Sector MG was released from the dungeon, but they were still unallowed to have their possessions back. The only exception was Phil's pills, allowing the little mouse to grow back into his human form.
"We will hold the trial first thing tomorrow morning." Janai told them. "But it must be completed by noon. By then, you are asked to leave our kingdom."
"We understand." Wendy bowed. "Where shall we be staying until then?"
"The best I can offer is a spare room in the servants' quarters. Might I first show you to our bathing rooms and buffet?"
"Heck YEAH!" Phil cheered.
"Phil!" Kiki shouted, reprimanding.
"Dude, we freakin' stink."
"…Yeah, we do."
The six kids had never felt more euphoric as the steaming waters of the royal bathhouse warmed their bodies. "Yesss… I am cleansed now. All my darkness is melting away." Romeo sighed.
"I'll never get used to my human body." Phil relished in the feel of the water on his bare skin. "Frickin' hate bein' a rat. So puny and pathetic."
"You couldn't have saved Romeo otherwise, Phil." Oliver replied.
"He only ended up being spared 'cause he cried his eyes out."
"Really?"
"PHIL!" Romeo flushed. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone!"
"No, I said, 'eekity-eekity eek, squeak squeak.'"
"Grah, I trusted you, bro!" Romeo grabbed him in a choke hold.
"Hey, lighten up, No Shirt!" Phil punched Romeo's stomach in resistance.
"It wasn't just Romeo you saved, Phil!" Wendy called from the other side of the gold barrier. "You saved Dr. Facilier's wand, too. I'm really grateful."
"I'm the one who stopped her from cutting it!" Maria shouted. "I've got an internal warrior's wound!"
"I know! I'm really grateful to you, too, Maria. Still, that would be a cool strategy for future missions. Your mouse form is more helpful than you think, Phil!"
"Yeah, but I still hate it!"
"But you're just so cute and holdable, Phil!" Kiki cooed.
"I'd like it better if you don't treat me like a rodent!"
"I'll let you snuggle with me tonight~"
"Okay, TMI." Maria said.
"Man, you guys suck." Phil retorted rhetorically. "Oh yeah… when I was spying on that priest guy, he seemed really into Ollie's wand."
"He was… 'into' my wand?"
"I mean he seemed interested in it, because of its Light Chi."
"The Mornstar is a sacred wand, right?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah. It was used by a legendary 'Wizard King' of Avalar."
During Oliver's second year of magic school, he volunteered to study abroad in Avalar's Ni no Kuni continent. One adventure led to another in Avalar, battling all kinds of monsters and doing errands for people as he honed his skills as a mage. Oliver would find a ring-topped wand with no power, but by finding three orbs meant to fit in it, he would complete the legendary wand, Mornstar, designed for powerful lightbending spells. But even though the wand made him famous in his own school, he wasn't really popular in the KND. Across other magic schools, he was one of the "Elite Trainees," alongside Sakura from Kiki's school or Aladdin from Magnostadt.
"I guess it makes sense that they like it." Oliver replied. "Heh, I hope they'll let me have it back though."
"We'll just have to wait until tomorrow." Romeo figured. "Oh!" He moved his foot and kicked something underwater. Victini was sitting in the bottom of the tub, bubbles rising from his mouth like a jet. "…" Romeo remembered what he said at the Sunforge. He decided to dive under and pick Victini back up to the surface. "Victini, I didn't mean to call you stupid. I was just desperate."
"(Why are we even on this journey if we don't like each other.)"
"Victini, I don't hate you. I just feel like we were forced to go on this trip together, and we're suffering because of it. We're still going to learn the truth, aren't we? About what our purpose is?"
"(I guess. I just wish… I could be useful somehow. Without cursing you.)"
"Maybe you could… do chores around the treehouse, when this is over."
"(Ugh, BOOOORIIIIIING!)"
"Heh heh! But really, I…I'm sorry for saying that. I don't mean to make this harder for us."
"(Whatever…)"
"Phew, I'm all wrinkled up." Phil sighed. "How about that buffet?"
"Yeah!" Maria cheered. "I need to bend my belly back into shape!"
As the kids climbed out of the tubs, Janai proceeded to leave the locker rooms, leaving some guards to monitor the operatives. The Golden Knight would later meet with the queen and the High Priest in the throne room. "So, are the humans behaving?" the queen asked.
"Yes. I feel no hostile tendencies from them."
"Then let us see if they can prove their worth." The High Priest said. "A messenger sent word that the humans are creating more Smoky Assassins. When will they ever learn?"
"But this time, I will not be the one to fall them." Khessa said. "If these humans believe their magic is good, then they will lead us to the morning."
"So, it won't be just lighting the orbs." Janai replied. "Somehow, I don't think they'll have much trouble."
Sector MG was served a banquet of cooked foods to revitalize their energy, including a flambéed fire cake, stacked with chocolate and marshmallows. With their bellies full and satisfied, the mages retired to the room prepared for them. It was a fairly small room with only one bed, and only three mats. Kiki and Maria shared a mat, Oliver and Wendy had their own, and Romeo and Phil awkwardly shared the bed. It wouldn't be a tight fit by the time Phil shrank back into his mouse form.
The small room resounded with their snores for an hour and a half. "Romeo…Romeo…"
"Huhn?" He groggily woke up to a weight on his chest.
"Hi. Sorry." Wendy said sheepishly.
"Wendy? What's wrong?"
"I had trouble sleeping. I… wanted to say I'm sorry for what almost happened to you. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if you wound up blinded. I should've said something."
"Oh…it's okay, Wendy." Romeo smiled.
"No, it's not okay! Why didn't you let me take the punishment? You don't know how scared I was…"
"Wendy, what if you wouldn't be able to use the Devil's Wand after being 'purified'? Besides, I would've felt the same way. I wasn't about to let you go blind because of this dumb quest."
"But it…it still feels like my fault."
"Hmm…" Romeo glanced around at their slumbering teammates. He felt weird having this talk amidst their snoring. "Hey, did you see the Sunforge when we were eating?"
"Yeah?"
"It looked kind of pretty at night. Wanna go for a walk and check it out?"
"Would we be allowed to?"
"Let's give it a try."
Romeo and Wendy quietly stepped over their friends and exited the servants' quarters. "Hey, what are you two doing up?" asked the guard.
"Is it okay if Wendy and I go check out the Sunforge? We wanna see what it's like at night."
"You cannot enter the Sunforge without Her Majesty's permission."
"Are we at least allowed on the bridge?"
"Well… technically, yes, but… come on, you know what time it is? Bad enough I have to stay up late to watch you!"
"Please, Mister?" Wendy pled. "If you have to stay up, a nice walk wouldn't be bad, right?"
"Sigh… Only for a few minutes."
Romeo and Wendy crossed the great bridge between the palace and the Sunforge's platform. While the dark of night eclipsed the rest of the city, the Sunforge's rays shone across the surrounding lake, the waters glistening. "So, this is what it looks like up here!" Wendy beamed. "It's so pretty!"
"Heh, it is from down here." Romeo said, inviting her to sit on the edge of the bridge. "…You know, I wonder if this is how the Avatar feels."
"If what is how the Avatar feels?"
"Like, just because you're a reincarnation, you have to assume the responsibilities of your past lives. I'm trying to earn these four Stupid Flames the right way because some guy cheated them 10,000 years ago. Like, this Natsu guy isn't even famous, NONE of us have heard of him! But apparently, these four races know the story by heart!"
"I might have an idea what Natsu is like."
"W-what?" Romeo was taken aback.
"Heheh. Remember those Dimension Rebels I told you about from New Galaxia?"
"Yeah?"
"One of them was a boy named Natsu. He came from the world where Fairy Tail's from; the world that had another version of me and you."
"Oh…so, you've met him?"
"Yeah, but we only talked a little bit. He dressed a lot like you, Romeo. Bare chest, scarf, and all!"
"Really?"
"When I mentioned this, he told me that you looked up to him and followed his fashion."
"WHAT?! I only dress like this because it feels cool!"
"I know you do! But the 'Original' Romeo does it because of Natsu. …So, I wonder if this 'Natsu' is the same as the Original? And you chose to dress that way because he liked to-"
"Wendy, don't even say it." Romeo turned away in a huff. "I keep saying that I'm not Natsu, I'm my own person, and I don't get why I have to do all this just because of reincarnation bullshit! I don't want you to ruin my fashion style!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Welling with guilt, Wendy lightly clasped his hand in comfort. "I didn't mean to, I was just thinking aloud. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"…It's alright." He turned back. "…You know, you're reincarnated from Sonic, but you were never forced with any of his responsibilities."
"I suppose." She smiled sheepishly. "Only his speed. And his hair. Otherwise, I never thought I was even similar to him."
"Exactly. You're your own person with your own responsibilities."
"But, so are you. It sounded like Natsu was a cheater and a glory hound. But you worked hard to become as strong as you are. I hate that you had to be forced with this destiny, but I admire you for trying to see it through."
"Thanks. I wouldn't have made it this far without you guys. At the end of the day, I care more about having fun with you guys than some silly fires!"
"No argument here! …Oops, sorry." She let go of his hand with a blush.
"It's alright."
The two sat and admired the sight for a few minutes longer. "Okay, it's time to head back." The guard said. "Romance time over, let's go."
"Okay…" The two sighed sadly and followed him back to their room.
"Well, good night, Romeo." Wendy said. "Let's have good luck on the trial tomorrow!"
"Not good luck: fairness!"
"Hah, of course!"
They returned to the bedroom quietly as Wendy slipped back on her mat. Romeo fell back over on the bed, bouncing Phil. "(Ah! Ugh, fatty…)" They would return to slumber in only a moment.
Twilight Town
Sector IC defeated several tree monsters with the masks of Crazee Dayzees. After checking the situation in Twilight Town, George and MaKayla carried the injured Dillon and Haruka back to their ship. Lola and Terry managed to locate Miyuki's ship in the forest. "She's not in here." Lola said. "And if she wasn't in town, where did she go?"
"Probably doesn't wanna be tracked, anymore." Terry figured. "More importantly, why the fuck did she turn the villagers into pigs? Why did she do that to Dillon and Haru?!"
"I guess the same reason she's doin' all this in the first place. Not like they have fatal injuries."
"Sigh…you know, I've been depressed as shit these past few months. I've actually needed Suki to hold me together. I don't get how she's able to stay positive through all this, but I'm glad she does. But now she's fucking helping Miyuki go on a pseudo-murder path thing?! I'm telling you, if George decides we're gonna share the blame with them, then fuck it. I'm out of here."
"Hey, you aren't the only one, bro. I'm just worried if we can even stop that Newborn after it breaks out."
"Oughta not LET it break out…"
"Probably not. Either way, they ain't gonna sit for a year after I'm through with them."
…
Miyuki and Suki had gotten away on a black and purple pirate ship, the Major Glory. The Jolly Roger was Majora's symbol, and an elongated version of the mask served as the keel. "Shame that I didn't get to participate in the Pirate War." Majora said. "Bowser told us not to interfere with K. Rool."
"So, you've been hanging out with Team Gnaa?" Miyuki asked.
"It was Ganondorf's request. He has a soft spot for them, after all."
"And what've you guys been planning?"
"Like I said, some have been wanting to destroy the Newborn. They deem them too great a danger, especially in the hands of you KND. Still… I wonder if that's really true? Regardless of who possesses the Newborn, I don't think that's what ultimately MMatters."
"Why do you think that?"
"No reason~"
"Come on, Father, tell us, tell us!" Verglora pled. "It's about my origin, right? Tell me!"
"Your origin?" asked Miyuki. "You mean… you don't know where you came from?"
"As far as I know, Father handcrafted my own mask and implanted his chi, and mixed it with some God Chi that he took from Polaris. That's how I was born."
"Even though, before that, you were still an egg that hatched in the God Production Chamber. MMuch like the other Newborn. However, you don't remember that, do you?"
"Nope! Not a thing, zilch, nada!"
"So," Miyuki began, "between the time Verglora was created in the new timeline, and their initial hatching… something happened?"
"When the original batch of Firstborn were hatched, they simply dissolved into dust and their chi was taken into Arceus, who would later create them properly. Except the Firstborn that had MMore special circumstances. I have to think these Newborn followed the same procedure… unless I'm mistaken."
"Quit playing '20 Riddles' and tell us!" Suki demanded.
"Speaking of riddles, we have MMaidens to find. Before we can investigate the Schnee Family, have you any idea of the Summer?"
"Hmmm…this sounds like a weird question, but… would the Maidens be reincarnated inside males?"
"But then they would be butlers!" Suki shouted.
Majora chuckled. "That is an interesting question. You aren't saying the Summer MMaiden would be Ganondorf, would you? He is the only MMale Gerudo."
"That would just be impossible. It's just… I sort of have someone in mind. Someone that would actually be a good pick for the Summer Maiden to hide in."
"Then let's hear it. And tomorrow, we'll plot our attack."
Lux Aurea; five o'clock that morning
"Humans! Wake up!"
"AHH!" The ops all sprung out of their mats. "Did I miss the school train?!" Wendy panicked.
"It's time for the trial. Get dressed and follow me."
The operatives threw on their clothes and Phil became human as they followed the guard to the entrance of the palace. Janai and the priest waited beside an open chest. "Here are your belongings. You may need them for the trial."
"What is the trial?" Romeo asked.
"There are two parts to it. When Her Majesty awakens, it is a tradition for her to travel to the Sunforge and send rays of light across the entire city, lighting our vast collection of Sun Stone lanterns to signify the new day. Instead, she has decided that you will be the ones to bring the day. Show us what light your magic possesses."
"So… we have to go around town and light these orbs?"
"Assuming you cannot do so from the Sunforge itself."
"Heheh. I don't think we're strong enough to do that." Oliver walked up to the chest and picked out his Mornstar. "But this seems like the perfect job for Mornstar!"
"As I expected." Janai smiled. "The High Priest has sensed strong Light Chi inside this relic."
"But with the faintest hint of darkness. If that wand has been misused, I fear its light will not shine bright enough."
"I just use it for a few harmless pranks sometimes! Otherwise, I don't practice dark magic. I know I can light the orbs!"
"Perhaps you can." Janai said. "However, there is an additional part to this trial: the Smoky Assassins are coming."
"What are those?" asked Wendy.
"Beings of dark magic that the humans often send to invade us in the dark of night." answered the priest. "They are created from the ash of fallen elves and other creatures. We priests and knights work to banish these spirits until Her Majesty's Sun Storm extinguishes the rest. They will be invading our streets soon. You must destroy each one and not let a single citizen be harmed."
"I see…" Wendy looked into the chest. Inside was her Lamia Scale, along with…
"You claimed that dark wand is only suited for dark creatures, did you not?"
"Yeah, that's what we use it for." Romeo replied. "But… actually…"
Wendy nervously took the wands out of the chest. "This wand actually belongs to me. I'm sorry that we lied, but we don't use it for evil purposes."
"I might have overheard you outside the bathhouse." Janai mentioned. "I wonder what compelled him to accept a punishment in your place?"
"Because Wendy is a great person who didn't deserve to be blinded." Romeo answered.
"You're a great person, too! I…" Wendy felt like she shouldn't start this argument again. "Never mind. I'm just really grateful you spared him, Miss Janai."
"Alright, enough of that." Janai insisted. "It's clear to me you both value each other too well for it to be dark magic. But will such magic aid you in this trial?"
"Yes, it could. I could steal the Dark Chi from the evil spirits."
"But a little light oughta be effective, too!" Oliver declared.
"Then begin!" the priest commanded. "They are in town as we speak!"
"Let's go!" Wendy dashed first, Phil and Romeo boarded the former's car and drove off, and Oliver and Kiki took off on broomsticks with Maria riding Kiki's. (Play "Great Sea Battle" from Origami King!)
Game 3: Sunny Patrol
"Let's see if I can lure these Smokies out!" Wendy cast a beam of red light across the castle courtyard. Black, smoggy humanoids with purple eyes and lines emerged from behind columns, attracted by the Devil Wand's magic. As the Smokies ran at them, Wendy absorbed some of their darkness into her wand, the ash dispersing. She raced along a path of columns snaking over a river, sapping any of the dark spirits on the way. Romeo and Phil tailed behind to cast fire at the remnants, and Oliver flew to cast magic Light Arrows at any Smokies atop the columns. Oliver saw a few light orbs set on top of pillars. "Lumos Solem!" His Mornstar cast a blinding light that was absorbed into the orbs, allowing them to shine. "Those must be the Sun Stones!"
"Man, this city is huge!" Kiki said. "It's gonna take forever to find them all."
"We have to try!" Wendy declared. "So long as I can lure out the Smokies, it should be fine!" She exited the courtyard gates and raced onto the city streets, the buildings tall, long, and snaky with golden roofs. She lured the dark creations out from alleys and trees, leaving her friends to burn and shine some away. The roads were lined with Sun Stone lanterns, which Oliver used to leave a trail of light.
Kiki and Maria flew to survey other streets. "Uh-oh!" The witch saw some Smokies trying to climb into windows, so she flew down and cast Ventus spells to blow them off. "How're we gonna survey this whole city?" she asked as she cast small light spells, but they weren't strong enough to disperse the Smokies in one hit.
"We need some extra help!" Wendy drew her Lamia Scale. "Expecto Patronum!" She summoned a silvery cat of light. The cat instinctively pranced up a separate street, dispersing the Smokies just from pouncing them.
"Expecto Patronum!" Oliver summoned a giant Patronus frog, hopping in a separate direction to smash the Smokies.
Wendy Wall Jumped in an alley to get atop the roofs, seeing more Smokies lined along them. She raced over the first roof and absorbed their darkness, then leapt to a roof on her left to repeat the action. At the end of said roof, she leapt to another traveling rightward and did away with the Smokies. From there, she spotted a town park, a large Sun Stone in the center with smaller ones along the edges. "Oliver, over here!" She leapt down to the park and cast a beacon from her Devil's Wand. A large swarm of Smoky elves and wolves charged at the wind mage. But once she lured a large amount into the park, Oliver cast his Light Magic to ignite all the orbs and extinguish the Smokies all at once.
Wendy then ran to a marketplace with closed stalls, luring out the Smokies hidden within them. Romeo struggled to shoot fire at all of them, but fire bullets flew from a separate source to destroy more of them. "(Hope you don't mind the help.)" Victini remarked.
"Haha, not at all!" Romeo laughed. "This is your trial, too, Victini."
"(Yeah, but you're still a jerk.)" Victini flew to the roofs on the left and sniped down the Smokies.
Kiki cast a wind spell to bunch a line of Smokies along the roof together, allowing Oliver to destroy them in one good flash. He looked over and saw his frog Patronus still hopping across town. "Hey, Kiki, can you make a Patronus?"
"Kind of. Expecto Patronum!" Kiki conjured a silvery cat of her own, its build skinnier than Wendy's. It zipped around and cleaved through some Smokies. "My fondest memory was helping Cheren fight Mandy!" After a few more hits, the cat disappeared. "But it still isn't strong enough."
"Maybe I can make it stronger!" Oliver offered, flying over with his Mornstar raised.
"Okay!" Kiki touched her wand to his as Oliver transferred some of Mornstar's light. "Expecto Patronum!" She summoned another cat, and as it zipped around to destroy more Smokies, it seemed to last longer.
"(So, where's your Patronum, Romeo?)" Victini asked.
"Nah, I've never been able to make one." He smiled sheepishly. "This is all that happens. Expecto Patronum!" Faint silvery flames flared up on his body before fading away. "It looks cool, but I can't get it to last."
"(Sucks for you~)"
"Eh heh heh…"
As the hour drew on, the royals and High Priest watched from the throne as lights spread across the city, following the direction of the mages. "The Sun Stones appear to resonate with them well." Janai smiled.
"But that is only on account of that other boy's wand." said the priest. "Not the Rainbow Flame. …! Your Majesty!" He sensed a force in the distance behind them.
The royals turned, and while Khessa bore a neutral expression, Janai gasped: a humongous eagle of smog soared across the city, its purple eyes fixed on the queen.
"AAH! Guys, what's that?!" Kiki pointed. Their mouths fell agape at the bird-shaped cloud, flying to the palace.
"Let's take it down!" Oliver flew after the beast, casting an array of Light Arrows. The arrows were able to pick off small chunks of the eagle, but it stayed en route toward the queen.
"Kiki, let me onto your broom!" Wendy ordered. Maria jumped off as Wendy took her place on the broom. Wendy was heavier than Kiki and weighed it down slightly, but a boost of airbending helped them catch up to the eagle.
"Man, I was total dead weight in this trial." Maria sighed.
"Maybe next time, Maria." Romeo replied. "Let's hurry back!"
Wendy used the Devil's Wand and was able to draw the eagle's attention. The beast cast feathers of smoke that Wendy stirred away. Kiki flew them closer as Wendy sucked some of the bird's belly into her wand, the witches dodging when it gnashed its beak. Kiki swooped underneath and got behind, and Wendy sucked away some more darkness before they had to dodge its wing whack. The bird gnashed its beak, but Wendy used Protego to shield herself and Kiki, who then flew down as Wendy sapped some more.
Oliver had been repeating a spell to build Light Chi in the ring of his wand. He held it straight up and peered through to focus on the eagle, whose center had become exposed from Wendy's draining. Sadly, she and Kiki were smacked away by the bird's wing, and it quickly took flight at the royals again. "Your Radiance, can you destroy it?!" Janai asked.
"Of course. But their job is to protect the citizens. Including us."
Oliver was able to keep the bird focused inside his wand's ring, causing a bright light to grow from within its core. "Mornstar MAXIMA!"
Just as the Smoky Eagle reached the throne, it erupted into an explosion of light. Janai shaded her eyes from the wave, while Khessa remained still and allowed it to wash over her Logia body. All traces of the dark being would be gone by the time the sun touched the horizon. "It would seem the trial has concluded." The queen said. "Let us inspect the town to determine the result." (End song.)
The guards spent the next hour inspecting the town and ensuring no harm had befallen the citizens. Fortunately, they all seemed to be okay, the Sun Stones waking them to a lovely morning. Sector MG stood before the queen on her throne. "I am conflicted, Rainbow Flame. Although you aided in the extermination of these creatures, the light mage and the 'dark' one have performed the most exemplary feats in this trial. But it is you who must earn the flame, is it not?"
"Does that mean we didn't pass?" Wendy asked.
"That isn't fair!" Maria yelled. "Romeo can't even lightbend, how was he supposed to light the orbs?!"
"Maria, it's fine!" Romeo assured. "This trial was meant for all of us, wasn't it? I may be the 'Rainbow Flame,' but I'm no one special. My team is just as special as I am!"
"Wow, you just called us not special." Maria smirked.
"Uh, I didn't mean it like that!"
"Even so," the queen replied, "it did not seem as though you valued the Victory Spirit as fondly."
"(At least SOMEONE'S supportive!)"
Romeo sighed. "I just don't like being responsible for something my past life did. If I have to be on this journey, I at least wanna enjoy myself with my friends. I wouldn't have insulted Victini if you hadn't threatened us."
"Uh, let's not piss them off, okay?" Kiki panicked.
"Hmph… I am still not fond of you humans." Khessa said. "But I see potential in you. And I will acknowledge the faults in our greeting."
"Pfft, 'faults.'" Maria eye-rolled.
"And so… I will allow you to take a piece of our Sacred Flame."
They stepped off the throne as the queen approached one of the columns. She opened a secret compartment with a lever and pulled it. The throne slid aside, revealing a hole with an emerald glow beneath it. The great, green flame rose on a lift. Janai reached a torch and took a piece of the flame, smiling as she brought it to Romeo. The boy walked closer as the flame entered his chest, the fire changing between red, green, and blue. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Good. Now, get out of my palace. And make sure to tell those wretched Sun Warriors I will have their hides for this!"
"Yeah, we kinda got a few things to say ourselves." Phil chuckled.
"Follow me." Janai requested. "I will lead you down to the portal chamber."
The six kids and Newborn gladly followed the knight down the palace. "This is a really beautiful city." Wendy said. "To be honest, I would love to explore more of this planet. But I guess we couldn't."
"It is believed that, one day, when the two worlds are no longer consumed with war, they can become one again. Perhaps we are destined to make peace with the humans someday. I would be lying if I said I didn't yearn for that. Perhaps if they practiced your forms of magic, we could."
"Maybe we can help them!" Ollie said optimistically.
"Let's worry about this quest first." Phil stated. "It ain't our place to get involved in this war."
"I guess so…"
Once in the portal room, Janai grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and called, "Sun Civilization!" as she threw it into the fireplace, igniting a green flame. "I pray that you find the answers you are looking for."
"We should soon." Romeo smiled. "We only have one flame left!"
"That's right, the Mystery Flame!" Maria remembered.
"Mystery Flame?" Janai questioned.
"God Solaris never told us where to find the last flame." Wendy said. "Victini, where is it?"
"(The only other place we haven't gone: Natsu's home land.)" Victini smirked. "(You guys should know where it is.)"
"But we don't." Romeo replied confusedly. "How're we supposed to know where he lived 10,000 years ago?"
"You do not know where Natsu hailed from?" Janai asked.
"Not really. Do you?"
"I do not remember the name of his home… but supposedly, Natsu was some sort of demon turtle."
"Demon… turtle? He wasn't human?"
"No, of course not."
"That doesn't sound like the Natsu I know." Wendy replied. "Heh, I guess that was just my assumption."
"Turtle?" Maria repeated. …There was only one thought that popped into her mind… but it made her very worried. "Like… Koopa?"
"There are normal turtles, too." Phil reminded.
"N-no! I meant Demon Koopas!"
"There are demonic Koopas?" Wendy asked.
"Uh, duh! That's the name of Bowser's race!"
"Oh, right! …WAIT!"
The operatives all shared a look of dread… while Victini only smirked. "Th-the last Sacred Flame… is in Bowser's kingdom?!" Romeo asked.
"(B-I-N-G-O!)" Victini sung. "(Solaris didn't wanna mention it, so I decided not to spoil the surprise.)"
Janai confusedly looked between their pale expressions. "Well… I wish you the best of luck. I hope we meet again someday, outsiders."
Sector JP, Karakura, Japan
Jinta swung his bat with such force that the baseball pierced through 12 thick trees. "Dang, I almost hit 13!"
"You're gonna kill the forest at this rate, Jinta." Kodama remarked. She was defined by her blue and orange robe with firework designs, kabuki makeup, and a thick red knotted rope around her head.
"I'm makin' homes for the squirrels! That's better than exploding all the trees like you do."
"Well, one could say delivering them a quick, explosive death is better than living with a wound that big."
"Can we please not talk about death right now?" Ururu asked meekly, sitting against a tree with her phone in hand. Her raven hair drooped over her dreary form, her big purplish eyes dull with sadness. The cloudy day attributed to her mood. She wore a light-blue dress with yellow butterflies, and red-strapped white sandals.
"Huh? Did something happen?" asked Jinta.
"Well, the Tōtsuki kids say that Megumi's still okay, but I'm still worried. It would be horrible if she dies before she can join us."
"She never should've used that game for training. Like, no matter what they say, that game couldn't help you grow stronger physically."
"I think she's looking more to sharpening her skills and not just pumping muscles." Kodama said. "She was one hell of a Ping-Ponger, so if Aincrad helped her improve THAT…"
"Yeah." Jinta agreed, smirking as he bobbed his bat up and down. "I mean, it sucks that we can't have another boy, but I'd be pretty hyped if Megumi joined us. You girls just don't challenge me, anymore!"
"Don't I?" Kodama swiftly flicked a shell.
Jinta was quick to whack it—the bomb stuck to his bat via some tape and burst, covering him in a light coat of soot.
"Tehe!" Ururu giggled.
Their communicators rang, so the three faced down at their wrists. "Guys, get back to the treehouse! We have a situation!" ordered their leader, Karin.
"Uh, okay!" The three raced over to an elevator within a cliffside, carrying them up to their treehouse.
Karin and Yuzu Kurosaki waited for them in the living room. "Okay, let's hurry to the ship." Karin ushered them to the hangar. "There are monsters attacking the town!"
"Monsters?!" Ururu gasped.
"Specifically, they're attacking the high school and our neighborhood." Yuzu said.
"Why those two places?" Jinta wondered.
"I don't know, but we're gonna have to split up. Yuzu, I want you to wait here on standby. There's a chance they're trying to draw us out so they can attack the treehouse."
"Why would they do that?"
"Uh, because you have a Newborn?" Kodama cocked a brow. "You sure she wouldn't just be in danger by herself?"
"Just call us immediately if anything happens." Karin said. "I'll come flying right back!"
"Okay, Sis."
"Jinta, Kodama, take the ship and fly to the school. Ururu and I will head to Minamikawase."
"Aye-aye!" Jinta sported a confident smirk whilst Kodama nodded.
Karin changed into a ghost and Ururu her Tiny Devil, shrinking herself so as to ride on the ghost. Jinta and Kodama boarded their firework-engine ship and made flight to their destination.
They landed on the street close to the high school, where it seemed that Hollows were swarming. Jinta struck a baseball that bounced between five of their masks, and Kodama blasted seven with fireworks. "They aren't disappearing!"
"I guess we'll have to hit harder!" Jinta declared, charging into the building.
A ninja Faceless with a camera mask was watching from a roof. Miyuki, wearing her own copy of the mask, saw its image. "Jinta is at the school! He just has Kodama with him."
"Then go see if your suspicions are true." Majora opened a dark portal to warp Miyuki and Suki to the school.
Kodama froze three Hollows against the wall, but they saw two more retreat into the bathrooms. Jinta and Kodama shared a smirk and… went into the bathrooms of the opposite gender. Jinta shoved the Hollow's head into the toilet, and Kodama used a Cheesework to stick the Hollow against the urinal. With that, they walked out and regrouped. "Yeah, that bathroom was as gross as I expected." Jinta joked.
"Why aren't those wall-toilets behind stalls?" Kodama asked.
"Why are we having this conversation in the middle of a Hollow invasion?"
"You started it!" Kodama launched another firework at an incoming Hollow. "Besides, all the teachers and students should've cleared out by now. School's been out."
"You sure about that?"
The new voice drew their attention toward the corner of the hall. Miyuki studied them intently with Verglora covering her face… and a distinct, fiery aura covered Jinta. "Suki and Miyuki?!" Jinta exclaimed.
Kodama gasped. She raised her wristwatch, "Karin, Ururu, come to-"
Suki cast some quick ice to freeze the comms on either arm. "I guess you already know what we're up to?" Miyuki figured, approaching them calmly.
"Yeah!" Jinta shot a glare and readied his bat threateningly. "They said you attacked Sector $! And two other towns!"
"What do you want?!" Kodama asked.
"I just want Jinta. If he surrenders, I'll turn all these people back to normal."
"P-people?"
"The Hollows. I used my power to change Hollows into masks and made the students and staff wear them. You've been attacking innocent people."
"What?!"
"I knew something was up." Jinta said. "Good thing we didn't kill any of them."
"We've gotta let the others know!" Kodama lit a match to melt the ice around her comm.
Suki cast an ice wave, so Kodama rocketed backward. Jinta hurdled a Haki-imbued baseball at the icebender, but Miyuki did a Rewind Deflect and struck Jinta's stomach. "Jinta, let's go!"
"Fine! Not enough room in here." Jinta joined Kodama and turned the corner, the enemies tailing. The JP ops decided to jump out the window, Kodama holding her friend as she used fireworks to soften their fall. The Crystals slid after via an Ice Road, but Kodama expected this and launched fireworks to intercept, causing the foes to crash onto the ground. Jinta swung his bat down at Miyuki's mask, but she Stopped him in time and dealt a slice to his hip. The cut registered after Jinta could move, and he was forced to see the memory of himself being humiliated at the boxing tournament. Kodama grabbed him and used her Jetwork to rocket around the school.
Suki skied around and launched icicles at the two, Kodama countering with quick fireworks. She launched three larger missiles that curved around different directions, but Suki evaded all of them. Meanwhile, Jinta was stepping backward with his bat ready, while Kodama had chucked back a shell designed like a baseball. Jinta bashed the Basebomb toward Suki as it burst against the Ice Logia, its heat and velocity blasting Suki several meters backward. Miyuki rushed out and fired a charged De-Aging Beam straight at Jinta, but when he dodged, she could only redirect it enough to hit his legs.
"AAAH!" Jinta cried when his legs shrunk to a five-year-old size, extremely disproportionate to his buff teenage torso.
Kodama choked on her laughter, struggling to contain it as she rolled a cluster of MARBLEs at Miyuki, who slowed time to escape their explosions. She ran at Kodama, who grabbed Jinta and rocketed backward. "Y-you monster, how dare you do that to his manhood, khhhhack kack kah hah ha!"
"This is not the fucking time, Kodama!"
"At least you're lighter for the wear!" Kodama quickly attached some Jetworks to his back and flew Jinta to the roof of the school. Suki rose up on an ice pillar, but when Jinta saw this, he ran back. He bashed a baseball when she came up, but she expected this and dodged, afterwards hitting her own ice-made ball at him. Jinta blocked with his bat in time- "Whoa!" but fell back on his shrunken legs.
"Ew, put some pants on!" Suki froze icy shorts over him.
"YEEK! This is even worse!" Jinta pushed his unbalanced body up and threw another baseball, Suki evading as she froze the roof. His tiny feet were chilled around with his waist, causing Jinta to falter as he tried to escape. Suki conjured five icy baseballs and shot them, but while he was able to hit three back, one smashed his face, and another his de-aged knee as he fell over. Suki cast a ray of ice to freeze him completely.
Miyuki Rewinded Kodama's fireworks back at her, so her only option was to flee around the building. She glanced up, wondering if Jinta was okay, so she decided to rocket up herself- "AAH!" A Faceless pounced out of the window and tackled her back to the ground. She threw a bomb at his face and escaped, but Miyuki's scythe suddenly came flying from the right. "YOOOW!" The scythe sawed her hip before Rewinding back to Miyuki, who caught and leapt to STAB Kodama's right foot. "AAAAAAH!" Kodama was forced to relive being blinded by the Shell 297, causing her vision to go dizzy. "MIYUKI, WHAT THE HELL?!"
"You should get that treated. And you, get away." Miyuki ordered the Hollow. The beast grumbled like a gorilla and fled. As Kodama writhed on the ground, Suki sent some ice-made stairs down for her sister to climb up to the roof.
"I caught him, Sissy."
"Good job, Suki. Let's see if my theory was right." Miyuki focused Verglora's magic and turned the frozen boy into a mask. Suki dispelled the ice as Miyuki collected him.
Watching the battle from his ship, Majora opened a dark portal to the girls' location. Miyuki went in and… Suki regretfully looked down to Kodama. She first decided to slide down and freeze Kodama's wounds. "I'm really sorry. I…I'm trying. Really." With that, Suki hurried up into the portal.
"Suki…"
"Kodama!" She looked up, seeing Karin and Ururu flying down. "Kodama, did you try to send a call?"
"Yeah! Miyuki kidnapped Jinta!"
"Huh?!" Ururu gasped. "Miyuki was here?! Why?!"
"I don't know why… but listen, you didn't kill any of those Hollows, did you? There are people inside them!"
"There are?" Karin asked. "I thought something was weird, so we didn't."
"We have to call Yuzu!" Ururu insisted.
…
Once safely on the Glory, Miyuki put Jinta's mask on. Jinta's (fully-clothed) form floated in the dark space. "Grrrr…how could you do that, Miyuki? Terrorizing innocent people is one thing, but you freakin' humiliated me!"
"Is that all you care about, boy?" a mature voice asked.
"At least let a man have his…? Who said that?"
A Gerudo in purple clothes and signature dark skin with red hair appeared between them. Her hair was braided like a sun. "I'm impressed, girl. I never thought you would find me in this boy."
"HUH?!" Jinta gawked. "Who the heck are you?! The hell are you doing in my body?!"
"My name is Flaru, the Summer Maiden. Forgive me, child. I chose to reincarnate inside you because your ancestors were descended from the Gerudo that once thrived on this world."
"Gerudo? …Ain't those the tribe of women from Hyrule?"
"Have you never questioned the origins of your red hair? That which was inherited from your mother, grandmother, and many women along their lineage? While only women are primarily born to our clan, only one man is born every hundred years. It used to be a tradition that those men would become our kings… but it seems that in this world, that tradition died with Ganondorf."
"WAH?! You're saying I could've been the king of the ladies?!"
"…I think you're interpreting this the wrong way. Also, we kind of have a situation."
"Oh, yeah. Miyuki, what gives?!"
"What gives is that I need this girl to break Verglora's seal. As soon as she does, I can set you free, Jinta."
"Absolutely not."
"HEY, I should get a say in this!" Jinta panicked.
"At least… not until we decide it's the right time."
"Then when will be the right time?" asked Miyuki.
"According to the Mask Salesman, there is someone meant to challenge the demon's power. One who is meant to melt its cold heart. Only then can we safely free the demon. That's what he told me personally."
"That makes sense. The Fall Maiden already broke her seal."
"Ugh, of course she would…"
"But who is this one that's supposed to melt their heart?"
"Who knows? It sure doesn't feel like you."
"Well, Jinta, looks like you're getting cozy in my pocket."
"No! Come on, break the seal! I don't wanna-!"
Miyuki removed him and tucked Jinta away. "Someone is supposed to melt Verglora's heart?" Majora questioned. "I wonder…"
"Who, Father? Who could possibly melt my heart besides you~?"
"Let's leave before the KND catch on." Majora dodged the question. "Only one MMaiden remains. Is the Schnee's MMother… or the older sister? MMm hmm hmm, or MMaybe it's someone else entirely!"
"Let's contact Sebastian." Miyuki said, putting the Earl's Mask on. "If it is one of the Schnees, we'll use him to secure them."
Sun Civilization
Sector MG met with Chief Blitzer after exiting the Dragon Peaks. "You made it back!" the chief beamed in surprise. "And your chest… you were able to earn their Sacred Flame?"
"Why didn't you tell us they hated mages?!" Romeo yelled.
"Because you would have tried to hide your power. And I thought it would make for quite an entertaining trial~"
"You really were trying to punish us, weren't you?" Oliver glared.
"Well, sort of. But the fact that you are here must mean you've come to an understanding."
"I guess so. So, what?" asked Romeo.
"Perhaps the Sunfire Elves have begun to see humans and mages differently. It may not do much to help resolve their war… but it is a start. Ran and Shaw hope that our worlds may reunite one day, so they can be with their dragon brethren."
"Good for them. As for us, we have some cooling off to do." With that, the friends began to cross the island and return to their ship.
"Now, you said you had a spell to wipe your memories of our existence, right?"
"Buddy, I was nearly blinded and humiliated." Romeo shot him a glare. "We're telling everybody about your tribe, and you can't stop us."
Maria blew the chief a raspberry. He merely watched with a sigh as they left the island.