*It was a lively night in the Kingdom of Brister. A month had passed since the Kragnarok and construction on the Cloud Nine Casino/Hotel was going wonderfully. Jin’s ribs had healed up nicely over the month and Gael was excited as his 60-day probation was almost up and he wouldn’t have to wear the collar anymore. Everyone was off doing their own thing. Amarti and Zia were at the newly named nightclub, Club Ruby Rose. Amarti’s new nightclub that he bought months ago. It was originally Diamond Dust. Hibana was back at her home chilling and watching her shows. Sanada, Jade, Raika, Morgan, Jin and Gael had just finished up some training and were driving Gael back to his apartment. Dust was at Sweet Heaven enjoying a drink and some food with Ryuuji as they watched a game that was a combination of football and soccer. While Dust was enjoying his drink and the game, Ryuuji was on the phone with his wife*
(Ryuuji): Yes, honey. I just stopped to get something to eat with Dust and then I’ll be at Round Table. We can drive home together. Not to worry, I won’t be long. Love you. Bye.
*Ryuuji ends the call*
(Ryuuji): I better get going soon. Don’t want to keep the family waiting. Thanks for treating me to a meal, Dust.
(Dust): Treating you? I never said that. I just asked if you wanted to grab a drink and bite to eat and you said yes. Get out of your own little world.
*Ryuuji thought about it for a second*
(Ryuuji): *Chuckles* This is true. I guess I was so excited that you invited me out which is something you rarely do. *Gasp* Are you finally accepting me as your best friend?
(Dust): And you ruined it. Refill, please.
*Within a few seconds, Lilith appeared with a new bottle and took the empty bottle. Dust quickly saw that this beer was different from the one he was drinking before*
(Dust): Hey, this isn’t the beer I ordered.
(Lilith): I know. You ordered a bottom-shelf beer, but I gave you a top-shelf one instead. Compliments of yours truly. Just don’t tell Chief.
*Lilith smiles and winks at Dust before walking away while Ryuuji gave a toothy grin to Dust*
(Ryuuji): My, my. Looks like coming here was worth it after all.
(Dust): What are you getting at?
(Ryuuji): Come on Dust, it’s obvious that Lilith was flirting with you just now. When are you going to stop stringing that girl along and just ask her out already?
(Dust): That’s not happening. I don’t feel that way about her. I see her as a little sister.
(Ryuuji): I beg to differ. I think you see her as a woman you’re too afraid to ask out. Which is a shame cause you two would make such a great couple.
(Dust): You really think so?
(Ryuuji): I know so. Did I tell you how me and Le-Fey met?
(Dust): I’m sure you have, but I wasn’t listening.
(Ryuuji): I’ll never forget that night. I had just returned from a long mission out in the wilderness and was dragged to a nightclub by the others. I of course didn’t care for the environment and just stuck with sitting down and enjoying my drink at the booth. Everyone was dancing on the floor and that’s when I saw her. I don’t know if it was the music, the drink, or the environment, but she stood out from everyone on that floor. I was mesmerized by her and without realizing it I got up, made my way to the floor, and started to dance next to her. You know what she said to me: your dancing sucks. We both burst out laughing and from there we hit it off. About a year or so later, we were walking down the aisle.
(Dust): Well, that’s a nice story. However, I’m honestly more curious what song was playing when you met.
(Ryuuji): You know, if you cut the jokes and listen to me seriously you might learn something. That night, I did something I normally wouldn’t do and wound up with someone I can’t imagine my life without. Someone who saw all my faults but still loved me. You should do the same thing. Get out there and find someone to dance with for once in your life.
(Dust): I did have someone I danced with in my life, once. Sadly, it never worked out for us.
*As soon as those words left Dust’s mouth, Ryuuji’s face lit up. This was the first time he ever heard Dust talk about his love life, let alone a past romance. Ryuuji wanted to learn more, but just before he could open his mouth the whole pub went dark. Those in the pub who were watching the game let out an annoyed grunt. Dust looks out the window and sees the streetlights and other stores had no power either*
(Chief): A power outage? In the kingdom? That’s rare.
(Ryuuji): Not to worry. The backup generators should be coming on any minute.
*Ryuuji looked around waiting for the power to be restored, but nothing happened*
(Ryuuji): Hmm~, taking a lot longer than I expected.
*Ryuuji takes out his phone*
(Ryuuji): That’s odd. I don’t have any service.
*Dust takes out his phone as well*
(Dust): Same. The communication towers are down as well. Something is off.
*All of a sudden, glass could be heard shattering and a car spun out of control into a nearby pole. Dust and Ryuuji went outside and looked down the street to see a bunch of people breaking into a closed jewelry store*
(Dust): Rioters.
*Sirens could be heard as the White Knights arrived onto the scene, exited their car and attempted to apprehend the rioters who were fighting back. The White Knights soon became pinned behind their cars before Ryuuji and Dust rushed in to aid them. Dust came flying in to deliver a dropkick to one of the rioters as well as a double clothesline to two others. Ryuuji ran in and delivered a left hook to one of the rioters to knock them out. He then grabbed the last remaining rioter by the face and slammed them headfirst onto the concrete to make them unconscious. The White Knights came out from cover*
(Ryuuji): Are you alright?
(White Knight #1): Yes. Thanks to you, Sir Ryuuji.
(Ryuuji): What’s the situation? The power should have been coming on back now.
(White Knight #2): We don’t know. The whole kingdom’s lost power. We can’t communicate with the other knights or precincts.
*All of a sudden an explosion could be heard off in the distance and a puff of black smoke could be seen*
(White Knight #2): Oh no! That’s coming from the prison.
*The White Knights quickly get into their car and drive off towards the prison*
***
*In the prison, guards and prisoners were fighting against each other. The prisoners had broken out of their cells and were attempting to escape. The guards were slowly being overwhelmed by the prisoners. In a control room, guards were trying to get their system up and running again, so that they can call for backup*
(Warden): What’s taking so long!? Get that system up and running.
(Guard): It’s no use. The system isn’t turning on.
(Muta): Nor will it.
*The warden and guard turned around to see Muta enter the room wearing the standard prison outfit which was a light brown jumpsuit with black lettering. The two guards who watch the door were lying on the ground dead with blood pouring from their chests*
(Warden): You! You’re behind this aren’t you!?
(Muta): It would appear that my comrades enacted their plan just like they promised. All I did was invite my new friends to be a part of the festivities.
*As Muta slowly walked towards the warden and the guard with lightning shooting from his right hand, the guard charged at Muta hoping to take him down and protect the warden. His charge was in vain as Muta easily tore through him with his lightning claw. The guard flew backwards and landed by the feet of the warden who couldn’t believe what was happening. Muta managed to grab the warden by the throat and lifted him up off the ground*
(Muta): Allow me to repay you for the hospitality you’ve shown me and my comrades since we arrived.
*Muta slashed the neck of the warden and blood splattered everywhere covering the window of the control room*
***
*On the highway the group of Sanada, Raika, Morgan, Jade, Jin and Gael just got done beating up a group of rioters who were obstructing traffic*
(Morgan): *Sigh* I swear, it’s like they’ve never seen a blackout before.
(Raika): We’ve never had one like this before.
*All of sudden Jin’s phone starts to ring*
(Jin): I’m getting a call, how?
*Jin sees that caller ID is Hibana*
(Jin): Oh. Hello.
(Hibana): Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you and the others ever since this blackout started. I’ve got Dust, Ryuuji, Amarti and Zia on hold. Hang on, I’ll have them join the call.
(Dust): Hey rookie. Lovely evening, right?
(Jin): Lovely?! There’re riots in the streets, fires, and public destruction happening all around us.
(Dust): I know. Isn’t it great? I’m thinking of swinging by the furniture store and grabbing me a new couch.
(Ryuuji): You can also add prison escape to the list as well. We just heard an explosion coming from the prison.
(Amarti): We’ll deal with that later. Right now we need to meet up and go over what we know.
(Hibana): Head to my place, I’ve still got power and everything.
*Hibana ends the call and everyone rushes over to Hibana’s place*
***
*After minutes of dodging and fighting their way through the streets, everyone managed to reach Hibana’s place safely*
(Gael): Man, how does this place still have power?
(Jin): It’s Hibana, she’s using her own electricity magic to power up this whole building.
(Gael): Woah, that’s cool. Why don’t we just have her power up the whole kingdom?
(Hibana): I’m not a battery you mutt. Powering up this whole kingdom would be impossible even for me. It’d be better if I just powered back up the generator for the kingdom.
(Gael): Alright, then do that.
(Hibana): I can’t. Check this out.
*Hibana pulls up a picture of the kingdom’s power cords on her monitors to show that they’ve been severed*
(Hibana): Somebody cut through the cords linking up to the kingdom’s generator. No cords no power. It’ll take hours to repair them*
(Jade): And by the time that this whole place will be burnt to the ground.
(Morgan): We need an alternative way to get the power back on.
(Hibana): I thought you might say that, which is why I did some research on the kingdom and discovered this.
*Hibana pulls up the picture of an old generator on her monitors*
(Dust): What the hell is that?
(Hibana): A generator, an old one to be exact. Decommissioned a few years back, but the power cords are still connected to the primary generator for the kingdom.
(Zia): I get it now. If we can reactivate that generator we can send power to the main generator.
(Hibana): Exactly. The only problem is it’s old and rusty. If I were to send my electricity through it that thing would explode on us.
(Raika): Then we’ll need to get it fixed up.
(Jin): I guess this is where I come in. I can use my metal manipulation to fix it up. Although I’ll need some help on the wiring.
(Hibana): Normally, I’d go with you to handle the wiring, but I have to stay here. I’m the only one who can supply the electricity.
(Amarti): Leave that to me. I know the perfect candidate who can help us with the wiring.
(Hibana): Great. Now there’s just one problem. This generator is located in the sewers beneath the kingdom. In an old shaft that’s been abandoned for years, so nobody knows what’s down there. Knights were sent there to investigate some time ago, but they never reported back.
(Sanada): Eclipses?
(Hibana): Most likely.
(Sanada): And with power out you’ll be wandering around there blindly even with Hibana’s help.
(Gael): Not if I go with you. I can use my powers to guide us against any Eclipse attacks.
(Hibana): Alright. So far Jin, Gael, my drone, and Amarti’s one will go in the sewers. We’re going to need some bodyguards to handle the combat aspect.
(Dust): I’ll go.
(Sanada): As will I.
(Ryuuji): Me too.
(Raika): Count me in.
(Amarti): Great. That works out perfectly. Zia and I will conduct our own investigation topside.
(Morgan): Jade and I will join you as well.
(Jade): Wait, we will?
(Morgan): This whole situation is odd. A kingdom-wide blackout, a prison riot, and city rioters all coincided at the same time.
(Jin): You guys think someone planned all of this?
(Zia): When you think about it logically it does make sense. Those rioters and prisoners were way too organized for this to just be random. They had to have known this was going to happen.
*As everyone was talking, Hibana was watching her monitors when all of a sudden one of them started flashing red*
(Hibana): What the hell?
(Dust): What’s wrong, Hibana?
(Hibana): I sent my drones out to keep an eye on the city and here’s what one of them saw.
*Hibana points to a monitor in the bottom left corner where it showed a bunch of prisoners out in the streets*
(Raika): They’ve escaped.
(Hibana): That’s not all. At the rate they’re going they’re bound to come across Round Table’s main building which is serving as a shelter for regular citizens.
(Ryuuji): Le-Fey! Erina! Ren!
*Ryuuji’s body began to tremble with anger as everyone could sense the rage emitting from his body. Everyone backed away from him except Dust who placed a hand on his shoulder*
(Dust): Calm down, Ryuuji. Take a deep breath and go protect your family.
(Ryuuji): What? But what about-
(Dust): I’ve got this covered. Rookie and the others will be safe in my hands. Not to mention Sanada will be there with me. Raika, I hate to do this to you, but would you mind giving this guy here a ride to Round Table?
(Raika): I don’t mind. After all, my sweetheart is there as well.
(Gael and Jin): Sweetheart!?
(Raika): Oh yeah, I guess you guys didn’t know. I’m married.
(Gael and Jin): WHAT!?
(Gael): But. . . I . . .I always thought you and bro were an item.
(Raika): Me and Sanada? No thank you. I prefer him as a friend.
(Sanada): Same. I love her, but she is not my idea of a wife.
(Raika): And you are not my idea of a husband.
(Dust): Alright, enough love talk. Let’s get started. Hibana, contact Morrison and let him know what we’re planning. Amarti, get your friend over to the sewer entrance ASAP. Rookie, get the items you need from here and let’s move out. Raika, there’s a motorcycle lying on the road for you and Ryuuji to use. Let’s move!
(Everyone): Roger!
*Everyone breaks to do their thing*
***
*After ten minutes past, Dust, Sanada, Jin, Gael and Hibana’s drone were waiting outside of the sewer’s entrance*
(Hibana): I managed to reach Morrison. He and the other commanders are on board with this plan and will wait until the power is on to launch their counterattack.
(Jin): Which means the longer the power is out the more the kingdom is at risk of collapsing.
(Dust): No pressure.
*A car arrives just behind Dust and the others where Amarti and Zia exit*
(Dust): Alright, where’s your guy?
(Amarti): Right here.
*The passenger side of the car door opens and out comes Viktor Chaos’s mechanical soldier who walked over to Amarti and Zia shocking everyone*
(Mechanical solider): Greetings. My name is Alita. I look forward to working with you.
*The mechanical soldier bows her head and lifts it back up to reveal a gentle smile once again shocking everyone present*
Author’s Notes: And so we begin the final arc of volume 2 with a kingdom-wide blackout on Brister. This arc saw the return of that mechanical soldier we saw in volume 1 and reveals what Amarti and Zia were planning this whole time. Look forward to what she can do in the next chapter. We also got to add a few nuggets of information this chapter which will set up stories down the line. The biggest one being Raika being married. I’m sure everyone was thinking that Raika and Sanada had a thing for each other and I wanted to squash this theory before it got out of hand. They’re just good friends and I think males and females can have a platonic relationship with each other while also sharing different views. I based their friendship and relationship off of Ron and Leslie from Parks and Recreations. Two people who are the complete opposite of each other but love and respect the other in a platonic way. Well that’s all for now. Thanks for reading and look forward to the next chapter. I’ll see you next time.