Enjoy ~Az

Mumbo and the rest of the newsies arrived at the gate to the Hermiton the next morning. Iskall immediately ran off to join the crowd of newsies and Mumbo decided it wasn't worth the hassle to try and go after him.
"Is it true?" Asked Hels, "Did you really recruit Etho Slab?" Mumbo nodded. Hels cheered before turning to his brother, "I told you the rumors were true."
"I seem to recall that I was the one who believed and you told me I was wrong," replied Wels.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Mumbo chuckled at the two's bickering. He made his way over to where Bdubs and Xisuma were standing.
"So, what do we do now that we have Shady E's?" Bdubs asked.
"Rally everyone," suggested Xisuma, "Or at least something that would work for a good story to try and bring awareness."
"Like a speech?" Mumbo asked.
"That would work," replied Xisuma.
Bdubs turned to Mumbo, "So, do you have any idea of what you could make a speech about?"
"Wait- why me?!" Exclaimed Mumbo.
"Because out of the two of us I'd say you're better with words."
"Uh- I... just give me a second to think." Mumbo quickly started to put together something he could say, something that would excite the newsies. After a couple minutes of silence he turned to Bdubs and Xisuma, "I think I've got it."
"Great!" Exclaimed Bdubs. Mumbo took a deep breath and walked up to the front of the mass of newsies, clearing his throat to get their attention.
"Now is the time to seize the day, stare down the odds and seize the day. Minute by minute, that's how you win it. We will find a way, but let us seize the day." Mumbo paused, Scar had arrived and grinned at Mumbo, giving him a small gesture, telling him to continue.
"Courage cannot erase our fear, courage is when we face our fear. Tell those with power, safe in their tower, we will not obey." Bdubs walked up to Mumbo and stood next to him, grinning.
"Behold the brave battalion that stands side by side," they said together, "Too few in number and too proud to hide. Then say to the others who did not follow through, 'you're still our brothers, and we will fight for you'." Mumbo heard the circulation bell ring but none of the newsies listened to it.
"Once we've begun," was surprised at Ren and Scar joining in, "If we stand as one, someday becomes somehow, and a prayer becomes a vow." Bdubs climbed up on a box of newspapers.
"And the strike starts right dang now!" He shouted. The circulation bell rang again, this time it was more insistent. Tango pushed open the window, and stuck his head out.
"What's the hold up?" He shouted, False's head appeared behind his.
"Come on newsies, step right up and get your papes." A couple of newsies Mumbo didn't know walked up to the window.
"What do they think they're doing?!" Exclaimed Zedaph.
"They're just a bunch of scabs," said Hels, "Let's soak 'em!"
"Yeah!" Shouted a voice, Mumbo didn't know which newsies had shouted in agreement.
"Wait" Mumbo shouted standing between the newsies and the scabs, "we need to stick together, otherwise we'll never have a chance!"
"Listen to Mumbo fellas, he's got a point," Bdubs chimed in. Then he turned around and walked up to the scabs, "Look, I know you're probably getting paid extra to do this but... it isn't right. Have you seen what Void has been doing? He thinks we're rats! That we don't have respect for anything! And if we stab each other in the back then he;s right! But if we unite together then it all changes. This isn't just about us, it's about every working child in Aque Town. All the kids in the sweatshops, factories, and slaughterhouses, we beg you to throw down those papers and join the strike!" Mumbo watched his younger brother walk up to stand next to Bdubs.
"Please?" He asked. The scabs looked at each other before one walked up to Bdubs, throwing the papers on the ground.
"I'm with ya, all the way through," she grinned.
"Now is the time to seize the day!" cheered Mumbo, "Answer the call and don't delay."
"Wrongs will be righted," started Scar.
"If we're united!" Finished the scab who had switched sides, her bright green eyes filled with excitement. Another one of the scabs threw down their paper and joined the newsies.
"What?! You've got to be kidding!" Exclaimed the last scab. The first scab walked up to him.
"At the end of the day, who are you going to trust?" She asked him, "Them," she pointed at the Delancey Siblings, "or them." She pointed at the newsies.
"Now let 'em hear it loud and clear!" Shouted Bdubs, trying to encourage the strikers.
"Now let 'em hear it loud and clear!" They echoed.
"Like it or not, we're drawing near!" Bdubs seemed to direct this more at Tango and False but the Newsies still echoed.
"Proud and defiant, we'll slay the giant!" Cheered Wels.
"Judgment day is here!" Those few lines were all the remaining scab needed to hear, he threw the papers down and joined the newsies.
"My father's gonna kill me anyways," Mumbo heard him mutter under his breath. The newsies started to chant the same word over and over again.
"Strike!"
"Strike!"
"Strike!"
The chanting drowned out every other noise to the point where all Mumbo could hear was the word "Strike!" Tango and False pushed their way through the crowd.
"Stop this- this- stop this messing around!" Tango shouted over the crowd at Mumbo. Bdubs leaned on Mumbo and grinned.
"Nope!" He shouted back. Tango punched Bdubs in the face. Bdubs was about to retaliate but Mumbo stopped him. Tango decided to respond to this by grabbing Iskall's shoulder and pulling him away from Mumbo and Bdubs. Iskall stopped on Tango's foot and ran back to his older brother. The newsies proceeded to chase the Delancy Siblings away. Mumbo glanced over at Xisuma who had a photographer with him, they were busy setting up the camera.
"Now is the time to seize the day!" He exclaimed.
"They're gonna see they'll have to pay!" Cheered Ren.
"Nothing can break us," added Scar
"No one can make us quit before we're done!"
"One for all and one for-" said one of the newsies in the crowd, Mumbo didn't see who.
"One for all and one for-" echoed another.
"One for all and one for One!" Finished Mumbo. Then there was a flash as the photographer took the photo. The group erupted into cheers, tossing the newspapers all around the square. Bdubs motioned for Mumbo to follow him and the two navigated their way through the crowd over to Xisuma.
"Did you get a good photo?" Asked Bdubs excited.
"I hope so! Now all I need to do is actually get the paper published," explained Xisuma.
"Speaking of which, I have a question," said Mumbo
"Yes?"
"Why would you write against your own boss?" Xisuma's mood instantly changed, he seemed a bit nervous at the question.
"He's had it coming for a while."
=+=
Xisuma walked into the deli. The newsies were all over the place and Mr xB looked like he was about ready to kick half of them out. He felt a rush of excitement as he handed the newspaper in his hand to Mumbo.
"You got it on the front page?" He asked in disbelief. Xisuma's only response was a smile, "Above the fold?"
"Yep, above the fold." One of the scabs who had switched, Gem, leaned over Mumbo's shoulder.
"What are you..." She trailed off as she saw the story. She stood up on the table she was already sitting on, "Hey guys! The story's out." Suddenly a stampede of newsies rushed over to where Xisuma was crowding around, wanting to get a glimpse of the story. The Newsies started rambling about their photo, the fact that they were in the paper it was mind blowing to them. Xisuma hung around for a while once the chaos died down. Eventually he left though, leaving the paper with Bdubs. He walked down the street, watching as the sun slowly dipped in the sky. Eventually he reached the Hermiton and saw Jevin walking out of the building, about to head home for the day.
"Hello there Xisuma," he greeted.
"Hi Jevin."
"The uh, boss want's to see you," Jevin informed him nervously, "He didn't sound very happy." Xisuma nodded and silently entered the building, making his way up the stairs. He found himself staring at the mahogany doors gathering his courage, before opening them and slipping into his brother's office.
"Xae-"
"Sit down," Xathan commanded. His voice was harsh and X could tell he was upset.Void stood with his back facing Xisuma, he held a coin in his hand and examined it.
"Xathan, what-" Xisuma paused as he saw his newspaper sitting on the desk.
"As we both know the newsies are striking against me." Xisuma nodded. Xathan turned around to face his brother, X observed the fact that Xae's gaze was hard, hiding any hint of emotion, "I would have thought my own brother would stand with me and help put a stop to this foolish behavior...yet, this is what I am greeted with." There was a beat of silence before Xisuma spoke up.
"You're charging too much, they're just children," he pleaded.
"Nonsense, it's a lesson they'll need to learn at some point in their life."
"I-"
"As a result of this... mishap I will be ordering a printing ban on all strike news." Xisuma's eyes widened.
"They're just kids- they should have the right to be heard-"
"And...I am sorry to inform you, but until I say so, none of your writing will be published." Xisuma was speechless. Not only had his boss, his brother, taken away the newsies' voice, he had also taken always his own.
"Xae, please-"
"And that is final." XIsuma didn't argue after that. Instead he just stared at the paper, watching as the newsies' hopeful faces stared back at him, "You know what, I might even send them a message about what happens when you mess with the Hermiton Herald."
"A- a message?"
"I'll just have a couple friends go give them a visit tomorrow."
=+=

The next day Bdubs and the rest of the newsies stood at the gate.
"So, finally giving up and going back to selling?" Taunted False as she unlocked the gate.
"In your dreams, Delancy," replied Iskall. Once the gates were unlocked the newsies stormed in. And started grabbing the papers set out, throwing them and tearing them apart.
"Newsies forever!" Shouted Ren.
"Second to none!" Added Zedaph.
"One for all and all for-" chanted Scar
"One for all and all for-" Before Gem could finish echoing Scar she was cut off by someone shouting.
"They've got bats!" Bdubs whipped around to see Grian running away from the gate entrance where the Delancy siblings, along with several goons stood, bats in their hands. Then a fight broke loose.
"Time we teach y'all a lesson," grinned Tango.
"Newsies!" Shouted Bdubs, "Get 'em!" The newsies grabbed the paper bundles they had previously been tearing up and used them as weapons. Throwing them at the attackers. Bdubs managed to disarm one of the goons and the two got into a fist fight. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw a policeman arrive.
"Oh thank goodness you're here," exclaimed Mumbo, "They're slaughtering us-" he was cut off as the policeman smacked Mumbo so hard he fell. Then Bdubs noticed Cub standing next to the policeman.
"Cheese it!" He shouted, managing to break away from the goon he was fighting, "It's Cub! It's the bulls." He watched as some people were dragged away, others managed to get out of there. He looked around wildly for Scar.
"Bdubs, wait for me!" He heard his friend shout, and Bdubs spotted Scar. He ran over and grabbed his hand trying to bring him along but a newsie ran into Bdubs, sending him flying away from Scar. He could only watch as one of the Delancy's grabbed Scar and threw him to the ground before Cub came, pulling out handcuffs and arresting Scar.
"It's off to the refuge for you young man."
"BDUBS!" Scar shouted as he was dragged away.
"SCAR- Wait no-"Bdubs felt tears prick his eyes and he was about to run after him but someone grabbed his arm, dragging him away from Scar.
"We need to go now!" The voice told him that the someone was Mumbo.
"But Scar- I need to help- He can't-"
"It's too late, Bdubs. Scar's gone."