"(Romeo… that's the one who cursed the Sacred Flames before!)" Victini explained. "(That's the ice demon!)"
"You call that an ice demon?!" Phil questioned. "It looks like some kind of snowflake birth defect, if anything!"
"And I really hope that's supposed to be a tail on the bottom!" Kiki cringed in disgust.
"This is Majora's child, Verglora." Miyuki clarified.
"And it's the Newborn you were made the Guardian of…" Romeo put together.
"What're these Sacred Flames you just mentioned?"
"It's something I did a long time ago." Verglora hissed. "It was a little while after I was created, in fact. I flew around and spread cold darkness under my father's instruction, but that wretched Sun God, Solaris kept trying to foil me! His warmth was too strong. Then, my father learned of the Sacred Flames that Solaris granted to his worshippers. Flames that were meant to ensure good fortune to the firebenders, in exchange for their undying honor. I thought if I could destroy those flames, then Solaris's power would shrink. And I was able to curse them to where not even HE could reignite them! But that's when I ran across this big-earred weirdo and his attractive turtle companion~"
"Attractive?" Romeo cringed.
"He looked like a damn fine monster, that Natsu! I asked if he wanted to join me, but this idiot here didn't seem to like me. He got a bad feeling from me, and I wasn't too fond of that bright Fire Chi in his veins. Unfortunately, he manipulated Natsu into staying on his side."
"(I didn't manipulate anyone! Natsu trusted my instinct. He knew you were a dangerous monster, and you were. Especially after you gave him that Red Eye Curse! You even cursed his entire family!)"
"Now, hold on, I only had time to curse him! I don't know what could've happened to his family, hehe. But because of this jackass, I was left in a total daze. Then I was taken by a grinning man and turned into a mask. Eventually, my father freed me and we decided to set our Termina plan into motion."
"You didn't feel like trying to curse the flames again?" Miyuki asked.
"Who am I, Ganondorf? I need to mix my evil plans up some!"
"And by the way, I haven't become their Guardian, yet. The Spirit Ball resisted Verglora."
"Honestly, that doesn't surprise me." Romeo said. "We heard you've been attacking operatives."
"Yeah! You said we would teach them to be nicer, but we didn't!" Suki shouted.
"Then I guess I lied. What did you expect, Suki? I didn't even have the heart to teach them good. Verglora had no desire to change and I didn't foresee it happening. Some people thrive on darkness and misery for the sake of it, so my only way to bond with Verglora was to embrace that as well. Because deep down, I'm sick of everything."
"What's wrong with you, Miyuki?!" Wendy yelled in hurt. "You know, four years ago, you helped me learn the truth about my mom. It was thanks to you she remembered who she was. I know I didn't know you well personally, but I thought you were a great person for doing that! Did that not matter? Do you not enjoy helping people, anymore?"
"It's not that I don't. And if not for Verglora, I would never have considered doing what I did. But it's only because I was given this destiny, and this chance, that I decided to vent my frustrations."
"I'm disappointed, Miyuki." MaKayla said.
"So? You guys let me escape in the first place."
"Because even though we're disappointed, we trusted your judgment. You showed restraint when harming people, and you even helped us lead Verglora to this room."
"What?! You were in on this, Miyuki?!" Verglora exclaimed.
"Yes. Cheren is probably too tired to fight you now, so it wasn't the time. Only his sacred weapons could pacify our darkness… or so I thought."
"You thought?" replied Romeo.
"Now that you're here… I wonder if you'd like revenge on this spirit, Verglora?"
"Sounds fine to me! I'm getting suffocated in here!"
"(Don't even think about letting them out!)"
"Miyuki, I see you building up your chi." MaKayla said, her Chrono Staff glowing. "I'm not just gonna let you Stop us."
"Wait, what exactly happened to Verglora after Victini beat it the first time?" Romeo asked. "Before they were changed into a mask?"
"Oh, I looked horrible! My skin turned blue and my brain turned to mush! It felt like I was melted on the inside!"
"Then…" Romeo lit his hands with rainbow flames, "if we fought you again, your darkness would melt?"
"(Romeo, I can't let you fight this thing! You'll wind up cursed like Natsu was!)"
"But Natsu only died because of the backlash of your luck. I haven't been using you, so-"
"(No! I'll fight this prick myself!)"
"We can't just let Verglora out of there!" Kid Jerome stated.
"You sound so cute like that!" Maria argued.
"But they have to come out eventually." MaKayla reasoned. "One way or another, we have to melt its darkness. So, why not rely on a Fire Firstborn?"
"(Just let me inside there! He won't be able to run away!)"
Jerome sighed in frustration. He wasn't sure about testing that room's durability against two Newborn. "I know a better place you can go all-out. Just… get it over with. Miyuki, you know the code, right?"
"…Thanks for understanding." Miyuki approached the terminal. Verglora gleefully hid behind the entrance. Victini flew directly in front of it. As soon as that door was unlocked, the demon would come springing out of it. They were anxious in wondering if this plan would work.
Jerome mustered his spacebending and opened a portal directly behind Victini, meant to warp them several light-years away. And as soon as Miyuki input the code—"YEEK!" Verglora tackled Victini into the portal! (Play "After Despair and Hope" from Xenoblade 2!)
Boss fight: Verglora
The two flew out on St. Percy's Asteroid, a large asteroid that floated between Glomour and Kateenia. Dense waves of fire and dark ice collided with one-another; Verglora willed shards to sprout and stab him, then Victini pierced them with Heat Vision. Victini willed meteors to descend, but Verglora erected icebergs to pierce and disperse them. Verglora threw snowflakes into his eyes, then caught Victini in a dark whip to bash him around the ground. Victini combusted and burned the darkness off, then made the space around Verglora explode. Verglora flew through the smoke and stabbed Victini through the head with their tail. Victini pushed them off with a flame blast, and as his head reformed, Victini erected a massive Fire Spire to burn the spirit.
"Ha ha ha!" Verglora expanded a sphere of darkness to spread the spire apart. "There's darkness in your fire. It barely even singes!" They wrapped two whips around Victini and ripped the Victory Spirit in half. "But let's see if you'll make a decent mask." They snared Victini in their magic, attempting to transform him. "AAAAH!" A beam of rainbow flames burned the demon, breaking their grip.
"(Romeo?!)" The Rainbow Mage brimmed with colorful conviction. "(I said that I would do it!)"
"Yeah, well I can't let this monster go unpunished!" Romeo shot the sapphire flame, which Verglora cleaved through before charging at him, only for Victini to intercept and push them back. "I can't believe Miyuki would hurt fellow operatives all for THIS thing!" He burned another Rainbow Beam at both Newborn, Victini immune to the heat while Verglora cried out.
Verglora stretched eight curved icicles to stab Romeo, but he lit himself with orange fire to melt their ends. Romeo dispelled the beam as Victini blasted Verglora to the ground, afterwards grabbing to carry Romeo away. "(It pisses me off, too. Why shouldn't this dick feel guilty the same as me?!)"
"Say, Victini, since I'm your Guardian, doesn't that mean you can power up my Fire Chi? Like, without actually granting me luck?"
Verglora crafted a Goht Mask and threw it at Romeo, but he shot an emerald fireball and destroyed it. "(You should still let ME handle it!)" Victini tackled Verglora, shoving fire down their throat, while the latter erected an icicle from their stomach to suspend him up. "(It's not like I can die to this thing!)"
"It doesn't matter!" Romeo seized Verglora's head in Sticky Rope Fire, whirling them around while Victini burned himself free. "If destiny's gonna put us together, then we oughta put a stop to THEIR dumb destiny!" And he slammed Verglora on the ground, their arms shattering like ice.
"(Fine! Burn him to a crisp!)" Victini flew up and channeled Fire Chi to power up his master. Romeo stretched his arms to either side and expanded a wall of fire, brushing it over Verglora. The Newborn was charred black against the ground, only revealing themself while opening their eyes. Verglora conjured a hundred Aku-like masks and stuck them around the ash, causing ash demons to rise. They dove at the firebenders, but Romeo took note of their big noses and shot Sacred Stink Fire. The demons creased under the awful smell, and Romeo could throw Fire Shurikens to cut their masks. "AGH!" Verglora then slapped a Snail Helmet over Romeo, and he slowly morphed into the sluggish critter, but Victini blew Verglora away with an explosive punch and smashed the helmet.
Verglora lashed Dark Whips at the two, but Romeo used purple fire to catch them, afterwards slamming Verglora down. The demon released, broke the fall, and snagged Romeo's legs in new whips. They swung him overhead and were about to slam him into a jagged rock, but Romeo slapped a blue Protego flame to his head, nullifying the damage while rattling his brain. Victini sliced the whip, his master getting back up and launching at Verglora. Romeo spun, rainbow fires shaping a drill. Victini grabbed and held Verglora in front, Romeo piercing the demon.
Romeo moved away from Verglora, expecting their counterattack in the form of ground icicles. Verglora pushed Victini away and flew far across the asteroid. They created a small blizzard and shaped the snow into hooded spirits. Verglora then crafted and placed Garo Masks over the spirits, turning them into an army of Garo. The dual-sword ninjas dashed at the duo. Romeo stretched long ropes of sapphire flames from his arms, spun, and swept them over the Garo, melting the hooded demons away. As expected, Verglora lunged out of one, but Victini tackled them in time, setting himself ablaze to burn his enemy.
Romeo caught them both in a Purple Net. The Sacred Flame burned Verglora while keeping them trapped, but the demon erected icicles from all around their body, piercing Victini off while cutting the net. The icicle ball spun and built momentum before launching at Romeo, who lit Sacred Ice Flames on his hands to grab it. His boots scraped across the ground, and it seemed Verglora intended to push him against a short cliff. …Remembering his new boots gave him an idea! He bent his legs to plant them against the cliff and called, "Ascendio!" Fire shot from his soles with a spring-like force. He kicked off the cliff and pushed Verglora back. "Ascendio!" He then sprung upward to escape the spikeball's grip. He then seized the spikeball in Sacred Sticky Fire, willing it to firmly hold Verglora.
Romeo repeated the Ascendio spell and kept springing up the air like a Mushroomian; no doubt his new shoes helped give some extra height with each use. Once Romeo was 50 feet above, he let himself drop, the Ball-n-Fire stretched above him. Its momentum increased along with Romeo's, but the boy jutted fire from his boots to break the fall. "HWAH!" Meanwhile, he undid the fire and SLAMMED the spikeball on the ground, the icicles smashing and exposing a dazed Verglora. He then jumped over the demon, squat down, and dealt rapid punches against the ugly spirit, his elbows thrusting like rockets. His fists flashed a different color each time, as if wanting to blind Verglora with a seizure.
But Verglora barfed liquid darkness at his face, sickening Romeo as Verglora then stabbed his right hip with an icicle. Romeo got off and away from the icicle, and Victini did a fiery roll attack to push Verglora away. Romeo lit himself with emerald fire to melt the darkness out of his system. "YEEESH!" Verglora erected fractals from their body, becoming a full snowflake coursing with darkness. "It's getting way too hot in here! I'm gonna MEEEEELT if this keeps up!"
"I hope that means he's almost through."
"(Want me to handle the rest?)"
"No, I can keep going. But I'm gonna have to turn up the heat completely." Romeo punched the flame at his chest, causing it to burst: rainbow flares covered his head, and his wrists, waist, shoulders, and ankles burned with different colors. Verglora stretched dozens of fractals, but Romeo burned through them. He fired quadruple fireballs in quick succession, penetrating the fractals so Victini could grab and bind them in place. Romeo linked his hands and unleashed another beam of rainbow fire, treating Verglora to the same sight as within Ran and Shaw's flames. But instead of dazzling the demon, it served to sear their skin.
Verglora mustered the strength to expand more fractals, push Victini off, and escape the fire, Romeo dispelling it as he dodged a cluster of icicles. They kept piercing from the ground, so Romeo repeated the Ascendio spell and jumped up the air. Verglora willed icicles to pin Victini down before flying after the boy. Romeo punched flames down, Verglora dodging and stretching a fractal into his left leg, slightly stabbing it before the ice melted. The snowflake spun and launched at him, so Romeo spun his own Rainbow Star and intercepted them, the ice and fire sawing each other. Romeo then grasped and trapped Verglora in Sticky Fire. With a rope connecting to their prison, Romeo pumped flames into it, causing the Sticky Fire to swell up. The flares jutted out of the spongey purple before it exploded.
Verglora crashed on the ground in exhaust, blue spots beginning to show on their body. Romeo fell with a raised fist, a rainbow torch expanding on it. He would flatten Verglora with his Rainbow Meteor Fist—had the demon not put on a Cannon Mask. They shot a ball of condensed darkness directly into Romeo's pelvis, the boy wincing from pain as the ball pushed him miles to the "sky." "(Romeo!)" Victini rocketed up after him. Romeo dedicated some fire to burning the Darkball while blasting some backwards to keep from flying too far. He barely stopped himself in time before leaving the Oxygen Bubble's boundaries.
Victini caught up with him. "(Romeo, be careful! You can't firebend outside the oxygen!)"
"Gyah ha ha ha ha ha hah!" From here, they watched as a massive area of the asteroid's surface was covered by fractals expanding from Verglora's form. The likeness of the demon's mad face moved its mouth with eerie emphasis. "Come into my belly, little flares! It's not gonna hurt, I promise!"
"(He's rising right toward us!)"
"Victini, let's give him everything we got! And maybe… just one, teeny-tiny ounce of luck."
"(R-Really?)"
"Yeah… just a little."
"(O…kay!)" Victini tapped Romeo's chest with an ounce of luck. With that, the spirit grabbed the back of his robe, carrying Romeo directly down. "(V-CREATE!)" His ears ignited into a burning "V", mixing his power with Romeo's.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" His Rainbow Fire morphed into a silvery color, and the form of an enormous, spike-shelled turtle emerged over his own.
"(Wah?! Natsu?!)"
"Holy crap, it actually worked!"
"(R-Romeo, this fire is barely even hot!)"
"Yeah, but it's light! It should still be able to burn this darkness away!"
"(I hope you're right!)"
"Blaaaaahhh!" Verglora bellowed a storm of icicles. Victini's "V" fire was cast over the turtle's forehead, serving as a shield to burn some of the ice, but some shards still made it through, scratching Romeo's body. With his neck curved up slightly, one of the icicles was in perfect trajectory to stab the center of his neck… if only that icicle didn't have a blunt tip and merely bounced off his neck, only sparking a surprised choke out of him.
Even so, Romeo fell fearlessly toward the giant mask. Its giant mouth sealed itself, but the impact of the "V" fire melted the lips, forcing the mouth to engulf the tortoise of silvery fire. The blinding light shone from the underside of the ice, the darkness consumed by white. (End song.)
Romeo lay panting on the frostbitten ground, his muscles drained and sore. Even so, he forced himself to stand. He couldn't afford to lie down without knowing the status of his foe.
Victini fluttered beside him, wondering as well where Verglora had gone. The ice was steadily melting under the residual steam. And through the steam… an impish figure lay. The two approached carefully… but it didn't look like the Verglora they knew.
Verglora's skin had become blue, with the snowflake designs darker-blue and the central eyes having closed peacefully. Their shard tail had become a small, snowy whirlwind, they only had two, spikeless arms, and their mouth had shrunk into a composed frown. "Man… I'm beat."
"(He… melted.)" Victini said.
"Miyuki…"
The pigtailed timebender approached the imp calmly. She gently picked them up. Verglora possessed a pleasant, cold feel. "So, this is what you look like… under that darkness. You're like a cool winter's night."
"I think… deep down… I am a spirit that brings peace… to winter. The piece of Polaris inside me… wanted me to be that. But darkness is a strong element. My father's influence is stronger than Polaris's. And in the end… I want to be a great Majora like my father was. But now… I'm tired. I just wanna… lay down… for a little while… It's too hot outside…"
"Yes… we should rest. We've done enough."
Miyuki pulled out her Spirit Ball, its color now matching Verglora's. She lightly tapped them with it. The Newborn dissolved into snow and was sucked inside. The ball rattled and beeped in Miyuki's hand. But unlike the last attempt, the seal finalized. The ball emitted a chilly blue glow.
Miyuki captured a NEWBORN! Only 3 to go!
Romeo approached the girl, frustration empowering the last of his flames. Without wasting any time, Romeo PUNCHED her in the jaw. His fiery fists burned her at every angle, and Miyuki, both physically exhausted and having no more desire to fight, accepted her punishment. "NNNH!" One final kick knocked Miyuki on her back, KO'ed. The boy found himself falling over as well, his chi drained.
Jerome and their two sectors stepped through the portal, looking over Miyuki with pity. "Sigh…crisis averted." Jerome said. "Someone carry them."
"Alright, up ya go." George lifted Romeo by the arms while Wendy got the legs.
"Heh heh…sorry, guys." Romeo blushed.
"It's okay." Wendy smiled. "You did amazing!"
Suki summoned Snow Knights to carry Miyuki. She couldn't find any more words for her sister as they returned to the base.
Within Miyuki's subconscious, the spirit of a frostbitten girl looked over her shamefully.
"I want to keep helping Link." Avis said as she sat in the Shrine of Rebirth. "If he gets to be reborn, then so should I. If Majora returns or if Ganon returns… I hope I'll be with him to help."
Outside Sector IC Treehouse
Augustus's crewmate, O-Tama played the Song of Healing on a Fairy Ocarina. The mystical song caused the masks to glow, the people changing back into their true forms. "Ugh, I can't believe—AAAAH!" Jinta realized he was still half-naked with a childish lower body. "YOU MEAN THIS DIDN'T WEAR OFF?!" He quickly covered himself.
"Weiss! Whitley!" Winter embraced her siblings in a hug.
"Winter—ow!" Weiss winced from pain.
"You're hurt!" Winter gasped. "Hey, do you guys have medical equipment?"
"AND SOME PANTS!" Jinta yelled.
"Yeah, we'll get some." Terry said. "You come, too, Lola, we don't need any hunger cravings." He took her hand and Shadow Glided back up into the treehouse.
"What an absolutely awful experience!" Jacques complained. "These Kids Next Door broke into my home, stole from me, ATTACKED me…"
"Dad, first of all, Miyuki is the one who turned traitor!" Weiss argued. "Don't go blaming the whole organization! And second, that mask shouldn't have belonged in your hands. Was it true that you were harnessing its power for dangerous weapons?"
"Of course not! Don't go believing that hoodlum's lies!"
"Somehow, I think both of you are at fault." Winter said.
"Sebastian…"
"Huh?" Weiss looked to Ciel, a hand over his eyepatch.
"I can't sense Sebastian. What happened to him?"
"Oh! Winter, what happened to the butler that was with Miyuki? He was being controlled by her."
"He what?!" Winter gasped, suddenly distraught. "M…My mom cut his head off and he disappeared."
"She what?!" Jacques perked up. "How horrible! I'd best make sure the court knows I wasn't involved in the act!"
"Forget about that." Ciel said. "He'll come back eventually. I'm afraid we'll have to go the next few months without him. …Which means I'll have to assume butler duties. Ugh, I dread the type of services Kokichi will demand."
"He'll come back?" Winter asked.
"Yeah, so no worries." Weiss smiled. "I killed him once, too."
"Uhhh…"
"Big Bro!" Pea jumped into Augustus's arms. "I'm so sorry about Rallo! I never should've let myself get captured."
"Easy, Sweet Pea." Augustus brushed her hair. "We'll make that girl pay for this."
"Not before I do!" Jacques stated. "That girl owes me a spirit!"
"Don't you care at all that your family is safe?!" Winter asked.
"Well, they are, aren't they? So, now we should focus on getting that spirit back!"
"Can we just go home first?" Whitley groaned.
"No! That girl must compensate us, and it's important that you understand-"
BAM!
Jacques utterly blacked out after Augustus's iron fist struck his face. He flew several yards before plopping in the snow. "That guy was givin' me a headache." Augustus said.
"Hey! This man is-" Winter tried to say.
"President Schnee of Schnee Dust, who cares? Come on, kids, let's get back to the ship." The Marzipans boarded the airplane and returned to the flagship.
The Schnee siblings faced their KO'ed father, but shared a look of disconcert. After a while, Lola and Terry returned with bandages and pants.
April 20; GKND H.Q.
With the Aincrad crisis resolved, and hearing of the capture of two other Newborn, Cheren felt an enormous weight leave his chest. However, his look was of shame as he entered the God Containment room. Miyuki was lightly rocking Verglora in her arms. "…So, how did you like being a villain? Would you do it again?"
"Not unless this child wanted the same. Right now, they're peaceful. Like the calm after a blizzard. But that darkness still lives inside them. It'll grow… and Verglora will want to cause havoc again. I don't know if I'll be able to control them better as a Guardian… but I don't know if I'll try to stop them completely. That's what darkness is. Only when we overcome that despair can we become happier."
"You could've shared in that happiness. But you chose to be evil. And for what reason? Just some dumb philosophy? Because you're mad at everything? You think all the rest of us aren't just like you deep down? If we all chose to be like you, who would get rid of that darkness?"
"Somebody would. But everyone adapts with darkness differently. That's why not everyone is like me."
"Yeah, and damn good that they aren't. Even if you did try to hold back, it's not enough. I'm disappointed, Miyuki. And after whatever happens with these Newborn, we're not gonna let you see Verglora again."
"They'll find their way back to me… I'm sure."
"Whatever. Enjoy yourself in there." Cheren left and shut the door.
Miyuki looked over the peaceful child. They were cold… peaceful… gentle… and gray inside. "It was pretty fun, wasn't it? Throwing justice out the window and letting loose. …But this is where it gets you. Not that I think you'll learn. Sigh…"
Miyuki closed her eyes. With her Past Sight, she Rewound through Verglora's past, playing their journey together in reverse, witnessing their battle with Link, and them initiating their Termina plan. She Rewound all the way back to when Verglora fought Victini and Natsu the first time. How am I doing this? Isn't this room chi-blocked? …Or is it because Verglora's chi is powering me? Does it work like…?
Miyuki thought the memories would stop at the moment Verglora was created… but an image tried to flicker in her vision. One of a crown-headed being. Who is… that?
"Yeah, f-ck you, Kae-…" Miyuki heard the faint sound of Verglora's voice.
This is… before Zanifr created Verglora? Who are… they talking to?
"Hey, Miyuki."
She looked up at hearing George's voice. Her teammates and Suki were standing outside the window, using the built-in speaker to talk. "Just so you know, we managed to fix all the people you cursed." Terry said. "The only one we really gotta worry about is President Schnee."
"But it goes without saying that you won't be welcome back in our sector for a while." George followed.
"Sissy… I tried to explain this to Mom, but she didn't understand." Suki said. "I still don't understand either… so, we're both just upset with you."
"There's nothing to understand, Suki. I attacked those people to satisfy my own selfish desires and impulses. I was thankful that you were patient with me, but I'm not surprised you lost that patience."
"I damn well lost my patience." Terry stated. "I'm taking a break from the KND."
"I don't blame you, Bro." Lola said. "I'm still gonna stick with the sector, but still. You really messed us up, Miyuki."
"I know I did…"
"Even so, I can feel that this phase of yours is over for now." MaKayla said. "When the time comes for whatever these Newborn have planned for us, I'm sure we'll be able to count on you again. Until then, we all need some time to think. Come on, Suki." She gently took the younger sister's hand, leading her out of the room. The others followed.
Cafeteria
Sector MG treated their selves to a small buffet. "So, you can basically sense the karma inside anybody?" Kiki asked.
"Yep. You guys basically have gentle blue fires with thermometers on the cool side." Romeo answered. "But luckily, I can toggle this power on and off." He waved his finger. "See, now it's gone!"
"How does that power even work?" Phil asked. "Are you like a villain detector or something?"
"I guess I could be. I'm not entirely sure how karma works!"
"(I wonder if we can bend karma the same way as luck?)" Victini said.
"Eh, I'd rather not abuse that! But speaking of, we still need to return that luck, don't we?"
"(Don't worry. I released that chi and it should've automatically returned to their owners.)"
"That's good. …So, Maria… have you made a decision?"
"I… think so." Maria looked down nervously. "I…I want to stay with you guys until all this Newborn stuff is resolved. But afterward… I think I'll transfer to Mushroom's KND. My sister and I will be the new Mario Bros.."
"Hehe." Wendy gave a light giggle at that. "But, we understand. I hope that once all this is over, we'll be able to carry on without you."
"Me, too." Maria smiled. "But, if you guys decide you really need me, then I'll come back. So, make sure you call me! I don't want you to think you're troubling me!"
"Haha, we will!" Romeo laughed. "And we could always come visit you besides."
"You think we should go to check up on them?" Oliver suggested.
"Could we stop at Luna Nova first?" Wendy asked. "We should offer our condolences for Akko."
"That's a great idea." Kiki agreed.
"(Wait, who's Akko? Did I miss something?)"
"Oh, sorry." Wendy said. "We received a message while you were resting. On Planet Avalar, there are these friends of ours…"
Mushroom Castle
News was already spreading of the Mario Bros.'s injury. Queen Peach was greeted by another special guest, whose arrival had already made headlines around Mushroom. "King Mickey? What a pleasant surprise!"
"Good afternoon, Your Highness!" the mouse king greeted spritely, before changing to a tone of sympathy. "I heard what happened to the Mario Brothers. I'm terribly sorry."
"Well, thank you. They haven't quite regained consciousness, yet, but they don't seem to be in pain."
"I'm glad. If there's anything I could do to help, I'd be glad to offer it."
"Oh, you don't have to. Really." Peach replied kindly.
"You don't have to be modest. To be honest, it makes me a little concerned… If Bowser has done something this bold, does this mean he's planning to conquer this world?"
"Well, now that this has happened… I am worried that he'll try. But, it's not like he planned to attack them. Mario and Luigi were only trying to help somebody."
"Help who? …Oh, wait, did you get kidnapped again-hoho?"
"I-It wasn't me who was kidnapped, but…" Peach flushed sheepishly.
"Then who?"
"Um, I shouldn't say…"
"Aww, don't be bashful." Mickey gently took Peach's hand. "It must've been pretty important for the Mario Bros. to risk their lives over it."
Peach felt a warm, trusting aura radiating through his gloves. "Well… what happened was…"
Avalar; Evermore
After merrily feeding the llapacas at the farm, Skaios went for a walk through town to see what else needed done. "Wheeeww, whew whewwww, whew-whew-whew… whew, whew whew, wheeewww…" An old man in average white and brown clothes, white hair, and an eyepatch was whistling a tune in a corner. Under his tune, a black arrow with blue glowing parts levitated around him, leaving a light streak.
Other citizens gathered around, slightly awed by the arrow. Skaios walked through the crowd, smiling up at the floating arrow.
"Wheeeew, whew whew, wheeeew…" The man glanced down at the Sky Newborn. Skaios possessed an eyepatch of his own. An eyepatch… covering a ruined eye. The man telepathically willed the arrow to point at Skaios. "WHEW!"
"AAAAAHH!" The arrow pierced Skaios' other eye, the Newborn writhing on the ground. The citizens screamed and ran. The man snatched the arrow and began to dash through town with swift speed—time skipped for one second, throwing everyone off, but the man would be gone from town before long.
Slade retreated to the mountains and waited until Akame showed up. "I saw his eye slowly recovering." Akame said. "The arrow wasn't able to kill him."
"I see…" Slade observed the arrow, its blueness faded. "So, the other weapons aren't able to kill the New Firstborn. Skaios's eye was destroyed by a certain one. We need to find the Infinity Trident."
…
"Skaios, what happened?!" yelled King Evan, kneeling over the Newborn.
"Ugh…scurvy dog… done nicked me in the eye. Ugh, it actually hurts. Almost reminds me… of the weapon that green man used on me other eye."
Somewhere in Europe
Index and Meloetta were walking toward a certain mountain range, from which a giant tree was growing. Within Meloetta's hand rested a small light. "So, how was Skully doing?" Index asked.
"He's not doing as badly as I thought. It was pretty noisy, but we got some of those kittens to cover his ears!"
Meloetta had granted the tiny one a special charm so her voice could be heard by anyone nearby. "I'm glad you got to see him again." Index smiled. "Of course, we'll have to keep what you and Skully did on the down-low."
"I know…" Synthia drooped. "Where are we going again?"
"We're visiting the Minish KND. There's someone we'd like you to meet…"
The Treehouse Roots
A horde of tiny creatures approached the core of Earth's treehouses. The creatures possessed strong physiques, skull masks, boney fingers, ravenous mouths, and two eyes in vertical alignment. Some of the creatures walked on all fours like gorilla-dogs.
"The Treehouse Roots… we've found it, boys!" The leader of these creatures possessed two leaf antennae, a single eye, and dark-green skin. "It's time the KND underwent some downsizing! Insert the seeds now!"