Just gonna put this out, I don't expect this to be as good as AINCRAD. This story will be essentially similar to World Rings, following the theme of friends on a trip around the universe… but this story will be unique in the sense that we're focusing on two Newborn instead of one. And the two protagonists and quests in question will have notably different tones, but otherwise, I'm not planning to get too elaborate with the events. Like, I had such a good streak during AINCRAD and had the ideas clear in my head, but so far, I don't quite have that with this story, so it's better to just take it easy going into it.
And just as well, this story heavily ties to plot elements from Zelda: Araea's Mask, along with other bits of continuity and characters from preceding stories.
Secco; Ancient Wastelands
Being the second-closest planet to Galaxia's sun, Secco wasn't a popular place for a leisurely hike or a drive. Only the most sturdy of explorers could tolerate the desert heat. Unless of course you were a band of teens and a preteen out on a trip.
"Ugh, it's sooooo hot." Maria moaned, melting in the floor of the dune buggy. The 10-year-old Mushroomian wore a blue desert robe with a yellow keffiyeh. "Oliver, gimme another sip of Chilly Elixir."
"It should still be in effect for you, Maria." replied Oliver Orson. The almost-14-year-old had light-brown hair and blue eyes. He was thin and short for his age, wearing a yellow shirt and blue trousers that had straps going over the shoulders. He wore blue and white sneakers with light-red socks.
"Well, I need another sip." Kiki Yamaka sighed. She was about Oliver's age, a skinny dark-brown-haired witch with an old-timey blue dress, orange slip-on shoes, and a large red hair ribbon. She used her magic wand to make her broomstick levitate and flap wind over her sweaty form. "I'm about to melt in my own sweat."
"Alright then." Oliver pulled out an icy-blue potion in a bottle. Kiki took it and had a small sip.
"Ahhh…it would sure be nice to ride in a cool, air-conditioned ship."
"Well, nothing wrong with adapting to fresh desert air!" Romeo Conbolt grinned, folding his hands at the back of his purple hair. At 16 years, he was the oldest of his friends and bore a more muscular physique. His abs were visible through his dark-red, sleeveless robe, tied by a white sash. He wore green pants and brown boots, along with an orange scarf. He sat in the shotgun seat of the buggy.
"Yeah, says the firebender." remarked Philip Blakely, the buggy's driver. Like Oliver, he was fairly ordinary-looking, 15 years old with sandy-blonde hair, blue eyes with glasses, wearing a red polo shirt with blue, belted trousers and black sneakers. "I mean, I don't mind a good drive, but we'd get there a lot faster if we rest in a Vanish Box and let Wendy carry us."
"The KND guidelines say that we should enjoy the journey and embrace nature in-between mission objectives. That includes building tolerance to harsh environments, and gaining battle experience by fighting monsters and desert robbers. Otherwise, if we're not in a hurry, there's no harm in taking the scenic route."
"Like these Tusken Raiders will give us any more experience than the Pirate War." Kiki remarked, referring to the rogue desert dwellers that had tried to assault them, only to be left upturned or bewitched in the sand. "…Uh-oh, another sandstorm's coming."
A great cloud of sand came blowing from the left. Thankfully, their leader, Wendy Marvell, came rushing back. "Sky Dragon's WAVE!" With a great brush of her arms, the sand blew away from her team. Wendy was 15 years old, defined by her deep blue hair, which was currently in a ponytail. She wore a sky-blue, wrapped top, a dark-blue skirt with gold strings hanging from the edges, and firm sky-blue sandals sandals. Thin and sturdy, Wendy was probably the fastest runner in the KND, for her airbending came with speed that matched Sonic's. This was on top of being a talented mage.
With the storm dealt with, Wendy returned to jog along the right side of the buggy. "I can see where you're coming from, but not everybody trains like you, Romeo." she said with a smile.
"No doubt about that." Phil said, drinking some water from a cooler. "Of course, it's also that thing's fault that we're out here."
"Come on, don't be rude, Phil." Oliver scolded.
"Not like he's any more polite." Maria replied, pulling herself up to view the creature in question. "Are ya, Vicky?"
Victini was kicking back on the trunk of the buggy. The impish spirit had a mostly yellow body with orange feet and hands. His long, pointed orange ears formed the shape of a "V". He had feathery wings on his puffy knees and wore sunglasses over his half-closed blue eyes. "Victini…" He glanced back at them in discontent, then took a sip from his juice glass.
Yesterday
One day prior, Sector MG were called up to GKND H.Q.. Jerome and Index brought Victini to them, the spirit pouting in his cage. "It's that spirit from Field Day!" Wendy recognized.
"This is Victini." Index explained. "The Victory Spirit and one of the Newborn."
"Wow, so this thing was a Newborn, too, huh?" Phil asked.
"Yep. And as for his Guardian… I don't suppose you've already told him, Wendy?"
She nodded, turning to Romeo. The young man reached into his pocket and withdrew a Pokéball with an orange top and yellow bottom. "Wendy said that I might be one…"
"Riddler's hint had to do with Rainbow Flares, and you possess rainbow firebending."
"That's only because of my magic."
"Even so, you're the only candidate I can think of. The question is if you're actually ready for it. So, let's let him out and see!" Index pulled out a key and unlocked Victini's cage.
"Tini!" He immediately tried to escape, but Wendy was quick to catch him. She turned to Romeo, who threw the Spirit Ball determinedly and struck Victini. The spirit poofed into flames and was sucked into the ball. It landed on the floor and began shaking and beeping. It lasted for a few seconds… but the ball popped open and released Victini. Wendy quickly caught him before he could escape.
"It didn't work." Jerome said.
"I didn't think it would." Index smiled casually. "Well, looks like you guys have to go on a quest!"
"QUEST?!" Maria jumped. "You can't spring a quest on us out of nowhere!"
"Man, you're killin' me, Shezzy." Phil sighed. "But what kind of quest, anyway?"
"Don't call me Shezzy! I'm not entirely sure, but seeing as Victini is a Fire-type spirit, the best one to ask is probably the Sun God, Solaris."
"Sure, we'll just walk to Solaris' house, maybe shoot the breeze a bit, and ask him." Wendy acknowledged sarcastically.
"Given that he's a 'Sun God,' I'm not sure I wanna go to his house." Kiki said.
"My mom once met Solaris." Jerome mentioned. "He can be summoned in a temple on Secco. If you bring Victini there, I'm certain he could tell you something."
"Do you know Solaris, Victini?" Maria asked the spirit.
"Ptooie!" He spat in her face.
"Ow! Steamy spit!" She wiped it off. "Bad Firstborn!"
"Victini!" He squirmed in Wendy's grasp.
"What's the matter, Victini?" Oliver asked. "Wait, I'll use the Nature's Tongue spell." He made a motion with his wand and tapped Victini.
"Hm!" He kicked the wand away. "Victini."
"It doesn't work on you?"
"Am I really his Guardian?" Romeo asked, already concerned by the spirit's stubbornness. "I mean… how can I actually tell, anyway?"
"Romeo, try showing him your Rainbow Fire." Index suggested.
Romeo held a hand open and lit a flame before Victini. The spirit stared at it and seemed to calm down. Romeo changed the flame's colors to violet, which seemed kind of mucky, blue, which felt cold, yellow, which smelled gassy, and pink, which possessed a soft perfume.
Wendy carefully released Victini when he stopped struggling. "Tini…" The spirit orbited around the boy.
"He seems interested in you." Wendy observed.
"Hmm…" Victini flew close to Romeo's flame, studying curiously. "Tiiiii!" The spirit nuzzled himself against Romeo's arm.
"Awww, he does recognize you!" Wendy cooed. "Haha, do you and Romeo share a history, little guy?" She reached a hand to pet him.
Victini faced her hand with a glare. "Vic-poy!" He spat in it.
"Ow, that burns!" Wendy quickly wiped it off.
"Hey, that wasn't nice!" Romeo scolded.
"Hm." Victini flew away and started making haughty gestures at Wendy. "Ti, ni. Victini-ni."
"I'm sorry if I've offended you somehow." Wendy bowed.
"I wouldn't cater to him too much." Index suggested. "At least we're on the right track. I guess you should just take him to Solaris and see what he knows."
"I did get kinda fat from the Cooking Festival." Kiki said, patting her belly. "A little quest could help burn these carbs."
"And that's the real goal of this quest!" Phil cheered, earning a glare from her.
"Victi!" Victini turned and pointed at his open mouth. "Vici-ti!"
"He demands food." Index affirmed. "No quest comes cheap. Make sure you're well-stocked."
"Oh, man." Romeo sighed. "Can we at least wait until tomorrow? This is a little much to suddenly drop on us."
Today
"Hey, don't give me that look." Maria told him. "You practically ate our fridge dry! At least Hoopa had a sense of humor. Guys, can we trade Romeo for Index?"
"You don't like me?" He frowned.
"I do, but I just want Hoopa back."
"I'm sure we'll warm up to him eventually." Wendy said. "Haha, get it? Warm up?"
"Ha ha!" Romeo laughed. "…Wendy, cliff!"
Wendy looked ahead, gasping as she skid to a halt. Phil quickly stopped the buggy as Victini tumbled back against Oliver. They overlooked the Seccoan Sand Sea, a vast region of quicksand. There was an island in the middle of the sea, a round stadium-like temple with four pillars. "That looks like the Sun Temple Jerome described." Oliver said. "Kiki, it looks like you'll have to drive this time."
"Oh, goodie." Kiki climbed out of the buggy and mounted her broomstick. She flew down to the Sand Sea and pressed a switch, causing a pirate ship to magically spawn from the broom.
Oliver cast a spell to shrink the buggy down to a portable size. The group jumped off the cliff as Wendy used airbending to soften their fall. Once on the ship, Kiki sailed them toward the island. "But we can't fly and land in the temple directly, right?" she asked.
"Right, because he said there was a guardian spirit." Romeo said. "We have to go through a dungeon first."
"Victi. Vicky-ti." Victini waggled his empty juice glass.
"You want MORE juice?" Maria shouted. "Can't you just settle with fire? You're a fire spirit, right, won't liquids just evaporate?"
"Victi." He folded arms and turned.
"Romeo, you're his Guardian. Discipline him."
Romeo approached the spirit, squatting down. "Victini, you hurt a lot of our friends during Field Day. I was injured, too. If you expect any more juice, you're gonna have to apologize for that."
"Vi!" Victini conjured some small fiery figures. They represented himself looking over some cylindrical objects, which the group recognized as the Sandbags. A witch-like figure aimed a cannon at him and fired a purple-fired beam.
"A Darkness Cannon!" Maria realized. "Just like what Louise had!"
"So, you turned evil against your own will?" asked Romeo.
"Tini." He nodded in a huff. "Tini tini, wi-ti nini." He pointed at Maria, bonked his own head, and pointed at the sun.
"He's mad that I knocked him into the sun. I mean, I'd be pretty upset, too, but you kind of seriously injured a lot of our friends."
"Wi-ti-vi." He shrugged in a whatever pose.
"Man, it's like having an annoying little brother." Kiki sighed. "I'll bet Phil was easier to train."
"Hey, I'm not a pet!" Phil argued with flushed cheeks.
"And who likes having their chin scratched~?" Kiki reached over and scratched under his chin with a pointy nail.
"Hey! Mmmhh…" Phil's animal instincts took precedence as he was unable to resist the satisfying feeling.
"Yeah, well he's not getting a chin scratch until he learns to behave." Maria gestured at the spirit.
"Victi!"
"This is gonna take some getting used to…" Romeo sighed.
Iceland; Oil Ice Mountain
The twilight was shrouded by the dull clouds of the snow-covered mountain. Miyuki's mind was drifting and slow like the flurries around her. Her pigtailed hair reflected the color of the fluff, and her black dress reflected the stone on which she sat. A large orange ribbon adorned her back, a smaller one at her chest, and two more to tie her pigtails. Each ribbon had a clock pinned in its center.
Her eyes bore the gradient of a pale sunset, and the lack of pupils almost gave her an eerie look. Her dark-gray Mary-Janes were submerged in the snow, with lighter-gray stockings rising up into her dress. The mountain was a nice, quiet place for the somber girl to come and think… except when her sister tagged along.
"LOOK, Miyuki-chan!" A narwhal made of snow splashed out of the fluff, grinning and clapping. "I'm a narwhal narwhal, swimming in the snowy~"
"Ha ha." Miyuki would always spare emotion to smile at her sister. "That's nice, Suki."
The narwhal frowned quizzically before bursting into a small, 10-year-old girl. Suki's light-orange hair was shoulder-length and decorated with snowflakes. She wore an icy-blue shirt with a white bow and a short orange skirt. Her sunset eyes and pale yellow skin matched those of Miyuki, though there was a fair bit more energy in her irises. They were round and bubbly with a childish sense of wonder. Being an icebender, Suki was always barefoot in the snow, and would spend almost every day playing in her favorite element. "Sister-chan, what's the matter?"
"Just thinking about the usual stuff."
"Why're you still sad, Sissy? The bad guys were all beaten!"
"Too many bad guys appear in quick succession. A bunch of people are in comas because of that Dream World business. And Cheren doesn't trust that 'Aincrad' thing to wake them up. You just know something's gonna-"
"If something bad happens, the KND are gonna stop it!" Suki cheered. "That's what they always do! They make people smile!"
"Haha! Then why don't you join, Suki? You can make tons of people smile."
"But I save the world tons of times! And I'm always with Sissy when she needs me."
"You sure are!" Miyuki lit up a bit more. While Suki wasn't an official operative, she almost always tagged along with them on missions, and proved herself more than capable with her talented icebending. Despite her carefree demeanor, she was always reliable.
The child began to "swim" in the snow, in actuality partially morphing her body into snow to facilitate swimming. A dark, heart-shaped mask watched them from a cliff, its form shrouded by the darkness.
"Oh?" Suki looked over and saw a deer. The deer had a shadowy head and legs with a white body and sharp, icicle antlers. "Look, Miyuki! A deer!"
Miyuki spotted the creature. It looked rather strange for a deer, or at least from the ones she's seen in these parts. There was a hint of purple in its icy antlers. "I've never seen that deer before!" The animal then turned and pranced away. "Hey, wait!"
"Suki-chan!" Miyuki got up and raced after her. Naturally, Miyuki's nonathletic frame caused her to fall behind Suki, who could glide the snow without trouble. She used timebending to increase her own speed, but the deer itself was quite fast on its own. It took several turns up the narrow mountain path, but would eventually stop on a wide cliff area.
The girls gasped as several dark creatures awaited them. There were muscular satyr-like creatures in black armor, feminine creatures with parasols and light-purple dresses, and several of the same deer. "Suki… these feel like dark spirits!"
"You mean ghosties?!"
"But that symbol…" Miyuki noticed a familiar symbol on their chests: a heart shape with peering eyes and spiked edges. They were either white or black to fit the contrast of the monsters.
The deers, Winterhorn, charged at Suki, who shot rounds of icicles to push them back. Miyuki whipped out a black scythe with a shiny blade: it had an orange ribbon and clock like the ones on her clothes. She slashed the chests of the Satyrs, but the Parasol Beauties fired icy bullets from their umbrellas. Suki grabbed some in her bending to shoot back, while Miyuki would block some with the scythe, causing them to Rewind back at the spirits.
As the spirits fell, their forms dissipated into darkness, leaving behind broken masks that resembled their heads. Misty spirits that resembled the heart shape rose from the masks and disappeared. "AH!" Suki yelped when an orange sleep cap with a closed-eye sleep mask plopped over her head. "…Snoooore…" She suddenly became drowsy and fell over in slumber.
Miyuki narrowed her eyes and glanced behind her. "It's you… Zanifr."
A being in a purple cape, gray pants, and black shirt walked out, pulling off the mask to reveal his dull gray face. He had thin orange horns, and his shirt depicted a purple symbol of a split heart with horns in the middle. "Hello, MMiyuki. I didn't come at a bad time, did I?"
"I thought you would've contacted me sooner. Back in December, Cheren told me that he met you."
"Impossible. I never MMet Cheren back then. I think it's MMore accurate to say I 'MMet' him 3,000 years ago."
"He told me the story. I just thought that… you would've shown up after that."
"I couldn't MMeet you. Not until I found… it."
"It?" Miyuki fully turned to him.
Zanifr reached behind him and withdrew another mask. It was a lighter purple, but with darker snowflake designs, connecting to six snowflake points sticking from the edges. The eyes were a bright blue and green. The snowflake design seemed to repeat within itself, growing infinitely smaller like a fractal. "If Cheren has told you the story, then you MMust know what this is, right?"
Miyuki reached and carefully held the safe sides of the mask, its eyes piercing her dull gaze. Because of its Dark Chi, she was unable to see into its past… but she still remembered. "This is… Verglora. Your child."
The mask glowed and slightly rattled. "Verglora… Is that… my name?" It spoke with a hoarse, but childish voice.
"Yes, young one. It is." Majora smiled. "You slept for so long without hearing your own name."
"Father… how long have I slept?"
"About 3,000 years. It was thanks to Gruntilda that I was able to find you. She infiltrated the Schnee MMansion and rescued you in secret. I had always suspected they were holding you."
"The Schnee Mansion?" Miyuki asked. "You mean… Weiss Schnee?"
"Yes. That very family is descended from the very Winter MMaiden Verglora and I tried to overthrow. Though I couldn't tell you how her family ended up living on Coruscant, it seems she was entrusted with protecting Verglora's MMask until her death. MMy child was sealed inside the MMask thanks to Link's Song of Healing, but I've been unable to break them free. It would seem another force is at play here. Perhaps your timebending could tell you MMore?"
"I can't. Its Dark Chi seems to be blocking its past."
"Then put it on."
"P-Put it on? But…"
"Trust MMe, MMiyuki. You've worn MMe before, and I allowed you to have free will. MMy child will not try to control you, will you?"
"No, Father. This is the special girl you once told me about, right? The girl that would return some day."
"That's right. So, be kind to her, Verglora."
"…" Miyuki turned the mask around and put it on. Its chi melded with her own as she was able to view into its past.
An older Avis raised the mask above her as the Four Maidens seemed to channel chi over it. Colored symbols flashed on the mask, binding the seal. Afterwards, the Maidens scattered into particles of light.
Miyuki took the mask off. "The Four Maidens cast sealing charms over the mask with their own chi. So… if we want to break those seals, then we need the Maidens to do it. That's all I can guess."
"That presents a problem, however. You see, last year, I returned to Termina MMyself and explored the MMaidens' temples to see if they were still around. But they weren't. I couldn't find a trace of their souls. I can only conjecture that the MMaidens have long since reincarnated."
"Reincarnated? But how are we supposed to find them?"
"I don't know. Perhaps they only did this so they could never be found. So the seal could never be broken."
Miyuki stared in frustration. If the Maidens couldn't be found, then what was even the point? Miyuki tried to think of anyone who would fit the bill, but how was she to… "Wait, there was a Spring Maiden in that flashback! Wasn't the Spring Maiden…?"
"Ah…" Majora smiled knowingly at the info. It seemed Miyuki was very well-versed on the story.
"The Spring Maiden… was a Kokiri… masks… Kokiri…"
Miyuki remembered the Pirate War. She knew the basic info on the Big Mom Pirate commanders. And one of them… was a Kokiri. That had mask powers. "The Big Mom Pirates had a little girl with powers similar to yours, Majora."
"Really? That's strange. Only MMyself and Sanula should have these powers, save for those connected to us."
Miyuki narrowed her eyes in realization. Could that girl have been the reincarnated Spring Maiden? It was quite a stretch… but even so, "Wait, what do you even want me to do?"
"Isn't it obvious? I want you to free MMy child."
"What? But, your child is dangerous."
"Verglora is a Newborn. You are trying to find the Newborn, aren't you?"
"But still… the only way I could control them was if I were…"
"Their Guardian~"
"M-Me? But, I… You…"
"I have decided that I want you to be Verglora's Guardian. You're the only one I can entrust MMy child to. Not the MMaidens. Not the Schnees. Not even those brutes at Team Gnaa. Their views of the Newborn have begun to get a bit iffy. Some think it would be better to destroy them. Well, MMiyuki? You wouldn't let MMy child die, would you?"
"N…No." Miyuki hugged the mask warmly. "If this child is yours, then I could never. But even so… both of you are dangerous. I couldn't just help you escape."
"MMiyuki, why do you love me?"
"Because I…I love the darkness. Even though it makes me drown in despair… it's relaxing. Perhaps because I know that there's a warm light waiting on the other side."
"Yuck! Why would you like darkness because of light?" Verglora cringed.
"Hm hm hm! Perhaps that is the lesson you're bound to teach them. Then will you take MMy child, MMiyuki? Will you find the MMaidens and MMake them break the seal?"
"I…I will."
"I hope you two have fun then. Farewell." Majora vanished into darkness.
"Miyuki-chan?" She perked up and turned around. Her sister bore a hint of concern in her eyes.
"Suki… how long have you been awake?"
"A few minutes. Miyuki-chan… wasn't that the guy that made you do bad things?"
"Well… yeah. …Hey, Suki?"
"What?"
"Don't tell anyone else about this. Not, yet. Promise?"
"…Mmp!" She bumped a finger to her mouth. "Promise."
Solaris' Altar
Sector MG braved the dangers of the Sun Temple and entered the interior of the stadium-like area. All it contained was a stairway leading up to a gigantic torch, suspended above a dark chasm.
At the top of the stairs was a platform with a picture of the sun. Eight curly lines led up to eight strings, connecting to a giant magnifying glass facing flat. Romeo spun with his firebending and lit up the lines simultaneously. The flames traveled up the lines and burned the strings, allowing the glass to tilt: the sun was able to shine through the glass and light up the giant torch. "This feels unnecessarily elaborate." Maria said.
As the great flame brimmed into being, a gigantic stone-like figure appeared in the sky. He glowed with a slight golden light and bore the shape of a phoenix at his back. "You know, the sun wasn't even in the right position, but I decided to bend its position a tad so you wouldn't have to wait. I am Solaris, the God of Suns, here to enlighten you with my knowledge of suns, fire, or perhaps the best indoor heater for your bathroom. I thought I had sensed the familiar chi of Victini. But it seems you have come as well… Rainbow Flame."
Romeo lit up as his friends gazed in surprise. "Rainbow… Flame?"
"That's a chosen one name if I ever heard it." Kiki figured.
"Ti! Vici-ti! Victi!" The tiny spirit seemed to be shouting up at the god.
"I see your mouth hasn't improved any, little one! I should hope you are showing your old friend some respect."
"Old friend? You mean me?" Romeo wondered.
"Mister Solaris," Wendy began politely, "we were told that Victini is a Newborn, and Romeo is his Guardian."
"Allow me to start from the beginning. I'm certain you are familiar with the Olympics? And the Flame Ceremony associated with them?"
"You mean the ceremony where they light a giant torch using fire from the sun?" Wendy answered spiritedly. "Of course! The Goblet of Fire uses a flame like that!"
"Yes. Fire is the Element of Passion, and the idea of competition and rivalry thrives in the hearts of nearly all mortals. Between tribes such as the Fanalis and Imuchakk, the Glomourians or Kateenians, or even between your wizard communities. For sport or for war, for better or for worse, competition drives the hearts of many. Victini is the embodiment of that idea. It has been tradition for ages that mortals plead to me, asking for my flames as the symbol of their competitions. The flames thrive from the chi generated by that rivalry, but when the games are done, the flames return to me. But across the ages, all those competitive feelings accumulated into a single core, giving birth to Victini. Victini has since acted as the Victory Spirit, attracted by major competitions and showing up wherever he can. His chi can bless people with good luck and ensure their victories for a limited time."
"I kind of remember that during Field Day, too." Romeo said. "But what's this Rainbow Flame business?"
"There was once an ordinary firebender who found and befriended Victini around 10,000 years ago. His name was Natsu. Victini had enchanted him during a contest with his tribe. His tribe were worshippers of myself and were thus gifted with one of my Sacred Flames; flames that would burn indefinitely and bless their Fire Chi for eternity. By achieving victory in the contest, Natsu was given a piece of the flame to make his chi stronger. He knew that it was thanks to Victini that victory was possible… and wondered just how far he could go with the spirit. So, he traveled to three other tribes that possessed Sacred Flames and challenged them in their contests. In time, his chi was radiant with the colors of four fires. He was a walking Rainbow Flame."
"It sounds like he just wanted to be stronger than everybody." Kiki commented. "And if he was using Victini, then he was totally cheating."
"That may be… but it was all the hand of fate. For some time after that, there was a crisis."
"Of course." Maria remarked.
"A powerful ice demon attacked each of those tribes and froze their Sacred Flames. Their entire countries would suffer an indefinite winter, and neither I nor my brother, Polaris, could fix the curse. The demon was, in fact, tracking Victini, and it eventually caught up. The two spirits engaged in battle, but Victini only won with the help of Natsu and his Sacred Flames. Natsu would then return to those tribes and reignite the full flames, ending the winters."
"Aw, so this little guy's kind of a hero." Oliver smiled, to which Victini smiled proudly and nodded.
"And thus, the legend of the Rainbow Flame and the Victory Spirit was born. Victini and Natsu would eventually part ways, for the young man would decide to challenge people with his own power. However, the Rainbow Flame was reborn every few generations, though I do not believe they have ever met again until now."
"Then I am his reincarnation." Romeo had already assumed. "But then how do I become Victini's Guardian? I tried catching him earlier, but it didn't work."
"Then perhaps you must do what Natsu once did: you must revisit these four tribes and earn their Sacred Flames."
"So, our MacGuffins are fire this time?" Maria asked. "I hope these flames are in close proximity."
"The flames are located on four separate planets."
"Oh, come on! How did Natsu travel the galaxy 10,000 years ago?!"
"Spaceships existed even back then… granted, he had a more special way."
"Ah, what's a little trip around the universe?" Romeo grinned. "Honestly, learning I was some kind of hero in a past life is pretty cool!"
"The heat really is getting to your head." Phil rolled his eyes.
"Tini!" Victini flew up and around Romeo. "Tini-wini. Tin-tini, wi-wini tini!"
"'Sweet! Then let's go! We'll trounce those guys just like in the old days!'"
"Can you give us a translator?" Kiki asked.
"Um, about that though…" Romeo began, "even if I do compete in these games, I don't wanna use you, Victini."
"Vic…TINI?!" His eyes stretched in shock.
"I don't know what kind of person Natsu was, but I train every day so that I can keep up with my peers. I wanna win my contests fairly, not cheat with magic or rely on luck."
Wendy shirked a bit in guilt. "Oh." Romeo faced her. It was only then he remembered the incident at Heaven's Arena. "Er, of course when we're fighting enemies, Wendy's enchantments are super helpful!" She lit up a little at his praise. "Between those, Oliver's potions, or any of you guys' skills, my friends are the only real luck I need."
"Hmph!" He huffed and turned away. "Victini, wini!"
"'Fine, have it your way! I only give luck to people who are struggling in a contest, but I guess you don't need me, anymore. But if I end up helping your opponents, don't come crying to me!'"
"You mean you would sabotage Romeo?!" Kiki shouted.
"Vic-tini." The Firstborn nodded.
"Whatever, do your worst!" Romeo stated confidently. "So, where do we find these Sacred Flames?"
Solaris willed four orbs of colored flames to appear around him. "The Red Flame burns in the Fire Nation of the Avatar Realms. The Emerald Flame stands in Lux Aurea on Planet Xadia. The Sapphire Flame brims in the Sol Kingdom of Planet Mobius. And the Violet Flame… well…" Solaris extinguished that flame, "perhaps just focus on the other three first."
"Ooo, a mystery flame!" Maria beamed. "Very mysterious!"
"With Victini in your company, you should be able to prove yourself as the Rainbow Flame. However, I will grant you this to better mark your status." A flame burned on Solaris' finger. He flicked it down as an arrow, piercing Romeo's chest, drawing a gasp out of Wendy. The friends observed Romeo's chest, seeing no wound. A small candle hovered over his heart.
"Natsu's possession over the Sacred Flames was signified by the flame over his heart. Turn that small candle into a Rainbow Flame. And don't worry, it can't actually burn anything, and you can hide it if you want."
"In that case, it's pretty cool!" Romeo made a proud pose. "It really brings out my strong spirit!"
"I still wish you'd put on a shirt though!" Kiki stated.
"Hehe, I like it!" Wendy said, waving her hand through the candle. "It shows that Romeo is a warmhearted person!"
"Heh heh!" Romeo blushed. The motion of her hand made the flame dance, and he could almost feel a tingle in his heart.
"In fact, might I suggest going to Mobius first? A very close follower of mine lives there, and I'm certain she would like to see you again, Blue One."
"Eh, excuse me?" Wendy perked up in confusion.
"Raikou! Perhaps you could bring these heroes back to their ship?"
"ROOOAAAR!" A large yellow tiger with black lightning-like stripes pounced down from the stadium walls, landing on the stairs. He had a purple cloudlike cape and saber teeth.
"WOO!" Maria pounced on the tiger. "This so beats riding a buggy!"
"And just where are the seatbelts on this thing?!" Phil asked as he worriedly climbed the majestic feline.
"I'll just stabilize us with a spell!" Oliver said.
"I wonder if this guy can run faster than you, Wendy?" Romeo said.
"We'll have to find out once we're out of here!" She eagerly jogged down to climb onto Raikou.
Romeo shared a look with Victini. "Just promise you'll be nice to my friends, okay?"
"Hmph."
"While Victini is a spirit of luck, he is a very complicated child. He seemed to warm up to Natsu fairly well, so perhaps you'll be able to teach him some manners. For now, I wish you luck. Should you have need of my divine powers of exposition, or if you'd just like to chat, you may return at any time. Raikou will allow you to fly over the wall next time."
Once the friends were all onboard, Raikou pounced up the walls with great speed and would carry them across the Sand Sea. "Still… if they have reunited now, I can't help but fear it is a bad omen. That creature must be returning…"
Iceland
The members of Sector IC retired to their respective houses, falling to sleep. Miyuki saw this as the perfect opportunity. She slipped out of her bed, got dressed, and stealthily snuck outside. She was about to make her way to the treehouse. "You're not going without me, are you?"
Miyuki turned with a start. Suki came out from behind a snowman in the yard. "I figured you were still awake. Look, Suki… what I'm about to do could be seen as controversial to the KND."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Because…" Miyuki pulled the mask out from her dress, "even though he's evil, I still love Zanifr. If he wants me to help his child, then I will. Besides, the KND have to find all the Newborn, anyway. I don't know why, but we shouldn't waste time debating it. I'll set Verglora free and become their Guardian."
"Hmm…" Suki frowned. She really didn't understand her sister's feelings for this guy… Zanifr was hardly as charming as Jack Frost. "Well, I still wanna go with you!"
"No! This girl is too sweet." Verglora hissed. "We don't need such a pure soul to taint us."
"In that case… Suki should come with us."
"What?!"
"I don't want to fall too far into darkness. Suki can help me control you. She can keep me in check."
"Yay!" Suki jumped.
"Shhhh! Don't wake up the neighborhood, Suki."
"Ah, okay. So, where are we going?"
"We're going to a town called Drury. It's in England. We'll have to take a KND ship, but Global Command will be able to track us. I don't really expect to get far before they catch on."
"That's okay!" Verglora said perkily. "We'll crush all of them!"
"No!" Suki slapped them. "No crushing anyone!"
"You're no fun!"
"Haha!" Miyuki sported a laugh. "Okay… let's go."
They snuck up to the treehouse as Miyuki took control of a S.C.A.M.P.E.R. with large clocks attached to the hull. As they took flight, Lola Stork's batlike ears picked up the sound of the engines. The vampire peeked out her window.