Standing on the steps of City Hall in Atlas a young woman stands with long flowing sandy brown hair with a look of serenity on her flawless face. In her traditional costume of white silky dress that drops to mid thigh and a golden peaked belt that matches her boots, Fanci is rocking restlessly from heel to toe with her hands tucked behind her back. Listening to The Statesman making what seems like an hour long speech of how wonderful the Dolls super group is, Fanci has grows bored. Captain Emerald standing beside her shakes her head and smiles, "Fanci stand still, you look ridiculous doing that. You're supposed to be representing the Dolls not a bobble head." As she straightens up looking towards the crowd, Fanci can see the shimmer from the sun coming off of Emeralds golden metallic top giving Emerald a beautiful glow highlighting the person she is.
"I know, I know but he's so damn boring and he's been talking for a good hour now, I know it" Fanci replies. Emerald chuckles, "No he hasn't, it's only been five minutes." "Whatever," Fanci says as she rolls her eyes. She stops rocking and looks down past Emerald and looks at each of her captains. She is so proud of them and the Dolls as a whole. They do deserve this award. Theres Captain Emerald, the voice of reason; Shock Therapy, the computer genius; Radiant Glory, shy but always there when you need her; FerralWolf, a hard worker and loyal to the end; and of course Mesmer Lune, whose magnetic personality makes her the best when it comes to public relations.
But even before these girls there was Sizzling Ice, the founder of the Dolls. Fanci remembers how they were the best of friends, ever since Ice helped her as a young hero defeat the Vahzilok. Fanci helped lead the Dolls from that day forward, training to become an equal to Ice. But that day came a little sooner than expected. Fanci, still learning the ropes, was monitoring Ice in Siren's Call. Ice was on a mission to find out more about this new villain group, the Voodoo Dolls. In fact, the Dolls still monitor them today. Ice found a lead and was wearing her bug. From the bug Fanci hears, "So, you are Sizzling Ice, what makes you think you are worthy enough to be a Voodoo Doll?" Another voice chimes in, "My Mistress, she is wearing a bug! "Fanci weve been found out" Ice yells as sounds of a struggle are heard. "That was a mistake my dear," she hears before it dissolves to static. Fanci in a panic gathers every Doll she can see and rushes to help Sizzling Ice, but it is too late, all that they find is a piece of Ice's uniform beside the old run down building with a single dark green vine entangled with it. From that day forward, Fanci has been the leader of the Dolls although she still holds hope that her friend Ice is alive.
Fanci looks down at her boots with a saddened look upon her face at the thought of this memory. However with a feeling of pride, Fanci looks towards her teammates and smiles. She realizes just how far she and the Dolls have come in the two years since Ice disappeared. With a sparkle in her eye Fanci thinks, "Ive got the best crew in Paragon!"
All a sudden she hears a voice. "Fanci, Statesman and I need to speak with you". A bit stunned and not knowing where the voice is coming from she begins to look around. "It's me, Sister Psyche, the others cant hear me" "Oh hey, what's up?" Fanci replies silently in her head. "We need to speak with you. Meet us under the globe in Atlas at midnight tonight and please tell no one of this until we have spoken". "Um... ok, will do", Fanci replies.
"And now I would like to present this award to Fanci, the leader of the Dolls, for their contribution and their feats during the recent attacks by the Rikti. To show our appreciation for one of the best and strongest super groups in Paragon City, not to mention some of its most beautiful heroes.", Statesman says as he looks towards Fanci. "Ugh, he could smile some," Fanci thinks to herself. She begins to walks toward Statesman and realizes "Oh [censored], I forgot my speech! Great, I have to go on a whim here." She looks back at Emerald and mouths "I forgot my speech." Emerald can't help but chuckle and shake her head. She looks back up at Fanci and gives her a "thumbs up". Fanci sighs, "Oh great."
Fanci stands and scans the crowd that has come to honor her and the Dolls, and all she can think is, "Wow!" She smiles as she looks directly into the crowd and begins to speak.
"Thank you, thank you. On behalf of the Dolls, I would like to say thanks to Statesman and of course, to all of you. We are honored to receive this award and will cherish it. We, as Dolls, will do our best to continue to make sure that each and everyone in Paragon City remains safe from the evil out there."
The crowd roars to life, clapping and cheering "DOLLS! DOLLS!" A smile spreads across Fancis face as she thinks "Wow, we are so loved" as she looks down at all the fans that have come to cheer for the Dolls. One little girl stands out in the crowd. She is dressed just as Fanci, in her white dress with the golden peak belt. She wears a homemade tiara that resembles Fanci's, and an attempt at copying her golden boots and the wings that Fanci wears on her back. The girl was jumping up and down waving at Fanci, trying to get her attention, in which she succeeds. Fanci smiles at her and gives her a wink and blows a kiss.
The crowd stops clapping in expectation and Fanci realizes, "Oh, they want me to say something more". She giggles and admits "I'm sorry citizens, but I left my lovely speech back at the base. So since I seem to be at a loss of words I just want to say thank you once again. Now let's party!" as the crowd starts cheering, "FANCI!".
She steps down and heads toward the refreshment stand to get a drink. "Why do we have to make such a big deal over something that is our job? I don't get it, but Statesman insisted on the award. The carnival was a bit much, but at least the kids of Paragon City are having fun." She spots Captain Emerald, Shock Therapy, and Radiant Glory talking and eating corn dogs. "Wow, they dyed the corn dogs pink to match our SG colors. They really went all out for this." She walks towards them to join the conversation." Good save there Fanci," Shock says to her as she approaches. "The crowd would love you no matter what you said," declares Radiant Glory. "Though I could have knocked you in the head for forgetting your speech," Emerald chimes in.
"All in a day's work my friends. And Emerald, come on, I was out late last night patrolling the city. I slept in and only had a short time to get ready for the award." Fanci pleads. "Likely excuse. You were out late "patrolling" the city with Blue N Gold," Emerald points out with a smirk across her face.
"Fanci! Fanci! Guess what! Guess what!" Mesmer Lune exclaims, running towards the group. "I'm an action figure!" She holds out a doll, that the first thing you notice before anything is its bust. "Yes Lune dear, and her breasts are bigger than her head." Fanci teases. "Lookie at mine!" Ferral says running up behind Lune. "It's eyes glow just like I can make mine, isn't' it awesome?" Fanci shakes her head and the group bursts into laughter. "They have action figures of all of us, and Fanci yours even has your rock pet. You have GOT to get one! It would be so cool," Lune says practically busting with energy. "Yeah, it would be nice to have it just for a keep sake," Fanci chuckles.
Captain Emerald gets a strange feeling that makes her instantly alert. She looks up and sees a boulder flying toward Fanci. "FANCI, WATCH OUT!" she screams as she reaches for her sword. Fanci starts to look up but it's too late and she is hit by the boulder and flung back a good twenty feet. "Lune! Bubble up, we're being attacked!" orders Captain Emerald. Emerald looks around and sees all the people of Paragon running for shelter. She then spots the Strong Man from the Carnival of Shadows who hurdled the rock. "Shock, go check on Fanci." "Already on it, Captain." Shock complies, as she races to Fanci. Fanci is stunned, so Shock focuses her powers and clears Fanci's mind to bring her out of it. Fanci shakes it off. "Thank you Shock... what the hell hit me?"
"That would be me, my dear, and my lovely crew," said Ring Mistress Cassey standing with her minions dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. "I figured why not liven up the show? You can't have a carnival without us!" Fanci jumps to her feet, ready to fight, "I don't think so Cassey," as she throws her stone cages to trap them. "Captain! On Cassey!" Fanci orders as a cloud of green radiation spreads among the group of Carnies clouding their defenses. "Good work Radiant". Shock stands in the middle of Fanci and the rest of the Dolls making sure they all stay strong, "Stay close girls!" Shock says focusing her healing on Captain Emerald. "Lune, keep that bubble up and don't run!" Fanci yells as she looks up at Lune who is flying above and out of the way of danger. Ferral runs up to the group of Carnies and releases an electrical charge that seems to drain the Carnies of most of their energy, "Nice job Ferral," Fanci says winking at Ferral for a job well done.
Cassey, shoots a blast of psychic energy at Fanci. "Nice try you witch, but my mother, Gaia, gave me immunity to psychic energy," Fanci mouths off. "Ah yes, you may be immune, my dear, but what about your teammates?" Cassey says with an evil smirk spreads across her face as she turns her blasts on Captain Emerald and sends her flying. But Shock is quick with her heals. "DAMN IT FANCI... they are resistant to my illusions!" yells Lune in a high pitched scream. "Just hold that bubble up!" orders Fanci. She turns to the invaders and releases a cloud of gas that chokes Carnies allowing the Dolls the advantage. Now the Dolls are fighting side by side supporting each other. Fanci with her feet planted keeps her holds on their foes; Captain Emerald, right side up again, fighting one on one with Cassey; Shock continuing to make sure everyone stays strong; Ferral blasting away at all the minions; Lune holding up the force field to protect them all and Radiant keeping that cloud of radiation on the enemy to weaken their defenses. "Gather girls" Fanci orders. "Let me shift what strength they have left to us" Fanci releases, a power that transfers the strength and power of the Carnies to the Dolls."Ferral, NOW!" Fanci orders. "Uh, oh my gosh," Ferral says as she gathers all her power to her inner core, "How yins like this!" and with an extreme amount of force a blast of energy is released by Ferral that within seconds causes all the Carnies to collapse to the ground. No longer resisting arrest for their mayhem and for crashing the Dolls party, the Carnies are hauled away by the PCPD. "Now that is what I call a party!" Fanci says with a smile dusting off her hands. "Let's get our action figures and head back to the base, I could use a rest" Emerald says wiping off her katana.
Fanci notices the time 11:30 mutters Fanci. "Better get movin'." She starts to head out when Emerald asks, "Fanci... where are you going?" "Oh, can't sleep yet. I am um.... going to take a walk" Fanci says obviously hiding something. "Uh huh, ok, go on... you'll tell me when you're ready," Emerald replies as she walks toward the control room. "I'm gonna see if there's anything going on tonight in the streets." Fanci sighs and thinks, "Close one, glad she didn't insist on me telling,"
Shortly she is waiting quietly under the Atlas globe as she was told. A sudden wind blows and gently blows Fancis long brown hair around her face. She stands with an impatient look up on her face, "They arent here yet, why do I bother even coming early? Ok, it's midnight and if they aren't here in 10 minutes I'm leaving." Fanci paces back and forth under the globe. "You are an impatient one Fanci," remarks Sister Psyche landing with Statesman right in front of Fanci. "When we say midnight we mean midnight not a moment sooner or later," says Statesman with a stern tone in his voice. Fanci rolls her eyes "ugh, he's so boring!" Fanci thinks to herself. "So what is it that is so important that we had to meet alone?" Fanci says as she becomes more serious.
"First of all, I would like to say congratulations to your super group. They are one of the best, but remember when I put you in charge of a villain group called the Voodoo Dolls?" Statesman asked. "Yes, I do but we have kept track them and most part their activities have been in the Rogue Islands which is beyond our boundaries. I haven't seen anything big from them, they usually do petty crimes," Fanci informs him with a confused look on her face. She wonders "Hm... what's going on? It's been two years since Statesman even brought that group up. Although, their leader, Blaque Rose, has a rep of being one of the toughest and meanest rogue villains there is trained by Lord Recluse himself."
"Well Fanci," Statesman announces, "breaking news, our sources have informed us that they are planning an attack on Paragon City." Stunned, Fanci retorts, "From what I have found there has been no such activity! How could I have missed this?" "It's true, we found out they were using a code and it was recently broken. Blaque Rose herself plans to lead this attack. And Fanci... there is more to this." Statesman reveals as his tone softens. "Blaque Rose is not just your enemy... she is also your sister."
Fanci eyes cloud up and fill with tears of disbelief, "No your lying... it can't be... no... no I...", she stops as the lump in her throat halts the denials falling from her lips. She braces herself, while tears fall silently from her emerald green eyes down her beautiful face. Taking a deep breath she stands straight trying to regain her composure and asks," What are you asking me to do Statesman?" Sister Psyche steps in, "Well, we do believe there is good in Rose, and we need you to help bring that out in her." She then quietly informs her, "We need you to fight her and I will be with you. Hopefully, with my power and your help, we hope to find the good in her and bring her to the hero side."
"You want me to fight my sister?" Fanci asks in disbelief. "Yes, in order to save her, Fanci. You have to understand, this is for Rose's own good." Sister Psyche insists. Fanci is blinded with a suppressed memory of Rose as a young girl. They were playing with their powers and Rose wrapped Fanci in her vines before Fanci could even think of encasing her in stone. It was a game to them, as Gaia watched, and as the memory fades, Fanci knows what must be done.
A serious look spreads across Fanci face, "I'll do it to save her. I'll do it to save my sister" Fanci says as another tear runs down her face. Relieved, Statesman discloses, "They plan to attack in two days. Gather a task force, Sister Psyche will be included in it. Don't worry Fanci, she will be alright." Statesman places his hand on Fanci's shoulder and then both Sister Psyche and he fly off into the night. As Fanci watches them leave she suddenly falls to her knees and covers her face with her hands to hide the tears that fall uncontrollably once more.
Fanci walks into the base, head hung low, running her fingers through her hair in disbelief, still unable to grasp the reality of what she just heard. Captain Emerald comes up, "Hey Fanci! Whoa, what's wrong? Are you ok?" "No", Fanci replies as she looks away, "Call an emergency meeting now! I need Lune, Shock, Radiant, Ferral and you there" Fanci orders and heads to the meeting room. Captain Emerald doesn't waste any time and rouses the crew. One by one, they show up, groggy and in robes. Lune yawns," Fanci this better be important to wake me up in the middle of my beauty sleep." Then she looks at Fanci and says "Never mind, with that look it must be" and sits at the meeting table. "So Fanci what's up? You look so shaken" asks Shock. "Yeah, hun what's up" Emerald asks. "Well, we have a mission. In two days the Voodoo Dolls will attack Paragon City." Fanci starts briefing her officers. "Wow, are you sure? They have been mainly in the Rogue Islands from what we can tell," Ferral questions. "Yes, I am sure. This is coming from the Statesman. And there is more..." Fanci pauses. She turns and looks at her team, thinking of the memory of her and Rose. Her eyes clouds up again, biting her bottom lip she allows the tears to fall freely down her face as she looks directly at her friends. "The leader of the Voodoo Dolls is my sister." There is stunned silence, then Ferral exclaims "Oh my gosh Fanci," Then, Lune chimes in, "Are you sure? Well, of course you are sure, the Statesman told you, but WOW how do we fight your sister?". "The Statesman is having Sister Psyche on our task force. She is there to hopefully, bring Rose back from evil to good." Fanci says as she runs her fingers through her hair looking down. "We will get her back Fanci, I promise," Radiant vows. The rest all nod their head in determination and agree to do anything to help their leader and friend. With her friends help Fanci believes anything is possible.
To Be Continued...
olls ( Heroes Side)