DISCLAIMER: This chapter introduces the cast of Danganronpa V3, who will be involved in an upcoming fight scene. If you're not familiar with those characters, don't worry about it, this is just an excuse to give some Nextgen Kids a fun fight in this arc. I also subtracted a couple for the sake of simplicity.
"Seriously, kill it." Deadpool said, biting a chimichanga. "It was a bad story. No, not the book series, the Gameverse story."
"What're you talking about?" Nagisa asked.
"Heeeeey, Nagi-maaaaan! I didn't see you walk into the scene!"
"Did you accomplish your mission?" Chase asked, opening his hand. Nagisa dropped the blue gem into it.
"That makes two of the gems." Lucci said, fingers folded. "That leaves the ones from the Four Seasons and Galaxia Swords. Do you know who has the Galaxia Sword?"
"Aurora Uno. I think it stays in a Pocket Dimension until she needs to draw it out."
"Then you can't just steal from it. And simply challenging her to a fight and forcing her to draw it wouldn't be simple. …But, a thought occurs to me."
"Yeah?" asked Akame.
"I remember back on Enies Lobby. My former associate, Rickey had a Devil Fruit that could open Pocket Dimensions. When he faced Miss Uno back then, he even stole her Galaxia Sword for a moment."
"Oh, yeah." Nagisa vaguely remembered that. "That was before she even knew she had it."
"If I do a bit of digging, I'm sure I can find out what he's doing. For now, we've a schedule to adhere to."
"You know the KND is gonna try to get those Newborn back. We should just put our efforts into building the trident."
"We don't have enough information, you fool. We don't know where the Seasons Sword is. However… you can still be of use. I'm sure you know who each of the Newborn Guardians are. If you tell us who they are… perhaps we can make plans to retrieve them."
"You're not planning… to kill the Guardians, are you?"
"Of course not. We only wish to secure the Newborn so they cannot be used against us. And once the trident is finished… we can begin the execution quickly. Besides, I'm under the impression that the Newborn cannot act without the Guardians, but killing them will make the Newborn run wild again. So, it wouldn't benefit us. For now, if we knew where the Guardians lived, we could make plans to steal them."
"Well… one Newborn I've been worried about is Verglora, the Ice one. Its Guardian is Miyuki from Sector IC. But they're locked up on GKND because they attacked fellow operatives. Then there's Synthia…ugh." Nagisa cringed remembering the experience. "Her Guardian is Rupert. He lives in Ashland, but he mostly hangs with the Minish, so who knows. And Boly, the Aincrad MCP… she lives in Quahog with Sector Q. And I don't know where the Nightmare Newborn lives, really."
"Your intel is much appreciated." Chase said. "Now… I could swear I heard your stomach growling a moment ago. There's food in your room. Go on and eat."
"Thank you…" Nagisa left, his expression droll.
"Except, by now, I doubt the Newborn will simply be idling around their hometowns." Sephiroth inferred.
"Then perhaps we'll need to lure them back." Lucci smirked. "After all… we are owed justice on Slade's demise."
"You want justice for Slade, but not for Mandy?" Akame asked.
"Mandy died failing to assassinate her target. But Slade was killed by the KND, abusing the power of the corrupt gods. They must understand the weight of their sins."
"Hmph. I suppose this would be a fair time to challenge them. I received a call from Maki earlier. Her faction is planning to attack the KND to rescue her boyfriend, and in the process, gather intel or possibly retrieve any Firstborn at their headquarters. If we initiate our attacks at the same time, the KND will fall into confusion."
"We have a schedule to keep. Tell Maki to wait until after we've killed our next targets."
In his room, Nagisa microwaved some chili to a mild temperature. The taste was dissatisfying.
He and his friends shared a laugh as Morgiana stuffed herself with fish at the Cooking Festival.
Nagisa started. Why did that memory suddenly flash in his head? Yes, his girlfriend was really cute and funny eating that fish… "Ugh!" He couldn't bother to be getting sentimental. Not until the mission was done. Maybe then…
Japan; Towa Academy (Play "Lazy Parallel World" from DRV3.)
Though not well known amongst the hectic goings-on of the world, Towa Academy was a school for nurturing skills and talent. Passerby would often catch gymnasts duking it out at superhuman levels, and spaceships and giant mechs would often be found parked on the grounds. A white-haired robot boy with black armor circled the rooftop, his jetpacks leaving a blue streak. Seeing Maki's ship make for a landing, the robot landed on the roof with her. "Hi, Maki. The others are ready to make the flight for GKND. Any updates?"
"Yes. Are the others inside, K1-B0 (Keebo)?"
"All those willing."
Your common school might have a class full of uniformed, indistinct students, but that was far from it between the band of misfits in Homeroom V3. There was a red-haired girl dressed like a dark-green witch, a huge man with wild green hair and a brown suit, a slender man in a dark-green military-like uniform and bandaged hands, among many others. Even some of their ages were questionable.
"The Kids Next Door killed Master Slade," Maki reported, "using the power of the pirate, Skaios."
"WHAT?!?" Tenko, a girl in a blue uniform with flowing pigtails, formed an erratic martial arts pose. "The same Skaios that stole the city?!"
"Now we know for certain how dangerous they are. And that's why the masters want me to embark on this mission. Not just to rescue Kaito, but to subdue the Firstborn."
"Gonta not sure how to feel about this." The large man said, some bugs skittering around him. "It true they misuse Firstborn, but Gonta not wish harm on Celebi."
"I saw on the news that Meloetta was assassinated at that concert." Kaede bowed her head in mourning. She was blonde with music note hairpins and a note sheet on her skirt. "It made me feel… empty inside."
"I know you have reservations." Maki said. "But I need you guys' help to invade their base. Besides, our primary threats are the Newborn. The masters are planning an operation to scatter the KND and potentially lure the Newborn to them. Otherwise, facing them on the base will be too risky. But in the event we encounter any up there, it's imperative we subdue them. There's also a weapon the masters want me to retrieve, but that might be on Moonbase."
"In other words," K1-B0 began, "we need to coordinate an attack on two separate bases, and one is in a whole separate galaxy. This sounds tough…"
"Nee hee hee! It might not be as hard as you think~"
"That voice!" Miu gasped. She wore a pink outfit with goggles, blonde hair, and heavy black boots. "Only one voice can give me a migraine like that! It's Kokichi!"
"Surpriiiiise!" The joy-faced liar in question skied into the room. "Hey, gang! How's it hangin'? Gonta, them straight F's still fresh?"
"Straight… F's?" Gonta cocked a brow in confusion.
"What're you doing here, traitor?!" Tenko shouted.
"Uck! Traitor?! I may have a broader social life, but I value all my friends equally! Why, I even like to kiss all them! C'mere, Maki!" He moved to kiss Maki.
She kicked him in the stomach and into the wall. "You're part of the KND. Do you know anything about Kaito?"
"Kaito's just fine. I was coming to help you guys plan your attack."
"You mean you're… betraying them?" K1-B0 questioned.
"I don't buy it." Himiko, the little witch, pointed accusingly. In a lazy, but whiny tone, she continued, "I think he's a triple-quadruple agent. Slip him a dose of my Truth Potion."
"You heard her, Kichi!" Tenko shouted. "Open wide and let Himiko's sweet brew fill your mouth! Mmp!" A shorter boy hit a tennis ball into her mouth.
"I'm not lying, and I'm not leading you into a trap. But I'm not betraying them either. What I do have are blueprints of both Moonbase and GKND." Kokichi slipped a disc into K1-B0's mouth. The robot displayed them with hologram eyes. "As you can see, Moonbase has a Quickwarp machine that goes straight to GKND. So, all you'd have to do is breach Moonbase and make your way there. You can carry this whole operation out as a group."
"But why give this to us?" Maki asked.
"Because, you guys are still my friends, too! And between you all, the KND, and the Dice Pirates, it's hard to manage so many friends! Man, why am I so popular?!"
"I didn't think you still liked us." Kaede said. "After you joined KND, you said they were way nicer than us."
"Oh, that was a lie. They treated me about the same as you guys! That's why I ditched and started a pirate crew. Nee hee, and that was WAY more fun!"
"You're helping because you want to see us tear each other up." Maki deduced. "Is that it?"
"Believe what you will, Maki Roll."
"Don't call me that. Besides, you know we're targeting the Newborn, right? How do you feel about that?"
"Do I think the Newborn should be destroyed? Or be trusted and treated as friends? That's the question on everyone's minds. And those questions have stirred clouds of darkness and toxicity between all those wonderful friends. It's so dense up there that it's actually boring. That's why I wanna open the air with a good old fashioned brawl! Mwah ha hah!"
"Nyahahaha!" laughed Angie, a tan-skinned girl with a yellow open coat, vanilla hair, and light white covering underneath. She twirled a paintbrush. "Atua says we can trust the gambler! Let us make flight to the moon and duel its conquerors!"
"I have no reservations with destroying these infant gods." said Korekiyo, the masked military man. "But more importantly… I know there is an abundance of strong, beautiful ladies among the KND's echelons. Kehehehe…I can't wait to introduce them to Sister." His bandaged fingers wriggled uncomfortably. "Oh, I can't wait…" The other girls in the room scooched their desks to the other side.
"I've calculated the best route to Kaito based on these blueprints." K1-B0 informed. "But that gives no indication what foes we may encounter up there."
"Let's quit screwin' around and get movin'!" Miu shouted.
"We wait for my masters' orders." Maki said. "Give the KND a chance to scramble first. Then we attack."
"Phew, good luck to you guys!" Kokichi smiled. "I have to hit the-"
Maki grabbed and slammed him to the floor. "Guys, help me secure him. I don't trust him not to sabotage us."
"As you wish." Affirmed Kirumi, a black-dressed maid. (End song.)
Glacia; Arendelle Mountains
Aurora lights waved over the ruins of a frozen kingdom. The starry view was relaxing on the mind, and their journey up Arendelle was quiet and undisturbed. "It sure brings back memories." George said. "Back when our lives were more exciting."
"Aren't they still, dude?" Lola replied.
"How's Anna doing, anyway?" Kayla asked.
"She still works at the Fear Factory," Jack Frost replied, "but they set her up in a nice home in a village here. I think she's even got a boyfriend."
"That's nice! Did her sister's spirit ever reform?"
"I'm still waiting on that…" Jack frowned.
"Eh, sorry…"
Snow flurried in a blue ray of light in the Arendelle Castle courtyard. Miyuki, passing a stare to the snow spirit in her arms, walked into the light. As the light bore into her eyes, a figure began to softly emerge from the snow: a huge, stone-like entity with thick arms and icicle fingers. A snowflake rotated at their back, and they had the statued head of a polar bear with bright blue eyes. (Play "Snow/Heat Miser Song"!)
Then, the peaceful silence of the kingdom was shattered by comical horn and piano music. The entity descended and sang. "I'm Mr. White Christmas, I'm Mr. Snow! I'm Mr. Icicle, I'm Mr. Ten Below! They call me the Snow God… whatever I touch." Polaris picked up a ruined roof. "Turns to snow in my clutch!" It poofed into white flurries. "Haha! I'm too much!"
"Did you invite us all the way out here for karaoke?" Miyuki asked.
"It's a new thing he wanted to try." Jack sighed. "And I couldn't stop him."
"I guess it WAS too much. Miyuki Crystal… I've been watching the exploits between you and that creature… and I have to say-"
"Yeah yeah, disappointment, blah blah."
"These Newborn were not meant to exist by Arceus's plan… but despite what they have done, the other gods have come to accept them as brethren. They have even accepted that the Newborn may have to inherit their will. But I… CANNOT accept that creature as my successor! Majora's darkness will only grow inside it and cause mayhem all over again! So, I'm asking you, Miyuki… Why should I let that thing live?"
"Weeeeell, this just got uncomfortable." George said.
"Because this is Majora's child." Miyuki drew her scythe, Memory Meister. "You will let them live… because I won't allow you to kill them!"
"Wait, you asked me to bring her out here, so you could destroy that creature?" asked Jack.
"Actually, I don't know if I can. But I want to see for myself how strong your bond is." Polaris conjured a vast ceiling of icicles. "If we can depend on you to face the danger ahead!"
Negaverse; Day Tower
It took little more than sheer stamina, patience, and willpower to climb the tower's surface. Lucky little Victini could either fly or ride Romeo's back. The top of the spiritual tower touched the very edge of Solaria's stratosphere. Romeo could see other, similar towers across the planet, each with their own colored flames. But the top of this one… was sunny gold. "It's a… Sacred Flame."
"(Something feels weird about it. It feels like…)"
A comical horn fare began to play. They walked around the flame to find where it came from: a large figure emerging from flames. A massive, gray, stone-like entity with thick arms, an eagle-like head with antlers, and a sun-like design at his back began to sing. "I'm Mr. Fourth of July, I'm Mr. Sun! I'm Mr. Heat Blister, I'm Mr. Hundred-and-One. They call me the Sun God… whatever I touch." Solaris scooped up a steel block. "Turns to ash in my clutch!" The block poofed into black flurries. "HAH! I'm too much!"
"Did we just climb up your secret karaoke tower?"
"It's a new greeting! Helps people remember me better. I never got to congratulate you on becoming Victini's Guardian, Romeo. Though this destiny was sprung upon you… I hope you two have WARMED UP to each other."
"…" They were dumbstruck by his pun. "You've really been bored, haven't you?"
"Ahem, anyway…I'm surprised you've found this tower. It seems your Negaverse connections have not failed you."
"God Solaris… is this flame Victini's blessing? The Sacred Flames are yours, aren't they?"
"No. This flame resonates with Victini's chi, therefore it must come from him. Truth be told, this is my first time seeing this place. And only you were fated to find it… Crybaby Chosen One."
"WHAAAAAT?!?" That was the last thing Romeo expected to hear out of him. "SINCE WHEN DID PEOPLE START CALLING ME THAT?!"
"You complained a lot during your quest. I've never seen a more pathetic performance."
"I've never seen a god so blatantly honest!"
"(And I don't remember leaving this flame here! I've never been to this place!)"
"I don't know how or why it's here, but it is yours. Perhaps you are meant to take it back."
"(Yokay.)" Victini flew into the flame. It was immediately sucked into him like a vacuum. "AAAAAAAHHH!" His body flickered yellow, the big-earred Newborn swelling on the inside.
"Victini!"
"(Romeo! This fire… it's too intense! I need to burn it off… somehow!)"
"This flame presents a test of your bond. You will need a foe worthy to help you embrace the fire."
"S-Solaris?!" Romeo tensed as the god balled his bulky fist. It came with the speed of a comet, but Romeo intercepted it. With Victini's chi to support him, they pushed the light punch right off.
"The truth is, there's another reason I followed you here. I do not have much time left, but I wish to go out in a blaze of glory! You are the only firebenders worthy to do that! Now, FACE ME, RAINBOW MAGE!"
The hundreds of small suns that surrounded Solaria unleashed beams upon Romeo, who raised both hands and repelled them like a magnet. Victini hopped on his back and helped Romeo direct them at Solaris. The god blocked and absorbed the beams, but Romeo flew for the offensive. A huge rocket was formed at his boots, swerving around the lasers to land a flaming kick to Solaris's head. Solaris ignited himself in a ball of fire, Romeo retreating. The mage flew around and unleashed sapphire flames around the god. Using magic, said flames were imbued with ice, cold enough to chill the shield into steam. "You heard him, Victini, let's burn these flames out!" Thrusting his fists, a barrage of gold flames bombarded Solaris, the forces knocking him about slightly. Solaris summoned storm of meteors to bombard Romeo himself, the mage tanking some hits before flying in evasion.
Romeo stretched a fiery white sword, spinning it and deflecting the meteors away. Solaris conjured his own flame sword: Romeo brought his up to block it, but realized they didn't have the solidity of real swords. Solaris's flames phased through and burned him, so Romeo released a burst to push them back. Romeo swapped his white sword for a purple one: his Sticky Flames. Romeo slashed it at Solaris's sword and willed his flames to expand, enveloping the giant sword along with the god's arm. He and Victini spun and swung Solaris before slamming him into the tower. Romeo bent the flames to stick him to the tower before flying back and charged at Solaris like a gold comet. Solaris cast Heat Vision, but Romeo plowed through it and rammed him directly in the chest. His armor cracked, but as Romeo kept drilling him, Solaris Rewound Romeo back. The god would rip off his Sticky Flame and dodge, tricking Romeo into crashing in the tower. "Huh?!"
"Did I not mention? Dialga granted me timebending as a sub-element. I can use it in small quantities." Solaris spun his arms and sent multicolored flaming rings. The quick succession of colors hypnotized Romeo, but by spinning his own arms, he amassed the flames in his own bending. He added the gold flame to his Rainbow Hula-hoop and danced his way to Solaris. The Sun God froze time and moved to another spot, but Romeo expected such a tactic and sent the hoop flying as soon as he respawned. The hoop almost sawed Solaris, then Romeo followed by shooting a spiraling gold laser into Solaris's head. Solaris willed the air to heat up, so to keep his body from drying out, Romeo coated himself in Ice Flames. But Solaris also released embers into the air, drifting like snow, and when Romeo tried to fly to Solaris, he felt his skin searing at each touch of the embers.
Romeo spread Emerald Flames around the zone, turning them into Healing Embers that replenished his burns. "You know, hot weather can really make one smelly!" Romeo stretched his arms and cast yellow-green flames from his pits. Solaris panicked and Stopped time, going behind Romeo to strike him with a Comet Punch. "OW! Hey, low blow!" Romeo recovered and redirected his smelly pits. Solaris brought up a flame wall to block them, but they merely amplified the smell, intoxicating Solaris as they passed through. As Solaris clenched his beak in disgust, Romeo imbued his foot with gold flame, flew through the fire, and stamped down on Solaris strong enough to send him falling down the tower. Solaris crashed and slid along the side, seeing Romeo descending and covered with a wide radius of fire.
Solaris's fists shot off from him and CRUSHED Romeo from either side—Romeo had abandoned the fireballs and quickly burned pink, Soft Flames over the fists. Romeo shot large gold fireballs with each rapid punch, Solaris bringing up his fists to meet them, but their weakened defense caused their armor to shatter. A forceful kick rocketed him into Solaris's cracked chest. He planted hands against the gap and forced Ice Flames inside, chilling him from the inside. To counter the chill, Solaris's body reddened with extreme heat. "(Romeo, get away from him!)" Victini cried. Romeo flew backward as a huge, red bubble of air surrounded Solaris: he had risen the air around him to an extreme temperature.
"9,000 Degree Cannon!" Solaris condensed and stretched the hot air into a beam. Romeo dodged it, but Solaris redirected it. Victini bravely jumped in front and blocked the beam. Romeo pushed behind him and struggled to press the heat back. He began to consider applying a spell to the beam: shooting Ice Flames to make it cooler, Soft Flames to weaken it, even Emerald Flames to make it refreshing. "(Romeo… use… the Champion Flame!)"
"The…?" Was that the name he decided to give the gold flame? If so, Romeo helped Victini channel that flame into a heat wave, pressing against Solaris's. They returned the heat directly back into him, causing his armor to crack.
…
And, the minute Solaris exploded, every sun on Solaria released dazzling solar flares. Wendy fell to awe as the sky put on a show. Not just Solaria… but every sun in the universe. Something awakened inside the souls of nearly all who gazed upon them (but during this mystical time, their eyes didn't burn). A latent piece of knowledge… a competitive spirit. "Ah…I see." Doflamingo Jr. smirked. "It must be happening now."
"What's happening?" Louise asked.
"It'll come to you soon."
…
Romeo and Victini were lost in a realm of light originating from the explosion. "(R…Romeo… I'm starting to remember something.)"
"What?"
"(I used to know the other Newborn… before we appeared in this universe. And our leader—I don't remember who he was—but he was setting up some kind of game. This flame awakens peoples' fighting spirits and compels them to play that game.)"
"What kind of game?"
"(Some kind of fighting tournament. I…) TIIIIII!" The Newborn's head started pulsating.
"Are you okay?! WHOA!" Victini combusted into a light. (Play "Olivia Transform" from Origami King!)
Victini transformed into a majestic, white lion! His paws were black with red ankle braces, his tail was gold with a black orb, and his mane was like a sun, with gold edges and sharp red jewels! His eyes were light-blue, with the area around them a darker hue. "ROOOOOAAAAAR! (Romeo!)" The lion pranced down and caught his Guardian on his back.
"WHAT THE FRICK?! Victini, you just became Mufasa!"
"Incredible!" Solaris's voice bellowed. "The people of Planet Poké talked of a legendary spirit called Solgaleo, one who was even featured in the games… but I have never seen exist. Victini… all this time… YOU were Solgaleo! With this photograph… I can add you to my collection!" A giant camera appeared and snapped his image.
"YOU COLLECT POKÉMON PHOTOGRAPHS?!"
"Just the Legendaries! But for now…" The light cleared, revealing Solaris as a thinner, pointed statue, with a wide, segmented set of sharp wings. A small sun served as the core of the gold-lit being. "It's time for this sun's final hurrah!"
Solaris thrusted the base of his spiked self, but after dodging, Solgaleo snagged a bite at his core. They were blown away, followed by a shower of beams from the planet's suns. Romeo blocked the beams with his hands and bundled them into a huge sword, but Solaris froze it in time as Romeo slashed it. The Sun God flew away, but Victini bellowed a beam of Violet Flames, with Romeo applying his magic to make it glue Solaris. The lion tugged forcefully to drag Solaris back in the sword's range, and Solaris's efforts to slice it off with crescent flames were foiled by Romeo intercepting them with Ice Flames. The Stop wore off as the Solar Sword slashed Solaris's center.
The god flew sky high and willed giant meteors to descend. "(Full speed ahead, Romeo! Hang on!)" Solgaleo entered Radiant Sun Mode, his features turning a mix of vanilla and yellow, and a third eye appearing on his forehead. He pranced to the sky and drilled through all the meteors, his third eye absorbing their heat. The lion tried to tear through Solaris, but he froze time and dodged. Solgaleo redirected with a Rocket Boost, but Solaris kept freezing time and evading for brief intervals. Romeo suddenly blasted a Sticky Flame to blot Solaris's vision, allowing Solgaleo to finally tackle him and bite into the core. He sucked the heat from the core before kicking away. "(Let's finish him, Romeo! Together!)"
"F-Finish him? Wait, Victini, I don't want to-"
"Do it, boy! Give me all the fire you have! OR PERISH!" Solaris unleashed a devastating beam from his core.
With a start, Romeo put his hands to Solgaleo's head. The lion unleashed a neon beam from his third eye, pushing Solaris's back. Solaris's being was enveloped in a rainbow blaze that would incinerate all in its path. As the beam shrank, so too did Solgaleo. Romeo held the reduced form of his friend as they fell to the planet. (End song.)
A gust of air lightened their fall and allowed for safe landing. "ROMEO!" Compared to all the heat he just experienced, the gentle embrace of his girlfriend's arms was the warmest of all. "What happened up there?! You're burning up!"
"Solaris just tried to kill us."
"WHAT?!"
"Ha ha, don't worry! It was just a test of power. Victini and I are just…?!"
Checking his arms, a pile of ash spilled to the ground. And from that ash… rose a tiny, chibi Victini. "Vi-vi-vi! Vi-vi-vi!" His voice was more pitched and baby-like.
"Vic…tini?" Romeo carefully scooped the little guy in his hands.
"Haha…now he really is a newborn." Wendy laughed.
"!!" Victini jumped to bite her nose.
"Ow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, get off me! Aaaahhhh!"
Romeo frantically picked him off. "Victini seems to have taken inspiration from the phoenix." Solaris echoed. "This must be the after-effect of using that power. I'm not sure when he'll grow back…"
"But then I should've saved it for something important!"
"Victini had to get adapted with it, or else I feel that flame would've been banished. Besides… I can feel that fire has had an affect on the hearts of this universe's denizens. What that affect is… I am uncertain. It may involve that 'tournament' he just mentioned."
"Whatever the case… we better tell everyone about this. But… what about you, Solaris?" The Sun God's divine, golden color was reduced to an ash color with flickering embers. "You said you don't have much time left… Don't tell me you plan to die the same way…"
"Do you want Victini… to be the new Sun God?" Wendy asked.
"Well… that is a choice he will have to make on his own. That said… I would like to give you both gifts." Solaris reached down and tapped the tiny spirit with a spark. His other hand dropped a neon shard on the ground. Romeo curiously and carefully picked it up. "Good-bye, Romeo. We may not meet again. I am sorry you had to be burdened with these recent events… but know I am proud of you and all the firebenders I have created. And know that we gods… are depending on you."
Solaris Ascended. The three kids turned to each other with somber, knowing eyes.
Glacia
When the icicles fell, Miyuki spun her scythe, a shield with which to send them back with Rewind Deflect. The icicles that flew from Polaris's vicinity struck the Snow God, but Polaris followed up with a chilling blizzard. The other IC members retreated into the ruined castle with Jack Frost making a barrier to protect them from the cold. Miyuki, harnessing Verglora's power, amassed large portions of snow and coated them with darkness. The dark snowballs were sent up to hit Polaris, waning the god's resolve bit by bit. Verglora conjured an Ice Road to slide Miyuki skyward, Polaris flying in evasion as he fired giant snowballs. Rewind Deflect sent them right back, but they merely hit illusions: Polaris generated giant ice fractals in the air to reflect his likeness.
Polaris punched and shattered some of the fractals, and as the pieces flew toward Miyuki, they broke into smaller fractals. As they grew too small to see, Miyuki couldn't get a read and bend them. They landed in her skin as Polaris willed them to reform and cut her. "If he can do that, why can't we?" On her command, Verglora formed a complex maze of fractals over the area, all reflecting them. Polaris scoffed and shattered all the fractals, willing them to collapse together—Verglora had seized a chunk of them and molded them into a giant, hideous, spike-faced mask. With a dose of darkness added, the mask became the face of a serpentine beast. It charged Polaris, who grabbed its fangs to hold it back. Miyuki skied across the serpent, and by the time Polaris had punched it away, Miyuki was flying to stab his head. The scythe impaled him, and she retreated while deflecting a storm of icicles.
Polaris brought up his hands to block the serpent again—it was merely an illusion from his memory. The real serpent charged him from the left and bit him. Polaris sent a surge of ice through its inside and shattered the demon, but raised his right hand to expand an ice shield and block Miyuki. Polaris stretched an icicle from that shield and knocked Memory Meister right out of hand, and she wouldn't have a chance to Rewind it back before Polaris smothered her in snow. He grabbed and sent the snowball flying to a distant mountain. Verglora dug them out and ensured a safe landing, but the Snow God was slowly on their tail. "Well, he robbed me of my best offensive power."
"I can make you a new one." Verglora said in their bored tone.
"You can?"
"Mix my chi with your memory of the scythe, and we'll conjure a new one. Yawn, I once did it… with Link's Wind Waker."
Miyuki focused and channeled Verglora's ice to her open hand. An Ice-Made Scythe, shaped the same with a clock and ribbon on its head, materialized. Verglora willed the snow of this mountain to rise like a wave, surfing toward Polaris. Eyes brimmed in the snow as a blobbish mouth opened, roaring. Polaris drew an icicle trident to stab the Snow Slug, which split its body to wrap around the god. Polaris released a cold wave to freeze the slug more solid, but Miyuki readily cleaved out of the snow to stab the center of the snowflake on his back. "AAAAGH!" Solaris's flaming fist punched Polaris in that very spot. "Brother?! Why are you…" It took Polaris a second to realize this was a memory of an old battle. It was the battle that took place over Avalar's Hailfire Peaks. In his distraction, Verglora had the ice thaw, and the Snow Slug swirled around and swallowed Polaris in its darkness.
Miyuki sensed powerful chi building up and quickly retreated. A huge spire completely froze the slug and the air above it. It exploded into small fractals: a nearly invisible explosion that riddled Miyuki with tiny cuts. Polaris conjured a snowman roller-coaster, surfing toward his foe, but it was cleanly cut through the center upon passing. Polaris surprised them with a Snow Cannon to catch them, shooting them straight onto the horse of a merry-go-round. He spun it rapidly, but Miyuki attached a skull mask to the horse. It became a Hollow-like beast, detached from the ride, and galloped toward Polaris. "Remember that fun amusement park your sister made? Suki has such nice imagination." Miyuki scoffed, forming an icicle horn on the horse. They galloped circles around Polaris as snowflake shields formed to protect him. Miyuki merely Rewound one of the shields so her horse could puncture Polaris's chest.
Miyuki hurdled her spinning scythe through the horse, sawing Polaris through it, and Rewound the scythe back to her possession. Miyuki did it again, so Polaris swat her away—it was only a memory of her, while the real one conjured a giant Ice Minigun and fired a storm of icicles. Polaris twirled his trident to deflect the sickles, but Miyuki formed a Chrono Bomb on the head of her scythe and threw it. It slowed Polaris's spinning, causing the icicles to impale him. Polaris conjured a pack of giant, majestic wolves of snow. "You know what they say: don't let the frost bite." Verglora conjured a mask of Goht, and Miyuki sliced and dodged others, she stuck the mask onto one of the wolves. It morphed into the mechanical Goht, racing on the air with conjured Ice Roads and shooting electric beams at the wolves. It faced Polaris and fired beams at Polaris, but it was only a fractal reflection. The real Polaris appeared above Goht and punctured its back with his trident, but this resulted in a massive explosion, coating Polaris with soot. His armor cracked, Polaris conjured a herd of angry snowmen to surf on ice sleighs and attack Miyuki with boxing gloves. As expected, she beheaded them with her scythe while Verglora stuck the Odolwa Mask on one, turning it into a jungle warrior that beheaded the others.
As Polaris went on to clash the warrior with his trident, he could see a layer of purple forming over Verglora. "Using those powers too much is drawing out Majora's conscience!"
"Ha ha ha…a little more, Miyuki! Use me just a little more! I'll tear him to flurries! And then I'll piss on them! Oh, pardon me." Verglora switched back to their docile tone. "That's quite unsanitary…"
"Did you hear that?!" Lola said, the group watching from a castle window. "Verglora's dark side is waking up!"
"Miyuki!" MaKayla shouted. "You've gotta repress their darkness or they might run wild! Then we might need Romeo and Victini to set them back again!"
"It's true that the Victory Spirit can melt this beast's darkness. But as its Guardian, it should be YOUR responsibility!" Polaris impaled Odolwa and destroyed it. "You must ask yourself, what has alleviated the darkness in your heart?!"
Polaris morphed his trident into a bow-and-arrow. He loosed the first one, which Miyuki deflected, but Polaris, caught it back on his bow and returned it, along with a string of other arrows. One of them, the size of a normal arrow, laid a clear hit to Miyuki's heart. It didn't leave any wounds, but Miyuki felt an immense cold overcome her. "HEY!" Jack gasped. "Polaris just used the Frozen Heart technique!"
"The one that Elsa used a long time ago?" MaKayla asked.
"Indeed. This art freezes your very soul in a way that can't be normally melted. Aww that can thall it is an act of true love. I mean, ALL that can THAW it."
Miyuki knelt on the snow-made platform, seeing her hands already changing into frostbite. "Verglora! Melt this ice!"
The Newborn enforced their bending over Miyuki, but the ice refused to reverse. "I can't…"
"But you kept me from freezing this whole fight!"
"This ice is different, you imbecile! I can't do any…oh, I'm sorry for calling you that, I feel a little loopy."
"Do I have to repeat myself? Find your source of true love or be frozen!" Polaris conjured an army of fluffy snow bunnies, prancing the air and swarming the duo.
The bunnies only decreased her temperature faster, but Miyuki knew full well what he was trying to hint with them. "It's not like Suki is even here!"
"You're a timebender who specializes in recalling memories. You need to remind yourself what always gave you hope in the darkness!"
Miyuki grunted and struggled to raise her scythe in the pile of bunnies (though one of them looked more like a monochrome cat). She lightly pricked her shoulder with the blade tip. (Play "Our Children Taken" from Twilight Princess.)
Suki was cold. She loved to have flurries dancing around her, even in her own room. But snuggling with her was so warm. Her sister… so pure, so innocent… so uncorrupted by this toxic world. But even so, she was reliable. She'd taken down dangerous foes with her carefree icebending. And she was always loyal to Miyuki… at least, until… Miyuki became too toxic for her. It wasn't that Miyuki was surprised… but she still couldn't believe it. Suki's warm soul always soothed Miyuki's heart… but when she refused to let it, Suki couldn't take it, anymore.
"MMiyuki…" She felt a different pair of hands hold hers. His face gray and dull… Majora. "It's all right… Polaris's spell is no MMatch for our love. If he insists on freezing your soul… let us embrace it. We can become one with the cold dark."
Miyuki gasped, feeling Suki cling to her tighter, a childish, mopey frown on her purehearted face. "What's wrong, MMiyuki? Don't you see? Despite her experience, she is far too naïve. She doesn't understand that, no MMatter how MMany victories, there will never be hope. Evil will keep coming… again and again. Just embrace your darkness. Your despair. Your hatred. Just as you did with Verglora. All you wanted to do was prove to those operatives that there would always be darkness, even from their own. Just let the ice freeze the hope in your soul… and fully embrace that despair. You'll be happier that way…"
A thick wall of fractals inched ever closer to Suki's side. Her little frame began to freeze. "S-Suki!" Miyuki pulled and hugged Suki closer. "Suki isn't as naïve as you think. She has as much darkness as I do. She just keeps it in… for me. She keeps it in because she doesn't want to poison me more than I already am."
"Then you reject MMe then?"
"I…I don't. I don't want to deny darkness… but I never wanted to live with it. I was just confused. I just wanted an excuse to let my anger out. I'll let it out when it's necessary… but I don't want to push Suki away." She hugged the child warmly to rid her of the frost. "So, if you don't mind… go back to sleep."
"Hm hm hm… Relationships are so toxic, aren't they? It's a good thing… I've become numb to hope." And so, Majora dissolved into snow.
Polaris watched as the pile of bunnies melted into a hot spring. The layer of purple covering Verglora faded. With that, Miyuki harnessed Verglora's chi and created her own Snow Suki. The voiceless child sported a shiny smile, dancing as she created an Ice-Made Sleigh. With reindeer to pull it, they zoomed straight toward Polaris. The god cast a blizzard to sweep them off course, but they rode the right current and soared to Polaris's heart. As Miyuki's scythe impaled him, Polaris was warmed by the memory of Solaris sharing a hug with him.
"Polaris… if there is a next life for us… I hope we get to fight again. Those scuffles will always be… my warmest memories."
"…" Polaris returned the embrace. "Mine, too… brother."
Sector IC were in awe as Polaris's armor melted. Like his brother, he was a pointed entity underneath, icy-blue, and at his back was the shape of bear claws, curving down into icicle claws. His heart was a pure, frosty crystal… but even it was beginning to steam. Miyuki kept her guard raised, expecting the next phase. And Polaris… conjured a snowy recliner chair for himself, chilling on it and enjoying a cup of snocoa. "That'll be all."
"What? You mean that's it?"
"This warmth had robbed me of my mood to fight. I may be ice, but I've always been more soft than Solaris. He's always seen a fight through to the end. I want you to remember these feelings, Miyuki. Remember them should you rely on Verglora's power further. Before you go… here is my final present."
Polaris conjured a snowy Christmas present and levitated it toward them. Miyuki curiously unwrapped it. Inside was a strange, neon shard… along with a glowing snowflake. The flake rose and entered Verglora's heart. "Now, go. I'm sure your friends need you. I'll just… stay here… and relax."
"…" Miyuki returned to where her friends were. "So… you won?" George asked.
"Yeah… and I got this." Miyuki held the shard. "It…" She focused her Past Sight over it. "!" She saw the shard in its full form: a blade with a stain glass design. "This is the Sword of Four Seasons!"
"The what?!" asked MaKayla.
"The sword that… Link used against Verglora. Or at least, this is part of it."
"Can't say I know anything about that." Jack said. "So, you want me to escort you down the mountain?"
"If you want. I…I need to see Suki. …Though I'd like to find my scythe, too."
"Here you go." Polaris returned the Memory Meister in a gust of snow.
"Oh. Thanks."
As the crew descended Arendelle, MaKayla passed a somber glance up to the Snow God. And, from farther away… a pair of binoculars had watched the whole battle. "That girl… is one of the Guardians, eh?" Chase Young asked. "She seems… particularly interesting. But for now…"
Secco
Solaris returned to his altar in the Sun Temple. As his embers burned their last… he faced up at one of the pillars. Shadow the Hedgehog glared at him. "Shadow… old friend…"
"Solaris… you are guilty of letting the King of Sol take your flame and create a clone that nearly brought catastrophe to Mobius and the universe."
"Yes… a crisis that you and Sonic resolved. Did I not send you back in time to destroy that flame? And kill the man responsible so he could never repeat that mistake?"
"And now… no one will have a chance to again."
"Do your worst." Solaris hung in place. "I already burned myself out… so, you won't get the chance to get a little bit stronger."
Shadow whistled calmly as the blue arrow levitated.
…
Polaris took his last sip of snocoa… and put the cup down. "Come and get me, you son of a bitch."
Chase Apparated directly in front of Polaris's heart and CRUSHED it with both One-Punch Gauntlets. At the same time, the Whistling Arrow pierced Solaris's sun. The sun swelled up, while the steaming heart cracked. The worlds were swallowed in waves of heat and cold, rapidly changing, as the final cry of the Seasonal Gods. By the time Sector IC were in the midst of takeoff, a ferocious blizzard tried to sweep their ship away. "POLARIIIIIIS!" Jack cried.
"WHAT?!" MaKayla yelled. "Don't tell me… they got him?!"
"We have to turn back!" Lola said.
"Don't!" George refuted. "The assassins will be gone by then!"
"I'm going down!" Jack decided. "Catch you guys later!"
…
The monochrome kitten that was mixed with the bunnies continued to bathe in the sauna they had melted into. (End song.)
Hideout
Shadow and Chase returned and delivered their reports. "Polaris was fought by what appeared to be an icebending Newborn and its Guardian. Based on Nagisa's intel, it must be Verglora. I guess that means they're no longer under incarceration. And the reason Polaris didn't defend himself against me might be that he decided Verglora as his successor."
"I wonder if the same is true with Solaris. Deadpool, can you see anything?"
The antihero pulled off his mask and focused chi to his 'X' mark. "I'm tryin', but it's so confusin'. It's something that was introduced in the Negaverse story, there's a lot of scene-jumping… Okay, all I can get is that it involved that yellow Newborn. And he's paired with a purple-haired boy. Oh! Lucci, ain't that the boy you told me about? The one who cheated at the arena?"
"I remember him. …Ah, Nagisa." The boy showed up in the doorway. "Just in time. I think you forgot to mention this one."
"You mean Victini? I don't remember him doing anything bad… well, after the Field Day incident."
"Does it matter? They all have to be captured."
"Fine. Sector MG is located close to a town called Onett. You want me to try and infiltrate one of-"
"No. Fortunately, it didn't take long for me to find my old friend, Rickey. Working a soda factory in California. I want you to infiltrate it and 'recruit' him for our little Galaxia issue. Chase, once you get him situated, meet us at the hangar for our next assignment."
"Understood." The Heylin smirked. "Nagisa?"
The somber boy complacently took his hand and Disapparated.
"Akame, you'll be joining Maki on her mission. Her merry band may be skilled, but they can't take chances with those ops. And Shadow… perhaps we should enlist the Chaos Agent in this? I'm sure she'll enjoy the revenge."
"I'll make sure she's properly equipped." Shadow spun the yellow Chaos Emerald.
"Now… here are your assigned towns."
Moonbase
"Froppy was attacked?!" Cheren shouted at the terminal.
"She offered to stay and watch the treehouse while the rest of us checked on Oceana." Melody replied. "Someone found and took care of her 'til we got back. When she came to, she told us Nagisa broke into the house. Probably trying to find Manaphy."
"That can't be!" Morgiana overheard, interrupting without warning. "I thought it was the Newborn he had a problem with?! Even if he was corrupted, he shouldn't want to target him…"
"Wait… Melody." Cheren recalled the empty spot on his sword. "Do you guys still have the Phantom Sword with you?"
"Why?"
"I need to confirm something. Check it real fast and tell me if you find anything weird."
"Poor Morg…" Index sighed. "The assassins jump around so fast, it's impossible to pinpoint where Nagisa will be."
"Have you considered checking our school?" Kalluto asked, seated on her hair. "I could tell you where it is."
"It's a possibility."
"Hm…" Kalluto was a little baffled that he was entrusted to Index. He could've easily assassinated her by now. But the fact was he didn't. Did they already trust him that much? …Looking over, he saw Sector Q and Boly playing tag with Diancie. He almost considered going to Miko and telling the truth about what he did… but he couldn't bring himself to.
"Cheren, Sector MG reported in." Larry informed. "Romeo and Wendy got back from the Negaverse."
"Report from GKND." Panini called. ("Ugh, every five seconds." Cheren mumbled.) "Sector IC have reported the assassination of the Snow God!"
"Does that explain all the heat and cold waves being reported?" Cheren asked. "What about the Sun God? What was Romeo even doing?"
"J-Just let me hear the full report." Larry replied anxiously.
"EMERGENCY!" a boy rushed in wearing a psychic helmet. He was part of the Crime Sensory unit.
"WHAT NOW?!"
"U-Um, Ashland is suffering a meteor shower—Quahog is suffering massive damage—and Sector IC's hometown that's hard to pronounce-"
"Cheren, Sector MG have reported wild animal attacks in Onett!" Larry shouted.
"Ergh! Then, tell those people… TO DO SOMETHING!"
"But Sector Q is here, sir!"
"Sector Q, we're going home!" Quill decided.
"You think CP0 is attacking?" Miko asked worriedly.
"If they are, I think Boly should stay here."
"Is my assistance not necessary?"
"We don't wanna risk them taking you." Jenny said. "What about Kazuma? Is he still at GKND?"
"We don't have time to get him, let's move!"
"Zach, let's head down to Quahog, too!" Maddy decided, racing to the hangar. "It could be Lucci!"
"Michelle, I'm going to Ashland!" Anthony decided. "The Earth Children should all be there by now."
"B-Be careful, Brother…"
"CP0 is dividing to attack the Guardians…" Index thought aloud. "I wonder if Madotsuki is…? Kalluto?" The tiny assassin was gone off her head.
Sector W, Ashland… and other areas
"Man, I can't believe Anthony called us out here for nothin'." Shelly Johnson complained, stealing another soda from the refrigerator before kicking on the couch. "I thought we were gonna beat up some assassins, but he's already hiding up on Moonbase."
"I wouldn't mind a second swing at them." Tom Taylor agreed. "But if they think Diancie is still here, we need to hold the fort. They might come soon."
"At least it doesn't sound like they got Manaphy, yet." Emily Garley said, studying the outside area through binoculars. "Hey, you think we should get Ikuyim in on this?"
"It ain't easy sending messages to the Negaverse." Shelly replied.
"Yeah…! Hey! Shooting star!"
The duo curiously joined her at the balcony. A star seemed to streak the air. "Well, make a wish."
"I don't know if we still can."
"Hey, if the stars still shoot, the wishes still…still come CRASHING DOWN!"
The star evolved into a meteor and CRUSHED a few innocent homes in a fiery landing. The Earth Children leapt to the ground, but as they hurried to fix the situation, a storm of meteors burned the neighborhood. (Play "Requiem Aranea!" from Hunter Hunter.)
…
Atop the roof of his autopiloted ship, Lucci basked in the ever-changing, hot and cold winds under the dark night. Beneath him, the water creature—known as the Chaos Agent—had assumed the form of a lizard with bones in her arms and tail. Her limbs stretched and destroyed the homes in single hits. Elsewhere, Deadpool cheered atop the back of his unicorn girlfriend, filling the homes with grenades of a special gas.
"Forever sat… A precious moon is lost. The others mourn him with ceremony grand."
In Iceland, Shadow the Hedgehog plowed down rows of houses with his Spin Dash. Hearing the carnage, the Stork and Crystal Families rushed outside. The dark hedgehog glared at the families and raised his hand: a storm of Chaos Spears rained upon their homes.
"Rising up to Heaven, the mighty moon of frost… With a melody… from the mourning band."
Sector MG divided to subdue the animals ravaging Onett. Phil trained his rifle on a tiger and fired, but the animal evaded with Shave and zipped up. Oliver struck the tiger with Fire Magic, but the beast dealt a Tempest Scratch in revenge. "Hey, guys!" Maria yelled. "These animals are using the assassin techniques!"
"How very astute of you, Princess." Chase Young Apparated behind her.
"Hu-!" Maria hadn't a moment to recognize him before she was kicked in the face.
"MARIA!" Wendy and Romeo combined their elements and cast a Rainbow Cyclone.
"Harvest barren, wine spilled… Lovers slumber beside the bloody scarlet eyes."
The Earth Children were breathless before the One-Winged Angel who descended. Beneath him was the ruined Fulbright Household. Luvbi weakly pulled her husband out of the wreckage, but a fallen beam had already impaled him.
"Though cut in half your number, 'tis not lost, where in your advantage lies… Amuse yourself with the on tract. Seek new friends once in a bind."
The Chaos Agent devoured innocent kids, drowning them in its liquid body. Cops hesitated to shoot the beast, but were carved down by Deadpool. Danika York seized the antihero in Shadow Possession, but she was swarmed by the residents who had gone mad from the gas.
The serpent lady had arrived in Quahog to seek out her next target. There, she found a couple familiar faces. "Hmmmnn…I guess they had the ssssame idea. Well, let'ssss see who gets her first~"
"Perhaps to the east, one can be tracked. The one most needed, you're sure to find."
Olive Crystal and Misty King tried to freeze Shadow in time. The hedgehog Shaved out of their hold and sliced Olive's back with a Tempest Kick. An enraged Suki smothered him with snow, but a Chaos Blast blew the families away and left parts of their homes a crater.
Lucci rose his hands and waved them like a conductor's baton. Danika stole the shadows of the wild citizens to increase her shadow's fist, but as she bombarded Deadpool with punches, he merely evolved into a Waving Tube Man, who flailed his body with deadly force. Mr. Murphy and the Sector Q parents shot 4x4 guns at Vanessa, the unicorn sniping them with colorful Horn Beams.
"Forever sat, a precious moon is lost. The others mourn him with ceremony grand."
In Onett, hawks slashed Tempest Talons to slice the children of the playground. Romeo bound Chase in Sticky Fire, but he warped out and dealt a Finger Pistol at Romeo's back. However, he lit himself with Ice Fire to freeze Chase's hand and kick backward, knocking him away. Wendy swung a kick at his head, but Chase dodged, grabbed her ankle, and swung her into Romeo. "Huh?" He saw a small, big-earred creature bounce out of Romeo's pocket. "Ow!" Philip shot him in the eye. It didn't hurt much, but it aggravated Chase enough to shoot a spell at the non-mage.
"PHIL!" Kiki panicked as Phil was turned into a mouse. Chase then warped up and turned the witch into a pigeon, kicking her.
"Rising up to Heaven, the mighty moon of frost… With a melody… from the mourning band."
Sephiroth slashed his katana at Tom, but Emily's quick thinking and metalbending bent the blade inward. Sephiroth redirected gravity to send them flying, but suffered a punch and kick from Chad and Emily Dickson. Sephiroth grounded them with gravity and bent his sword back to normal to stab Chad, but Emily G. sent some malleable metal to smother Sephiroth's face. Tom pelted him with Magma Fists, and as more meteors fell, the lavabender caught them.
"Slade… we dedicate this requiem to you. May they regret ever harnessing the Newborn."
Moonbase
"Cheren!" Larry yelled. "Unidentified ship heading to Moonbase!"
"Oh, don't fucking tell me!" The leader was already expecting the worst.
"Ha ha ha!" laughed Miu, piloting the ship in question. "Moonbase sighted at 69 hours! K1-B0, send them the greeting card!"
"Though I would like to question the technical meaning of '69 hours,' I will give it my all!" The robot launched out of the ship and blasted the surrounding patrol units with plasma beams.
"Hey, what's going on with the sun out there?" Tenko asked, acknowledging the solar flares.
"I dunno, but it's…" Flames sparked in Himiko's eyes. "It makes me… want to try my best!" With a bit more pep in her voice, she smiled.
"ME, TOO!" Tenko flared up. "Let's kick some KND BUTT!"
"Oh, yes! My heart is on fire!" Korekiyo beamed. "And so is Sister's! I've never felt such excitement!"
"Yeah!" Kaede's eyes burned. "Ya hear that, Kaito?! We're coming to get you!"
Maki, her scarlet eyes sharp on the mission, waited patiently for landing. On her shoulder rested a black widow.
…
…
The comical horn music started up again. The Heat Miser and Cold Miser danced aside as an average man with gray hair danced out. "I'm Mr. Light Weather, I'm Mr. Breeze. I'm Mr. Partly Cloudy, I'm Mr. 50 Degrees. Some call me Mild Miser… whatever I clutch." He picked up a vase. "Doesn't reach to my touch!" He put it down. "Hah! I'm not much."