58. Project Daycare

This chapter also takes place on May 15.

Cleveland Park

Team Sandman hurried to the park after leaving the Dimalanta House. The normally peaceful park had trashcans and picnic tables fallen over. Kami Heartly was the only person in the park, pacing back-and-forth in a frantic fashion. She saw the three approaching. "Nolan, thank God!" She jogged up to them. "Did you hear what happened?"

"Yeah, Jeremiah called Matt. Your daughter got kidnapped by GUN agents?!" Nolan was still baffled by the idea.

"Yes, they just showed up out of nowhere! First, this ninja girl appears and knocks out her friends, then a bunch of helicopters… Sigh, I tried to ask what they were doing, but they said they were under strict orders. God, it's just like 20 years ago."

"Haha, you got kidnapped a lot back then!" Yuki laughed.

"I don't understand what's going on, but they're probably being taken to GUN H.Q.." Nolan figured. "I know where the base is, so we'll fly there and rescue them."

"I'm coming, too, you know!" Kami insisted. "If my daughter's being thrown in detention, I have a right to know why so I can scold her later!"

"Eh, can't argue with that. I'm friends with the GUN Commander, so maybe I can ask him what this is about and make sure the kids get off easy."

"Maybe. But just in case you can't," Kami raised her right hand as the Jungle King Keyblade materialized, "I may have to get aggressive."

"Holy mackerel!" Crystal gaped. "What kind of weapon is that?"

"It's a Keyblade." Nolan said. "I used one in my battle with Revan. I'm not sure what they are."

"I just think it's a really weird sword." Kami replied.

G.U.N. H.Q.

Kimaya, Beat, and Rhyme were thrown into a cell protected by a blue force field, handcuffed by chi-cuffs. Kaleo was herded somewhere else, being forced to crawl due to his size, wearing a shock collar around his giant neck. "Aroooo! Aroooo!" the giant roared like a moose, having taken way too many jolts to still be thinking right. They shocked him with the collar again. "Aroooo…"

"MAN, you can't lock us in here!" Beat shouted, banging on the force field. "This validates our constitutional rights! Our rights to not be beat up by a ninja and taken to a military facility wifout a permit!"

"Oh, but we do." Agent Stan Smith replied. Two agents beside him had Django inside a glass case, and his Mystic Guitar in the other. "This skeleton has been on our wanted posters for quite some time. You were seen associating with him, and therefore harboring him. Under the orders of Carter Pewterschmidt, we are to study this guitar for its supernatural properties and determine if it can be any use to us."

Hearing this sparked a reaction from Django. He gritted his teeth. "Your giant friend looks worth studying, too. Don't worry, we'll set you kids free as soon as you answer our interrogations." The agents left, taking Django and Leo with them.

Stan Smith told the agents to take them to the designated rooms. As he was joined by his ninja daughter, Hayley, he looked at a TV in the ceiling corner. It showed Team Sandman and Kami entering the facility from the front. "Hmmm…" Stan rubbed his chin and looked at Hayley. "I was going to deactivate you… but I may need you for just a little bit. As a matter of fact…" He looked at the TV again. Stan seemed to recognize the blonde woman with the large key. (Er, except the large key.)

Entrance

"Commander Gunkan." Nolan acknowledged as they approached the GUN Commander in the lobby. "Right on time."

"Mr. York." Brett's hands were folded behind him. "Yes, we were expecting to have visitors regarding, eh… some new prisoners. Thanks again for your help exposing the secret in Dressrosa."

"You jerks kidnapped my daughter!!" Kami shouted. "What the crap?!"

"It wasn't our decision, and I tried to speak against it." Gunkan said. "But we were ordered by the Corporate President, Carter Pewterschmidt."

"And under President Pewterschmidt's orders, you'll keep silent on the matter." They looked as Stan Smith marched into the lobby. "After all, you can't betray the one who funded your little organization to begin with. A shame you don't hunt metahumans anymore like you were originally paid for."

"YOU arrested my daughter!" Kami stomped up with her fist balled near Stan's chin. "Where is she?!"

"Heh, please, please." Stan smiled and gestured her to calm down. "I'll let you see your daughter momentarily. Come with me and we'll talk." He casually turned to walk down a hall, and Kami followed, keeping a firm grip on her Keyblade.

"Should one of us go with her?" Wiccan asked.

"Kami can handle herself." Nolan assured. "We don't need to make a scene here, yet. Brett, maybe you can help us with a different matter. Ever heard of Hugo Strange?"

"Sigh… yes, I have." Brett looked away as he collected his thoughts. "He used to be a scientist here at GUN… He was a paranormal specialist who tried to find ways to harness the forces we did not understand. By which I mean the spiritual forces of life and death. He wanted to find ways to revive the dead and control them."

"Why on Earth would he?" asked Crystal with repulse.

"I assume because of some past trauma. This was 14 years ago, and as you would expect, it was too freaky for our tastes. We were going to send him away, but that's when a group of High Agents from Mariejoa came down. Apparently, the World Leaders have spies working under our ranks, making sure we're being good. Those spies told the Leaders about Strange, so they sent some people down to take him away. Now he's the apprentice to Felius Umbridge."

"What does he do for her?" Yuki asked.

"I don't know. But…" Gunkan stepped closer and spoke in a whisper, "I heard he has a secret lab in Saudi Arabia. When he came to our base one day on a helicopter, I overheard the pilots talk about it. It's stationed in a town called Magnostadt."

"Magnostadt?" Crystal cocked a brow.

"I've never seen it, and it's not on any maps. It's a secluded city of wizards and mages."

"Yes, I've read about it. Apparently, there's a magic school there. I never believed it existed."

"But you know Hogwarts exists." Yuki contradicted.

"I'm sure there's a science behind it all."

"If it's not on any maps, how do we find it?" Nolan asked.

"I don't know. …Anyway, Nolan, it's probably not best to stay here. 'Sandman' is wanted. I'll make sure nothing bad happens to Kami." Brett assured.

"Very well. We'll just wait outside for her." The three heroes exited the base.

"Well, I'm usually up for visiting a magic city." Crystal began with enthusiasm. "But if we're going to Arabia, I guess I'll have to hide my face and stick with you men." She said with repulse.

"Eh, they're gonna be hunting all of us, so it won't matter. We'll still have to be stealthy. Our only concern now is how to-" Nolan's wristwatch beeped. It depicted a green "?" on its screen. He answered the call.

"Was it a bat I saw? Oh ho, just kidding. I've been spending too much time with my cousin, Palindrome. IT'S ME, your long-time friend, The Riddler! And I would be SOOO happy to give my Sandy a helping hand in finding Magnostadt! But first, I require an itsy bitsy request. What kind of trophy asks questions?"

"Riddler Trophies." The three chorused, rolling their eyes.

"That's right! Go out and collect some more. After all, intelligence is more important in a hero than strength. And I just don't think you got what it takes. As soon as you complete more of my challenges, I'll tell you how to find Magnostadt." He hung up.

"Fine. As soon as Kami's all done in there. But knowing her, there's going to be drama."

Inside

"Tell me why you arrested my daughter." Kami demanded after leaving Nolan's group. Stan Smith approached the coffee maker in a robot laboratory and poured a cup.

"Can I ask you something, Mrs. Heartly?" he asked.

"W-… How do you know my last name?"

"Your daughter is named Kimaya Heartly, so that made it obvious."

"Oh… But-" She was about to question him on that.

"I also know your first name, Kami." She felt her heart jump at that statement. "I recognize you." When he turned back to face her, there were a few tiny holographic screens by his eyes. "Want some coffee?" Stan smiled and handed her the cup.

"…Um… thank you?" She took a sip of the coffee, looking confused.

"We know you were the one who defeated the Pirate Emperor, King K. Rool. Very impressive."

"Really? I didn't think that would make me famous."

"Oh, the Government notices these things. But while battling a notorious crime lord comes easy, raising a child isn't, it seems."

Kami choked when she took another sip. "Whaddyou… mean?"

Stan snapped his fingers. Hayley Smith flipped over in a stylish ninja fashion before standing firm, her expression serious. "Kami, this is my daughter, Hayley. Pretty, ain't she? She's strong, she's fast, and more importantly, she's under my control."

"What?"

"Come this way, please."

Stan led Kami to a nearby room that was designed like a kindergarten classroom. There were young children sitting at desks and coloring pictures. It was a diverse class with Caucasians, Asians, African-Americans, and even some Lilliputians. They all wore neck collars. "This is a secret program we started 18 years ago, called Project Daycare. We raise children to become Sleeper Agents for the World Government. Heh, when the CIA submitted this proposal, you wouldn't believe how many countries protested it. Even Japan. Boy, won't they be pissed. But that's why we have America, the freest country in the world."

One of the girls colored outside the line on her picture. Her collar started beeping, and some agents rushed in to grab her and take her to a back room. Kami could only gape in horror. "If that new child president knew about this, we would be ruined. The other countries would go crazy and everything would fall to chaos. Much like your relationship with your daughter, if she found out."

Kami bit her lip. From Stan's view, she appeared to be restraining some feelings. "Yes, Kami, we know you considered this. When your daughter was two, you among several other parents brought your kids here after you received our 'secret' invitation. Before you completely agreed to it, we made you believe it was a simple government-organized daycare meant to teach your children obedience. You actually let Kimaya take a few classes. A few months of classes, in fact. Her collar went off a lot. But by that time, we were ready to trust you with the activation code."

"I pulled Kimaya out of this place for a reason!" Kami stated. "I couldn't believe you were trying to control kids, it's wrong!"

"Then why did you let her stay here this long? Why have you never told anyone?"

"…Because… I was ashamed. When she was growing up, I even considered taking her back. Then that Arlon person showed up and gave me the same offer. I finally gave in and took it, and I… She just wasn't the same. I still feel terrible."

"Your daughter is a disobedient little rebel. And if she found out, she would just ignore the word 'law' altogether. Her own mother tried to destroy her free will. Isn't that the worst thing you would ever wanna hear?"

Kami sighed, bowing her head in shame. "Now, we promise not to hurt your daughter while she's here. You just walk away and forget what you saw… and we promise not to tell her this cold truth."

"I let her take those classes because I wanted Kimaya to be good. I wanted her to be a girl everyone could love."

"See, we all have our poisons."

"…But if you're just going to arrest her for no reason, the word 'law' lost its meaning already. HYAH!" She swung the Keyblade and scratched Stan's cheek, knocking him back. "My daughter might not trust me again, but I won't let you get away with this! It's time I do what I should've done years ago!" She started slicing the collars off the kids, and attacking the agents that tried to subdue her. Stan grabbed Kami by the neck and threw her back up the stairs to the laboratory.

Kami got up and gasped when Stan flew in with jetshoes. His left eye was red, and his right arm was a cannon. "You see, Kami, at the same time I signed Hayley up for Project Daycare, the CIA made me a deal I couldn't refuse: they turned my real body into a CYBORG!" He ripped off his suit, exposing the blue robotic body, which had a yellow belt with an American Flag buckle. "It even comes with a language library!" He turned a dial a few times. "Español! Nihongo. Français! British, old chap! And some dead language." He turned once more. "Latinae."

"Figures. Only a heartless robot would turn his daughter into a weapon."

"Before I remark your hypocrisy, let me show you what these Sleepers can do. Hayley, I command you to-" The alarms blared. They looked at the ceiling TV, which displayed The Gang escaping their cell. "They're escaping?! Hayley, go stop them! Don't let them free the subjects! But do it quick!"

"Understood." The ninja flipped away.

Prison wing; a few minutes ago

"Dammit, I wish they let us keep our iPhone!" Beat shouted, kicking the barrier. "I never gone this long without music! I need mah DJ Gappa, I need mah Poop Dog!"

"I wish Vweeb was here." Rhyme said. "He's so small, he could go right under this wall. Hee hee, so fun, so fun! Hey, whatchu doing, Kim?"

Kimaya was sitting against the wall, her legs arched up and her eyes closed. Keeper… Awaken… Keeper… Awaken…

"Who the hell are you?" Kimaya asked.

In Pueblo de Niebla lies the key.

"Puebla de Whuuuh?"

"Kimayaaaa… You startin' to creep me out by talkin' to yourself!" Beat exclaimed. Rhyme curiously crawled up to her.

You hold the key… In Pueblo de Niebla lies your destiny.

"Ooo, what's this?" Rhyme saw a keychain sticking out of Kimaya's pocket and pulled it out.

"Huh?" Kimaya looked up and saw the small, white key hanging from the chain in Rhyme's hand.

"Hey, this is pretty!" Rhyme grinned. "Where'd you get it?"

"I…I ain't remember havin' this." Kimaya took it in her right hand, looking at it strangely. "Wait… I remember it, though. It was in a dream I had." She let the key rest on her palm. "It was a-" The keychain FLASHED, and suddenly grew the size of a sword. The Keyblade was white, had a blue star with yellow points, and angel wings around the hilt.

"HOLY SHIZ!" Beat literally jumped out of his loose pants, and Rhyme flew back in shock.

Oathkeeper…

"Son of a frick!!" Kimaya stood up and waved the weapon around. "H-How the hell this even…?!"

"What kinda lock NEEDS a key that big?!" Beat asked.

"…Ah dunno… But lemme see what it does." She smirked and lashed the blade at Beat.

"YAAAH!" He shut his eyes. "…Huh?" Kimaya chopped off his chi-cuffs.

Kimaya then cut Rhyme's cuffs, and Rhyme took the Keyblade and cut Kim's. "That's mah jam." Kimaya took the key back. "Gang, this is our exit card." With that, she aimed the key at the cell's lock and fired a small beam. The barrier vanished.

"GIRL, HOW LONG YOU FUCKIN' HAVE THAT?!" Beat yelled.

"HEY, THIS just appeared in mah pocket, I dunno WHO put it there or when!"

"Then why you ackin' like you know how to use it?!"

"I DUNNO! There's this freaky-ass voice in mah head, tellin' me to do this shit, and I'm like, whatevuh."

The alarms started blaring as the hall flashed red. "Fine, whatevuh, let's ditch!" Beat yelled.

"First we gotta get Leo and Django! They took 'em this way!"

"'kay, but the second Leo turns green and 'is shirt rips, he's on his own!" The group rushed down the hall.

Testing Room

"MMMMM!" Kaleo was given a giant plate with four dozen bacon sandwiches, which he gobbled up like small pieces of candy. "This is tasty! And Mom always tells me not to end up in prison!" He then proceeded to lick milk out of a giant bowl like a dog. The scientist watching him wrote notes down about the 'Mammoth Toddler.'

"KALEO, DON'T!" Django yelled from his glass cage. "They put Tatababasco in those sandwiches, it's an illegal spice!"

The Mystic Guitar was placed inside a large machine, which made a thorough scan. The guitar was depicted on a screen, with blocks of writing that indicated certain parts of it. "No doubt, these wavelengths aren't normal." One scientist said. "I don't recognize it."

"You don't suppose it's… magic, do you?" another asked.

They all chuckled for a second. "Still, this must definitely be an item of the supernatural. Perhaps we should inform President Pewterschmidt."

"DON'T EVEN THINK IT!" Django yelled. "That jackass took enough from me already! I'll tear all the skin off your bones if you-"

Beat and Rhyme blew the door down with a synchronized Song Beam. "AH RIGHT, G-Dogs!" Beat sang. "Here's how it's goin' down! We gonna take back our buds, and Y'ALL are gonna sit down at your little desks and whine about it, ya dig? OOMP!" He and Rhyme were kicked forward by Hayley. The Sleeper ninja drew out a knife and twirled it around.

"NOT COOL, man!" Kimaya came behind Hayley and knocked her away with the Keyblade. "Yo, I'll beat this ninja chick, y'all take out these nerds!"

"WORD!" The Bitos sang.

Kimaya blocked Hayley's knife and bat the weapon away, then leapt over the ninja while bashing her in the head with the Keyblade. Kimaya swung her blade at Hayley's sides, but she blocked with her arms and kicked Kimaya away. She fell on her back, raising her Keyblade to block Hayley's kick, then she kicked the ninja's ankle to knock her down. Hayley grabbed Kimaya and tossed her skyward as she jumped back to her feet. When Kimaya came back down, Hayley jumped and kicked her toward Kaleo, but Kimaya planted her feet against the giant's leg and kicked off, flying back to Hayley and sending her flying back with a Keyblade swing.

Upstairs

Stan flew at Kami and soared around the room, continuously shoving her before aiming to crash into a wall. Kami knocked Stan's arm away with the Keyblade and fell, causing him to crash himself. Stan recovered and shot a round of lasers, Kami twirling the Keyblade to block them. Stan aimed his left fist and blasted it, knocking Kami across the room and through a few tables. Stan flew above and attempted to stomp his boot down, but Kami rolled aside and got back on her feet. She swung her blade at Stan, but he grabbed it and shoved against her with equal force.

During this stalemate, Stan looked at a timer on his left arm. 1:50 was left. "Damn. I guess I lost track of time." His rockets kicked on as he shoved Kami to the wall. He flew away and spoke in his wristwatch, a satellite extracting on his head. "Hayley, it's Stan. I'm Getting Fed Up With-"

Kami chopped the satellite off his head and bashed him in the chin. "Wait! I need to deactivate-" Stan tried to speak, but Kami dealt another blow and bounced him back. She jumped over and slashed an 'X' on his chest, then bat him away again.

"Nice try, but I won't let you use your daughter like this!"

"UGH!" Stan shot his fist again, but Kami leaped over and ran at Stan. The cyborg tried to fly away, but Kami tossed the Keyblade and struck the right jet, causing Stan to fly out of control and crash into a large robot with an empty cockpit.

Downstairs

Hayley lifted Kimaya by the shirt and started punching the girl in the face. Hayley tossed Kim into Leo's large milk bowl, the boy perking in surprise. Hayley jumped in the milk bowl after her, and the girls fought and splashed around like they were in a pool. "This is like when my hamster, Chitters jumped in my cereal!" Kaleo grinned. "Then he took a nap and floated there while I ate."

Beat and Rhyme finished knocking out the scientists before the former punched Django's case and broke the glass. "Hurry and get my guitar back!"

The Bito siblings fired a twin Song Beam at the scanner machine, but it did nothing. "Darn it, it's some kinda 'reinforced' metal! Yo, Kimaya, save Leo and have him bust this open!" he called.

"DO NOT LET PRISONERS ESCAPE!" Hayley jumped out of the bowl and flipped over to kick Beat and Rhyme down, then kicked one of Django's legs off before attempting to stomp him in his skull head. Kimaya jumped and grabbed Hayley from behind, but the ninja pinned Django down and grabbed Kim by the neck, choking her. She grabbed Kim's Keyblade and tossed it away.

"KIMAYA!" the Bitos cried. Rhyme ran to grab the fallen Keyblade and aimed it at Hayley. "…Grrr, how do you shoot the laser?!" She shook it.

"RRR!" Beat leapt to punch Hayley, but she punched him back.

"What?" The Keyblade vanished in Rhyme's hand and reappeared in Kimaya's. She slashed Hayley down the chest and got free.

Upstairs

Kami grabbed onto Stan from behind, and while he was able to balance in the air with a single jetshoe, he struggled to shake her off. After he finally dropped Kami on the floor, he aimed his cannon at her. "I can't waste time with you. Good-bye-…" Stan glanced at his watch, which read 00:00. "No!…" He gasped.

Downstairs, Hayley was surrounded by the three Gang members, readying herself. Suddenly, she stretched upright, eyes wide for a second. With a calm aura and narrowed eyes, Hayley walked over to pick up her knife. She left the room, leaving The Gang confused.

"Maybe there's still time to-" Stan tried to fly away, but Kami tossed her blade at his other jet and made him drop down. She caught her Keyblade and leapt to stab it through his cannon.

"Wow, this key's stronger than it looks." Kami smirked.

"You don't understand! If I don't deactivate my daughter, she's going to-" A door broke down, and Hayley was standing in the entrance.

"Hello… Father." The ninja glared at her father.

"I'm Getting Fed Up With This Orgasm!" Stan yelled.

Hayley gripped the knife. "So am I." Kami jumped away when Hayley charged at them, stabbing the knife at Stan's face, but he smacked it away as the two swung punches at each other.

"So, is your control broken?" Kami asked.

"No, worse! If a Sleeper Agent remains active for seven straight days, she kills her handler!"

"What?!"

"It's a glitch in the program we never got around to fixing!" Stan locked hands with his daughter as they pushed each other. "Don't just stand there, do something!"

"And why should I? You're the one that had her brainwashed in the first place!"

"PLEASE, just do it! If you help me, I'll get rid of the Sleeper in your daughter!"

"What do you mean, I pulled Kimaya out of this!"

"Yes, but we were able to implant the Sleeper inside of her! She may not've been heavily trained, but someone could still use her. For example, Carter Pewterschmidt."

"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Hayley's hands turned Armament Haki, allowing her to squeeze and crush Stan's robot hands.

"AAAAH!" the cyborg screamed. Hayley flipped behind, wrapped her Haki arms around his neck, and squeezed until the head snapped off his body. Stan's expression was left agape as his red eye turned off.

"Uh…" Hayley fainted alongside her robot father. Kami panted, watching in case either of them would get up again. She then looked at the ceiling screens, seeing Kimaya's group coming back.

Downstairs

"RRRUH! NNNN!" After Kaleo was freed, the giant furiously banged his head on the containment chamber, steadily creating a dent. "Don't worry, Django, I'll have that guitar outta there in a jiffy! AAAAH!" He continued head-bashing.

"Just break the glass, you idiot!" Django yelled.

Kaleo noticed the window on the machine. "That's probly easier." He kicked the window and broke it easily.

"Well, nothin' lost, at least." Kimaya shrugged.

Django retrieved his guitar from the scanner. "'Guess not. So Kimaya, where'd you get the giant key?"

"I dunno, it was just in mah pocket. Don't ask me how Ah got so badass with it—some reason, it feels like I always had it." She viewed the Keyblade from all sides. "There was this weird voice in my head about 'Pueblo de Niebla.'"

Django gasped. "Pueblo de Niebla?"

"Can we get outta here first??" Beat insisted.

"Right! All aboard the Leo!"

Kaleo crouched down like a dog as his friends climbed on his back. GUN agents swarmed in, but the giant smacked them away like dominoes as he trotted down the prison wing and up the stairs.

Kaleo smashed down the archway of the door Hayley broke open earlier. "Kimaya!" Kami yelled.

"MOM! Man, I swear if you put that chip in mah hat again!" Kimaya took off her hat and brushed her hair.

"Kimaya, let's go, my friends are waiting outside."

Commander Gunkan didn't bother to try and stop the escaping kids – the fact that one of them was giant would probably result in futile efforts. Kaleo stopped beside Nolan's Sandmobile outside as the kids climbed off. "You don't expect me to fit HIM on this, do you?" Nolan questioned.

"No worries." Django tuned the dials on his guitar before aiming it at Leo and strumming a sonic wave. The giant boy shrunk down to normal size. "Problem solved."

"YOU COULDA DID THAT ALL ALONG?!" The Gang and Kami screamed.

"Hwhat, hyou didn't ask!" Django chortled.

"There still isn't enough room for all of you." Crystal noted.

"So we'll make some." With that, Django strummed the guitar and shrunk Wiccan, Yuki, and Kami.

"Problem solved agin!" Kimaya grinned, picking up her mini mother.

"Solution to everything, I suppose." Kami sighed.

"Well, if it ain't broke." Nolan shrugged. "Pick them up and climb in."

With Beat and Rhyme holding Yuki and Wiccan, the kids climbed into the Sandmobile and took off from the base. Commander Gunkan watched them with a proud smile. "Hm hm… What is it about kids that make them so hard to contain?"

"Sir!" A GUN agent hurried out. "We're unable to contact Area Delta! For some reason, our satellite image picked up some cartoon about monkeys."

"Monkeys?"

Cleveland; Gallagher Neighborhood

When they returned to Sector V's neighborhood, Django restored the adults to normal size. Nolan received a call from Haruka and headed for her house with his friends. Kimaya showed her mom the Oathkeeper and explained how it mysteriously appeared in her possession. "So your Keyblade appeared outta nowhere too, Mom?" Kimaya asked after Kami told her own story.

"Yes, it did. But then K. Rool brought it back to me several months ago in the form of a keychain. I never understood these 20 years ago, I don't understand them now. Kimaya, there's something I need to tell y-"

"Kimaya, you said something about Pueblo de Niebla." Django brought up. "Something about a voice?"

"I 'unno, i' was jus' some voice. Why you so hooked on it?"

"…" Django looked away and answered, "Pueblo de Niebla's my hometown."

"Wait, I thought'chu were from Miracle City?" Beat asked.

"No, that's where I moved. I was born in Pueblo de Niebla."

"Is that Spanish for something?" Rhyme asked.

"Yes, it means Village of Fog. It's called that because of its toxic air. Not a good place to live unless you're dead. …Heheh."

"If it's where you're from, you think… You think we can visit it?" Kimaya asked.

"Kimaya, he just said the place STANKS!" Beat retorted.

"Ah know, but…" She looked at her Keyblade. "'Some reason, I feel like I'm supposed to go there. Like my instinct or something. So Django, maybe you wanna take us?"

Django looked hesitant. "Um, I…"

"ROAD TRIP!" Beat and Rhyme double high-fived. "C'mon, Rhyme, let's go home and git our skateboards."

"I wanna skate, too!" Kaleo yelled, running after them.

"MAN, you fall on your face each time!"

"Ah'm runnin' home, too!" Kimaya announced. "Later, Mom!"

"Wait! I-… Ugh." Kami sighed.

"Your daughter's growin' up fast." Django smirked.

"Not fast enough. When're you gonna take off that skeleton costume?"

"Screw you. I'm gonna see what Dillon's dad's doing." Django headed for the Dimalanta House.

Dimalanta House

"Haruka!" Nolan, Yuki, and Wiccan came down the stairs to the basement lab. "Did you find out what that chemical is?"

"Yes, but I had to call in some help." Haruka replied, holding up her cellphone. "After I bent a sample of the chemical away from the milk, I took a picture and sent it…"

"TO ME!" A maniacal voice spoke from the phone. "Her FAVORITE uncle!"

"Wait a second… Is that Caesar Clown?!" Nolan exclaimed.

"Right you are! And that dull old voice must belong to Sandman! Pleasure to see you again, old chum."

"When Caesar escaped Dressrosa, he left his phone number behind." Haru explained.

"I knew sweet little Haruka wouldn't resist the urge to call me, to seek my expertise! And my, look at the work she has been doing. The minute I learned she was my niece, I knew she had the potential I had always desired in an apprentice."

"Not interested! I just wanted to ask if you knew what this was!"

"Of course I do! It is a very rare and powerful chemical I had only heard in legends. It's called Lazarus."

"Lazarus?" repeated Nolan.

"Based on stories, Lazarus has the ability to preserve life and heal wounds. Any sickness a person may have, physical disability, can be GONE! by just taking a dip in Lazarus."

"Isn't that kinda like the Fountain of Youth or the Fountain of Dreams?" Haruka asked.

"Yes, but Lazarus is far superior! Those measly fountains only have temporary effects, but Lazarus can last for very long periods! Oh, how I longed to get my hands on the substance; just imagine all the experiments I can do with it."

"But why would Hugo Strange want people to drink Lazarus in their milk?" Nolan said.

"What did you just say?!" Django asked loudly. He was standing at the basement stairs.

"Django, what're you doing here?" asked Haruka.

"Never mind that, whaddid you say about Lazarus?"

"Um, it's this chemical Mr. York found in these milk bottles. They said that they were being shipped to stores."

Django was shaking with anger, as though his skull would explode. He bolted up the stairs and out of the house. "Was that boy a skeleton? Holy CRAP, I need to do an autopsy on him!" Caesar beamed.

Outside

"Huh- Django?" Kami looked confused when the skeleton ran past her.

Django met up with Beat, Rhyme, and Leo on the street, whom all had skateboards. "Well, since you guys asked, I would be happy to take you to my hometown."

"YEAH, MAN!" Beat gestured shooting guns in the air. "Gonna get all Mexican, in Mexico Land! Yo, where's Kimaya, she be trippin'!"

"Raht here, pardner." The four turned around and gaped. Kimaya wore a black cowboy hat, black boots that clanked with each step, and a belt with a skull buckle. Her boombox was playing a Western whistle. She made the gesture of cocking her Keyblade like a gun. She tipped up her hat to show her eyes. "Y'all fellers ready to get Southern?"

Django strummed his guitar and summoned the Ghost Train, blazing onto the road. "More ready than I have in 40 years."

Pokitaru

"Maddy, let me ask you something." Rayleigh said as he led her and Shade into a part of the jungle. "Do you know what chi is?"

"Yeah, it's what benders use to control elements with."

"Yes, and no." Rayleigh stopped walking and turned to them. "Chi is a force that exists in all beings. We have Personal Chi, or Willpower Chi. Benders are able to manipulate elements by using the particular Willpower Chi given to them by their god. But ordinary humans are able to utilize Willpower Chi in their own way."

"Hold on." Shade spoke. "How would you know this, exactly? I was told you hail from an Original World. Are element benders and chi discussed in your world as well?"

"The Zoni gave me the knowledge of benders and chi when I arrived here. They must have thought it would be easier to train you under your terms. However, the matters of Haki and 'element bending' work under similar circumstances in my world. Perhaps in time, I will tell you. But do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I think. So how do we use this Willpower Chi?" Maddy asked.

"Well, starting with Armament Haki." Rayleigh stretched his left arm as it turned black and iron. "This comes from the Willpower Chi found in our strength. In reality, the level of strength our body seems to automatically possess is an illusion. The body contains tremendous amounts of strength stored in our chi. It's true that normal exercises heighten our strength, but by harnessing our very will, our strength can exceed to greater levels. When a great quantity of chi is applied to our strength, it will take form on the outside of our body. The power of Will is the strongest ability any person could have. It is strong enough to break the defenses used by Logias."

"This is starting to sound like some sort of bending."

"All advanced martial arts apply concepts used in bending." Shade said. "Because they all revolve around harnessing our inner chi."

"Observation Haki is a bit harder." Rayleigh continued. "You harness the Willpower Chi that lies in your senses. By enhancing your very eyes, ears, touch, even taste or smell, you can see and hear everything around you. You can detect a person's thoughts by the sparking of their brainwaves and predict their next move. You can determine where every living thing within your radius is, even the tiniest flea. Sometimes, your very instinct will take over, and 90% of the time, it is right."

Maddy remembered when they escaped from Vorselon's ship. She sensed Captain Qwark's aura and convinced her friends to jump out the airlock. Was that Haki?

"The final form is Conqueror's Haki. This isn't a power that can be mastered through simple training. A person has to be born with it. It is when the Willpower Chi exists in your very heart. It is bred by sheer resolve, courage, and authority. The chi heightens the courage to the point that every small-willed person around you will feel intimidated, and pass out as they are unable to comprehend it. It can make people acknowledge you as their leader. Their ruler."

"Maddy, do you know how some kings and queens possess a 'divine right to rule'?" Shade asked. "How their right to rule was given by God? These words hold truth. The Goddess of Emotion, Mesprit is the one who grants Conqueror's Haki. By studying a person's character, even at birth, she can tell what people possess the authority that a king would have."

"And she actually picked me? I'm not even leader of the Decommissioning Squad."

"Yet, the power is yours nonetheless. The gods cannot be mistaken."

"Now it's time for you to try it yourself." said Rayleigh. "Harness the strength in your body until your arm can be as hard as iron."

Maddy balled her right fist and held it out. "Hmmmmmrrrrr!" She channeled pressure into her arm, but felt no enhance in strength. "Hnnnnnn!"

"I don't think you're doing it right-" said Shade.

"Probly not!" Maddy cut in. "It doesn't make sense, how do you just… magically force your body to get stronger."

"Benders master their abilities by training in their natural environment. Perhaps combat is what you need to enable the Haki to emerge."

"Then we shall." Rayleigh smirked. "Keep attacking me until you're able to hurt me, even a little."

"Okay. …Boy, I never thought I'd ever have to learn how to fight the way a bender does."

"It's like Chris tried to tell you." Shade said. "We are one."

"'Guess so. …WAIT A SEC, how often do you watch me?!"

"Eh heh heh…" Shade grinned sheepishly.

A different island

"Ugh, how long have we been watching her, Lawrence?" Nefarious said, viewing the training via binoculars. He was lain on his front with his feet propped up. "I wanted to see some juicy secrets, not a training montage! Get to the goods, girl!"

"Sir, you must understand that there are so many things wrong with what you're doing." The butler sighed. "So many implications."

"If you're not gonna watch this girl exercise with me, then be quiet."

"…You're doing it on purpose. You have to be. I see no other alternative. …Sir, it seems that he is simply teaching her Haki. Even Conqueror's Haki is not an uncommon art."

"That's just it, Lawrence. Ragaj told me to watch this girl because she possessed a secret power that even he couldn't determine what it was. And he's usually on top of things. He knew Jessie was a Bubble Dreamer, knew April was a doll, he knew the one gives them all keys, so he definitely should've known Maddy possessed a simple power like Haki. There must be something missing here. And I'm going to find out what it is."

Dimalanta House

Kami stared at her cellphone with worry. Kimaya texted her in saying they were going to Django's hometown, "Peblo de Nebla." She saw Team Sandman and Haruka exit the Dimalanta House. "Kami, what're you still doing? Where's Kimaya?" Nolan asked.

"Sigh, apparently they're going to Mexico. Honestly, that girl…"

"Hey, what a coincidence!" Haruka beamed. "We're going to Mexico, too!"

"Why?"

"We were researching a chemical called Lazarus. Based on Haruka's, um, 'source', this Lazarus comes from a place called Pueblo de Niebla." Kami made a slight reaction, looking at the text again. "The person who mines it is…"

Kami gasped after hearing his name.

Lazarus Factory

Carter Pewterschmidt saw the group of kids coming through his security cameras. They crossed the border to Mexico on their magic train and were headed to the village. Carter turned. Behind the desk in his dark, smelly office, was a solid white stone cube with unknown writing. Near the base of this cube was a keyhole. And Carter knew the person that would come here in search of this cube. She was coming. He reached into a desk and pulled out a file on Kimaya Heartly. Agent 6767 was her codename. Somehow, Carter found that funny.

"We can't let them get here." Carter stated, facing forward again. "We'll stop them from seeing this thing at any cost. Understand?"

"Darn right, Sir." Hank Hill responded. He and his three friends had dark purple, mutated bodies, with black heart designs on their chests. "We'll kick their asses 'til their hearts can't take it no more, I tell you what."

"I wonder if their hearts taste sweet and sugary." Bill Dauterive said, hugging himself. "Like a little child's dreams."

"Ah'll smoke 'em into oblivion." Dale Gribble blew black smoke from a cigarette.

"Sure you will, sure. Just take these monsters and go." Carter ordered.

Heartless Shadows, Soldiers, and Song Bells appeared out of darkness. They headed out to hunt the one that held the key.

"When I was working for Doflamingo, he picked up a juicy little tip!" Caesar spoke giddily. "One of the Corporate Presidents, Carter Pewterschmidt, found a whole butt load of Lazarus, in a Mexican village called Pueblo de Niebla."