67. Let’s Be Monsters

Desert in Saudi Arabia

After taking a moment to repair the Sandmobile's windshield, the Sandman Trio arrived near the designated area marked on the map with Riddler's coordinates. Sandman landed the aircraft in the open desert as they climbed out under the star-filled night sky. "Hey, Nolan?" said Yuki. "Thanks for playing 'Arabian Nights' in the Sandmobile."

"It was only fitting." Nolan smiled.

"Nothing helps you get adjusted to a culture like an American song about said culture." Wiccan replied. "Which makes just as much sense as a magical city in the middle of an empty flippin' desert."

"The Riddler said it was under an invisibility spell. You need a passport to get in. So it should be no coincidence that, after our trophy hunt, this was in my mailbox." He pulled out a passport that had a picture of Man With the Red Eye.

"Okay, we're using someone's stolen identity. To whom do we show it, exactly?" Crystal asked, showing further doubt in the magic city's existence.

Nolan looked around before pointing, "That rock has a slot we can put it in. That reminds me, Yuki, there's a disguise in the trunk, you may wanna don it."

Yuki opened the trunk and found a black coat, mask that went over his right eye, a silver wig, and a contact lens that turned his left eye red. "You look just like him!" Crystal beamed. "Your white face really does him justice."

"I aim to please." Yuki took the passport. "Now watch a master at work." He stuck the ID into the thin slot within the tall rock.

A snake popped out of the sand and gazed at Yuki with glowing yellow eyes. "Passport identity: Man With the Red Eye. Last visited: June 8, 2024. Please provide password to verify identity."

"Remember it?" Nolan whispered.

"Sun Sun Lamp Moon." Yuki stated.

"Password accepted. Enter." The snake sunk down, and before their eyes, a line of light-pink light shaped into a doorway. The three exchanged curious glances and entered. They passed through a narrow hall lined with torches, and by the time they reached the end, their jaws were dropped. (Play "India" from Sly 2. (I know we're in Arabia, but it fits. :P))

The city of Magnostadt was enormous, composed of towers and buildings designed like Arabian palaces and walkways connecting them. The city appeared to have several floors worth of streets, as there were shops on the ground and on the building walkways – at least according to Sandman's map. There were pillars with colorful glowing orbs that served as streetlights, people using magic carpets to get around the city, and patrolling guards that were wearing black vests, white pants, and turbans (like the guards from Aladdin).

"Attention people of Magnostadt." A British accent echoed from a PA. "It appears a rather nasty visitor has entered the city. All guards are to be on high alert, and all residents are to return to their homes."

"Riiiight, because Red Eye is kind of the most wanted man in the world." Yuki hurriedly took off his disguise.

"That was him." Sandman said seriously. "Dr. Strange. Time to start looking for his hideout. There's bound to be a few guards that know."

Stage 65: Magnostadt

Mission: Find Hugo Strange's hideout.

Act 1

The entrance was set on a walkway above twin sets of stairs. The heroes glided to the city's ground, composed of various yards and paved sidewalks in-between. A muscular guard was crossing a small bridge over a river. Sandman rolled up quietly, jumped to grab the large guard around his chest and mouth, and ducked sideways to bash his head against the ground, knocking him unconscious. "If he's walking around a yard, he's probably a low-level guard." Nolan reasoned.

The way out of this garden was blocked by a magical barrier between two buildings, and a glowing keyhole beside it. "You know, it dawns on me," Crystal began, "in a city of gravity-defying carpets, I have a staff that does that!" With that, she sat on her staff and floated up. "I'll get a bird's-eye view of the area."

She was nearly shot at from above, and three guards hovered overhead on carpets, aiming magic wands. "Carpets are the only permitted flying materials in Magnostadt!"

"Okay, okay!" Crystal lowered to the floor and stepped off her staff. "Sigh… At least it's not for being a woman with free will."

There was a purple- and yellow-striped magic carpet floating in front of a monkey statue within the wall. The statue had a fire symbol above it, so Crystal stood on the carpet as she shot fire into the ape's open mouth. The statue chewed it and said, "THAAANK YOOOOU." The magic carpet floated up so Crystal could jump onto a walkway. From there, a bridge led over to a roofed platform where a slender, dual-sword guard was stationed. When Crystal tried to cross the bridge, the guard tossed one of his swords like a boomerang to push her back. Another carpet floated under the bridge and around to the back of the platform, so Crystal glided onto it. Once behind the platform, she bashed the back of the guard's head and swiped the large key on his belt.

She dropped back to the ground and used the key to open the magic barrier. Team Sandman entered the town square, which had a beautiful fountain to compliment the scenery, and a suspended walkway overhead. The heroes chose to sneak past the guards and go up the wide stairs past the fountain. A wide street led toward a humongous, three-tower building that was labeled Magnostadt Academy. Nolan viewed his wheelchair computer and said, "According to Wikipedia, this is Arabia's magic school."

"High class." Yuki observed. "Looks like a worthy villain's hideout."

"If Dr. Strange is up to something diabolical, it wouldn't be in such a public place."

"Oh, and how many diabolical secrets did Hogwarts have?"

"Grab onto me, we'll get a better view from that tower." The two held onto Sandman as he grappled up to a building on their right, and from there launched to a tower with a round roof and crescent moon flag. Sandman zoomed his mask-binoculars- "Whoooaa!" He almost rolled off the slanted roof before Yuki and Wiccan grabbed him.

"Easy there, Hercules." said Yuki.

"Hercules?" Crystal questioned.

"'Cause he's on a roll!"

"Stick with Aladdin references."

"HEEEEEELLLLP!"

"What was that?" Sandman activated Detective Vision and located the source of the sound. He detected the skeletons of a band of men, and two of them were holding a smaller body by the arms. "This way." They glided to the ground and hid behind a building. They viewed a small park where a team of guards were dragging a child in a white priestess robe toward a street.

"I just wanted some apples, let me GOOO!" The child jumped and swung her feet, but remained bound by the guards.

"Enough! We know what that watch is, Master Strange told us to be on lookout for brats like you! Now behave or we'll cut off your hands along with that robe."

Sandman scanned the guards, and two of them were marked pink. "Those two have magic wands, but the rest have swords. Be careful when you charge them. Hey, you boys ever consider Juvy?!" Nolan was quick to speed at the guards, who whipped to face him. The wizards in question cast streams of fire, Nolan dodging left and tossing boomerangs to hit their wands and disarm. The child used the distraction to bite the hands of both her captors, running behind a bush to watch the battle.

The wizards recovered their wands, and when Yuki charged at them, they zapped a spell that flipped and landed him on his back. The other wizard shot fire at Crystal, who sucked it into her staff and backfired at the guard, afterwards bashing him unconscious. A dual-sword guard lashed his blades at Yuki, cutting his coat with his nimble moves, until Yuki froze his feet to the ground, jumped, and kicked the trapped guard in the head. The two muscular guards that held the girl captive grabbed Sandman from both sides, but he pulled his arms free, briefly punched them, grabbed their heads, and slammed them to the ground. The remaining wizard cast a whirlwind spell, which Wiccan again sucked into her staff, batted the wizard upward, then shot the wind at him to send him flying.

Only one swordsman remained, but Yuki was quick to wrap arms around his neck from behind. "Hey, guy! Tell us where Master Strange lives?"

"Master Strange is underground! You will never find him!"

"Tell us how to get underground?"

"NEVER! I will DIE before I reveal the secrets! Or rather because I do not know the entrance."

"Well, thanks anyway." Yuki fell forward and squished the guard underneath to knock him out.

Sandman detected the girl still behind the bush and rolled over. His friends joined as the girl peeked up and stared at them with pretty green eyes. She looked nine years old, with bluish-white hair, clothed in a white priestess uniform with golden edges, and she had light-peach skin. "You're not Arabian… Who are you?"

"I'm Index! Will you feed me?" she asked with a loud, high voice.

"You're British." Crystal noticed. "Are you a nun or something?"

"Yah. So you gonna feed me or what?"

"What?" Nolan asked.

"I'm hungry! Give me food!" She shook her arms angrily.

"I didn't bring any food! I would lend you money, but my American dollars probably won't work here. Speaking of, what are you doing in this country?"

"I'm starving…" She laid on the ground, making a fake morbid expression. "Why do you want me to die…"

"Sigh, I don't have time for this. Just get somewhere safe, we're busy." Sandman turned to roll away.

The girl jumped over his shoulder. "Where you going?"

"Hey!" Sandman grabbed her arm and held her up. "If you need help getting home, just tell us…?" Her sleeve drooped in this position, and Nolan spotted the small watch on her arm. "Wait, that's a KND communicator! Are you an operative?"

"HAOMP!" She bit his arm through the coat.

"YOW!" He released.

"What kind of name is Index?" Crystal questioned.

"It's a codename! Numbuh Index. Now give me food!"

"Why should we?!" Yuki argued.

"Because I know where the underground hideout is!"

"Y…You do?" asked Sandman.

"Yeah, and I'll tell you! But only when you bring me food."

"You can't be serious."

"I'm gonna die…" Index laid on the ground again.

"Ugh… If you're a KND operative, you might be telling the truth. Fine, we'll look for food."

"EXCELLENT!" She jumped back up. "Oh, you can borrow this as thanks for saving me." She gave Sandman a flute. "I got it from a friend, so bring it back."

Sandman got the Snake Charmer! Snakes can't resist the sound of this flute! Play it and they'll help you!

"I'm not leaving 'til my tummy is full!" Index was ready with a knife and fork. "Bring me a buffet!"

Mission Update: Bring food to this brat.

"I HEARD that!"

Sandman typed 'Provisions' into his digital map and marked three key areas in Magnostadt. They made their way to an area nearby, where a large quantity of food was located at the top of a tower. The tower was across a large pool and the walkway was too far and high to grapple to. However, there was a wood pot on the edge of the pool, and a snake peeped out of it. "Hmm… Crystal, stand on that." Nolan instructed. The witch stood on the lid of the pot while Sandman played the Snake Charmer. Crystal felt the lid bob up and down before the 10-foot-long snake POPPED out like a spring, flying Crystal up toward the tower walkway.

The path led around part of the tower, but the witch would have to jump across open window shutters next. She jumped the shutters quickly as they would close in an instant. Crystal could climb a ladder to the next floor of the tower, standing on a safe platform as she watched a guard float over window shutters on a magic carpet, a searchlight aimed down. When the guard floated away, she jumped the shutters and hid within a large keyhole-shaped hole in the wall. The guard passed without knowing, letting Crystal make it across.

The witch stuck her staff into a hole in the wall, leapt on her horizontal staff, and quickly jumped and pulled it out to stick into another hole. She could jump to a new walkway that looped around to an open doorway. "Why are we doing what Mr. Strange says?" Crystal hid behind the door with a start, peeping in to see two guards guarding a watermelon pile. "He's a nobody from Germany."

"The World Leaders favor the man to great extent." The other guard said. Crystal used a tiny ledge under the walkway to sneak under their vision, balancing carefully while crouching. "I don't know what project he is working on, but I hear lots of rich nobles are helping fund it. He even got magic dust from Schnee Inc.."

"What if he is milking our land for its magic? Are we supposed to stand by and let him?"

"What choice do we have? The World Leaders are his shield."

Crystal climbed a rope to a ledge around the roof of the tower. There was an open window behind the guards and over the watermelons. Crystal set her staff to float inside while she hung onto it with her feet, grabbing a single heavy watermelon upside-down. This should be more than enough to fill that girl's stomach. She flipped back up with the melon in both arms. To get down quicker, she let herself fall off the tower, then told her staff to float before hitting the ground.

Team Sandman returned to Index as the former cut the melon in half with his boomerang. "Here you go." Sandman said. "Enjoy it."

"NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!" Index gobbled and swallowed both halves in seconds. "STILL hungry!"

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Wiccan screamed.

"GIVE ME MORE!"

"UGH! Let's go somewhere else." Sandman huffed in aggravation.

They headed toward the east side of Magnostadt, crossing a roofed bridge that arched up over a river. Wizard guards used magic to bring columns of water up to strike the heroes, but Yuki froze the water in icebending while Sandman rolled up to pounce the wizards and punch them senseless. After the bridge, the heroes grappled to some house roofs and bypassed the guards on the streets. The area where the food was located was over another pool with vultures hovering over.

There was a shaking box with a picture of a spring. Sandman played the Snake Charmer, and a green rattlesnake with a big nose popped out, curled and bouncing like a spring. "This'll be a change of pace." Nolan hopped on the rattlesnake. He played quick notes on his flute that tempted the snake to charge energy, and when he stopped playing, the snake flew high and was able to bounce over the vultures. Sandman bounced the snake over a road with spike traps and sword guards that tried to slice them.

Wizards were perched on pillars and shot Blasting Spells, and would only be KO'ed when Rattly performs a Super Bounce on their heads. A brick wall blocked the way, but was still nothing to a Super Bounce. The last obstacle between Sandman and some food was a long pool with visible tiles underneath. Sandman played the Snake Charmer, and several snakes pushed those tiles up. Rattly could use the tiles as platforms and bring Sandman across. They found an abandoned truck with boxes of raw meat, so Sandman decided to take a few hotdogs.

He returned to his friends and sadly abandoned Rattly to get back on his wheelchair. However, he chucked one of the hotdogs into his mouth as a reward. "Crystal, you mind cooking these?" Nolan asked. "It's probably a deal-breaker if the food's bad."

"Right away, boss." Crystal blew a light fire from her staff to cook the dogs. Despite not having ketchup or buns, they brought the small meat strips to Index.

She slurped them down her throat in pairs of two. "So gooood! Now I want dessert! Give me ice cream!"

Yuki formed an icicle and held it to her. "Close enough, right??"

"BLEH!" Index smacked it away. "I don't want it if it tastes like old man!"

"DARN IT!" Yuki cursed. "No matter how many times I wash it, I can't get his smell off!"

"Fine, we'll bring you ice cream." Sandman complied. "The map says there's some in the southwest."

Team Sandman hurried past the town square, but it seems the area they needed to be was on a higher level. They headed east of the square and went up some stairs, bringing them to the bridge that crossed over the square. Sandman chucked boomerangs to stun the guards before punching them off the bridge (a short fall wasn't fatal to them). The bridge led them to a shopping district of town. There was a stand run by a blue-robed peddler called "Discount Genie Lamps," with shelves lined with the alleged lamps. Not responsible for unsatisfactory wishes, the sign said.

They grappled to the roofs to find an ice cream carriage driving aimlessly around the streets. It was a magic-run carriage as no horse was pulling it. "So, we gonna knock him out and take some?" Yuki asked.

"Come on, that's mean." Nolan said. "Just use your bending and pull one out of the back."

"Sounds easy enough to work. But can we stop him first? I'd rather get behind and see what I'm bending, and it won't be easy if he's moving."

"No problem." Sandman sent the Grapple-Cam to pursue the carriage as Yuki followed it. The Grapple-Cam landed on the street where the carriage would drive. "DEAD KID ON THE ROAD!"

The carriage driver stopped the vehicle, startled by the voice with no source. Yuki got behind the carriage and peeked through the back curtain. There was a magic spell that kept the inside cold. Several ice cream containers were frozen together, so Yuki used his bending to detach the ice and retrieve a vanilla and chocolate. He slipped out while the driver was still distracted by the Grapple-Cam. "Heh heh heh. Watch that girl explode like the rat from Conker's Bad Fur Day." Yuki snickered.

When the trio returned to Index, the nun grabbed a spoon and dealt away with both buckets in one minute. "Ahhhh… I'm full now." She fell on her back.

"Great, now tell us how to get underground!" Sandman demanded.

"Sure, sure… The entrance is in Town Square, but you need a password… Could you carry me?"

"On you, Yuki."

"What a drag." Yuki lifted the child over his shoulder. They made their way to Town Square, where four guards were still circling the fountain.

"It's the fountain, isn't it? That's why they're so busy here. Yuki, put her down, we'll ambush three and jump the fourth one together." The three heroes picked a guard to sneak up on, and simultaneously knocked them out with a Stealth Attack. The fourth guard whipped out his sword to retaliate- "BZZZZZ!" He was KO'ed by a shock rod wielded by Index.

"Ta-daaaa!" The girl cheered. "4x4 tech at its best!"

"Didn't take long for that food to settle." Yuki remarked.

"Well, as thanks for the food, I'll open the hideout for you." With that, Numbuh Index walked to the front of the fountain.

"Let me guess, it's 'Open Sesame.'"

Index spoke to the fountain with a smile: "The password is… Fath alttariq 'iilaa qudri wayabead kl sharr."

"YOU REMEMBER THAT?!" The heroes screamed.

The fountain deactivated and turned counterclockwise, lifting a few inches as that chunk of the ground slid aside. A stairwell led underground. "And there you go!" Index said cheerily. "If you find any food down there, bring it to me!" She skipped off.

"Odd one, isn't she?" Crystal raised a brow.

"I really should ask how she knew it." Nolan said. "Hmm… Well, now or never. Let's go in." (End song.)

Act 2

Sandman used a flashlight to see down the dark stairs, which ended in a tunnel with dusty pots and rolled-up carpets. The cave turned left, and red magic orbs served as light. The heroes gathered on a large carpet on the edge of a long pit. There was another monkey statue with a fire symbol on their left, and when Crystal shot fire at it, the magic carpet floated across the pit. "THAAAANK YOOOOU!" It stopped between two statues with ice symbols. "Shoot them at the same time!" Nolan yelled. Crystal and Yuki both hit a statue with ice to keep the carpet floating. The next statues required lightning and wind, in other words Sandman's Shock Rod and Crystal's gust function. The last statues wanted gas and light, Sandman used the gas gun and Crystal cast Lumos Solem.

They could disembark the carpet and enter a vast room with a bottomless pit and several wide pillars. There was a big hole facing their cliff from the nearest pillar. When Sandman played the Snake Charmer, a long snake tongue stretched out and touched their ledge. Crystal stepped on it, and a huge green snake followed suit and tried to snap her. Crystal jumped back and let the snake crash against the cliff, and the heroes could cross him like a bridge while he was stunned.

They made it atop the pillar it came from, and they repeated the process with a snake in the next pillar. The pillar didn't have a top, so they had to call another snake from a left pillar. They could rest on that pillar, then they could call a snake from the next one. There was another hole above that snake's hole, and playing the Snake Charmer caused a tongue to stick out as well. Crystal jumped on the tongue, dodged the snake's bite, and Sandman quickly grappled onto the snake before the one they were on retracted. They got onto the platform and could glide down to a tunnel.

At the end of the tunnel, they stopped to view a vast room with posh blue walls and floors, golden columns and railing, and chandeliers. A great gold statue of Dr. Strange took up the center of the room. Sandman detected ten guards in the facinity, armed with magic guns, as well as wind shields to keep back intruders. "Attention all staff. There is a Kids Next Door ship flying in the skies above Magnostadt. I suspect it is the Arabian branch, Sector SA. I am going to activate the Sky Fortress and take Subject: Dark Heart. Deal with the intruders in the hideout." (Play "You Should Have Listened to my Warning" from Arkham City.)

"We can't stop these guards with those shields on." Nolan said. "And I see snipers on those chandeliers." The red lines of the sniper rifles formed an 'X' in front of the statue. "Why are they facing the…!" Nolan zoomed in on the statue's mouth, seeing the white gem with a tornado symbol. "Is that generating the wind shields? Crystal, go for the left sniper, I got the right." Sandman sent the Grapple-Cam up to the right chandelier, positioning behind the sniper. When Crystal flew up and KO'ed the left, the right sniper tried to shoot her, only to be bopped by the Grapple-Cam's claw. Crystal quickly flew over and bashed him senseless.

Since the room was chi-blocked, Yuki couldn't icebend, so he shot ice chunks from his pack to hit the statue's mouth and break the Wind Stone. The eight remaining guards panicked when their defenses fell, and Yuki hurried up to knock out the guard closest to him. Crystal looked down and spotted a guard running around the statue, so when he least expected, Crystal dropped down and balanced on her staff, floating over and jumping on him. Sandman rolled down to the middle walkway, and a guard on his left spotted him and aimed his wand. Sandman noticed the hole under the guard, and could play the Snake Charmer to have a snake shoot up and snap his leg. Sandman rolled over to KO the guard in his weak moment.

Yuki hid behind a column and waited for a guard to come up. When he did, Yuki froze the floor with his ice pack, tripped the guard, and stomped his head. When Crystal flew around the room, she drew the attention of two guards and dodged their bullet-like spells. Sandman grappled up to one of them and knocked him out, then shot his Shock Rod to stun the other one. Crystal flew down and bashed him to sleep with her staff. Another guard charged up to Sandman, who blew gas between them and escaped. The guard looked around in a panic, but was caught from behind by his opponent.

"Protego!" The final guard projected a magic bubble around himself. "You're not getting the better of me! Nothing breaks my bubble!"

Sandman noticed the iPhone on the guard's belt. "We'll see about that." He called Mr. Game-and-Watch on his wristwatch and aimed it at the phone. The 2-D Program got into the phone, which started vibrating furiously. The guard was startled to the point that he dropped his spell, allowing Yuki to finish him off. (End song.)

"I think we got them all!" Crystal said proudly.

"Excellent job, team!" Sandman raised a fist. "But we're not through yet. It's time to confront Strange!"

The wall behind the statue had an elevator with a golden barred door. All Sandman had to do was decode a password 'Fairytale' so the door would open. Instead of travel up or down, the elevator went directly straight. Ding! After five minutes, the opposite door opened. Team Sandman entered a chamber lit with purple lights. There were huge class containers filled with shadows, much like Cheshire, except they were frowning in despair. There were jars of colorful magic dust, and the lids read Property of Schnee Inc..

The heroes entered a passage filled with capsules of black, gas-like substance. Crystal was intrigued by the substance and approached one. "I wonder what it is…" She reached a finger to it.

Sandman had been scanning the substance. A bunch of XXXXX's appeared on his goggles. He gasped- "DON'T TOUCH IT!" and pulled Crystal back. "It's some kind of Death Magic! I mean, the scanner's comparing it to Death Magic, but it's… unfamiliar."

"Guys, look at that." Yuki pointed. Their gaze fell to the center of the room, where a shining purple crystal was placed on a pedestal.

The crystal contained what appeared to be a teenage boy with black hair, a white toga, and black robe. He had black eyes, forced open wide like his mouth, and his hands were pressed against the crystal. His pupils seemed to be in their direction. "Who is that?" Crystal whispered.

"It's not ice." Yuki could tell. "He's trapped in… You!" he remarked at Crystal.

Nolan scanned the crystal and its prisoner. "The crystal is made of magic energy, though I can't get more info. The Internet's not recognizing this guy… Wait, I do have a match! The picture looks like it was made in Medieval Days… His name is-"

"Zeref." They whipped around to find Dr. Strange himself. The bald, dark-skinned doctor wore a black, armored uniform with small pipes flowing with colorful substance. "Or as I call him, Subject: Dark Heart."

"Dr. Strange!" Sandman exclaimed. Before either hero had a chance to attack, they were trapped in a purple diamond barrier.

"I cannot have you disrupting this operation, Sandman." Hugo had his right hand raised, and it was glowing purple. "We have so little time until this dreaded Apocalypse is said to arrive. The World Leaders wish to act soon. For months, they have been collecting the material and sending it to me because I am the only one capable of fulfilling the task. Imagine how difficult it was securing such a powerful subject. But I have Underworld connections, you see. Not the criminal underworld, of course. The real Underworld. And it took a great deal of persuasion for them to give him to me."

"What are you doing with all this?! Why all the captured shadows?"

"The World Government needs absolute control for their plan, Sandman. All our enemies will be crushed and we will rid the world of evil. Once I have the remaining materials, the Grand Inferius will be complete."

"What's the Grand Inferius?" Yuki questioned.

"I could tell you… but I would much rather let you be part of it." Hugo smirked.

The chamber shook. A massive area of the desert opened outside, and from the sands emerged a flying fortress with powerful sapphire engines and sturdy propellers. The underground hideout was now airborne, set to leave the desert. "The World Leaders plan to act soon." Strange said. "If all else fails, the Grand Inferius will be their final play. Soon, we will have the final materials, and the Final War will commence!"

"Finals finals finals, what is this a test?!" Yuki retorted.

"It's summer break, after all." Hugo smiled. "But first, what do you think of my suit? We of the Strange Family have studied ways to harness and control the force known as magic. By injecting myself with small doses of concentrated magic, my body was able to adapt and control it. This suit amplifies my power, and it shall be your demise!" He clenched his hand, tightening the space inside the diamond barrier.

The three heroes were steadily squishing together, but before the doctor could see victory, a hole was blown in the ceiling. The impact caused Hugo to drop the barrier. "There he is, Mr. Gas Mask!" Index's voice called. There was a S.C.A.M.P.E.R. III floating outside. "Morg, kick his butt!"

"I will!" Someone jumped out of the ship and quaked the floor upon landing. A 12-year-old girl with magenta hair and eyes, wearing a white robe, stood firm on her bare feet as she faced Strange. Morgiana leapt to stomp the doctor, but Strange dodged, resulting in a dent in the floor from her stomp. Strange used Levitation Magic to pick her up, only to be jumped by Sandman from behind.

The doctor blew him off with a magic pulse, but Morgiana recovered and kicked Strange with enough force to blow him against the wall. She faced the crystallized man and leapt over. "Should I try to free this person?"

"DO NOT TOUCH HIM!" Strange's eyes glowed purple as he concentrated power into a small sphere. Gravity was centered on that sphere and was drawing the four in.

"That guy's power levels are off the charts!" another girl's voice yelled. "We're getting you out of there!" The ship blasted lasers down to break Strange's hold, then it stretched a claw down to pull the four up.

"That will do." Strange smiled. "This will not be our last encounter, Sandman. When you see me again, I will have achieved victory." He conjured a vortex between his hands and expanded it to encase the entire fortress. It vanished in the sky, leaving only the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. III.

Team Sandman and Morgiana recomposed and viewed around the ship. "Whaddid I tell you?" asked a pink Goomba with a blonde ponytail and archaeologist hat. "It's Sandman, the one and only!"

"I know! It's even cooler watching him in action!" A Japanese girl with light-blue eyes and short hair beamed. She wore a school uniform and was ten years old.

"I found him FIRST!" Index yelled.

"Index?" Crystal said. "Who are you kids?"

"Duh, we're Sector SA!" The Goomba jumped and twirled. "Numbuh Mark, Goombella at your service!"

"Numbuh Chapter, Morgiana." the magenta-haired said.

"Numbuh Index!" the nun introduced again. "Uh… Index!"

"That can't be your real name." Crystal replied.

"I'm the leader." the Japanese girl said. "Numbuh Period, Nagisa."

"Shouldn't the Arab girl be leader of the Arabian sector?" Yuki questioned. "Come to think of it, why is she the only Arab?"

"We know it's weird, we just thought it was the best fit for us." Goombella said. "But never mind us, who'd-a thought the noble Sandman would come to visit us!" :heart: "I'm from Roguetown. But I'm sure you know THAT, Mr. York. 'Second Index told us it was you, we HAD to come rescue!"

"Heheh." Nolan blushed. "Good thing I did that then."

"Hey, you wanna punch me in the head?"

"What?"

"Come on, it won't hurt, trust me!" Goombella said excitedly.

"Um… Maybe just a little." Nolan threw a weak punch at Goombella's helmet.

"Nolan York, your Power Level is: 2300! Nice!"

"You can scan Power Levels?"

"Yep! And it was an honor to finally scan yours." Goombella jumped and kissed Nolan on the cheek.

"Er… yeah." He blushed. "So, why were you in Magnostadt again?"

"A few nights ago, we were doing reconnaissance and saw that Dr. Strange man go to Magnostadt." Nagisa explained. "Index went into Magnostadt and got close enough to hear the password. If you're wondering how she could remember it, it's because she has a Perfect Memory. No joke, she remembers anything she sees or hears!"

"Wouldn't she need a passport to get in?"

"Right here!" Index raised her Magnostadt passport. "By the way, when I jumped your shoulder, I put a little camera on your hat." At this, Sandman took off his hat and spotted the tiny camera on the black strip.

"We used it to see into the hideout from you." Nagisa said. "Given how much trouble the World Government's been giving us, I guess we were right to check on that man."

"But I never would've guessed he was hiding Zeref." Index said. "He was a character in a story called Fairy Sisters. I KNEW it was a real story!"

"Well, thanks for the assist, but we need to find where Dr. Strange fled!" Sandman yelled. "If he was serious, it won't be long until he enacts his plan."

"We'd love to help, but we're busy with other agendas." Nagisa replied. "The Kids Next Door are planning an attack on Enies Lobby and we want to join in."

"You can drop us off by my Sandmobile. But if you do catch wind of Dr. Strange, we'd like you to contact us." Sandman held his wristwatch up to Nagisa. "I'm sending my number to you."

Nagisa pulled out her phone and saw Mr. Game-and-Watch dancing on it. "Uhhh… Sure." She blushed.

"Don't worry, he's not asking for a date." Crystal patted Nagisa's head. "Though he seems to have a fondness for girls with odd hair."

"… … … I'm a boy."

Crystal's heart shattered like glass from the utter embarrassment. "I'm terribly sorry for my mistake, Sir."

"If you didn't wanna confuse people, you shouldn't make your codename 'Numbuh Period.'" Yuki commented.

"PERVERT!!" Index shouted.

"What?! I was just saying that-"

"HAAAOMP!" The nun leapt and chewed painfully on Yuki's head.

"YOW!!"

KND Moonbase

The treehouse had gone quiet and most of the operatives returned to their sectors. Except for the night guards, there was scarcely a soul around. Maddy was unable to sleep for several reasons – one of them being she had a few naps after the battle. Shade was asleep on the floor beside her bed. Maddy was still wrapped in bandages, but the stinging pain seems to have subsided. She climbed out of bed, careful not to wake Shade, and put on her clothes.

Walking casually past the night guards, Maddy headed for the hangar and prepared to board a S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P.. "Where you going." a boy's voice said. She turned to see Chris leaning on his sector's C.O.O.L.-B.U.S..

"I was gonna crash into Enies Lobby and try to find the Gibberish Rock before CP10 could get me." She answered with no energy to try and lie or argue. "If I am the Chosen One, I won't die."

"Oh, cool. I was about to head there and just blow them up with Combustion Beam. Why come up with a million battle plans, it's easier to go in and get it over with."

"Sarcasm?"

"Nope." Chris smiled, approaching her. "You and me, that's all. Let's go to Enies Lobby and burn it to the ground. We'll drive your S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P. if you want."

"You mean it? 'Cause we're really going there, no jokes."

"I know that, but I don't think YOU mean it."

"I do mean it!"

"Fine, then let's go!"

"Fine!"

They climbed in the S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P. and started the engines. "…You don't wanna go, do you?" Maddy asked.

"Not at all. I did at first, but now the mood doesn't seem right."

"Right. So, where do you wanna go?"

"The Los Angeles Beach. Some other people are there, you'll see."

L.A. Beach

"Hoooh… ho huuuuum…" Manaphy was floating in the sea as the six other Firstborn held hands and circled around him. "HOOOH… ho HUUUM…" The full moon reflected on the surface. Its beauty paled to the voice of the Sea Prince. It may have been Manaphy's song that was making the water glow… Or it could be Crest's presence.

"Hey, Midna." Crest spoke, holding the Twilight Princess' hand. "If couples kiss under a full moon, you think that would boost my power?" Midna switched places with Meloetta beside her.

Their Guardians sat on the beach and eased their minds by watching the spirits dance. Sunni and Darcy held Mew in the water, hoping the song would heal him. Anthony and Michelle were also here as the sister swayed to the song. "The Firstborn haven't been reunited in 20 years." Chris said to Maddy. "I wonder if finding all of them will bring Arceus back…"

"He would be a big help."

"Yeah… He was the one who started all this. And it all ends with us. You know… every night since this quest began, I've been up for five hours training."

"With your Combustion Eye?"

"No, just in general. We were basically getting into a Firstborn Quest equivalent, I had to be stronger. And I still got beat by a giant chicken."

"Five hours every night, no wonder."

"No, I use this." He took out a black mask with red eyes. "It's an All-Night Mask Cheren brought home from Termina. You wear it and you never get sleepy, plus no crash later. It's like an infinite 5-hour Energy. But I still get exhausted from exercise."

"So much for my four-day Haki training…"

"I know… The minute that chicken wiped the floor with me… It was just like Sir Knightly back at Candy Island, I couldn't beat him either. All this training and hard work… it amounts to nothing in the end. That's the lesson I take."

"That can't be true. We've won countless times."

"I know. But that's the other thing… it never ends. Even if we blew through CP10 and you became the Light… things would only get worse. Whether the Government attacks us or whatever demon is pulling the strings, let's face it. None of us are normal kids anymore. It'd be a stretch to say if we ever were kids."

Chris unwrapped his headband and exposed his Combustion Eye. "Look at this eye." Chris pointed at it. "The minute I was born, I was already a monster. If I exposed this eye, everyone would've hated me. And I hated myself because I was a monster. Heh heh heh…" Chris laughed and made a sardonic, frightening smile. "I still remember how you kept making fun of us. Benders and non-humans, we really were an odd bunch… and I kept telling you we're no different from you 'normal' humans. Now I see the real meaning behind that. We're cursed children who live cursed lives… It doesn't matter how human we think we are. So why is there a reason to make fun of us? That's how funny this is."

"Chris…" Maddy felt concern for this behavior.

"And even after coming out with this eye, I didn't wanna do too much damage with it! But what's that gonna do, am I right? Even if I have a human heart with human feelings, even if I resent my demon roots… what does it matter for any of us? My point is, Maddy, that I don't see a happy ending after this. Even if we keep saving the day… I don't see one."

"…" Maddy looked forward. Chris followed her gaze. It was then they realized the song had stopped. The Firstborn and the kids were looking at them, and had heard every word.

"Mana Mana…" Manaphy had tears pouring from his eyes, glinting in the moonlight. The speech must have traumatized the baby.

"Manaphy?" Melody picked her uncle up to console him.

"Phyyy…" Manaphy made his tears float and cast them at Maddy and Chris. The touch of the spirit's tears removed their injuries completely and the pain from existence.

"Tears of Light…" Lucario said with awe. "The mournful tears of a god cures all wounds. And yet…" He glanced at Mew. "It is not enough to restore the Ancestral Spirit…"

"Making a baby cry… How could you." Chris and Maddy turned to the source of this man's voice.

"RAYLEIGH!" Maddy gasped. "…No." She shook her head. "You're not real."

"Hm hm, you got me." Rayleigh stepped into the moonlight, making his playful smile shine. "I am a Zoni… but my memories and characteristics of the real Rayleigh are down to the nail. Even this one piece of hair that's still blonde!" He tugged the blonde strand. "I came back because I knew you still needed my guidance. That was quite a speech you gave us, Mr. Uno… but so what?"

He stepped forward slowly. "Who cares if you're humans… Who cares if you're demons… Who cares if you're gods? You're this universe's only hope. You make miracles happen! And the people of this universe CHEER the Kids Next Door! Perhaps there are some like the Government who fear you… but that doesn't matter. You kids have a goal. If you don't realize that goal, you'll let everybody down! No matter what your future has in store, you need to see it to the end. You can call yourselves monsters… but you're monsters with hearts and souls. And those are your true weapons. So, what now? You were going to attack CP10, right? Where's that pent-up energy?"

Maddy and Chris exchanged looks. The former smiled and said, "Of course we were going to. It's just we feel like… we slumped in our training."

"Well, then I guess you need more. Children, follow me. My fellow Zoni should have gathered the others by now."

KND Convention Center

Everyone in Sector V, Sector W, Sector W7, Sector IC, JP, KB, and the Moonbase commanders had come. Shade was here after learning Maddy had left the base. They gathered in the field to see Silvers Rayleigh and a swarm of Zoni. "Well, I do apologize for disrupting all of your bedtimes." Rayleigh said. "But it seems you kids need a little help going forward. Orvus?"

"Thank you, Zoni 100472." The Zoni leader bowed and floated above. "First, I would like to thank you kids for your assistance on Great Clock. To show my thanks, I am making a proposition: We Zoni will encase this entire field inside a Time Zone. While time moves ever so slowly outside, you will be inside putting yourselves through days of training. When you all think you are finished, you may merely say so. We wish to prepare you for the battles ahead."

"Not just CP10?" Mason asked.

"No, of course not. Naturally, you will be allowed breaks and refreshments, lest you destroy yourselves. But rest assured, you need not worry for the events outside the Time Zone. You'll be a few days older than everyone else, but that shouldn't be a big issue."

"Hmm… Well, I'm game." Karin agreed.

"Alright, let's do it!" Ruby fist-palmed. "A few days, a few hours, it's one long haul for me!"

"Okay, we will." Maddy confirmed with sureness. The many operatives were all in accord. "CP10 won't expect it."

"Don't leave me out!" Vanellope stomped forward confidently—glitch.

"Vanellope…" Dillon wanted to speak his concern.

"Be quiet, Dillon." she yelled. "I might be just a broken Program to you, but I'm n—ot!" Glitch. "I can get stronger just as well as you, you'll see!"

"I'm glad you all feel the same." Orvus smiled. "Then I would like to introduce your training instructors."

The Zoni spawned open a portal, and in stepped several familiar faces. They introduced their selves: "Caesar Clown!"

"President Business!"

"Brook! Yohohoho!"

"Fegan Floop!"

"Me, of course." Mom said smugly.

"Grandfather." The son of Malladus appeared last.

"Brook!" Aurora beamed. "It's been awhile!"

"Don't be deceived." Rayleigh smirked. "Brook is a Zoni, too."

"It's true." The skeleton buzzed and briefly showed his Zoni form. "I am based from the real Brook, but my story and even those skeletons were a lie. I still want to see your panties."

"STILL A CREEP!!" Haruka freaked.

"Even you, Lord Business?" Haylee asked.

"What? I'm glad I get to help you kids again." Business smiled. "Especially when I learned Bob was involved."

"Who the heck is Floop though?" Dillon asked.

"Duh, he's the host of Floop's Fooglies!" Zach replied. "It's super cool!"

"I'm glad you think so, Zeak!" Floop walked up to him with a smile. "Because I'm here to train—" he tripped on a banana, "YOOOUUUUUU!" His body slipped across the ground like the curve of a "U" and flew up feet-first before hitting the ground. "And I've been told you're friends of Wendy, so I agreed to it."

"I'll take it!" Zach beamed. "I'm so glad to be Zeak right now!"

"Get ready to be put through Hell, boy!" Grandfather smirked.

"Bring it on, Gramps!" Chris returned.

"The rest of you may train with each other." Orvus said. "Let fast-forward training begin!" The Zoni encased the entire treehouse in a force-field where time inside moved incredibly fast. (Play "Immortals" by Fall Out Boy! Totally fits the mood!)

"The Prank-Prank Fruit is made of Psychic Chi." Caesar Clown pointed a stick at blueprints of the fruit. "The user can make whatever little trap they dream up. It makes them a tough nut to deal with, but like with real psychicbenders, a mind that isn't stable is their downfall."

Shade threw rapid punches that Maddy blocked with Armament fists, unable to punch the echidna with Shade's keen Observation. Maddy sensed Rayleigh behind her—she dodged and punched, but he sensed this and kicked her away. Shade threw shurikens, Maddy dodged, but stepped on a switch that flung darts at her, two of them blinding her. She sensed Shade and Rayleigh and managed to dodge their blows—only for Mocha to dog-pile on Maddy. The giant stood up and blushed, seeing her friend flat on her chest.

Zoni on Vanellope's left—she zipped, on her right, zip, up-down-left-right-thisway-thatway, Vanellope kept at it until she could catch it, moving ever so faster. All this glitching wore her out, she stopped to catch her breath and let her pixels catch up. Dillon continued staring with concern, but was instantly grabbed in Midna's Hair Hand, the Firstborn giving a reproving head-shake. Dillon broke free and stretched Mario to snatch her, but Midna dodged and sent streams of shadows to bind him. Dillon sunk in a Veil, but Midna spawned a Shadow Vortex on the ground to suck him in anyway.

Chris Uno swiftly dodged Grandfather's beams, launching at him like a rocket, only for Ben to punch Chris away. Chris charged and threw Fire Fists at Grandfather's body, but the former Demon King withstood, so Chris threw faster punches. Grandfather exploded a fire spire, blowing Chris skyward, then Ben shot up to punch the boy like a comet to the audience stands.

Caesar used his bending to release a cloud of toxins from different bottles, and Haruka was left to sort the mixed gasses in the correct bottles. However, her crazy uncle compressed some into Gas Bombs and threw them at her, blowing Haruka away. Meanwhile, Lord Business dropped piles of Legos around his area, and Haylee watched as he constructed an Avengers Heli-Carrier in seconds. Using her wrench, Haylee grabbed and threw Legos together, then ran up to build whatever came to mind, which in this case was a mini hotel with a couch and palmtree awkwardly sticking out—it crumbled.

Floop put a pebble under one of three cups and quickly shuffled them to confuse Zach. The boy thought carefully and concluded: the pebble was on Mars catching a movie with a coupon. Floop nodded, but he caught wind of the All-Knowing Cotton Swab in Zach's brain. Zach panicked and called Milk Man (Jar Jar) to fly him away, but Floop called Kitty Patrol to have Milk Man file their tax claims.

After a day, they all were exhausted. Vanellope's pixels had trouble reforming and little candles on Chris's body dried his sweat. But the people singing this awesome song—Sugar and Harry Gilligan—created musical notes that pumped everyone up. With extra vocals from Meloetta, the kids were ready to keep going another day.

At Enies Lobby, Ernie the Chicken tore up countless punching bags of Peter Griffin. Megan Parker filled all the Teen Ninjas' pants with Skunk Cream and attracted French skunks to love them. Lime Rickey peeped out of trapdoors at every point on the island. Bob built anti-KND cannons around every perimeter. Number 4 rested by a window, hearing 'Mr. Beatles' ringing in his head. Leslie Meijer was still throwing up in the toilet. Rob Lucci stood in the back of the base, staring at the Poneglyph.

At Midway Peak, Morgan Uno calmly drank coffee as she walked the halls, glancing at her tiny butler Benjamin in her pocket. She walked by the viewing window to the gym room. Cheren was besting Anti Guys left and right with his Demon State. She looked up and gasped in horror. A wood puppet of Doflamingo was hanging by the neck, and words carved in the opposite wall read FOR THE KING. Cheren glanced up at Morgan and spared a smirk. See you tomorrow, he mouthed.

Returning to the Convention Center, Maddy charged at Mocha's leg for a headbutt, her forehead turned Armament, and the blow was able to bring the giant slight pain. Her Observation alert, Maddy dodged Shade's shurikens, but Rayleigh snuck up and kicked her like a ball. Maddy dodged his following kicks and tried to punch him, but the elder evaded each throw and patted her head—flinging her away with the slight force.

Maddy held her throbbing head. She noticed Sparky watching from close by, panting happily. Maddy smiled at her puppy and ran for the next round. Even in this Time Zone, Sparky's vision was broadcasted to Dr. Nefarious, who had never taken his eyes off once. Lawrence kept bringing him nuts-and-bolts popcorn.

Mom showed Carol Masterson a map of Enies Lobby, and the computer pro marked down areas as she formed a plan. Haruka was able to contain the gasses in their bottles, but Caesar had taken this time to test Mason's poisonbending. Mason grew tired countering his blows, and during his moment to rest, he pulled out his Gold Flurp. Haruka bent the soda out of its can, resting it on her hands as she tried to sense the harmful components.

Haylee whipped up a giant cannon from Legos, but it was crushed by Lord Business' Lego wrecking ball. She used some pieces to make a Lego lightsaber, throwing it to cut the ball's chain. Business retaliated by cutting some parts from that ball to make a Lego Pac-Man, throwing it over Haylee to trap her. Brook froze his and Aurora's area in frigid ice, but Aurora used Fire Fury to melt it and replace with heat. She then quickly switched to Ice Fury and made it cold, then back to Fire Fury—she felt a painful strain and was cooled down by Brook's ice.

At Great Clock, Bill Cipher sat close to a giant hourglass labeled Universe. The golden sands were close to hitting the bottom of the hourglass. Bill smiled and passed the time by snapping heads off dolls of the Pines and Bubble Dreamers.

Sheila Frantic used Midas Body and ran laps around the field, so fast none of the others saw her. After completing one of her rounds, her pedometer recorded 285,771 steps. Vanellope had gotten faster, zipping around the field in blinks, but still unable to catch the Zoni. She glitched so much—there were TWO Vanellopes! Both clones glitched with equal speed, surprising the Zoni by catching from both ends. Floop was teaching Zach the Classroom Attack, where depending on where you sit, you may either graduate with a belly-cleaners' degree, a doctorate in zooatomy, or one or two associates in getting mauled by Italian turtles.

Sunni Chariton cut up a Creative Summons symbol and whipped Peas into existence, smiling at the tiny Friend on her shoulder. Swiftly, she cut more symbols and summoned Friends, trying to picture each one in a wink to spawn them quicker. Chris used both hands to block Grandfather's heat vision, withstanding the heat and pushing closer to the elder. Grandfather shot a tiny laser from his finger, singing Chris and dropping his guard so he'd blast away.

Maddy hardened her arm to withstand Shade's punch, and Shade dodged Maddy's kick. Maddy dodged Rayleigh's behind punch, threw one at his leg, he dodged back—Maddy sensed this and kicked toward him to punch his leg. Mocha ran to dive at Maddy, but she jumped on Mocha's head and forcefully tugged her hair with Armament hands. Mocha winced from the tugs and tried to grab her, but Maddy kept a firm grip in her attempt to tame the giant.

Their final test was landing a blow on Azelf. The Firstborn was still and let herself be struck. All their Power Levels were recorded. Sheila Frantic: 4150. Chris Uno: 4095. Aurora Uno: 3900. Dillon York: 2032. Zach Murphy: 10. Maddy Murphy: 5005. Then Carol Masterson threw a punch at Azelf to see a level update: 12. (End song.)

"ALL RIGHT!" Carol cheered. "I got stronger!"

"WHAT?!" Jinta shouted at Karin. "I have 1500 and you have 2040?! No fair!"

"Hey, I didn't ask for ghost powers."

"Hey, all I have is a teeny-weeny 0.5." Aeincha blushed. "I'm weaker than a baby. Not like Mocha who's-"

"SIX THOUSAAAAAAND!" Mocha flexed her superior muscles. "And that's WITHOUT growing SUPERSIIIIZE!"

"Dammit!" Sheila cursed. "I coulda been higher if I weren't sleeping all the time!"

"I think we're ready to invade Enies Lobby!" Carol said, studying her online blueprints. "I'm surprised you helped us this far, Mom."

"I expect a showdown with Morgan at the end of this." Mom smirked. "Best to help you get through and make it."

"I'll be the one taking care of that." Sunni used her psychic to lift the Sacred Casket, where the Three Treasures were contained. "While you guys are fighting CP10, I'm going to help Cheren. I think I should save my psychic for Morgan."

"You were a great student, Haruka." Caesar wiped an imaginary tear. "One day, perhaps you'll make a more fantastic scientist than I."

"Back on the leash for you." Mocha caught him with the chi-leash.

"CURSE YOU, SUBJECT!"

"You've worked hard, every one of you." Rayleigh said. "It's time to put your skills to use. Lower the barrier."

The Zoni disabled the Time Zone and exposed them to the light of day. The sky was clear as birds flew over. Five days of arduous training, enduring pain and sweat and heat, went by in ten hours.