The suburban streets were quiet and relaxing, a small breath of fresh breeze making the autumn leaves flutter like the wings of tiny butterflies. The distant sounds of traffic were briefly drowned out by a thump, when two people stumbled from the back wall of a house, one falling flat on his face with a loud thump, sending a nearby flock of birds flying. It was a very similar universe to the one that Spirit was born in, with there not being any really noticeable differences,

"You sure about this guy?" Reigen asked, climbing off the floor and dusting himself off, "You don't think I can't beat the bad guy with my ultimate power?"

Spirit groaned. Reigen never shut up about being the strongest in the multiverse, even if Jones Blakk was alway kicking his ass. She wondered where the hell Jones was now, and if he was really planning to betray them, as he had in her universe...

"Hey, please don't be silent, I need someone to talk to on this massive journey," Reigen continued, "Even if its probably only going to be a couple of chapters..."

"What are you on about?" Spirit snapped, rounding on Reigen, "Why can't you just shut up for a moment!"

There were slight tears in her eyes, and even Reigen could see that it wasn't really him she was crying about. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, speaking again, but this time without any irritating grandiose, 

"I'm sorry for your loss." He said in earnest, "We'll stop this monster, and save every other universe that gets threatened, okay?"

Spirit turned away quietly, walking towards their destination, 

"Hurry up then." She said back, but less harshly, as they made their way towards their objective,

It was a doctors office, a small thing in the suburbs, a family run place, but a very good one nonetheless. It was all warm brick and windows, with a singular car out front. This was a place Spirit had never been before, but knew all too well, as it had taken a good friend's life. She knocked on the door, and there seemed to be a bit of a clambering, before the doctor appeared, wearing a mask and surgical gloves. Spirit instinctively flinched back, memories of another masked person filling her mind... the horrifying deeds of Annabelle Stone were not unjustified, but chilling nonetheless,

"Can I help you?" The doctor asked warmly, stepping outside, "I'm currently seeing a patient, so I can't be here for long."

Reigen stepped forward, his messy blonde hair and sunglasses giving him the air of a movie star,

"My name's Reigen, Reigen Field, and I'm actually a medical practice inspector." Reigen flashed a counterfeit badge quickly, but not enough so that he would be considered sneaky. Then he pulled out a clipboard from his backpack, stepping forwards, "I need to check for signs of medical malpractice."

"I am sorry, sir." The doctor replied, bowing his head apologetically, "My patient is actually here to get euthanised, for which I have a license and have followed every step. Once he has had his wish, I can let you in to inspect."

Reigen shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he did, as if displaying a nonchalant, but stern attitude. He continued to stand there for another couple of moments, before looking up and scratching the side of his neck, as if deep in thought,

"Sorry, doctor, but that won't do. I won't know if you're tidying up or hiding the evidence of malpractice. So you're going to have to let me in now."

Even Spirit had to admit, Reigen was a natural at this,

"But I'm not going to hide any malpractice!" The doctor cried out, "I'm just going to finish up with this patient-"

"You're not going to hide it?" Reigen asked, his face and posture suddenly cold and angry, "So you admit to performing medical malpractice? I have this on video, doctor, and with the power vested in me from clause 23 of section 6 of the medical code of practice, that gives me the right to search your property."

Spirit, who wasn't on the receiving end of this charisma attack, knew he was bullshitting. But he must have been some sort of people genius, the way he was able to worm his way past others' perceptions and straight to the point of the matter. His deflection was flawless, changing the topic seamlessly away from his own identity towards the matter of malpractice. He was like a conductor, directing the flow of the music that was the conversation,

"Wha- I... I'm not doing medical malpractice!" The doctor shouted,

"Unfortunately, you are denying something you just admitted to," Reigen replied coldly, "If you would kindly let me in, sir."

Reigen pushed past busily, holding his clipboard and inspecting the practice, which was a converted home. He walked through the big hallway and continued down to a room, Spirit hot on his heels before they flung open the door, coming face to face with someone Spirit knew well. The man seemed to be in his early 40s, a huge guy with bulging muscles and a kind, almost fatherly expression. His face was crinkled in the smile of a man who knew he didn't have much time left, but as Spirit entered, it turned to a sorrowful frown,

"Please, Ms Hall." Helmut Grayson spoke in his soothing voice, "I told you all to not come. I'm supposed to be dying in peace..."

Only then did he notice Spirit was a fair bit older than the last time he'd seen her. His expression changed to one of confusion as the flustered doctor pushed into the room, putting himself between Spirit and Grayson,

"You can't be in here!" He shouted, but a cough from Grayson caught his attention,

"I'm sorry, doctor." Grayson began, "May I have a minute?"

"Of course." The doctor's entire demeanour changed, "You reserve the right to call this off or ask for more time whenever you want."

The doctor turned and left, Reigen waving him out like he owned the place. Spirit walked over to Grayson, who was sitting in a comfortable arm chair,

"Please sit down, Niamh." Grayson made to stand, but Spirit waved for him to sit back down again,

"It's just Spirit now." She replied, almost coldly, "And you're coming with us."

Grayson raised an eyebrow, concerned,

"Where?" he asked calmly, "I thought we agreed that since this was all over, I would be gone. The Stranger is dead, and I don't like seeing everyone around me die of old age."

"I'm not from this universe, Mr Grayson." She explained, "I'm from a different universe, where everyone I knew was massacred by a powerful multiversal entity. The other survivors and I are putting together a team where we can fight against it. We're called the Marauders,"

Grayson took it all in. At first it seemed impossible, but stranger things had happened, and as a comic book fan, he was a lot more susceptible to things like that. He stood, his smile dropping, before he pulled Spirit into a hug,

"I'm sorry, Spirit." Grayson spoke, "You must feel terrible to have lost it all..."

"It was all my fault, Grayson." Spirit replied without emotion, "They gave me their powers to fight a powerful enemy, to save the world. But in the end, they couldn't regenerate after that and died."

"You couldn't have stopped it, kid." Grayson murmured, before pulling away from the hug, stretching lightly, "So. Let's get moving. We have a team to form."

He walked over and extended a hand to Reigen, who yawned, taking it,

"Helmut Grayson. War veteran and local teacher,"

"Reigen Field, strongest in the multiverse." Reigen responded, smiling confidently, "Now all that's left is to call Nash and go to the rendezvous point."

They left the building, the doctor accepting that Grayson no longer wanted to die, and walked through the suburban streets. It was starting to get a bit darker, but not too much so. 

Then, without so much as a warning, something appeared before them. It was slender, clad in rough black armour, with glowing, dark green eyes,

"Seems this is going to be a two parter..." Reigen muttered, pulling his hands out of his pockets as the thing stood, eyes locked on Spirit,

"What the hell are we supposed to do with this." Spirit muttered, hands closing around something she was materialising around her back, a blade of purple and black,

"Greetings." Grayson extended a hand, his face smiling warily, "are you one of them?"

The thing seemingly appeared behind Reigen, raising one fist to punch him in the back of the head. He didn't even move, almost as if he didn't care if it hit or not, but Spirit hit the thing in the chest with an orb of shadows, knocking it backwards. She whipped around with the katana, slicing it down the middle, before blasting it again, sending the two halves spinning,

"Reigen! Get Grayson out of here!" Spirit commanded, stepping back whilst looking around for any more, "Get him to the rendezvous, I'll catch up with you!"

Grayson seemed in awe, "You didn't even flinch..."

Reigen was silent, and began to run,

"Oh right, you must be a tactical genius." Grayson remarked, keeping pace, "A nice slow jog to conserve stamina for you, a full on run for me. You knew that thing couldn't hurt you as well..."

Reigen was screaming internally, sprinting full throttle towards the rendezvous point, but then the thing was in front of them again. It swung at Reigen, but Grayson barrelled into it, knocking it away,

"I'll help you out to conserve your energy, sir." He turned to face where he'd hit the thing, and it appeared before him, punching hard and fast... so, so fast...

Grayson's eyes opened wide as he focussed, every single punch flying past his body as he weaved and dodged around, avoiding every attack. He swung his own blows, instinctively, some making contact. Grayson kept the thing locked in as Spirit suddenly appeared next to him, the body of the thing cut to ribbons,

"Time stop is so cool." Grayson remarked as they followed Reigen, reaching the rendezvous point. 

Spirit reached out to push against the cold, brick wall. It would've been simple usually, lean on it and Nash would bring them home... but it didn't work... they didn't go through. Something was wrong. Nash and Hiro were in trouble, and they needed to get back to help them... but they couldn't,

"Something wrong?" Grayson asked as the thing appeared before them, its armour glinting in the light,

"What are you?" Reigen commanded, his posture relaxed as the breeze ruffled his messy hair,

Internally, he was terrified, but he showed none of it, his poker face immaculate.

"We are Pedes, the Twisted Preacher." it spoke, "Herald of the Black God. And His word is to execute you all."

It ran off for a moment, before returning with a rocket launcher, firing it at them. Spirit waved a hand lazily, transforming it into a hundred beautiful red butterflies,

"Do not test us, Pedes." Spirit spoke angrily. 

She sent out a bolt of shadows at Pedes, who sidestepped, running forwards so fast that the sheer force of his halt sent the three flying into the wall behind them. It punched at Grayson, who was barely able to avoid the assault, his own punches failing,

"Stay still!" Spirit roared, "I'll stop time!"

It rounded on her, but even as it ran, it tripped and flew over her head, Reigen's sprawled out leg catching it as it went over Spirit. 

Time itself bent to her will, and she formed a giant cage around Pedes with magic. With a blast of powerful shadow and magic, time resumed, sending Pedes flying up, higher and higher, until the purple cage was just a speck in the brilliant setting sun,

"You really are the strongest, Reigen!" Grayson exclaimed, his face lit up with respect and admiration, "You tripped over that Pedes guy so Spirit could stop him,"

Reigen stood up, as confident as usual, and pointed to his own chest,

"Of course I am." Reigen bragged, before another crack sounded, and Pedes was back before them, glowing with rage,

"You shall kneel." He commanded with great fury.

THANK YOU FOR READING