Chapter Text
JOURNALS THIRD YEAR BUCKET LIST:
-GET AN INTERNSHIP SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE
-MAKE AT LEAST ONE NEW FRIEND
-TAKE TREASURE CHEST ON SEVEN DATES (NO MONSTERS)
-TAKE BREAKS
-ENJOY YOURSELF
Journals' bucket list remained tucked in one of his backpacks in the back of his car as he drove into the lovely city of Poeia, the college town so small it could be considered part of Toronto.
This was the place he would be attending college for his third year, at the prestigious Cassan University, where they promoted “everyone’s interests, for everyone’s enjoyment.”
Great catchphrase, he thought.
He had spent his summer at home, with his mom and dad like he used to do. He was saving up for houses for the day he’d move out, unlike Bubble Wrap who had an apartment.
He didn’t really hang out with Team 47 over the summer, as they were in different parts of Canada. But they met up once a month and FaceTimed every week, which felt worth it.
Team 47, the legendary group that reunited under terrible circumstances. Thats what he called it. The four, Treasure Chest, Malachite, Bubble Wrap, and Ukulele, all met on a reality show three years earlier. Just last year, they reunited as Mirais. A Mirai was a magical person who fought against whatever evil magic existed. The one they fought the year prior, Queen Plutoni, died, resulting in the sky kingdom known as Metallius being restored and Queen Chlori being the rightful ruler of the now peace. Since then, the five haven’t been able to transform. They needed their fairies, and they had all went off to Metallius after the Queens defeat.
There wasn’t any magic to fight anyways.
They also had an honorary member, Asta. She used to work for Queen Plutoni, but defected to live a normal life like another former Halogen, Strom. Except she wanted to attend Cassan, so here she was. There was also Cold Brew, a fellow former Mirai, and other Halogen Strom. They worked at a cafe in Poeia.
So needless to say, Journal had his college life in check. He was a psych student, he had a boyfriend, and he finally would have a peaceful school year.
He stepped out of his car and grabbed some of his things, the biggest items- those being roller bags. He then effortlessly strolled into the lobby of his dormitory.
The receptionist saw him and beamed.
“Journal! Nice to see you again! You ready for year number three?”
“You bet. Same room as last time?”
“Mhm! Have a nice day!”
Journal was given his ever so familiar room key, one with faint green sharpie on the edges, just like what his first year self did.
Third year Journal was a lot more confident than first or second year Journal. Maybe it was his magic alter ego. Maybe it was just a rebound. Who knew?
As he entered the third floor of the dorms, he started walking. He knew where his dorm was exactly. It didn’t even feel like a dorm, it was more or less a small apartment with a kitchen and everything. He still called it a dorm though, cause it sounded natural.
He entered the room, set his bags down, and laid down on the carpet.
Home!
Journal then took the stairs back down and grabbed a few more of his bags, before feeling something wrap around his waist, like a snake.
When he turned around, he saw Treasure Chest wearing a huge grin. He had his familiar braids, sense of fashion (a light flannel with athletic shorts and normal shirt), and eyes Journal could get lost in.
“Jour Jour!” He exclaimed, receiving Journals smile back as he hugged the other guy tightly, giving him a kiss.
“Hey TC… how was the Caribbean?”
“Oh it was so much fun, sorry I couldn’t update you about it!”
“You’re good… same dorm as last time?”
“Close! I moved up a floor.”
“Wait… so this means…”
“WE’RE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS!!” The two exclaimed, happily cheering and hugging again.
“Man this is gonna be great, isn’t it?”
“Yeah… you need help with your stuff?” TC asked. “I’m good. Don’t worry.” Journal responded.
“You sure?” A third, unfamiliar voice appeared.
The two turned to the deep voice and saw who it belonged to. It was Malachite, with his long hair and oversized clothes. No matter the weather, he usually wore long sleeves or pants.
“Mal!” The two excitedly said, exchanging high fives.
“What’s up you two?” He asked, a few big bags in his hand. Mal was also very strong, his dad formerly working in the military.
“Nothing much, just reuniting.” “Did your dorm change?” “Mhm. I’m across from 304.” “That’s my dorm!” “Let’s go!” Mal exclaimed, high fiving TC. “Hah, everything’s coming together!”
The three went up to their dorms, confirming they indeed had matching dorms. After hauling a bunch of their luggage in, they took a break to talk.
“Heard the transfer students are moving in same time we are.” TC remarked.
“Really? I thought they moved in a day later.”
“Apparently false. They get to start unpacking this evening according to the school Instagram.”
“You use the schools Instagram to check things?” Journal asked, fascinated by this revelation.
“Who doesn't?” TC asked.
“I do that a lot.” A soft voice piped in.
The three looked over to see Bubble Wrap, with her loose curls and ruffled top holding a makeshift hotel cart to carry all her things.
“Bubble Wrap!” Mal exclaimed, hugging her lightly. “S-sorry, did I interrupt something?” “Not at all! Come join us!”
Bubble Wrap checked into her room, same as last year, moved her cart in, and quickly closed the door behind her.
“Is the university giving out those?” Journal asked, fascinated by the device. “No, it’s a foldable one I got last year. You can get it on Amazingzon for a pretty good price.” The girl remarked, twirling one of her curls. “I need one of those. Send me the link when you can.” “You got it.” The girl nodded.
“So… you went to Italy, right?” TC asked, trying to remember what she did over the summer. “Yup. I’d honestly go again.” She remarked. “Stunning food, stunning everything…”
“Stunning you say?!” A fifth voice joined.
“Uku!” The four exclaimed, happy to see the groups sunshine. “Hey hey!” She exclaimed. Despite the school year still kicking up, she still wore her usual casual outfit of a Hawaiian shirt and jean shorts, with bangles coating her wrists and a flower holding up her long ponytail.
“How’re you doing? How was Hawaii?”
“It was fun,” she remarked, hugging Bubble Wrap and giving her kisses, “but I will always be a Canadian girl.” She remarked, giving finger guns. Ukulele was born and raised in Hawaii, and almost went to college there before moving over to Canada.
“Awesome… and is Asta coming?” “Oh for sure. She’s grabbing her-“
“UKULELE YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN.”
The five looked towards the elevator once more, and there was Asta, sweating and leaning against her bag as she moved a few strands of her whitish purple hair away from her face, closer to her black roots.
“Sorry sorry… hello everyone!” She said, doing a complete 180° in personality. “Hi Asta! How was summer?” “Oh my god it was great. I got to live with Cold Brew and it was so so funnnnn.” Since Asta didn’t really have a place to live, she stayed with legendary ex-Mirai and cafe owner Cold Brew in Poeia.
“That’s great. So that’s all of us, right? Same floor?” Journal remarked.
“Seems to be!” Bubble Wrap exclaimed.
“Well cmon, let’s unpack and we can talk summer stuff after!” Ukulele exclaimed.
That was something the group agreed with
———-
“What about-“
“No.”
“Oh cmon, what about th-“
“Try all you want, it’s a no.”
“Cmon, we didn’t take this over for nothing! What fuels it, my love, tell me its secret.”
“Well, Chlori did tell me an alternative source, but it’s dangerous.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see. Get the Wishing Star. It involves that.”
“Hehe, you love danger, don’t you?”
“We took this land over for a reason, darling. To win Earth over and show the other kingdoms who really is boss.”
“Heh, we did!”
“After this, someone else can take over this job. I just want to prove it’s worth. My love, this is EVERYTHING to the kingdom of Thundernia.”
————
“They really did repair Helios, didn’t they?” Treasure Chest remarked, pointing to the fully repaired building. “Thought it would take much longer knowing it’s a… how many floors?”
“Used to be 9. Heard it’s now 6.” Malachite immediately said. “There we go, former Helio!” TC said, playfully punching Mal.
The six were walking through the campus, sort of to revive what they’d be getting used to from September to May. August was simply a settling down period. They weren’t the only ones, as many other students were doing so too.
“So many people out tonight…” Journal murmured, amazed by the students walking to and fro. “There’s gotta be a student increase, I know it.” “In that case, my beginning photojournalism class is gonna explode…” Bubble Wrap remarked.
“Or my oceanography class!” TC added on. “Rocks and its effects!” “Advertising to the World!” “Your Mind and Addiction!” The group didn’t stop at their classes, and went on to list ones they didn’t all take.
“Conservationalism is going to implode with people!” Ukulele added on. “But we can’t forget sports events! Ultimate Frisbee might as well make tryouts.” Malachite added on. “You know what really would need a massive team increase? Basketball.” The five nodded.
They walked further for like two minutes before Journal felt a tap on his shoulder.
When he turned around, he saw a guy slightly taller than him, by about four inches. Half his grey hair was shaved off, like Mal if he cut the other side of his hair often. He had blue eyes, and a matching oversized hoodie.
“Scuse me, I heard you mention the basketball team and I was wondering if you were on- WELL WELL WELL!”
“Chainsaw?”
“Exactly. That’s my name, don’t wear it out. Never thought I’d see you lot all here! Ain’t that fun?” He said, all eyes on the whole group. This indeed was, former 47 member, and former bracket leader. The one who led the charge to break from the team three years ago. And someone Journal hated.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Mal asked, confused.
“Haven’t you heard transfers move in today as well?”
“YOU TRANSFERED?!” The original team exclaimed, confusing Asta.
“Yup. Used to attend West Shore University, but they did so much… budget stuff I guess? Either or, stupid shit that caused me to leave.”
“Damn, sorry I guess.”
“It’s cool, I’m cool. I don’t really care, as long as I’m still focusing on myself. Sayyyy who’s the new person?” Chainsaw said, immediately drawing over to Asta. Journal tried doing a hand sign that meant ‘watch out’ or whatever, but it didn’t work.
“Asta. Nice to meet you.”
“You’re cool. I like ya already.”
He turned around and faced the six again.
“Well, I must continue scuttling around. In case you were curious, Basketball and Slipper also attended West Shore. They’re here now. Good luck with that!”
He went the opposite direction, leaving Journal feeling uneasy. “Shit.” He simply said. “Hey hey, let’s avoid curse words on our first day back.” Treasure Chest immediately said, putting his hand on his boyfriends shoulder. “Sorry, I’m just tired. He immediately ruined my day.”
“You need to head to the tree?” “Yeah.”
The tree was a nice huge oak on a hill outside the science building, Mal’s happy place. Oftentimes near the end of the school year, Journal found himself there, sitting under the foliage watching the sun set.
The leaves were warmer greens to represent the summer, as Malachite took his spot under the tree, and motioned for Journal to join him. The others soon took their spots. The sun was slowly descending, forming a gorgeous array that made it easier for cloud watching.
“Hey, that cloud looks like a butterfly.” Ukulele remarked, pointing to a… butterfly shaped cloud. “It does! And that one’s like Shakespeare.” Malachite added on.
They spent a while like this, happily pointing out clouds.
A light then appeared in the distance, traveling the skies.
“Hey, it’s a shooting star!” Treasure Chest remarked, prompting the confusion of Journal. “Shooting stars don’t come at sunset. Maybe it’s a plane?” “It it WERE a plane, it wouldn’t be going to fast… and getting bigger…” Ukulele noted, pointing to the growing light. “Guys… ITS HEADING STRAIGHT TOWARDS US!” Bubble Wrap exclaimed, backing away from the light, as it grew closer and closer and…
Boom.
In Journals eyes… a meteor hit. He was knocked off the hill, with debris covering him. He propped himself up before hearing a familiar voice.
“Hi!”
“ERBIUM?!”
Erbium was a fairy, Journals fairy. When Journal was Mirai Reflection, Erbium helped him on his journey. But it decided to stay in Metallius with Queen Chlori to help protect and rebuild the land… what was it doing back?
“WHATAREYOUDOINGITHOUGHTYOUSTAYEDINMETALLIUSWHATHAPPENEDISEVERYTHINGOKAY?!”
“Slow down! Someone will hear…”
Journal took a deep breath. “Right… right… as if you DIDN'T crash near a tree I was at. What’s going on?”
“We can explain.”
“We?”
“Come back up to the hill.”
Journal trudged up the hill, pleasantly greeted by everyone else, who was gratefully okay. On top of that, Gallium, Iridium, Rhenium, and Caesium were there. Something was off.
“We good?”
They all nodded in approval before Erbium stepped in again.
“We can explain. We are SO unready to explain this, but let us.”
Erbium took a deep breath.
“There’s trouble. Not in Metallius, oh no, Queen Chlori is okay. But in another land, Skynarmia, that’s the trouble. The thing with it is that it hosts a garden. The Sky Garden. It sources energy that helps power all the magical worlds that exist. Apparently it got taken over by some people… the worst boyfriend-girlfriend duo ever. Prince Hessonite and Princess Pyrope, who might I mention aren’t even royalty! They’re sorcerers, mean evil ones in fact. They want to use the garden to fuel their own kingdom, Thundernia, and then use it to take over all the magical worlds and Earth!”
“Okay so recap. Evil sorcerer duo take over kingdom and want to use the energy in the Sky Garden to take over all the kingdoms.” Ukulele exclaimed
“Exactly!” Erbium exclaimed, “The only way to cure it is… to restore energy and power up the Star Crystals. Thank god those got saved…”
“How are they gonna try getting energy in the first place?” Asta asked, facinated.
“Well, since they wiped out all energy sources… they have to use the other source. One that makes Earth a prime target for their destruction.”
“Which is…?”
Immediately, a feeling of uneasiness settled on them all.
“You’ll learn.” Gallium said, partially mysteriously.
“Fun.” Malachite said, partially sarcastically.
As soon as he said so, faint noises could be heard.
The group saw a student slumped over on the ground.
When Journal ran to check on her however…
The ground was full of bodies. Tons of student bodies.
“People.” Erbium said, as Journal checked the woman for a sign. “They take peoples energy and use their own monsters to collect them. Since you five are magical…” it said, pointing its tiny arm to the five ex-Mirais, “… and you probably because you once worked for evil magic.” It said, pointing to Asta, “you six are immune to its draining.” “Yeah but… how do they even collect the energy?” TC asked.
That was when they heard a screech. A loud one.
When they looked up, there was a floating monster in the sky. It had long arms that dripped the skies under, a circular body with two X’s for eyes, and a dripping mouth. It was a horrible creature with a star on… likely where a stomach would be? Who knew.
“Cmon, there isn’t a lot of time to waste! Transform!”
“We literally can’t!” Journal exclaimed.
“You need your Artifact, and your fairy partner. You have us… what about your Artifact?”
Journal checked his pants pocket and pulled out his magic pocket watch. Even after the magic fiasco with Plutoni and all that, he kept it. It was a good watch man, it told accurate TIME. He checked around. Treasure Chest still had his lock and key, Malachite had his gem, Bubble Wrap had a compact, now with a pale bow, a gift from Queen Chlori. And Ukulele had her hibiscus, which she always kept clipped on her. And Asta had nothing, since she wasn’t a Mirai. Moral support!
“We ready to return to our magical lives?” TC asked. After the approval, he smiled. “LETS GET BACK TO IT THEN!”
“LUMINOUS LIGHT! ACTIVATE!”
The five underwent a familiar beam of light, and transformed. Their magical outfits changed a bit, but their intentions, their sequence, they were all the same.
“Mirai of time, fighter for the future, I am Mirai Reflection!”
“The ocean are my calling, so I will fight for it! Mirai Wave!”
“Brighter than a gem, the angel of hell, it is I, Mirai Gem!”
“Floating in the sky, bringing light to despair, it’s Mirai Splash!”
“Blooming flowers, beaming sunshine! Hello, I’m Mirai Tropical!
“TOGETHER WE ARE…”
“TEAM 47 MIRACLES!”
Normally the group landed on their feet, but… they rather flopped to the floor. They weren’t used to being back in the shoes of magical people, but BOY were they back. “Let’s get back to work.” Journal confidently said. “Uku, do the thing.” “On it.”
Whoever was controlling the monster must’ve forgotten who they were dealing with, cause Ukulele spawned a vine, shot it up and wrapped it around the creatures arm before tugging it down. It slammed right on the ground, which caused a bit of an after shock for everyone. “My turn!” Journal sing sang.
He leaped up, closed his eyes, and made a large clock hand appear in his hands. He spun it forward a little, charging it up as it prepared to burst. When he felt it was appropriate to shoot, he lifted it up high above his head. “MIRAI! HAND TO HAND COMBAT!” He announced, sending the clock hand to pierce it down. Once it was down, he held his palms out to the monster and shot it with some laser beams, causing it to explode in a glittery amazement.
“And THATS how you get back in business.” He simply said, shocking the four Mirais and remaining… person. He caught a strange red device, which confused him. “Oh it’s a Star Crystal!” Erbium excitedly announced. “Isn’t this the thing we have to power up?” “Mhm.” “Well, we are settled in then.”
As the group detransformed, people slowly regained their energy, confused on what happened. However, the first person who woke up saw the five detransform. Chainsaw.
————
“You’re stupid, you know that right?” Princess Pyrope asked, approaching her boyfriend with contempt.
“Oh! What hath I done this time?” Her boyfriend, Prince Hessonite said, faking a royal accent.
“That Stroidlon. THAT STUPID STROIDLON!”
“Woah woah, calm down. I’m the one in charge, so complain to me your issue.”
“It had a Star Stone.”
“… oh you’re kidding me.”
The two “royals” stared at each other with contempt.
“I’m handing it off.”
“What off?”
“The Wishing Star. We’ve confirmed it works technically.”
“But we also gave those magical people power! What can we do?”
“Defeat them. Muscovite is getting this.”
As Prince Hessonite walked off to hand their servant the star, a smile grew.
“So it is written, so it shall be done. A stupid idea, but I believe this will work just as planned.”
—————
“Lovely night to fight crime.” Malachite remarked.
The Mirais and their number one supporter were all in Journals room sitting together for their first time in forever. Boxes were strewn all over the place with luggage, but no one cared. It was the first day, who gave a shit!
“It truly was.” Bubble Wrap softly said, sipping her tea.
It was officially night, and the group had spent their evening talking about summer, and now their refound magical destinies.
“Guess we are back in business.” TC proclaimed. “Same as last year.”
“Well, now we have Asta, I suppose. New powers… new villain… everything is new I suppose.” Journal suggested.
“You say my name like I’m some… special Mirai.” Asta remarked, slumping over.
“You technically are! You’re like… our number one fan in a sense. Like, the sixth Mirai that technically has no powers but still is encouraging?” TC suggested. “That helps, I suppose.” Asta sighed.
“All that matters is that we are SO back!” Ukulele exclaimed, raising a fist in the air, “And that’s worth celebrating!”
And everyone agreed.
As they happily talked, Chainsaw listened to the conversation. Something was up with them. He was gonna figure it out somehow.