Helping Orphanages? Are you even a villain anymore?

7:00 PM

It was a cold, snowy late evening in one of the quieter neighborhoods outside the city proper. Stores were closed early for the holidays and most folks left for winter, or most of the buildings were just abandoned. On the main road only a few vehicles passed by, most folk in a hurry to just get home.

Meanwhile, on the side of the road was a broke down Pizza Truck, with the picture of a Cartoonish but not-racistly drawn Italian Man with a Pizza. The company name was Pizza Cappadocia, a small operation known for its high quality, run personally by the owner/maker/driver himself, John Cappadocia. He inspected the damage to his car and realized it wasn't just a flat, but a broken axle. The delivery van he used slumped low to one side, like a tired, old wounded beast.

A car passes by, and the Italian-American waved him over. "Hey! A... A little help!" The car simply passed by without stopping. The slightly overweight Italian businessman shouted curses and tirades, shaking his fist in the air.  Alone, defeated, John wiped his sweating forehead, despite the cold weather. What was he going to do now?

"I think you need to turn here." A map turned in the passenger seat of a green camaro. The face of a young Japanese girl finally grew frustrated and put the map down towards her lap. Her face looked thin in contrast to the bright red Christmas sweater with a pair of jeans. "Here! Here!" Her finger darted towards the driver's face.

"Calm down. I can turn around." Danny decided against the Christmas sweater route and decided on a black parka with jeans. "There's gotta be a street up here I can turn around on."

"Whatever. This is taking longer." Two arms crossed over as the map slid down.

"You're navigating using a map! Have you ever heard of GPS?" Just before Danny could continue her argument, she saw a man broken down on the side of the road. It seemed like a good Samaritan act to stop and help.

"Hey! Stop! That guy needs help." Tsukimi led the way with her finger, hijacking Danny's thoughts.

"Yep. My thoughts exactly." The car slid over towards the broken down pizza truck. "Think he'll give us something while we wait."

"We have a solemn duty right now." No joy came from Tsukimi as she opened her door and slammed it behind her.

"Well, la-de-da." Danny started to get out as she watched as tsukimi moved up to make first contact.

"Excuse me, sir." Tsukimi offered a polite bow before returning to make eye contact. "I saw your problem and made my American friend pull over. How may the two of us assist?"

"Ah girls, thanks so-a much." The relief in Cappadocia's voice could not be overstated. He explains the situation as best he could.

"I have an important delivery to make to the Orphanage 3 blocks down and I cannot get there in this snow on foot. Could you, ah, make some room so we can bring the pizzas to the children on time? It would-a be a great surprise for them."

For emphasis he brings out one of the pizza boxes, and shows it to them. Even from three feet away, the mouth watering aroma of garlic, olive oil and Italian seasonings signalling the quality of the product therein. Letting such a pizza go to waste would be a great super-injustice. "I throw in a free pizza, is that okay?"

Meanwhile, in the shadows above, on the rooftops, three Ravens eyed the scene quietly. It was not unusual to see such scavengers in the city even at this time of year, considering the level of crime in the neighborhood.

Tsukimi continued to listen to the details of the operation while Danny kept notice on three creepy birds eyeing the situation. "It is our duty to assist you in your plight Kappa-doo-Cha-sama."

"How do you know his name is-" Danny caught the clue from the side of the truck. "So, you're just assuming that's his name and not just a logo. Well, Mr. Cappadocia, we can load those up in my car and get them to the orphanage. Suzy will be more than happy to stand here in her sweater while we go."

"I want to see the orphans. Can we go buy presents for them?" Nothing in the vicinity screamed out 'Toy Store', but Tsukimi continued to look around, catching the image of the ravens. "Those birds are watching us for something other than natural instincts. I studied birds once during the Girl Scouts and found that ravens only pay attention to what they believe to be food and will not make direct contact with humans." While Tsukimi continued her investigation, Danny loaded all the pizzas in her car.

"Good job Suzy, I did all the work and my car is going to smell like garlic." Danny got back in her car. "Mr Cappacocia, are you coming too or are you going to wait here for a repair truck?"

"Eh, the truck can wait. My brother runs a repair shop and I just wait for him tomorrow so I don't have to pay." He shrugged, making sure to lock his truck. He joins the girls and the pizza in the fragrant smelling car. "Let's a-go!"

The drive was fairly short and uneventful, save for the Ravens following and watching Danny's car.

The Orphanage of our Lady of Divine Mercy was attached to an old church, converted from the old seminary when too few people felt up to the task of becoming men of the cloth. The mess hall was abuzz with activity but hardly any joy. Holiday decorations were up but the food- canned soup, frozen vegetables blanched, and some discount meat loaf, made the atmosphere so droll. The kids, seated at cafeteria tables, seemed barely able to touch their food.

The perceptive heroes would, again, find themselves observed by the ravens from earlier, perching on the roof. The doorbell to the seminary awaited.

Tsukimi sat on top of a column of pizzas, complaining the entire time and questioning why Danny would not allow her to drive and take her spot on the pizzas. Danny just watched the lights change and the ravens continue to circle. "Are there always so many ravens in this area? Shouldn't they have gone south for the winter?"

"I believe I know the answer to that." Tsukimi put her knees on the center console and leaned forward. "According to Metapedia, these types of ravens are apart of some kind of evil plot."

"Well, according to Mitsuko's fashion blog, that is an ugly sweater. Now put on your seat belt." Danny pulled into the church parking lot and put the vehicle into park, feeling a little tension as she shifted gears. "That's not good."

"Need me to call a tow truck?" Tsukimi grabbed a stack of pizzas and made for the door.

"It should be fine enough. We can take it in to a shop tomorrow." The other stack made its way to Danny and the two girls escorted Mr Cappadocia to the door.

Inside the two girls sat the pizzas on a table to the delight of everyone around them. "Danny, we need to get these orphans all toys." Tsukimi opened a pizza and examined the situation around them.

"I don't know if we have time. We were supposed to-"

"These kids don't all have shoes. We drove her in a camaro your parents bought for you. I'm not a Christian, but I know if you say 'no', you're going to Hell. Who's that guy on the 'T'?"

"That's Jesus Suzy."

"Sucks to be him."

When the two girls were ushered in by one of the kids, one could almost feel the explosion of surprise and wonder on her face upon seeing the pizza. The glow spread like a contagious disease, lighting up everyone's face with a smile, away from their meatloaf dinner.

Mister Cappadocia tries to call the kids to order. "okay, everyone-a line up and bring your plates..." However, once mister Cappadocia and Tsukimi started opening the boxes, a veritable zombie-horde of hungry, hungry children immediately dismembers the pizzas in Tsukimi's hands. In the blink of an eye the boxes laid empty, all the kids having somehow distributed the food between them. They chewed with gastronomic vigor, gulping down pizzas. They were too busy to even thank the girls. "Can't Talk, Eating" comes to mind.

Sister Dana Tren, an Asian-American lady a couple of inches short of five feet and the attending nun of the orphanage, came into the mess hall from her upper floor office with look of bewilderment. All had been quiet and solemn, but now the kids were being excited and their fingers covered in mozzarella. She walks over to Danny. "Wait a minute here. Who... who are you? what is this? I didn't order any pizza."

"That would be me, actually. I ordered the pizza, sister. I also brought some soda." A voice suddenly called out, and there right behind sister Dana was Diana, carrying two grocery bags filled with all sorts of colorful carbonated beverages. She was in her as usual pricey winter outfit, complete with a grey-black hoodie with dark feathery accents. "Who are you two?" She looked at the two girls, though the question didn't sound too curious. Sister Dana looked a bit spooked; Diana made no sound of her entry.

"Hey there! so you are the caller from earlier today! these two ladies helped me complete the delivery!" Cappadocia said, saving one last pizza for the girls as promised and setting out plates.

"Oh. that's pretty big of you. I'm Diana Mendoza." She extended a hand to shake in greeting, but said hand had a bag of soda in it.

The swarm of hunger washed over the two Christmas themed heroines. Well one was Christmas themed. And one was a heroine. "Danny-san, I believe they ate our pizza. I am now hungry."

"Well, you wanted to help." More pizza disappeared in front of Danny, but she did nothing to save herself a piece. "We can pick something up later."

"We need to find a way to get toys to the children. And shoes. Coats as well, because it is cold." Tsukimi pulled her sweater down to look it over. "I remember where I got this sweater, we can-"

"It is never cold enough for that sweater."

A young woman walked in holding bags of soda. She looked good enough in the heart, perhaps a new Prodigy prospect. "I'm Danny. This is Suzy." Tsukimi gave a  small bow. "We just helped out Mr Cappadocia and were about to go buy some presents."

"We plan on stocking this house with yule tide. Possibly buying a new roof."

"We were going to start with new toys and see where that goes."

"I have Bliss' credit card."

"We were going to buy a new roof."

"Ha! A new roof? And who's Bliss? Okay okay, I suppose we can go buy presents tonight. Some stores might still be open." Diana laughed and asked skeptically, agreeing in tone. Considering how many luxury brands she was wearing there was almost a hint of insensitivity from Diana. She seemed a tad entitled despite her good natured donation of pizza.

Diana went over to Cappadocian and grabbed herself a slice of cheesy, meaty Italian pizza and popped herself open a soda. She looked at the girls. "Oh wait... you're serious?" She asked, after a moment of awkward silence.

There was an interlude in the dialogue when a little boy in old clothes came out. "Oh. Hey there Mutt." Diana said, greeting the kid with less than Christmas cheer.

"Mutt? Diana please, His name is Matthew." Sister Dana corrected, the prim and proper sister disapproving of his old street name.

"You here today." He said in a rough, halting tone, not quite familiar with the nuances of english.

"Sigh...Yes." Diana replied rather coolly, seeing the kid she had saved from a previous... event.

"Diana, You are here." He repeated with a rather dull grin and got closer.

"You already said that." Diana pointed the obvious.

"Why?" He then asked.

"Because."

"What is because?"

"Ugh..." Diana had to fight the urge to roll her eyes.

"Who you?" Mutt's attention was then divided among the girls. The little smelly boy had no notion of proper space and got up close, staring at them with wide eyes.

Sister Dana came to their rescue and guided Mutt away, the boy still staring at them. "Matthew dear, that's enough, join the children. Please forgive him, he is still learning how to communicate properly."

"He should learn to bathe first. Anyway, I guess we're going out?" She turned to Danny and Tsukumi, polishing off her pizza in Dragon Girl time. "...Let's hurry so I can get away from Scrappy Doo." Diana murmured to Danny as she got closer, closing up her jacket and heading outside.

"Uh, yeah. We're serious?" The conversation did not hold a great deal of confidence in her tone, but going out and spending a nearly unlimited amount seemed like a good way to spend the holidays. "We might as well. Bliss will never notice." Yes she will, bitch.

"Okay, this looks better." Tsukimi fixed a cloth on the wall.

"Did you cover up Jesus?" Danny looked to the nun and then to Tsukimi.

"Yeah. It's morbid. Why do you have statues of the guy you worship dying? He did other things you know? Where are the statues of healing and feeding the poor."

"They're-" Danny extended her finger before withdrawing her complaint. "Um, just take the cloth off Suzy."

Tsukimi shrugged before taking the cloth off and walking over towards Danny and Diana. A small boy walked into the frame, asking very odd questions and inspiring rude responses from the water girl. "Don't be mean to the little boy." Tsukimi stepped in front of the boy to shield him. "He's just missing something. We are people who are going to help you." Her slender hand brushed against his shoulder.

"We can go. I'll drive." Danny walked out while Tsukimi stayed behind for a moment.

The plans of getting to Danny's car and leaving found a complication when the engine refused to turn over. "This might not be great. What is with cars breaking down tonight?"

Sister Dana wanted to move to uncover the statue but found herself occupied with keeping Mutt from approaching the other orphans and invading their personal space. "Jesus's death represents something symbolic and-" Dana paused and realized that was a legitimate question. "...This was a Seminary after all." She settles on the technical answer.

The little boy looked at Tsukimi's interaction with the old statue. "Who that. Look Hurts." He asked, curious with a wide eyed, mouth open stare at the big J's statue.

"Some good guy with good intentions who got himself killed." Diana summed up her feeling about the subject, before joining Danny outside. Apparently, Danny's vehicle wouldn't start, threatening to keep them at the orphanage with all the now fueled up kids with nothing to do.

"Don't look at me, I just take Uber." Diana explained.

"Wait! you really want to go out and buy some things at this hour? why not just come back tomorrow?" Sister Dana the doubter followed the girls outside in the cold, wearing a Christmas scarf around her habit.

"But we're so hyped for getting stuff for them now." Diana said with enthusiasm.

"You could stay and play with the kids." Dana offered, to which Diana again, felt the need to turn away so Dana couldn't see or hear her scoff.

"Nooo...." Diana thought of a solution, when she eyed Sister Dana's Ford Fiesta in the driveway. "We could Uber... or we could borrow your car! The store's like, four blocks away, we can totally get back in an hour."

Doubting Dana crossed her arms, then looked at Danny. "Your license better not be a learner's permit." She gets the keys out of her nun purse and tosses them Danny's way.

"Oh, don't worry; it's not a learners permit." Danny took the keys to the Fiesta and clicked the car unlocked. The door opened with a good deal of ease and most of the car looked clean. "My license may not be from this country, but it is in fact not a learner's permit." Danny smiled as she fastened her seatbelt.

"You lied to a nun." The image of Tsukimi showed up in the rearview mirror.

"I just didn't tell the whole truth. Look, we're getting toys for orphans. I think it all evens out." The engine turned over smoothly as Danny waited for Diana to get in the passenger seat.

"You did not tell her the truth and it was wrong."

"You covered up a statue of Jesus and said it was creepy. That's just as bad as lying to nun." The background changed as the Fiesta moved back, but Tsukimi stayed in the mirror.

"Because of your wicked behavior, we will now have terrible luck and be visited by horrible villains." The omens came from a pair of crossed arms, holding tight to the green reindeer standing next to a woven Santa Clause. Tsukimi looked just as angry as Bliss, but for all the opposite reasons. "I just hope the evil that will be visited upon us by your bad choices will not cause harm to others when we go to the mall."

"Okay, so ignore her. Where should we go to get those kids toys, shoes, and coats?"

Diana took her place in the passenger seat and, being a total rebel, did not buckle up for safety. She takes out her pricey mobile device, always the latest model, and began searching for nearby stores with taps of her fingers on the screen. "Let's see... hmmm... there's an All Night Mall 5 blocks away. Take a left turn at the fourth intersection down this street... but it's closing early so we better hurry."

Tsukimi would see that most of Sister' Dana's mess in the backseat, boxes of religious pamphlets, religious paraphernalia, Bibles, rosaries and her change of plain clothes. It was a miracle indeed to get anyone to sit there without having Christianity fight for seating space. Dana was not that much older than Danny and company and thus had similar though much more frugal tastes.

Tsukimi's space would be further shrunk by Diana pushing the seat back so she could comfortably put her feet on the dashboard. As they drove, the Ravens once again followed above, this time closely as their master rode in the car itself.

"All the single ladies!" Danny continued to drive while her shoulders bobbed along to the radio. For a nun, Dana kept an ear on some interesting things.

Tsukimi managed to slide herself into a position between the stack of bibles and some crucifixes. "All the single ladies!"

"All the single ladies!" The car continued through the down beaten part of town until they came to a more busy intersection.

"All the single ladies!"

"If you like it then you should have put a ring on it!" Both girls continued through the chorus as Danny pulled through the intersection and made her way towards the mall.

"There's a conspiracy behind us." Tsukimi looked up from her slouched position from behind the front canopy.

"A what?" The music died down a little as Danny tried to take in what Tsukimi wanted to alert her to.

"A group of ravens. It's a conspiracy."

"I thought a group of crows was an unkindness." Danny pulled into the parking lot of the mall as she took noticed of the ravens. "Hey." Danny reached over to poke Diana. "Google that."

"No, it's a conspiracy of ravens." Now sitting up, Tsukimi undid her seat belt as Danny put the Fiesta in park.

"Why are you interested in a bunch of birds anyways? Don't we have more important things to do?" The driver door opened and Danny stepped into the cold night air. Her sweater felt as though the warm air pulled around her chest came under an emigration.

"It looks wicked. And you lied to a nun, so something wicked is going to happen to you, and you dragged me into this wickedness."

Diana rolled her eyes at the song and at the girls singing. She was acting like she was too cool to sing along.

"Yeah something like that. Are you sure it's not a Murder of Crows? Anyway what should we get? Ponies for the girls, Transformers for the boys?" Diana asked, mentally directing the Ravens to fly ahead and scout the mall, making little hand gestures as she did.

Once they found a spot, Diana the Bloodsword exited the Fiesta, and noticed something was off. "Something's wrong here. There's a massive sale going on but no one's around." Diana looked around and saw that some of the cars in the parking lot were left open, groceries left in the backseat, some of them fallen to the ground.

People left in a hurry, of that Diana had no doubt. Consider the nice boots that were close enough to Danny she couldn't miss them... Prada. Lying on the ground. In plain sight. Just her size.

While the Ravens reconnoitered the interior of the mall, the parking lot Subway stall was shaking violently. Its service door crashed open, and there stood the ugliest beast this season. A large canine, mutated, hairless, face pulled back slightly to reveal its swollen fangs and jaw. It wolfed down whole Salami and Pepperoni, and even chomped down on bacon, hard boiled eggs and whole wheat buns. It eyed the girls, barking loudly and aggressively.

"...I think that thing is still hungry." Diana suggested. It seemed they walked in on trouble.