"IT'S THE BOOMER!!!"  Jay shrieks fearfully.

"What did you just call me?!!"  Krux shouts out angrily.

"Hello, brother."  Acronix greets his twin coolly.

"There you are, Pipsqueak.  I was wondering where you'd gotten to."  The elder twin smirks at the ninja cruelly.  "Never in a million years did I expect that you'd think of an idea as brilliant as this, all on your own."

"What idea?"  'Nix asks, thoroughly confused.

"Why, bringing all of our enemies here in one place in order to dispatch them quickly, of course."

"Sorry to disappoint you, brother, but you're wrong."

"Oh?"

Acronix glances at the others, summoning up every last ounce of his courage.  Ava nods at him, almost imperceptibly.  Then he speaks, his voice clear, firm, and full of conviction.  "I'm cutting ties with you."

"WHAT?!!"

"Did you not hear me?  Perhaps not.  You are a..  Boomer, after all.  Your hearing might not be fully functional anymore."  Acronix taunts, his eyes hooded. 

"THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY HEARING, YOU INSOLENT RUNT!!!"

Ooh, is that the best comeback you've got?  You should've spent more time on the internet, Granny.  Maybe instead of playing bingo, you could've done some proper research on how not to act like a Grundle, you old fossil.  You're so extinct, we should just ship you off to a museum.  You put the old in mold.  We'd put your body out for the vultures, but they'd probably get indigestion!"

Acronix fires off yet more insults, evidently just getting warmed up.  "You're so old, you think a tablet is some medication you take before bedtime!  You probably need to remove your dentures before your midday nap, you old fart!  You think a smartwatch is one that wears glasses!  You think a microwave is a tiny greeting!  You think a fudgesicle is a fidgeting scythe!"

  Acronix takes a shaky breath.  "..And you think anime is lame!!!"

The ninja gasp in horror.

"Then he is truly a monster and must be eradicated from the face of this fair Realm."  Zane decides.

"Wait a minute!"  Krux interrupts.  "This isn't because I forbade you to watch those girly ones, is it?"

"It's MAHOU SHOUJO, you jerk!!!"  Acronix hiccups, sniffling.  "And no, it's only part of it!"  He pauses, then adds in a rush.  "..Plenty of guys like them too, you know!  They're hilarious, they've got great plots, awesome transformations, their scores can be absolute masterpieces, and they're usually so much more colorful than the guy stuff!  Have you seen their battle moves?!!" 

 He whirls around, striking different poses as he reenacts the scenes.  "Ribbooon..  ZAKURO'S PURE!!!  Sunny Fire BLAZING!!!  Lovely Laser Beams!!!  KAPOW KAPOW KAPOW!!!  Then the day is saved, and the friends have a heartfelt dialogue, and they become even closer, growing as a team!"

The Stone Warriors exchange baffled glances, clearly not knowing whether they're supposed to attack or not. 

"Yeah!  Even Ava likes those shows!!!"  Rhea adds.  "..And she hates everything-  OW!"  

Ava smacks her in the back of the head.

"Marry me."  Acronix sighs dreamily.

"Date me first, and then we'll talk."  She replies, then blushes.

"If only it would be that easy."  Morro mutters.

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

Krux gasps upon hearing Ava and Acronix's exchange.  "It's because you like her, then?!!"

They both awkwardly stammer incoherent gibberish.

"But she's ugly!  Look at her face!" 

Acronix gazes directly at Ava and smiles.  "I am.  It's beautiful."

"But that scar!"

Ava studies Krux.  "I'm starting to see why you're still single at your advanced age."

Krux narrows his eyes at Ava.  She bares her teeth and snarls at him.  He hurriedly backs away.

"You're that crazy young woman from earlier!!!"

"I am death itself.  You'd better freaking run."  She retorts icily.  "..Or else I'll tear you to pieces, just like I did with your weak and pathetic little Warriors."

"They were supposed to be indestructible!!!"  He screams.

Rhea jumps in.  "I hope you kept your receipt."

"You children are all utterly insane!!!"

You point at each of the other ninja and yourself, minus Rhea and Emily.  "Not a child...  Not a child...  Not a child..."  You pause at Lloyd for a moment, then shrug and continue.  "..Occasional mental child who's somehow our leader anyway-"

"HEY!!!"  Lloyd pouts.

"Don't shoot the messenger, Lloyd."

"I knew it!"  Rhea cries out, then remembers their truce and becomes silent once more.

"..And who are you?"  Krux retorts.

"Better than you, obvi."

Morro gives an amused snort, and Krux does a double take, looking stunned to see him standing there.

"B-but, you're dead!"

"Evidently not."  Morro fires back, scoffing at him.  "I find death to be a social construct.  And thanks to my utterly amazing and talented girlfriend, I am now alive and free to-  ..Wait.  How do you know me, exactly?  I don't believe that I ever had the misfortune of being introduced to you.  I would certainly remember a face like yours."

"I used to run the museum.  You were in the Hall of Villainy, unless I'm very much mistaken."

"I was a villain once.  Long ago, but never again."

Krux looks down his nose at Morro.  "So you're a hero now?  What changed?"

"Love, you idiot."

Acronix nods agreement.  "Love is astonishingly powerful.  It changes you for the better, you know."

The Master of Night emits a very un-Ava-like squeak and rigidly looks straight ahead, holding her breath in a very undignified manner as color tints her cheeks.

Nya glances over at her.  "Adorable."  She decides.  "You're definitely one of us now."

"Adopted."  You agree.  "You're coming home with us."

"Did you two just-"

"Yes.  Yes, we did."

"..Love does that, brother."  Acronix continues.  "Please-"

"-Please what?"  Krux snaps.  "These young ninja have obviously corrupted you and are trying to use you to ruin my plan!  I've been scheming and plotting for far too long to let them get in my way any more!  You either stand with me, or fall with them!!!"

"I already told you, I will not do this any longer.  We're finished."

Krux sets his jaw.  "Then fall."

A.N: 0-O 

😲😱

It's happening?!!

Indeed, it is!  Stay tuned for the battle, everyone!

(Not me who stayed up until almost exactly midnight finishing writing this chapter, hehe!)

976 words.