The Outcasts' Alternate Universes & Hellscapes

10 - Earth 31043: The Anti-Aqua Crusade

WRITTEN BY CONNOR HICKMAN

As Belle, Sky and Megan kept up their distractions in the air, the ground team would attempt their part again. Constricting the gravity around the villain once more, Stiff H₂O would stop in place. Holding their position, Sapphire would squint her eyes as she stared toward the kaiju. Jumping back to action, The Golden Edge would aim her staff forward. Grinding her teeth as she did so, a flurry of ice would leave the red sphere. Striking against the water before the beast, the area would quickly begin to freeze. Shaking wildly as they tried to break free, the frozen ice would channel further up the water monster's body. As if the villain was being turned into stone, soon a giant ice-like statue would stand before the group. Smirking as the last blasts hit the now-frozen beast, Ivy turned to Callum. Nodding to the male Death Sibling, he'd chuckle.

"Say goodbye... Flacid₂O!" Chief Death smirked.

Launching into the air with his katana in hand, Callum brought it down, smashing it against the ice with all his force. A huge crack rippled across the surface as the ice began to shatter. Even more cracks would form, until eventually, the entire beast would explode with ice shards shooting everywhere. With the ice monster gone, The Outcasts watched as Blake too exploded into ice, with the heroes gasping with horror. They had killed them!

"What have we done?" Sky muttered, staring at the frost, stopping in place.

"We didn't mean to kill them." Ivy shook her head, ashamed. "This is our fault... "

"But we still won the mission," Bella-Rose spoke up.

"Yes, but the consequences are severe." Disney Duchess sighed. "We need to explain ourselves, to the others. We shouldn't end life..."

The team turned to look at one another, then nodded. They turned to face some of the media members who were recording and watching. The heroes made their way out of the Thames, where they were met by a large crowd of reporters.

"Heroes, did you just kill that villain?" one reporter asked.

"Are you murderers now?" another added.

"Can you explain yourself?" someone else questioned.

"We can't let this stand!" a man roared, pushing through the crowd.

The heroes looked over to see a tall, muscular figure in a suit. They began to feel afraid, still shocked by what had happened. As the man got closer, Chief Death jumped forward, grabbing him.

"You're not helping the situation!" Chief Death growled, pushing him away.

The Outcasts made their way through the civilians, making their way towards the Tower Bridge. They found a spot near the edge of the bridge, where they could take a breather. With no one around, the heroes took turns standing guard.

"I'm sorry about killing them..." Callum whispered, looking up at the sky.

"We all technically took part, you aren't the only one to blame," Freight-Tale responded.

"But I took the fatal swing, therefore I am the most responsible..."

"No... We all were involved, each in our own way. We all played a role here, and the outcome is the same. It's over, let's move on. We can't change what has happened, and we cannot undo that which we've done."

Sky placed a hand on Callum's shoulder, patting him gently.

"Okay..."

The group sat in silence, all six of them, well, all except for one person; The Golden Edge. She stood amongst the others, watching them sadly. Her mouth opened slightly before she closed it. Before she could say anything, an angry voice rang out from behind.

"Why couldn't you just leave us alone?!" a man screamed.

The Outcasts turned to see The Crane Fly, the brother of the villain they had just accidentally killed. In his mechanical suit and surrounded by swarms of flies, the man began to rant at the group.

"You could've just left us alone! You ruined everything! We were so close, so close to ending it all, and you fuckers just got in the way. I was told you killed Blake... Now wait, because I'm going to end you all!" the man raised his arms, pointing his fingers at the heroes. "Your lives are forfeited, do you hear me?! FU-" He was cut short as he fell to his knees in pain.

"Those were some good threats there, bro," Sapphire commented, rolling her eyes.

She began to constrict the gravity around Ethan, but he wasn't going to let that slide. With a scream, the armies of flies shot towards the heroes, attacking them.

"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that again!" Sky yelled as he held up a shield.

A swarm of flies flew past him, slamming against his firey barrier, but it seemed his fire wasn't going to work on them. The flies took out all light, preventing the hero from seeing. He'd struggle to break free, but soon all the heroes would suffer the same fate. As if they were in some kind of fly storm, the swarm of insects swarmed over the heroes, trying to suffocate them.

"Hang on a second!" Ivy shouted, gripping her staff and slamming it onto the ground.

A purple shockwave would shoot from the weapon's red orb, knocking the bugs back. The Outcasts used this opportunity to run, but the swarm chased after them.

"Let's keep moving!" Sky ordered, rushing off with the others close behind.

They ran as fast as they could, heading past Tower Bridge and into London's city centre. They had no time to talk, or even rest; The Outcasts needed to make their escape, while they could. They'd push themselves to their limits.

The Outcasts travelled through the streets, trying to avoid the crowds of people so they could keep them safe. Skidding around corners, the heroes believed they had escaped, but would soon be proved wrong as the swarms of flies arrived from above.

"Shit!" Belle cursed, turning to see a small army of flies flying down from the skies.

Once again, they were surrounded, with The Crane Fly landing opposite them. He'd grip his hands as if he was ready to kill each and every one of them.

"You'll pay for what you've done!" the man yelled, his mechanical wings flapping.

With no time to react, a swarm of flies descended upon the heroes. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The Outcasts would have to fight if they wanted to survive, and they knew that well, but what could they possibly do against the number of insects they were opposing?

The flies chose The Golden Edge first, heading straight towards any entryway into her body. They swarmed around her, covering her like a blanket of bugs.

"Get these things off me!" the Priestess screamed, frantically waving her hand and staff.

The flies didn't seem to care, however, burrowing themselves into her nose and mouth. They covered her entire face, leaving nothing visible. The Golden Edge tried to fight them off, but it was hopeless. The insects were too many, and the heroine couldn't stop them all. They'd slid down her throat and into her ears, soon causing the poor woman to choke. She gasped desperately for air, unable to breathe.

As if that wasn't enough, the flies began to crawl inside her skin. They crawled down her arms and legs, entering her chest and stomach. Soon, the insects had made their way through her entire body, leaving nothing behind. Not even her head was spared, with the flies crawling over her hair, covering her scalp and neck.

"No..." Bella-Rose gagged, grabbing hold of her necklace.

Soon The Golden Edge dropped to the ground, dead.

A green gas would surround the female Death Sibling as Disney began to blast her repulsor beams towards the flies. Sky and Sapphire rushed forward as Chief Death readied his katanas, swinging their attacks and weapons around; smashing away the pests.

It really was the fight of their lives!