Hamburger Hacienda
"Hurry up, Vanessa! Baby wants a Triple-Cal Coke!" Baby Pool banged his little hands on the highchair's desk.
"Can it, you spoiled brat." An anthro unicorn in a red, patterned coat and dark undershirt brought a large soda cup. It dwarfed Baby Pool as it was placed on the desk, but the straw was long and bendy enough to reach the big-headed assassin's mouth.
Slade pinched his temples in disbelief, and Chase and Akame weren't far behind his wavelength. This wasn't the only time Deadpool had been beheaded and had to grow his body anew, but it was always a dumb time when he did. While his oversized head still had the mask, his baby body wore a ducky T-shirt and diaper. "You were careless again, Wade." Lucci huffed. "You realize your Regen Quirk won't work if you get hurt using the weapons? And why didn't you use your ability in the fight?"
"I told you, the mood has to be right. And Sephiroth's whole passion for 'bringing mah people back to the moon' and 'edgy dark anime antihero' just wasn't doin' it for me."
"We're moving out again in an hour, you know." Slade said. "I'll be fine after a quick shower, but you'll need to pump out the Life Return to fix your body, and that-"
"Yeah yeah, my stamina will be eat up and I won't be ready blah blah, pile on the context, why don't ya? Look, I won't need my full body for this next battle, okay? This time, I'll have the perfect audience, I can smell it! Or maybe that's just the-"
"Make one more joke like that and I'll start you over again." Sephiroth threatened, raising his sword to Pool's neck.
"Excuse me, Author, his name is 'Seth Ross' when he's in this outfit."
"Regigigas said that they knew this would happen." Akame changed the subject. "They confront us knowing they're about to die… and yet, the Firstborn tried to run from the apprentices."
"Perhaps the gods believe the Firstborn will inherit their thrones." Slade said. "Them… as well as the Newborn."
"You know, the whole reason we could kill Kyogre and Hexxus is because they had children, right? I agree we can let the demigod children live, but if we destroy Hexxus's child, or if Kyogre's lineage dies out… what if they could come back?"
"Then we must live and spread our teachings to others." Lucci replied. "To rid them in whatever era they may return."
"We may have to. By the way, Lucci, I was able to finish this medicine." Akame pulled out a magenta pill. "It should heal some of the poison from Hexxus."
Lucci took the pill and swallowed. "Thank you, Akame. …You know, it's a shame the World Government never sought you all."
"Is it time for the traditional bonding speech?" Sephiroth asked.
"You six are far more competent than those lackeys I used to work with. It's a shame I wasn't able to work with you sooner. With you… I may finally make Andrew's dream realized."
"Sniff, sniff." Wade cried. "I love you, too, Lucci! You're the most competent guy I ever met!"
"I could say the same." Chase smiled. "I've worked with some aggravating people in my life… and working with you has been the least aggravating experience. I feel only more joy in not joining the Brotherhood."
"Oh, hell no." Slade remarked. That was something he and Slade had quickly bonded over. "But I agree… this has been a marvelous experience. Still, as challenging as these gods have been, they just don't give me the same drive as fighting a passionate mortal foe. What happened to the good old days of fighting Batman and Robin? Why'd Bruce have to disappear, why'd Robby have to retire? He could've been so strong by now!"
"If you want foes like that, there's plenty to pick from."
"Oh, I wouldn't mind going another round with Nagisa. Not that his mind's not in it right now."
"Speaking of, I think it's time to pick him up." Chase figured. "My stamina's good now, so… Telepor~" He Disapparated.
Sephiroth heard a 'Bing Bong' sound at the drive thru. He walked to the microphone asked, "Hello, what will you be having?"
"I'll take demon meat with a glass of children's blood." A soft voice responded.
"Hm…" Sephiroth recognized it as the woman who was here before. "Sorry, but we don't serve that here."
"Oh, well. Then perhaps I can serve you something instead?"
"We aren't interested."
"I think it'll be worth your while. After all, a spirit prison's not gonna break into itself."
"…What do you mean?"
"Interested now? Well, I'm sure you're busy at the moment, so I'll leave something at the window. Talk to you later~"
Sephiroth went to the window and found a folded paper. It depicted a blueprint of a prison labyrinth with X's to mark "targets," as well as guard routes and shifts. "Sephiroth, what's going on over there?" Lucci asked.
"It seems we have a mysterious benefactor."
"Hey, baby, bring on the next round of Pepper Jack cheese!" Deadpool called.
"NO!" Lucci yelled. "Don't you dare do that ag-"
"OH, FOR THE LOVE OF-!" Akame reeled back in disgust. "I've seen bloody torture less disgusting than this!"
Moonbase
The kids of Moonbase weren't expecting a giant moon-bat spirit to suddenly show up on the bridge. But it made quite the show for everyone's phone cameras. "Okay… how did Crest turn into that exactly?" Cheren asked.
"I always thought he was the most random Firstborn." Lee commented.
"Well, we think that Cresselia was assassinated." Diwata replied. "So, maybe… this power-up happened because he's the only Moon God left?"
"Then what about me?!" Marshadow whined; the group almost overlooked him beneath the bigger Crest. "My brother and Dad died, where's my transformation?!"
"The bad Darkrai didn't technically 'die,' did he?"
"It's not faaaiiir!" Marshadow angrily pounded Crest's crescent tail with tiny fists. "I'm way cooler than you are!"
"Not anymore, shorty! As the new God of Moons, I decree there will be no nightmares ev-" There was a poof as Crest shrank to his normal form. He was frozen mid-boast at Marshadow's level. "Uh…"
"HAH!" Marshadow pushed him. "Nightmares rule!"
"They do not!" Crest pushed back. The boys began to wrestle on the floor.
"Oi, Cheren!" Panini called through the intercom. "Hate to interrupt what's probably a weird moment, but a visitor's asking permission to enter. It's Tani; King Evan's partner."
"Well, tell her she's good to come in!"
A girl with dark-magenta hair, braided with leaves and a forest dress, entered from the hangar. "Ahoy, Cheren! Um…what's goin' on there?" Tani acknowledged the moon and shadow imp.
"Family fighting. What's up, Tani? Where's Evan?"
"A king can't just keep leaving his kingdom, so he sent me. Skaios flew to Earth a while ago when he sensed something wrong. Have you seen him?"
"We got a call from the Nimbi division, actually. Sky God Rayquaza was destroyed and it caused a worldwide typhoon. Skaios showed up at his domain and he used his own bending to stop it."
"Is he still there?"
"I'm not sure, but we can get someone." Though Cheren didn't quite have authority over the Nimbi KND, he raised his comm and called, "Panini, send a message to Fybi at Sector W. Ask her if she can…"
Sector W
"Thou wishest me to locate Skaios?" Fybi repeated. "Hm…mayhaps a good stretch of mine wings wilt do me good. I shalt set flight momentarily. We considered leaving for Moonbase, anyhow."
The redheaded Nimbi flew to the bathroom, where Diancie was resting in a nice, warm bath. "I think I figured out what happened…" Diancie said tiredly. "The Earth God… he was destroyed, too."
"Man…" Anthony sighed.
"Pretty soon… what if they come for me, too?"
"Maybe you could hide in the Spirit World, Michelle? No way they could get to you there."
"I know, but… I don't have the strength to Ascend. Besides, what if they threaten you?"
"I ain't gonna be caught by those chumps!"
"Mayhaps," Fybi joined in, "but I presume the assassins wilt resort to that should the occasion arise. Anthony, an errand on Skypia yearns for me, but I shalt return soon. If I could adviseth thee on something, it may be best to call upon thine old classmates."
"You mean the Earth Children? Yeah! If those freaks come, Michelle, we'll all protect you!"
"I wouldn't want them to risk their-"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I'm texting them now." Anthony pulled a phone. "You can go, Fybs, we'll be fine!"
"Hm hm!" His enthusiasm drew a smile. The Nimbi set flight from the tree.
Crossing the world's vast sky, Fybi followed the breeze to a region where she felt it strongest. There was a large maelstrom of clouds surrounding where Rayquaza's thunderhead used to be. Fybi sensed a small, but compact mass of Air Chi on a rather small piece of Island Cloud: one of the fragmented remains of the rainbow island. There was even the lightest rainbow arched over it. Gliding down, Fybi saw the bandanna-wearing sky pirate sitting on the cloud, swaying his feet. "Dost something ail thee?"
"Huh?" Skaios looked up. "Are you one of the Nimbi ops?"
"Well, I am affiliated with Earth." There wasn't room for Fybi to join him on the cloud, so she bent one together on her own and made it her seat. "Were thou close to Rayquaza?"
"Nuh-uh. He tried to imprison me just like the other gods. But in the end, he… let me go. Ay didn't really get why… just because me mates supported me, I don't think I deserved to go free. Ya think it's because… Rayquaza knew this would happen? Do you think he wanted me to… replace him?"
"I am no expert on fate, so I canst not say. But thou art not the only Firstborn in yon position. Marshadow must be the new Fear God, Manaphy the new Sea King… and mayhaps Diancie, 'far as the earth is concerned. Thou hadn't many opportunities to become acquainted with her, now that the thought crosses my mind. As gods of Sky and Earth, how do thee fair? Hm hm~"
"Is that what you came here for?"
"I hath been sent because thine Guardian seeks thee. But to return to our talk, I doth not know what Rayquaza intended, nor do I know what to tell thee. But as these assassins grow more relentless, we could use thine aid. Particularly… I doth not wish for Anthony's fair sister to meet a tragic end. I fear they wilt come for her… so, I wouldst like to destroy them first."
"And they… might come for Midna, too."
"I recall that they already hath."
"What?!"
"I believeth she is still alive… Dost that rattle thee?"
"Midna's my big sis… I… Ay can't let those scallywags have their way! But I…I ain't allowed to hurt mortals."
"Thine Guardian canst, canst they not?"
"Ay reckon…"
"Wilt thou join me to my treehouse first? Thou canst accompany as we fly to Moonbase."
"Sure…" Skaios flew with Fybi across the ever-changing sky.
Arctic Base
Kalluto didn't enjoy being passed around like a toy. But after Shino heard the truth from him, she insistently took him in her possession while they waited for Sector SA. They came as soon as possible following the call, and Kalluto divulged the same truth to them. "I remember that!" Goombella gasped. "Chase DID have a power like that, back in Fanali!"
"Then that's what…that's what happened to him?" Morgiana whispered, trying to restrain her feelings. "Do we know for sure?"
"It has to be!" Shino shouted. "Before this happened, we were playing games at my house. He was in bright spirits and we had a great time. He couldn't just change so quickly without brainwashing!"
"I think that is what he did." Kalluto replied.
"And what about you?" Goombella asked. "Were you just brainwashed all this time?"
"Well… no." The little assassin bowed his head in shame. "It wasn't until the Aincrad incident that I began to consider my masters' ideals. I was about to kill someone… who was really important to Lexi. But I couldn't. That person was more than just a 'god.' They were an important sister… and a friend."
"Miko…" Index whispered knowingly. "But what about now? Do you plan to help us?"
"I'm not sure what I want to do, yet. I don't care to help them in their ambitions, but I don't know enough about the other targets to consider their well-being. For instance… you've always been a big concern to my masters."
Index gulped and backed up. "HULP!" Kalluto was instantly squeezed in Shino's fingers.
"Then how about we keep you like this for a while longer?"
"W-Wait! I wasn't planning to do anything!"
"Yeah, but we still haven't forgiven you for trying to kill us before!" Goombella argued.
"You better tell us everything you know of CP0!" Morgiana leaned over the puny boy, her teeth grit like a beast. "Where are they hiding, what's their schedule, how are they pulling off all these kills?!"
Kalluto shirked. He remembered seeing the Red Lions at Fanali, those massive and powerful guardian deities. He heard that this girl changed into one even, not that he saw it. Did that mean she had the power to change at will? Though Kalluto didn't quite fear the others in this diminutive state, he had no intention of facing this lion's anger. "I-I don't know as much as you think. We apprentices are usually based in a small school, but I don't know where the masters make their hideout. I do know they use small, high-speed ships to get around, along with Master Young and Shadow's teleporting. Those two, in particular, have taken time to scout the gods' locations so they would be memorized for teleportation; in some cases, they made reservations to rent ships, only to leave them behind when it was time to retreat. We apprentices used our own stealth crafts to get to our locations, though mine was left on Harnita."
"Harnita?"
"My initial assignment was to kill Celebi, but I was shrunk, captured, and brought to GKND. I escaped and wound up following that Miko girl to her home."
"This is hard to wrap my head around." Goombella replied. "I can buy that these guys planned these murders months in advance and are able to act quickly, but they're fighting gods, for crud's sake! They should be exhausted out of their minds if they're killing in quick succession!"
"Such is the power of CP0." Kalluto said, his hair casting a shade over his peach eyes. "Even before this, they were already seasoned assassins who acquired the Rokushiki arts. Slade was an elite jaeger on Superbia, and his cousin, Master Deadpool, was a wild freelance hero that even the Top Heroes couldn't catch. Shadow served Mobius's military, but I'm sure you know the rest of his infamous background. Chase Young bargained with a demon for eternal youth, so that he could hone his magic and martial arts abilities for the next 1500 years. And as assassins, they're trained to stay up and fight for long hours, requiring minimal sleep and basic sustenance."
"When I Tattled some of them, their Power Levels weren't even on par with the Pirate Emperors. But it's been months since I DID Tattle them, who knows how strong they got?"
"They aren't perfect." Index stated. "We may need our heavy hitters, but CP0 is gonna run their selves dry at the pace they're going. But here's what concerns me: what about the gods that are mostly based in Spirit World? Let alone Arceus?"
"How could they target Arceus?" Morg wondered.
"For one thing… it's possible that they learned Spirit Shifting. Maybe they do it in the midst of their rest periods. They could even have Zanpakutō, for all we know!"
"Well, there's one more thing I should mention." Kalluto said. "They use special weapons to pull off these crimes… and I don't know if spirits can use them."
"Weapons…?"
"Hey, let's save all this for our report to Cheren." Morg reasoned. "For now, we need to get Killua. Maybe that idiot could help us find Nagisa."
"You're right. With my lightbending, I should easily be able to-"
"STOP HIM!" There was a shout from down the corridor. "Sound the alarms, secure the prison wing! Killua broke out of the ice!"
The white-haired Sheikah himself zipped through a door, his dark gaze sharpening on Sector SA. "The…the nun."
Index felt a chill from his glare. Killua Shaved his way over, dodging Index's light beams with heightened instincts. Morgiana lunged and swung a kick: he used Iron Body to withstand it, but was still slid across the ice. Morgiana blasted after and grabbed him, pinning him to the ground in a choke hold while reserving her arms to twist his legs. Shino focused her rifle at his face, but Killua stabbed Morg's legs with Finger Pistol. As she suffered the pain, Killua squirmed frantically. By the time Index shot a Light Beam, the boy escaped and kicked Morg in the face. "AAAH!" But the act of doing so sent another headache through his system. Index kept shooting light, but his evasion was instinctual.
"No… these are… Nagisa's friends… my friends." Killua slapped a hand to his forehead and seemed to pinch the area covered by his hair. "Don't… kill the nun… don't kill…NYUH!"
A small spurt of blood leaked from his head. Killua threw a small needle on the floor. "Huff…huff…sigh…" He dropped to his knees. "Damn you… Illumi… you were involved in this."
"Hey… what's with you?" Morgiana asked, holding her dented nose.
Kalluto leapt down and observed the needle. "This is one of our older brother's needles! They're designed to hold chi and transmit status ailments to his opponents."
"Master Young stuck me with it… after ambushing me." Killua answered. "I think he got it from Illumi and imbued his fruit power with it. It's probably meant to help his spell last longer."
"It's also designed to heighten awareness and compel us to avoid danger." Kalluto mentioned. "He uses it on us in training. But pulling it out is also really painful, and because it makes us afraid of danger, we're afraid to pull it."
"Yeah… but I'm sick of being their puppet." Killua panted. "…How did you get so puny?"
Morgiana kicked him in the hip, slamming him into the wall. "That doesn't mean we'll just forgive you."
"Hey, did you stop him?!" Marcus rushed out. "Get him in cuffs!"
"Hold on!" Index yelled. "His mind-control wore off!"
"Cough…I'm sorry. Master Young… never used that technique on us in class, but Fie and I were taken completely off guard."
"He got Fie, too?"
"Yeah… and he ambushed Nagisa at his house."
"Where's Nagisa now?"
"If he's not with you, I have no idea. I could try to call him, but there's a chance he won't answer."
"Marcus, we're taking Killua and Kalluto to Moonbase." Morg decided. "We need to get as many sectors involved as we can and stop CP0."
"If you don't think they pose a threat, then they're all yours."
"Pretty sure, like, every sector is already involved." Index joked.
Shino picked up both Kalluto and the needle, studying the small device. "These guys are pretty messed up, huh…"
"There's still time to back out of this." Goombella reasoned. "This really wasn't the best time to join, huh?"
"I'll keep going. I can't just abandon Nagisa either. Even if it's small, I'll do what I can to help!"
"Me, too!"
Lexi saw the group as they rushed back to the hangar. Killua slogged behind at a weaker rate, chilly from being frozen and exhausted from the fights. "WAIT!" She chased after them. "What about Kalluto?!"
"We'll take care of him!" Shino assured. "I dunno what happened between you two, but he seems like he really likes you! So, we'll bring him back!"
"D-Don't tell her that…" Kalluto flushed.
"O-okay… Come over for dinner sometime, Kal!"
"Yeah… I will!"
Sector JP
"Alright, Gourmerry," Yuzu began, "our friends are gonna be super hungry by the time they get back, so I'm preparing a special feast for them! I want you to be surprised, too, so could I ask you to wait in your Pokéball until then?"
"Merry, Merry?"
"I know, but I don't wanna be dependent on you. Good cooking is made with love, not magic. Not even Food Spirit magic! Besides, the waiting and the surprise will make you all the hungrier!"
"Gourmerryyyyyy!"
"Ha ha! In you go!" A beam stretched from the food-designed ball and absorbed Gourmerry inside. It glowed with a warm light and a mystical shimmering sound.
Setting the ball on a stack of napkins, Yuzu set to work in preparing a turkey, stir fry, some banana pie dessert, and a good pot of soup. This was probably a bit much to reward them for one mission, but if CP0 was as dangerous as they believed, no feast was too great. It sort of made Yuzu worried if they could handle it… From the sound of it, the other Firstborn were only targeted by apprentices, so it's not like they needed to go all-out. It still concerned her though.
Yuzu would glance at the ball every now and then, its light soothing her heart. There was a few minute time gap where she was focused on the oven before looking back over… and its glow was different. It wasn't mystical… it was artificial. "?!" Yuzu approached. The design on the ball was off… and when Yuzu felt it, it was paint. A strange glowing paint. Yuzu was able to pop it open, but the inside was that of an ordinary Pokéball. "GOURMERRY!!"
…
Sneaking into a treehouse wasn't hard for fellow operatives. The security system was connected to the KND database, so it wouldn't go off for fellow operatives. Armed in his Sheikah gear and silent shoes, Nagisa climbed the cliff below the treehouse, then climbed his way to a window. He snuck into the security camera room and disabled them. But first, he confirmed only Yuzu was home. From then, it took quiet stealth work, concealing his chi and sneaking up to the blissful cook. When she wasn't looking, she swiped the ball off the napkins and replaced it with a fake. CP0 were able to procure some normal balls, but it was up to Nagisa to paint them from memory, based on when Index first found them.
Hurriedly making his way outside the way he came, Nagisa retreated into the forest. Eventually… Chase Young Apparated to meet him. "You were actually able to get it. Impressive. Was there any trouble?"
"I was lucky that she had it in the Spirit Ball. It went easier than I expected."
"The others may not be so easily taken, but this was good work. And once we have that trident, the threat of the Newborn will be past. Good work, Nagisa." Chase raised his forehead bangs, revealing the dark needle underneath. "Let's return… and prepare your next assignment." Their presence was erased from the forest with Apparition, along with the light of Gourmerry's Spirit Ball.
Harnitan KND H.Q.
Celebi had been given her own special suite in the HKND's base, almost a miniature greenhouse with all the shrubs and plants present. The Forest Spirit peeped up when the door opened and Arianna stormed in. "I can't believe Vweeb let that assassin escape! They've had no luck finding him… Celebi, are you in here?"
"I'm right here!" The fairy rose up. "So, I guess it's still not safe to come up, huh?"
"Not really. Besides, it's better to keep all you guys separate. They'll have a harder time finding you, and if they try to target you here, they'll have no choice but to fight us."
"True, but… I'd hate for you guys to get hurt protecting me."
"Oh, nonsense, Celebi. We get hurt for each other all the time! And, no offense, but my mom and I had to save you at least once…"
"It was different back then! I mean… back then, you needed me. But I don't have that power, anymore. You can't use me. I'm not really… worth protect-"
"Celebi!!" Arianna startled her. "It doesn't matter if you have power or not! You're a member of our family. We want you to li-"
"Um, hi. Arianna?" A base guard knocked the door. "We thought you should know… well, there's a hostage situation on TV. Come take a look."
Arianna and Celebi hurried outside. The base's Global Station featured a town park: a large, violet serpent had a family of three wrapped in its body. "YA HEAR ME, KND?! Bring me Celebi NOW! If I don't get her in the next 10 minutes, I'm hankering for Harnitan! Hurry up! GET OUT HERE!"
"It's… demanding me?!"
"It has to be a CP0 agent!"
"Where's that happening?!"
"It's in the Minaba Park." The guard replied.
"I'm going there now!"
"CELEBI!" Arianna called after the fleeing Firstborn. "Don't! We don't even know if it'll release them!"
"It's threatening innocent people! I have to take a chance!"
"WAIT!" Celebi was long gone out of the treehouse. Arianna quickly boarded her own ship and flew after her.
Minaba Park
The other park-goers quickly evacuated the area as police surrounded the area. "Attention! Giant… snake monster! Release the hostages or we'll…or we'll shoot!"
"Ssssshoot me with what? Your little sleep darts? You pacifistsssss don't stand a chance against ssssomeone like me!" The snake hissed with a loud, obnoxious form of speech that sounded like it belonged to a typical, high school mean girl. Oddly, the other end of the snake had no tail, but was void as if it had been cut off.
"Hey! Let them go!"
"Uhn?" The serpent gazed up at a little green fairy. "Aha…Celeb-"
One of the cops shot a sleep dart at the snake's neck. The beast quickly shook it off and SQUEEZED the family, breaking the mother's legs by concentrating Life Return in the right way. "DID I LOOK LIKE I WAS PLAYING?"
"Don't make another move!" A small fleet of KND ships hovered over the area, cannons trained on the beast. "If you hurt anyone else, we'll shoot!"
"NEWSFLASH, brats! By the time I hurt someone else, you ain't gonna get a shot! All I wanted was Celebi, I didn't ask for all you extras!"
"You're with CP0, aren't you?!" Arianna shoved through the guards, brambles raised from her pots.
"I don't really know after those jerks deserted me! But I ain't leavin' with my cut of the fame! I'm gonna kill all the gods I can, and you Firstborn seem like a good spot to start! NOW, GET DOWN HERE! I'll do you what I did to that star kid!"
"That… star kid?" Celebi's pupils creased back in anguish. "The one who killed Jirachi… was you?"
"You're HORRIBLE!" Arianna shouted. "What have they ever done to you?! Celebi and Jirachi are kind spirits and our precious friends! Thanks to Celebi's forests, so many people and animals have homes and life! Thanks to Jirachi, so many dreams came true!"
"Blah blah blah! They mighta done all that, but who needs 'em, anymore? We already HAVE our forests, and MY dreams are about to be realized! You really just gonna let these three die for some has-been spirit?"
"Just give her Celebi!" the father shouted. "Please! We have to get to a hospital!"
"Don't kill me! Don't!" the son cried.
"Awwwwwww, wisten to the baby cry." The snake squeezed a little harder. "What's it gonna be, LUH-OO-SER?"
"Please, don't!" Celebi pled. "I will! Just promise to let them go!"
"You first, Fairy! I'm keeping my leverage 'til the job is done. Get down where I can get you! I'll rip that little neck of yours right off!"
My neck, huh… Celebi recalled hearing that Nebula found Jirachi beheaded. The spirit focused a subtle flow of chi up its body to the head.
"Celebi, don't!"
"I'm sorry, Arianna. But, I… can't let mortals die for me." She calmly descended toward the snake, her Life Chi just about absorbed up from her body. "But if she's lying… don't show her any-"
"FANG PISTOL!" The serpent gave in to impatience and lunged upward, slicing the plant spirit's head clean off. Her expression eternally shock-ridden, the head flipped in the air before plopping on the ground.
"CELEBIIII!" Arianna desperately wanted to run to her side, but feared getting close to the monster. But a smirk of satisfaction shone on her fangs as Celebi's body began to wilt like rotten celery.
"AND THAT SCORES 2 POINTS FOR ME! LATER, NERDS!" As soon as it threw the family at Arianna, the KND ships let fire. The snake assumed a more humanoid shape with a light-purple jumpsuit and dark-blue hair; though it seemed high-heels covered her "hands" and vice-versa. She used Shaves and afterimages to nimbly evade the cannon fire, and destruction would continue to ravage the distance in their efforts to stop her.
"Celebi…" Arianna knelt over the spirit's rotten body. …Celebi's head lay still… yet, was still its lush light-green color. "Are…" She leaned closer and whispered, "Are you…"
"Hide me… in a… forest… Tell people… you buried me…"
"…!" Tears spilled from Arianna's green eyes. In the softest, weakest whisper that only Arianna could hear… she knew for certain… "Celebi…"
Moonbase
"Okay, okay, okay!" Cheren shouted at the numerous operatives both in attendance and through the comm terminals, including Jerome on the Intergalactic Comms channel. "I'm getting swarmed with WAY too many reports, so let me just catch everybody up. Ahem…so, Vweeb caught CP0 apprentice Kalluto, let him escape, he wound up with Sector SA, now he's good, I guess. Killua attacked Sector L, they caught him, he was brainwashed, now he's good. Gourmerry was kidnapped from Sector JP's treehouse while said team was apparently fighting a water alien assassin that tried to kill Meloetta. Romeo and Wendy are in the Negaverse, Sector IC is on Glacia, Nagisa's still AWOL, AND, to top off the deaths of Regigigas and supposedly Cresselia, the GKND have reported that Celebi was assassinated by a snake monster!"
"Okay, my head seriously hurts!" Goombella shouted. "And we haven't even gone over the CP0 members!"
"Kalluto, who's the snake person?" Morgiana asked.
"I don't know. I don't remember anyone like that… and the water alien doesn't sound familiar either. There are actually two assassins I don't think you guys have encountered: Akame, a former revolutionary from Planet Emblem; she ate a Spider Fruit, so she can't be either of those. Then there's Sephiroth, a former SOLDIER from Gaia, a Fallen Nimbi, and a gravitybender."
"A Fallen… Nimbi?" Fybi had never heard of this.
"Sephiroth?!" Index gasped. "We know him! He was part of The Thirteen's army! Our team fought him! But… that was an Original. This must be the version from our universe."
"Ugh, well that puts two MORE on our plate!" Cheren exasperated. "So, that puts our number at…" He counted his fingers, "eleven. At least ELEVEN assassins we need to stop, TWELVE if you count Nagisa!"
"Nagisa is brainwashed!" Morg shouted. "And Fie is, too, we just need to save-"
"Okay, who even is Fie, they one of the apprentices?! I don't fucking know, anymore!"
"You mad, Bro?" Aurora's monitor asked.
"Not in the mood for that, Ror."
"They even killed the Forest Spirit…" Tani sighed.
"You know Celebi?" Skaios asked.
"I mean, not personally. But as a forest girl, it still hurts me."
"Then maybe you and I should go after 'em, Tani! I'll make ye my Guardian and we'll give 'em justice!"
"I only came here to make sure you were alright. I wasn't planning on fighting any assassins. And, well…" Tani looked down with a shred of guilt, "I'm not really sure about having you in the kingdom."
"W…why?" The young pirate drooped down in hurt.
"When that guy attacked you before, it really freaked everyone out. They could target you again… and if you were in Evermore, they could hurt bystanders. They could hurt… Evan."
"I…um…" Skaios couldn't deny the possibility… but it hurt him to think they wouldn't stick up for him. What about the Hope Pirates? Would they…
"Ahem!" Jerome coughed from his large monitor. "I hate to interrupt, but-"
"OH, this will be FAAAAANTASTIC!" Cheren exclaimed. "What could POSSIBLY be happening-"
Maddy punched him in the crown. "Jerome, just tell us what's wrong."
"We… received a report from the Floran KND. It seems some hostile characters have invaded the Floran Summit and are attacking the soldiers and operatives that were patrolling the area. I can only assume that…"
"CP0 is targeting Viridi." Cheren deduced.
"Old Viridi, huh…" Anthony sighed. The veteran operatives shared his sentiments, and for some, it was a little hard to be concerned.
"So, are we going or what?" Maddy asked.
"What?"
"We know where they are. Let's just… fly on down there and take them out."
"You're right." Morg affirmed. "I'll make them tell me where Nagisa is!"
"Index, you should probably stay behind." Goombella suggested. "They could try to target you."
"Yeah, but…" Index was upset by the notion. "But Viridi was our first mission."
"Your first mission?" Shino asked.
"We joined KND when the Viridi War started. It was a pretty hectic time to join, but it really signified our bond as Sector SA. But I guess I can't risk myself over some nostalgia."
"Maybe not, but I'll go!" The sniper raised her rifle confidently. "I'll slow them down however I can!"
"Anthony," Fybi said, "if 'tis alright with thee, I wish to embark on this mission. I shalt smite them before they canst pose a threat to thine sister!"
"Then go for it, Fybs! Give them heck!"
"Well, Cheren?" Maddy inquired. "You think this mission is good to go?"
Nothing put Cheren back in a good mood quite like his operatives expressing their confidence. "Alright… we're heading off to Flora. Our mission is to stop CP0. Even if it means destroying them."
"Just what I was hoping to hear." Maddy cracked her knuckles. "Let me just get my favorite bag of tricks…"
With the group of willing operatives heading to take flight, Skaios looked once more to Tani. "So… what should I do?"
"It's up to you." Tani replied, tossing Skaios his Spirit Ball. "You're the free spirit."
"Then…" Skaios fixed his gaze on the stars, "I'm going!"
Floran Summit
The Florans had anticipated their goddess would be attacked… but it was only out of a fleeting courtesy that they were even here. Most of them hadn't forgiven her past crimes, and the more Lucci carved down their soldiers like the Lion Usurper he was, even more Florans decided to stand down and let him have his way.
"HEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWW!" Kid Pool's body had been sized up to five years old. Fit with a smaller version of his suit, he was learning the art of gardening, using a pair of sheers to slice Florans in their wake. The back of his unicorn girlfriend supported his young frame, trotting majestically through the forest. Her hooves splashed across a marsh, which reflected the waxing gibbous moon nicely. "Wait, what's waxing gibbous?"
"It's a ¾ moon, honey." Vanessa answered.
"Yep, he prob'ly had to look that up. But YO, these forest dudes are easy money! Who needs to be a grown-up? If Kal can do it, it ain't gonna stop—MOO!"
Vanessa rammed horn-first into a reflection of herself, causing Deadpool to fling forward into his own reflection. They tried to maneuver around the reflection, but it adamantly blocked them as reflections should. "I've bent the moon's light into a mirror." A British voice said. A purplish-blue man presented himself from behind the reflection. He had a monocle, long white mustache, and shiny black garb that fit his slim, butler-esque figure. "You'll also find it fits the entire radius of the Nature Factory. 'Twas poor planning attacking us at night!"
"Waaaahh!" Deadpool immaturely pounded the mirror. "Lemme in! I wanna see my Mirror Mommy!"
"A solid, clean mirror." Slade smirked, approaching the factory from the opposite direction in his ship. "But let's see how it fairs against cold, hard machinery!" He launched missiles at the mirror and shattered it, but a bolt of lightning zipped through the gap struck the ship's engine.
"Let's see how you fair against hot, hard lightning!" Phosphora taunted, donned in a new Lightning Scarf.
"Very well, actually!" Slade twisted the ship around and tried to shoot her, but Phosphora evaded with zipping speed and stamped a direct kick to Slade's windshield. With a bolt to empower her kick, she punctured a hole in the windshield. She zipped away and built the momentum to strike it again, with Slade steering his ship away. Playing the part, he used barrel-rolls in anticipation she would come, but Phosphora timed it to stamp down when the craft faced up.
But Slade hit the autopilot and ejected himself from the craft, grabbing Phosphora firmly. "NNNNHH!" The Birkan squirmed in Slade's electrifying grasp, her scarf progressively shrinking. She was able to kick away and shoot an electro sphere, which Slade absorbed before redirecting right back, only for Phos to dodge.
Viridi really didn't get these two. From the top of her central tree, she could see, quite clearly, that the Florans were already backing down from there futile protection duty. At the very least, none of their wounds were fatal. CP0 only intended to kill her. "HEY! VIRIDI!" Slade's voice bellowed. "Why don't you toughen up and face us like your brethren?! Why waste our time with these withered lackeys?"
"Because these clowns insisted on defending me when the God Killing began. I told them not to stress their selves over it, but what's a withered goddess to do?"
"It is because my devotion to Lady Viridi is eternal!" Arlon declared, sending out panels from the mirror to push Lucci and Deadpool back.
"And deep down, she knows she doesn't want to die either!" Phosphora grabbed the back of Slade's head and tried to suck back the electricity. "UHN!" She suffered an Elbow Pistol and crashed into Arlon's mirror.
"So, we shan't hand her to you godless heathens!" the Lunarian continued. "Stay to your boundaries and-"
"Now, Arlon, honey, that isn't a nice way to play~"
A drawling, motherly voice Arlon didn't recognize spoke behind him. "What?!" There was a thin woman in a ballet outfit, red hair jutting in three directions, and shriveled eyes as if she needed glasses. "Who the devil are you?!"
"My name is Didi Pickles. I'm Wade's Mirror Mommy~"
"In what universe?!"
"Bruh, ain't you up to date?" Deadpool asked. "After Didi left Stu, she hooked up with Mr. Pool and had me."
"Mmm, why, yes." Didi drawled, feeling Arlon's form. She couldn't see very well, so she asked, "Oh, there you are right now, dear."
"Excuse me, but I am NOT your husband."
"But you are. Mmmmm, see?" Didi turned Arlon around, showing his reflection: he was wearing average dad clothes and a Deadpool mask.
"GOOD GRACIOUS!" Arlon startlingly kicked the mirror and shattered it.
"YA-CHA!" Vanessa rammed Arlon horn-first, Deadpool holding her tail and flailing.
"YOU TRICKSTER!" Arlon kicked Vanessa away, but Deadpool flipped up and slashed a mini Tempest. Arlon ducked and tossed a card at Deadpool's stomach, its edge topped with a crescent to slice him in two. "Looks like you've yet more regrowing to-"
"Gotcha!" A hamster peeped out of the severed waist. "I was controlling his pelvis all along! My name is Hamsterpool! I come searching for my archnemesis, Lobsterlon!"
"Argh!" A lobster poked out of Arlon's stomach. "How did you know Ay was here?!"
"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW!" Arlon panicked.
"Ready your front, Lobsterlon! Enguard!"
"Aye!" Lobsterlon detached the front half of Arlon's body, making it crawl like a spider up to Hamsterpool.
"What did you do to me?! Stop!"
"Hi-kyaaaah!" Deadpool's lower half flew at Lobsterlon with a kick! "Chainsaw Bear Attack!" Said weapon-wielding animal exploded from the pelvis and sliced Arlon's front in half.
"UAGH! This ability… don't tell me… it's-"
Deadpool's torso performed hand signals, "Super Fist of Fantasy-Fu! Quarter Arlon Jousting Tournament!"
Hamsterlon and Lobsterlon grabbed the severed front quarters and charged each other! Screaming battle cries, they were ready for impact—until Arlon's back half sliced them both in half! "MWAH HA HA!" The back was wielded by a turtle. "I am Backser! You fell for my trap! Now I shall rule Deadpool's pelvis!"
"THE ONLY ONE ruling that pelvis is me!" Vanessa mercilessly impaled the turtle.
"Huff, huff!" Arlon was able to reform following the gag's conclusion, his mind left in a mental shock. "I've underestimated them… but I cannot let them pass! For Mistress Viridi, I sha-"
"ROAR!" The Lunarian should've quit before he was a head, as the saying goes. For once Lucci got his fangs on him, that's all Arlon was. "Awwwww. I had 12 more gags ready." Deadpool moaned.
"Proceed with the mission. Now."
"ARLON! Auck!" Phosphora struggled in the grip of Slade's armored hand, her electricity failing her.
"Following your goddess has cost you your lives." Slade stated, mounted on the roof of his ship. "Take this lesson to the Spirit World and-"
An energy arrow struck the jaeger, releasing his grip just enough for Phos to zip away. Slade grit his teeth and cast a one-eyed glare at the frizzy-haired Nimbi in a green toga. "Following thine ambitions is about to cost thee yours."
Lucci and Deadpool observed the small fleet nearing the summit. "LUCCIIIIII!" But who better to greet him first than the muscular martial artist he knew and hated.
Lucci smirked and morphed into his human form. "We just keep bumping into each other," he dashed and balled his fist with Gold Haki, "don't we, Miss Murphy?!"
Her iron fist was drawn to his… until she ducked and redirected the force directly at his stomach. "?!" Lucci used Iron Body and moved the gold of his fist to the stomach. Maddy's knuckles made impact. ". . . . . UAAAH!" and sent Lucci flying backward, crashing into a thick tree.
"Yo, Lucci!" Deadpool panicked. "Maddy just struck gold! Look!"
Three of Maddy's knuckles were shining gold. The Haki master cracked a wicked smirk and flexed her knuckles. "Don't know about you, but my chi paths are fresher than ever!"
…
To the microscopic beings deep within the veins of Maddy's muscles, her chi paths were thick tubes of energy. Thick, but ruptured in multiple areas. Synthia channeled her chi through Rupert, with Mujika holding his hand. Since she had Synthia's blood, the Gupna served as an extra conduit. The Light Chi took the form of cellular Pikmin, which Rupert instructed to chain and reinforce Maddy's paths. "Isn't it amazing, Rupert?" Mujika smiled. "This is what we all look like on the inside! Our bodies course with all this power, and this power becomes our will!"
"How long will this last, Synthia?"
"If Maddy overexerts herself again, the same thing could happen. But for now, she should be at her peak condition from before the chi paths broke! Maybe even stronger! As long as they don't get broken, chi paths grow with experience!"
"I wonder who else we can help with this?"
…
Lucci changed into his lion form, relying on speed as he swiped claws at Maddy, whose Observation saved her. "AGH!" A paintball shot him in the nose, leaving him vulnerable to a punch from the jaw.
"Darn, I meant to get him in the eye." Shino said, riding her own one-man craft. She was rather far from the battle site. "'Guess I still need a bit of work."
"Look sharp!" Killua alerted her to the one-winged silhouette in the sky. "Here he comes!"
"I'll help you, Lucci!" Half Pool said. "WAIT! Where'd my pelvis go?! Vanessa, did you-"
"Nice!" He perked up and saw a black-haired boy in sunglasses putting on his waist. "I always wanted some new baby legs!"
"Get your kegs off my legs!" Deadpool sliced his head off.
"I don't think so!" Zach's head flipped upright. "Super Fist of the Life Return!" Mimicking Deadpool's technique, Zach regrew his body into… a shopping cart! "Get on, Deadpool, we got some lives to return!"
"HEY!" Zach scooped him up into his basket and zoomed up a grocery store parking lot. "No! I don't wanna go to the store! I got homework to—ow! Ow! Ow!" A pile of green 1UP Mushrooms buried him.
"I'll never let you return those lives!" Vanessa charged at him, her horn sharpened.
"Sorry, sister, but these lives are on a recall notice!" Zach shouted. "Impeding their return is punishable by Jooster Service!"
"NOOOO!" The impact sent both Vanessa and Wade flying into the store, they and the lives landing on a bird's next.
A little rooster named Julie Bean perched herself on the pile. "Hi, Dimentia." She greeted Deadpool. "You take a nap in the hotdogs?" She took out a cookie and ate it. "Christmas Tree~"
"Ah ha ha ha ha…" Viridi had to laugh at this turn of events. "You Kids Next Door… always know when to make a mess of things, huh?"
Having crept up the tree as a little spider, Akame reverted to normal and slashed her poison sword at Viridi's neck—until Cheren's thrown Mirror Shield bounced the sword away. The assassin leapt from the boy's jump attack. "It's what we do best, Viridi."
"You brats would actually DEFEND this goddess?!" Slade snarled. "Have you forgotten the heinous crimes she committed?!"
"Such as humiliating Anthony, or having her underling destroy my wings?" Phosphora bowed shamefully at this. "Certainly not. But thou knowest not a thing about justice! Thou hast punished the gods we love and revere, not least of which Celebi and Jirachi!"
"Celebi? I thought Kalluto failed…"
"HEY! Armor guy!" a piratey voice growled.
"Ugh, and who ELSE is here to spoil the… fun?"
It was a face and form Slade recognized. A little imp with sky skin, a red bandanna, and large skull belt. "You scurvy dogs better not-a done anything to my sister!"
"Ha ha ha…" Slade removed his mask. "It's you~"
Skaios gasped. Slade wore an eyepatch over the same eye as his own. "The…the eyepatch guy!"
"I see that other eye made a full recovery. Did you come here to give me a second go at it?"
"Thine reunion was fated." Fybi said. "Pity it will only end in tragedy." The fierce, butterfly-winged angel pulled her B.O.W., her hair a cloud of static electricity. "For I shalt slay thee before thou hast a chance to harm Michelle!"