Are the boys here to help with this mysterious threat?” Lulu inquired. Deuce immediately looked toward the stage. “Oh! The play is starting.” Lulu sighed. “Avoiding the question,” The curtains parted. Music filled the ship. The performance began. Rubi appeared center stage dressed in dramatic thief attire, leaping across elaborate rooftop sets while orchestral music played around her. The play followed a daring female thief hero who stole magical treasures from corrupt nobles and tyrants before redistributing wealth to suffering people across the kingdom. Rubi threw herself fully into the performance. She danced across tables, swung from ropes, escaped traps, and mocked pompous villains. She somehow made stealing look noble. Rikku leaned forward immediately. “Oh I LOVE her.” “She certainly possesses confidence,” Freya observed. At one point Rubi dramatically stole a magical crystal from an armored tyrant before escaping in an explosion of smoke and applause. Yuna clapped enthusiastically. “She’s amazing!” Garnet smiled warmly. “Tantalus performances were always unforgettable.” Even Lulu looked mildly entertained. “She does have presence.” When the play finally ended, the audience erupted into applause. Rubi bowed dramatically center stage while the all-female theater troupe celebrated behind her. As the applause faded, Yuna noticed Garnet wiping at one eye slightly. “Garnet?” Garnet smiled sadly. “This reminded me of Zidane. I miss him very much.” Yuna looked sympathetic, but Garnet quickly changed her posture, “Still, if multiple worlds truly are in danger, then my devotion belongs to this cause now. The needs of the many must come first.” Yuna smiled softly. “We really are alike.” At that moment, Deuce stepped forward again. “This performance wasn’t simply for entertainment,” she announced. “It was meant to highlight the importance of the thief.” Her eyes shifted toward Rikku. “And I believe Rikku to be one of the top thieves around and will demonstrate those same heroic qualities in the upcoming battle.” Rikku blinked. “Wait.” She pointed at herself. “My fight is next?” Deuce nodded. Then calmly explained the rules. Rikku’s eyes widened more and more as Deuce described the requirement to both defeat her opponent and steal a specific valuable item. “Fascinating battle conditions,” stated Freya. “You will also need to protect a valuable item yourself,” Deuce added. At that moment, Rubi approached from the stage. In her hands rested an elegant purple Ribbon accessory, smaller than the one she wore in her hair and shimmering with soft magical energy. Deuce began playing her flute while Rubi approached Rikku. Rubi carefully handed over the Ribbon. “This was given to me by Zidane,” Rubi explained proudly. “He secured it during one of our jobs. It prevents status effects which makes it extremely valuable. So, protect it with everything you’ve got.” Rikku slowly nodded. “You have my word.” She carefully secured the Ribbon. The flute melody continued softly through the air as the airship sailed onward into the clouds and toward the next battle. RIKKU VS. RED The massive wooden doors creaked open simultaneously from opposite ends of the enormous item shop. The Summoners of the Tides entered from one side alongside Deuce. The Luminaries of Legend entered from the other beside Patty and Cinque. Immediately, everyone stopped. The store was gigantic. Towering shelves stretched upward nearly three stories high, packed tightly with valuable adventuring supplies from countless worlds. They looked at hundreds upon hundreds of glass bottles, polished containers, enchanted pouches, and ornate treasure cases. The very air smelled faintly of herbs, alchemy, magic, and old wood. Rows upon rows of consumables lined the walls: Hi-Potions, Mega Potions, X-Potions, Phoenix Downs, Elixirs, Megalixirs, Ethers, Turbo Ethers. Antidotes, Echo Herbs, Gold Needles, Holy Waters, Maiden’s Kisses, Remedies, Smelling Salts, Softs, Hypers, Vaccines, Eye Drops, Tents, Sleeping Bags, Magic Waters, Yggdrasil Leaves, Sage’s Elixirs, Seeds of Strength, Seeds of Agility, Magic Keys, Mini Medals, and countless rare items locked behind enchanted glass displays. Rikku’s green eyes widened instantly. “Ohhhhhh no way! She slowly spun in place, staring at the surrounding treasure trove with unconcealed awe. “We just walked into the motherload.” Red’s eyes were already scanning shelves with expert precision. She was evaluating, calculating, and categorizing value. Patty laughed loudly at both reactions. “See? Now THAT is the kind of energy I wanted!” The flamboyant tavern owner swept an arm dramatically toward the store. “It’s all part of the challenge!” Deuce smiled knowingly while Rikku remained visibly overwhelmed. “There are enough useful items here to stock an entire pilgrimage,” Yuna murmured in disbelief. “A wise thief could become tremendously dangerous in a location such as this,” stated Freya. Jessica Albert whistled. “Forget dangerous. This place could bankrupt kingdoms.” Aishe crossed her arms. “Or start wars.” Then suddenly, golden light shimmered through the shop. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Arecia and Gentiana appeared near the center of the store floor. Both teams straightened immediately. Arecia stepped forward gracefully. “Welcome,” she announced calmly, “to the seventh official match of the tournament.” Arecia slowly walked between the towering item shelves. “This battle comes at a critical moment.” Her eyes drifted toward both teams. “The Luminaries of Legend seek their first victory. The Summoners of the Tides seek to stop their losing streak before doubt fully takes root.” Rikku shifted awkwardly at that observation. Arecia continued. “So, what better time to showcase one of the most important skills any desperate party can possess? The thief.” Red smirked and Rikku grinned. Arecia gestured calmly toward the countless valuables around them. “History remembers heroes for slaying monsters and saving worlds. Yet countless victories would never have been possible without those capable of securing the rare tools necessary for survival. A truly exceptional thief can change the fate of entire worlds.” Gentiana stepped forward next. “The paths of these two women,” she began, “are woven from different threads. One born amid the scavengers and outcasts of Spira.” Rikku looked toward her quietly. “The other a treasure hunter wandering deserts and ruins in pursuit of freedom and fortune.” Red folded her arms. Gentiana’s gaze drifted between them. “One fights with bright optimism. The other hides sharp instincts behind confidence and style But, despite their different approaches, both became indispensable to their companions. For there are battles strength alone cannot win.” Patty suddenly clapped excitedly. “Okay NOW we get to the fun part. I absolutely LOVE this match setup!” Cinque giggled nearby. Patty pointed dramatically toward Red and Rikku. “Reminder of the rules! To win, our lovely thieves must not only defeat their opponent, they must also steal the correct valuable item from them!” Rikku spun one of her daggers playfully. Red cracked her knuckles. “And if they knock the other girl out before securing the item..” Patty spread her hands dramatically. “The match resets!” Patty then gestured toward the endless store shelves. “And THIS lovely location was chosen for one very important reason. Temptation.” Rikku immediately looked back toward the wall of rare items. Red did the same. Patty laughed knowingly. “You two are free to steal as many items from this shop as you want during the fight.” Jessica’s eyes widened. “Seriously?” Patty nodded proudly. “Anything they successfully steal and keep by the end of the match becomes theirs. If they win..” That immediately changed the atmosphere. Patty tilted her head mischievously. “But will chasing more valuable treasure distract you from your true objective?” The question hung heavily in the air.Rikku slowly looked toward Red. Red looked right back. Both women were now studying each other carefully. Analyzing clothing, movement, possible priorities, possible tells. Rikku’s gaze drifted briefly toward Red’s belt pouch. Red’s eyes narrowed slightly toward Rikku’s accessories. Freya noticed immediately. “They have already begun.” Lulu nodded. “This fight started the moment they entered the room."

Going with Mad Hatter.

This would be pretty fun.

Gotta go with Team 2 here.

Going with Robert Robertson.