Marvel: Impregnation System

"CLERP, CLERP!" 

Ricky's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding as a naked Irene clung to his side as he bolted upright, his wild gaze darting toward the window.

There, before his eyes, was a sight so unbelievable that no one would ever take him seriously and yet, to this day, he swears that he saw a retarted cross-eyed bluejay.

It didn't even chirp properly, its call distorted and offbeat, while its oddly misshapen head added to the unsettling sight, like the crowning achievement of generations of inbreeding gone horribly wrong.

Ricky's face twisted in a mix of disgust and disbelief, really taking a second to admire the grossness of it since it felt as if he couldn't look away.

CRACK

Then, without hesitation, the bird launched itself from the branch, only to crash headfirst into the glass window with a sickening thud, snapping its neck on impact.

"What the fu-"

"Huh, what is it?" Irene tiredly asked, still clinging to him as she raised her head to see his confused expression.

"A suicidal bird, Ithink?" Ricky was almost speechless, watching some of the blue feathers slowly trickle down from the window while Irene kissed his shoulder.

"Let's go back to sleep-"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Sarah whined from downstairs, screaming almost at the top of her lungs as Irene hit her forehead against his back.

"I'll go check on her, you get your rest." Ricky caressed her cheek, his hand gently caressing her cheek as he leaned down, his lips meeting hers in a soft, graceful touch, like some sort of unspoken promise.

"Thank you," Irene smiled, her body aching from last night, knowing how much she needed that rest as he slowly sat up beside her.

Walking over to the closet, Ricky's eyes fell on a white, puffy robe, meant for Carlo's mother, that now seemed destined to be draped around his bare form.

As Ricky descended the spiral stairs, Sarah's frustrations echoed through the air as he eventually made his way to the kitchen, where he found his new capo, Johnny, locked in a heated argument with his kid.

"First of all, you can't be a Yankees fan. All of Luciano's family are New York Giants fans." Johnny slammed his hands on the counter, his resolve clear as he tried to convert her to the dark side.

"No!" Sarah pouted, crossing her arms defiantly, her Yankees baseball cap sitting snugly atop her head.

"You do know that the Luciano family, your family, owns the giants-'

"Wait, what?" Ricky asked, stepping in from the side as he walked over to the refrigerator, noticing Sarah holding up her empty plate and pointing to her stomach, signaling she wanted breakfast.

"Since when?" Ricky asked, holding up the egg carton and Sarah nodded, her silent confirmation clear as he also pulled out some Wonder Bread.

"B-Boss?!" Johnny flinched, instinctively showing his respect to Ricky by ducking his head but he gestured for him to sit next to Sarah for breakfast.

"You didn't know? Lucky bought the team back when he was still the boss," Johnny said, watching Ricky Luciano, the head of the Luciano family, start to make a casual breakfast.

"Really?"

Ricky didn't remember much, as the conversation had been so brief but four years ago, when he was beginning to question what to do with his money before ultimately sinking it all into Coca-Cola, he had unknowingly altered the future.

FLASHBACK CHAPTER 52

"We should buy a sports team." Ricky suddenly spoke up, causing Lucky to lower the paper and raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"That's-......…..that's actually a good way to launder money." Lucky was about to say something but then realized he could pamper the books with more people than there were and no one would actually count them.

"That's a really good idea." Lucky took out a little notebook and started writing something down before looking back up.

"Baseball, right?" Lucky asked, but Ricky simply shrugged.

"Yeah sure." Ricky took a bite of his eggs while Lucky began pondering which team to choose.

"We can't strong arm the yank's since their huge cause of that Babe Ruth, what do you think of the New York Giants?" Lucky asked as Ricky tilted his head.

"The football team?" Ricky asked, and Lucky tilted his head in response.

"Football, that crappy sport?" Lucky set down his glasses and gazed at Ricky weirdly.

"Crappy?" Ricky was also confused until he remembered that he hadn't heard about football at all.

"And Baseball isn't the most boring sport ever?" Ricky retorted but Lucky only gave him a weird look.

Baseball was enormous here in New York, or at least it seemed to be during this era, since he'd never encountered anyone who didn't bring it up in conversation.

"Nevermind." Ricky saw Lucky wasn't about to budge; he had better things to worry about and Lucky started writing something back down in his notebook.

"It might cost a pretty penny," Lucky said with a smirk, already deep in thought. 

"But from the rumors I've heard about Charles, the owner of the New York Giants, and the American soccer league, I'm confident we could strike a deal." Lucky began mapping out his plans while Ricky rose from his seat.

As Ricky left to handle his own affairs, Lucky lingered in thought, his cane tapping softly against the floor in a steady rhythm. 

Although the move forming in his mind was bold, the opportunity was too ripe to ignore. 

He knew timing was everything in their line of work, and now, in 1932, the game was as much about guile as it was muscle.

Baseball games were a perfect front for laundering money since back then, the sport's main revenue streams came from home games, concessions, and jersey sales, almost entirely transacted in cash.

The scheme concocting in Lucky mind was simple yet effective: suppose 1,000 people attended a game, each paying 35 cents a ticket. 

A savvy operator like Lucky would cook the books, inflating the attendance to 1,500 and then the extra 'tickets sold' accounted for the dirty money he needed to funnel through the organization.

Once the money passed through the books, it was taxed and deemed legitimate. 

By the time it came out the other side, it was clean and Lucky, often reinvested these laundered funds back into the business, ensuring the operation not only stayed afloat but thrived. 

It was a cycle of growth and control, and Lucky never let an opportunity to tighten his grip on this city go unwasted.

This cycle would also repeat, each iteration compounding the scheme's success, with concessions folded seamlessly into the process. 

The money moved smoothly, laundering itself again and again, but there was one crucial step Lucky had to take before the plan could truly flourish, he had to acquire the team.

Soon after Ricky left, Lucky followed, stepping into his chauffeured car, however, instead of his usual destination, he made a different stop.

"Aye, Pete, drive me to Brain's operations before heading to the Giants' headquarters," Lucky instructed, leaning back and rubbing his chin as he pieced together the strategy he would be using later.

Those few simple words guided Lucky straight to the office of none other than Charles Abraham Stoneham.

To understand the man behind the name, a brief history of Stoneham's career paints the picture of a figure as cunning as he was controversial. 

Born into the world of finance, Stoneham began humbly as a board boy in a bustling New York City brokerage office, tasked with updating stock transactions but his sharp instincts and ambition soon elevated him to the role of stock salesman.

By 1913, he had established his own brokerage, Charles A. Stoneham & Company, where he built his fortune. 

Not one to limit his ventures, he expanded his reach in 1917 by purchasing the Sierra Nevada mine in Jefferson, Nevada. 

However, his business empire took a precarious turn in 1921 when he dissolved his brokerage, persuading his investors to transfer their accounts to other New York firms.

The collapse of one such firm, E.M. Fuller & Company, in 1922, triggered a high-profile bankruptcy case that implicated Stoneham. 

Accusations surfaced that he had been a silent partner and had lied under oath during the investigation as the scandal culminated in his indictment for perjury by a Federal grand jury on August 31, 1923.

As this legal storm brewed, another brokerage tied to Stoneham's dealings, E.D. Dier & Company, also folded. 

Once again, criminal allegations surrounded him, leading to a second indictment in September 1923, this time for mail fraud in connection to defrauding Dier's clients. 

Yet Stoneham, ever slippery, emerged unscathed and he was acquitted of all charges, his reputation bruised but his wealth and influence intact which he used to buy the New York Giants.

What truly set Charles Stoneham on an uncharted path was a fateful ultimatum delivered by the league's commissioner: sell his gambling houses or forfeit his stake in the New York Giants.

Faced with no other choice, Charles resolved to stake everything on sports, believing it to be the future.

Despite his determination, the echoes of late-night gambling sessions still haunted him, reminders of a life he had left behind but could never entirely escape. 

It was this boldness, this relentless drive to prove himself, that pushed Charles further into the realm of sports. 

He poured the last of his wealth into the American Soccer League, convinced it would be his next triumph.

But when the Great Depression struck, those dreams collapsed and those aspirations of owning a successful soccer team disintegrated, taking with them the remainder of his fortune.

Now, afflicted with Bright's disease, Charles's health was failing, leaving him with only one treasure of value, the New York Giants. 

But even that last lifeline was slipping through his grasp as Lucky stepped into his office, ready to seize the opportunity.

"If it ain't the last person I expected to walk into my office, Lucky Luciano," Charles's morbidly obese form greeted, his voice and breath heavy with surprise.

"In the flesh," Lucky said, spreading his arms wide and smiling from ear to ear while Charles gave a slow nod in response.

"I would get up and shake your hand but-"

"You stuck in that chair?" Lucky interrupted, teasing the man and Charles nearly cackled, struggling to contain his laughter as he shifted in his seat.

"Oh, Lucky, you dog!" Charles laughed, slapping the armrest of his chair before he winced slightly, struggling to move due to his kidney inflammation. 

Most days, he was confined to the chair, which explained why he had become so morbidly obese.

"It's nice to see you again Charles, I-"

"Oh, come on, Lucky, you know I'm not one of those suckers. Just give it to me straight, what do you want, or what do I owe you?" Charles chuckled, already aware of the game and deciding it was better to play along than pretend otherwise.

"Ha~" Lucky let out a long, drawn-out laugh, leaning back as he looked at Charles as he casually rubbed his thumb against the top of his ivory cane, a glint of thoughtfulness in his eyes.

"I bought your debts from Arnold 'The Brain' Rothstein." Lucky said with a sad smile, turning his gaze upward slightly as Charles sighed, rubbing his mouth as he processed the news.

"Damn, so I'm on the other end of the table now." Charles muttered, a touch of irony in his voice. He had literally built his wealth by being in Lucky's position, and now, here he was.

Charles built his fortune by specializing in buying up company debt, using it as leverage to exert control.

If a company failed to repay, he'd take the next calculated step, betting against them by orchestrating a decline in their stock value through a network of outside buyers.

It was illegal, sure, but only fools believed wealth came from hard work alone. 

True fortune wasn't earned; it was taken.

 You could toil your way to being a millionaire, maybe, but to reach the heights of a billionaire?

That required stepping on necks and stabbing backs and wealth wasn't just a game, it was a war, and Charles played to win.

But unfortunately, so did others and this time, he was on the defensive.

"Let me guess, it's a lot," Charles asked, leaning over the desk, his neck's flab sagging as he studied Lucky.

"And let me take another guess, I have something you want." Charles raised an eyebrow, watching as Lucky's smile grew.

Lucky didn't need to say a word; his actions spoke volumes. 

With a slow, deliberate motion, he spread his arms wide, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

Charles's eyes widened in response, the realization dawning on him like a heavy weight settling in his chest.

"Lucky, no-"

"Charles."

"This is all I have-"

"Charles."

"This is my legacy-"

"Charles." 

Eventually, Lucky's voice, steady and unwavering, grew to dominate the room, each word carrying the weight of inevitability as his tone never changed, yet it towered over Charles, crushing him with its sheer presence. 

Lucky's gaze was unrelenting, deadly, cold, and resolute as he stared down at the dying man, poised to strip away the very last thing he had left.

"You got too many bad debts, now all owned by me." Lucky words were calm and concise, walking Charles through the process since he could no longer stand on his own two feet.

"You've been a busy man, Charles. I mean, America's suffering its biggest setback, and here you are gambling with enough money to feed a hundred families." Lucky stood up from his chair, admiring the multiple portraits of the team and its players, though there were no trophies in sight.

"Lucky, listen, I can pay it back-"

"Charles, buddy, you're 350,000 in the hole," Lucky chuckled, turning around as his words silenced Charles, who froze when Lucky stopped in front of the first Giants' group photo.

"Your soccer team failed, and now you're left with even more bad debt, which won't be covered by all the savings from its dissolution." Lucky narrated Charles' situation, spelling out only one end to his story, bankruptcy.

"So I'm gonna give you an offer." Lucky pulled out a check, placing it on Charles's desk as he watched him intently.

"You paid a million for this team before the crash, so I'll humor you. I'll wipe your debt clean and give you a fresh check for 750K," Lucky emphasized, making it clear that he bought the team before the crash, meaning the organization hadn't increased in value, it had actually decreased.

"You'll cash out, live out the rest of your days, and pass on the remainder to your kid," Lucky said, slowly backing up all while Charles gulped, looking up at Lucky, whose eyes had turned fierce.

"And before you ask, if I walk out of here today without what I want, I'll recoup it in interest," Lucky added, his tone cold and unwavering, making Charles slightly avert his eyes since that only meant one thing.

"Then, when I've broken you down into digestible-sized pieces, I'll devour you whole for pennies on the dollar. So take the money, while I'm still being nice." Lucky knew Charles, and more than that, actually liked the man, but this was something he wanted, and that was enough.

Charles looked at the check, his hand clenching into a fist as the only one who should've known about this was Brain, but it was useless now.

He knew that Lucky would never let him go now, his gaze fixed on him like a predator and although Charles might have been a snake, when he looked at Lucky, all he saw was a lion.

FLASHBACK END

"So Charles sold the team to Lucky and it's been under Luciano management since then." Johnny explained, munching on the eggs along with Sarah who was weirdly putting ketchup on them.

Unbeknownst to Ricky, the Luciano family's influence extended beyond organized crime and into the world of baseball fandom. 

Everyone within the family and those living in their territories gradually became fervent fans of the New York Giants. 

This shift sparked an unexpected phenomenon: New Yorkers, who had long favored the Yankees, began to buckle under social pressures, with a significant number, primarily residents of Harlem along with Brooklyn, switching their allegiance to the Giants.

Over the years, this transformation fueled a fierce rivalry that divided the city not just by boroughs but by class. 

The territories under Luciano control, dominated by the working and lower-middle classes, rallied behind the Giants. 

Meanwhile, the wealthier residents, insulated from the Luciano family's sway and rarely venturing into their influence, remained loyal to the Yankees.

This brewing tension culminated in an infamous event later dubbed the "Scrap Yard of '34".

On September 13, 1934, players from the Yankees and Giants dugouts clashed in a full-blown fight, spilling onto the field. 

But the fight didn't stop there; the fans took the battle into the streets, escalating into a city-wide melee and law enforcement had to mobilize every available unit to contain the pandemonium.

It was absolute madness, one of the most violent chapters in the city's sport history, and all a ripple effect of Ricky's influence. 

The rivalry that emerged became legendary, one of the bloodiest and most heated in baseball's storied past.

"Well, would you look at that?" Ricky muttered, munched on a piece of perfectly cooked toast, shrugging as he now became a Giants fan.

"And I'm trying to convert the newest princess here but she says she likes the Yankees cause of their colors, but she needs to be a giants fan-"

"NO!" Sarah pouted, scrunching her brows at Johnny who held up one of the Giants caps.

"YES!"

"NO!"

"Sarah." Ricky called out, finishing his piece of toast and grabbing the cap.

"Yeah, daddy?" Sarah looked over at Ricky, accepting him as her father after the pasta he cooked her last night, knowing that only someone who could make that good of food could be her daddy.

"You're a Giants fan." Ricky lectured her, putting the Giants cap on her head as she gave him a tooth smile.

"Okay!" Sarah happily agreed, turning back to her own toast as Johnny mouth hung agape at how easy it was for him.

Smiling, Ricky wiped a smudge of ketchup from Sarah's face as she continued eating without a care in the world.

"I gotta go to work. Let your mommy sleep in, got it?" Ricky raised a brow, watching Sarah munch on her toast without acknowledging him.

It was then that Ricky started writing a small note, carefully placing it next to a plate filled with his home-cooked breakfast.

It was then that Ricky started writing a small note, carefully placing it next to a plate filled with his home-cooked breakfast.

"Okay!" Sarah chirped, reaching for another piece of toast as Ricky gestured for Johnny to step aside.

"How are the kids?" Ricky asked, his question layered with complexities, referring not to children but to the new generation of Luciano family grunts.

"They're good," Johnny replied quickly, ducking his head and Ricky sighed, coming to a stop and pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"But?"

"But, none of them get along and it's not even close."

"F*ck Johnny." Ricky sighed, walking out of the mansion with an annoyed expression while Johnny hurried behind him.

"It's gonna take time, these things-"

"Johnny, listen to me." Ricky began, his tone sharp with frustration, holding back his anger since it wasn't Johnny's fault that the kids hated one another. 

"I need this to happen. I need to flip the mutants from under the control of those damn eyeballs, but I can't do that if I don't even get a f*cking smidge of progress." Ricky's voice rose slightly as his irritation showed, watching Johnny rub the back of his neck awkwardly.

Sigh

"Just keep at it Johnny, I need them to mesh, it's important to the future of the Lucaino family." Ricky waved Johnny off, walking down the steps of the mansion with a light sigh.

"Go above and beyond if need be because I need this to work, but it can't have my direct influence or they'll never get along by themselves." 

Ricky found himself at a crossroads as he could see the future he envisioned for the family, a unified, unstoppable powerhouse, but forcing it into reality too quickly would risk shattering everything. 

The old guys were too stubborn and immovable, they obeyed Ricky only out of respect for his position as boss, not because they truly believed in his vision.

The younger generation, however, was a different story. 

Their ideals and values were still malleable, open to influence and change.

Ricky knew this was his opportunity and if he played his cards right, he could shape them, instilling the principles and ambitions that aligned with his vision for the Luciano family's future. 

It was a low move, perhaps, but Ricky was pragmatic and the ends justified the means, and he would do whatever it took to secure the legacy he dreamed of.

Ricky was beginning to bloom as a leader, finally setting a goal, planting the seeds, but needing some f*cking rain to really blossom.

"I need this, Johnny, and you know how much I reward people who pull through for me," Ricky said, descending the steps with purpose whileJohnny hesitated, watching Ricky walk down the path, his presence commanding even from behind.

However unlike others who wanted to branch off, Johnny wanted to see what it was Ricky wanted to become, where he wanted to lead the Luciano family, and ultimately gained another loyal follower as he rushed after him.

"I swear, boss, I won't let you down!" Johnny called out, his voice laced with determination. 

Before he could say anything more, Ricky casually opened a portal and stepped through, vanishing without another word. 

Left alone, Johnny stood there, scratching his head as he grappled with the daunting task of uniting two social classes that despised each other.

Eventually, Irene came downstairs, rubbing her lower back as she made her way to the freshly brewed pot of coffee. 

A smile crept across her face when she saw Sarah doing a little dance while eating her breakfast. 

It was then that Irene noticed her own plate, and on it, a note as she slowly reached for it, and read the words, that made her smile grow even sweeter.

I had some work I had to take care of, but I made you a little something.

P.S. You're gorgeous, don't ever let anyone tell you differently. And if they do, come find me, I'll take care of them just like I'll always take care of you.

Ricky

"Oh Ricky~"

Arriving at the Luciano family manor, Ricky was eager to grab Chester for some help with the DD14s as he didn't fully understand them yet and figured Chester could shed some light on the matter while seeing what Alexander was up to.

But most of all, Ricky wanted to check on Raven, knowing that the whole suicide ordeal was really weighing on her mind. 

Honestly, he hadn't seen it coming at all, he'd expected either a heated fling or some long-standing grudge between Irene Adler, but everything had flipped on its head when she went and offed herself, willingly.

BOOM

A loud boom echoed through the air, and without a second thought, Ricky launched himself forward. 

He used his barriers as stepping stones to run through the air, leaping over the mansion and landing in the backyard.

"What was that-"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Alexander's maniacal laugh rang out, standing triumphantly on Bucephalus' mighty form.

"And get that one too, that damn stump has been bothering me forever," Lucky grumbled, pointing to the side as he hobbled over to a stubborn tree stump that had cost him a small fortune, and yet, it remained rooted firmly in the ground.

"BUCEPHALUS, SHOW THEM YOUR STRENGTH!" Alexander roared, commanding his mighty steed. 

With a powerful charge, Bucephalus turned its body and slammed its hooves into the tree stump, shaking the ground beneath them.

BOOM

The tree stump nearly disintegrated under the sheer force of the horse's power, its roots cracking and splintering as Alexander let out another triumphant cackle, reveling in the display of his steed's towering strength.

"I-I don't get what I'm watching." Ricky really didn't understand, looking around only for Raven to walk over with Danielle in her arms, resting her head on her shoulder.

"Oh don't act like you didn't know." Raven scoffed, walking up to Ricky before kissing him on the cheek.

"Okay yeah, I knew, but I didn't think-"

"DESTROY MY ENEMIES BUCEPHALUS, LET US CHARGE FORTH TOWARDS THE SWEET RELIEF OF DEATH OR THE GLORIOUS ACT OF VICTORY!" Alexander roared, his cry invigorating Bucephalus who was ready to charge forth into the Persian army once more if commanded.

"He's been like this throughout the night and all morning." Chester notified Ricky, perching atop his shoulder and looking on at Alexander reliving his glory days.

"Can I pet the horsey now?" Danielle asked Raven in a quiet voice, pouting almost while reaching out her little hand.

"No honey, that horse is crazy along with the gerbil riding it." Raven warmly said, kissing Danielle's blond hair since she was the only normal one within this manor.

It wouldn't be strange for Raven to not understand that Ricky had women around him, in fact, she had already known about them before she even mingled with Ricky.

Her extensive background check revealed the possibilities that he had multiple women and even some illegitimate children, but honestly, Raven wasn't surprised. 

She had lived for far too long, and in too many empires and kingdoms that boasted numerous partners, to be fazed by such things.

The only thing that mattered to her was becoming the center of focus. It wasn't safe to say she was content with being a mistress, what she truly craved was Ricky eventually coming home to her.

Sure, he could go out and sleep with any woman he wanted, but the main thing for her was knowing he would always come home to her, just like he was doing now.

"Aye, good work, Alexander. Those stumps were driving me nuts." Lucky held up his thumb, reaching into his coat and pulling out the agreed-upon terms, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"And these are the rare-"

"Sunflower seeds from the Caribbean that some of my boys got a while back, I ain't one to short change you." Lucky held up his hand, stopping Alexander who received the bag of sunflower seeds that were bigger than him.

"And there's Ezmerilda with the carrots." Lucky turned to the side, seeing the woman walk over with a bucket full of carrots and other vegetables, placing it beneath Bucephalus.

"Tiger, take them with you, because if I have to hear another speech of how that pair laid waste to their enemies, I'm going to freak out." Raven's voice was warm and sweet, but her eyes were vicious since she could barely sleep with those two prancing around.

Sigh

"Yeah but I don't wanna listen to that either-"

"Tiger, please~" Raven purred, knowing that if the venomous approach didn't work, then the lustful one had to do as she gently stroked her hand down his chest.

"You know what, I think I can make it work." Ricky, thinking he was going to get some sugar tonight if he agreed, promptly agreed as Raven kissed his cheek.

"You need anything, like some money or?" Ricky asked, reaching into his suit and grabbing his money clip.

"Just be home for dinner." Raven patted his cheek, walking back to the house with Danielle in her arms as she waved goodbye to Ricky who returned the gesture.

Lucky didn't even realize Ricky had arrived; instead, he was focused on the backyard, now clear of those pesky tree stumps, already envisioning a gazebo and maybe even a pool.

"Aye Alexander, what the hell man?" Ricky spread out his arms, looking at Alexander completely unaware of his surroundings while munching on his newly acquired sunflower seeds.

"Ah Ricky, you're here, great!" Alexander, upon seeing Ricky, tucked the sunflower seed into his cheek for later before standing up.

"This is-"

"Your mighty stead Bucephalus, I know man I heard you announce it already." Ricky finished Alexander's words, walking up to him and this horse that looked as if he was on steroids.

"But c'mon, man, I get you're excited and all, but my girl and kid sleep here," Ricky frowned, not mad at all. 

He understood that the horse meant something to Alexander, but he just wanted to shed some light that he wasn't the only one in the house.

"Ah, I see. My excitement has led to my actions becoming too boisterous," Alexander muttered, finally snapping out of his mood as he had been so engrossed in meeting up with his old friend that he had forgotten exactly where he was, a residential neighborhood.

"But may I still continue the introduction?" Alexander inquired, watching Ricky have a deadpan expression since he knew exactly what the word 'introduction' meant to this gerbil.

Sigh

"Yeah go ahead-"

AHEM

"This is Bucephalus, the very horse I rode to cross the Hellespont, the horse that led the march towards the Persian Empire, when we broke the might of Darius and toppled the walls of Persia itself. With him, I charged through the ancient lands of Asia Minor, from the moment we first set foot on foreign soil to the sands of the Persian heartland. This is the steed that carried me through the great Battle of the Granicus, where our cavalry shattered the Persian lines, and the Battle of Issus, where we faced Darius's vast army and struck fear into the heart of their king." Alexander immediately started his form of introduction, his words making Bucephalus swell in pride as he raised his mighty head upwards in triumph all while Ricky simply sat on a nearby bench, waiting it out.

"Bucephalus was the one who, alongside me, broke through the enemy's center at Gaugamela, where the Persian army stood in their thousands, certain of victory. But they did not account for the fury of our charge. The battle was a storm, a clash of two worlds, and Bucephalus charged through the storm with the determination of a god. With each strike of his hooves, we tore through their ranks, their walls of soldiers falling like waves crashing against jagged rocks." Alexander was getting a little too caught up in it, going all in while lost in the tales of their exploits as Ricky got out his deck of cards and started playing with Chester, equally uninterested.

"Together, we conquered the great city of Persepolis, whose walls rose high and proud, mocking us as we approached. But those walls, like all others, fell before us. Bucephalus carried me through the gates of that city, leading the charge as we swept through its defenses. And there, at the heart of the Persian Empire, we broke their spirit. We did not just conquer a city, but we brought an empire to its knees. And in the end, it was Bucephalus who stood with me as we gazed upon the fall of Persia-" Alexander just rambled on, it was as if his own words prompted out more while retelling almost everything they ever did.

Bucephalus wasn't his horse for nothing, relishing in the tales of old while prancing around at his achievements being narrated by his most trusted rider.

HUFF

HUFF

HUFF

Alexander spoke until he was out of breath and just when Ricky, along with Chester, looked up, he puffed out his furry chest.

"OH HOW MY ENEMIES TREMBLED AT THE SOUND OF BUCEPHALUS HOOVES-" Alexander roared, continuing his next iteration while Ricky slammed his forehead into the bench while Chester patted his back with his wing.

Literally 1 hour later,

"This horse, this warrior, is not just a companion; he is my equal. He has been with me through every victory, every hardship, and every triumph. There is no other steed in the world that could ever match him, and no other soul that could have walked beside me through the storms we faced." Alexander finally finished, hugging Bucephalus mane as the horse wanted to shed tears but he was too strong for such a weak act.

'This shop blows today too.' Ricky thought, drowning out Alexander with the IP shop since he had around 310,000 points but no skill or item really screamed out towards him.

He usually checked it once in a while, to refresh it, but nothing really grabbed his attention and it was why he closed it before seeing that Alexander was actually done.

"Bucephalus, this is Ricky, my disciple." Alexander introduced, gesturing towards him as the horse finally looked towards him, then away, showing him that even gazing at him was no worth more than a second of his time.

"You're f*cking kidding me." Ricky laughed, standing up and looking a little butthurt by his introduction.

"You spend an hour metaphorically jerking off this horse and give me just a couple of words, really?" Ricky couldn't believe it, staring at Alexander who merely shrugged, pointing at his mighty steed as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"This is Bucephalus, he is to me, what I am to you, you cannot compare-"

"But you couldn't at least humor me-you know what, f*ck you Alexander." Ricky laughed, flipping Alexander off while opening a portal.

"But he is my stead-"

"Oh I know, I know how much you love him." Ricky jerked off the air, mimicking how Alexander jerked off Bucephalus only moments ago.

"I did not do any jerking of any kind!" Alexander was firm in this standpoint, watching Ricky wave him off while walking into the portal.

"It was a little low to do all of that then simply say 'my disciple' to Ricky, I think you could've put in a little more effort." Chester gave his honest opinion, also sitting through that entire monologue before flying into the portal after Ricky.

"Were my efforts wrong Bucephalus-"

SNORT

Bucephalus snorted at the mere thought, shaking its head since they should be groveling at his riders feet for even daring to give him more than a minute of his time.

"Hmmm, let us follow and ponder more on this issue." Alexander pointed with his little paw, commanding Bucephalus forward as the horse charged forth into the unknown of this portal.

Arriving at Italiano's, Ricky immediately began asking Chester about the DD14, explaining where he was getting stuck as the crow listened in.

However, Ricky couldn't even make it to his seat or his stack of papers before he was suddenly met with the arrival of Chores. 

"Oh f*ck, is something wrong with the factory?" Ricky asked, his gut tightening as the possibility of a problem loomed as he could practically feel his pockets start to drain just at the thought.

"Wha-no, Slick, there's a problem with the coven," Chores stepped forward, his tone heavy with urgency. 

It was a serious enough matter that he, the only one without any magic power, was the one tasked with delivering the news directly to Ricky.

It was then that Alexander and Bucephalus stepped out of the portal, causing Chores to slightly tilt his head at the new addition to Ricky's crew. 

Sigh

"What's the problem then?"

Meanwhile in Staten Island,

Although the island seemed quiet, with regular citizens passing by in a distorted space created by the coven, a tense situation was unfolding.

Every single witch and warlock the coven could mobilize were unleashing dangerous amounts of magic. 

Hundreds of grimoires floated restlessly in the air, their pages flipping with unsettling speed. 

Even Agatha, her eyes narrowed, was surrounded by a swirl of purple energy, crackling and pulsing as if alive.

Because of one woman.

A bead of sweat trickled down Agatha's forehead as she stared at what appeared to be an ordinary witch. 

However, the witch's eyes gleamed with a dark green energy, one that pulsed ominously, signaling a looming disaster.

"Morgana, why have you come?"

Author's Note: I know the arc realy should've ended after he took hold of the Luciano family but there's some things I wanna fist get out of the way before building up to the next arc which is why I'm gonna extend it a bit.