29. Django’s Crew

Palutena's Temple

"Again today we go a-soaring through the skyyyyy!" Pit and Fybi sang together, holding each other and flying joyfully. "Our enemies, we'll dish 'em UP enough to fryyyyy!" Sector W and Phosphora rolled their eyes humorously. "Gracious Goddess of the Light: watches from up above. At dinnertime, we always show the cook some LOVE!"

The interior was colored a whitish-gold, the windows white with sunlight. The dining hall had a great variety of meat, fruits, vegetables, any food group to satisfy the kids, all being carried in by Centurions, angel warriors in golden armor. "All this food looks so yummy!" Sally beamed. "It's nice to get rewarded for our hard work!"

"Yeah, but this is kinda unexpected." Aranea smiled, sitting in front of some steamed broccoli (beside molten cheese, thank God!). "I know we were popular, but to have a goddess as our fan?"

"Don't question it. Just enjoy." Harvey smiled, sitting by a bowl of chocolate ice cream and stuffing himself. "Sweet."

"Lady Palutena's a fan of all of you." Pit replied, seated beside some hamburgers. "She's been watching you Kids Next Door for a long time!"

"Can you tell Palutena to quit watching us like cartoon characters?" Anthony asked.

"I'm not sure if I want to. It's fun getting in debates with her. Or you can just ask her yourself! Lady Palutena, you're finally here!"

The friends looked at the doorway atop the narrow stairs. Lady Palutena, the Goddess of Light, was the most beautiful woman they ever laid eyes on. Her shiny green hair dangled to her knees, its many strands flowing everywhere. Her emerald eyes were gorgeous, complimented by her gold sun necklace, gold laurel crown, and many gold bands around her arms, and gold accessories hanging from her belts. A Mirror Shield was tied to her left arm, she held a blue staff with a golden head, and blue sphere on top that hovered disconnected from it. Her flowing white dress ended before her brown, high-heel sandals.

They felt a lovely warmth from her presence when she stepped down the stairs, and joined them in the largest seat at the table. She took an orange and had a bite. "A good breakfast is the start of a great day!" She grinned brightly.

"Um, Lady Palutena, this is lunch." Pit corrected confusedly.

"All meals should be treated with equal respect."

"Thou art Goddess Palutena?" Fybi said with awe. "Art we so deserving to be in thine presence?"

"I think it's high time you and me met, Fybi!" The goddess smiled at her. "Excluding that brief moment I repaired your wings."

"That power wast… thou?"

"Yes. I can heal almost any injury with my power, as long as it was received recently. Otherwise, I can only give power to an inoperable body part for 5 minutes. Just ask Pit. Neither his body, nor his Gigai had working wings for thousands of years."

"Thousands of years?" Sally asked.

"I died when I was this age." Pit blushed. "I've been inhabiting a Gigai all this time. Those are artificial mortal bodies."

"Lots of Nimbi are born flightless, so sometimes I like to give their wings some function, just so they can know what it's like." Palutena noted. "You might be familiar with a Nimbi called Aisa. Her friends get in tons of dangerous situations, so I give her Flight powers when it's necessary. If I let them use the power for five minutes, their wings burns up, and my healing powers wouldn't work."

"That still doesn't explain why you're such a big fan of us." Aranea reminded.

"Hmhm, well you already know part of the reason. You kids know the Apocalypse is coming, and to save everyone, you need to find the Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses. This was a prophecy established a long time ago. My job, according to Arceus, was to find the Seven Lights when the time came. And the Thirteen Darknesses… were to be sought by Medusa."

"Medusa?" Sally repeated.

"Medusa is the Goddess of Darkness, and my twin sister. You can already guess, but we were always at each other's throats. She wanted Darkness to consume the universe, but I wanted it to be bathed in Light. Our conflict was the law that established every conflict in history: Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Darkness. But the reality was, neither of us could have our own way. The universe needs Light and Dark to everything. And this very same law is what establishes the Twenty Keys."

"Right." Aranea recapped. "The Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses come together to open the 'New World.' Then you two goddesses go mano a mano to decide if Light or Darkness rules the New World. Um, that's what Cheren told us."

"Yes…" Palutena lightly shook a glass of orange juice. Her look was solemn. "Me and Medusa never fought so hard until 20 years ago. We worked together to help your parents defeat Arceus, because we knew that 20 years from then, the real Apocalypse would come. But that was when our ultimate struggle would begin. Already, she's working to find the Thirteen Darknesses, recruiting any available mortal children to help. But the ultimate law of us gods is, we aren't allowed to interfere with mortal affairs, unless other gods were involved. She's breaking several laws so she can get her hands on the Darknesses. But the thing about that is, if she hadn't broken these laws, she couldn't get the Darknesses."

"But you're searching for the Lights." Nea reminded. "You helped Fybi, and now we're here…"

Palutena sighed. "At this point in time… the idea of laws and destinies are entirely different; since the very beginning, the Apocalypse was beyond our control."

"Whaddyou mean?" Anthony asked.

"Arceus and Dialga sensed the Apocalypse happening around this time, but they never could determine the actual cause. Arceus's disruption of the universe damaged the Time Gate, releasing powerful unstable energy, we realized that 20 years ago. Yet, this all… None of this makes any sense." Palutena plopped her forehead in her hand. "If the gods never had control over the Apocalypse's happening, why is it that we, the Goddesses of Light and Darkness, are the ones to have the battle. The ultimate law of Light vs. Darkness… to me, it just feels too… simplistic."

The Sector W members exchanged weirded, though worried glances. "But… that's how almost everything is, isn't it?" Sally asked. "An evil force threatens our universe, so the good force has to do something."

"Hm, I know." Palutena looked up and smiled softly. "But every day, I keep having… nightmares. That there's more to this prophecy than what Arceus knows. And all of the gods are… afraid. Sigh, I tried to explain my worries to Medusa, but she's just so stubborn. Her only interest is finding the Darknesses and establishing her ideal world. I mean, I know that's what we're supposed to do, but I just can't stand all of this… conflict."

"But thou dost know whom the Lights art, dost thou not?" Fybi asked.

"Only recently. Thirteen years after Arceus's defeat, the dark energies inside the Pyrameglyphs were supposed to begin brewing, awaiting the Darknesses who would read them. Then seven years after that, the light energy inside the Poneglyphs. That was that rock you read outside."

"So I am a Light."

"Yes, you are. Fybi, Sheila Frantic, and Suki Crystal, those are Lights that have been awakened. And according to the prophecy, each Key possesses a special power. Not an elemental power or anything of that sort… it's something else."

"I don't understand, though." Aranea said. "You said the gods have no control over the Apocalypse, yet they established this 'Twenty Key' thing. How is it that the Keys have the power to make a difference, but the gods don't?"

Palutena looked down with gloom. "This is the funniest part… Arceus and Dialga were confused when they saw these happenings in the future… they never had any idea what was going on. The Poneglyphs and Pyrameglyphs were nothing of their design. They never established this prophecy, they were told about it."

"Told about by WHO?!" Anthony shouted, tired of all this complex stuff.

"A mysterious spirit, who, around 10,000 years ago, was named one of the Six Demon Saints. He told us who the Lights and Darknesses would be, but forbidded us from actually revealing their names to you, because it would jeopardize the destiny. We didn't understand why he knew so much, but he was terrifying. His name… was Bill Cipher."

"Yeah, um, hi, excuse me, Phosphora here." The lightningbender rose a hand. "Just a quick question, um… WHEN WAS ANYONE GONNA TELL ME ABOUT THIS 'APOCALYPSE'?!"

"Oh, right." Palutena chuckled. "You still don't know. I don't actually understand everything myself, but let me tell you what I know about the First Dimension…"

KND Moonbase

Panini blasted endless rounds of fireballs at Cheren, she didn't hold back at all, they might need a new gym room after this. Cheren held no weapons, he evasively dodged Panini's flames, maneuvering to her to throw punches. Her fists were larger than his and easily blocked, she countered with kicks to his chest, but the boy withstood and slipped behind, wrapping his arms around her neck. She tried to pull him off, but he flipped upside-down and slammed her head on the floor. He backed away, letting Panini hop up, Cheren kicked her in the nose and sent her flying against the wall. He smirked victoriously. "Panini, I would almost suggest MaKayla a better opponent."

Immediately, he froze in time. MaKayla King casually walked in and kicked his hip. He unfroze- "OUCH!" and flew away.

"If you can fight a timebender, I guess it is better training." She shrugged.

"Yo, Supreme Leader 3621." Francis Drilovsky walked in. "Sector V's finally back from space."

"Really?" Cheren got up. "Haven't heard from 'em since Fi's message. I wonder if they rescued Maddy."

The four of them hurried to the bridge and found the team of 10 waiting. "Hey, Bro, looks like you're getting your butt kicked by girls as usual!" Chris greeted.

"Who says we can't kick you in areas?" Aurora asked quizzically.

"Hey, it's funny when it happens to him."

"When we were at Solana, we met a group of bad guys who were looking for the Seven Lights, too." Dillon informed.

"By any chance, did these bad guys work for someone named Ragaj Gnik?" Cheren asked.

"A-Ah. . ." Aurora was at a loss for words, wondering how Cheren knew. "Well, they were called Team Gnik, so I guess… How would you know?"

"I told 'em!" Sunni Chariton popped behind the team, startling them, grabbing Harry's shoulders.

"S-Sunni?!"

"Hehe, I've been working on my psychicbending, Harry!" she grinned brightly. "How d'you like the new me?"

"Uhhhh. . . speechless."

"Sunni encountered a group recently that captured her mom." Cheren informed. "She fought back and interrogated them. What they said was…"

Team Rocket was still suspended in the air by Sunni's power. The child was still innocently lain on a midair psychic platform, her head rested on her hand as she stared at Team Rocket with childish eyes. "Giovanni is our boss, and he wanted us to capture you and your mum because you were Mew's Guardians!" Meowth explained quickly. "But Team Rocket isn't alone, we're workin' with a bunch of bad guys, and the BIG boss in all this is a man named Ragaj!"

"Ragaj?" Sunni asked.

"Ragaj Gnik, to be exact, but we haven't actually seen him." James followed. "Only the boss and the other armies' bosses have."

"And as for who the Twenty Keys are, our boss never really told us." Jessie replied. "He's only interested in capturing the Firstborn. However, according to Giovanni, he isn't even sure how Ragaj knows who the Keys are. Unless you're a Time God or something, there are hardly any clues about this 'Apocalypse.'"

"Hmmmm…" Sunni tapped her chin thoughtfully. "This all gets curiouser and curiouser."

"There, is that all your questions, can we go?"

Sunni thought for a second. "All right, you can go." So she pulled back, and blew them to the sky with terrific force.

"Now we're REALLY blasting off agaaaiin!" ("Wobbuffet!") Twinkle.

"But what's your end?" Cheren asked the team afterward. "Tell me about this 'group.'"

Sector V began to explain their attack on the Star Train, fighting Team Gnik. "So what I'm working from this is… some Negatar Gnaa wannabe is trying to find the Lights first." Francis concluded. "So that he and his buddies can rule the universe with ultimate power."

"We've had reports from KND treehouses being ransacked by apes." Cheren noted. "And atomic bombs going off in the ocean. Not to mention Maddy getting kidnapped. So it looks like, not just the World Government we have to worry about, but these Gnik guys, too. But it sounds like the Firstborn are tied into all this as well."

"Hold on, if these were the guys who kidnapped Maddy, didn't you save her?" Francis asked.

"And now to explain Act 2:" Haruka began informatively. So the second part of the story commenced, Dillon's information from Vanellope, meeting Professor Büe, and why Maddy had to stay behind.

"If we're talking about the Firstborn, I guessed it had something to do with Midna." Dillon mentioned. "I was supposed to come back to rescue her. Maybe I shouldn't have trusted Django to do it."

"Back this up a little bit." Cheren spoke up. "So this professor person… learned about these 'Gibberish Rocks' from Gravity Falls? The same kind of rock you found on Candied Island?"

"Righty-o, Mate." Sheila nodded. "So these blokes are thinkin' that stuff is there. Sounds like an adventure."

"We have a sector in Gravity Falls!" Cheren rose his voice suddenly. "I remember after I announced the Apocalypse… the leader of Sector GF, Numbuh 2012 called and said he would do research on it. I wonder if he actually found anything…" Cheren rushed over to the Global Tactical Station and activated. "This is Global Command calling Sector GF. Numbuh 2012, this is Numbuh 3621, do you read me?"

The screen was very staticky, but they made out the image of a boy wearing a hat. "This is Numbuh 2012, Dipper Pines." He spoke with a deep voice, likely in the shift from child to teenage-hood. "What is your transmission?"

"I'm calling to ask if you have any info regarding the Apocalypse, like you said?"

"Well, um, not exactly, but," the silhouette scratched his head, "my sister and I found a secret bunker in the woods the other day. We didn't look too far yet, but we found a broken laptop. I-I'll send you a detailed report if you want."

"That won't be necessary. Sector V confirmed a possible clue to this entire mystery, in your town. I'll be coming to your sector to research it with you."

"W-Wait, a clue?! What kind?"

Haruka came over and explained, "There's a picture of a Gibberish Rock inside a book somewhere. An old man had it, inside a 'shop of weird things'. Know anything like that?"

"A shop of—YOU MEAN MY UNCLE'S JOURNAL?!" Dipper sounded very excited. "H-Hold on, I'll go get it!"

"I'm coming down there shortly, have it ready for me." Cheren told him. "End transmission." The screen vanished.

"Do you want us to go with you?" Aurora asked.

"We have to go save Midna." Dillon reminded. "Let's get back to Miracle City and find their hideout."

"I'll go with Cheren." MaKayla walked beside the boy. "There's still things I need to learn about this whole quest, too. But maybe Clockwork's Future Sight can help me recognize something."

"Want us to come, too?" Francis asked.

"You two need to stay here and keep everything together. Send operatives or look for available sectors to help the ones we can't get in contact with. And Sunni, since you've been training, maybe you can help the Psychic Sensors look for villain activity. It'd be nice if we could find Team Gnik's bases this way."

"Weren't we supposed to have our epic rivalry battle first?" Sunni grinned.

"Heheheh. We'll worry about that stuff later. Anyway, we have our missions. So Kids Next Door, let's move out."

As Sector V got back onto the C.O.O.L.-B.U.S., Dillon was calling home with his cellphone. "Hey Mom, it's Dillon. We're back from space."

"Sigh, Dillon, thank goodness, I've been worried sick. I still haven't seen your father since Dressrosa."

"Really? Sigh, that doesn't sound good… Listen, did you hear anything from Django? He said he was going to rescue Midna, but I'm not sure if-"

"Yes, I've been trying to call you about that. Django came home with Midna yesterday, safe and sound. He's right here, wanna talk?"

"Wassup, Dills!" a familiar voice greeted.

"Django? You actually saved Midna?"

"Told ya, didn't I, I gathered my crew, drove down to Texas, then boom, wrecked those Brotherhood bastards. That reminds me, I had no idea Kaleo was your cousin."

"Wait… KALEO?!"

Canyon of Miracles; yesterday morning

We're gonna jump back in time again. Don't get confused. After Hannibal Bean elected himself as Brotherhood's leader, they established their base in the Canyon of Miracles. Which, just previously, was the battle site between the KND and Nerehc Onu. The villains have grown accustomed to this H.Q. during these 8 months, especially after carving the base out. And it was here where Django's mission took place. He stood at the edge of the canyon, dust blowing in the desert wind. He took a whiff, and imagined the scent in his deceased nostrils. "Well, this is where I heard my grandma say their base was."

"So why couldn't we DRIVE the whole way? Why we gotta cut through that Texas canyon?" a girl asked.

"The element of surprise. Besides, it takes a lot of energy to control that train, especially when a 50-ton passenger is riding the roof. How did you say he got giant, again?"

"I TOLD my mom butterscotch was gross! !" Kaleo, the 2-story giant shouted. "I was allergic, but she didn't believe me! Oops, sorry Stewie." He stepped off of his Imaginary Friend.

"I might just try it myself later." Django replied. "You ready for this, Gang?"

"If we ain't, we wasted a trip." Kimaya said.

"Let's BASH their skulls open! No offense, Django." Beat fist-pumped.

"It's gonna be fun!" Rhyme beamed.

The five members of The Gang stood ready. And this is probably the part where the readers are confused. I won't show you the flashback now, but the short version is, Django met The Gang two years ago, when his grandma took him to Virginia while she was visiting the local witch-doctor. Django stumbled into The Gang's hideout, and after they got used to the fact he was a magic skeleton, he became one of the crowd. Unfortunately, Django had to go back home to Miracle City, but they promised to keep in touch. He visits them every now and then. And The Gang, of course, was loyal to each other, enough to help Django break into a base of supervillains. "Let's roll." (Play "Ruins of the Temple" from Kid Icarus: Uprising!)

Stage 38: Canyon of Miracles

Mission: Rescue Midna from the Brotherhood!

Django ran first toward the canyon, seeing a band of Ice Cream Men coming his way, so he strummed his Mystic Guitar and sent a sonic wave to knock them down. A wall of Ice Cream Trucks blocked the way, so Kaleo sent a Mega Gas Bomb to blow them apart. Kimaya extracted twin Poison Whips and twirled as she knocked several men down, and the Gang members proceeded to the canyon. The Brotherhood's living quarters were primarily wooden mining houses, of course more advanced technology existed within as well. Hungry Men flipped out to attempt shooting the ruffians with plunger arrows. One of the plungers caught Beat's face, but he pulled it off, yanked the string, and pulled that Hungry Man forward before kicking him in the face.

Django was performing a fast-pace Spanish tune on his guitar, so Rhyme danced as she mended the soundwaves into notes, which she aligned into notesheets that she flew around and defeated other Hungry Men. Of course, Kaleo took credit for most of the damage, as his giant size squished some of the mining houses, whose interiors were metal, making it a little challenging for the task. When nearly all of the men were down and out, Django grabbed Little Juan by the neck. "Hey." He grinned with skeleton teeth and brimming red eyes. "Where's Midna?"

"J-Just up that passage, man! P-Please, take off your costume, it's so real!" He shuddered.

"Take off yours." He threw Little Juan against a wall. The four other members jumped up the rocky, natural stairs, while Kaleo climbed with a few steps. Jackbots flew over the gorge ahead and destroyed the stone pillars, leaving nothing to cross the distant bottomless chasm. "Keep up that tune, good buddy!" Beat cheered, so as Django continued strumming the guitar, he and Rhyme created a Song Road. The Gang members shifted lines to hit the notes and keep the rhythm flowing. The note path swerved between snaky walls of a close trench, and when Jackbots flew along the path to disrupt them, they shifted the respective lines to avoid them.

Of course, since Kaleo was too large, he merely needed to clutch a wall and climb across after them. The teammates made it to a large, barren field, but when they took a few steps forward, turrets popped out of the ground and fired. Django strummed his guitar, Skeleton Soldiers sprouted up and took the bullets, then when the turrets had to reload, Beat and Rhyme blasted soundwaves to destroy the turrets. They progressed, diagonal rows of turrets appeared from the side, Django sprouted skeletons in that position to take the hits, then Leo burped Mega Gas Bombs to destroy them. They progressed even further, one turret popped up at a time, Django timed the placement of each skeleton. A circle of turrets appeared around them, Django was still able to protect his friends before Kimaya, Beat, and Rhyme used their powers to destroy them.

The Gang followed a small passage before reaching a hill of mining houses built within. Gramma Stuffum's Food Patrol charged out, Kaleo was excited to grab the little foodlings in his hands and stuff them into his mouth. None of his friends would want to see him again afterward until he brushed his teeth. (Oh, and yet Django is so tolerable.) Kaleo lifted and carried his friends up the hill – the houses were like stairs to him, but they found an energy barrier blocked the next passage. Kaleo punched the barrier furiously, but made nary a dent. The barrier even stretched too high for the giant to climb over.

"Look for generators inside the houses." Django said. Leo set the group down as they checked each house on each level of the hill. A different kind of enemy patrolled their house; Beat and Rhyme had to fight Flu Bugs, Hands of Justice, then find a generator protected by Lunch Ladies. Kimaya fought through Hungry Men, Stickybeard Pirates, then gassed a room full of Cheese Ninjas before intoxicating a barrier. Django, however, mostly walked by each house, strummed a Skeleton Soldier into being, and had it break inside. He didn't know which house it was, but one of them destroyed the last generator.

Kaleo helped his friends up again, and they progressed down the path. A minecart track stretched across, so Django, Kimaya, Beat, and Rhyme hopped in to roll off. "See ya down the road, Leo!" Django waved at the giant. The cart sped down a hill, then the track became more curvy as it drove over a river, going around stalagmites. A piece of track was broken ahead, so Django strummed his guitar and summoned a skeleton from the nearby stalagmite, its bones forming a bridge so they could cross. Jackbots swooped by and destroyed parts of the track with lasers, Django made use of the nearby stalagmites and sprouted skelo-tracks from them. The tracks became rugged and were going to run off, so Django kept strumming while Beat and Rhyme created a Song Road.

The four jumped off, grinded the road up a garden of mountain needles, and landed safely on a cliff beside an old ruin. The Rhymer's Rappers appeared to stop their progress, Beat and Rhyme had the honors of performing an in-sync dance, mending the songwaves together to wrap the Rappers up. They spun the songwaves around the henchmen and got them dizzy, then Kimaya mixed this with her gas to put them to sleep. Kaleo caught up with them by climbing across the mountain needles, following his friends to a dried, ruined fountain. This area appeared to be a central location of the canyon. Our Gang members didn't know this, but this was the site of Cheren and Nerehc's battle, nearly 8 months ago. Boy, does time fly.

The direction that caught their attention was a temple atop the hill. More turrets popped out to shoot them, so Django repeated the process of timing his skeletons, blocking the bullets before his friends destroyed them. The temple had no actual walls or doorway; at least not anymore, and all that was inside was a black and white, shadowy imp with an orange ponytail, binded by orange energy hoops. Django recognized her as Midna, but before they could act, a swarm of Elite Jackbots flew in their way. "MWAH HAH ha ha!" A white-skinned boy with red hair and a black suit hovered above with a helipack. Beside him, a small purple ghost with a white mask and yellow eyes. "End of the line, um, random intruder people! Jack Spicer, evil boy genius, will have the honor of destroying you with his army of Jackbots!"

"Does this kid look familiar to you?" Kimaya asked.

"Nope." Beat shook.

"WHAT?! I'm one of the Brotherhood's elite!" Jack whined. "I led the operation to infiltrate Moonbase and disable its defenses! Go ask Cree; wherever the heck that snotty deserter is!"

"FOCUS, Jack!" the purple ghost, Wuya shouted. "Hannibal Bean entrusted us with guarding Midna… until Pottymouth got back from his kid's party. Don't let your guard down!"

"Relax, Wu's, they look like a couple of street punks." Jack folded his arms with a confident fashion.

"You're the one who wet his pants, I see." Django smirked.

"WHAT?!" Jack reddened. "W-Well… at least I have the fluids to WET my pants!"

"Do not let him get inside your head, boy!" Wuya shouted.

"Who are you, his grandma?" Django asked. "Hey to break it to ya, but mine is 1500 years prettier."

Wuya flew up to him, "Say that again, boy…"

"Ew, man, I smell that stank breath from HE-YUH!" Kimaya waved a hand by her nose.

"What, is this ghost made of pee and crack stench, yo?!" Beat remarked.

"It smells like an air freshener they would hang in the sewer's dung creeks!" Rhyme grinned.

"OOOOOO! You children are the BANE of my existence." Wuya furrowed. "Hurry up and destroy them, Jack."

"What're these again, JACKbots?" Django asked. "Creative name. They don't have anything over my Skeleton Soldiers, though."

"Oh, please. My Jackbots are made of the sturdiest metal, your skeletons are made of… bones. Robots CRUSH bones!"

A Jackbot designed with a doctor's uniform made sad eyes. "Um, Master,"

"Except you, Docbot. You fix bones. But the rest of them will crush your skeletons into dust!"

Django strummed his Mystic Guitar and summoned a swarm of undead soldiers. "Shall we wager?" He grinned.

"JACKBOTS: ATTACK!" Within seconds, the temple floor was swallowed in the dust of battle.

Midna's expression was bored and uninteresting. She just wanted to get rescued already, Jack's voice was painful to her. Thankfully, her wish would come true, when Rhyme snuck through the conflict and picked the Firstborn up in her arms, smiling comfortingly. "It's all right. We're taking you home!"

"Can we stop at the Ear Doctor, first?" Midna replied.

A Jackbot drilled a skeleton's empty sockets, a skeleton ate a Jackbot's innards (it's just wiring, geez), two skeletons choked each other because they couldn't see in the dust, a skeleton rode a robot like an amusement park ride, and one skeleton and robot were secret lovers. Wuya flew above this chaos, knowing for certain it was going nowhere. She looked at the empty pedestal where their captive was—her eyes widened. "STOOOOP!"

Both sides froze in place. Jack Spicer looked confused. "YOU FOOL!" Wuya yelled at him. "Midna's gone, and it's ALL because of your incompetence!"

"I should've known: you can never trust a dead kid to abide by the rules of warfare."

Wuya face-palmed, "Put these robots to use and FIND them!" The ghost rubbed her intangible hands, "I was planning to use Midna for something…" (End song.)

After the Gang members made it away from the canyon, Django strummed his guitar to summon the Ghost Train. Kimaya used the spikes on her cuffs to pick the mechanical locks on Midna's hoops, setting her free. She stretched her weary limbs. "Well, not the most useless people on the planet."

"Hee hee HYEAH-yuh!" Beat high-fived Kimaya and Django. "We made fools of those Brotherhood fools!"

"Glad I could count on you guys to help." Django said.

"Hey, we street kids always look out for each other." Kimaya punched his shoulder. "Even dead ones or… giants."

"Guys, I think one of those spinach guys is stuck in my teeth." Kaleo scraped his teeth with his pinky nail. "Help me get it out?"

"Which reminds me," Django said, "we have to do something about Leo's condition."

"I can help." Midna zapped the giant with her power. In seconds, Kaleo was dispersed into Shadow Matter. "I did something similar with his father. I'll bring him back when we get home."

"PLEASE teach us how to do that!" Beat pleaded.

"Alright, guys, get on, I'm running a tight schedule here." Django said rushedly, gesturing the group to get on. Django was about to board the train himself, but stopped to look in the desert horizon. Very far away, it would seem like a grouping of rocks, or even mountains. But no, Django recognized that village. Long forgotten by everyone else. He could walk there right now if he wanted to.

"Yo, Deadbones, ya comin'?" Kimaya asked.

Django flinched, "Y-Yes." He boarded the train, and had it speeding across the landscape before long. The Gang members and Midna sat patiently on the benches. Django looked out the window, watching the village grow smaller out of sight.

"The Gang looks out for each other, man." Kimaya told him. "You need anything, just come to us."

"…Hmph." Django smiled solemnly. "Anything, huh? Right… because you're all my 'buds.'"

York Household; present time

Sector V took land outside Dillon's house, as the boy was first to hurry inside. "Mom, I'm home! Is Midna really safe, where is she?"

"She's in the kitchen with Django, sweetie." Danika smiled softly, sitting on the couch. The sectormates looked to the kitchen and saw Django and Midna at the table, playing poker.

"You know, this game was invented in the Underworld." Midna informed him. "Except the cards were emotions back then. Malladus played against Mesprit. She whooped his butt with Love."

"You don't say…" Django halfheartedly stared at his cards, slurping a dead fish in one gulp.

"Midna, are you okay?" Dillon asked, entering the kitchen.

"Of course I am, Dillon, it was just the Brotherhood. I was trapped on Vaporia, too, remember?"

"But they had to've made you do something, right?" Haruka asked. "You don't just capture a Firstborn and put her on your collection shelf."

"Yeah, but they just weren't interested in me." Midna laid a card down. "It was Jirachi they wanted, they were just going to use me to find him. I don't know where Jirachi is, but apparently we Firstborn can telepathically 'sense' each other, according to whatever phony history book they wrote."

"Can you?" Artie asked.

"Not across a billion light-years, no."

"But why do they want Jirachi?" Dillon asked.

"The Apocalypse is coming, so they want to wish it won't come. And I told them that, even IF Jirachi still had all his powers, it would've been beyond him."

"That's true." Aurora remembered. "He wouldn't even be able to make Dimentia's ideal world. We all know what really would've happened."

"So tell me about space or wherever you went, how did that go?"

"Well, we learned that there was a ninth Firstborn." Dillon responded. "In fact, we're starting to think that we need to capture the Firstborn all over again. I don't suppose you still have your Spirit Ball?"

"Heads up." Danika walked in, and tossed her son the black-and-white ball.

Dillon caught it, almost unprepared. "…Well?" Midna cocked a brow. "Aren't you gonna catch me?"

Dillon shrugged. "Good to get this part of the quest over with." So he threw the ball. Midna became a beam of energy and was sucked inside.

The ball wiggled and beeped on the floor. Everyone watched eagerly. Will Dillon have caught his very first Pokémon? He's still got over 700 to go before he becomes a master. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be happening soon, because Midna burst free. "Not even close, man."

"What?"

"This reminds me of a similar scenario." Midna tapped her chin. "Django, do the act I taught you. Pretend you're Nolan York, and I'll be Celebi." She gave him the Spirit Ball.

Django turned his chair to face them, then sat hunched like an old man. "Duuuuhh I'm a human child in a wheelchair who's working for a disembodied brain in a jar. Master Genious, I got the Firstborn Celebi! I'm not her Guardian, but I'mma catch her, anyway!" He threw the ball.

"Bi-biiiii." Midna cried sarcastically, and she was sucked inside. The ball beeped on the floor again. Midna broke free. "Now pretend I'm Darth Genious: You're a fool, Nolan York. I'mma strangle you now." She clutched Django's neck with her ponytail hand.

"Aaaaauuuck- No! Please! I didn't read the story very well!" Django rasped. "I thought the Firstborn were human benders, not Pokémon! I only based my knowledge off of the Fan Forums review! Oh, what a fool I waaas!"

"And… scene." Midna concluded, crushing Django's neck. She released, and the skeleton fell dead.

Dillon felt his head throb with anger when his friends giggled. "Well, if I'M not your Guardian, WHO IS??"

"No, you actually ARE my Guardian. But you haven't awakened yourself, yet. And you'll only awaken yourself, by fully understanding your spiritual self. So, ask yourself… what makes Dillon York?"

Dillon looked down in thought for a moment. His spiritual self, eh… What did make Dillon York. What was the most unique thing about Dillon's personality. "I'll tell you one thing," Mason spoke up, as if reading his mind, "he idolizes his dad a lot. Ironically, most of our friends are closer to their mom."

"Even you, Maseyfairy?" Haruka cooed.

Mason blushed and furrowed. "Yes."

"I look up to him," Dillon replied, "and we had our share of moments, but my dad says he doesn't want me tryin' to be like him, and I should focus more on my shadowbending, since it's what I was born with. And I'm trying to be good at it, it's just a pain when you have to.. rely on someone for it."

"What do you mean?" Midna asked, raising her brow.

"I mean, you know how other element benders can just bend their element, and that's all there is, but shadowbenders have to rely on their sub-sentient shadows for most of the work?"

"Shadow is the Element of Hiding. It has to do with loneliness. It's a feeling of being forced to hide, feeling cast off." As Midna explained, Django frowned and looked away. "But they're never alone, because the shadows are hiding with them. The shadows teach the benders, and the benders teach the shadows. That's the beautiful thing about shadowbending."

"Well, it's not very beautiful for me." Dillon stated. "Mario's been totally useless lately, I've been slumping in every fight thanks to him. I know it's supposed to be a thing about friendship, but I wish shadowbenders could be able to fight by their selves, you know? Get by with their own strength and not have to rely on; someone or something else."

Oh, is THAT how you feel about me, is it? Mario said, his anger growing.

"What?" Dillon looked at his shadow.

You know, Master, I haven't been feeling fond of YOUR attitude lately, either. You forgot I can read your thoughts, I hear you saying 'Stupid shadow' or 'Every ***king time', but I never say anything because I have to agree with everything you say. Well, you know what, fuck the laws, if you wanna fight by yourself, be my guest. I don't have to put up with a snotty, ungrateful master. Good-bye, Dillon.

"M-Mario—HEY!!" To everyone's surprise, the shadow flew off of Dillon's body, out the front door, and across the houses. "COME BACK, MARIO!" Dillon fought through his friends to outside, but lost any sign of his shadow under the sunny sky.

"Whoa… Dillon's shadow ditched him." Mason spoke with awe.

"I don't believe it…" Danika spoke quietly.

Artie fell on the floor and tearfully hugged his shadow, "I'm sorry for everything bad I might've done, Shadow, please don't leave me!"

Haylee and Harry stared with disbelief. They heard a crackling sound and looked at Dillon, eyes widened. "Dillon, you're on fire!!" Haylee shouted.

"Wh-What—AAAAAAAHHH!" Dillon's hand was swallowed by a whitish-gold flame, then his hair, and slowly his entire body was burning.

"DILLON!" Danika stretched Cheshire forth, grabbed her son in her shadow's fingers, and pulled him back in the house, slamming the door.

The friends stood around as Dillon was thrown on the floor. His eyes were struck with fear as he studied himself, but no trace of the flames remained. "W-W-What just happened?!"

"It's called Loneliness's Toll." Midna responded gravely. "A person who, for any reason, lost their shadow, has lost the connection between their Light and Dark Sides. Dillon has to keep himself in shadow at all times, because if he steps into the sunlight, with no shadow to balance out half of the Light Energy of the sun, his body will disintegrate."

"You mean I…I can't stand in sunlight until I get Mario back?!"

"The only reason the sun never disintegrates anything is because everything has a shadow to moderate half of the Light Chi. Too much Light Chi or Dark Chi destroys a person, that's the simple part of it. That's why every person needs a shadow… The question is, where did Mario run off to?"

"'ey, so if Dillon can't get in sunlight," Sheila spoke inquiringly, "does that mean I can't do this?" She lit her entire arm gold.

"AAAAAHHH!" Dillon's face caught fire at the sight of the Light Chi.

"STOP IT, SHEILA!" Mason, Harry, and Chris dove on her.

Palutena's Temple

Sector W was stuffed. They had no desire to do anything until that food settled down. They never felt more deserving of a meal. They patiently waited for Phosphora to finish bathing, then they would each take turns. Their young bones really needed the repair of energy. "We've gotta save countries more often." Aranea commented.

"We art most gracious, Lady Palutena." Fybi spoke politely. "But pray, is it true? Thou canst not tell us the identity of yonder Lights?"

Palutena was turned away from them. "I really want to, but this 'Bill' said that we couldn't. I don't know if I should believe him or not. With something the gods have no control over… I feel like everything me and Medusa are doing is a waste of time. If these Lights and Darknesses are destined to awaken themselves… what if the two of us are being played for fools?"

"Don't say that about yourself, Lady Palutena!" Pit perked up. "This Apocalypse effects ALL creatures, including the gods! And no one cares about all life more than you, Palutena. That's why you wanna do your best to protect everyone! It's why you constantly watch the Kids Next Door and help them when they need it!"

"Hmm, I already knew all that, Pit." The goddess smiled. "But even gods have worries that we can't ignore. Still…" She turned to the five kids, "It looks like the prophecy is coming true on its own. Three Lights were already awakened. I bet, before long, the fourth will appear, then the others. Now I just need to hope Medusa is holding up her end of the quest. Despite her means of doing it."

"Yeah! And when all the other bad guys hear how we beat Loki, they'll go runnin' and cryin'!" Anthony fist-palmed.

"Verily, 'twas Phosphora and I that were the victors in that fight." Fybi reminded. "However, I hardly call Loki fair game. Ha ha HA!"

"Still, if we're on the topic, what's the deal with those World Government people?" Aranea asked. "I only heard about them from Cheren's announcement. Is it true that one group rules the whole world?"

"Yes. And I'm ashamed to say I helped one of the World Leaders." Palutena replied. "Her name is Jennifer Bush. Over 2,000 years ago, Jennifer was a child who died and became a spirit. I felt pity and granted her lightbending in the afterlife. She trained with it for years until she challenged me to a battle. Our contract was, if she won, I would grant her part of my Personal Chi, revive her with eternal life, and give her my home on Sun Pillar. …And she did."

"Why would you agree to all that?!" Nea shouted.

"It was a law established near the beginning, where mortals can challenge gods for their powers. I had the choice not to accept, but I did. She still had the heart and soul of a child, so I was deceived. I had no idea she would befriend the original World Leaders and form what would become the World Government. And I had no idea how great a threat they would be. That they would fulfill the role of… gods."

"Whaddyou mean 'gods'?" Anthony asked.

"The World Government possesses an incredible power, unlike anything we've seen. Even Dialga shudders at the thought of it. There have been many World Leaders throughout history, and all have been mortal, but many of them felt so… distinguished from everyone else. They act as though they aren't human or mortal, they're greater than anyone on the planet, they're the sole importance. It's sickening, really. And yet, they've only recently become more active. I think it's because, like the real gods, they're afraid of the Apocalypse."

"Yeah, but they're NOT gods." Anthony stated firmly. "They're humans just like we are. But I don't see THEM tryin' to stop the Apocalypse. They have a problem with us, well I'm not very fond of them, either. I wanna get strong enough ta KILL one of those Leaders!"

"Anthony, murder is not the right way." Aranea replied scoldingly, wagging a finger.

"Fine, then I'll just beat them really bad."

They heard fast-pace steps echoing from the hallway beyond the door. Palutena, Pit, and the sectormates readied their selves for what was coming. "YA FOOOOLS-!!" Killer Bee burst in—

He skidded to a halt when Palutena and Pit zipped up to him, weapons aimed. "Who are you?! State your name and business!" the goddess demanded.

"Hey! It's Dr. T!" Harvey shouted.

"Really? I thought Dr. T had black hair." Palutena said.

"Maybe this guy works for the B-Team." Pit assumed.

"No, no, no! Fools, ya got it all wrong, the name's Killer Bee, but I work for no team, so it would seem, fools, ya fools!" Bee sang.

"He's some guy that's been hanging around Birka." Aranea informed.

"What are you doing up here?" Palutena asked.

"Er, um, uh, Ah saw the kiddies goin' up the clouds, and since Dashi's Peak was unoccupied, I thought I'd please the crowds, singin' a song 'bout the fake god behind the shrouds. Apparently, such a topic was a little too early, but that ain't why I came, because some angels came and, through all shame, said they looking for the kiddies, playing some game where apparently it's illegal for 'em to come here."

Confused by what he meant, Palutena looked at the crystal orb on her staff. It displayed squadrons of Nimbi soldiers searching around Birka. "The God's Angels Air Force." She knew. "The Nimbi that work for the World Government."

"We fought some of those guys when we were flying here." Sally remembered. "We have no idea why they were after us."

"The Government is afraid of the Apocalypse to the point that they're trying to ignore it." Palutena stated. "And they're ignoring it to the point that they don't want anyone to act upon it. They don't want the Twenty Keys to come together."

"But they can't just ignore it, because it's going to happen, anyway!" Aranea shouted.

"They distinguish their selves from mankind by acting as gods. And nothing like the Apocalypse should be beyond a god's control. That's why they're ignoring it, I'm guessing." There was subtle anger in Palutena's voice. "I'm going to seal this temple inside a barrier, so they shouldn't be able to get inside." Palutena hit the floor with the handle of her staff. The blue orb flashed, and outside, a spherical barrier appeared over the temple. "My guess is they'll really be after Fybi. You kids should stay in here until they're gone."

Phosphora came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. She noticed the worried looks on everyone's faces. "Um…what's going on?"

"Arceus is mad at Nea for skipping her weekly church visits, so his angels are coming to smite her." Anthony explained.

"They would get you first, Anthony." The girl said.

"Thou art certain they canst not penetrate, correct?" Fybi asked.

"Relax, Fybi! Lady Palutena's shields are the strongest in the universe!" Pit beamed. "It'd take an awful lot of power to break it."

Palutena gasped. "You might've spoken too soon, Pit. I'm sensing… very powerful Light Chi. It's…It's mine!"

A team of angels were pulling a golden-pink chariot under the rainbow sky, drawing nearer to the great dome around Palutena's Temple. An army of God's Angels rose up from the distance, and some crossed the cloud canyon when the chariot landed. A pair of pink high-heels touched the marble path. World Leader, Jennifer Bush looked beautiful under the sunlight, and her smiling face could warm anyone's hearts. She dashed joyfully to the barrier's edge. "Lady Paluteeeenaaaaa! Palutena-senpaaaaaiiii! Yoohooooo! Could you tell me why King Andrew felt one of the Seven Lights become awakeeeeeened? He does not want thaaaaaat." She swayed her body like a worm.

"It's Jennifer Bush!" Palutena exclaimed. "She must've known I live here!"

"Oooooohh, a barrier of solidified Light Energy." Jennifer looked close at the shining glass with childlike eyes. "Good thing I have God Chiiii!" Jennifer pressed her fingers on her right hand together, pulled back, and thrusted the hand nails-first against the shield. It broke through like glass, and the rest of that area of the structure cracked, before breaking entirely.

Pit Icarus dashed out with his bow ready, "You aren't taking anymore of Palutena's ENERGY!" He loosed an arrow of energy, and it flew through Jennifer's heart perfectly.

"AAAAAHHH!" The woman fell on her back, dead. A beautiful ray of light shone from the heavens, a chorus of angels sang. Jennifer was back on her feet. "I am God's Daughter, I'll keep coming back! I'm- im- mor- tal." She paused at each syllable. "AH HAHAHAHAHAHA! Now excuse me, I must capture the little babies inside! Since nothing else works, we'll just wipe their memory of this whole Apocalypse business. Come oooon, Palutena, I beat you once, I can beat you again."

"It's not safe for you kids here." Palutena told Sector W. "I'm sorry you didn't have time to rest more, but we can't let them capture you. Come with me to the Reflecting Pool and I can make it transfer you all to the Negaverse."

"What's the Negaverse?" Phosphora asked.

"We shalt inform thee in time." Fybi told her. "But mayhap thou shouldst not accompany. Thou hast little knowledge on this matter, so the Government may not hunt thee if thou dost not affiliate with us."

"Yes, Miss Phosphora, we wouldn't want you to get in trouble because of us." Sally followed. "And I'm sure if you act like one of the maids here, those angels might not care for you. We promise to meet up with you again as soon as we can, okay?"

"…" Phosphora bit her lip, as though contemplating an ultimate decision. She nodded, "Okay. Um, and Fybi? …Thanks for everything."

The Fulbright girl smiled.

"But methinks you kids, need an ounce of parental supervision." Bee rapped. "I shall accompany thee, too, until I'm no longer needed by you, baka, you bakas."

"Fair enough, Bee." Palutena smiled. The goddess led them to the chamber of her Reflecting Pool, which she stirred with her staff to display who appeared to be a cheerful Anthony. "Would Anthony's Negative be okay?"

"Yes! He's pretty nice." Sally beamed.

"Come on, I'd rather go to yours." Anthony replied.

"Same difference, either way." Palutena shrugged. "Jump in, kids."

Each kid made a "Hup" sound and dove into the mystic pool, and Killer Bee's bulky exterior was last to make the gesture.

With that, the Goddess of Light marched out through the front gates, joining Pit against the thousands of God's Angels. "Miss Palutena, there you aaaaaare!" Jennifer cartwheeled. "Were you trying to keep me oooouuut?"

"I don't really appreciate uninvited guests." The goddess stated. "Now what do you want, Jennifer?"

"I know you're hiding the kids from meeeee. My angels saw them coming to this island."

"I'm afraid there aren't any kids here. You can search the temple top to bottom, but you'll find nothing. Not that I intend to let your troops barge in."

"Is that a THREAT, Lady Palutena?!" Jennifer became enraged.

"I'm just stating obvious fact. Thou shalt not pass."

"If THAT'S the case, I challenge you for MORE of your God Chi! GOOD LUCK BEATING ME!"

Palutena clutched her staff tight, "Hm-hi don't accept. This isn't a matter of taking one's chi, this is home invasion. And even gods need self-defense."

"You're no god to ME, Lady Palutena! I'll show you how far my chi has COME since I took it from you! LORD, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" Jennifer leapt and stomped her heel against Palutena, who blocked with her staff.

Washington; White House

Let me tell you a story about a certain boy. A boy who became a man, and changed the world.

The hallway was pitch-black. A bright light shone at the end.

This boy's father was a U.S. Senator. His parents taught him all about politics and American history.

The man fixed on his coat and straightened his tie.

He loved reading about American presidents. All of their noble deeds and faults.

He slowly walked toward the light. Thousands of people were cheering outside.

When he turned 18, this boy joined the U.S. Army. He went from Cadet to Lieutenant to General, then Admiral in a few short years.

The man smiled, the light reflecting off his glasses.

He performed many noble deeds for his country. His strength was greater than anyone's.

He felt the summer air from outside growing warmer, the closer he got.

His only real crime was a detention he received in Fourth Grade. But all children have such a fault.

The man briefly kissed his wife on the cheek, before she joined him outside.

America was consumed in war with Iraq, China, Canada, many countries. This man led the front lines, and now these countries are aligned with America.

There was a rumor that he got his strength from a demon. If this was true, nobody cared, anymore.

The people of America cheered for the man atop the flight of marble stairs.

People say he is the most powerful man in the world, under the World Leaders. They say he once shared a soda with King Andrew.

If this man wanted to, he could become a World Leader. He was just that great, and noble.

This man is now the 46th President of the United States.

And his name was…

James Nixon McGarfield.

Clothed in the shiniest white tux, a red emblem on his necktie, the sturdiest white cowboy hat. He appeared fat at first glance, but the loyal citizens knew it was muscle. His hair was brown, his eyes were a beautiful blue behind his glasses. He was the most handsome, most charming man in the world. The people of America were so delighted to elect him as leader.

Today, President McGarfield has an announcement.

He's going to announce his new Education System.

They just captured a rowdy bunch from Gallagher, Virginia.

Children like them desperately need it.

Jimmy lived in the White House—more like the White Palace, as it was the largest house in America. American flags hung everywhere. The courtyard was large enough for these thousands of citizens. Directly above Jimmy's podium, above the front door, was a banner depicting a golden triangle with an eye. The Eye of Providence which gave the people of America hope.