Operation: RECLAIM, Part 2

Chapter 2: Doomsday is Near

Cleveland Beach; 7:00 p.m.

January 5… 7:00. That was the date… this was the time. And this is the place, too. Cheren studied his map closely, and this location was marked. He stood impatiently as he stared at the distant, setting sun, the waves washing calmly over the beach. He folded his arms and tapped his foot. He checked his watch. 7:02. Cheren released a light sigh. If it wasn't for the peaceful sounds of ocean waves, he would probably go crazy. When was this guy going to appear??

A whirling sound was heard behind him, as a dark portal rapidly opened and closed. Cheren whipped around, seeing the very person he was waiting for seated on a rock. "Sorry I'MM late." The familiar gray-skinned person, with thin orange horns, a black shirt with a purple heart symbol, and purple cape on his back. "It seems I was accounting for Termina times."

The Thief of Heart, Masked Demon

ZANIFR "MAJORA" MIMCHI

Cheren approached him calmly, his eyes furrowed. "Hm… well, better than half an hour from now."

"That'll MMake Link jealous."

"…I wanted to give you something, by the way."

"MMmmm?" he raised a brow.

Cheren stepped closer, still with a calm aura. In just a flash, Cheren's fist flew and PUNCHED the creature upside the jaw. Purple blood flew out as he fell off the rock, front-first in the sand. "I just wasn't satisfied." Cheren remarked.

Zanifr rubbed his jaw, still looking at Cheren with toneless, half-closed red eyes. "I anticipated as MMuch."

"Yeah-yeah, MM-boy. Now, come on. I came here for answers, I want 'em now."

Zanifr climbed onto the sharp boulder and sat gently. "MMy name is Zanifr MMimchi. I was born before your universe even had a timeline. I and MMy race of trolls lived on Alternia, the central planet of the First Dimension. Our world was destroyed, by the Apocalypse, and we were granted the task of creating a brand new world. But we were forbidden to enter that world… so the God of the Universe, Arceus, locked us away. I and MMy friends were ordered to create a world in our own image… but it seemed I had MMy own image. MMy personal fascination was with MMonsters and demons… I designed the ones that would one day rule the Underworld."

"So, you're the demons' true creator?" Cheren asked.

"Yes. But I wanted for demons to run the whole universe… not just the one world. I opposed MMy former acquaintances and tried to attain MMy goal. Unfortunately, they would not have it. And I was stopped by MMy MMoirail, Sanula. He had created a MMask for me earlier, one shaped from MMy very soul. In the end, it was used to imprison MMy soul. And through the will of the Zoni, he was able to bring MMe to your dimension."

"Who are the Zoni?"

"The Zoni are the gatekeepers between worlds. They decide who can come, and who can't. Whom they decide, is usually based on the Will of Sixes."

"Will of Sixes?"

"It is a strange will, regarding the Apocalypse. According to legend, those that have six letters in their name are plausible candidates for the creators of the New World. You have six letters in your first name. So does Nerehc. I, MMyself, have six letters in MMy first and surnames, so MMy inclusion was sealed. I believe this will is derived from the Six Guardians of Alternia. The ones who have ensured MMy stay in that MMask."

"The Giants." Cheren knew.

"Yes. They were spirits of positive feelings, and their energy was MMeant to keep MMe imprisoned. When they relocated to Termina Earth, they were forced to submit to the feelings of the MMortals. MMy MMask, on the other hand, was entrusted to the Royal Shadow Family. If I were used six times, for each time, the spell from each of the Giants would break, and I would be free. It happened over 6,600 years ago, but I was stopped by MMy own MMoirail… who used the Fierce Deity MMask."

"What is the Fierce Deity Mask?"

"MMy MMoirail MMakes MMasks of souls he's MMet. If those souls are close to their end, he plays a special song to bring them peace, inside those MMasks… which were formed from his fondest MMemories of those people. I believe he has one of MMario, of the MMushroom Kingdom. But… the Fierce Deity was MMade from a dangerous being… it contains the Negative of your ancestor, Link."

Cheren flinched in shock.

"MMore specifically, his first life. It was a terrifying warrior with incredible dark powers. You have experienced this yourself… until you combined its dark MMagic with the light feelings of your other MMasks. But it seems that Link's own soul kept you, and himself, in balance."

Cheren shook this idea off. "Just tell me what you were doing in Termina."

"I was awakened again… when MMiyuki; or rather, you, put MMe on her face. I once again enacted MMy lifelong goal… returning to MMy world of Alternia. Unfortunately, there were only two ways back: the Time Gate, which has long been sealed, preventing entry. The only other way in… is the Space Gate. Which only opens on the Apocalypse, and can be triggered within the Termina Dimension. You see, as time goes, the darkness that lied within the MMoon would grow. And when it MMatured, the MMoon would crash into the Earth, bringing an end to all who weren't chosen, and the ones who were worthy would be instantly warped to the Alternian Lands."

"So, you used Miyuki to make the Apocalypse come FASTER!" Cheren yelled accusingly, suddenly angry.

"Yes. And I did the same years ago, when I possessed the Skull Kid. Using Link's own Ocarina of Time, which housed incredible timebending energy, I MMade the Apocalypse come, thousands of years before it should have. But the Giants serve another purpose: they MMake sure the MMoon stays in place, if any interference should MMake the Apocalypse happen early. During both of MMy attempts, I had to keep the Giants at bay. You MMust know the rest."

"Yeah… I know." Cheren nodded, still angry.

"Anyway… when I came back to Termina… I became acquainted again with an old friend of MMine, Vriska, who possessed a Zoni to aid in MMy quest. Before MMy banishment, she agreed to watch after MMy dream self… so when the Apocalypse came, I would be safe. You and Nerehc came to MMe in your own dream bodies… and ultimately killed MMy other self. But what you didn't know, was I convinced you to kill MMe on MMy Quest Bed. By doing so, I was able to abandon MMy two MMortal bodies, and finally achieve God Tier. And then… by playing the Song of Healing for MMe, the song MMy MMoirail once played for MMe to keep MMe calm, I was able to be free of MMy MMask."

"So if I freed you… why haven't you done anything else?"

"I did not feel the need to anymore. The MMask has tainted MMy soul. But… do not think it MMeans I am sorry for MMy actions. Those were just. Even so… I will simply wait for the Apocalypse to return home. After all, I've waited this long. I've even adapted to human language."

"Not really. What's with that thing you do with your M's?"

"It is MMy Trollspeak. All of MMy people have a particular style. It is not great, but… it is MMine."

"Right…" They were silent for a while. The brushing waves were the only sound. Cheren and Zanifr stared out at the horizon as the sun's fading rays shone from beyond. Cheren felt goosebumps on his skin from the chill of the calm wind. It was the best thing to have in awkward moments…

"There's one thing I forgot to MMention." Zanifr spoke again. "Unlike Link's ocarina, MMiyuki's timebending was undeveloped, despite mmmy enhancements with MMy darknessbending. She could fast-forward the MMoon's years… but she could not go MMuch farther than one year."

Cheren felt an uneasy feeling suddenly rise in his chest. What once was a calm chill, became one of fear. "Meaning?…" (Play Majora's Theme from Majora's Mask.)

Zanifr's emotionless face and half-closed eyes seemed a lot more bleak. "She did not have to MMove time far… for the Apocalypse to happen."

Cheren's eyes shrunk in fear.

"Before too long… the Apocalypse will happen… and your world will end."

"…Well then… we'll schedule an evacuation." Cheren stated, trying not to sound worried. "Yeah… there's a hundred planets up in Galaxia! We'll get a bajillion spaceships and…and haul all the humans up to other planets!"

"You don't understand. This cataclysm will affect so MMuch MMore than a single planet. It will spread across the entire cosmos. Only ones chosen by the Will of Sixes… can be safe."

"…But… how do we stop it?"

"You don't. There is nothing that can stop it. The Apocalypse will happen… you MMust only hope you are lucky. Those of the Will of Sixes are almost guaranteed… but not all have to follow it."

Cheren could already think of a few who might be safe. Aurora… Panini… Sheila… Haruka… Rachel… six letters. But that would still be too few. He wanted to bring more. "But there has to be SOME way."

"No… all you will get… is the chance to create a brand new world. But how that world comes… depends on another legend."

"What?"

"Before the Apocalypse comes, there is supposed to be a pre-Apocalypse, created by Arceus. One that is supposed to be safer, and actually fixable. When that Apocalypse ended… the true one would be on its way. The legend says… that there are Twenty Keys who would unlock the door to the New World and all its wonders. Thirteen of them are Dark… while Seven of them are Light. But the hidden powers inside these 20 would only be found, after the respective goddesses of these powers returned into being. Thirteen years after the pre-Apocalypse… the Goddess of Darkness would awaken. Seven years after that… the Goddess of Light. And then, both goddesses would engage in the fight to find these Twenty Keys… and the one whose influence is strongest, would determine the fate of this New World."

Maddy Murphy tried to swim to the surface, but was pulled underwater by the evil woman's snaky hair.

Fybi Fulbright's jetpack was destroyed as she fell below the clouds. But a ray of light shone, and she flew back up, with brand new angel wings.

Cheren took a moment to process this. "…Twenty… years…" He did the math. "Huh!" he gasped. The images of Arceus's terrifying wrath flashed in his mind. While he wasn't there himself… he remembered his parents' stories all too well. "Then the pre-Apocalypse… was the Scattered Realms!!"

"Yes. And your parents know, what hell that was. The true one, however, is unavoidable. Some will survive… MMost, will not." Zanifr hopped off the rock, landing on his feet. "Tell MMe, Cheren…" he approached him slowly, "if you knew you were going to die one day… and there was nothing you could do to save everyone… nothing at all… would you still fight?" Zanifr raised a brow.

Cheren really was scared deep down. Even if he survived… he had so many friends he was worried for. So many lives… would be lost. He couldn't stand to see that happen.

But it was then that Sheila Frantic's excited grin flashed in his mind. Panini Drilovsky's smirking, conceited face and laugh… his sister embracing him in hugs and his brother punching his shoulder… Sector W playfully tackling their leader, Anthony… even Merida's smiling face was in his mind. So many happy faces… they filled him with delight.

Cheren sighed and turned away, looking down. His fear was subsided. "You won't scare me." (End song.)

Zanifr stared at him inquisitively.

"If the world's gonna be destroyed… I'll fight like I always have."

"…Hmmmm. I expected as MMuch. …When your time is near… all you humans wish to do is spend time with your fellow wrigglers. Hmm-hmm-hmmmmm…"

"No. That's not it either."

"Hmmmm?" He raised a brow.

Cheren turned and faced him with determination in his eyes. "I'll stop the Apocalypse from ever happening."

"…" Zanifr sported a thin smile. "Hmm-hmm-hmmmm. I can understand the human desire to accomplish anything you set your MMind to. But humans set their goals too far, it seems. Even you MMust know, there are some things humans can't do. Everything… MMust have its end." ovMvo

"I stopped the Apocalypse once before, from you. My parents and all their friends stopped it 20 years ago. Twice. …Even Link stopped it." Cheren smirked, suddenly feeling confident. "We'll stop it all over again. We'll do it together."

"Hmmmm. This is not some poor soul wanting to achieve some hopeless dream. This was something planned before you were born. It is a force of nature, even you can't poison with demonic drugs. It will happen. And this time, the Giants will not do anything. Even they know… the fate of this world."

"Well, I know that no one knows their fate. And I don't care what you say. I'll find these Twenty Keys myself… and with their help, we'll stop the Apocalypse. And if we ever see your people again…" his confidence burned brighter. "You can tell them… you met the human race. …Oh, and pass the word for my alien friends, too." And with those final words, Cheren walked away.

Zanifr smiled still, his eyes still half-closed. Everything Cheren said just now… Zanifr just found it so… humorous. "I will remember those words…"

Beatles Household; 8:30 p.m.

Kuki Beatles finally returned home at the promised time… plus half an hour later. "There's my Kooks!" Wally beamed as he walked over to hug his wife and kiss her cheek. "I thought ya'd be late, so I kept yer dinner nice 'n' warm!"

"Sigh, not now, Wally, I've filed a lot of paperwork, I need a shower." Kuki spoke glumly as she proceeded upstairs.

As she walked through the second-floor hall, she passed by an intricate archway that was created from Joey and Kirie's blocks. When the older Beatles child noticed her mother, she excitedly stood up and hurried to her. A wide smile on her face, the mute girl rapidly signed, Mooom!! Now that you're home, we can play Rainbow Monkey Sugar Race, and the prize can be-

"Sweetie, I really don't have time for sugar parties, now if you don't mind…" Kirie frowned as her mom bypassed her and entered the bathroom.

Kirie sat back down beside her brother, while Joey kept his carefree smile. "Come on, let's try and make a statue!" He pulled out more blocks.

Kirie signed, Siiiigh…

"What's wrong, Sis?" he asked, noticing her frown.

Since Joey didn't understand sign language, Kirie decided to grab some available blocks and spell out her sentence. Mom used to be so much fun, but when she got that promotion, she hasn't played with me SINCE. Do you think she cares about me, Joe?

"Sure she does, Sis! Why wouldn't she?" he asked vibrantly.

Kirie made the blocks spell, Well, I thought so too, but back on Christmas, this little elf man came and told me Mom wanted a daughter who could talk. I didn't wanna believe it, so, I've been trying to get her to play with me more and more. Siiigh… I'm beginning to think it's true. She probably thinks her job is more fun.

"Well, those monkeys are pretty colorful." Joey smiled. "Oh!" he suddenly perked. "Maybe you could ask Mom to take you to work tomorrow!"

Kirie perked, smiling as she formed a new saying. Hey, yeah! We can talk about different RAINBOW Monkey ideas, and; and she can spend time with me and STILL work at the same time! She spelled more blocks before standing up, Thanks, Joey! Mwwwwah! She kissed Joey's cheek before skipping to her room.

"Bluch! Sister germs!" Joey whined, wiping his cheek.

Wally and Kuki's Room; 10:30 at night

The house was pitch-dark except the parents' bedroom, but it was only kept lit by a dim lamp, which Kuki was using to read a newspaper. She was mentioned again… hooray…

The toilet flushed in their next-door bathroom, and Wally walked out with a relieved smile. "Ahhh, havin' your own bathroom is great." he sighed, lying beside his wife. "Ya don't have ta fight with your kids over it."

"Brilliant, Wallace…" she looked disbelieved.

"Eee-yup." He lied back with his head rested on his hands. He opened his left eye and glanced to his wife, "So how was work, Kooks?"

"Wally, I've told you a hundred times not to call me that, I'm not a kid anymore…"

"Ahhh, come on, Kooks." He sat up and put an arm around her, still with a cool smile. "What about stayin' a kid at heart? Ain't that what we promised Numbuh 1 before he left?"

"There are some adults who have the freedom to do so, but there are some with very important positions and duties that do not. You'd understand too if you had the knowledge and competence to lead a major corporate industry. No offense."

"Awww, but ya used to be so carefree, Kooks. Remembuh back when we were young? Always singing on missions, annoying me with hamsters or Rainbow Monkeys… and you used to dress me up in that Huggy-Whoever outfit. But now I bet you 'aven't seen one Minish since you got your promotion!"

"Wally, even you don't believe in the Minish."

"Ahh, but you do. That's my point."

"Wally, the fact is, that point in my life is over. It's a brand new chapter, and I wouldn't have it any other way. As president, it's my job to ensure production of Rainbow Monkey material, and tomorrow, I'm gonna keep doing so."

"Siiigh… alright, Sweetie. If that's how you wanna do it…"

"Thank you. Good night, Wallace." With that, Kuki switched the lamp off and lied down on her side.

Wally lied down as well, facing away from her. "I always knew these Rainbow Monkeys were trouble… and I was right all along."

Rainbow Monkey Factory

Everyone had gone home. The factory was pitch-dark. All of the machines sat where they had been left, completely still. The only souls stirring about… were the twin helmeted monkeys. The only lights in the factory came from their flashing red helmet lights. The monkeys wore evil smirks in the darkness as they roamed about the factory, using wrenches and other tools to tinker with the machines. They entered a chamber where The Noid was imprisoned behind an energy barrier, and tinkered with the terminal that kept it locked.

Finally, the apes entered the chamber of the Heart Bringer. They finished their routine by hacking into the machine, and changing its programming. They looked at each other and "Ay-yee!" nodded as they hurried outside.

Washington D.C.; the next day

"Is this thing for real?" Mason asked as he, Sheila, Lee, and Leanne walked down a bustling downtown street.

"Yeah!" Leanne beamed. "It was recovered from King Tutsipoppin's tomb a few days ago! It was so rare, they had to put it in the Mintsodium Museum of Candy History!"

"Whoever thought about doing a mural on a lollipop?" Lee asked.

"Someone with a more messed up mind than Mika's, that's for sure!" Sheila exclaimed.

"How do you think it tastes?" Mason asked.

"Like history." Lee said. "In other words, really really raw."

"Raw or not, I need to see it." Leanne stated as they stepped up the museum's stairs. "I heard just looking at it makes anyone's mouths water."

They reached the lobby room of the kid-owned museum, where swarms of kids were already gathered around a pedestal in the center, which was covered by a red curtain. "Alright, alright, settle down, everyone." The curator told them all. "Ahem… ladies and gentlemen… we give you… a Sundae Afternoon!" He threw off the curtain, and everyone's eyes sparkled with wonder. It was a huge lollipop that was twice their heights, with the image of happy boys and girls frolicking in a field of ice creams, wide smiles on their faces as they devoured the variety of flavors. The ice creams had syrup, cherries, sprinkles, and many tasty decorations. In the center of the mural; far in the background, stood a mountain of the Fourth Flavor.

"Whoooaa…" Needless to say, a lot of mouths were watering.

"It's like a portal to another world…" Leanne gaped.

"Where do Ancient Candy Egyptians come up with something like this?..." Mason asked with wonder.

Sheila zipped to the front of the crowd and climbed onto the pedestal. "Oi bet this thing's made o' all SORTS of flavuhs!" she stuck her tongue out to lick…

"DO NOT lick the art." The curator stated, whacking her.

"Oi, gee…" Sheila rubbed her head.

At that instant, the museum doors were kicked open. The children whipped around, and there was no need to point out who it was that kicked them open. …But I will, anyway. Nickel Joe walked in with his usual sly grin, toothpick in his teeth, and flipping a nickel. "Myyy, my… that is a marvelous piece. Mind if we have a lick?"

"Heeey! Adults aren't allowed in here!" a boy yelled.

"True… but I'm sorta funding for this place." The man remarked as he and his henchmen stepped through the crowd. "You don't think a couple-a snot-nosed kids could pay for this place with their itty-bitty allowances alone. Uhhhn?"

The curator did nothing as the guards stepped onto the pedestal and gripped the huge lollipop carefully by its stick. The crowd erupted with protest when they proceeded to carry it out. "Hey!" Sheila ran off the pedestal and through the crowd, stopping in Nickel Joe's way. "What the crud is with you blokes, anyway?! 'o says you can take all our candy?!"

"Ha ha ha." Nickel Joe laughed calmly. "Look, Kid, I c'n see you're too young to understand…" he patted Sheila's head, making the raccoon girl's eyes furrow, "but some things are more important than little kiddies' whiny requests. A very special day is comin' up. Our Mama's birthday. So it's only fair she gets everything she could ever want. Don't ya agree?"

"Mmmmm!" she growled.

"Load 'er up, boys," he told his henchmen as he walked away, "nice and tall. Make sure it don't bump around too much and let's get 'er back, safely. After all, such exquisite art don't come around often." The men stashed the Sundae Afternoon in their truck before driving away, the kids stepping outside and watching as they vanished down the street.

"Siiigh… man, every time." Leanne said angrily.

"At this rate, we won't have ANY candy left." Mason figured.

"Boy, Panini's gonna blow when she hears about this." Lee knew.

"We oughta call her, just 'cause." Mason replied.

"I KNEW YOU WERE COWARDS!!" Sheila screamed in the men's direction. "Afraid to fight ol' Sheila, eh?! IIII KNEW IT!! Don't evuh come back here again IF YOU DON'T WANT SOME O' THIS!!"

KND Moonbase

Cheren flew up to Moonbase to begin another day of Supreme Leadering. Already, he saw Panini at her Global Tactical station, and the Drilovsky girl was fuming. "Uuugh… I can't BELIEVE this!!" she stomped.

"What happened?" Cheren asked.

Panini faced him, "Those mobster guys stole the new Sundae Afternoon attraction from the Mintsodium! ! I was waitin' to go there after the CROWDS died down! ! If Ay ever meet who runs their joint, Ay am gonna give SUCH a poundin'!..."

"Man… bad luck." Cheren could only say. "I'll send some spies out to try and search for them. They are getting pretty annoying."

"'Annoyin'' isn't the word… more like… um… aggravoyin'."

"Hah ha!"

"So, what's new? Ya do anything yesterday?"

"Oh… just the usual." he said nonchalantly.

"Ahh…"

"Well… call me if anything happens." He said as he entered his office.

"Okay…"

Cheren sat at his desk and released an exasperated sigh. He couldn't get what he learned from his meeting out of his head. He was pretty sure about what he said… but he was worried how everyone else would take it. He figured he would keep it to himself… until the time was right.