62. In a Thousand Nights

KND Moonbase

Two days after Bill Cipher's sudden attack, reconstruction of Moonbase was running smoothly. Cheren had stacks of paperwork to fill, but the only reason he was bothering with it was to clear his mind. He had far more important things to do, so he would be done with this stuff early, finished or not.

He heard a vwoom and looked up. A green-eyed girl with a long black tux and sandy-blonde hair, holding a huge scythe, appeared in her office. "…Can I help you?" Cheren asked weirdly.

"Apologies, Human KND Leader. My name is Maka Albarn, Numbuh Pair of the Spirit Kids Next Door. My teammates have been recently sent on a mission in Puebla de Niebla, Mexico, and it seems a few of your operatives were involved in the conflict that took place. On behalf of the Spirit Kids Next Door, I would like to apologize for any harm that might've befallen your operatives."

"It's cool." Cheren smiled modestly. "Haruka said everyone came out okay. Just like that other spirit operative – what was her name—Rukia?"

"I'm glad to hear it." Maka smiled. "Our Supreme Leader sends his regards. He also says your operatives have been very big help in our missions."

"Don't underestimate the living." He winked.

"Hm-hm, of course not. Until next time, Numbuh 3621." Maka twirled her scythe and vanished on the spot.

"Hmm… Those guys look pretty cool, actually." Cheren said to himself. "I wonder if Nebula would wanna make an alliance with them."

"Hey, Cheren." Dillon York barged in and said with an assertive tone.

"Hey, Dillon." Cheren retorted in sarcasm. "You need me to get the cereal off the shelf?"

"No, I need Mom to take me to the Great Clock."

"Since when?"

"Since she told me that one of the Corporate Presidents was sent there to do something. I know Vanellope is on the Great Clock, and she could be in danger. I know we're in the middle of fixing Moonbase, but I need her to take me there so I can help Vanellope."

"Hmm… Dillon, I'm not sure if it's a good idea. If one of the presidents is a trillion light-years away, then he's not here on Earth to bother us. Kimaya's gang just offed another president, and they're not even operatives – but it's only a matter of time until they retaliate."

"But the Great Clock is important—it's where all the Twenty Keys are gonna meet! We HAVE to go there to stop what they're doing, anyway!"

"Sigh, you're right. But it sounds more like a problem the GKND can handle. We can just call Nebula."

"The Global Tactical Station is still busted. Cheren, just let me go up there, please!"

"I CAN'T just let you go alone!"

"He's NOT going alone." Carol Masterson marched in, her computer in hand. "I'm coming, too." She said confidently. "And so are these guys."

"Yo!" Kodama of Sector JP appeared behind her. "I owe Vanellope for helping me get the Shell 297, so I'll be happy to join!"

"And we're taking the NEW IMPROVED Rocket-san!" Chimney shouted. ("Gyom-gyom!" said Gonbe.)

"Wow… you put this team together quick." Cheren said in quiet astonishment.

"I'm also going." A girl's voice said.

"Who said that?"

"I did." The group stepped aside to reveal Miyuki behind them. "If the Great Clock is the core of the prophecy… I want to see if I can learn anything there."

"Your whole teams aren't going, are they? I don't wanna send all our best operatives away from the planet."

"Well, Sector Q is coming along, but only because they hope they'll find Drake." Dillon answered.

"Besides, April's takin' Mary to the Dream World to see that Window-suki girl." Chimney mentioned. "So they're gonna be sleeping all day. Boring."

Cheren sighed. "I guess I can approve this mission… but we need Mom to finish fixing Moonbase."

"No worries!" Carol said perkily. "We already asked her and worked it out."

Ten minutes ago

"Mom, we need you to take us to the Great Clock now." Dillon told the woman on the hospital bed.

"Why, of course, Deary." Mom replied with a kind smile. "Walt, Larry, Igner, would you come here?"

"Yes, Mother?" The three sons lined up in a straight row beside Mom's bed.

Mom smacked them all. "TAKE THIS BRAT AND HIS BRATTY FRIENDS to the Great Clock! Mommy's too sick. And DON'T screw up!"

Dream Realm; Teensie Council Medical Wing

Madotsuki opened her eyes to a ceiling lit by yellowish-white light. This "hospital room" had pretty, temple-like designs on the ceiling and walls. Madotsuki sat up and studied herself. There were multiple cracks around her body that seemed to be linked with small bubbles. This was so strange… a minute ago, she was sure she killed herself. Maybe that was a dream… This was probably a dream, too… And like any dream, she might as well explore it. She turned right-

"HI, Friend!" A blonde girl's face was up in hers.

"YAAH!" Mado fell back.

"My name's Mary!" The girl said brightly. "I'm an Imaginary girl! I look like a real girl, but I'm not real! But I can talk to real people."

"I think you're being a little too sudden." Another blonde woman in a white gown and sandals walked in. Phosphora was almost unrecognizable with longer, smooth hair, but it was curved up at the end.

"Yeah, but that's Mary for ya." April Goldenweek said with a smile.

"W…What's going on…" Madotsuki said with weakness.

"I can tell ya that!" Murfy said quickly. "See, Mr. Dark staged it so you would kill yourself, then he planned to steal your reality, but when he did, Bill Cipher came and-"

"I don't think-!" April silenced him. "…we need your help here." She approached Madotsuki calmly. "Madotsuki, you're in the Dream World. I don't mean that you're asleep. You're literally part of the Dream World."

"I…I am?…"

"Yes. Also… we know what happened to you. When you were younger."

"…" Madotsuki didn't show any reaction.

"We know it's haunted you your whole life. That's why my friends and I wanted to help you recover from it. The people we brought are people who've had something bad happen to them. We think they'll be able to connect with you better. That is… if you would like to speak with them."

"…" Mado stared at her fractured parts attached by bubbles. "Am I… dead?…"

"Um… More like reincarnated." April blushed, feeling it'd be best not to confuse her with an explanation. "But it's a second chance for you. We want to help put your past behind you. We want to give you back the childhood you lost."

Madotsuki faced away, contemplating. "But if you need time to think, we'll come back later." April, Mary, and Phosphora left the room and shut the door.

They joined Jack Frost and Django in the waiting room. "This is ridiculous." Django said impatiently. "If she isn't even ready yet, why did you all waste time collecting us from our dream worlds?"

"I couldn't have said all that and NO ONE was waiting for us!" April laughed.

"I don't see what the big fuss is about." Jack Frost said, floating upside-down with his legs propped up on the wall. "My entire kingdom was wiped out and I got back up on my feet just fine."

"Well, not everyone gets up the same way." April told him. "Be a little more considerate."

"We'll try, but I'm sympathizing with Snow Hair there." Django replied. "And Lightning Chick for getting dissed by her town's savior, wasn't it?"

"Technically, Thor was our god, but it wasn't actually… him." Phosphora said awkwardly.

"You religious nuts." He chuckled. "See, I told you that stuff don't get you nowhere. So, what's Cheerleader's story, again?"

"I was stuck a really long time in a scary art gallery!" Mary said cheerily. "But now I'm freeeeee!"

"Eh, Elsa thought she was free, too." Jack noted. "Boy, did she go nuts."

"But I'm Mary!"

"I think we can agree that we all had traumatic backgrounds." April consolidated. "But we all moved on from them, so-"

"Whaddyou know, your past wasn't traumatic." Django remarked.

"I came from the art gallery same as Mary!"

"But she didn't really know until she found out, but it all worked out okay!" said Mary.

"You know, I object to that!" Django argued once more. "Like, NONE of the KND operatives have tragic backgrounds, yet they're always the heroes!"

"Yeah, you're right." Phosphora agreed. "I mean, sure a few of them learn important lessons, like Anthony learned not to be a bully and Miyuki learned to enjoy life… I destroyed Fybi's wings once, but then they got healed by God Magic, so no tragedy there."

"Y'know, we shoulda brought that Nolan guy." Jack suggested, flipping right-side-up and sitting on his staff. "He's got a ton of dead people. Some of them are actually in Spirit KND."

"I just remembered those three spirit kids that came back to life 20 years ago." Django mentioned. "Y'know, those are totally dick moves, just because they're friends with the Grim Reaper, they can come back to life. Why can't this be like anime where EVERY important person has a dead relative?"

"Why are you complaining, you're a living skeleton." Jack remarked.

"I'm a cursed child. The powers of darkness are within my bones. I should never make friends." He spoke mysteriously. "I can not."

"And ya did."

"Wait, am I the only person here that hasn't died once?" Phosphora asked. "Man, I don't even feel like I deserve to be here."

"What happened to the philosophy where 'being immortal is bad'?" Jack asked.

"Can I live forever, April?" Mary asked.

"Guys, just settle down!" April shouted. "Sigh… The point is, all of you experienced something traumatic and you all made bad decisions. The fact you're able to talk about this stuff so casually… If you guys could put your pasts behind you, then so can Madotsuki. She just needs a little help… like you guys did."

"I'll help her!" Mary grinned. "I love to make new friends! And she looks like Ib!"

"She looks like Mabel Pines." Jack chuckled.

"How do you know Mabel?" asked April.

"I hang with Craz and Xyler."

"WHAT'S UP, Jackerie?" Craz poked his head in the room.

"HE is, Crazikai!" Xyler pointed.

"That's MIND-BLOWING, Manaji!"

"NICKNAAAAAMES!"

Thaddeus Dark was in a secluded room of the hospital, steadily receiving treatment for his burned body. He had time to think. Lord Gnik… you said that you would help me spread terror to the Waking World… Are we merely tools to you? Just… what are you really?

Great Clock

The R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N. zipped out of hyperspace, having followed the coordinates provided by Mom. The ragtag team of operatives were closing in on the tremendous structure that was the Great Clock. There was a fleet of ships surrounding the station. "Kaiba's fleet has already arrived." Walt said in his dark tone. "Kaiba is a master of strategy and deceit. Be prepared for anything."

"We're already prepared!" Chimney cheered. "The R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N. 2.0 is the most fearsome of all aircraft! You loaded the baby with the hot new ammo, didn't ya, Kodama??"

"You bet I did, Chimney!" Kodama smirked. "My new fireworks will rip those government guys a new one! COME AT US, AMATEURS!"

The train slowly moved closer. The ships made no motion or sign of defense. "Uhh… Any time now?"

"They're not doing anything." Dillon said suspiciously. "Just what are they planning?"

Midna came out of his shadow. "They might be preparing to ambush us inside. Don't lose your cool."

"Attention, Flying Train!" a high, nervous voice sounded from the Clock's PA. "You are t-trespassing on p-private property! P-Please state your name and purpose, o-or go away! Ugh, as if these computer viruses weren't trouble enough—ACK, you didn't hear that!!"

Midna pushed the train's PA. "My name is Midna, Firstborn of Shadow. I'm sure we gods have clearance, correct?"

"Midna? Lessee lessee lessee lessee- here we are. Um, Twilight Princess Midna? Just scanning your ship to be sure… Oh, Princess Midna! A pleasure to have you here in our humble Clock. Um, you aren't being held against your will, are you?"

"No, we're on official business. Just let us in, whoever you are."

"Yes, yes. Enter the hangar on your left."

A huge doorway opened and the R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N. was able to squeeze through. They landed as all the passengers began to step off. "Man, that was lame." Chimney complained. "No ambush, no defense, I was hoping for a dogfight!"

The interior of the station was mostly dark except for the blue light of some energy flowing through pipes. "That's Chrono Energy." Miyuki said as they went up some stairs. "This place is filled to the brim with it. I can feel it everywhere."

"Midna, have you ever been here?" Dillon asked.

"Uh-uh." She shook 'no.' "But it was designed by the gods. It's the most powerful and indestructible fortress in the universe. Maybe even the multiverse. It keeps time in this dimension and all other dimensions linked to ours."

"MaKayla's dad works here in Great Clock." Miyuki said. "If he were here, he could do something about Kaiba. He could stop him."

They entered what looked like a living room with a gold piano, a table, refrigerator, and a couch with a TV. "I sure wouldn't mind making a pad here." Dillon commented. "But where in the world is Kaiba?"

"I dunno, maybe he stayed up so late playing games that he died!" They whipped their heads up at the sound of the perky voice. He was a blonde boy with a thin hat and a cane. "That's all ya need to kill a dork. Remember that when they rise up in 300 years!"

"IT'S BILL!" Dill and Carol screamed.

Bill landed in front of them. "Welcome to my crib!" He stood on one foot and spread his arms. "It's the deluxe suite, am I right?"

"Why are you here, Bill?" Dillon asked, all the operatives glaring at the demon. "Shouldn't you be destroying the universe?"

"Normally, I would be, but I don't have time for that right now. See, I'm in the middle of planning the new universe." He projected a giant image of blueprints, which had marks like 'Galaxy A here' and 'Model of Bill here.' "I had a lot of fun in this universe, but the new Bill needs new pizzazz. I wanna give this New World a multidimensional makeover." The blueprints morphed 3-D and changed into many shapes and sizes.

"Tough luck, because this universe isn't gonna go anywhere!" Dillon assured. "We're going to save everyone, you'll see!"

"Ohhhhhhhh Dillon." Bill shook his head and approached the boy. "Always idealistic, just like your father. How is old Nolan doing, anyway?" He was smirking in Dillon's face. "Lose anymore friends? Did his wife die, yet?"

An angered Dillon punched Bill in the face. "Oh ho ho, real strong fist!" Bill taunted. "Did you train all year just to punch that good? Face it, Kid, I have a Power Level of one million. What's YOUR Power Level, a lousy hundred?"

"I bet you never fought a Firstborn." Midna smirked.

"Oooo, Firstborn Midna, how ferocious." Bill swayed and wiggled his fingers at her. "What're you gonna do, take control of my shadow?" His shadow stretched on the wall behind. "I'll just make another," the shadow doubled, "and maybe more!" They divided in ten shadows.

"I'm more powerful than I look, you know!"

"Alright, I believe you." Bill's shadows retracted. He frowned as he recollected, "But you know, I wasn't always this powerful. Imagine life as an Imaginary Friend. You're nothing more than a projection of one's thoughts, forced to drift along an ocean of abandoned dreams. I sought to escape my miserable existence."

Bill whirled his hands and held them together, projecting a tiny city on the open palms. "And look what happened!" His giant devilish smile would look frightening from the city's perspective. "Now I can hold planets and galaxies in the palm of my hands!" The holographic citizens went about happily, unaware of the looming terror. "People will look up at the sky and see their salvation!" Bill blew on the city, turning it all into dust that hit Dillon's face.

Bill appeared behind Kodama, touching her shoulder. "Miss Fireworks knows what I mean, don't ya?"

"Not the way YOU have in mind!" she yelled.

"Bill, are you one of the Thirteen Darknesses?" Dillon asked. "Is that why you're hanging around here?"

"No, not me. I was created before we came up with the whole Twenty Keys thing. But I was there to watch the magic happen. I know all the answers and I would be happy to tell them to you. Maybe if you sign over to my side, y'know join the winning team. I might even throw in your own galaxy, design however you want!"

"We'll look for the answers ourselves, thank you. Now where's Kaiba, where's Vanellope? There's a whole fleet of ships out there, where's all the pilots?"

"Those clowns have already virtualized their selves into the Great Clock's cyberspace. They've been here a while, trying to take control of it. But it seems like XANA's been putting up hell of a fight. But don't worry, I'm sure your Vanellope's somewhere in the mix."

"How do we enter the cyberspace?!" Dillon demanded.

"Sheesh, a yelly type, ain'tcha? Ever think about calling Tech Support? Here, I'll do it for ya. SIGGY, GET DOWN HERE!"

"GaaaaaAAAAAAHH!" A robot came storming into the room. He was a red, levitating robot, shabby-looking and inside a ring with a computer. "Apologies, Master Cipher, but I'm very busy with- who are these guys?"

"Who are you?" Carol asked.

"Sigma 0426A, Junior Caretaker of the Great Clock, if you are here to see Master Jagar, I'm afraid he is busy, and quite frankly, so am I, all these computers just started glitching and…" He rapidly tapped his keyboard.

"Sigmund," Bill began, "these guys need help with something, could you take them away so they stop bothering me?"

"Yes Sir, Master Bill. This way, all of you, don't dilly-dally." The robot floated through the next door. The operatives all decided to follow, shooting dirty looks at Bill.

"Oh, you wanna look at me? I'll give ya something to look at!" Bill lifted his shirt over his head and shook his belly. "Mmph, yeah yeah! Sexy boy is sexy! You pervy readers would like some of this. Too bad all you see is words, it ain't nothin' like the real thing. Mmph, oh yeah."

"Master Bill?" Dillon questioned Sigmund for using that title.

"Yes, Bill Cipher is a VIP." Sig said quickly. "His name is in the one-trillion-year-old files, not an easy spot to take."

"Why is Bill so important, he's dangerous!"

"It's not my place to question it, it's to follow orders! Now, what is it that you wanted?"

"We want to go into the cyberspace and drive out Kaiba!" Carol answered. "Didn't you see a bunch of men storm in here?"

"No, I didn't see any men at all! Just a bunch of ships that all decided to park outside. All of a sudden, viruses everywhere, I can't log into the network! We have Virtualization Chambers that allow one to access the network directly, but those aren't working either. Besides, I couldn't allow you to use them without Mr. King's approval."

"Maybe I can fix them!" Carol exclaimed.

"Don't fool yourself, this technology is beyond your understanding. I worked here for 10,000 years, and even I can't-"

"I just logged into this place's Wi-Fi!" she beamed, staring at her laptop.

"WHAT?!" Sigmund whipped around. "But-But the Great Clock's Wi-Fi has the most complex password in the known universe!"

"It's just 'PopDancerSigma' 15 times. Ha ha ha, check out this video!" She showed them all a video of Sigmund singing on a stage of colorful lights.

"THAT WAS ON MY PERSONAL COMPUTER!" The robot was flustered. "How in the WORLD did you-"

"Mr. Game-and-Watch did it!" The 2-D program was dancing on the stage beside Sigmund.

"Still don't think Carol has the moves?" Dill smirked.

"Fine." Sig glared. "You wanna try and fix the virtualizers, by all means go for it!"

Without delay, the caretaker took them to the Virtualization Chamber. There were five gold capsules and computers beside them. "We won't be able to take everyone with us." Dillon observed. "At least not all of Sector Q."

"I VOLUNTEER!" Quill Ramsey quickly threw his hand up.

"I'm certainly coming!" Kodama declared.

"Not me, I don't do in this stuff." Chimney declined. "My legs going all stiff."

"I'm staying behind, too." Miyuki said. "I want to look around."

"Could me and Midna share a chamber?" Dillon asked.

"I don't recommend it." Sigmund shook. "Jagar and Misty once shared a chamber. Their bodies got switched."

"Then I guess me, Dill, and Midna will take the other three chambers." Carol decided, hooking her computer up in the wall. "Okay, Mr. Game-and-Watch, look for the bug and kill it!"

She was given a screen of Game-and-Watch in a blank blue background. A huge Blue Eyes White Dragon appeared and started coughing fireballs. Carol commanded G&W to shoot his flamethrower. "That's a big bug."

"Oi, I played games like this before. Move over." Chimney pushed Carol aside. She tapped the buttons excellently, jumping Blue Eyes' attacks and countering with Game-and-Watch's. The operatives excitedly watched her gameplay at work. The dragon was destroyed.

"WOOHOO!" They cheered. "Go, Chimney!" Quill slapped her back.

"Unbelievable!" Sigmund yelled. "The chambers are up and running again!"

"Now's our chance, gang!" Dill announced. "Pick one and let's go virtual!"

He, Carol, Midna, Quill, and Kodama picked a chamber. Sigmund hurriedly programmed each of them, sealing the kids inside. Each chamber made a growing whiiirrrRRR sound, and they shut their eyes as a blinding light swallowed them.

Cyberspace

The five kids were dropped onto a crystalline landscape. For a cyberspace, the clear blue crystal was beautiful, as were the stars above. Midna turned around, immediately focused on the sight. "Might wanna turn around." So they did.

An army of robots vs. an army of monsters, it was the kind of videogame setting one would expect from Cyberspace. An Abaki smashed a XANA Krab with its spiked club, a Neon Night sliced a Megatank in half, and Dark Magician annihilated a Scyphozoa. "Wow, it's like… Nerdvana." Kodama said.

"It's not just that… These are Duel Monsters!" Dillon exclaimed. "Now I remember! Gozaburo Kaiba is the President of KaibaCorp.! They made this game! I play it with Mason all the time."

"Isn't this the dorky game where you make up your own rules and strategy," Midna asked, "so you can ALWAYS turn the game in your favor?"

"Yes, and… no." The kids ducked laser fire from some robots.

"DUEL MONSTERS, DESTROY ALL ENEMIES!" A giant hologram of a teal-haired boy hovered over the landscape. "We will TAKE the Great Clock in the name of my father!"

A platform with a railing hovered above the kids, and a robot with a computer head and blue cape was on it. "These cursed Card Monsters are ruining my plan! I hope Peridot is keeping her ground up there."

"XANA!" Dillon yelled in surprise.

XANA looked down. "Eeeeaaaah!" He cowered on his platform. "DARN IT! You clods are the LAST thing I need right now! Make yourselves fodder and stay out of my way!" He steered the platform to float skyward.

"I forgot how much I hated that guy's voice."

"Incoming!" Kodama yelled when a Megatank steered over to them. When it opened its core, Kodama bent down and launched a firework on her back, exploding the spherical robot. She glanced at her back when the firework respawned. "My stuff RESPAWNS in this world?! INFINITE AMMO, BABY!"

"Each of your weapons and powers were scanned upon virtualization." Sigmund's voice echoed from the sky. "And I inputted the infinite ammo cheat code. Just hurry up and find a way to fix this mess."

They flinched when a bomb exploded close to them. "Run for it!" The five charged across the battlefield—Kodama shot missiles at any XANAbot and Duel Monster in her range and Quill blasted behind him using his Elbow Cannons.

"There's Mr. Game-and-Watch!" Carol pointed at a black 2-D rocketship a few yards ahead. The little Program waved at his friends and lowered an anchor. The four humans grabbed the 2-D chain while Midna flew up into the ship. They were reeled inside before the craft took off.

The ship was thankfully bigger on the inside. "Where do we begin looking for Vanellope in all this mess?" Quill asked.

"Game-and-Watch still remembers her code." Carol said. "We might be able to trace her with his help."

"As much as I'd like to," Dillon followed, "I think our first priority is to clean this mess up. Let's look for Kaiba and take care of him. We should definitely see Vanellope on the way."

Pokitaru, Solana Galaxy

Shade faced Maddy from 10 yards away, shurikens in hand. She tossed one at the blindfolded girl, Maddy dodged her head right, another one came, she dodged left. Two shurikens came, a high and low one, so she dove in the space between, dodged a third one with the beat of her heart—the shuriken came back and she kicked it away.

"Well, it seems you do pick up quickly." Silvers Rayleigh sat on a rock and drank a bottle of rum. "Even alternating between the forms doesn't confuse you too much. But you're a ways from becoming a full Haki master."

"I could've sworn three days of training would pay off by now." Maddy said with sarcasm, lifting her blindfold and catching breath.

"Indeed, but you are only human." Shade said as she approached her. "You should expect weakness."

"Did you have to throw real shurikens at me, though?"

"In the battlefield, you must expect the danger to be real. Training can help you get accustomed to it. As the Chosen One, you must not show weakness."

"And besides, I set those throwing stars to 'stun', not 'kill.'" Ratchet commented from the sidelines.

"I get that." Maddy said. "It's just, when I was tiny, they just shot darts at me, and they still helped me learn."

"Yes, Tiny Style is both a silly and effective form," Shade stated, "but that alone will not help you for the real challenge to come."

"That's what they tell Link every Zelda game, but he always beats Ganon just by pressing 'B'."

"Unfortunately, THIS ISN'T a videogame! …For the most part! And shouldn't YOU two be looking for Ratchet's communicator?" she yelled at Ratchet and Drake.

"Take it easy, we found that yesterday." Ratchet said, laughing slightly at her outburst. "I'm in the middle of fixing it, but once we do, we can set a direct course for Maddy's planet."

"Sigh, I can't wait to go back home," Maddy fell on her back in exhaust, "and breathe the fresh air of my human brethren again."

"CoughshemeansChris'sair." Zach coughed.

"But your training is not yet complete." Shade stated. "You have grasped the basics of Armament and Observation, but you must become better. Otherwise, the prophecy may not be fulfilled."

"All you keep talking about is this 'prophecy' garbage, lighten up."

"How can I lighten up when you're lying on your back as though dead?!"

"Heh, ladiiiees, please… settle down." Rayleigh chuckled. "I think she's doing exemplary."

"I've seen better. You're being too lenient." Shade told him.

"If you think you know better, why don't you be the teacher?" He smirked.

"You were supposed to be the only capable teacher. You don't seem to be understanding the importance of Maddy learning Haki."

"And what IS the importance?" Rayleigh laughed. "To become the 'Seventh Light', to control the Octogan? I already told you, even if she could become a master in a few days, that would be beyond her skill. A person is not the same as a shed, I can't force it to be complete as soon as possible. I may not understand the full severity of the Seven Lights Prophecy… but perhaps you do?"

"Nn…no!" Shade flushed. "I just know… it's important! It's what's supposed to happen, so…"

"You know, sometimes destiny is something that we decide for ourselves." Rayleigh drank from his bottle. "In my world, no one ever said I had to become a pirate, a Haki master, or a Haki teacher. Of course, that was before I was involuntarily sucked into this world and those aliens told me to wait here and be your Haki teacher. True, there is an illusion of what can be called fate, but our lives aren't decided by any 'destiny' that someone 'plans' for us."

"Perhaps… but if I had not followed the orders given to me, Maddy would not know to come here."

"You didn't even bring her here, did you? You all just warped here."

"Grrr!" Shade growled, like a nerve was touched at that point.

"Perhaps we should have our first test. The training course that I designed is over there." Rayleigh pointed at a path through the jungle. "Why don't the two of you do it together and test your current skills?"

"I'm years ahead of her. It wouldn't be a fair game."

"Then you should be kind enough to help her if the need requires. Clear the course, kids. You must get a 'B' Rank or higher."

"Very well. Come, Maddy." Shade sighed and walked ahead.

Maddy got back up and chased after. "You sound different all of a sudden."

"Nonsense, I sound the same as I always have."

"I mean you sound… more pushy than usual."

"I have to be. It won't be long until the Apocalypse arrives, and if the Twenty Keys aren't united, something terrible could happen. If you're the Seventh Light, the responsibility falls unto you, too."

"But why do I need to know Haki, exactly?"

"I assume it has to do with the Octogan, but the exact reason doesn't matter at the moment. Mastering Haki is your duty and I must see that you do."

"Didn't you say it was the Octogan that gave your people the prophecy? How do you know it isn't lying?"

"It is the most powerful and most knowledgeable of Seeing devices. With it, my elders saw that you must master Haki, so you will."

"But you don't know if something bad will happen."

Shade stopped and turned to face her. "It is the only thing we know to do. So we will do it. No matter what happens. We don't know if something bad will happen if we do… but if we don't, we can be assured that something bad will happen regardless. So what path do you choose?"

"…Sigh, follow the destiny path, I guess."

"Good." Shade faced the obstacle course. "Our destinies may be something we decide… but that doesn't mean the choice won't have consequence. And what I choose to do… is complete the mission I was assigned." (Play "Dragonfly Falls" from Spyro: A Hero's Tail.)

Stage 62: Pokitaru Falls

Mission: Clear the course by using Haki.

Act 1: Haki Training Course

Maddy and Shade were in a small gorge with two wooden towers on either side. They climbed a rugged wall to get onto the middle of the right tower, which had a line of small catapults that would fling apples to the opposite platform. On said platform, there were targets that would set off their respective catapult. "Observation test." Shade said. "One of these targets will help you, the others will hurt you. Use your Haki to determine the harmful ones."

None of the opposite catapults looked different from one-another. She cut the rope of the first catapult, flung the apple to hit the target, which in turn caused the parallel catapult to fling a barrel of bananas to hit her. Maddy dodged the trap and took time to examine them. It wasn't like a living thing whose movements you could determine from thought patterns. But after a few minutes, she noticed one of the catapults wasn't trembling as much from too much weight. She flung an apple at that one, and in turn, a rope ladder-bridge unraveled as it flew over. Shade tied the rope ends to their platform. "Good work." The echidna merely glided across while Maddy had to climb across the bridge.

On this platform, there was a line of springs that would shoot them up through hatches on the top platform. Maddy didn't need Shade to tell her that only one was correct (and Shade was already climbing the cliff out of there, so she wouldn't tell). One of the hatches had tiny sun rays poking through, so she bounced up through that one. The other hatches had boxes over them. She could then jump to the cliff where Shade waited by a huge boulder. "Use Armament Haki to move this rock."

"Oh, boy." Maddy pushed her hands against the rock and mustered the Haki by exerting strength. "Huuuurrr…!" She felt the arms growing in strength, but the rock budged just a little. "Wanna help, Shade?"

"Very well." Shade pushed the boulder, and although it looked like she struggled, she moved it with ease compared to how Maddy did. "You need to learn to summon the Arms without already exerting strength. Otherwise, it lessens the full effect."

They entered a relatively open area of jungle, though shrubs and trees still covered the ground. "Another Observation lesson: get through here and be wary of the enemies." Maddy could already sense the Piranha Plants lurking in the shrubs. They lunged at her one after another when she stepped forward, but she was quick to grab and yank off their stems. The only feasible path was forward, so she decapitated every living plant on the way there. After clearing that field, they had to cross a trench with waterfalls on either side, roaring loudly as they poured into a pool below.

"Spouts of water will spew up in certain areas." Shade explained. "Determine where they'll be and use them to get across."

"Shade, did you already do this course?"

"Yes, a few times. I wanted to be sure it was befitting for Haki. I could've asked for better, but for amateurs, I suppose it's decent."

"Do you think you can carry me for this one? I'm not good in water."

"You wouldn't have to swim if you mess up!"

"Come on, just let me sit on your shoulder!" Without waiting for a reply, Maddy went behind and climbed to sit on the echidna's shoulders.

"OH, for the love of… Fine, but you need to tell me where to jump. This is humiliating beyond belief."

"Then you should've been a giant puppy or a giant girl. Now juuuump…" she needed a moment to study the water, "there!" Shade leapt to the pointed spot, and a spout came up to catch her. She made accurate guesses for the other hidden spouts, and Shade withstood the pressure around her neck while jumping. Their Observation was able to sense the bubbling parts in the water through the roaring falls, so it seemed to Shade that Maddy was getting better at the art.

Shade set her on the ground when they were successfully across, and they turned left on the path before encountering a big watery blob with beady eyes. "This Water Chu is composed of water similar to a Logia. You know what you have to do here."

Maddy sighed. She stretched her left fist and felt the Haki surge into it. She then ran up to the blob and started punching it as though it were a solid creature. She laid a good combo of punches, until the Haki involuntarily wore off and her hand went through. She frantically shook to pull it out, but the blob kept a thick grip. Maddy was able to make her hand Armament and yank it out, ripping the blob in the process as it deflated into a flat puddle of water. The girls crossed and arrived at a coast side, with a great view of the sparkly ocean.

There was a short cliff far to their right, and they could climb the rugged side. A wooden gateway blocked the path up the mountain, and three locks kept it shut. "The three keys are hidden around this coast. Since you aren't a swimmer, you can tell me where they are and I'll see if you're right."

"Okay, ummm…" Maddy studied the tall pillar-islands and ledges around the sea. "I think there's one on that tallest island, one all the way over on that cliff, aaaaand… one probably underwater somewhere."

"Well, they wouldn't be just out in the open." Shade sighed. "Alright, I'll be right back." She leapt off the ledge and glided a great distance over the ocean. Her first destination was the shortest island platform. From there, she glided to a soft soil path going up the medium platform. Piranha Plants ambushed her on top, but she tore them up easy. She then glided to the tallest platform, grabbing its soil path that went up and around. She punched the Snapdragons that she knew would jump out and made it to the top, claiming the gate key.

Shade glided across the sea to the cliff on the coast's left. She climbed another soil path and dodged the bundles of dirt that monkeys threw at her from above. At the top, Shade would have to make her way around a zigzaggy soil path, with monkeys still throwing dirt at her from the sides. Shade could set foot on the intended ledge, which had several boxes she could feel free to smash. Neither of them had a key, but one of them had an arrow underneath that pointed across the coast. Shade glided in that direction, and she claimed the key that was kept afloat by a propeller.

With that, she dove into the ocean and swam in search of the last key, putting her ninja mask over her mouth. She swam beneath a hill and into a tunnel. At the end of this tunnel was a clam, who opened its shell and let her take the key. There were other underwater clams that had other treasures, but Shade wasn't concerned. She returned to Maddy and opened the triple-locked gate. There were tall jagged rocks that blocked parts of the hill path. Maddy punched the stones and left cracks with her Armament Haki, but Shade was easily punching and breaking rocks. "Don't sprain yourself." Shade said.

They got to a big enclosing within the jungle where a wood board swing was facing a tall cliff. Maddy sat on the swing, kicked back, forward, back, forward, back; she kept gaining momentum and swinging higher. Finally, she was able to leap up to the ledge, which Shade had already climbed to. They faced a chasm with three more swings to go across. Maddy jumped to the first one, built momentum, leapt to the next, more momentum, swung to the third, and swung to the next path. They headed up some wooden stairs to a platform.

"AAAACK!" A colorful bird the size of a horse was tied down by its legs. It was mostly magenta, but its tail and the ends of its feathers were yellow, green, and blue. It flapped its wings and screeched, desperate to get free.

"Rayleigh told me he found that bird earlier." Shade said. "It's a Loftwing named Fluzzard. I think he intended this to be your Conqueror's Haki test. Conqueror's Haki is able to tame animals to your will."

"Kind of mean to just tie it up like that."

"They don't tend to listen to people easily. Most Loftwing just answer to one person, any person they deem worthy. This is the end of the training course, so let's go back."

"I don't think so." Maddy ran and jumped on Fluzzard's back.

"Maddy, what're you doing?!"

"AAAAA! AAAAAA!" The Loftwing frantically tried to shake her off, but Maddy held tight, and it seemed the struggle only made it stronger. Before they knew it, the ropes snapped, and the Loftwing WHOOSHED into the sky. Shade gaped at how high they were going, not taking her eye off as Fluzzard soared around. "AAAAAaaaa!" Fluzzard stopped in place and flapped its wings, but Maddy stayed on like it were a horse. Its wings spread, the Fluzzard swooped down to the platform and had Shade in its sights.

"Hey, don't even think it, Bird Brain!" Shade yelled flustered. "I'm a Mobian, you aren't taking me like some common—AAAAHH!" Her arms were caught in Fluzzard's talons.

"Shade, you aren't scared of birds, are you?" Maddy chuckled.

"OF COURSE I'M NOT, PUT ME DOWN," she kicked her feet, "tell this thing to let GOOOOO!" They sped up.

"Hold on, we're going for a ride!" (Play "Fleet Glide Galaxy" from Mario Galaxy 2!)

Act 2: Fluzzard's Flight

Fluzzard made wild turns around the needle-like mountains, and after the third turn, a group of Skytails ambushed them, but Maddy had the Loftwing dive down and dodge. "WATCH OUT!" Shade cried—the Loftwing flapped up before hitting the sharp rocks. They soared through a canyon with waterfalls on either side, and Nefarious Drones were launching buzzsaw shurikens from platforms. Water geysers sprouted up from below, so Maddy swerved Fluzzard right and left to avoid. There was a wall at the end of the canyon, but Maddy sensed a narrow path directly down, and commanded Fluzzard to dive, then shift up to fly into a cave. Shade kept her legs bent up to not bump the cliff.

Taking Shade's well-being into account, Maddy avoided the stalagmites on the cave ground, as well as the dropping stalactites. They entered a wider region of cave, where Nefarious Drones blew up the base of pillars that would topple down and crush the colored bird. Fluzzard swiftly avoided, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Maddy pulled Fluzzard's feathers and made it fly up and out. They splashed through a waterfall upon exit, and had a wonderful view of Pokitaru's mountains and sea.

They glided left and through a narrow jungle pass, and Shade was quick to dodge her legs away from the Piranha Plants that popped out every which way. They flew into an open part of the jungle shaded by leaves, and monkeys were swinging on swings and chucking bananas at them. They then went through a narrow canyon with boulders swinging to and fro on ropes, and the space between the boulders was wide as Fluzzard's wings. The Loftwing glided up a hill, towards the light at the end of the jungle. They were outside once again, swooping past a rainbow under a waterfall, and flying up and around a mountain with the wind blowing through their hair.

"Okay, I think we can land now." Maddy had the Loftwing fly down into a low area of jungle. Fluzzard dropped Shade on the ground, then made land before Maddy jumped off. (End song.)

"Aaaa!" The bird folded its wings.

"Good boy, Fluzzy!" Maddy patted its beak. "Way to hang ten! Or however you birds phrase it." She went over to Shade as she was helping herself up. "Look at that, Shade, I used Conqueror's Haki!"

"No you didn't! You just jumped on his back and got lucky. Surprised it didn't take us to his nest." Shade walked the other way and turned around a wall.

Fluzzard came beside Maddy and seemed to share her confusion. "What's her problem?" she asked him.

"Eeeaaaah!" Fluzzard flapped his wings.

Shade sat beside a river, pulling off her boots to rest her feet. She splashed water on her face as Maddy came to sit by her. "If you were afraid of birds, you coulda just told me."

"I am NOT afraid of birds! I was simply concerned for your… avian-taming ability, is all."

Maddy rolled her eyes, feeling the lie in her voice. "So… you're like a master of Haki, too, aren't you? How come you couldn't teach me yourself? Even Rayleigh said you couldn't just 'master' Conqueror's Haki, so it didn't matter if…"

"Actually, I'm only proficient in Observation Haki. I could never master Armament."

"Really? But he said it's easier than Observation—and back there, you were breaking boulders!"

"Mobian Echidnas are naturally strong, alright?" Shade stated rashly. "I never found a need to master Armament. But I was naturally great at Observation."

"Well, you don't have to get all angry! I was just confused."

Shade sighed and faced forward again. "I know. But Maddy… you don't know what life has been like for me. When you're a child prodigy… everyone expects more from you than anyone else. We Mobians are natural-born fighters, we know combat from sheer instinct… but I really stood out. I knocked out all my teachers when I was four years old, I could grasp Observation when I was five. They had already decided that I was the most capable one to…" Shade bent her head between her knees and clasped it, "carry out this 'destiny.'"

"Shade…" Maddy sat beside her and touched the echidna's shoulder. She wanted to ask about her stress, but Shade had already sensed this and looked up.

"Maddy, I can see you're working very hard at your training, and you're beginning to grasp the basics of Haki. But I can't stop worrying. I can't stop wondering if… you really are the Chosen One."

"What do you mean?"

"My job – my mission, when I was sent to this universe, was to wait for you. To find you. To watch you. To guide you when the 'time' would come, because you are the Seventh Light. You have no idea how long I waited for you. My entire life's purpose was thrust upon me at five years old: to wait for Maddy Murphy and guide her to her destiny. I knew when and where you would be born and I watched you. I saw when you fell into the ocean and started fearing water, I know that you wear contacts, I know you sing to yourself in the bathroom, and that you still carry your Simba doll to school."

"I feel really violated right now!"

"I KNOW!" Shade outbursted. "I know it was creepy, but it was my job! And after all that, here we are, where you're finally learning Haki from the man that I was supposed to bring you to. You're merely days away from when you have to realize your destiny, and I'm still worried if the prophecy was right!"

"Why would you think it wasn't?"

"Sigh…" Shade faced down. "I don't know… Maybe because, after watching you grow up… you never looked like 'Chosen One' material. I guess what I was expecting was… someone like me. A child prodigy who had no time for fun and games and always had to train. You may be strong, but I know you struggle and you cry sometimes… That's why I was afraid you weren't the one."

"Everyone struggles with things. Everyone gets upset…"

"But I never did. Whether I pride myself about it or not… I had talent. I know that people work hard to achieve their goals. People exert blood, sweat, and tears to become great at martial arts, to become strong. But I never believed in hard work. I always believed you had to be born with the talent, the sheer instinct that you could do something. If it was what you were meant to do, you could just do it, even if a little training was required. That's why I think Observation Haki came so easy to me. That's why I wonder… if you really have the spirit that Conqueror's Haki requires."

"I used it before… didn't I?"

"By accident. It was undeveloped, so you affected your teammates, too. Simply having the power doesn't matter."

"Well, it isn't very easy for me either, Shade. I didn't want to be a Chosen One, I didn't ask to have to go through all this training, and the only reason I'm doing it now is because… I feel like I have to. I don't know anything about Seven Lights or this Apocalypse Cheren brought up out of nowhere, so I feel like if I don't do this… a lot of people are going to be hurt."

"…I guess… it was a duty that was forced upon you…"

"Yeah, and now the ONLY person who seems to know what's going on, besides Dr. Nuts-and-Bolts, even after she's stalked me all these years, doesn't even BELIEVE in me! And I'm supposed to think this isn't all a waste?!"

"…I'm sorry!" The echidna fell on her front and started to cry.

"Shade!" Maddy didn't expect to offend her.

"My whole life has been about the mission I was given! I waited so long… I was afraid if I was gonna mess up or do a bad job. All you had to do was join the Seven Lights and my life would be complete. I had nothing else to look forward to and nowhere to go."

"Shade, you didn't have to dedicate your whole life to me." Maddy pulled her upright. Shade had already cried a stream of tears that soaked her jumpsuit.

"The only reward I could've waited for… was you telling me I did a good job. If I really was a big help to you, I wanted to know it. But now I just let my stress get to me. I failed as a guide…"

"No, Shade, you didn't. I'm stressed too, but I wasn't gonna give up. I'm still gonna become the Seventh Light."

Shade sniffled as the last batch of tears spilled. Maybe it was because of how sudden it was. All the years of waiting for the Chosen One were suddenly behind her.

18 years ago…

Go to Quahog… Wait for Maddy Murphy… She is the Conqueror… The Seventh Light… When the Quest for Twenty Keys begins, take her to The Disbanded.

Those were the instructions. And so, she was here, on Planet Earth. A five-year-old echidna on her own. The prophecy would not take place for 18 years. So she waited… and waited…

It was nighttime when she appeared on Earth. She found a lone rock in a grass meadow outside of a forest. She sat on it and gazed at the stars. There were millions of them. They all sparkled around the full moon.

Well, here I am. Far away from home

Growing up all alone, I'm on my own

Shade lay upside-down on the grass with her legs propped up on the rock.

I'm on a mission. I need to wait

No going back… I'm bound to fate

…Just a thousand nights to go

The sun rose, then set, then rose, then set. The moon was different each time.

Just ten thousand nights to go

Shade went into the forest to eat fruit. At night, she returned to watch the stars. Some nights, it rained. Some nights, there were shooting stars. Shade got bored of this area. She began to walk the great field.

No matter where I go… the sky stays above me

I feel so small… like I'm in a cage

My fate is watching… It is all that I can see.

And yet, after all… it's like I don't even age

…Just a thousand nights to go…

Shade found a beautiful, clear river, and skipped across it with grace. It gave her the illusion of being free.

And then a thousand more, too…

Humming this song was the only thing that kept her sane.

I don't know where to go. I don't know where I am.

I just know when, I just know why

Shade came to a pond and jumped out. She stared at her rippling reflection and sang out loud.

And when she comes… would we even be friends?

When we're done… where do I go then?

Am I just her escort? Am I just a guide?

…What if I fail? Should I hide? Or should I-…

Before she finished that line, a star whizzed across the sky's reflection. She looked up and gazed at the crescent moon.

Am I just a piece… of something that's greater?

I want to love her… but what if I hate her?

What if she herself… is only a fragment?

In the grand scheme… is she as small as I am?

…Can this piece be more… than what it was designed for?

Or is my life… bound for nothing more?

…In a thousand more nights, we'll know.

Now

"Shade…" Maddy spoke calmly. "I wouldn't have asked you to wait that long for me. But if you did… I wish you would've told me… so we could be friends."

"Given your spite for non-humans at the time, we probably couldn't. The only way I was able to study you up close was through the Teen Ninjas."

"Maybe… but that's all in the past now. After this is over… you can do whatever you want. I'll even help you find something you like to do."

"…Maddy…" She looked up again.

"Yeah, Shade?"

"…Promise me… you'll become the Chosen One I waited for. Promise me you will… so I can be happy, knowing I did a good job."

"…I will. If I don't do it for anyone else… I'll do it for you, Shade. You already did a good job."

She closed her eyes and smiled. "Hmm… I don't remember the last time I cried to anything… how foolish of me."

"Zach still has first place."

"Heh… How fortunate. Maddy… promise me nothing bad will happen… Promise me I made the right choice to help you…"

"You worry way too much. Nothing bad is gonna happen, Shade." She smiled. "The Kids Next Door will make sure of that."

Great Clock

Sigmund brought Miyuki Crystal to the entrance of the center of Great Clock. A great door sealed the entrance, and the lock was a tiny hole down by Miyuki's feet. "Only the Chrono Staff is able to unlock this door." Sigmund said. "Mr. King must still be inside."

"Can we call him out?"

"I don't think he'd listen. He's usually in here to meditate."

Miyuki approached the door and put a hand on it. She focused her energy to see the Great Clock's history.

For a trillion years, it has existed. She saw MaKayla using it to travel through time—it shook from the energy of Arceus's rage—twenty thrones around a center before a gate—a blood-hurdling roar—hands clasping the gate—

8888888888888888

"HUUUU!" Miyuki gasped for breath and fell on the floor, trying to clear the bright light from her vision. She helped herself up, but still felt unbalanced. "The…The Gate of Time…"

"Miss Miyuki?" Sigmund asked with concern.

"If… the Gate of Time… opens… is something going to… come out…?"

Sigmund twiddled his fingers. "I-It's… hard to say… Mr. King spends hours in there… trying to see what may exist beyond the Time Gate. He wants to know, if the solution to stopping the Apocalypse really is behind that gate. But the more he meditates… he comes out, looking more afraid." The robot turned away and left the area. "On the Day of Apocalypse… the Space Gate will fall, and the powerful Space Chi of the Netherverse will destroy everything. Sometimes, Mr. King says… that would be the safest way to go."

Jagar King was knelt before the Time Gate. He exiled himself from the world around him to seek the unheard voices. Where are you… Please respond… Tell me more… Tell me what will happen… Please, tell me where you are…

…Calliope.

Remember Sigmund? He was in Operation: NECSUS, though he came from Ratchet & Clank. Fluzzard is from Mario Galaxy 2. Seven Lights is steadily approaching its final stages. But don't fear, because there is plenty more to go. The Caesar should keep your fancies tickled.

…

WKHB VDB WUDLQLQJ LVQ'W IXQ

WKH ZRUVW SDUW LV ZKHQ LW'V GRQH

"Mmph, yeah yeah!" Bill danced across the screen. "Shake that thang! Uh! Oh, yeah! Illuminuti!"