27. Your God Spits On You

Dunfree Household

Arianna lay dead in her room. Well, not actually dead, but she really wished that she was. She's been this way through the whole night, and even as morning arose, she lay still. No telling how many people from Florae or Galaxia saw that news broadcast. She couldn't show her face to anyone, anymore. She would shut herself in her room and never live the humility.

'Course, when she felt a tiny force land on her upturned shoulder, she learned that wouldn't be the case. "Well, that news was… ehh, that was somethin'." Vweeb said with a loss for the right words.

"Will you just go AWAY, Vweeb?!" she shouted angrily.

"Arianna, I really don't get you, anymore. That speech you made there, that was the greatest speech I've ever heard. You sounded more sure of yourself than ever, but then you toss it all away to agree with that Chane kid?! What's wrong with you?"

"I…I don't know, either." Arianna sunk her face into her pillow. "I really was sure of myself, but that boy; Chane was… when I looked at him, and heard his words, he was just so… confident. He didn't stutter, and he was so charming, and I thought he made his case so… well. Maybe deep down, I…I really didn't care about the animals. Deep down, I knew that someone was going to hunt or kill them, and there was nothing I can do. Maybe all my words really are just a bore." Her whisper grew fainter as she turned to hide her face further.

With a disbelieved stare, Vweeb jumped down before her face, stuck his tiny hands underneath, and turned her head upward so it was perfectly on its side. "Arianna, take it from someone who's been getting stepped on his whole life before this: you're an idiot. What you said on that TV was really inspiring, and it made me look at you differently. It made me think, whether you were spineless or gutsy Arianna, you actually opened my eyes with your speech, and you were the bravest person in the galaxy for breaking in there to say it. But then Chane comes out of nowhere, AND IT'S all gone! I wasn't actually looking, but what about that guy's 'charm' made you DROP the whole thing?"

"You… weren't looking?"

"I was, uh, inside my mom's ear, helping her clean out stuff. Hehe." Vweeb blushed. "Come to think of it, Makava was trying to finish a chapter of this book, so she wasn't looking. But both of us were still listening, and we dunno why you found Chane so likable."

Arianna sat up with a thoughtful look. "Vweeb… do you think Chane might have… brainwashed me?"

"Whaddyou mean?"

"I-I can't really say for sure, but… I also can't think of any other explanation. I mean… were you and Makava really not watching, just listening?"

"Well… yeah. But Arianna, even if you're right about that, it's a little too late. Ted's gonna blow up the star system in a few hours, and everyone's gonna be watching him."

"Then…Then it's now or never!" Arianna spoke passionately. "We've gotta get to the Violet System and stop Ted from blowing it up!"

"Again, Arianna, really confused about you." Vweeb smirked. "You go from wimpy to gutsy to emo to gutsy again in the span of a day. Just pick an Arianna and stick with it, which are you?"

Arianna blushed slightly at this realization. "I'm… um, I'm gutsy!" she proclaimed confidently.

"That's what I was hopin' for." Vweeb leaped up, smacked her shoulder, and dropped. "Then let's hit the stars, Kava and Tronta are waiting for us outside."

"Wait, you're going to help me?"

"Someone has ta keep ya from looking more like an idiot than you already are." Vweeb smiled casually. "So come on, let's go!"

"Arianna!" Nova suddenly barged in. "Celebi's missing! I found this beside her Spirit Ball."

She held out a small paper, which Arianna hurriedly got up to look at, Vweeb on her shoulder. Be the first to visit Golfing in the Stars. Don't be late. ;)

Violet Dwarf System

Nearly 24 asteroids and planetoids orbited this system, with the most majestic flora and fauna under the stars. Antelope, whose dozens of horns shone like rainbows, drank from the pure, gentle pond. Pitch-black fish swam within, whom when their anglers lit up, it revealed neon eyes and skeletons inside. Phoenixes soared across the asteroids, but instead of flames making up their wings, they were composed purple juice, which dripped onto the Zippy Toads, whom stopped to guzzle the drink before resuming moving at bullet pace. All of these planetoids drifted close to a tremendous, though relatively small violet sun, the very sun this quadrant was named for. Its magical glow lit all of the habitats purple.

Many miles away, the Orbital Auditorium hovered, where hi-def cameras zoomed close to give everyone a spectacle on the big screen, which displayed in front of a great glass wall. Ted Wassanasong stood behind the podium onstage. "Today is the day, folks, we are live outside the Violet Dwarf System, where in the next half hour, Earthican President Ted Washington will commence the blowing up of the Violet Dwarf System." the anchorwoman spoke with a grin. "Hundreds of galactic residents have gathered to watch the event up close, inside this Orbital Auditorium specially provided by MomCorp. Mom, is there anything you would like to say to commemorate this event?" She held her microphone to the elderly tycoon, who bore a grouchy wrinkled face.

"Yes, I've had to address this problem to ten people: NO FREE REFILLS ON THE DRINKS!" Then she walked away.

"Hu hu hu hu!" The anchor laughed. "Let's have a word with the man of the hour, President Washaphone himself. Ted?"

"Thank you, um… News Alien." Ted replied politely, with no idea how to pronounce her name. "As it would so happen, construction of the golf course has finished early, and we have the entire attraction on standby. My son, Chane will assist in moving the entire course to this region, once the asteroid field is rid of."

"Your son, Chane was a very nice young man, and we were happy to have him on our set. I feel I should ask you, though, what was your opinion on the Harnitan child's speech last night? She put up a very compelling argument if I do say so myself."

"She made quite the case, but what she does not understand is that this is a matter of business. You'll find my son, Chane agrees as well, and the two of us are quite… persuasive." He cocked a brow.

"You most certainly are. So, when the golf park is officially opened, how much will you be charging first admissions?"

"My lawyers are currently determining specific numeral values of alien currency. However, the first ten admissions will be free."

"YAAAAAAAAY!" the audience cheered.

"We're STILL charging you for parking, you dumb clods!" Mom shouted.

50 space-miles away from the Violet System was the long-awaited golf park. Each colossal structure was tied together, all ready to be pulled by a single tiny spacecraft. Team Vweeb was currently approaching the course in Makava's Heart Star. "I can't believe Ted would just kidnap Celebi." she said. "When she wasn't even in her Spirit Ball, how can you DO that?"

"It doesn't matter, because Ted has officially gone too far." Arianna stated. "Tronta, after we land, you and I will search this place to find Celebi. Makava, Vweeb, I'm trusting you to fly to the auditorium and stop Ted, can you do that?"

"YOU BET!" both siblings perked.

"Yeah… I'm gonna have ta say 'no'."

The Heart Star was suddenly trapped in a blue attraction beam. "What?! It's pulling us to the course!" Makava exclaimed, for their ship was steadily sinking toward a base of the course. They were forcibly parked on a blue pad in the middle of a grassy ground, with the only way up being a narrow hill, which was designed like a playground slide. "AAAAH!" The kids screamed when a giant golfball was about to roll down and flatten them.

Vweeb jumped out of the ship and used his super-Kateenian strength to stop the ball's course, barely under the bottom of it. "Grrrrrrr help me out, guys, I'm about to go squish!"

Tronta threw two Light Discs that connected with rope, which they used to pull the giant ball back onto the flat ground above. "Huuuuff." Vweeb fell on his back. "That's exercise for the week." He spoke with little breath. "Makava, pick me up, please."

Makava fiddled with the Heart Star controls. "The attraction beam is gluing our ship to this pad. We'll have to turn it off!"

"Awww, why would you wanna do that?" Chane Wassanasong's image appeared on a screen above—Arianna shut her eyes. "Stay here, kids, be the first to try the golf course. We got plenty of mega-size holes to go around. First to land three holes-in-one scores a ride on the Chane Train. Ladies only."

Makava was swooned, "Well, since you offered-"

Arianna smacked her, "SNAP out of it! He's brainwashing somehow, we can't look at him!"

"You won't be able to resist my charm for long. But if you twerps want something to entertain yourselves, my dad sent Pokémon to guard the golf course. Play with them if I'm too sexy for ya. Catch ya later, nerds." The screen shut off.

"The switch is probably up in his control station." Makava figured. "Maybe Celebi, too."

"We don't have time for this!" Arianna yelled. "Let's all work together and get up there as soon as possible! We have roughly 27 minutes before Ted blows up the system. Hurry!" (Play "Specter TV Fortress" from Ape Escape 3.)

Stage 36: Golfing in the Stars

Mission: Stop Ted from blowing up the Violet System!

The four operatives hurried up the slope to the small field of fake grass, where the giant golfball still sat. Porygon zipped out of thin space and blasted Psybeams, the four dodging before Makava grabbed Vweeb and threw him at one, using his superhuman strength to push it into another. Arianna had several potted plants strapped to her belt, thrusting her arms up to extend brambles from two of them, smacking away the other Porygon. Tronta twirled and tossed his Light Discs across their heads to knock them unconscious. A door in the center of the blue wall was sealed, with a hole in front of it the size of the giant golfball. Tronta commanded his roped discs to move the ball, however his friends indicated a small, steep hill on the right of the garden. A tiny ledge was far above this hill, and a Gold Bolt rested on top. Figuring they could use the extra money, Makava hopped atop the ball while Tronta struggled to get it up the slope, then the Glomourian could jump up and retrieve the bolt.

Afterwards, they moved the ball into the hole, causing the door to open. They entered a large, dark room with space's chasm below, and giant golfballs traveling along narrow paths. Their first path was 'U' shaped, where the giant ball rolled back-and-forth, so when it was coming up their end, the kids jumped over and quickly ran up the opposite end before it came back. They turned down a left slope, where giant balls dropped one after the other on the top, proceeding to roll down with little space in-between. The operatives kept between two balls as the slope navigated two different turns, before the balls rolled off to a lower path. When the ball in front did so, the kids jumped and balanced on top. While the balls rolled into a hole their size, Arianna extended vines from her plants to quickly wrap around a row of nails across the wall, allowing the kids to grab hold and climb across.

They landed on a thin walkway with a ladder leading up to the platform on the opposite side from the starting point. The door was sealed, but all they had to do was hit a small golfball across a little path, past the lasers moving along the floor, then into a hole. Makava took the club, waited for the lasers to move, then hit the ball into the hole, so the door opened. They were allowed into a wider field of fake grass, where little red pegs with bouncy rubber sides sat around. "Only a hole in one passes here, kiddies." Chane's handsome features appeared onscreen; the girls closed their eyes while Vweeb and Tronta looked. "But do me a favor, please don't touch the switch that turns the springs. It really doesn't make a fair game, ya know?"

"Well, he has a point-" Vweeb spoke, then Arianna smacked him with a vine.

"No, he's brainwashing you!" she yelled.

"Really? I thought he looked a bit attractive."

"Just keep from looking up too much." Makava cautioned.

"Good luck with that. Oh, and don't mind the Gulpin, it's their midmorning lunch." Indeed, there were Gulpin stationed around the field, wobbling towards the golfball at the start in their lust to eat it. Tronta ran around and defeated the little monsters with his discs, but when more slid out of their hiding spots, he kept the pace. Makava flipped a switch on a center pillar several times, which made the spring pegs face a different direction, until she could determine the perfect order of springs to hit the ball to. Apparently, it would end up rolling up a narrow, gravity-altered wall, then a ceiling, where the path would just end, directly above this very pillar. Makava decided to rush up this blue path herself, and when she could look directly up (down) at the pillar's top, she saw the hole.

Unfortunately, Makava couldn't keep the springs lined up how she wanted, because they kept switching back on their own. Arianna used vines to climb nails up onto a ledge behind the start, finding an Aipom flipping his own switch. She knocked the creature out, so Makava could turn the springs herself to the right order. Meanwhile, Vweeb discovered a tiny tunnel, leading into a room with the Grav-Switch on. With everything prepared, Makava hit the golfball to her desired first spring, watching it bounce around the others, up the Grav-Path, and then Vweeb flipped the switch to disable the gravity when the ball was in perfect position to fall into the pillar's hole.

Having met the desired hole-in-one, a door on the right side opened. They felt their selves lift off the floor in this room that displayed a holographic projection of outer space, stars glittering everywhere. A red, green, and blue golfball were inside stationary barrier spheres, and nine energy hoops, three for each color, were scattered. There was also a sealed hole for each color around the room, so they figured out the puzzle. Arianna first used her vines to line all the green hoops between the ball and the hole. They were about to float apart again, so Makava quickly hit the ball through (the barrier automatically disabled when her club came), and the hole immediately opened when all hoops were passed, landing hole-in-one.

The blue loops were aligned with their hole in disorderly fashion, but when Tronta stuck his disc into a nearby circular spot, spinning it caused each hoop to zip left-and-right back-and-forth. He had to stop his disc when the hoops were perfectly lined, then Makava hit the ball through. The red hoops performed their own left-and-right movement, but the red ball was in a diagonal alignment with the hole. She waited 'til the hoops were in such a staircase alignment, quickly hit the ball through, and the hole was hit. A hatch opened on the ceiling, so the aliens floated up and onto an outside path, where the gravity was normal.

Porygon2 zipped out of space, and zipped haphazardly around the field in their aim to knock the kids down. Tronta and Makava quickly dodged them and countered with their weapons, but the Pokémon would only stay dizzy for a second, so Vweeb had to Stun them with his gun in that time. A boulder-size golfball was perched, and they would need it in going down a winding road of thin rails. Vweeb shrunk Ari and Tronta, and Makava set them on her hair while she climbed and balanced on the ball. It rolled like a roller-coaster down the rails, Makava had to move her feet quickly to stay on. Porygon2 zipped non-warningly out of space, but they were fast enough to avoid them before the ball hit a spring, which flung them to another area of the park.

Makava balanced the ball carefully across platforms that threatened to tilt. Little Chain Chomps rolled around in attempt to push them off, so Makava stayed clear of the creatures. She rolled onto a spatula-shaped platform that was attached to and rotating around a central axis, keeping the ball stable on the wobbling device before rolling onto a series of scattered, zigzag paths, and many holes. Voltorbs popped out of holes and rolled toward the golfball, intending to self-destruct, so Makava stayed clear, keeping absolute focus on these narrow paths. She finally made it to the flat ground on the other side, but didn't cease momentum so she could dodge the Porygon2, then successfully landed the ball in the giant hole.

Vweeb restored his friends to normal as they entered the newly-open door. "I gotta ask, if people actually pay to come here, do you think they gotta go through all these trials?" he asked. They shrugged. The next room was incredibly long and tall, and contained a gigantic blue slide whose bottom end they stood by. The sound of a light force rolling down its wood echoed across the room.

"Just let it hit the bottom." Chane's image appeared, the kids kept their eyes down. The source of this rolling was a tiny golfball coming down the slide, so heeding against Chane's advice, Makava raised her club high, ran up the steep slope, and- "NNNN!" hit the ball with all the force she could muster. It rolled up partway, but the momentum directed it down again, so Makava kept hitting it further. She couldn't stay balanced on the slippery, flat slope, so Tronta aided her using his roped discs. Eventually, Makava got it up to the top of the slide and into a hole. Meanwhile, Arianna helped Vweeb and Tronta get up by vine-swinging the nails that led up the side of the slide.

The kids entered the doorway to a room where the lower floor was a giant pinball machine. A row of holes was along the bottom, golf clubs were stationed around the field, and balls were rolling down. The kids had to use the switches to flip the clubs and direct the balls into each hole. "Behold, Ted's Golfing Galaxy's Remote-Controlled Golfing!" Ted's automatic P.A. announced. "It is not based off of any game you know!" It didn't take long for Kava to land each hole, and the door on the other side opened. They crossed the walkway on the side of the room and found another giant golfball in an outside area. Vweeb minimized the others so Makava could guide them across.

The Glomourian moved her legs rapid-fast when she was forced to roll the ball down a steep hill, directing it left and right to avoid holes. The ball rolled up a ramp at the very bottom, flying high and taking land on a giant pool table. Conveniently, Makava's golfball was white, so she proceeded to bonk each ball into a hole. Oddly, the 8-ball was more frantic and bouncing around, so Makava struggled a bit in pushing it where she wanted to, but it got there eventually. The north-most hole emerged a spring, so Makava rolled on as her ball was flung onto a spiraling path.

She kept herself stable and let the hill guide the ball, and the momentum would help them proceed across a wider, flat road, whose green floor possessed the fabric of a pool table. Electrodes popped out of holes, Porygon2's zipped out of space, she even had to maneuver around hungry Gulpin. A great big statue of a gorilla, whose mouth opened and closed, hovered in the distance. Makava made sure to maneuver her ball to the center of the path, so when it rolled off the end, the low gravity and momentum allowed it to float directly to the mouth. Just when the mouth was in the midst of closing, Makava ducked, and the ball barely made it through. The ball shortly landed inside a hole, opening the door.

Vweeb returned the others to normal as they progressed through a short hallway. They looked out a window to find the starting area where their ship was parked, so once the attraction beam was off, they could drop down and take off. They saw another ship suspended in midair, whose rope was tied to this building, which was tied to the other structures, so this ship would eventually pull everything into place of the Violet System. Not that they would let that happen. They barged into a room at the hallway's end, the control room where Chane Wassanasong worked. The teen turned to smirk at them, and Celebi floated close by. (End song.)

"Well, whaddya know. You dweebs actually made it. We're honestly surprised you could bear to look away from me. Aren't we, Celebi?"

"Biiii-i-i-i. . ." Hearts were around the Forest Spirit. She floated near Chane with loving, googly eyes.

"Celebi! What did you do to her?!" Arianna demanded.

"I snuck into your house last night and, eh… talked her into hanging with Chanester. I didn't want you disrupting Dad, so I took her to trap you here. She cooperated after I explained my dilemma. She's enjoyed every minute, haven't you?" He scratched Celebi's chin.

"Bi biiiii!"

"No, you BRAINWASHED her!" Tronta yelled, drawing his discs. "Just like you did Arianna! How're you doing it?!"

"You got me." Chane shrugged. "That creepy Clown guy with the puffy coat gave me and Dad Persuade-Persuade Fruits. We can talk anyone into doing anything, like getting all these loser aliens into supporting Golfing in the Stars."

"So TED'S been brainwashing people, TOO?!" Vweeb shouted.

"Yeah. 'Course, you won't tell anyone… will you?"

". . ." Vweeb, Makava, and Arianna were swooned by his charm.

"Stop tryin' ta put a stop to this whole thing. You're in the greatest golf park in the universe, you should be happy! Quit acting like a bunch of hopeless idiots."

"Feh." Tronta walked forward, his look smug.

"What? You wanna see the Chanester up close? Sorry, man, this body's reserved for ladies onl-"

Tronta socked him across the jaw, knocking Chane down. The others and Celebi shook free of his control. "Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?" Chane wiped his mouth and glared at Tron. "Your mind-control only works if people look at you, too."

"Yeah? So move those bangs aside and get a load of me, Hippie!" Chane snapped.

"It won't matter if I do." Tronta smiled coolly, brushing up the bangs blocking his faded green eyes. "Because… I'm blind."

"You… WHAT?! Then how are you SEEING me?!"

"My antenna is extremely sound-sensitive, so I know the position and movement of everything around me. Vweeb just farted. ("Trooon!") You might be able to hit on every other boy, but I can only judge by character. And you are very unattractive."

"The hell I-!" Chane lunged at Tron, but the boy nimbly spin-jumped and kicked him away.

"Everything moves, you know, everything vibrates, and my antenna feels their movement. Like that switch on the wall, what is that?"

The big blue switch was labeled Attraction Beam. "Worth finding out!" Makava quickly pressed and turned it off.

"Quick, let's get back to the ship!" Arianna yelled.

"Don't even THINK about-!" Chane ran to press the switch, but Tronta grabbed and pinned him down.

"I'll take care of this guy. Just go!"

"Come on, Celebi." Arianna said. ("Bi-biiii!") The Firstborn fluttered after the trio. Makava, Vweeb, Ari, and Celebi hopped in the Heart Star as Kava hurriedly started up the engines, and they took off straight to the Orbital Auditorium.

"Chane?" Ted Wassanasong spoke into his phone. "Chane, it's your father. Are you prepared to fire the Star Bomb? Chane, please respond."

"Ted, look out!" Cindy gasped, and the audience screamed when the Heart Star burst through the glass window, Ted and Cindy ducking from the shards as the ship landed.

Arianna was quick to hop from the spacecraft and whip Ted away with brambles. "EVERYONE! You can't allow Ted to carry out this plan! You are ALL being tricked, he and Chane have brainwashed you!"

"Honey!" Cindy tried to run to her husband's aid, but Makava blocked her and drew swords.

"You wanna tango?"

"…" Cindy frightfully backed away.

"Citizens of Florae, look at the screen!" Arianna directed up at the projection of the fauna-filled planetoids. "Watch how these animals innocently graze. The marvel of the Violet Star. Will you really let Ted destroy them?"

"That is enough from you, young lady." Ted recovered, throwing open two Pokéballs which contained a Scyther and Scizor. Both Pokémon raised their blades and claws respectively. "This is an important, World Government-approved operation, and if you do not desist, I can have you jailed for life."

The second this brat is alone, I'll have her skewered!

Arianna gritted her teeth. "VWEEB, under his shirt, NOW!"

"You got it!"

"H-H-Hey!" The nimble Kateenian crawled up Ted's clothing. "Out! Get OUT of there! GUAAARDS-"

AAAAH! A little, brownish-black bug was flung into the air by Vweeb, who then punched it to the floor. Ted fell on his back, rasping with pain.

"Ted!" Cindy cried.

"What is that?" Makava asked.

"This creature is what poisoned Ted, not my brambles!" Arianna shouted. "I heard him with my telepathy; I think it was possessing him!"

Vweeb wrapped arms around and pinned the worm-like creature to the floor. "Just what are you?"

I am the Dark LEECH! Only Arianna could hear him. The very LAST Dark Leech in Mars's great toxic puddle! Six months ago, Ted conducted an expedition to Mars, and filled my puddle with cement, destroying my clan! I only survived when Ted chose to keep me as a pet. My entire species, gone, because this man wanted to build a golf course! Anger consumed me, he destroyed my people because they were an infestation to his would-be park, so I vowed to have revenge on ALL impudent species! I possessed Ted using my poisonous suction, learned of the Violet Star System in Florae, and through Ted's resources, I organized this entire operation! Making him eat that 'Devil Fruit' proved very helpful. I never could have collected enough money to buy a Star Bomb from some Nightmare company.

"Mr. Leech, I'm terribly sorry for what Ted did to you, but to misplace your anger on all of these innocent creatures?!" Arianna stated.

Mwah ha hah! You think their lives matter to me? My species craves poison and destruction! As the last of my kind, I vow to make up what they lost. I will destroy ALL endangered species! And until his body decays, Ted will be my SLAVE! The leech coughed acid at Vweeb, forcing him to get off so the creature could slither back under Ted's shirt. Cindy stared with horror when her sickened husband stood up like a puppet.

"Scizor, Scyther. Attack, please." He ordered calmly. The Pokémon lunged at Arianna, only to be blocked by Makava. Vweeb jumped and punched Scizor away while his sister clashed with Scyther's blades. Ted balled his fists and glared at Arianna, who returned the look and readied her brambles.

Tronta hopped off of Chane to let the teenager stand up. "You shoulda let your friends stay." Chane smirked. "'Cause Dad doesn't give the call to launch the Star Bomb, I do! With the push of a button, you can kiss your precious Violet Star good-bye. You don't think YOU can stop me, do ya?"

"Boy, you really are dry." Tron said.

"What?"

"Have to rely on superpowers to seem like a hottie to everyone, blowin' up star systems to feel like a bigshot, just how many girls could stomach to look at you before this?"

"Quit stalling, Greeny, don't be sour just 'cause you can't even SEE girls to look at."

"Tsk tsk tsk." Tronta shook his head. "You have no idea. I may not have the looks, but I got the right brains and brawn to know you will NOT be looking well after this. You want people to look at you, well get a look at THESE!" Tronta ripped off his shirt and his lower pants legs. Chane shut his eyes, but then opened them confusedly: Light Discs were strapped to Tron's chest, back, arms, and legs. He held his two signature discs in his hands.

"Dude, you are really obsessed with Frisbees."

"Obsessed, you say?" Tronta cocked a brow; the Frisbees began playing a jazzy music tune. Tron began speaking in a sing-song voice. "There's more than obsession under these Frisbees, baby, there's love and there's passion, even some romance, maybe, and I'll tell you just what I'm gonna do, prove once and for all that I'm better, I'm sexier than you."

Chane glared and balled his fists. The two of them slowly circled around a center as Tronta sang.

This is Tronta: Ah'm back in action

I'm not getting myself beat by the likes of you

'Cause I'm so much prettier. Much pithier.

I take one look at you and say, "I pity her."

Chane growled in anger and ran at Tronta, throwing punches that the alien blocked with his Wrist Discs, his cool smile not changing.

The four of us ain't gonna follow your rules

Come at me with your so-called "fancy" tools

Let's go, just us two.

And you'll see, I'm se-xi-er than you.

He pushed Chane back with a thrust of his Chest Disc, but the boy recovered with a twirl, kicked off the wall, and flew at Tron like a rocket. Tron air-flipped and kicked Chane down with his Leg Discs, picked the teen up, and threw him across the room.

In the auditorium, Arianna dodged Ted's puppet-like punches and kicks, binding his wrists and ankles using vines, but the Dark Leech stuck out of his shirt collar and spat the vines with quick acid bullets, retreating back into his shirt as Ted plopped on the floor. He got up quickly and flew at Ari with a midair cartwheel, which she blocked with brambles, but Ted flipped underneath the thorns, grabbed Ari, flipped up, and threw her headfirst into a distant wall. Arianna dodged Ted's whip-like kick and thrusted brambles against his chest, causing Dark Leech to fly out. Arianna twirled her brambles and tried to whip the sprightly insect.

The Dark Leech latched onto Scyther, the Bug-type going mad with rage as it lashed its blades more rapidly. Makava defended with equally-quick precision, but Scizor grabbed her by the waist from behind and threw her into the audience, with those members scattering backwards. Arianna lashed her brambles up Scyther's chin, making the leech fly off before it hopped across the floor and back onto Ted.

Go ahead and try to hit me, if you're able

I see and hear you comin' though my eyes are disabled

You should see how me and ladies intermingle. Tronta touched his fingertips together.

I think you're upset because you're still single.

You're not gonna stop what we're trying to do. Tronta leaped overhead, grabbed either side of Chane's head, midair spun vertically, and hurled him against a wall.

I'm gonna come outta this good as new

See these discs on my knuc-kles here? Tron's Wrist Discs broke into tinier discs for his knuckles.

Listen close, because it really ain't something to fear

Because these discs are full

O-o-O-o-oooof

Lo-o-O-o-ove

Tronta repeated these lines several times. His knuckles flew across Chane's features at each "O", and he imagined funny screenshots of how his face looked after each punch. His uppercut sent Chane skyward, then using Leg Discs, Tronta flew up, spun, and kicked Chane, sending him flying to his ship. Chane burst through its roof and looked up as Tronta was rolling forward like a midair ball. Chane grabbed a nearby pitching machine and fired an onslaught of golfballs.

Arianna saw the purple bulging veins on Ted's flesh, the man moving with quicker speed as he threw punches. A successful punch sent Arianna hurling against the microphone stand, then she rolled out of the way before Ted's fist impacted and broke through the floor. The man ran on all fours like a beast, snarling as well as he tried to snap Arianna with bubbling fangs, she raised a vine that his teeth sank into, then she wrapped the vine around his head before flailing him around the air. She tossed Ted away, but he recovered, snarled, and ran at her again, only for Ari to jab a bramble directly at his chest.

Makava grabbed Scizor's right claw and stuck it into Scyther's left blade, leaping behind the former to kick the back of his head and push him into Scyther. She saw the Dark Leech land by her foot, but in her attempt to stomp it, it latched onto her neck. "Makava!" Arianna lashed vines at her friend, but against her will, Makava cut them with her swords.

"Ari, hold her still!" Vweeb yelled, trying to aim his Tri-gun. Arianna threw four vines to bind her arms and legs, and as Makava tried to shake away, Vweeb blasted his Shrink ray, the Dark Leech dodging just in time while Makava shrunk. Arianna whipped her vines across the floor and swatted the leech against the window, then ran forward to swing her foot against it. The leech stayed strong and hopped back to Ted, who was otherwise growing weak from the bug's poison.

You think you can stop me, well think again

I think you're forgetting just who I am

Still rolling in midair, Tronta easily dodged the golfballs, before throwing two discs, one to slice the pitcher and one to knock Chane down.

If you try to hurt my sister, I'll give you a blister

Buck up, 'cause things just got downright, Mister.

Tron landed in the ship, Chane fearfully tried to back away, but Tron tossed two discs to bind his legs and make him trip. He leaped and stamped his foot against Chane's back.

I know you think you've seen all of me (hot dude)

So you wonder what makes all the ladies love me (not you)

Well, I have something that you don't, see

I balled it up in here, Fist "A" and Fist "B"

These fists are made

O-o-O-o-oooof

Lo-o-O-o-ove

"And it's sexier than you!" Tronta threw his fists across Chane's head, picked him up, and threw him against the controls. Chane growled and ran at Tron, but his antennas sensed the movement, so Tron fell, spin-kicked, toppled Chane toward him, then he kicked the teen up into the ceiling. Tronta hopped back up and kicked Chane away when he fell.

O-o-O-o-oooof

Lo-o-O-o-ove

"I'm se-xi-er than you!"

Makava ran at Scyther and performed a mighty leap, but when the Pokémon lunged forward, Vweeb shrunk his sister so she could land on its face and slash the eyes. She kicked off and flew to Scizor, and Vweeb biggified her as she slashed down his face with both swords. Makava grabbed the Pokémon's legs, swung him around, and into Scyther, then Kava leapt and spun midair before slamming her blades against them both, and the creatures were down.

Arianna caught Ted's arms with brambles, squeezing them, but when blood lightly seeped, she held back, knowing this man was against his own will. She slashed a bramble across his chest – his shirt was more than shredded by this time, and the Dark Leech flew off. Vweeb stood before it, smirking as he punched the leech with superhuman strength. While it was downed, Arianna slammed her brambles onto and kept it down.

I'm tired of kicking you into walls

So I'll just kick you in the-

Tronta's boot flew into Chane's crotch. The teen's eyes almost popped out, but they were too far out for his eyelids to close. His cheeks puffed as though concealing the scream that couldn't burst. Tronta calmly pulled away and let Chane fall on the floor, writhing in pain. "…balls."

The Dark Leech was down and defeated. Vweeb's fists were balled, expecting him to get back up, but no such luck. Arianna gasped for breath and retracted her vines. "I think… huff… it's done. …" The three of them looked at the audience. They were flabbergasted, to put it simply, with blank, frozen stares.

"…Worth the money ya paid for, right??" Makava perked. "Cheap, fine-quality entertainment!"

Tronta cut the rope binding the ship and the golf park with a Light Disc, then sat himself at the controls to take them back. Still holding his crotch with one hand, Chane reached in his pocket with the other to grab a remote. He pushed it, and to Tronta's utter surprise, the Star Bomb shot from the ship's bottom, soaring like a comet to the Violet System. "NO!"

From the auditorium, murmurs echoed throughout as the audience pointed outside. The three operatives saw the comet coming. Arianna gasped. "The star system, no!!"

Hearing this, the Dark Leech recovered, hopped Ted's fallen body, and fished the remote out of his pocket. It plucked open the hatch with its teeth, and Arianna was too late to react before it pressed. "STOOOOP!"

The bomb exploded in the distance—and froze. Everybody stared speechless. A bright body of light replaced the bomb in that split second; the first phase of the explosion, but it was frozen in time. When the cameras skimmed around, they found a tiny figure a few meters from the explosion. George King wore a space helmet and held the flame in a Time Stop, floating while a cord kept him connected to a ship. "Uhhhhh, anytime is good, Jerome." he said. A vortex appeared below the Stopped explosion and sucked it in.

Supreme Leader Nebula splorped in the auditorium above the stage. She looked down at her subordinates. "Either of you wanna explain why George's Future Sight picked up my four best operatives ruining an important business project?"

"Oh Numbuh Eternal, thank you so much!!" Arianna spoke with pure delight.

No! NOOOOOO! the Dark Leech cried. My perfect plan, RUINED! All thanks to you meddling kids! Currrrrse yooooou…. CURSE YOOOOO-!

Vweeb Stunned him senseless. "Way to bring back the classics, dude. (I didn't understand him, I'm just assuming…)"

"HEY, look at the screen!" an audience member pointed.

The kids whipped their attention to it immediately. The dozens of fauna-filled asteroids lined together, and flew directly toward the Violet Star. They sunk inside within an instant, much to everyone's horror. But before their eyes, the star turned white, bulgy, and egg-like. It divided into two bulges, then four and eight, then 32, it was a big round body of bulges. "It's like… an egg and a sperm." Arianna gazed with wonder.

"Ew." said Vweeb.

Then, the star became a bluish-purple, with an oval-shaped glass dome at its top, depicting a vast grass plain with a lake and mountains. The body stretched to life, became flat, nothing could describe the absolute marvel: it was a gigantic sting ray. The majestic creature of indescribable wonder soared to the auditorium. It glided miles beyond the window, and gave everyone a marvelous view of the landscape on its back.

"LOOK!" Arianna pointed. "They're… Ancient Flowers!"

"Machinians!" Vweeb pointed, for the camera zoomed closer to reveal tiny, flea-like beings with human heads and green jelly bodies. They were among other tiny creatures Vweeb recognized. "Shrimpkins! And Smurfs!"

"I think that's a Vestian!" an audience man pointed at an alien wearing a vest.

"Albino Mocking Platypuses!" Makava pointed. "Some weird salamanders, and little crystal things!

"And Vegims!" beamed Ari. "Are all of these… extinct plants and animals?"

The tremendous manta flipped, and stopped with its back facing the audience directly. His tiny eyes at the top fixed on them. "LIFE." The audience was startled by his great thundering voice. "DENIZENS of Florae: I am the Encyclopod. The Keeper of Life and all DNA across universes. Arianna Dunfree…" The child gasped quietly. "You have my eternal thanks. Because of your selfless deed, I can now travel the universe, collecting all remaining DNA of plant and animal species. Once my duty is complete, the new universe can be born with many a species, and existence can begin anew."

Murmurs sounded across the galaxy, from this little chamber to everyone at their TVs. "E-Excuse me!" Arianna shouted. "What do you mean the new universe? Do you mean…"

"The Apocalypse is coming soon, children. I have seen it twice before, before God Arceus created the gods beneath him. My job, since the beginning, was to collect the DNA of all endangered species. I took many forms, a frog, a snake… Until the time of awakening, my body grows as a Violet Star, but from my slumber, I can see anything and everything. My presence senses all species in danger of declining, and summons their energy to me. 14 billion species I have collected… 5 billion I have yet."

"Dat is meeeessed uuuuuup." Vweeb drawled.

"And now, I shall collect my next: the Dark Leeches will yet be revived."

NOOOOO! screamed the leech. I cannot go now! I still have so much to do! So many planets to- DAAAAAAAHHH! The leech was absorbed by the manta's laser eyes. His entire, tiny being became one with the Encyclopod, among billions of others.

"Um… Mr. Encyclopod." Arianna spoke. "Does this mean that-"

"Yes, the Apocalypse is real. It will come by the end of the month. There is so much left to do, before the gate can be opened. I believe you children can succeed, however. Until that time comes, I will fulfill my duty."

"Well, if you're saving all species, then… I dunno, maybe human?" Vweeb queried, indicating the rasping man on the stage.

Cindy Wassanasong buried her face into her husband's bloodied, poisoned chest. The kids felt pity for the man, now… the way he looked, he wouldn't last another minute. "Do not worry. A friend of mine should be arriving soon."

"Oooooooooooo. . ." The great whale, Mobius Dick flew out of a portal. The whale broke the glass window down and stopped, opening his mouth to stick out his tongue. A familiar girl with a midnight dress, and purple rose in her pigtailed hair hurried out.

"H…Haruka?" Nebula queried.

"Move aside!" Haruka pushed Cindy away, bent down, and stuck her fingers into Ted's chest. The purple within his skin absorbed up Haruka's arms, but that purple slowly dispersed through Haru's antibodies. "Is there a med team, hurry up and bandage him!"

Doctors rushed out and covered Ted's cuts with the white wrapping. Ted's rasping calmed, he barely looked as sick as he did before. Cindy sighed with pure relief. "Phew. Made it just in time." Haruka sighed.

"Haruka, what are you-" Makava said.

"I'll tell you guys later, I can't stay long!" Haruka ran back onto Mobius's tongue. "See you in a week, I think!"

Mobius shut her inside and flew away. "Many thanks, once again." The Encyclopod said. "Good-bye, children. See you in the New World."

The manta flew away, gliding past Jerome and George's tiny ship. His eyes especially narrowed on the helmeted timebender. The purple headband around his forehead. Strange… I sense an unusual power from that boy. I haven't sensed power like this… since that Lord English fellow, a few universes back. I was almost certain he was destroyed. …It is a very worrisome feeling. The kids watched until the terrific creature was gone from sight.

"Hooooo…" Ted Wassanasong held his chest, his wife holding his sides worriedly. "I've been trying to tell people about that Dark Leech for 6 months. That thing was quite a bother. You children have my thanks." He bowed. "In spite of the aggressive means of handling it, you saved my life. If there was anything I could do to repay you…"

The kids looked out in the distance, where Golfing in the Stars still floated. They looked at the vast, barren space before them: the Violet Dwarf System they had struggled to save transformed into a giant space-manta and flew away. There was now absolutely nothing. They looked between the golf park, the nothing, the golf park, the nothing, then they looked at Arianna. Arianna looked at Celebi, who only shrugged. "…Um… free, lifetime memberships to Golfing in the Stars, for all our friends?"

"…Fair enough." Ted shrugged.

"YAAAAAAAY!" the operatives cheered.

"Arianna!" The operatives looked as Nova hurried onto the stage, embracing her daughter in a hug. "We're so proud of you!"

"Oh, Mother." Arianna blushed. "Anyone could have."

"Yes. But you did. That's why somebody…" Nova pulled out a green ball the size of her hand, "deserves something special. Celebi is officially yours."

Arianna's face lit up like the sun. She looked at Celebi, who smiled and nodded approvingly. Arianna tossed the Spirit Ball at the Firstborn, and she was sucked inside. The ball landed on the floor, shook and made little beeps… bong. The Spirit Ball hovered in the air. It shone with a green light Nova saw once before. The top half was light-green, the lower half dark-green, but a bright golden 'II' was now lit above its central lock. Arianna caught the ball and held it proudly: she was now Celebi's Guardian.

Arianna captured a FIRSTBORN! Only 7 more to go!

Tronta walked into the room, shirtless as he scratched his head awkwardly. "Um… Chane has a girl's voice now. Just thought you all should know."

"HAAAH!" Vweeb laughed.

Birka; Joel

The five kids and Phosphora casually walked a street in the run-down village. It was just like the power plants the kids see on a regular basis, gray dull buildings with bars, cylinder tanks, and wires. "I'm guessing you weren't rich?" Anthony inquired.

"Nope." confirmed Phos. "Unless you count rich in energy. The primary purpose of this place is to regulate the energy taken in by the Thunder Towers. You could say we're kind of a big deal to the island, but nobody gets paid. Before God Thor came along, the priests were the only government; but the idea of money was something the townspeople adapted on their own."

They were close to the Thunder Tower at the island's edge, very tall and foreboding up close, though not nearly as much as Dashi's Peak. They jumped when lightning struck the tower, filling it with energy. "The good part is, no one has to pay bills on this island, so it's easy living. Especially when you're orphaned."

"Orphaned?" Sally queried.

"I lost my mom when I was five, and I never knew my father. Don't get me wrong, it was loads of fun." She smiled casually. "I had plenty of friends, we played games, got into loads of trouble, the rest of the time, I was in. . ."

"Iiiiiin what?" Harvey asked.

"This way." Phosphora walked forward quickly. "I wanna see if she's still around."

She brought them to a church a few blocks from the Thunder Tower. The windows had no panes, allowed the wind from outside to freely pass through. A statue of God Thor stood over the altar, and an elderly Birkan with graying white hair and a decaying robe stood before it. The woman turned to face them, a smile on her wrinkled face. "Hello, children. Session is over for the day, but if you have a prayer, we'd be happy to…"

Phosphora approached her. The old woman was hunched, so Phosphora appeared taller than her. "Lady Sulfa… it's me. It's… Phosphora."

The woman's old eyes seemed to light. "Phosphora…"

Sector W exchanged wondering glances. The elder lightly hugged Phosphora, who returned the gesture. They pulled apart. "It's been so long. Where've you been all these years, Child?"

"Oh, you know… embracing nature." She smiled jokily.

Lady Sulfa looked around her. "And who are these children? They don't have wings."

"They're, um… kids I met. On the surface. They helped me come back here."

"They certainly look the peculiar bunch."

"'Tis a natural response we art given." Fybi said.

"Oh, how the years have changed you… I still remember you. That little girl who was so excited and happy all the time… so devoted to her beliefs… Tell me, is your house still intact?"

"I… haven't seen, yet."

"Would you like us to see together?"

"Um… okay."

The old woman moved slowly, so the sectormates grew a little impatient in waiting. They walked ahead while Phosphora stayed by Sulfa, and behind one of the fences, they saw something curious: a chubby, dark-skinned human with yellow hair and sunglasses, and a white ninjas' uniform. The five approached him calmly. "M…Mister?" spoke Sally.

"Oh?" Killer Bee looked at them. "Well, hello, kids. I don't suppose you want my autograph?"

"Uhh… no?" Anthony replied.

"Of course, everyone in this dimension's a critic. Sorry, kids, Ah'm tryin' to lay low here. I got lost while looking for a wormhole to my homeworld, and when I was tryin' to start up a show here, these guards started tailin' mah tail. Lemme ask you, kids, how does one 'steal lightning'?"

"We don't know." Nea replied.

"Ah well. I gotta get movin', there's too many eyes here. If you kids wanna talk to me about concert tickets, find me blended in with the wall behind Quiznos. Catch ya later." The rapper squatted like a crab and scuttled away sideways.

The group reached Phosphora's house, which was in less-than-exceptional shape. The ceiling and roof were long since crumbled, and only three or four tiny rooms made up the place, leaving no place to hang around. The seven gathered in the bedroom, where Phos and Sulfa sat on a gray cloud bed. Sally, Harvey, and Nea sat on an old metal bench, Anthony took the floor, while Fybi hovered. "'Twas a shame… what happened." Sulfa spoke.

"What happened?" Sally asked.

"Nothing happened." Phosphora spoke almost defensively.

"It was 22 years ago… when God Thor arrived. Little Phosphora was so happy… don't you remember, dear?"

"What gave you the idea that I was happy?" she asked snarkily.

"You were happy. …For a time. Siiigh, but accidents do happen." The woman looked down depressedly. "Unforeseen events beyond our control. Still, what can you do about it. If it was God Thor's will, then it must be-"

"God Thor is a phony." Phosphora stated outright.

The elder looked up with as much surprise as her weary old face could display. Her subtle reaction drew attention from the kids. "My dear… I know you were forced to leave because of God Thor's, erm, unexpected policy, but that's no reason to stop believing in him. He only wanted your protection. A Birkan who cannot lightningbend will have difficulty living here."

"You literally have no idea what happened, do you? You people still don't know a thing, like a bunch of idiots. Did Sola ever find out, Node, or even Lingning??"

"The situation was explained to them, Child. They were very sorry to lose their friend… They deeply wanted to come and visit you, but they worried that you would be angry at them. Still able to fly and all."

The kids flinched when Phosphora punched the wall behind her out of anger, breaking a hole. She held her head down with regret. "Well… I guess it wouldn't matter, anyway. Nothing mattered anymore…"

"If I may speak, thou seemeth to have quite a tale to tell." Fybi said.

"Yeah, so tell us already, quit bein' a baby." Anthony demanded.

"Only one of us hasn't caught up with the others on the evolution scale." Nea remarked, earning a glare from her leader.

"Miss Phosphora, why don't you tell us what's wrong?" Sally spoke kindly. "It might make you feel better."

"Yeah." Harvey agreed, swinging his yo-yo.

Phosphora gripped her lap with her hands, internally forcing herself to keep silent. Lady Sulfa gently placed her hand over Phosphora's right. "If there's something you know that we don't, Child, I encourage you to speak."

"…" Phosphora's gloomy purple eyes remained downward, but the kids were listening closely. Phosphora spoke with a low, depressed voice.

Birka; 22 years ago

It was an unusually stormy day in Birka. The clouds were dark, spiraled quickly, and the lightning was furious. This was never a problem for the citizens of Birka. Storms were lovelier the more furious they were, it was a sign for great energy harvest. The mighty god, Thor was watching over them, blessing his children with power even now. Of course, some children desired more rations than others. A few miles from the island, within the dark of the Storm Canyon, a band of Nimbi kids stared with both awe and horror at the gutsy angel above them.

"Watch out, guys, this looks like a big one!" the 12-year-old Birkan girl exclaimed, eying a steadily-growing area of light within a cloud.

"No girl, you'll hurt yourself!" another girl, Sola told her.

"Don't listen to her, go for it Phosphora, go go go!" a boy, Node sparked.

Phosphora was an ordinary Birkan with purple eyes, and long, pretty blonde hair, though the ending strands curved up as a result of static friction. She wore a white top that exposed her belly, white shorts, and brown Greek sandals, as well as green laurels over her ears. Her lightning wings, long and graceful, shone brightly. "Come on, guys, it doesn't even look big, quick being Remlits!"

"Some of us aren't even religious like you, Phos!" another boy, Bzzbert yelled. "And just because you're the only one that prays to him, doesn't mean God Thor is gonna go easy on you!"

"Maybe. But as Thor as my witness, I will SURVIVE!"

Without warning, the powerful bolt of lightning struck—Phosphora caught the charge in both her open hands, and this caused dozens more lightning bolts to strike the same spot. Her friends shielded their eyes, afraid to witness Phosphora's end. The girl's body was shining with lightning, she felt the incredible power building within her veins. She struggled to pull her left arm away, pointing a finger at the canyon wall and directing the plasma forth. The energy was scattered amongst the clouds, and once the crackling finally stopped, the kids worriedly opened their eyes.

Phosphora passed them an innocent grin, her body sparking slightly as her hair stood up like a wall. "So who's buying me drinks?"

In town

Rizbi guzzled five Electro Cookies before his zappy sensation kicked in, Lingning could only eat half of one, being 5 years old, Sola managed to eat 10 before lightning popped out of her ears, Bzzbert ate two, puffed, and shot lightning from his nose, and Node swallowed three in one gulp, before so much lightning shot out, he went from fat to skinny. With that, they all focused on Phosphora, whom had happily finished devouring her 23rd cookie. While scraping between her teeth with her nails, she felt an incredible surge of energy, so strong that she felt like she was vibrating, so fast that they couldn't see. "BUUUURP." A great beam of lightning flew from her mouth, and there was no telling how far it would go.

Later, they were all down by Rainwater River. "Girl, are you really gonna drink from it like that?" Sola asked.

"I gotta find somethin' to do with this straw." Phosphora winked, holding a bent metal antenna like a bendy-straw.

"Put it in a smoothie!" Lingning cheered.

"Doesn't anyone wanna share?" the daredevil remarked.

"No thanks, I just dropped 20." Node replied.

"Suit yourself!" Phosphora stuck one end of the antenna in the water, kissed her mouth over the other end, then when a great bolt of lightning struck the river a few meters away, the energy flowed across the current, up the antenna, and sizzled Phosphora furiously when it conducted to her mouth. She flew back several meters after it stopped, and when the friends worriedly flew over to check her, Phosphora happily sat up and spat spark streams at each of their faces, then to all the passerby. "Too much salt, needs more sugar!"

Next, they were several meters in midair, just under a team of Lightning Chariots that swooped by, leaving their perfectly flat trail. "NOW!" Phosphora flew up first, grabbed two chunks of a strip to use as extended arms, and her friends did so as well before they began lashing them at each other. They laughed joyfully, each swing flying at lightspeed, having a blast through trying to send the other flying. "Hahaha! Say, where's Lingning, I don't really want her to get-"

A tremendous pair of lightning arms rose over them. Lingning was much smaller compared to her friends, but her arms were superior. She wore a devilish grin as she swatted all of her friends. She then grabbed Phosphora in both hands, whirled and whirled and whirled her around, then sent her flying away. "WAAAAAAHHH…!"

Joel

A skinny Birkan with an electric mustache was hunched over while an Amp (a living electric sphere with a face) was scratching his back with its energy. Phosphora burst through the ceiling and crashed upside-down against the wall. The man looked at her. "Nnnnn, this is hereditary."

Phosphora held her head dizzily as she walked out of the house. "Phosphora, there you are!" A slender Birkan woman with a white gown, long white hair, and blue eyes floated over. "What were you doing?"

Phosphora stood up straight with a sheepish grin. "Nothing, Lady Sulfa! I was heading back and I overshot my landing, that's all!"

"Yo, Phos!" Her five friends zipped above them, wielding smaller lightning arms now. "We gonna finish this thing or do somethin' else?" Sola asked.

Phosphora spoke and waved her arms panickingly, "Something just came up, maybe later, guys!"

"Okay! Catch up later." Bzzbert said, and they zipped off.

Phosphora returned her sheepish grin to Lady Sulfa, but after feeling her scolding glare for a few seconds, the girl slumped, baring a pouty face. "Phosphora, why are you always getting yourself into trouble."

"It's just hanging out with friends." Phosphora smiled casually, sticking hands in her pockets. "Besides, Sola's your daughter, aren't you glad the two of us are bonding?"

"I wish you would set a better example for Sola. She doesn't follow our religion, but I don't want you giving her the idea these games are safe. One of these days, you're going to hurt yourself."

"You worry too much, Sulfy." Phosphora lightly kicked the ground. "I'm a survivor, I'm like Bowser, I can withstand anything that's thrown at me, LIKE THIS!" She flew up to the air, caught a sudden bolt of lightning, and blasted the nearby Thunder Tower. "See?"

"Don't DO that!! Sigh, come on, we're supposed to be praying at Dashi's Peak. God Thor won't get here any faster if we neglect prayer during a storm like this."

"I know, I know." Phosphora sighed as the woman headed first toward the tower. She was about to join her, but first zipped up, got in the way of a bolt, and let it tickle. "PHOSPHORA!!" She snapped back to attention and zipped toward the peak.

Dashi's Peak

According to Birkan law, it was sacrilege to set foot on Dashi's Peak before Almighty Thor. For that reason, most Birkans took care not to fly too close. The only ones to be so close were the priests and priestesses, forming a circle around the structure as they bowed in prayer. Their respective groups of students were aligned behind them in similar fashion. Those who knew what Phosphora was like outside of class would get confused in thinking they're the same person. The very same daredevil who always challenged the powers of nature was politely bowed, a peaceful smile on her face. Every time the Head Priest spoke, she replayed the words in her head.

"Mighty God Thor," the ancient Birkan spoke before the stairs, "we are but your humble servants, who hath dwelled on this island for many a century. In this eternal storm, we know that from the heavens higher than ours, you bless us with everlasting energy, and this storm is a form of your praise and kindness, not your anger. Our children, and our children's children happily accept your gift, knowing it will allow us to thrive for more generations to come. So if it is your will, please let greater thunder roar across the heavens and earth…"

So that all beings may know the power and prosperity that Birka brings, power which said beings, humans and Nimbi alike, use to prosper today. Phosphora concluded in her mind.

A distant zipping sound caught her ears. Phosphora sat up and looked back, seeing a trio of kids several hundred feet in the air, zipping place-to-place as they kicked a shockball around. They were steadily, though unknowingly getting closer toward the tower. With a powerful kick that used lots of momentum, the shockball was on a collision course with the tower. The kids were too nervous to go after it, fearing they wouldn't make it and be branded as the culprits, though the ball would make impact either way. The priests and students looked up, gasping as the ball was a second from crashing.

Even without blinking, they couldn't comprehend Phosphora's speed when she practically warped up to the ball and sent it beyond the clouds with a mighty swing. The kids looked at each other sheepishly before flying away. Phosphora looked down at her classmates, who all gazed up with praiseful stares, and Sulfa was especially proud. "… .. Oooooww." She had to grip her toes for the next several minutes, for kicking that hard with a sandaled foot couldn't come without price.

After session was over a few hours later, the students were all parting ways, while Sulfa was speaking with Phosphora. "In spite of all your regular activities, at least you're still a model student during session. Why are you so different every other time?"

"I like to think I'm embracing what Thor gave me. The wings to do whatever and fly anywhere I want!"

"Thor wants all children of Birka to live their lives happy and healthy, not maim themselves in a storm." Sulfa said with a sweatdrop. "Besides, you remember what happened to your mom, r-"

"My mom died doing what she loves!" Phosphora exclaimed, almost defensively. "And Thor as my witness, I'll go down the same way!" She faced up at the sky with confidence. "I'll become the greatest Chariot Master ever!"

"Well, I can't stop you from doing what you love. But I'd at least consider Priestess as a fallback. Have a nice evening, Phosphora." The priestess waved good-bye before flying away.

Phosphora lived by herself in the old power plant village, Joel. Her father left them before she was born, so only her mother raised her. Of course, her mom was a carefree woman too, her passion was Lightning Chariot racing, and Phosphora always loved seeing her in action as a little girl. But one day, when Phosphora was five, the Thundercorns broke free of their reigns when her mom was flying at a thousand miles per hour. She crashed against the island in a blinding blaze, and the rest was history. Phosphora was orphaned and upset, but feeling sympathetic toward her, the local priestess Lady Sulfa comforted her. She introduced Phosphora to their religion Raikism, taught her to honor and worship Thor, the mighty Thunder God who would ensure safety and prosperity to all Birkans. Phosphora believed her mom was up in the Spirit World now, with Thor, with all the everlasting energy to survive a thousand chariot crashes. Despite what's happened, Phosphora still wanted to be a Chariot Master, and prayed for Thor's blessing every day so that her dream could be realized.

Maybe that was the reason behind her 'daredevil' side, to always test the powers of lightning and see if Thor, or maybe her mother, was looking after her best interest. She didn't know, either way it was fun, so she and her friends got into regular amounts of mischief on a daily basis. For now, however, Phosphora was tired after burning so much energy, so she returned to her little crumbled house in Joel, slipping out of her sandals to collapse onto her mini raincloud bed. She wasn't even sure what time it was, no one did in Birka, the sky is always blocked by clouds, which always produce lightning. Even though the clouds today, as she could still see through the hole in her ceiling, were very dark.

She barely slept, just closed her eyes and let her mind wander for a couple hours. She pictured herself riding across the planet in minutes on her Lightning Chariot, saw herself jump out of her chariot in attempt to race the Thundercorns, because how epic would that be. She also pictured God Thor, finally descended onto Birka, and asked Phosphora to be his vassal. She would get to spend every waking moment with the sexy, muscular, powerful deity. And maybe when she became old enough, he would fall for her and wish for Phosphora to carry his half-mortal child. Hey, don't judge her, she's turning 13 next year, she has to start having fantasies like this.

A knock at her front door shocked Phosphora out of her thoughts. She got up and answered to find Sola and her friends. "Girl, what're you still doing in, I thought you'd be out 'n' about by now! You gotta take a look at this storm, it's like it's a portal or somethin', over Dashi's Peak!"

Curious, Phosphora joined her friends as they flew closer to Dashi's Peak. The very center of the spiraling clouds brimmed like a vortex, and a tornado-like shaft seemed to stretch miles upward within this center. The light within the shaft grew brighter as lightning cracked every few seconds, growing steadily louder, everyone was anxious as to how loud or powerful the strikes would become. Then a terrific, tremendous, godlike bolt struck the top of Dashi's Peak, the entire structure shone. The light stretched across Birka for several minutes until the storm finally calmed.

An armored, caped figure stood upon the very top of the peak. The Birkans' gazes fell on nothing else, especially Phosphora, whose purple eyes trembled with extreme wonder and delight. The being raised a staff in his right arm and roared with a high and mighty voice, "DENIZENS OF BIRKA. I AM YOUR RULER. My name is Thor, God of Thunder. From my place up in Higher Heaven, for thousands of years, I have heard your prayers. Now was my time to descend unto you. I will bring Birka, and this whole world, into a GOLDEN AGE! From this day forward… you shall be forever pure!"

Roars and cheers rang across the island, rivaled only by the lightning. Phosphora still couldn't believe her eyes or ears. The god she has always waited for, dreamed of meeting, suddenly to appear before their very eyes. ". . . Sii-i-i-i-i-igh!" She couldn't contain her breath, she was too excited. How she wanted to be atop that tower as soon as possible.

A few seconds later

"Hiiiii, Lady Sulfa!" Phosphora didn't need long to find her. "So um, not to sound too abrupt, but when's the field trip to go up and meet Thor??"

"Hmhm, I'm excited too, but even the teachers aren't allowed up on Dashi's Peak, yet!" Sulfa replied with a chuckle. "Only the Head Priest and his group can have the honor. You can wait a little longer, can't you, Phosphora?"

"Wait a little longer?! Haven't we been waiting for this day, like, forever?? Do you not know how huge a deal this is??"

"Of course I know what a huge deal this is, but no huge deal should be approached precipitously. We have to behave respectfully in the presence of Lord Thor. But-just-in-case, can I have your opinion on hairspray, standing or stationary?" She excitedly held up two bottles of electric hairspray. Phosphora stared with disbelief and said nothing before zipping away.

She seated herself on a rooftop overlooking Lightstreet, where Bzzbert, Node, and Sola were quick to join her. "If I could take a chance to use an adult phrase correctly, I'd say you're horny." Node said—Phosphora flipped, kicked down against his head so hard, it sank into his body, puffing him fat again. His head popped back out, dizzy.

"Girl, we know you been waitin' for this since before you were born, but Mom's right, you shouldn't go all crazy." Sola told her.

"Hey, if you guys could understand an ounce of what I'm feeling, you wouldn't be saying that, but you never even believed Thor would show up." Phosphora retorted.

"You're right, I didn't, and I sure as heck don't believe it now."

"What's that supposed to mean."

"I mean, for Thor to suddenly SHOW UP in the middle of a storm just doesn't seem real, I mean why now, why today? I feel like just anyone coulda 'descended' onto Dashi's Peak and say he's our god."

"Please, that is the most ridiculous thing I-"

Rizbi and Lingning showed up, "He's fake."

"What?"

"I flew by and snapped this photo after he appeared." Rizbi showed them his camera. "Took a couple of times to get it precise." The picture depicted the figure in brownish-gold armor, with a horned helmet and sharp face. "And here's a book depicting an ancient drawing of Thor. There's a… slight difference."

He showed them a dusty-looking tome, with a worn-out image of a mighty, muscular man raising his hammer. "…Well, there is somewhat of a… difference… But that drawing was ages ago, and; maybe no one ever saw him, it was just their interpretation of Thor." Phosphora reasoned.

"Does he still match your fantasy?" Bzzbert asked.

"Maybe not exactly, but… you know, never judge a god by his facial features!" Phosphora beamed. "Besides, if it isn't Thor, who else could it be?"

"Look, just for fun, we're gonna say that it is." Sola said. "We don't want 'im to completely drive you away from us. You might be spending an extra ten-hundred hours praying to him, but before you go and do that, at least play shockball with us."

Phosphora sighed lightly. "Yeah, you're probly right. …I call first serve!" She zipped skyward.

"I know who gets last!" Rizbi remarked before the others (minus Node) followed.

"Haww, darnit." The overweight Nimbi joined them.

Dashi's Peak

"My Lord, do forgive us if this place of residence is not to your liking." The Head Priest bowed, as did his apprentices. "Birkan law states that we were never to set food on this tower. For 5,000 years, it's stood. We promise to renovate this place to your liking if it is your will."

Thor rubbed his fingers on the armrest of his throne, feeling for dust. "It will do for now." He sat down. "I should hope your people have made excellent use of my lightning over the years. What is this island's technological status, exactly?"

"Incredible, My Lord! We are the most advanced in technology because of your energy, and now we pray to be even greater with the limitless power you will bestow! …If it is your will."

Thor smiled. "Your Lord will be more than delighted to bestow the energy you so helplessly desire. There is… only one problem. My powers are drastically diminished."

"M-My Lord… what do you mean?"

Thor kept his wry smile, but it went unnoticed by his subjects. "There is a reason I decided to show myself now. It seems that, after 5,000-plus years of providing this world energy, my powers are a bit faulty. You don't need to worry… because I have every intention of granting you the promised energy. I expect you to heed my every order if you want it, since I am your god."

"Yes, My Lord! Your wish is our command."

"Good." Thor twisted his staff in his fingers. "First… there will be new laws established on Birka. Outsiders are forbidden to enter, and those too-" His attention was directed to the sky behind the priests. A team of five Birkan kids were happily zipping about and kicking a shockball around.

Phosphora sent it to Rizbi, who spun at 10,000 degrees and flung it skyward, Sola performed a Screw Kick, diagonally down to Node, who bounced it with his bulbous belly as he turned skinny, then Bzzbert sent it to Sola with a headbutt, and they just kept passing it around, all around the island. After Bzzbert headbutted it for the 10th time, his eyes widened at something. "Uhhhh, guys?"

Five-year-old Lingning wasn't gonna pass out on the fun. She had flown to another Lightning Chariot strip, and grown another pair of energy arms. On an instinct, Rizbi sent the shockball toward her whipping fast, and Lingning balled both fists and struck the ball with greater force. The only problem was, it was flying directly toward Dashi's Peak, the very top where Thor now sat. None of the kids bothered to try and stop it, but Phosphora was especially horrified, the speed it was going. With rageful eyes, Thor rose, swung his staff, and shot an energy ball so swift and powerful, it zapped the shockball through space and time.

The priests stepped aside in fear when Thor marched to the edge of the stairs. His green eyes fixed on the distant little dot that was Lingning, whose energy arms shrunk into nothing. Thor whipped his staff, and a lightning bolt struck inches in front of the child, barely scraping her as she fell to the ground. "LINGNING!" Phosphora cried.

Thor warped to the area where she fell, standing atop a short cliff that overlooked the child. "THIS IS how you treat your god?! Sheer disrespect with childish antics?!"

The Head Priest zipped down to him, "Please, forgive her, My Lord. Children don't know any better-"

"I was to understand that ALL Birkans were raised to honor and worship me."

"N-Not all of them, My Lord, roughly 10 percent of the population-"

"Then YOU should have tried harder." Thor thundered at the elder, before focusing his anger on the 5-year-old. "ALL mortals must know my power, including hopeless little runts like her. I will TEACH her the price of insubordination," incredible power built up in his scepter, "ONE way or another!"

Seeing the light on his weapon grow, Phosphora zipped down in the way of Lingning, just when the powerful beam fired. Phosphora caught the energy in her hands, she felt her feet glued against the ground. She absorbed every ounce that she could, Thor's power was truly godlike, her nerves were tingling like she couldn't believe. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Her body glowed totally white, her flesh was furiously burning.

Lingning fearfully backed away, staring with silent horror when Phosphora fell. Her body was burnt brown, her clothes were nearly disintegrated. Little sparks lit up her body. "PHOSPHORA!" Lady Sulfa flew over, and Phosphora's friends surrounded overhead with worried expressions.

"Uuuuu…" Phosphora looked barely alive. The Head Priest flew down, bent over, and softly felt around her singed form.

"Her chi-paths are distorted. She's suffered Chi Overload."

"Oh, my!" Sulfa gasped.

"Girl…" Sola was at a loss for words. The friends bowed their heads in guilt and sympathy. After how risky, cheerful, and carefree Phosphora was… the sad part of it all, she was only trying to protect her friend.

"Nnnn-n-n…" Phosphora weakly got back on her feet, much to everyone's surprise. She held her left arm and forced a grin, still sparking as she looked up at Thor. "My…My Lord…" She said hoarsely. "Forgive my… insolence…"

Thor only stared at the child. How pathetic she looked… it was humorous. Staring at him like an idol, the god he was… right after she was so brutally injured. Thor released a chuckle and smiled. "The rest of you leave us. I would like a moment alone with the child. …Her bravery must be commended…"

Lady Sulfa and the Head Priest looked at each other with worry and confusion. Phosphora's friends bared the same features, but obeyed the god and zipped away. Thor softly dropped onto the ground where Phosphora limped. The child was still so happy… gazing at the deity. "My Lord… mighty god, Thor." She fell to her knees and bowed. "I am… your humble servant. I may be just a child, but… my faith that you would come was very strong."

A gentle rumble of thunder took place. Thor remained silent. "You know this already, but we've all waited… for a very long time, God Thor." Phosphora fought the pain in her nerves. "Your power was mixed with your kindness, giving all Birkans a place to call home. Yet, you must show discipline, when it is needed… do forgive Lingning, My Lord. She is an innocent child, in the end. It was an honor to take your punishment in her place. Mighty God Thor, if I am deserving of your kindness… please, replenish my wings, and my chi. In return, I shall devote my life to serving you. Mighty God Thor, savior of Birka… please, shower unto us your divine energy."

Thor's soft smile didn't change. This child's loyalty and devotion was beautiful. He could see through her humbleness like water: deep down, she truly believed he would grant her request.

Thor raised his staff and smashed Phosphora's head against the ground. Blood and teeth fell from her face. "Mighty God Thor, do this. Mighty God Thor, thank thee for that." He swung his staff like a bat and hit Phosphora against a mound. "It's the same with all of your pitiable kind. You act so humbly towards your god, because deep inside, you think you deserve it. You think your god acquiesces. But let me tell you something." He jabbed the base of his staff against Phosphora's face, forcing the back of her head against the mound. "A true god feels no pity." Bashed her across the jaw. "A true god seeks to punish for insubordinance, not forgive." Across the other end of the jaw. "And your God Thor does not care for you. He would never set foot on such a meager planet."

As blood continued seeping from Phosphora's swollen features, Thor grabbed her by the neck and zipped to a nearby edge of the island. "Remember this, Child." He whispered softly in her ear, even though she was less than conscious. "My name is Loki. Second son of Odin. Your religion has always been a sham. Of course, the people of this island don't need to know that. Not until my use for them is through. An age of pure power is dawning over Birka. Those too weak to embrace it do not deserve to live here. Good-bye… Phosphora. May you be with your gods soon." He dropped Phosphora's limp body on the ground, then kicked her over the edge.

She was too nearly dead to understand that she was falling. Her brain was as active as her limbs. Her body twirled and twirled and twirled as she descended. She wouldn't and couldn't attempt to stop herself. When it seemed her vision was clear of endless gray, the blue sea stretched below her. She splashed in the salty surface, and everything went black.

When vision returned to her, she was staring at blue sky and sunlight. Two things she's never seen. She was in a very filthy coastside dump of an unnamed town. As she sat up to observe her surroundings, her mind was still lost. Was it the lightning, was it the sea salt in her lungs, the loss of blood, either way she didn't understand anything, anymore. She tried to stand up, but her knees faltered. She remained hunched as she limped across the trash. The sea had washed some of the blood and soot, but now it appeared dried on her flesh. Tiny shreds now served as her shorts and shirt, barely covering her private areas, but could crumble away at the slightest tear. Her sandals were long lost, and the bottoms of her feet took cuts from the shards lying about.

Her legs carried her to town, but could walk no further. She was on all fours, crawling helplessly. She made her way to an alley and crawled into the gungy path. She let her body lie dead on its front, staring mindlessly at the roaches crawling around, slurping the little puddle of substance. The sun was directly overhead and shining through the buildings' gap. She felt her skin growing warmer. She didn't know what to do or where to go. Only await death.

She weakly looked up at the sound of some thumping. A large creature in lime-green armor stared at her. Or maybe she was hallucinating, that was the likely explanation. The creature turned and walked around the alley's corner. Phosphora regained a fraction of strength in her arms and crawled. She was led to an open area, where a green spaceship of sorts sat. The armored soldier looked at Phosphora before marching into the open hatch. While still weak and slow in the mind, Phosphora crawled in after it.

Within the next several hours, Phosphora was carried to a distant, alien planet, inside a tremendous fortress made entirely of bark. The strange creatures here bathed Phosphora in invigorating spring water, gave her a shirt and shorts stitched from leaves, and patched her wounds using vine. She was brought to a dining room, where a slim, handsome butler with bluish-purple skin and brown hair fixed her dozens of plates of steaming vegetables and fruit. Phosphora guzzled almost every bit, she had never felt so replenished. "Do you like it?" a peppier, feminine voice asked. "Arlon's cooking was never one to disappoint."

Phosphora swallowed a carrot. "Yeah. It's great. But… who are you?"

"Call me Viridi." The 8-year-old girl replied from behind a cluttering of vines, which blocked her out. She had bright blonde hair and green eyes. "Goddess of Nature and all living things."

"Goddess of… Nature?"

"Your mind is still processing slowly, it seems." Arlon observed. "A natural phenomena, after such a traumatic experience."

"I…I don't under…"

"I saw the whole thing through my crystal ball." Viridi informed. "It disgusted me to no end… how an ordinary human could claim to be god. This 'Thor' was the furthest thing from."

"Ordinary… human?"

"Well, he isn't EXACTLY human, but he's still a despicable mortal. Of course, I suppose I don't really look in the best shape, either. The truth is, I'm a hundred percent god, but because of certain 'crimes' I committed, I'm locked up here."

"What… crimes?"

"Crimes for trying to teach humans and ALL nature-haters a lesson! The other gods branded me for trying to destroy the world, I'm trying to SAVE it! You've seen it yourself, Phosphora, how great mortals deem themselves. An ordinary human like Loki impersonating a god, treating your people like vermin. And look what he's done to you… poor, innocent child. Phosphora… I really want to help you, but I can't do anything 'long as I'm trapped here. That's why… I would like you to work for me. I want you to help me destroy ALL disgusting humans like Loki. Make the worlds a better place for all creatures of nature. I have a device that can give you lightningbending, and I will train you to command my soldiers. But if you don't want to, I'll happily let you stay here. Well… Phosphora?"

Even though it didn't seem like it, Phosphora understood every word. She replied solemnly, "I will."

"Excellent. Welcome to the Forces of Nature… Lieutenant Phosphora."

"Ahhh, I'm glad we have that business out of the way." Arlon sat across from the girl. "You must be wondering how I came to be in Viridi's ranks. It all started when I was a little boy living on Lunaria-"

"We're running out of chapter-time, Arlon."

"Very well. I'll wait for the Side Stories."

Phosphora's house; current time

"So I worked for Viridi for the next 22 years." Phosphora continued. "She gave me a Lightning Scarf that restored my bending, but I couldn't use it too much without recharging. Since then, my loyalty was only to Viridi."

"No offense, but why would Viridi care about you?" Anthony asked.

"You wouldn't believe it, but Viridi was a very kind spirit. She feels compassion for all creatures who are unjustly treated, like merpeople, Minish, or those little aliens." Anthony frowned grumpily and looked away. "Humans and other mortals think themselves powerful over these creatures, like they were gods who could decide their fate. That's why Viridi wished to punish them. I know her ultimate goal was the wrong way, but for a long time… I didn't really care." Phosphora looked down and glared. "There was no proof that my religion was correct, but it was something I came to love. Then on that day, when Thor—when Loki appeared, I was overcome with joy… on that day, everything that I believed in came flying to me in the blink of an eye. And as fast as it all came… it crashed. That so-called 'god' destroyed me inside, so I… believed Viridi. I wanted to destroy all of those people who think they're god, destroy everything they believed in."

"But why is this 'Loki' still hanging around?" Aranea asked. "Wasn't Viridi going to help you destroy him?"

"She wasn't in much condition to help me destroy anyone; not until she could use Celebi to return to full power. It didn't matter in the end, though, because Viridi was defeated. The person who gave me a home after my banishment… then I spent the next few months in prison. Until that stranger with the red eye broke us out. Took Arlon with him, but he gave me a ship he stole. During that time, though… I had time to think. I thought about why I joined Viridi to begin with, I saw myself falling from my island, then I remembered Fybi… after her wings were destroyed by my lightning. For a long time, I couldn't stop thinking about how distraught she might've been, so after I escaped from prison… I wanted to meet her again."

The kids sat in silent agreement. Fybi was distraught by the incident, this was true. "But I never expected Fybi to want to come here." She continued. "To tell the truth, I never wanted to come back. The island where I was made to look like an idiot. I never wanted you kids to know about it, the shame of it all. But after Fybi asked, I thought about… what you kids could do. I heard the stories, you Kids Next Door are more than what you seem. I heard what Cheren and Nebula did, and I fought you five directly… As weird as it sounds, I thought you kids could help me, too. I still didn't want you to know about me, so I tried to keep it subtle, that 'Thor' was just a phony god whose secret I discovered. But… sigh, I can't run away from my past if I'm returning to it. After what I did to Fybi, you kids must be really humored to know this."

"But Miss Phosphora, that's terrible what happened to you." Sally stated.

"Yeah, I mean, you may've gone completely nuts with us, but I probly would've gone the same." Aranea noted.

"Not sweet at all." Harvey said with strong disapprove.

"In spite of our past conflict, thou must know that thou hast our full support." Fybi promised. "Ist this not so, Anthony? …Anthony?"

The boy was gone. They heard the front door shut. The six of them quickly hurried outside, seeing the Sector Leader go up on a small hill. He held Fybi's B.O.W. and took aim at Dashi's Peak—Fybi felt her skirt and realized her weapon was missing. Anthony stretched the string and formed an energy arrow, locked absolutely tight on the caped figure atop the peak. He let the charged arrow fly, and… it pierced Loki's chest. They watched as his armored body fell over and plummeted down the tower.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAA!" The sectormates and Phosphora panicked, taking cover behind a fence so as to imply, 'He's not with us.' But more than halfway down the tower, Loki's body dispersed into dust, and they all stared confused.

"Huh?" Anthony was just as surprised.

"A pleasure to meet you, too." Lady Sulfa flew up behind him, and transformed into Loki. He thwacked Anthony across the head with the head of his scepter.

"ANTHONY!" His friends ran out, but stopped when Loki turned at them.

"Did you children really believe you could waltz onto this island under God's supervision? Never forget that I am anywhere and everywhere. I may sit atop Dashi's Peak some of the time, but I mostly prefer to go for a little walk. That figure you just shot was a mirage I created to deceive people, while I disguise myself as the commonfolk. It's the best way to snuff out the town of disloyalty and have those people imprisoned. But I was particularly interested in you young visitors. I must admit, I had forgotten about that child until she told us her story. To think you were still alive all this time, Phosphora."

"You…" Phosphora's eyes trembled, "Where is Lady Sulfa?!"

"Imprisoned in the tower with a few others who stood against me. They've been excellent help in providing the tower energy, but it's just not enough. I must say, I'm rather interested…" Loki bent over and picked up the B.O.W. from Anthony's hand, "with this."

"PRAY, what interest hast thou in my weapon?!" Fybi shouted.

"Your weapon? Well, I suggest that you explain to me how a bow of this design can magically conjure arrows, if you don't want your half-beaver friend to become dust."

"Grrrrr!" Fybi displayed the anger on her face, but kept herself from acting rashly. "I hath purchased material from alien beings to create such a weapon, which canst produce endless amount of energy, which I hath programmed to take form into solid arrows to smite evil beings like thyself."

"Limitless arrows and energy…" Loki studied the small weapon with interest. "I think this trinket can complete my ultimate plan. I'll just take it with me, if you don't mind." He smiled wryly at the angel. "Many thanks to you, Feebi. You all can witness my crowning moment from the dungeons of Dashi's Peak." In a second, he zipped away.

A swarm of armored Birkans appeared around them. "This is where it came from!" the captain yelled. "By the will of God Thor, you are all under arrest. Surrender now, or be-" Furious storms of lightning rained down on all of them.

"'Smited' is what you were going to say, right?" A shockball whipped around and bashed each Birkan in the head, knocking them senseless. Amper appeared, and after inhaling, she puffed herself and sent tiny, but furious sparks around to singe all of the guards. Ela, Laxy, Brendix, and Dio appeared above the group. "I guess you kids finally know what's goin' on." Dio proclaimed.

"Uhhnn… wh-what?" Anthony regained his senses and looked up. "You guys again? What's the deal, who ARE you?"

"We're the Birkan Kids Next Door. I'm the leader, Numbuh Kilo." Dio zipped away, Amper took his place.

"You guys better come with us to our base so we can fill you in." she said. "Birka is about to pass over Mount Olympus. If this happens, Loki will try to unleash the Titans."