This Is Your Captain Crashing

Show Them The Truth

The air in the tropical clearing was tense as Merida and Izzy stood beside a swirling, brightly lit portal, and Team E-Scope, Gwen and Courtney stood on the opposite side, staring at their friends in put, dumbfounded shock. It was almost like the jungle itself was waiting on bated breath to see what would happen, especially since the portal was making a bunch of alien, otherworldly sounds.

Noah kept looking between Merida, Izzy and the portal, his original question still hanging in the air.

Merida let out a heavy sigh, and took a few steps forward. "Okay, so, we didn't want to drag you five into this... but I guess at this point we don't have any choice."

Courtney took a few careful steps forward, passing the princess and walking around the glowing mass with confusion and curiosity. "What... What even is this?"

"It kinda reminds me of that weird arc thing you accidentally broke back in Area 51..." Gwen said as she joined the Ex-CIT.

"It's how we get around", Merida explained bluntly. "It's... Our little way to just visit each other."

"Wait a minute..." Eva mumbled, squinting at the portal. Her eyes then bugged out and lit up in realisation. She looked at Izzy, who flinched under the gaze. "This was that weird light we saw you disappear into back during Action!"

Izzy shrunk a bit into herself, but nodded nonetheless. "Y-Yeah, that's h-how I disappeared w-without a tr-trace." She swallowed thickly and dashed behind Merida, making the Fitness Buff look horrified and scramble to apologise.

Noah pat her on the shoulder and approached the two redheads, his earlier shock now discarded for curiosity and intrigue. "So... What, you two can just open... portals... with no restrictions?"

Merida shrugged. "That's kind of what it feels like, yeah. But of course we can't, and you five are a prime example as to why."

Owen blinked owlishly and walked forward, joining Gwen and Courtney in investigation of the swirling bright light. Izzy watched as he stuck his hand in slowly, and reached it back quickly, like it was going to be eaten or something.

"Where... Where does this thing go?" The loveable lug asked, looking to Merida for an answer. Gwen and Courtney joined in and walked closer to their friend, looking at her as well for an answer.

Merida glanced at Izzy in concern, but when the Psycho Hose Beast nodded, the princess answered. "To our home away from home. Where our friend... Caleb... lives. It's a weird place, and it took me a while to get used to it because of how... foreign I was to all of it. But trust me, it's great."

The other five all shared a look, then looked back at the princess. "So... What do we do, then?" Gwen asked. "Just let you two go, hang out with your friends for a bit, then come back while we just go?"

The princess shook her head. "No. No, that's not right. You lot helped us through so much, and... and I'd rather not leave you all in the dark. So you're coming with us."

The five all shared shocked looks. Are you okay with that, Iz?" Eva asked carefully.

"Yes!" Izzy shouted suddenly, looking like she just down way too many cups of coffee. "Yes, you guys can come! I'm still kicking myself for not telling you three, my Team E-Scope, about my second life. So I want you guys to tag along and see what I've seen. Meet who I've met, all of that. You guys all deserve that... after all you've done... and after everything I put you through..."

Noah frowned and walked up to the wild child, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We get it, Iz. You were going through a lot, so don't beat yourself up over it."

She nodded, and looked away partially. The group all huddled up closer, then looked at the portal.

"So, how does this work?" Courtney asked.