B-27. Sibling Rivalry

Marvel-199999; Sanctuary (Play "Hau'oli Hau'oli" from Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep!)

"The Chitauri grow restless."

"Let them gird themselves. I will lead them into glorious battle."

"Battle? Against the meager might of Earth?"

"Glorious, not lengthy. If your force is as formidable as you claim."

He was donned with golden armor, entrusted with a scepter with a powerful blue gem as its core. We know this black-haired gentleman as Loki. Of course, these events were a little before the chaos on Birka. "You will have your war, Asgardian." An ancient, hooded being who sounded like Emperor Palpatine stated. "If you fail… if the Tesseract is kept from us, there will be no realm, no barren moon, no crevice where he can't find you. You think you know pain? He will make you long for something as sweet as death."

"I shall not fail." Loki assured. "With the power of this scepter, even the most vile, hulking figure cannot crush me."

Earth

"Achoo!" Bruce Banner sneezed.

"Bless you, Dr. Banner." Nick Fury said.

"Thank you."

Sanctuary

"See that you don't." The Other said as a bright light flashed in the starry sky. "Once the Tesseract is in your possession, you are to-"

"AAAAAHH- UH!" Two beings crashed on the ground between The Other and Loki. A girl with purple skin and green hair, and a boy with green skin and magenta hair.

"They couldn't have programmed the Multiverse Portal to drop us closer to the ground?!" Atnort complained.

"YOU'RE the one who wanted to jump in without a second's thought!" Annaira argued.

"IMPUDENT VERMIN!" The Other's elderly voice thundered.

"It's your problem, not mine." Loki remarked before leaving.

"How DARE you little heathens intrude upon Lord Thanos' sacred ground with naught a hint of repentance!"

"What are you talking about?" Atnort asked, looking around. "I don't see anybody but some old ghoul with bad breath!"

"Enough." A deep, commanding voice echoed. They faced the giant throne that was hovered above their asteroid. It turned, revealing the giant with purple skin, golden armor, and a muscular build. He had bright blue eyes. "When children come idly shrieking into my domain… they must bow before he whom they have intruded upon… or be given severe discipline."

"Talk like a normal person, why don't ya."

"Shall I cut off your tongue?!" Other shouted.

"Wait!" Anna yelped. "Are you… Thanos?"

"You have nerve to question my name, without providing your own. State your names and where you hail from." Thanos ordered.

The siblings exchanged glances. "I'm Annaira Eerfnud. This is my brother, Atnort Eerfnud. We're from the Negaverse—the Earolf Galaxy."

"Negaverse… Earolf… These places are unfamiliar to me. And your species… Is it Zehoberei?"

"We're Zehoberei if you want us to be." Atnort joked.

Thanos smirked, showing his large teeth. "Congratulations, Atnort and Annaira. You are now children of Thanos!"

"Since when?!"

"Since you were born. You will serve me from this moment forward. Within the next few years, I will train you to become world-conquering machines, matched only by your fellow assassins. Gamora… Nebula… come to Papa."

The kids heard footsteps and turned. A woman with black hair, green skin, and black attire, along with a blue-skinned woman with a bald head and cybernetic features approached them. "These two are Atnort and Annaira. They are your little siblings. So, as their big sisters, you two must set the example."

"Might we inquire as to how they were bred?" Gamora asked acerbically.

"The same as you, I would be certain." Thanos smirked maliciously. "Well… Now that the family is all here, why don't we play a game? There is an ancient Asgardian temple five parsecs from here. Inside is an item that I want. A special gauntlet, if you will. Heavily fortified… with monsters so ferocious, the Asgardians dare not venture into its depths. My girls, you will lead your new siblings into the temple. Brave the traps and return to me with the gauntlet. Gamora… you will take Atnort. And Nebula, you will take Annaira. Your squads will compete against each other, and the one to retrieve the gauntlet… will earn Daddy's praise."

"And the one who does not?" Nebula asked with a voice that sounded like Medusa (Cree Summer).

"It would seem I have been too lenient with them. Do I make myself clear? Then take your brethren and prepare yourselves."

"We didn't come here to play some game!" Atnort yelled. "We came here to find you! You're one of the Thirteen Darknesses, so you have to-"

"SILENCE! I will not tolerate insolence. Forget who you were and where you came from… because from this moment forward, you are children of Thanos. Do as I say and bring me the gauntlet! Or you will know true pain…"

Gamora grabbed Atnort's arm. "Come." She led the younger green-skinned alien away.

As Nebula guided Annaira in the opposite direction, the latter reflected on her name… literally. "Nebula… Aluben…"

"Do not mumble, speak up!" Nebula ordered.

"Oh, of course!" Anna gasped to attention. "You'd like that, wouldn't you…"

Watching his children leave, Thanos sighed and relaxed on his throne. "Do you really believe these offspring will bring the Infinity Gauntlet without strife?" The Other questioned.

"No… Of course there will be strife. But that's why… I love them…" Thanos smiled.

His phone rang. Frowning, Thanos grabbed it from his pocket. He clicked the holo-projection to show Ronan the Accuser's face. "THANOS! This verminous Xandarian couple is talking over the movie! SEND your minions to DESTROY Nova Cinema 199999 at once!" He hung up.

"Ugh… Speaking of pouty children." Thanos sighed.

Gamora's ship, moments later

"The Asgardian temple has two entrances that we know of." Gamora explained as she piloted the craft. There were robotic aliens called Chitauri operating the controls. "I planned to take the bottom entrance. I also have Chitauri spies planted on Nebula's ship to slow them down. Of course, I didn't plan on a little brat slowing me down."

"Hang on a minute!" Atnort spoke up. "I may be a lightningbender, but this is going too fast even for me! First off, I didn't agree to sign up for this treasure hunt, and second, if we're both after the same thing for the same guy, then why are we fighting the other guys?!"

"Because Thanos enjoys it when his children fight for his affection. I'd advise you to get used to it."

"Pfft, yeah right. As soon as that portal calls us back, I'm jumping in faster than a Lightning Comet."

"You have quite the mouth for an offspring." Gamora remarked. "What do you have to contribute?"

"I'm a lightningbender." He pointed at his electrified antenna. "My chi paths got a little messy a few months ago, so I've been forced to take baby steps… If you wanna let the jokes fly in."

"Do you mean to say you possess the power of lightning? Perhaps you will be useful."

Nebula's ship

"You're able to control lifeforms via the blood in their veins?" Nebula replied to Annaira's description on her powers. "With power like that, we can easily crush Gamora and your brother."

"If it were that easy, I would've crushed him already." Anna said. "So… Nebula… what kind of man is Thanos?"

"What kind of man is Thanos? I thought you would've at least known he isn't a human before you appeared in Sanctuary. Honestly, what creature in the universe doesn't know who Thanos is?"

"A creature not from the universe!" Anna chortled.

"Save your humor for after we've won. There's the temple." They were approaching a massive, dark structure in the middle of space. Giant asteroids surrounded the region and made it impossible for stars to be seen. Nebula glanced down and noticed the ship floating under the asteroids to the bottom of the temple. "Right on cue. It's time to give my sister a little surprise."

"What do you mean?"

"I had my Chitauri plant a bomb in their ship. With a push of the button," Nebula held her finger above a red button on the control deck, "it'll stop them before she even has a chance!"

"RAAAH!" Two Chitauri jumped over and lashed blades at Nebula, but she was quick to flip over them and shoot them through the heads with a ray gun. Other Chitauri were clashing with each other, and when one of them shot its gun at Nebula, she ducked, causing the laser to destroy the detonator. "So, my sister hired a bunch of double-crossers to get the jump on me first?! Well, the joke's on her, because now the bomb is set to explode in 30 seconds!"

Gamora's ship

Beep…beep…

Atnort's antenna picked up a sound. "Do you hear that?"

"What?" Gamora asked.

Atnort bent over a hatch on the floor and zapped lightning around the edges to detach it. There was a bomb with a timer. "It's a bomb!"

"A bomb?!" Gamora whipped around. She set the ship to autopilot and tried to pick the device off its place. "It's attached to the ship, we need to get off!"

"No we don't—it's gonna blow when it hits zero, right? So we just need to stop the timer!" Atnort zapped a gentle ray of lightning from his antenna, sending a charge through the explosive until its timer blacked out. "I dealt with these all the time back in DNKG."

"I should've known Nebula would try something so shifty. Hmph… we must be on our guard. Put on your helmet. It's time to enter the temple. Chitauri Squadron A, stay here and try to get that bomb off. Squadron B, sabotage Nebula's ship."

"How do they tell each other apart?" Atnort asked.

"How should I know, they're just robot lizards."

Stage B-23: Dark Space

Mission: Get the Infinity Gauntlet!

Atnort leapt up a series of asteroid platforms, following Gamora's example as they made their way to the temple's bottom entrance. On one asteroid, they planned to jump and kick off a vertical asteroid to reach a higher one, but Asteroks (or Space Octoroks) coughed rocks at them to prevent this feat. Atnort could shoot lightning at the space squids, allowing them to accomplish their low-G Wall Jump. "I may need your powers here, too." Gamora cautioned as they faced a swarm of slow, small incoming asteroids. They made a great leap to a distant asteroid, during which Atnort shot lightning bolts at the small ones that threatened to bash their skulls. After making land, the two Wall Jumped up a series of far-apart asteroids that led straight into the temple entrance.

They had to keep Wall Jumping up a shaft before they could reach the floor of the temple hallway, the gravity still low. They faced a pit where meteors were constantly raining downward, so Atnort did the honors and performed a Zip Dash around them and crossed the pit. He pressed a switch that stopped the asteroids and allowed Gamora to leap across.

"So, do you and Annaira try to kill each other a lot?" Gamora asked while they proceeded.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Call it a hunch."

"Well yeah, we use each other to 'vent' a lot. If you came from a planet that had twice the population that it should have, it would make you pretty stressed out, too."

"I should be so lucky…"

They reached a ledge with a pad with a hammer icon, and the rest of this passage was set over a pit. Atnort used lightning to ignite the pad, and Gamora quickly hopped on a platform that rose up on their left. Other such platforms poked out of the walls and ceiling. Two of them blocked her path, so she told Atnort to stop powering. The pillars retracted, including hers, but she made the low-G leap off the platform, past the barricading pillars, then told Atnort to reactivate them so she could land on a new extracted pillar. The hall turned left, and the ledge she had to reach was blocked by ceiling pillars. When Atnort deactivated, Gamora made the jump—wall pillars from either side would've come out and crushed her had she delayed, but she made it. She pressed a switch that lowered a stairway of electric spheres within mechanical devices, and Atnort could Zip Dash up these spheres to get to her.

In fact, the next room was huge and full of Zip Dash Spheres. Many of them only pointed in certain directions, creating a complex maze for the lightningbender. So complex that I'm sure you wouldn't remember the path even if I wrote it down. It took Atnort 20 minutes to solve the maze, and during this time Gamora was playing Angry Space Birds on her holo-phone. Eventually, Atnort made it across and stepped on a switch that would extend a bridge for Gamora. "Why am I doing all the work here?" Atnort commented.

"It's not my fault this temple has puzzles that conveniently befit your powers."

With Nebula and Annaira

A Fatblin guarded the entrance to the temple, but when the overweight monster stabbed its spear, Nebula leapt above and kicked the spearhead off, afterwards kicking its weapon and shield away. Annaira used bloodbending to roll it into a Fatblin-size hole, which triggered the massive gate to open. They entered a room with several fountains spewing from the floor. There was a stone tablet with text in front of the next sealed door. Nebula's scanner translated the Asgardian text and read aloud, "'The chamber shall open to a dry floor.'"

"I guess we're allowed to keep the air wet." Anna used her waterbending to lift all the water off the floor and project a psychic barrier that would keep all the other water in the air. Holding so much water was a strain on herself, but she withstood it until the door opened. Nebula quickly ran in, and Anna let the water splash down before diving in the doorway herself.

"Annaira, look at this." Nebula was viewing a magic-projected screen on the wall. It showed Atnort and Gamora in a different passage.

"So I guess this is a security camera." Anna figured.

"Yes…" Nebula smirked at the square switch below the screen. "And this must be SECURITY!" She pressed it. (Play "Deep Space Battle" from Birth By Sleep!)

The door behind Atnort and Gamora sealed, and their hallway rumbled. "I think we tripped the wire!" The hall began to turn red with heat, and the aliens sweated. The two green-skins rushed down the hall, dodging the parts of floor that burst into flame. Gamora Wall Jumped across a lava river while Atnort used Zip Dash Spheres, falling tired after he did so. Gamora picked him up and jumped up a set of platforms over a lava pit, making it through a new door that sealed off the burning corridor.

"Phew… I guess you can't expect these traps to be as dumb as Anaidni Senoj." Atnort gasped for breath.

Gamora found a holo-screen that showed Nebula and Annaira viewing a similar screen. "And you can't expect your sister to play fairly!" She pressed the switch under that screen.

Anna and Nebula's hallway began to flood. Anna tried to bend it, but the water was unusually thick. "I'm not cleaning this floor." The two raced up the hall, dodging the waterfalls that poured in. A Bokoblin tried to attack them, but Anna grabbed it in bloodbending and brought it with her, then snatched a second Bokoblin. She stuck the two monsters into holes on either wall, twisting them like keys to open the gate. They had to cross a balance beam over rising thick water. Nebula ran across it with grace, but when she saw Annaira doing it in a slow, careful fashion, the assassin was forced to run back, pick up, and carry Anna to the exit.

They pressed another switch, dropping the floor in their rivals' next hallway. A storm of Zip Dash Spheres were flying at Atnort and Gamora. The latter dodged them expertly while Atnort used them to zip to the opposite side and press a switch, shutting them off and repairing the floor. Unfortunately, the ceiling began to close down, so Gamora was forced to dash, sliding under the last few inches of space and escaping through the door.

Gamora pressed a switch, turning her sister's hallway into a mirage zone. The hall consisted of numerous forks, where one of them appeared normal, but would lead them into a pit of lava. Annaira was about to run into a pit- "GET BACK!" Nebula grabbed her before she did. "My scanner can see through the mirage! Follow me!" The right directions were left, right, right, and left.

Nebula found another monitor—Gamora found another monitor. Gamora was seen getting ready to trigger another trap—Nebula was going to set another trap. They both raised fingers to press the buttons—

Annaira sliced theirs with a Water Slice and Atnort destroyed theirs with lightning. "ARE YOU INSANE?!" Nebula bellowed. "Do you WANT them to get the upper hand?!"

"I thought we were here to get a gauntlet, not try to kill each other! We're not making any progress."

"They were about to trap us!"

Anna and Nebula looked around and waited a moment. "…Or perhaps not." (End song.)

With Atnort

"Hm… I guess she feels the same." Atnort observed.

"Fine, I'll stop." Gamora complied. "But for the record, we made faster progress running from their traps."

The two proceeded up a flight of stairs, with tiny lines in the wall providing light. "I've been in this galaxy for almost an hour, and it's just as crazy as my homeworld! How do you live with a father that MAKES his kids fight each other?!" Atnort questioned.

"Thanos is NOT our father." Gamora affirmed. "To him, 'children' is another word for weapons. He is a murderer and a monster. He killed every last member of my species, he killed my parents in front of me. Whether it's women, elders, children, infants… Thanos will slaughter anyone he desires in order to achieve dominion."

Atnort needed a moment to process that shocking response. "…Yeah, I didn't think any woman would be brave enough to get in bed with him. Did the same thing happen to Nebula?"

"I think her family was killed, but I don't know more than that. It doesn't matter. Thanos doesn't love us, nor do we love each other. We're weapons now. It won't be long before you and Annaira will be hating each other."

"We're not staying. We're jumping ship the second we have a chance to."

"And how do you plan to do that? Because Thanos will find you. He'll kill millions to ensure you are captured and punished."

"Trust me, we're going to escape." I really hope that portal calls us back now.

"Hm. If your words held meaning, I would like to come with you."

Atnort bit his lip. "I… don't think you can do that."

"Why not?"

"Because we-" Atnort tripped on a slanted force and fell on it before pushing off and standing straight. "Huh?" A huge stone pyramid towered over them, and a golden gauntlet was floating above it.

Annaira and Nebula gazed at the massive ruin from across the great vacant chamber. The pyramid only seemed to grow as they stepped forward. Based on the stories from Nerehc's friends, this Pyrameglyph was a lot bigger than the other ones. Annaira saw Nebula using her scanner on the alien writing. "It won't translate." Anna knew.

"My scanner is programmed with eight billion different languages, even a simple ruin like this… is unknown." The scanner failed. "Hm… Well, what does it matter. That must be the gauntlet Father desires. Let's get it down before Gamora arrives."

"Too late, Sister." Gamora and Atnort walked out from behind the pyramid.

"Yeah, we found the gauntlet first!" Atnort asserted.

"You two took a lousy shortcut!" Anna argued.

"Shortcut my ass! I was stuck in that shock sphere room for 20 minutes! WE get the giant gauntlet!"

"Will both of you shut up and think for a second?" Gamora cut in. "How are we expected to carry such a large item to Father? We will never be able to bring it to either of our ships if we are at war with each other."

"Don't play the Moral Game with me, Sister." Nebula hissed. "You have always been Father's favorite child, and you crave his praise! But I will not let you have it, you parentless whore!"

"SOULLESS WITCH!" Gamora punched Nebula in the jaw—the sister flipped behind and grabbed Gamora by the neck, choking her until Gamora grabbed a knife from her pocket and cut Nebula's waist. They swung swift kicks at the other before Gamora rolled behind, grabbed Nebula, and kicked her against the Pyrameglyph. She was dizzied by the impact, but she extracted long metal claws and swiped them at Gamora, who dodged and grabbed both Nebula's wrists, only for the latter to kick up at her face.

Atnort and Annaira exchanged looks. "So if this is an Original World, is this where the Negaverse gets it?" the former asked.

The ceiling of the temple blew open, interrupting the fight. A squad of Chitauri flew in, accompanied by Thanos on his throne. "It's so wonderful to see my children playing." Thanos smiled with malice. "Oh, don't let me intervene. I merely wanted to observe my girls bonding. After all… the game is not over." He looked up at the gauntlet. "The Infinity Gauntlet is right there. Which child will be the first to bring it to me? Nebula? …Gamora? …Or, how about you two?" He faced down at Atnort and Anna. "New children of Thanos… FIGHT, and prove which one is superior!"

Atnort looked at his sister, then to Gamora, before facing up at Thanos. He grit his teeth. "I'd rather fight the lazy fat guy in the floating CHAIR!" He shot a beam of lightning from his antenna. It was small and merely tickled the nose of Thanos. When it stopped, the lord's nose twitched. Atnort shot lightning from his hands, but it came in weak doses. He kept trying until- "Ow!" He fell to his knees. "My chi paths hurt… I had to use the Zip Dash too much."

Thanos dropped out of his throne, shaking the floor. He was three times taller than a human adult and very intimidating. He approached Atnort, but Annaira jumped in front, aimed her open hands, bent the fingers, and twisted the wrists different ways. She seemed to be clutching hard at an invisible force. Thanos cocked a brow. "What are you doing?"

"…Um…" A sweatdrop rolled down Anna's face. "Do you have blood?"

"Heh heh heh." Thanos smirked, showing his rotten teeth. "Gods do not bleed." He faced Gamora and Nebula. "Well? Is no one going to get the gauntlet?" Back to the Eerfnuds. "No? Fine." He approached the pyramid. "I'll do it myself."

The Mad Titan climbed the pyramid and claimed the golden gauntlet. It fit perfectly over his left hand. He balled his fist and viewed the knuckles, noting its empty spaces. "It feels… empty. But not for long… Soon, the Infinity Stones will be mine, and I will control reality!" He raised his fist above the tip of the pyramid and SMASHED!!

The impact of the Infinity Gauntlet to the unbreakable stone created a powerful shockwave that shook the entire temple. The others could barely keep on their feet and the temple started to crumble. Anna helped Atnort dodge the falling rock chunks, and when Thanos' daughters tried to do the same, a huge chunk crushed Nebula's left arm.

"ACK!" Nebula struggled to push the boulder off. "Father! I am trapped!"

"Nebula!" Gamora rushed to her.

"NO, Gamora!" Thanos roared. "Do not pity the weak!"

Gamora faced Nebula, trapped in a moral dilemma. However, the blue-skinned sister raised her knife and chopped the pinned arm off. "AAAAAH!"

A bright light flashed in the sky, and a ray struck the floor of the already-crumbling temple. Annaira hesitated, for Thanos had not read the Pyrameglyph, yet. But she looked at her weakened brother once more, and when the floor was seeing its last moments, Anna lifted Atnort up and jumped into the portal, returning to their universe's Posiverse.

After the temple was gone and the sisters escaped, Thanos stood on the one remaining platform before the Pyrameglyph.

O Supreme Being of the Universe… Seek the power that you long for… Become invincible… Become a god.

Thanos smirked at the very inspiring message. A dark aura flew from the pyramid into his mighty body. He was ready to seek the Infinity Stones.

Thanos awakened as a DARKNESS. Only 5 more to go.

The Mad Titan looked up at the sky, pondering over the beam of light that took his new children away. "Hmm… Even the boundaries of dimensions… are nothing to the power of Thanos. I will find you again, my children… and destroy all that you cherish."

Somewhere sometime in Danny Phantom's world

The Infinity Gauntlet, reduced to a lesser size, lay abandoned on the ground. A wandering ringleader happened to come by it. Baldhead, white skin, and red eyes were his features. He fixed the gauntlet perfectly over his hand. "Saaaaay! That's not a bad fit!"

The Infinity Gauntlet was known as the Reality Gauntlet, having been found and used by numerous people in this dimension's history. It was last seen at Final Brain, during the battle with the Brotherhood.

Sam and Tucker ran about, happily sucking ghost villains into their Thermoses, such as Kitty, Hotep-Ra, and Lydia, then suddenly noticed Freakshow. The ghost-wannabe looked angrily at them before using his Reality Gauntlet to turn giant, and the kids gasped and ran before he could stomp on them. Danny and Emily saw this and nodded to each other. Both Halfas flew up toward Freakshow's face and combined their Ecto Rays, firing directly at the clown's face and knocking him over. Freakshow growled in anger and used the Reality Gauntlet to transform himself into a hideously, terrifying ghost. However, Danny only looked with disbelief before simply sucking him inside the Fenton Thermos. He then picked up the dropped Reality Gauntlet and tossed it in the air, and Emily fired an Ecto Ray to destroy it.

The Infinity Stones were at a sufficient loss of power because they did not belong in this world. The gauntlet never looked more feeble.

Twenty years later, with the frozen villains free and long gone, the broken pieces of the gauntlet began to move to each other like magnets.

But they knew their original master would return. They would have power again.

Portal Chamber

"You know, there was something about Thanos' name that struck me as familiar." Thanatos said. "Do you know what that could be, Medusa?"

"Oh, Thannypoo." Medusa scratched the snake's chin. "Do you ever get tired of being a jokester?"

Nerehc, Fi, and the gods looked as Annaira fell out of the portal with Atnort's arm around her head. "Did you do it?" Nerehc asked.

"We… kinda left before we saw him read it." Atnort replied.

"Rest assured, he did read it." Medusa assured. "You did a fine job, you two."

"How? We didn't even guide him to it, and his daughters would've found the pyramid, anyway." Annaira reasoned.

"I just wanted to give you a preview." Medusa smirked. "Thanos is, without a doubt, the most powerful being in that universe. And when the Infinity Stones fall into his grasp… well, by God, even I am afraid!"

"She won't even get in bed with him!" Thanatos remarked.

Medusa glared and gripped his neck. "Anyway, I'll come back later with your next mission. Rest up, kiddies. You know what you're up against." She vanished in a Dark Portal.

"Hm… Was Thanos really as powerful as she says?" Nerehc asked.

"He really just sat on a chair most of the time." Atnort said. "But he's got a hell of a way raising kids. Speaking of which… why did you save me, Anna?"

"Stupid Atnort. You're my brother, aren't you? Someone needs to make sure you don't lightningbend irrepressibly."

"Yeah, well… you have weird-looking boogers."

"At least all I have to do is one swift motion of the hand and waterbend them out. Yours just sticks with static electricity."

"You just be careful what you touch when we get home." The two giggled.

"Awwww." Nerehc smiled. "They really do love each other."

Ghirahim smiled at the readers and winked.

"Still… do you think we should've brought those two with us?" Atnort asked.

"Why the hell would we? Those two were insane!"

"So are we, Anna! Don't you think they would've behaved a bit differently if we… got them away from Thanos?"

"I doubt it." Annaira looked away with a frown. "After all… I still want Aluben back."

"…I do, too… but compared to Thanos, Aluben is alright to be around."

Lunaria; Twinkle Park

"Oooooooo!" Diwata waved her hands and moaned in a ghostly fashion. "I'm bluuuuuuuue! So bluuuuuuue!"

Her Sector RZ friends stared at her with disbelief. "We see that. You aren't dead." Lee said.

"WE WANT A BLUE MAN GROUP!" Donna shouted angrily.

"Either we see dancing blue people or we're bashing heads!" Sonny threatened.

"I can't believe I didn't see that girl following me." Lapis sighed. "She should've definitely gotten lost in the Lunar Field."

"But the fact is she is Lunarian." Arlon reminded, still holding Crest. "Not that anyone else has noticed. When a Lunarian mates with a different species, their descendants inherit the skin color of that species. But when exposed to water, the element with the greatest connection to Moon Chi, their blueness shows. Age rates can vary among hybrids."

"Well, we knew Dee-Dee since we were little." Lulu replied. "Age isn't a factor."

"If I may ask, who are Miss Diwata's relatives?"

"Her mom's name is Flordeluna." Leanne answered. "A name that is… a dead giveaway when you think about it. But this part's weird, her dad's name is Bruce Uno—and he looks exactly like this other man called Bruce Farley! Even Uncle Nigel wasn't sure if he was related to him."

"Our theory is that Bruce Uno is from a parallel universe, transported to ours due to Arceus's temporal distortion 20 years ago." Denny explained.

"The temporal distortion?" Lapis asked, stupefied. "A man from a parallel universe?"

"Indeed, Lapis." Arlon agreed. "As outlandish as their story sounds… there may yet be truth to it."

"Oh derp, did we accidentally confirm a prophecy?" Leanne asked.

"We Lunarians have always anticipated the birth and arrival of the Tenth Firstborn, Crest of the Moon. But a Firstborn is not whole without its Mortal Guardian. And it was told that Crest's Firstborn Guardian would be one born of Lunarian blood, shared with the blood of one who hails beyond space's boundaries. I believe this translates to dimensional boundaries."

"So you're saying Diwata is the Firstborn Guardian?!" Lee exclaimed.

"The timing behind this could not be more random." Denny commented.

"Random or not, her duty is imperative." Arlon continued. "Moon Chi is a very powerful energy, and the amount Crest possesses is so great, it's devastating. His Guardian must teach him to use it wisely, and make wise use of her powers."

"But Diwata has firebending, not moonbending!" Lee argued.

"Actuallyyyyy not really." Diwata lit her hands with sapphire flames. "Moon Fire is kinda different from fire fire. It's only red as a disguise. It represents the anger or 'hotheadedness' of my Moon Chi."

"Just how good are you at moonbending?" Leanne asked.

"Uhhh, almost decent… could be better." she said quietly with a white blush.

"If she is the Guardian, she needs to claim Crest soon." Lapis stated. "The Apocalypse is coming, and Lunaria will be the first to go."

"What do you mean?" asked Denny.

"The Apocalypse will happen when the moons fail to contain the Netherverse's energy and explode, destroying all in their range. But with Crest's power, maybe we have a chance. He can keep the moons from exploding."

"You mean there might be a way to stop the Apocalypse?!" Leanne exclaimed. "What about the Twenty Keys?"

"It is only a presumption, children!" Arlon stressed. "Regardless, I am certain Master Crest's role in the universe is a great one. And to think our meeting transpires during such a time… it must be fate."

"Then I'll do it!" Diwata proclaimed. "I'll become Crest's Guardian, and together, we'll save the universe from-!"

"DAAAAH I can't stand this grown-up stuff anymore! !" Crest leapt out of Arlon's grasp and flew away.

"Master Crest! Please come back!" Arlon cried.

"I'll catch him!" Lapis flew after.

"What got into him?" Lee asked.

"Sigh… Master Crest is still a newborn of the Firstborn. His mind has yet to process and mature."

"At least he knows more than Manaphy." Leanne mentioned. "And he had 20 years."

Crest didn't go far, only hiding behind the short mount where a park tree was planted. Lapis stood on the edge of the mount and looked down at him. He was blending with the crescent moon rocks. "You didn't go far."

"Go away, I'm sulking!"

Lapis sat in front of him. "Is it the Apocalypse that has you so worried?"

"NO! I mean, YES! It's just, I didn't ask to be a Firstborn! I just wanted to fly around and eat food! But NOOOO! Red Eye Guy's holding me captive because guys will KIDNAP me, Big Mustache Guy says I need to mind my MANNERS, because I'm a MOON PRINCE, and I'm two freaking Earth years old!"

"Believe me, I understand! I know what it's like to be forced doing something you don't wanna do. And I think what some people seem to forget is… you may be a god, but you have a soul, too. You're only a child. Like, when people think of the Firstborn, they think of the most powerful beings in the universe, a source of unlimited power, they think of you as just… objects. But…" Lapis felt the urge to reach back and touch her gem, "you're not objects, and you're not just gods, either. You're people who have feelings and… know how to learn."

"I always wondered what the other Firstborn were like. You ever met them?"

"I only met one. And he, heh heh heh!" Lapis grinned, but then looked sheepishly, "he was somethin'."

"I'LL tell ya what Crest needs!" Diwata jumped up on the mount. "To just JUMP AROUND the moon and have FUUUUUN!" She leaped very high and slowly came down. "Come on, Crest, let's play! Put aside that boring god stuff for a day and be a kid!"

"AWESOME!"

"YEEEAAAH!" Dee-Dee grabbed Crest and leapt away.

A seaside cliff (Play "Twilight Terror Intro" from Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze! (Don't let the name fool you, it's gorgeous.))

"Tell me, Wendy." Vaati spoke as he and his daughter stared at the moonlit ocean's horizon. "When you are running across endless fields under endless skies… do you not long to see if that horizon has an end? To keep running as the air always flows through your lungs?"

"I never really thought about it before… but I guess I would like to find out."

"Don't you think everyone should be allowed to view this marvel? But when oceans block our way, people are forced to rent boats. And this beautiful planet is hidden from the universe. If more people could be free to breathe this planet's air, set foot on this soil…! That reminds me!" Vaati faced her. "When I arrived, I got this outfit for you to wear." He waved his wand, casting magic glitter over Wendy. Her yellow- and blue-striped dress morphed into an indigo dress with stars, a yellow crescent moon on the chest, and a half-moon pattern around the bottom edge. Her shoes were gone, leaving only the winged bracelets around her ankles.

Wendy twirled gracefully, smiling at her pretty new dress. She jumped very high, and as the low gravity slowed her descent, she spun around in the air like a fairy ballerina. She landed twirling on the toes of one foot. She came to a stop and said with a great smile, "I love it! I feel so happy right now, Dad!"

"I knew you would be. The feeling in your heart you are experiencing right now… it is freedom. It is the most wonderful feeling in the universe. When you feel like you are able to do anything… and with magic, you can. That's why I fell in love with, not just magic, but the universe, sought to learn everything I could. I know that you feel the same. Dr. Facilier writes to me about how excited you get when you learn something new."

"I really do!" Wendy grinned. "And I do want to learn a lot! I wonder if I'll ever know as much as you."

"It will take some time… but trying to teach you all I know on magic is only a small part. There is more. There are many things I believe in, Wendy. Freedom is one, but I also have strong faith in reincarnation. Do you know what that is?"

"Y-Yes, it's… being reborn as somebody else?"

"Correct. The idea that you and I were completely different people in a past life. But I'm not talking about who we were a thousand years ago… I am talking about who we were in another dimension."

"Another dimension?"

"Very old texts depict the idea that our very universe is the center of a Dimensional Fusion, the molding of many alternate universes and their people. Just about every person in this realm could have existed in another universe, with entirely different lives, including you and me."

"Does that mean… you and I aren't related?"

"In this universe and its timeline, we are father and daughter, but I'm saying there are versions of us who existed in other universes, and the gods of old have taken those people, and made them denizens of this one. No one knows what our original selves were like—perhaps I could have still been a wind mage, but you and I have no connection at all; I may not exist in your universe, I might have had a completely different personality. But I believe that our lives in those other worlds play a key effect with our lives here. I may not have been a revolutionary in that other world…" Vaati stared at his hand, "but perhaps I had revolutionary qualities. It leaves so much to wonder."

"How do you know all of this?"

"In the Spirit World, there is a deity called the Chronicler. He lives on an island where, to speak with him, one of each main bender type, plus Time and Space, must work together. His trials were primarily set for the Avatar & Negatar; apparently either one gets Time and Space every few generations. Anyway, I and some friends of mine braved those trials and spoke with him. He possessed a very ancient text describing this Fusion, and knowledge beyond. Would you like to hear something amazing, Wendy?" He spoke this last part with concealed enthusiasm.

"S-Sure!"

Vaati walked forward, knelt to her eye-level, and placed hands on her shoulders. There was great excitement and desire in his voice. "There is a legend that tells of Twenty Keys: Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses. These keys can open a door to a dimension that existed before our own. It was from that dimension, the foundation of this one was formed, by ordinary mortals."

"I think I know about that! Dr. Facilier and Lee talk about the quest."

"Then you must also know about the Apocalypse destined to destroy this universe."

"Y…Yes?…" Wendy was saddened.

"I understand your remorse. This universe is doomed, Wendy, but if this door were opened, we can go to that world, and design a brand new universe! Do you know what that means?"

"We can save everyone?!" she exclaimed with bright eyes.

"Better! It means we can design a brand new world to our liking! Create a balance even the gods never knew! We're the gods, Wendy! That power, greater than Logia, is in our hand! Creating a world… a world of wind."

"Wind?…" That sounded like a very odd desire.

"I mean, yes, all elements are equally important, but I always believed that wind… succeeded. What I want, what I always desired, for you, Wendy… is freedom. I want to create a world without the annoyance of governments, rules, borders; gods even. Every soul, every being in the universe will possess absolute freedom, like a Spirit World on Earth. I want this, not just for you, but for your friends, ALL the future generations! I abandoned you at that orphanage to give you freedom from parentage, let you see what it means to roam free, but now that you're with me, I want you to help me realize that dream! Won't you?"

His eye was trembling with excitement. Wendy was frightened a little. "But… true freedom… how will that work? I like running around and all, but… If we didn't have rules, bad people would be free to do bad things, no one would stop anyone from fighting. U-Unless you mean to establish a morality system with creating it."

"No, that's the thing! We'll create the universe, place the people inside, but from there it's on them. I want every person to live with absolute freedom, feeling no pressuring ties with gods who might be watching. Any life that they decide should be their decision, not a king's, not even parents. I will create a world where everyone knows the freedom that I—that YOU knew. You will never be hunted anymore, Wendy, the World Government will have no say. Join me in destroying them, so we may accomplish that dream."

"D-Destroy them? But what do THEY have to do with this?"

"They are trying to interfere with us, they only want a world of law and rule. THEIR law. To find true freedom, we must sacrifice, and since they try to rob us of freedom, we must destroy them. Then, in death, they will understand. Wendy, why wouldn't you want this? They, who've been trying to take your freedom, capture you."

"I know, and I'm angry at them for it! But I never wanted to have freedom… at least, not exactly. I wanted a family—I wouldn't have cared if they set up some rules as long as they loved me. Running around everywhere, seeing the world… It really is a lot of fun, but seeing all those children with friends and families… made me feel empty. I really don't like fighting or hurting people, but I don't agree with you OR the Government. I…I think there needs to be a balance."

"Indeed, it was the gods that designed the original Balance of Light vs. Darkness. But if we were the gods, we could establish our own Balance. A wise airbender named Guru Laghima once said 'New growth cannot commence without the destruction of the old.' I believe the Apocalypse represents this belief. The Apocalypse will destroy the universe, giving us the chance to recreate it anew. Recreate it… better."

"But the Apocalypse will kill everyone we love. I don't want that to happen."

"It will not kill everyone… If nothing else, we will rescue the young generations, and I will teach them what true freedom means. They will help me in creating this free universe, and they will have you to guide them also."

"I just don't know, Dad. There's going to be bad people that will abuse their freedom, abuse it by hurting people."

"And with nothing to hold them down, those people will fight back!"

"So everyone's fighting each other! I don't want a world like that!"

"You need not fear, Wendy, because in a world of true freedom, there will be no need for conflict. Everybody will be happy, and it will be thanks to us."

"You sound very ascertained." They turned around as Carla walked out from behind her stalagmite. "But for someone who boasts about freedom and detaching children from their parentage, you have an awful lot of expectations for your daughter."

"Carla!" Wendy said in slight surprise. "How did you find us?"

"I ran after you… Not easy for someone without wings."

"Well, regrettably, I have my own limitations in my teachings." Vaati blushed. "I want my daughter to act freely and not feel burdened by me… but I want to avow my philosophy to everyone. Once I do, everybody will desire to pursue their dreams, feeling no fear in doing so. I truly believe it is the right way, and Wendy can understand as well."

"Well, that is a brighter way of looking at it…" Wendy smiled. "I guess everyone deserves to be who they wanna be… It's just…"

"It's just there has to be some limitations." Carla said with paws on her hip. "Parents, for instance, have a responsibility to raise and protect their children."

"A house pet wouldn't know anything about freedom, I suppose." Vaati shrugged. "But perhaps you can learn a few things, too."

"Maybe we should just not talk about it." Wendy suggested. "I was having a good time… I wanna just enjoy the planet."

"You're right, Dear." Vaati smiled. "I'm sorry for jumping into this so quickly. Perhaps we should look for Dr. Facilier and your friends. Would you like to race?"

"Heh heh, sure!" Wendy beamed. "Hold on tight, Carla!" She picked her kitten up and joined her father on the imaginary start line. …A shadow fell over them. They looked up, seeing a fleet of ships with red "R"s painted on their hulls. "What're those?"

"Not of this world." Vaati glared. "In fact… I feel a disturbing power."

Twinkle Park

Arlon treated the kids to Blue Moon Ice Cream, which packed a taste like blueberries that were plucked from the sky… according to Diwata's first reaction. Lulu and Leanne were sitting on a park bench and watching the others play. Lee Andrew and Denny were playing Dodge Moon with the local Lunarian kids, and Diwata, Crest, and Lapis were playing with the Ice Climbers in the snow, which was conjured by the latter. "Well, Crest came out of that fast." Leanne noticed.

"Well, he's like the moon." Lulu figured. "He changes a lot! Mood swings and all."

"I guess so." Leanne laughed. "You know… I think I understand why Arceus made the Firstborn kids."

"Why?"

"To show us that the gods aren't much different from us." The Ice Climbers dressed Crest up like a snowman, and Diwata tried to eat him like a snowcone. They laughed. "I mean, when you take away the part about them being supremely powerful beings who created the universe, the gods are… basically human…ish."

"Not very." Lulu said. The girls laughed. "But still, do you really think Crest could stop the Apocalypse?"

"Not really… If he could, then there would be no point to this Twenty Keys thing. But it will be nice to have another Firstborn on our side."

"You know, our parents say Jirachi was the original Kids Next Door operative. If he is, then maybe the Firstborn were the… original KND sector. Sector First!"

"You might be right! And after all these years, they're still part of the team!"

"And now Crest can join that team!"

Dr. Facilier lay under a nearby tree, growing drowsy and smiling from the noise of the carefree children. He looked at the stars and could only see Wendy's vibrant smile. I'm sure you're happy right now, too. Finally found yo' dad. …I guess you won't want me for a teacher, anymore. Oh well… Have to learn to let go, I guess.

Sonny and Donna gave Crest their Blue Moons, and the Firstborn stuffed both ice cream chunks in his mouth, earning laughs from his friends. He might have been a Firstborn… but he was a person all the same. He wondered if his Firstborn brethren felt the same, if they casually interacted with mortal children because they were the same. They were carefree children in a carefree world, and even if they were mortal, he was glad to be among them. (End song. :()

It wasn't long before the peace was ruined by the roaring engines of ships surrounding the park. "Prepare for trouble, you know peace doesn't last!"

"Make it double, it goes away fast!"

"All the way across the galaxy!"

"It's time we realize our destiny!"

The roof of the flagship opened, and out came Jessie, James, Cassidy, and Butch in gorgeous indigo dresswear that made them blend in with the night. "Oh, but what is it that I see?" sang Jessie. "Little twerps, and I think they might pee!"

"I smell a fragrant scent in the air." James whiffed his rose. "Perhaps the new parfume in my hair."

"Maybe we'll give them a pretty song." Cassidy smirked. "I don't see what could go wrong."

"I think that you're right." Butch followed. "We'll sing with all our love and might!"

Meowth jumped in front. "But we'll save it for next chapter! Goooood NIGHT!"

"WOOOOB-buffet!"

"Chiiiiiime!"