Crossover Together ~クロスオーバ 一緒に~

*caw* *caw*

"H-Huh? ... A-A few more."

*peck*

"Ow!"

What a ride. Aladdin's eyes were met with a bit of a blur of light hitting his face, though it didn't help that a bird was squawking in his face, the noise belonging to an island seabird, a seagull to be exact, and a quick peck got Aladdin springing upright. Once Aladdin did that, the bird hopped back, along with about three others who thought they found a meal on the beach. Speaking of which, Aladdin needed time to figure out what beach he washed up on, yet it wasn't anything he could recognize, or anything familiar at all: a smooth sandy coastline, the waters cold yet smoothed out gently grazing his feet, and the storm having passed hours ago. Aladdin's hair had also unraveled from the storm as it turned out, no longer being the long ponytail and sprawled out behind him, soaking wet and salt-logged from the sea. But, that was the least of Aladdin's issues, as he just managed to get up to his feet, a bit groggy, and taking a moment to wring out his hair of what water was still in it from the waves.

"Guys! Anyone here?!" Aladdin called, as loud as he could manage, but not a sound of Heine, Morgiana, Grell, Hoopa, or Gaara was anywhere. The only sounds came from the sea and a few stray birds, who now kept a further distance from Aladdin. The young magi took time to look around the place, but that didn't really help him much either, as there was little to no clue on any civilization anywhere. Not here, not above, nowhere.

"An island? ... But where is this place? Is this Japan, or no?" questions like these went through Aladdin's head, as he looked around. From where he was, it looked like a bay of sorts, the land shaped in a U, and Aladdin facing to the exit of the bay leading back out to the ocean.

"How'd I even get here? ... Wait, hold on ..."

"Alright, Gaara? Are you feeling better now?"

"... more or less."

It had been quite a while, a little longer than some would like, but eventually, along that same coast, Aladdin's little caravan was ready to make the final trek back to Japan. With their Shukaku incident though, there was a bit of a setback of course.

"Oh, about time. I can't wait to see my Bassie and share my valiant story!~" Grell cooed, very excited. This would be the part for heart to pop up alongside his head as he wooed over the idea.

"Who this "bassie"?! Can someone fill me in, please, I'm getting tired of Romeo bragging about Juliet over here," Hoopa griped, hands over his ears (or where they would be).

"Sebastian is his name, and apparently Grell Sutcliff has a bit of an engagement with the devil. ... Though it's more one-sided," Heine answered, actually just as annoyed about it as Hoopa was (shocking, I know). Aladdin got the flying carpet all ready to go, laid out on the sand, and big enough for a full group ride. The others got on, but Morgiana and Gaara were a little slower. Morgiana was alright, but it was Gaara who was still trying to heal up from his experience.

"You ready to come with us, Gaara?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Gaara replied, Morgiana staying by his side just in case he would fall again. Both Fanalis walked over to the carpet, and Gaara sat on down for their flight. The once vessel for Shukaku took a look off out to the ocean, still having vivid memories of the incident going through his mind, at least based off what the others told him. Aladdin took a glance over to Gaara.

"Don't worry Gaara, you won't have to worry about him anymore," Aladdin reassured him. Gaara sighed.

"I know, it's just feels so ... different. To not have him inside me ..." Gaara paused and felt his chest.

"You'll get used to it, Gaara," Heine made clear, Aladdin happily agreeing. Gaara took a look over to Morgiana, who while not looking too excited, she did still had a smile on her face for her own reassurance. Gaara wasn't used to such compassion yet, but if this group could banish Shukaku out of him in such a way, then perhaps he should take their words in, and not block them out so much.

"... One thing before we go? ... Heine? how did you know about Shukaku?" Gaara asked. That was one thing that wasn't explained all too well, and Heine adjusted his glasses.

"I am one of the bright minds of the Overworld, Gaara. Studying on such things are essential, even if they are from the Underworld," Heine answered. Fair enough. After getting that cleared up, the flying carpet began to lift up slowly off the ground, ready to fly off on its way. Aladdin knew where to go from here, and it will be a straight shot from here right back to Tokyo in no time at all. Once they got high enough, with some focus on the carpet, they were soon heading off and flying over the ocean.

"We're coming home."

.......

And not a moment too soon did they leave, as someone else walked out into the open and over by the shore not even a minute after they've flown off. He could sense that Shukaku was here, looking out to where Shukaku had melted away. A bit of a sting had struck him on this revelation, and he looked up to the group flying away, none of which had notice him down on the shore. Even if they had, they wouldn't want to stop to pick him up.

"How wonderful," he groaned. "The one time I'm a little late, and Shukaku's dead. ... And killed by a rag-tag team no less. ... Oh well, maybe I can still find some sort of use out of one of them yet."

~~

The day continued ticking on by, and the group was still flying over the sea, land no longer in too much sight in between the Asia mainland and the Japanese island. As far as much of the flights had been going, the flight over the japan sea was a pretty nice one, and a very calm little trip with clear skies above, and calm waters below. The group had a very relaxing ride so far, this part of traveling shouldn't be too time-consuming.

"We should be getting to Tokyo by this afternoon. Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing them again," Aladdin noted.

"I do wonder how they'll react to seeing our group though. Not too surprised, hopefully," Heine noted, looking back to Grell, Hoopa, Gaara, and Morgiana.

"This is Team Harmony, Heine, they'll like them, I know they will," Aladdin reassured.

"Who's Team Harmony?" Morgiana asked.

"Oh, they're my friends: Nagisa, Twilight, Pinkie, Karma, Ed, Ciel, lots of people. I haven't seen them for a while now, I wonder how they're doing," Aladdin wondered. Morgiana was a little taken aback by how many friends Aladdin had waiting for him off back at home. He already had a bit of a varied crowd as it was, so Morgiana could only wonder what kind of friends Aladdin would have when they do get to Tokyo. As Aladdin looked back, another thought had struck him when he saw Hoopa.

"Hey, what're we going to do with Hoopa when we get back?" Aladdin asked. Heine glanced over back to Hoopa, Who at the moment was just floating over by Grell.

"We'll leave that for Celestia to work out," Heine simply stated, though Hoopa did hear over what he said and wasn't too thrilled about it. If he didn't have the cuffs still stuck on him, this wouldn't be so bad at all. Hoopa just groaned and laid down onto the flying carpet, looking downward to the water underneath them. nothing much but blue, and rippling rushing along away from them. nothing exactly too weird, but as he continued looking on, something just underneath the waves began to move in on them. Hoopa kept an eye on this thing for a good minute, and it actually got right underneath them with lightning speed, staying under the shadow of the flying carpet. Hoopa kept a eye on this mass following them, and even with how they were moving, something reached out from the water, and touched the bottom of the carpet.

"... Shit."

"What're you complaining about now?" Grell asked, ready to plug his ears from whatever complaints he had in mind. Hoopa though felt a bit more troubled, and floated up above Grell's head, keeping off of the carpet as best as he could do. Heine and Aladdin turned around.

"Now what?" Heine sighed.

"Look-bay under the carp-ae."

"... What?"

"Under the carpet," Hoopa said, pointing down and talking through gritted teeth. Confusing but Aladdin took a look anyway, only to find nothing but the water.

.......

"Gullible."

The carpet suddenly stopped, and much of the group had moved to the corners of the floating carpet, leaving room at the center for a sudden newcomer to just pop up out of nowhere, and grab Aladdin by the back the ponytail, quickly catching his attention. Looking over his shoulder ...

"S-Sombra?!"

Sombra stared Aladdin down for a moment, pulling him upright. Sombra also, for some reason, had a gothic parasol above his head, guessing to seal him from the sun since no other shade was anywhere out in the sea.

"And where're you all going?" Sombra calmly asked.

"Not your issue," Heine said. Sombra kept Aladdin at a grip, Aladdin struggling to get himself out, but suddenly Aladdin was pulled right up to Sombra's face, their eyes locking with eachother. Clearly this demon was after something, and they were starting to worry.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to kill you this time. ... Just a simple question for you to answer for me, and I know you do. ... Where. Is. Team Harmony?"

"W-Who?" Aladdin asked, a bit more confused than scared. Sombra got a little irritable on that answer, his eyes looking to Hoopa. his fingers snapped, and an open palm waited for something.

"Ring, Hoopa," Sombra demanded. Hoopa readied a ring to keep his own safety in tact, but the others weren't going to let him do that so easily, and tried to keep him from giving the ring to him. Sombra snatched it though, regardless, and he wasn't going to fool around.

"Lugia. You better cooperate."

"L-Lugia?"

Then came what almost felt like a blur: the ring was tossed out to the sea, and Aladdin felt himself suddenly being spun in the air, Sombra holding him by his ponytail before throwing him right on through the ring!

"Oh yeah. ... Oh no."

*BAM!*

Before Aladdin could properly process this turn of events, the sound of a crash over nearby made him jump out of his skin. Who knew what it was on this island? He didn't see who, what, or where it came from at first, but he only needed to go inland a little bit to figure that out. Turned out he wasn't alone: Hoopa was on the ground, a bit shaken, and his cuffs actually glowing for a bit, fading away when Aladdin went closer to him.

"Hoopa! you alright?" Aladdin asked. Hoopa didn't reply at first, a bit out of it from his supposed flight, but he did eventually shake himself off ... and grab Aladdin by the throat.

"YOU DUMBASS, NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DID! WE'RE BOTH STUCK HERE NOW!" Hoopa yelled. Aladdin got himself free, shaken but not broken.

"Sorry, sorry. Have you seen the others?"

"Hell if I know, but who cares?! Why didn't you tell that Sombra where that team was?"

"Hoopa I can't rat out on my friends!"

"Why not?! It's them or you!" retorted Hoopa. Aladdin stepped back on the sudden response.

"But I can't!" retorted Aladdin.

"Then Sombra's gonna place you on his mantle!" Hoopa huffed, turning his back to him and crossing his arms. There was a bit of silence at first, but Aladdin did speak again.

"But ... I know, I'll just mislead him! It'll give the others some time to get ready!" Aladdin decided.

"Didn't help you just now," Hoopa coldly spat, shooting down the idea almost immediately. Hoopa turned to face Aladdin again.

"Come on, you dumbass, this isn't some dumb game we're playing, it's a demon king we're talking about!"

"I know but -"

"Aladdin? You know, I was actually starting to tolerate you and your little gang. But if you're gonna be so stupid, I'm not gonna stick around to see the result! I want to live. Even if you don't!" And with that final remark, Hoopa turned and began to float away, leaving Aladdin alone standing on his part of the beach.

~~

From there, it was mainly silent stairs for Hoopa and Aladdin. With nowhere else to really go, Aladdin went on inland to the island to try and get his bearings together. The island he ended up wasn't giving him anything fancy to work with: lots of short grass, a few bushes and large rocks. Wind was also a stronger issue here, since there's nothing to block the wind off the island was hit with a good amount of it. Poor Aladdin didn't have much to work with: no Vessel, no turban, no staff, nothing but his own two feet and what memory he had on him. Well, what was a young Magi to do, without knowing where to even go or how to get off the island? ...

*BOOM*

"What now?"

Hoopa was trying to get comfortable as best he could on the island since he ditched Aladdin, but he still was just as lost as Aladdin was when it came to this island in particular. He tried to get some rest, but the sound of explosions not too far away was just enough to make him stir and wake up. Did Sombra find them after their encounter or what?
Floating a bit, Hoopa eventually found the source of the racket being from Aladdin himself, who was now on the ground after a seemingly decent-sized explosion, judging by the amount of clouds.

"What you doing now, pyro?" Hoopa asked, now above him and staring him down. Aladdin got himself up after a little bit.

"Trying to get stronger," Aladdin replied. guess that would explain the lack of enemy.

"Hold it, that was you?" Hoopa asked, Aladdin getting to his feet. Aladdin looked a little beaten up from whatever exploded, singe marks on him (comically, probably).

"Heine told me I should start learning more offensive spells, but I don't think it's working," Aladdin sighed. Aladdin walked over to the spot where he was standing, and tried again, this time Hoopa watching him from a little closer. To Hoopa's surprise, Aladdin focused and his hands actually began to glow, forming what looked like a silver orb in his hands. This same orb began to look a little unstable, and Hoopa bolted for some rock cover just before it exploded on Aladdin again, launching Aladdin back.

"Why isn't it working?" Aladdin groaned.

"What're you even trying to do? Commit suicide? Because you're getting pretty damn close," Hoopa asked, though he was more curious than sarcastic.

"I'm trying to make a magic beam, but this keeps happening. I don't think I'll ever get this right."

"... You do know that a Gyro Ball you're making, right?" Hoopa asked.

"Gyro Ball?" Aladdin asked. Hoopa, hand to forehead, went right up to the Magi.

"Aladdin, you're not making a beam, you're making a bomb! You got the Gyro Ball perfectly, you just keep forgetting to throw it!" Hoopa made clear. Was that what that was? Hoopa didn't even need to hear Aladdin to know that the magi was a bit new to it.

"Look, do it again, but throw it this time," Hoopa instructed. considering he didn't have much else to do, Aladdin did so, and after some focus, the same silver orb formed in his hands. Instead of keeping it, Aladdin grabbed it and threw it further away. The Gyro Ball floated a bit until it made contact with a nearby rock, and only then did it explode, doing some good damage to the rock itself for impact and explosion. Aladdin was blank-faced on the realization.

"There, see? Though you might wanna work on making that thing a bit stable," Hoopa suggested, though that mainly was because if they do end up fighting something, he didn't want to explode. Aladdin turned to Hoopa, and actually smiled.

"Thanks, Hoopa," Aladdin said. Now Hoopa was a bit confused.

"Eh, for what? I barely did anything."

"You told me what I was doing wrong," Aladdin answered, working another Gyro Ball some more confidence.

"Eh, that's not exactly new between us, you know," Hoopa shrugged, as Aladdin launched the Gyro Ball again. However, this one was going against the strong wind, and actually made a U-Turn at them! Both Magi and Djinn ducked as the Gyro Ball zoomed by, exploding behind them and hitting another rocky outcrop, this time the speed crumbling the rock.

"... Note: do not throw a Gyro Ball against strong winds," Hoopa meekly stated.

"Yeah. Got it," Aladdin replied meekly. both of them got up, lucky to avoid the hit, and looked back to the damage the Gyro Ball had made. They ended up finding the rock blown up in half, one side blasted to pieces, showing just how strong a Gyro Ball could be. There was quite an explosion cloud as well, which took a bit to clear away, but once it cleared, Aladdin and Hoopa were met with another little surprise for this island: a tunnel going into the island itself. That was an interesting thing to see, considering a huge rock was covering it up.

"Eh? A tunnel?" Aladdin wondered, going a little closer to investigate. This wasn't an ordinary tunnel, old, rock stairs going down into it. This was a ruin they were looking at, and Aladdin grew rather intrigued from it. Hoopa actually feeling a little similar.

"... You uh ... want to check it out?" Aladdin asked. Hoopa thought for a bit, and then just shrugged.

"Why not? I got literally nothing else to do," Hoopa replied.

.......

So, with Aladdin taking the lead, both he and Hoopa started to go down into the tunnel, watching what steps they made as the ventured further into their little tunnel. This tunnel hadn't been used for a very long time, extremely quiet, and the air stale from the test of time. As far as light was concerned, it got very limited as they kept going down, darker and darker until they could barely see eachother. It was then that Hoopa flew a bit closer to Aladdin, just to be sure he didn't end up lost or get hit by anything in this cave.

"You hadn't figure out some sort of light spell, did you?" Hoopa asked.

"Eh ... no. I don't think so," Aladdin replied, though he wished he did at this point. Who really knew where this actually went to.

"Well, at least this is a straight line, we won't get lost in - WHOA!"

"Aladdin!" all of a sudden, Aladdin lost his footing when his foot met air, and the Magi found a drop off on about ten feet downward. Aladdin was alright, though a little bit sore from the fall, Hoopa bolting down to him from the drop-off. Aladdin found the bottom of this tunnel was less rock and more sand, so he had that going for him at least, Aladdin shaking off the drop and both Djinn and Magi looking around. They weren't sure at first if the tunnel continued or not, but soon they both actually started to notice a dimly lit light further down their little tunnel. Well, onward and forward. After getting up, Aladdin and Hoopa followed the light down the tunnel a ways, the light itself a shade of blue rather than natural light.
They sure got a bit of a surprise when Hoopa and Aladdin got to the source of this light. A large, open cavern, varying lights from what appeared to be crystals scattered around. Water from the sea washed in from a few tunnels, keeping this part of the cave moist and cool with mist coming in and out from the waves outside. As for the 'ruin' aspect of it, they took note of a few platforms over at the center of the area, looking like a meditation platform.

"No. Way."

"What?" Aladdin looked to Hoopa, looking completely speechless (first time), and Hoopa turned Aladdin's head to focus on where he was looking. Aladdin soon ended up completely speechless in his own way, eyes wide in awe at what, or who, he was seeing.
The figure was hidden off just past the platform, over by the edge of the cooling mist coming in. By the looks of it, he was actually cleaning his long silver hair in the water, not saying a word, and letting his hair soak up the mist like it was water running in a shower. Once he was done, he stood up, tossing his hair back and letting it flow down his shoulders. Then he turned around, noticing Hoopa and Aladdin standing just by the entrance. He looked a little surprised and off guard seeing them.

"...Oh my. ... Y-You're ... y-you're ..." Aladdin couldn't even say it, he was so amazed. The figure just sighed.

"... I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. Hello, Aladdin. Hoopa," the figure said, calm and collected.

"... Lugia. ..."

In the flesh. Lugia took a minute before fully turning to them, the two deities humbled at Lugia's mere presence in absolute amazement, Aladdin more so than Hoopa. Their eyes sparkled on seeing this long-lost figure.

"I-It's really you! The Lugia of the Overworld! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Aladdin beamed. Hoopa quickly got them both to bow down in his presence, just in case so they wouldn't get into trouble for lack of respect, but Lugia wasn't in the mood for formality here.

"... I guess Team Harmony's looking for me after all. How did you and your friends find me?" Lugia asked. Aladdin, still kneeling, looking up to Lugia. He needn't lie to the ruler.

"W-Well, they didn't: I woke up on the island with Hoopa and ... kinda found the cave," Aladdin admitted. He felt so excited to finally see such a legend in front of him, no way was he going to lie to him about what happened. Lugia thought it over for a minute, and went over to the platform.

"Are they with you?"

"Uh ... No. ... But wait, h-how'd you know about my friends?" Aladdin asked. Lugia sat down calmly, as Hoopa and Aladdin got up to face him.

"I've met with them some time ago, few times in fact. I'm grateful to see you're alright in your mission to find your Djinn, Aladdin. not to mention your involvements afterwards," Lugia said. Aladdin blushed up actually, shocked that Lugia even knew about that, and Aladdin had never met him before up to now.

"He knew about that?! He really is as wise as everyone said," Aladdin thought, simply amazed. Lugia then turned to Hoopa, and noticed that he had his cuffs on him.

"I see how you kept Hoopa with you, Aladdin. ... Mind if I see them?" Lugia asked.

"Uh, ok," Hoopa replied, showing Lugia the cuffs he had that kept him bind down. Hoopa wondered what Lugia was going to do with him, considering he was basically a prisoner to the group when all was said and done. All Lugia did was tap the cuffs, and in that simple motion, the cuffs broke open!

"W-What?"

"Hoopa. I do want you to be a bit more careful with your power. You're stronger than you think. Can you promise me you'll be careful?" Lugia asked. Hoopa didn't know what to say at first. Here was an Overworld legendary deity, actually deciding to release him from his cuffs.

"You're letting me go?"

Lugia simply nodded. Hoopa even felt a tear come down his face, but this one was of joy that rushed through him. He floated back over to Aladdin, and they both were just amazed. Yeah, there was no other word to describe it.

"Oh my god, this is incredible, we all thought you were dead! Oh, just wait until the others hear about this!" Aladdin beamed, lost for a moment in the concept itself. That was when Lugia actually got in their way before they could go out.

"NO!" Lugia said urgently.

"... Wait. No?" Hoopa questioned.

"... Just. Just don't. It's probably better that the Overworld doesn't know where I am," Lugia stated. Now Aladdin and Hoopa were confused again, Lugia simply walking back over to the platform, and sitting down.

"What?! But why?"

"Now, it's not a problem you should be worried over. You should probably try to find your friends first," Lugia suggested. Aladdin and Hoopa looked to eachother for a minute or two. However, in the end, they both had to agree.

"W-Well ... ok, I guess. Come on, Aladdin, let's go," Hoopa suggested, still very confused. Hoopa went on through the tunnel, but Aladdin wasn't ready to go just yet. An idea came into his head that could change the odds into their favor with the biggest problem going on at the moment.

"But Lugia, the demons, they're -"

"I know they are. I can't do anything about that. ... I'm sorry ..."

"You can't? You are Lugia, aren't you?"

Lugia didn't answer, and left it at that. The little Magi didn't know how to react to this, but he could also tell that if Lugia couldn't do anything about it, then this problem was far bigger than he thought. Aladdin felt really reluctant, but he did eventually began to turn and go.

"Well, thank you anyway ..."

~~

"Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, I can't believe it! Lugia's not just some legend, he's actually alive! And we're the first people to actually find him in person after who knows how long, they're gonna freak!"

As Hoopa was going on about it, Aladdin was a bit more concerned with the fact that Lugia refused to return, even after being found. The two were back outside again, not too far from the tunnel. Hoopa was still lost in himself over the very idea to see the exact problem.

"Why would Lugia not want to go back home?" Aladdin wondered aloud, trying to think of a possible answer.

"Who knows, don't worry about it: once we tell the gang about it, Lugia'll come around."

"You really think so?" Aladdin asked.

"Sure! That, and who knows how much praise we'll get when we get the news back to the overworld rulers?" Hoopa wondered. Aladdin could see what intentions Hoopa had with this information, and sat up.

"You're not planning on running off and causing more trouble because of that, are you?"

"What, no way, weren't you listening in there! Lugia wanted me to be more careful, and that's what I'm doing. Least I can do to get out of those damn cuffs," Hoopa said, showing his free arms of the cuffs in question. A thought suddenly struck Aladdin on that fact.

"Wait. Oh no, Heine's gonna kill me when he finds this out!"

"Oh, who cares?" Hoopa shrugged, but Aladdin wasn't sure if Heine would believe him or not. Sure, Lugia was a big deal, but he was also missing for god knows how many years, the odds of Heine buying it are pretty low.

"Hoopa, can't you think about something besides yourself for a minute?"

"Hey, I've been stuck being prisoner for weeks already. Besides, I'm not going anywhere, I don't know where we are!" Hoopa replied. Aladdin then thought of something.

"Wait ... how'd you find me anyway?"

"Those cuffs have a sort of aura sensory on them. If I go over a mile away, those cuffs pull me straight back to whoever put them on me, and since you were teleported away by Sombra, they yanked me right to here ... wherever here is," Hoopa explained. Aladdin thought it over for a moment, and then realized something else.

"Just a mile away ... then that means -"

"ALADDIN! HOOPA!"

Well, talk about luck (good or bad, it really depends). Both Djinn and Magi looked upward, and sure enough their guess was right. Up above them, flying Aladdin's turban still, the rest of the gang was up above their heads. Heine, Gaara, Grell and Morgiana, all looked down to the duo on the island, and they were more than quick to land down onto ground to see them. Well, looking at them all, it was clear that Sombra didn't hurt anyone else, so it was glad to see that anyway. Once they landed, Morgiana went off first, and rushed right over to Aladdin, giving him a vice-grip of a hug. Her way of showing how happy she was to see him alive, though the strength factor didn't help Aladdin much of any.

"You're alright. I was worried," Morgiana said. Gaara got her to let Aladdin go, the kid dropping to the ground.

"Same. You all ok? What happened?"

"A bit peculiar, but Sombra soon left us after he threw you through the ring. Hoopa's cuffs began to pull him out of sight, and as such we followed him here. Speaking of." then confirmed Aladdin's worries, as Heine was quick to notice the cuffs actually missing on Hoopa's arms.

"What happened to his cuffs?"

"Er, well uh -"

"GUYS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!" Hoopa suddenly said, in between Aladdin and Heine. It was enough to make Heine jump back seeing Hoopa so excited.

"We can see your cuffs are off, Hoopa," Gaara said.

"No not that! Well, ok, that's sweet, but guys ... Oh, you wanna say it or me?" Hoopa asked, turning to Aladdin. Aladdin had only that to work with for an answer to the cuffs, so he might as well go on with it.

"Ok, ready? ... WE FOUND LUGIA."

... There was a long silence. ...

"Who's Lugia?" Gaara asked. Morgiana shrugged, but Grell and Heine were a bit more in the know on that one.

"Who's Lugia?! The legend of legends of Overworld, that's who! And get this, he's right inside that tunnel!" Hoopa added in, pointing directly down the tunnel they've traveled through. Heine paused and went over to his student, feeling his head.

"You don't seem feverish. No bumps either."

Not very amusing.

"Sir, I mean it, we just saw him inside that tunnel, we swear!" Aladdin insisted.

"Aladdin. Lugia has been missing for hundreds of years. If you did decide to just remove the cuffs from Hoopa, just say so."

"That wasn't him, Lugia got them off me! Aladdin doesn't have the spunk to get em off me."

"Yeah! ... Hey!" Aladdin said. Hoopa knew he was right though. As they continued talking though, Morgiana took a look down the same tunnel Aladdin was talking about, and she stayed quiet to focus down it. Gaara actually did the same thing, but it was Morgiana who had the higher advantage here. Even so, they reached a similar conclusion.
Soon though, Morgiana took lead, and went right on inside, Gaara following behind.

"Hey, where're you going?!" Grell called.

"Wait up!" Aladdin added, running after them. Guess they got the memo before they could reach it, and Hoopa joined Aladdin in going after them.

Well, it was back to the cave again.

Just ahead of them, Morgiana lead the party down through the tunnel. Unlike before, this one took a bit less time to navigate through, and it honestly took them little time to even reach the same cave from earlier. With one particular difference ...

.......

"Wait. Where is he? Lugia, where're you?!"

Gone. It was just minutes, and Lugia had disappeared from the cave. Not a soul in there. With only one exit out of the tunnel, how the hell did that even happen? They all looked around for some sign of Lugia, but there was literally nothing there, as if it hadn't been touched for as long as those ruins remained there. The others caught up with them, and while the ruins were interesting, they weren't convinced.

"Where's Lugia?"

"But he was here. how'd he even get out, there was just one exit out of here," Hoopa wondered, trying to find some sort of clue to how Lugia would've gotten out. Heine was ready to confront them, but then he felt something touch against his foot: the same cuffs Hoopa had on. They still remained unlocked and open from the interaction earlier, and Heine picked one up to examine it closer.

"Interesting ..."

"Over here," Morgiana stated, now standing on the platform. Morgiana's senses were telling her things weren't as they seemed. She looked right down to the platform, raised her fists, and slammed them both down right onto the platform! Not even the Fanalis strength could break this platform, but it did actually give a clean split right down the middle, as if it was already there. Morgiana got her hands in between, and managed to pull apart the heavy platforms with only slight strain on her part.

"... Well, that's one way of doing it," Hoopa commented. Heine went on over to the extra passage to see what it was about, but the path was completely submerged in seawater after about a foot inside. Well so much for a simple pass to find Lugia.

"Well, it's clear that whoever was in here doesn't want anyone to follow," Heine noted.

"Lugia ..." Aladdin thought. This was the only other way out of this chamber, and now it got blocked out of their way.

"Let's be off then. It won't be for too long until we reach Japan, and then everyone can join together again," Heine instructed. Aladdin and Hoopa looked down into the water for a moment, both reaching the same conclusion that Lugia had to of used this passage to get out. Both Djinn and Magi glanced to eachother for a moment or two, Morgiana staying by their side and looking into it as well. Aladdin and Hoopa couldn't see much past it, but Morgiana closed her eyes and got to her knees. ...

"Damnit! Now what do we do?" Hoopa groaned. His chance to be on better terms with Overworld were now dashed. However, Morgiana and her Fanalis senses were telling her otherwise, and it wasn't her sense of smell talking to her this time.

And she dove right into it!

"Morgiana, wait!" called Heine. But Morgiana didn't stop her swimming. Aladdin wanted them to see Lugia, and Morgiana was going to make that happen.
The extra tunnel was a bit more manmade than the tunnel getting here, and surprisingly a bit short, only going through about a minute or so before Morgiana saw the end of it. Morgiana took her breath once she breached the surface, and found that this lead to a opening right on the edge of the island coast, opening out to the sea, and the seawater washing into the tunnel from the waves. The cave itself was simply a evidential sea cave, and nothing side from the tunnel she swam through appeared to be mad made, with land being convenient in the cave by a small path alongside.
And there was Lugia. Standing with his face to the sea, a little wet from the swim still, and Morgiana sensed that this man was more than what he appeared to be. Lugia didn't notice Morgiana just yet, a bit too distracted with his own thoughts on the matter.

"They've actually found me. And so soon too ... Now what am I supposed to do?" Lugia wondered, still thinking no one else was there to hear him. At least, no one at the tunnel ...

"There you are."

Lugia felt a shiver run through him, and after a short minute, someone else walked out from outside of the cave, and out into sight of Lugia. This was the very thing he didn't want to happen.

Sombra had found him.

Morgiana kept very quiet, almost completely submerged in the water with only the top of her head above water to breathe. Sombra and Lugia stood facing eachother for a minute or so, eye to eye with one another.

"Sombra. It has been a while. ... I notice your plan has become active over the last year," Lugia noted.

"It has, yes. And I notice your "Team Harmony" throwing my kind for a hellish loop," Sombra remarked. Lugia was well aware of that with a nod of his head as Sombra moved a bit closer to him.

"I was starting to wonder if you've moved on, Lugia. Glad to see you're still with us," Sombra noted, but Lugia wasn't exactly happy to hear that.

"If you could find a way around it, you would've killed me by now."

"You make a decent point. Speaking of which, we both know you're just prolonging the inevitable this way. ... Though, interesting that you've been giving your vision to that Nagisa Shiota of yours."

"What would you expect when I have to keep isolated like this? It's all I can do ... or could do."

"Right. So there's no point in hiding anymore, is there? That, and the humans are very much aware of us by now, but you already knew that, I bet," Sombra concluded. The images of Hellgar, Pluton, and the involvement with Elysium, Lugia had to agree.

"Right. Sombra, you're not still considering that, are you? ... I'm beginning to worry about you."

"Lugia, my demons had been getting killed left and right by the Angels of your fleets, not to mention the humans as well. I'm too deep in to turn around now. Besides, things are looking up for me here."

"Have they now?"

"I'm afraid their Sebastian has killed himself ... As bothering as that is," sombra revealed, pausing to reflect on that particular incident in his head. Lugia felt humbled on that answer too.

"... I guess the price of Ciel's soul was too much for him, huh?"

"I suppose. And here I thought I could find another loophole in that rule this time. I was liking Sebastian."

"There's unforeseeable consequences to some of these rules you simply can't avoid, Sombra," Lugia made clear, which was only frustrating the demon lord.

"Tell me something I don't know," Sombra groaned.

"... Well, it's a little late to ask you to stop, I suppose. But don't take this as us giving up in the other worlds."

"I'm well aware of that, Team Harmony ultimately proved it. Though, this does mean you're going to have to come back out of hiding, Lugia."

"Don't think that it'll come to fruition, Sombra. Team Harmony had proved that the future isn't as concrete as you might think," Lugia cleared up. Sombra pondered for a moment or two, but the shadows around Lugia began to shift and move a little bit.

"Maybe. ... But we both know what's going to happen, now that I found you."

"... Yes. ... I know ..."

*BAM*

Out of nowhere, Morgiana jumped into action, and got right in between Lugia and Sombra, both deities caught off guard by her sudden jump in. Her force was enough to crush the ground, and nearly make the cave crumble from her strength alone. Sombra almost tumbled into the sea before regaining his feet and looked in surprise to see Morgiana standing in the way.

"What in the world?" Sombra asked.

"You nearly killed Aladdin," Morgiana stated coldly, obviously not happy to see him, nor seeing him ready to get at Lugia.

"Damnit. Sure, they saw me, but ... but how did she get here? If she's here, then -"

*GASP*

Then entered the others coming in, or at least one of them, as Aladdin breached the surface, Hoopa jumping out as well, quickly getting dry and seeing what was going on. Lugia was a bit surprised as well with this reveal, and Sombra couldn't get at anything now that they were here. And no way was Morgiana willing to listen to him anytime soon. After some short thinking, Sombra felt a stab at his own plan.

"One detail, just one detail. Damnit! We'll finish this later." And with that remark, a frustrated Sombra went off and jumped over out of the cave, turning into shadows before going down into the water. Morgiana rushed to try and get him, but by the time she got to the edge of the cave, she was only met with the shore of the sea, and the waves of the water. Sombra had gotten away from them, but at least Lugia was alright. Aladdin and Hoopa went over to Lugia, Morgiana as well, and before Lugia could even calm down, Grell, Gaara, and Heine breached the surface of the tunnel.

"I do wish you wouldn't keep running off like -" Heine was cut off the second he saw the unmistakable Lugia standing there, a little shaken, but alright all the same.

"There, see?! We told you!" Hoopa insisted, reminding them why they were back in the tunnel in the first place. The whole group now found Lugia, for better or worse. Lugia straightened up and tried to calm from what he thought was the end, Heine's irises shrunken and eyes wide in absolute shock.

"Oh, well who's this then?" Gaara questioned, not recognizing him at first. Heine though was down on his knees, and forced Grell and Gaara to do the same by grabbing them both and pulling them down.

"Hey!" Gaara snapped.

"Don't you realize who you're talking to?" Heine questioned, a bit firmer than usual. Lugia knew well, especially with Heine now there, that there was no hiding anymore.

"... Hello everyone," Lugia sighed.

"My lord. Lugia. I ... words can't express how wonderful this is to see you," Heine said humbly. The feeling was a bit mutual though, but Heine didn't realize that just yet.

"And you thought we were making it up," Hoopa said, nudging Heine a bit in a "told-you-so" manner. Gaara though could see that Lugia was indifferent about it, and got up to his feet.

"Looks like someone had a different idea in mind," Gaara noted, and Lugia just nodded to confirm it, which confused a good amount of them.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you again. ... But I have to ask, how did you even find me? Aladdin and Hoopa told me his ring had something to do with it?" Lugia asked, wanting that cleared up.

"Hoopa's cuffs activated and pulled him to Aladdin. All we had to do was follow the same direction. It's such a great honor to see you after so many years, my lord," Heine explained. Lugia sighed, and looked over what kind of group they had found him. A Djinn, Magi, Angel, two Fanalis, and a Reaper. Quite a mixed bag, surely.

"My lord. I'm sorry to pry, but the Overworld needs your help more than ever now. The demons had been -"

"Yes. The Underworld beings had been coming out and fighting against the surface world, I'm well aware of that. ... Especially with Pluton's involvement back in central." Heine wasn't gonna question how Lugia knew that incident in particular.

"Right. We need you back, Lugia," Heine stated, calmer now. This time though, Lugia turned away and just looked out to the sea.

"... No."

"Excuse me?"

"Look. Heine. You've got a whole lot of help from the Overworld, and the surface world as is. you even have some Underworld aid right now ... It'll only make things worse if I do enter into the field myself." Similar to earlier, a pause hung in the air, but this one didn't last too long.

"How so?" Heine asked. Lugia wasn't sure if going into detail was a good idea or not, but Morgiana actually whispered the full situation to Aladdin, seeing what had happened herself in full. Aladdin's eyes widened on the detail she had gotten, and Gaara just managed to overhear them.

"Sombra?" Aladdin quietly gasped. Morgiana nodded, and Lugia just sighed.

"Let's just leave it at that, Heine. ... I'm sorry."

.......

"Who's controlling you?"

The group looked over to Gaara, who at this point walked right up to Lugia. This situation was by far too familiar to him, and even if it was just a few days, Gaara wasn't going to see this play out again.

"Well, no one exactly."

"Don't lie to me; I've literally gone through this days before ending up here. If there's anyone that can get this demon away from you, it would be them," Gaara made clear, referring to the group themselves. Them getting rid of Shukaku was more than enough proof for him, but Lugia had a different view in mind.

"It's not the same. You isolated yourself to save those from a being far stronger than you are. ..."

"Well then what's the problem? You saying you're strong enough to beat whatever's bugging you," Grell pointed out. Lugia took a look down to his hand. Lugia stayed quiet for a bit, but he just closed his hand and looked to the sea again.

"... Too strong. ..."

"What was that?" Gaara's question was met with silence, and before anyone could stop him, Lugia followed where sombra had left, and jumped right into the water! This time the others got to the water's edge, and Morgiana even jumped into the water, but as quickly as Sombra did, Lugia was already gone. Morgiana got herself out, the others a bit unsure what was going on with Lugia. Many of whatever detail they got were pretty vague after all.

"Ok, so we can do one of two things: go off after Lugia, or go off after Japan. Flip of the coin here, which one is it?" Hoopa asked, waiting for some sort of answer. Heine thought it over pretty hard, and he went on out to the open ocean.

"... How many of you want to go back to Tokyo?" Heine asked.

Bassie's waiting for me, of course I do!" Grell insisted. Morgiana felt a little uneasy with that answer though, considering what she just heard from Sombra.

"I'll go wherever Aladdin goes," Morgiana said. Gaara felt similarly to getting back to Japan, and nodded his head. Aladdin though felt a little bit torn between the options.

"Well, Tokyo, but what're you thinking of sir?"

"In that case. Hoopa, you care to give everyone a quicker ride home."

"What, no way, I can't carry all of them!" Hoopa retorted.

"I meant with your rings," Heine corrected.

"Oh ... Mkay," and taking out one of the rings, he began to get ready as Heine started to explain.

"All of you, go back with Hoopa to Tokyo. I'm going after Lugia."

"Wait, by yourself?" Aladdin asked.

"I'll be alright. Go back to Tokyo and try to get Hoopa to the Overworld for me. If they ask, tell them that Heine's on a very important task. Think you can do that for me?" Heine placed a hand on Aladdin's shoulder after explaining that. Getting back was important, but if they could get Lugia on the level, even better.

"... Yes sir," Aladdin said.

.......

"Oh wait, before we go, there's something I gotta get!" Hoopa realized. Tossing another ring to the ceiling, Hoopa bolted up, and came back with the other items they came in with: turban, staff, vessel and all.

"Since when were you compassionate?" Grell questioned.

"Hey, Lugia asked me to stop acting so cheeky, and I don't want to get into cuffs again," Hoopa said, tossing the items to Aladdin. Well, it's not a good reason, but it's a reason. Hoopa then got the same ring and got it a lot bigger, enough to make it a sort of gateway for them all to go through. Well, all there was left to do was do just that, and the group began to head on through the portal Hoopa had created. Aladdin paused and looked back one more time before he too went through as well, and soon, Heine was by himself.

"... Good luck."