Flash Sentry The Spectacular Spider-Man Issue #3: Welcome to Tokyo (REMASTERED)

"What? Why are we taking a Bus?!" Firestar was the most baffled she'd ever been in her whole life. For the first time this summer, she had to use public transportation.

"Because Firestar" said Spark, "I'm not driving a car in one of the most populated areas of the world."

Firstar's arched her eyebrow, "Soooo, taking a bus is a better solution?"

Spark let out a sigh, "Were not taking a bus the whole time. Were gonna get off at a downtown bus stop and walk the rest of the trip. It'll be a good way for all of us to bond and it'll be a great way for us to explore the city with Flash over here."

Thunderstar put her hand on Firestar's shoulder, "I know it's not exactly the most convenient means of travel, but Flash hasn't been here for at least a decade now. So could you at least bear with us here." She looked back at Flash who looked a little confused. She giggled and got up, "Don't mind her. She's just bored of the city, y'know with the whole 'I've been living here my whole life' kinda thing."

Flash slowly nodded, "Rrright."

The bus pulled up next to the bus stop and all five got on. Finding some seats, they sat down.

"So uh, hey you guys ever consider coming to Canterlot? I mean it's been a while."

Both Spark and Thunderstar simply shrugged.

"Yeah I'd be down." said Thunderstar, "It's been a while since I've annoyed sis. I'm sure she and I could get into a war or two."

Spark chuckled and shook her head, "All jokes aside, We'd love to go and visit Sabrina. But see we've been so congested with work and raising two kids, we haven't exactly found time to plan a trip."

Flash stroked his chin, "If you were in a hypothetical situation in which you could plan a trip. When would you do it?"

Both responded with the same answer.

"Christmas"

"Christmas"

Flash arched his eyebrow, "Really?"

Thunderstar nodded, "Yeah. I mean if anytime was more perfect than ever it would be Christmas. I haven't spent a Christmas with Sabrina in four years. I know we clash heads but I wouldn't mind spending Christmas with her again, and again, and again."

Flash smiled, "I'm sure that mean a lot to her."

The Bus began to drive, heading towards the big city of Tokyo.

They got off the bus. They got off on one of the great structures of Tokyo. Tokyo Tower. Flash's eyes lit up His jaw dropped, marveling at the huge structure he was standing right in front of.

"Wow! It looks a lot bigger than I remember!" Flash wore a neck strap that held his Camera. Looking straight up and snapping a picture.

Firestar arched an eyebrow and smirked, "You gonna do that the whole trip?"

Flash nodded, "Yeah. Why?"

"No reason. Just curious."

Thunderstar squealed in excitement. "Oh! We just have to get a picture!" She searched the area, looking for someone who could possibly help them out.

Unknown to them, the help found them. "私はそれを手伝えそうです。(I think I can help out with that.)"

All four, startled, turned around to hear a very monotone and nonchalant voice. He wore a black trench coat with gold stripes, a black straight brim hat and black boots. He'd appear completely out of nowhere, but the most eerie part about him was the smirk across his face. It had a very 'peculiar' look to it.

"つまり、あなたが私の助けが必要なら。(That is, if you need my help.)"

Flash had no clue to what he was saying as he did not speak an ounce of Japanese. Meanwhile, Thunderstar, Spark, Firestar and Snowstorm basically understood him crystal clear.

Thunderstar, though a bit startled by the man. Took up the offer anyway, "ああ!はい、はい!お願いですか。(Oh! Yes, Yes! Would you please.)"

The man nodded. Thunderstar turned around and looked Flash, "Flash, He's agreed to take our picture. Could you give him you're camera."

Flash, for some reason felt like something was off about him. Maybe it was just him being on edge about the whole Spider-Man thing but, he felt oddly unsecure. But he looked past that. He walked up to the man, he could see the man's eyes were hidden by the shadow of his hat. But what he could make out was some light, pale orange skin.

Meanwhile, Spark found herself vigilant. Almost like Flash just she didn't seem to hesitate to show her suspicious look of him.

Flash hesitantly handed him the camera and pointed at what button to press. Not saying a word. He walked back to the family and they all posed for the picture.

The Man chuckled behind the camera, he pressed the shutter button a total of three times before walking back to Flash, and handing it to him.

They all took a look at the pictures. Flash looked genuinely impressed by them and so did everyone else. Well everyone except Spark.

Thunderstar looked up and was about to say thank you. But to her surprise, he was gone. "Wait? Where'd he go?"

In-turn, everyone looked up to see he'd completely vanished without them noticing. They looked around. Even Flash couldn't see him. It got him a bit suspicious. "Okay either we just encountered a ghost or he just broke every law in physics and just vanished out of thin air."

It was at that moment, Thunderstar noticed how bothered Spark looked. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Spark crossed her arms and looked away, "Nothing, I-I just had a bad feeling about that guy."

"Why? He seemed nice didn't he?"

She let out a sigh, "I, I don't know he just the way he looked made me feel uncomfortable." She looked back at Thunderstar, "It's nothing, let's just go." She gave her a reassuring smile as if it were nothing to worry about and capped it off with a kiss.

Firestar quickly expressed her disgust, "Eugh! Get a room why don't you."

Both Thunderstar and Spark gave Firestar smug smiles. Then, they mockingly held hands and walked towards the line to enter.

Flash chuckled, patting Firestar on the back, "You know, kissing doesn't necessarily mean they should get a room." He knelt down and picked up Snowstorm.

"Still looks gross." Firestar pouted.

"Alright, if you say so." Both Flash and Firestar walked, "But when you start dating and look back at this memory. You are going to cringe. A lot!"

Firestar smirked and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, till that day comes."

They both got in line, right behind Thunderstar and Spark. Even though that whole strange occurrence was over, Flash couldn't help but look back and search the whole area to see if he could spot the guy that'd just take his picture.

Nothing. He couldn't seem to find him among the thousands walking by. He turned his head back forward finally giving up. But the fact was, the stranger was still there.

Even though he was out of their sight, they weren't out of his sight. He stared at the whole family from a distance. He specifically looked at Spark. His smirk grew even more, "She seems to be doing well." He reached into his coat and grabbed a very familiar scarf and put it around his mouth.

He then slipped away into the crowd.

The group made it to the top floor of Tokyo, "Alright! Here we are." said Thunderstar. Turning around she looked at Flash, "So, what do you think?"

Flash was marvelling at everything. Taking one picture after another, "Oh man. This place looks even better than I remember. Did they do renovation work? How tall even is this tower? Isn't there a--"

"Okay Spaz." Spark Chuckled, "Instead of asking questions, why don't you just enjoy the experience."

Flash continued to take more pictures of the Tower, from it's glass walls, to the people around. He then stopped taking pictures for a moment and reminisced about the last time he was here. "Man. Now that I think about it. I'm pretty sure Mom was downright scared of the glass floor."

Thunderstar tapped Flash's shoulder. "Flash, would you mind taking our picture?" She held her phone out.

Flash nodded, "Sure." letting go of his camera, he grabbed the phone and waited until everyone positioned themselves. "Alright, Smile!" Flash tapped the shutter button a few times. Which to his surprise responded quickly.

He handed the phone back to Thunderstar. He then remembered something. Before he had left for the trip, Mr. Cranky Doodle had given him yen that was equivalent to $500. He'd told him that he could go nuts and get whatever he wanted, as long as he brought something back for them. Flash had tried to refuse but to no avail.

"Uh...Hey. Umm, If I'm not mistaken there's a Gift Shop here? Right?"

Thunderstar nodded, "Yeah, Tokio 333, why?"

Flash chuckled, "Well see, my Mom's boyfriend kind of forcefully gave me uhh….55,000 yen or something. Well whatever $500 is the USA value--Anyway. I thought, 'Well I'm here I might as well just dump it all into gifts'."

"That's where I'm going to have to stop you." said Aunt Thunderstar, "Your our Guest. And Guests don't pay for anything."

Flash chuckled, "Oh, No it's fine Aunt Thunderstar. I got myself covered."

"Flash. I insist, you don't need to drop a cent."

"But--"

"I, Insist."

Spark shook her head. "Flash. You wont win. Trust me."

Flash sighed, "Okay Aunt Thunderstar, you win."

After taking a few more pictures, they finally made their way to "Tokio 333". The gift shop inside Tokyo Tower. They walked inside.

Thunderstar kept her eye on Flash, making sure he dare didn't pull out his wallet. Flash found it to be a bit unreasonable, he didn't want to make Aunt Thunderstar pay for anything. But there was another problem. If his mother found out about this he'd probably be beheaded.

He was basically in two problems. And didn't know how to get out of them.

"Okay, here we are. Tokio 333!" said Spark, "We've honestly haven't been here in a while."

Flash looked at all the stuff inside. His eyes lit, there was something about giftshops he found appealing. He saw a lot of things ranging from shirts, to keychains, to plushies and even some food. There was a whole lot of stuff.

"So uh let's just walk around and find something that you'd think interest your friends and uh...I'll take care of it."

Flash turned around, "Auntie, are you absolutely sure that you're fine with paying for me. I mean, my Mom kinda has me covered."

Aunt Thunderstar nodded, "Sorry Flash, there's no way I'm gonna let you drop a dime here."

Flash let out a sigh. Turning around and shaking his head he and his relatives began to walk towards some of the many items. The first thing that caught his eye was a pack of Pocky. It was a snack he was very familiar with, but the pack that he saw was a one that he wasn't familiar with.

"Grape Pocky?" He reached for the pack and gave it a look and arched his eyebrow, "Well that's a new one."

"They don't sell those in Canterlot?" asked Spark.

"No."

"Well I think you should grab a box, they are kinda good."

Flash shrugged. Taking the box, they moved on and looked for more things. Walking around a bit more, "Well, I gotta get some stuff for my Mom, Her Boyfriend and a few more things for my friends."

Thunderstar looked around for something that she could gift her sister. The last time either of which had given each other gifts were a few Christmases ago. Than her eyes stopped, the locked onto a box with a familiar branding logo on it's lid. She smiled, "I know exactly what to get your mother?"

Flash arched an eyebrow, "What?"

She picked up the box, removing the lid, it revealed nine Onigri Sushi plushies. Thunderstar found herself cracking up a little but she kept her composure, "These!"

Flash's shoulders dropped again, "Sushi...Plushes?"

Thunderstar nodded her head. Handing Flash the box, giggling a little, "Yup!"

"Why?"

"Well...….let's just say between the both of us I'm the dorkier one. And I have a track record of getting her dorky gifts and I end up getting confused reactions out of her. And well....you know it's been a while so I'd just like to see what her reaction would be after all this time."

Flash put his finger up for a moment and opened his mouth. Then, realizing that he didn't even know what to say to that he just closed his mouth and slowly lowered his hand.

Spark arched an eyebrow, "Man what is it with your side of the family being so dorky?"

Flash and Thunderstar both turned around and spoke simultaneously. "It's a hereditary thing."

Spark blinked twice and both her eyebrows arched, "Well figures." she let out a sigh, "Anyway, where do you wanna go for Lunch? Do wanna go here? or..... what's the deal?"

As they walked on to find another item, Thunderstar stroked her chin. "Well.....hmm I don't know, I had a picnic spot in mind but I didn't actually make anything." She looked at Snowstorm and Firestar. "What you two want to eat?"

Firestar shrugged, she looked at Snowstorm, "Hey, what do you want to eat?"

Snowstorm answered almost quickly, not even giving it a second thought, "McDonalds!"

Firestar looked back up at Thunderstar, "Well I guess were having McDonalds."

Thunderstar smiled, kneeling down to pick up Snowstorm. "Okay, why not." She looked over at Flash, "Flash are you down?"

"Y-Yeah sure." said Flash, "So uh, hey is there like a shopping cart or something?"

Spark rolled her eyes and lend out her hand, "Here why don't you give me the dork present."

……….