74. Galactic BOE

KND Moonbase

"So, these are supposed to be our Keyblades?" April asked as she held the colorful key designed like a paintbrush.

"These things are WAY too small." Sheila complained, holding the light-brown key with sun teeth and a straw hat Jolly Roger keychain. "I'll just stick with me fists."

"Then those are seven of the Twenty Keys that will open the Gate of Time." Jagar observed.

"Ah reckon." Kimaya shrugged. "Oh yeh, I got one for you too, Mr. King." Kimaya showed Jagar the key with a clock design. "Got it from some dude called Ford, said he was your dad."

"You met my father?!"

"FORD?!" MaKayla overheard. "He was the one that wrote the journals for the Multiverse Portal!"

"The Author of the journals was your father?!" Dipper shouted at Jagar.

"Yes, Stanford Pines was my father, and your great-uncle."

"WHY HAS NO ONE TOLD ME THIS?!"

"This is GREAT!" Mabel cheered. "Next Thanksgiving will be the best one ever!"

Jagar examined the key. "I remember seeing this design in his journal."

"Why are all of OUR keys so puny and YOURS aren't?!" Jessie yelled.

"I don't know!" Kimaya retorted. "Why don't you just wave them around and see if they-" She waved her Keyblades—the Keyblades of the Seven Lights flashed and became the size of swords in their hands.

"Much better." Fybi held up her Keyblade with tornado teeth.

"Those Government blokes won't stand a chance!" Sheila smirked.

"Hang on a minute, Sheila." Cheren said. "I don't think any of the Seven Lights should get involved in this battle. The World Leaders are gonna do anything to stop you."

"Maybe the safest bet is to take them to Great Clock." Dillon suggested.

"I ain't gonna sit around in no bloody clock!" Sheila protested, swinging her blade angrily. "I wanna demolish a GOVERNMENT!"

"We don't have to go right now." Jagar said. "I can protect them if anyone tries to attack. MaKayla, I think you should stay with them, too. I think you're the Gatekeeper—the one who will open the Gate after they unlock it."

"Okay, Dad. But where's George? We haven't seen him in weeks."

"Your brother's fine. In fact, he's already on Great Clock with the caretaker, getting things prepared."

"I'm going to the Negaverse." Cheren informed everyone. "I'll be back as soon as I check in with Nerehc. Stay safe." He headed to his office.

"I'm comin' with ya!" Panini raced after.

"Just so we're clear," Anthony fist-palmed, "when we fight the Leaders, I call dibs on Stonebuddy. I got a score to settle!"

"Anthony, you only survived 'cause you had ME." Michelle remarked, poking his nose. "You won't beat him this time."

"What do YOU know, Dumbo?"

"More than you, Bambi. Come on, I need to show you something." Michelle walked to the hangar.

"Where are you goin'?"

"Somewhere important!"

Galaxia

"YEEHAW!" Jinta Hanakari cheered, sticking two arms and fingers up. "Going on a galactic adventure, just like Numbuh One did! We'll save the whole universe from the crazy child empress and be the best operatives on Earth!"

"Sit down, Jinta." Karin told him. "We're just going to ask them what they've been doing and maybe help look for Jirachi."

"And how you know Nebula ain't gonna abuse Jirachi for her own evil gain? I've had a bad feeling about that girl for a long time."

"We're closing in on GKND H.Q.." Kodama reported as the treehouse was in view. "Jinta, please don't start an intergalactic war. I'm up for blowing up ships anyday, but-" Their ship was bombarded by Wisps wielding laser rifles. "NEVER MIND!" Kodama was quick to blast fireworks at the Wisps and alien ships.

"Attention trespassers, you have entered the territory of the Galactic BOE! Surrender or be blown to ashes!" Jerome Winkiebottom's Jamaican voice said via intercom.

"Galactic BOE?!" Karin exclaimed. "What's going on up there?!"

"YEEEAAAH!" The supervillain Control Freak flew by on a ship designed like a remote, slashing their C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. with double-lightsabers. "Galaxia belongs to the Brotherhood now, Kids Next Dumb!"

"The Brotherhood?" Yuzu questioned.

"They must've invaded GKND!" Karin deduced. "Kodama, get us in there!"

"They've sealed their hangar with an energy barrier."

"Get us closer, I can fly in there and stop it." Ururu said, fixing on her suit, which came with an air helmet.

"Okay, Ururu!" The bus barrel-rolled and bounced away the Wisps' lasers, but their way to the treehouse was blocked by Common Cold's Snot Bomber. "Have a Chicken Soup Cracker!" Kodama declared, blasting fireworks up the ship's nose and exploding with warm, healthy soup.

"NOOOO! You threw in the secret spi…spi…ACHOO! Secret spice that makes it yummier."

The C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. swerved around the Snot Bomber and barrel-rolled the base's defense turrets as they swooped by the hangar. Their enemies didn't notice a fly-size Ururu fly out of the bus and squeeze into a tiny opening beside a turret. The Tiny Devil made her way to the inside of the base and pulled out an X-ray scanner. With it, she examined the barrier and could see the wires linking it through the walls. "There's what I need to hit. But the openings are too small. Guys, I'm about to go micro size for a few minutes." She said to her communicator. "I'll lose communications for a while."

"You sure, Ururu? Have you tested it?" Karin asked.

"Yes, I did. I'll try to resize as soon as I can." With that, Ururu flew for the wall and clicked the shrink button again, zipping to the size of a very tiny dot to fit into the wall. Her strength was still amplified, so she was able to slice the wires with her suit's claws. Before long, the hangar's barrier would disappear.

"The shield's down! Let's get inside!" Kodama suddenly turned the ship about-face and stomped the gas to boost into the hangar. Karin and Jinta jumped out and began to fight the alien kids while Kodama and Yuzu stayed a few feet behind them. Ururu resized on their right and ran beside them.

"Why are these operatives attacking us?!" Yuzu shouted.

"Maybe the Brotherhood took Nebula captive." Karin said. "I'm going ahead. Don't fall behind, Jinta." She morphed into a ghost and phased up through the ceiling.

"Teamwork, much?!" remarked Jinta.

Karin briefly shot Ecto Beams at some of the villains on floors she bypassed, and in seconds she was at the top of the treehouse, before the Supreme Leader's Throne. Karin switched back to human form and ran into the office/throne. "Numbuh Eternal, are you okay?!"

Nebula D. Winkiebottom had one leg over the other as she sat on her throne, glaring at Karin with spite. "Who dares grace the presence of the High Supreme Leader in such an unruly manner?"

"Grace the… unruly?" Karin didn't remember the Supreme Leader talking that way. "Numbuh Eternal, I'm one of Cheren's operatives. You haven't answered our calls, so we came to check on you."

"My, my, my." A black robot with horns walked from around the throne. "What grand stroke of fate brought you to me, Karin Kurosaki?"

Karin reacted to the country voice with fear and hate. "Hannibal?!"

"BOOM!" Hannibal whipped out twin yo-yos. "The Yin-Yang Yo-yos! All we had to do was break into a hapless Collector's museum, and wait for a super-child to demolish Moonbase enough for us to sneak in. I have awakened the Chaos Kin, Karin Kurosaki! The Galactic Kids Next Door responds to ME now!"

"The yo-yos!" Karin remembered. "So, the reason you were after them was to brainwash the GKND?!"

"That's correct! And after I save the universe, the Galactic Brotherhood of Evil will rule everything!"

"What do you mean 'save the universe'? Do you know how to stop the Apocalypse?"

"But of course I do! I'll stop the Apocalypse the very same way Dimentia intended to start it 20 years ago: by harnessing the power of Jirachi. Jirachi's limitless magical power enables him to grant any wish like the universe's destruction. Why should he not be able to save the universe all the same? Unfortunately, ever since Jirachi's bond with the Star Rod was broken, the only people who can command Jirachi to grant wishes are his Mortal Guardians. That is, ironically, Dimentia, or her devious little daughter." Hannibal's robot pinched Nebula's cheeks.

"Don't you dare touch me that way!" Nebula stated. "You're lucky that I share the universal throne with you."

"Right, right, apologies! But what say you, Karin? Wanna rule the universe with Big Daddy Bean?"

"Absolutely not! I'm putting a stop to your mind-control now!" Karin returned to ghost form and flew at Nebula, overshadowing her body.

"GYAAAH!" Nebula shook and aimlessly shot Starbursts. Within seconds, she stopped shaking as Karin completely took control. "I don't understand… I can't feel an evil spirit, no microchip or foreign presence… It's like Nebula really wants to rule the universe."

"She does!" Hannibal declared as Ying-Ying penetrated her talons into Nebula's head, leaving no wound as she pulled Karin's spirit out. "The Chaos Kin doesn't infect a body with Dark Chi or directly possess a soul. It changes the allegiance of the soul to however it sees fit. The Yin becomes Yang for the Chaos Kin's victims, and that power dwells in the Yin-Yang World. It's a force of nature that can't be stopped!"

Karin broke away from Ying-Ying and kicked Hannibal's robot away, then quickly dodged Nebula's Starbursts. Nebula warped above Karin and trapped her in a Space Block, exploding it as Karin fell to the floor. Hannibal jumped back to stomp Karin under his boot. "However, if you want my advice, Karin, I woulda suggested bringing more for your little army. It don't take a tiny team of heroes to defeat the Brotherhood."

"Shows what YOU know! My team is the best there is!"

"Yes, Ah can see that." Hannibal looked toward the entrance and Karin followed his gaze.

The fighting robot Atlas was holding Jinta to his chest as the boy squirmed and kicked, Jack Spicer was holding Yuzu with the Third-Arm Sash, Makava held a sword to Kodama's neck, and Karin glanced at the floor to see Vweeb holding a defeated Ururu. "We have successfully captured the intruders, Lord Bean!" Jack saluted.

"You have my applause, Spicer. Do ya see now, Karin? With the Chaos Kin, the Brotherhood of Evil has become an unbeatable army. If you don't want any of your lovely friends severed in half, I suggest you Go Human and go with them to the dungeons."

"Sigh…" Karin sighed and reverted to human form, laying flat on the floor. "Alright, you got us."

"Excellent!" Hannibal stepped off and picked Karin up by the leg. "Sleep tight, darlin'." He slammed her head against the floor and knocked her out.

Prison wing

"Uuuuhh…" Karin awoke with a searing pain in her head. She was sat against the back of the cell, wearing handcuffs, and Yuzu was crouched before her in concern.

"Karin, thank goodness! Are you feeling okay? Do you remember who I am?!"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine… It doesn't actually hurt as much as it should. I guess I have my ghost half to thank for that." Karin looked at the cuffs, and when she tried to transform, they zapped her. "Anti-ecto cuffs. Great."

"It's the least of our problems now." Kodama sighed, standing at the cell's barrier. "They took Jinta's bat and all the Infi-Cubes I had under my robe. At least Ururu's back to normal."

"Vweeb ripped my suit off and tried to leave me small." she explained. "Good thing it instantly resizes me as a failsafe."

"Which you DIDN'T have back in December!" Jinta retorted in frustration. "I almost wish I coulda gotten back at you."

"Speaking of wishes, where is Jirachi, anyway?" Karin asked. "We need to get ahold of him before Hannibal does."

"We can't do much of anything as long as we're in here." Kodama reminded. "Not to mention we're completely outnumbered. I don't think we stand a ghost of a chance. Pun intended, Karin."

A lightbulb sparked in Karin's mind. She reached in her pocket and grabbed her cellphone. "They didn't take my cellphone!"

"So, what?" Jinta asked. "Does it get reception a billion light-years away?"

"Let's find out." Karin selected Yachiru on her list of contacts, texting her to come to her. A bright light appeared in their cell, and the pink-haired spirit child Yachiru appeared.

"Hello, Karin-chan! Sector JP!" she saluted.

"Hi, Yachiru!" Kodama greeted.

Yachiru gasped. "You can see me?"

"Huh?" Jinta cocked a brow. "Oh, yeah. At least you don't have to possess me now."

"That's strange. Maybe it's because you've been around Karin so long, her ghost goop rubbed off on you!"

"The magic of convenience." Karin shrugged, getting to her feet. "Yachiru, have you ever heard of the Chaos Kin? Hannibal Bean's using it to control the GKND."

"The Chaos Kin?!" Yachiru exclaimed. "This is terrible… Luckily, you guys have Yachiru, the smartest spirit in the afterlife, to explain to you!" She raised a finger and was brimming with knowledge. "The Chaos Kin is a monstrous spirit created thousands of years ago by Hannibal Roy Bean. He designed it with Yin-Yang Chi, that which flows in the Yin-Yang World, a sub-world of the Spirit World. Like the energy of the Yin-Yang World, the Chaos Kin is able to turn any good person completely evil, or vice-versa. But as you can expect, Hannibal prefers the former. It's stronger than any mind-control and can't be healed through normal means."

"That's what Hannibal told us."

"Camera drone coming!" Kodama yelled. A small, hovering camera floated by and stared at their cell for a few seconds.

"BLAAAAH!" Yachiru flew up and stuck her tongue at it. "BLOO-EEEHH." She made all sorts of faces, from stretching her nose and smooshing the sides of her eyes.

Numbuh All-Seeing, an alien girl with a green body made of eyes, stared at the monitor. Sector JP was staring at her camera, and they were doing nothing suspicious at all.

The camera couldn't detect Yachiru's spiritual presence, so the spirit was free to be up close and slobber on the camera. The camera continued its patrol. Yachiru phased back through the cell and continued her story. "The Chaos Kin's abilities can even affect gods. It was sometime after the Nature Wars when Hannibal had it possess Goddess Palutena. After Palutena was rescued, the gods ordered Hannibal to lock the Chaos Kin in a dungeon using the Yin-Yang Yo-yos, then give them the yo-yos so they could hide them."

"If the Chaos Kin can possess gods, it can possess a Firstborn like Jirachi, too!" Kodama realized.

"But then why does Hannibal wanna use Nebula to get to Jirachi?" Jinta asked.

"Hannibal said that only Jirachi's Guardians can make wishes to him." Karin reminded. "I wonder if Jirachi couldn't use his full power even if he wanted to without them making a wish?"

"That is exactly right!" Yachiru declared. I don't really know, but they don't need to know that.

"Yachiru, how do we stop the Chaos Kin?" Karin asked.

"Well, the Chaos Kin has a few flaws: for one thing, it must remain close to its target in order to keep its control. If it's attacked, it will lose control, and henceforth it uses invisibility. Furthermore, the Chaos Kin can only possess one person at a time."

"Then how is it controlling the whole GKND?!" Jinta shouted, his outburst hurting Ururu's ears.

"Hmm…that is a good question." Yachiru rubbed her chin. "Are you sure the GKND aren't blindly following orders? That's what Palutena's Centurions did when she was possessed."

"They have Brotherhood villains working with them!" Karin emphasized. "I don't think they would be blind enough to not notice something's up. Are you sure you aren't forgetting anything?"

"Don't question my knowledge, Student!"

"Okay, gee. What do you think, Yuzu?"

". . ." The younger twin was about to break into tears. "I still can't see Yachiru."

"Huh?" the friends chorused, looking surprised.

"I knew I wasn't spending enough time with you!" She started weeping. "We're growing apart, Karin-nee, waaaahh!"

"Ugh! Yuzu, snap out of it!" Karin kicked her sister in the face and knocked her out.

"Karin, why did you do that?!" Ururu yelped.

"Wait…"

"SHYAH!" Yuzu jumped to recovery, her brown eyes dimmer. "What up, mah Ninja Clan?! Yo, did we get arrested? Hey, who's the pink-hair chick?"

"Morning, Night Yuzu." Karin greeted. "I think you're best suited for this mission. Yachiru, you have to get us outta here. Take us to the Spirit World."

"WHAT?! You know I can't bring living humans to the Spirit World! It's a total violation of boundary laws!"

"What's the point of being allies with a spirit if she won't even help?!" Jinta said angrily.

"Yachiru-san, won't you please help us, please?" Ururu dropped to her knees, crying. "I'm so scared! We have no way to escape and we're afraid of dying! Sniff, sniff…sniff…"

Yachiru was touched by her pleas. She couldn't leave someone so adorable to suffer. "Well… maybe just this once… Everyone hold hands."

"Wait, more people are coming!" Kodama yelled quietly.

Jerome D. Winkiebottom approached the cell alongside the Ghost Warden, Walker. Yachiru phased through the floor to keep from being noticed. "Karin Kurosaki, Numbuh Eternal wishes to have a word with you alone." Jerome said. "Any attempt at resistance will result in punishment for your friends."

"All right." Karin complied. The cell barrier lowered, and when Karin saw Kodama raise a brow, the leader replied, "Hai." Walker looked confused, unfamiliar with Japanese, but chose to ignore it and relock the cell.

Karin was escorted to a room with a pedestal machine connected to a computer that took up the wall. There was a device on the pedestal designed like a hi-tech Code Module. Nebula was there with Hannibal Bean on her shoulder. "Karin Kurosaki, my acquaintance informs me that you are what is classified as a Halfa: a human that can become a ghost. Is this true?" Nebula inquired.

"Yes, what of it?"

"You see, Karin, as Supreme Leader of the Galactic Kids Next Door, my dream is to create the most powerful army consisting of all kids from every race in the universe, hybrids included. Halfas are as rare as they come. So, I would like to offer you and your team the chance to join my army. Put a piece of your Halfa DNA into the GKND Code Module, and invite your team to do the same."

"What makes you think any of us would work under your crazy rule?"

"Awe, Karin, you oughta give it a try." Hannibal invited. "'Cause if you don't, you'll just be wasting away your lives in a dingy old cell. Why don't you open your mind a little and join us?"

Karin raised a brow at the way he phrased that. "Hmmm… You promise to let my friends go if I join?"

"Of course! And iff'n you don't like it, you can always tell the Code Module to relinquish your rights as an operative. But I think you'll want to stay."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Excellent. Unlock her cuffs, Walker. And if she tries any funny business, I got someone ready to kill your friends."

Walker unlocked Karin's cuffs, and the girl patiently followed Nebula toward the Code Module. Nebula typed on the available keyboard, and when the computer asked for voice-authorization, she answered, "Numbuh Eternal, Supreme Leader."

"Hello, Numbuh Eternal. What is your request?"

A blue mist flowed out of Karin's mouth. She looked around for the source… and could feel something invisible near the Code Module. "HANNIBAAAL!" Jack Spicer sprinted into the room in a panic. "Sector JP escaped from their cell and we can't find them!"

"Jack, you picked a REALLY bad time to tell me that!"

Thinking fast, Karin switched to her Halfa form, shot Ecto Rays at Walker and Jerome, and possessed Nebula's body, throwing Hannibal off. "I wish to relinquish my rights as a Galactic Kids Next Door operative!" she yelled in Nebula's voice. "And to remove my DNA from the Code Module!"

"NOOO!" Hannibal cried.

"Understood. Transferring Supreme Leader rights to: Numbuh 250 Trillion." A strand of hair that was black and white came out of the Code Module. Karin flew out and took it.

"Aaah!" Nebula shook to her senses after being free of Karin's possession. "Karin, why did you do… that?" She looked at Jack, Walker, and saw Ying-Ying above them. A look of utmost shock washed over her. "Why. . . did I invite the Brotherhood of Evil into my base?"

"STOP THEM!" Hannibal commanded.

"Come on!" Karin grabbed Nebula and turned intangible as she phased them out of the room. She stopped in an empty hallway and called Yachiru on her phone.

The spirit child reappeared again. "Karin, I brought your friends to a spirit park!"

"Great, take us too." Yachiru nodded and grabbed them both.

"I still wanna know what's going—OOOOOONN!" Nebula screamed as a ray of light took them to the Spirit World. Karin reunited with her team in a peaceful park where the spirits of innocent families happily spent their afterlives.

"Yo, who dyed your hair, Sister?!" Yuzu asked Nebula. "You some kinda Dalmatian killer?"

"Nebula, are you alright?" Karin asked, setting the Zathurian on her feet. "Do you remember anything?"

"I…I do…" Nebula said in a tone that implied she wasn't sure of herself. "I remember the Brotherhood coming to our base, wanting to form an alliance… and I said 'yes.' But for some reason, he kept talking about a Chaos Kin. He forbade me from contacting Earth because he was afraid they could stop us."

"From what we know, your operatives were being controlled by a monster." Kodama explained.

"No, I told you, the Chaos Kin can only possess one at a time!" Yachiru raised her fists in outrage.

"But it wasn't!" Karin informed. "I think I figured it out: the Chaos Kin wasn't controlling them individually, it was controlling them through the Code Module. When they brought me to the Code Module, I felt a spiritual presence and got the idea. I decided to test my theory by making Nebula remove her DNA."

"My precious Code Module is being tampered with by a monster?!" Nebula shouted. "That's impossible! I designed it to be unhackable, just like Earth's Code Module!"

"It's not completely unhackable." Ururu commented. "Remember the story of Father's Animal Ray?"

"I guess so. Although, the Code Module tracks the whereabouts of each operative anywhere in the universe via their DNA. The inside of the module contains an endless space where the pieces of DNA are preserved."

"So, if the operatives are tracked using some kind of satellite system, maybe Chaos Kin infected it with his Yin-Yang Chi. And it gave you the desire to form an army out of every race so that it could eventually control all the kids in the universe!"

"That probably includes the Firstborn, too." Kodama figured. "Why stop with Jirachi?"

"Look, I'm gettin' bored of all this talkin'." Yuzu said, picking her nose. "The Chaos Kin is the bad guy, so let's go beat the snot out of it."

"It's not as easy when the Chaos Kin has Hannibal and the Brotherhood protecting him." Karin reminded. "What we need to do is find Jirachi. Do you know where he is, Nebula?"

"Not at the moment. Ever since Mom set him free, Jirachi's been exploring the universe, going on endless vacations. We often get postcards, like when he was at the intergalactic waterslide, or when he went go-karting at Lightspeed Mania."

"Would your mom know where he is?"

"Um…the Brotherhood kind of took control of Star Haven and threw my mom in the dungeon, too." Nebula answered awkwardly. "Besides, she wouldn't know. We haven't really gotten a postcard from Jirachi in months."

"The universe is a big place." Ururu said. "It'll take forever to find him."

"Guys, I think I found Jirachi!" Yachiru called from the park's fountain.

"You did?!" Nebula yelled as they ran to join her. "How?"

"You just have to ask a Reflecting Pool to find someone and it does. He's…"

"You gotta be kidding." Karin said with disbelief as they viewed the image.

KND Moonbase

"I was flying by the Milky Way, so I decided to pay a visit to Earth," Jirachi explained to his fellow Firstborn and the operatives who were otherwise surprised by his arrival, "and I crashed my Warp Star in this colorful city with a lot of lights. I went in this casino place and started having so much fun, I didn't wanna leave! But then this blue-haired girl showed up… Wait, is that her there?" He pointed at Nagisa Shiota.

". . . . I'm a boy." Nagisa corrected with total humility. He always dreamed of meeting Jirachi, the Original Operative, but he was ashamed for those to be the first words Jirachi says to him.

"Why is your head shaped like a star?" Crest asked.

"Why is your head shaped like a moon?" Jirachi asked.

"Why is Jirachi here to begin with?!" Lee Andrew yelled.

"Maybe we should go up to GKND and tell Sector JP and Nebula." Denny suggested.

A ray of light seemed to burst from the ceiling, and the aforementioned people appeared before their eyes. "JIRACHI!" Nebula exclaimed.

"Huh? Who are you?" the Starchild asked.

"I'm Nebula. Dimentia's daughter."

"Ohhhhh!" Jirachi beamed. "You were a baby when we last met!"

"Why did you guys just come from the Spirit World?" MaKayla asked.

"Where's Cheren, first of all?" Nebula looked around. "I need him to help me- mmmp!" Karin clamped her mouth shut.

"We just got a little sidetracked." Karin said sheepishly. "Jirachi, come with us." She led Nebula away. Jirachi and her teammates followed, confused by her actions.

"What are you doing?!" Nebula demanded after Karin uncovered her mouth.

"Look, I don't think we should get these guys involved in this battle. We were already planning to attack the Government, that's why we volunteered to come help you ourselves. They have enough on their plates. Besides, we don't need them to fix this, what about all the other KNDs?"

"That's another problem." Nebula replied with shame. "When I was evil, I kind of demanded the other Supreme Leaders to come up there with their entire armies and put their DNA in the Code Module. When I established our alliances, part of the contract was to allow them to remain primarily loyal with their own KND, and we couldn't order them to give us some operatives unless the operatives themselves volunteered. After all, it's kind of insulting to make someone not be loyal to their own planet, don't you think?"

"So, let's tell them it was a misunderstanding. We'll back you up." Karin offered.

"Or you can just wish Jirachi would make the Chaos Kin go away and get your friends back." Jinta suggested logically.

"I wish I could, but I don't even know what you guys are talking about." Jirachi replied.

"When I last checked, the Supreme Leaders actually gathered in Galactic Kid Council to discuss the 'me' problem." Nebula blushed. "Earlier, we sent a fleet of Brotherhooders and Wisps to fight their operatives. They could still be there."

"Then let's borrow a C.O.O.L.-B.U.S. and go to the council!" Karin insisted.

"Actually, can we visit someone first?" Jirachi asked. "Nigel Uno lives on this planet and he's a very good friend of mine. I haven't seen him in years, so…"

The six kids exchanged mournful glances.

KND Graveyard

They showed Jirachi the grave where Nigel was buried. The sky was as gray as the day of the funeral. "Oh… I didn't know." Jirachi frowned.

"Yes. It happened earlier in the month." Nebula said. "He was killed by the World Leaders."

"Hmm… it feels like only yesterday when he saved me. It's kinda funny… he never drank from my fountain like the others."

Nebula bit her lip at the statement. She remembered the bad deeds her mom had done, using Jirachi. "…We should hurry to Planet Wisp. We have to save the Supreme Leaders."

"You're right." Jirachi said. "Well… Bye, Nigel. It was good to see you again."

Planet Wisp

A Yokian ship was fried by a team of Solaran ships, and the fiery operatives proceeded to dine on the fried chicken. When the Sweet Revenge was trying to bombard the dome-shaped council building with jawbreaker cannonballs, an airborne water tanker sent by the Ocean KND flew above the pirate ship and dumped salt water over the sugar-coated scallywags. Sector JP and co. witnessed the battle transpire as they entered the atmosphere. "The leaders must be inside." Nebula figured. "Jirachi, can you make the Brotherhood ships go away?"

"Not if I can't tell them apart." Jirachi frowned. "I won't be able to automatically grant your wishes until you become my Guardian."

"Always a catch." Nebula sighed. "I'm taking you inside. Can you give help with the situation out here?"

"You got it." Karin nodded. Nebula held onto Jirachi and splorped them both.

Inside the council

"Nebula's gone mad with power!" argued Pluey, the Pumparian KND leader. He had cyan skin and eyes. "Having all our KNDs on her side made her cocky, we have to bring GKND down!"

"Nebula wouldn't just betray us after everything she's done!" yelled Mae, the Harnitan leader. She had red skin and sky-blue hair. "There has to be a reason for Nebula's actions. It could be an imposter."

"Then let's go up there and beat some answers outta her!" Minksiminnian of the Kateenian KND declared.

"No, I agree with Mae." Liaziana, the Glomourian Princess, followed. "I've always trusted Nebula."

"That's because she wants to enslave all races like YOU do!"

"I NEVER wanted to enslave you guys!"

"Mayhaps if we calm ourselves for a moment." Jesbi, the Nimbi Leader, inferred.

"How can we be calm with all that BOOMING going on out there?!" Chrysundra the Amazon KND leader shouted.

"You Amazons would know all about THAT, wouldn't you?!" retorted Phillord, the Terachnoid KND Leader.

"What is THAT supposed to mean, Spider Boy?!"

"We wilt NOT find yonder answer in our mindless bickering!" Jesbi shouted.

"What else are we supposed to do?!" Kaima the Mermaid Leader yelled. "Hope the answer appears out of thin air?"

Nebula and Jirachi appeared on the central platform out of thin space. The bickering silenced instantly. "Uh… hi." Nebula waved.

"IT'S NEBULA!" Minksman pointed. "And she's got Jirachi! Kateenians, GET HER!" His operatives revealed their selves on his platform and blasted ray guns, Nebula defending with a Space Block.

"Guys, I'm not here to fight you! I'm trying to tell you why I-"

"Jirachi, fly over to Giz!" the Irken leader called. "Giz is different from his ancestors! He will protect you!"

"Why did Ruby and Sapphire join the EARTH Kids?!" the Solaran leader, Pyler demanded, his head a tall violet flame. "Were they trying to get away from you? Or did you send them as SPIES?"

"What happened to Celebi?!" Pluey asked. "We know one of your operatives had her! Are you trying to capture the Firstborn?!"

"SILEEEEEEEENCE!"

Everybody shut their ears under the powerful booming voice. "Mine word… could it be God?!" Jesbi asked.

"YES! I am the mighty God! Your unbearable chattering has forced me to speak! Feeeeaaar the Almighty…"

"Bender, knock it off!" Nebula laughed. "Get down here and join us!"

"Sure!" The entire chamber turned dark and morphed as Bender's gigantic mouth and eyes appeared on the ceiling.

"That's the robot you were with two months ago!" Liaziana remembered. "What happened to it?"

"I hacked myself into this building's mainframe! I can see everything and I know everything. Mostly which banks are worth robbing and what ceiling fans will fall. I can see what goes on in GKND, too. Your hatred is misplaced, my friends. For you see, Nebula and her operatives were possessed by an evil spirit called the Chaos Kin."

"OF COURSE! Giz knew this all along!" he declared.

"No you didn't." Graab negated.

"Yes, this was all a ploy by Hannibal Roy Bean. Nebula meant you no disrespect."

"I don't trust a giant face that thinks it's a god!" Chrysundra yelled. "Make yourself smaller, then we'll talk."

"Fine." Bender rolled his eyes. The room returned to normal as he zapped down beside Nebula in his normal form, a boiling container of water inside his compartment.

"AAAH!" Jirachi screamed suddenly and started twitching.

"Jirachi, what's wrong?!" Nebula asked.

"I feel something controlling me… it…it's your mother's Spirit Ball!"

Nebula's wristwatch rang, Karin's face appearing. "Nebula, Hannibal's here! And he's brought your mom!"

"Bender, protect Jirachi." Nebula ordered. "I'm gonna see what's up." She warped.

Karin had assumed her ghost form as Dimentia and Hannibal floated level with her, the latter in his robot suit. Nebula saw them from where she had appeared and flew over. "Nebula, where's Jirachi?" Dimentia asked with a scowl. "Bring him out now. Hannibal needs him."

"Mom, why are you working with Hannibal?!"

"I 'persuaded' Dimentia to rejoin GKND." Hannibal explained. "Since you ain't gonna be a good girl, we might as well use her. Now, one of our ships picked up Jirachi's presence in this area. Mind showin' us where?"

"She doesn't need to." Dimentia raised the Spirit Ball. "Jirachi, I wish for you to come to-"

Nebula shot the ball out of her hand with a Starburst, then flew down to grab it. Karin blasted Ecto Rays at Dimentia before she could follow, resulting in Hannibal punching Karin several feet. Nebula set foot on the ground upon grabbing the ball, but Dimentia struck her with Space Lightning. "Nebula, this is our chance to start over again! With Jirachi and the Brotherhood as our allies, we can rule the universe!"

"That's NOT you talking, Mom! You're past that, I know!"

"I'm TIRED of living on that boring star island! I was the Child Empress, and I WILL be again! I'll use Jirachi to make me young again, and the two of us will rule together!"

"No we WON'T!" Nebula countered with her own lightning.

Dimentia used a Space Block to counter the lightning, then tried to catch her daughter in a Block, but Nebula warped above and struck with double Starbursts. Dimentia warped all around her daughter to confuse her, afterwards zapping Nebula with lightning and taking the Spirit Ball. Nebula centered a gravity field up above to draw Dimentia in, using her moment of imbalance to snatch the Spirit Ball back. Dimentia conjured multiple portals around herself and shot Starbursts in like bullets, but when they reappeared around Nebula, she defended herself with a Space Block.

Dimentia warped into her block to grab the ball, and Nebula warped them both out before shooting her away with a Starburst. "You fought better than this, Nebula." Dimentia said. "Why are you holding back?"

"Because you aren't in your right mind. The Chaos Kin is making you attack me."

"I'm afraid you're wrong, honey." Hannibal Bean hovered above. "While the Chaos Kin can change a person's thoughts or allegiance, from then on the person acts on their free will."

"I don't like fighting my own daughter, but you give me no choice." Dimentia stated. "Give me the Spirit Ball!" She snapped fingers and warped the ball to her hand, then warped before Nebula could retaliate.

Hannibal grabbed Nebula and pressed her to his chest. "Ain't it a shame when moms and daughters don't get along? No one drives a child to the Dark Side more than bad parents."

Karin phased through Hannibal from behind and pushed Nebula out of his grasp, letting her search for Dimentia. "You really get a kick out of ruining families, huh?!"

"Awe, is Karin still mad that I killed her mom?" Hannibal taunted. "Every punch you throw at me is out of anger and vengeance. And that's what FUELS me!"

"But how much fuel can you TAKE?!" Karin shot twin beams that Hannibal evaded, flipping forward to kick her.

Dimentia reappeared on the ground and yelled, "Jirachi, I wish for you to come!"

A few feet away, Bender materialized out of thin air, Jirachi wrapped in his arms. "Yo, why'd you take us outside?"

"She made me!" Jirachi screamed.

Dimentia snapped fingers and warped Jirachi to her, but Bender stretched an arm and punched her face before taking him back. "Bender, get him away from her!" Nebula yelled, blasting Starbursts at the ground around Dimentia. Dimentia spawned a large vortex and tried to suck her in, so Nebula warped herself higher—Dimentia quickly warped above to kick her daughter down into the vortex. Jesbi swooped by and grabbed Nebula before she could complete the fall. "Jesbi!"

"The council hast reached an understanding." the Nimbi said. When Dimentia warped in front, Jesbi shot lightning from her rod.

"GOT IT!" Minksman swooped by on his mini hovercraft and snatched the Spirit Ball in an extendable claw. Chrysundra leapt up to grab Dimentia's legs, dropping to slam her to the ground. "Didn't think I could jump that high, did ya?!"

Nebula and Jesbi floated down as Giz, Liaziana, Kaima, and the remaining leaders surrounded Dimentia. "Sorry to have to gang up on you like this, Mother. Funny thing is, a lot of these KNDs still don't think highly of you."

"I see. It must've taken you a while to earn their trust." Dimentia replied. "But you can't deny you're no different than how I was."

"Oh yeah? Name the last black hole I opened to destroy the universe."

"Your goals are different from mine, but you're power-hungry all the same. I remember the night after you got the Amazons to join the council, you boasted about how you had the largest army in the universe."

"What?" Chrysundra looked at Nebula curiously.

Nebula flushed. "I didn't mean YOU guys!"

"No, she meant all of you." Dimentia continued. "She one day hoped to make alliances with every KND in the universe, and to start a KND on each planet. It was her dream to expand the organization to all corners of the universe and be the center of it all. Isn't that right, Nebula?"

"Dimentia, QUIT foolin' around!" Hannibal ordered, robot hands locked with Karin's. "The Apocalypse is just around the corner! Get Jirachi so we can wish it away!"

"The Apocalypse?" Dimentia questioned. "That's why you wanted Jirachi?"

"YES! What, did you think I wanted a mountain of candy?!"

"Jirachi can't stop the Apocalypse."

"What?!"

"When we learned about it 15 years ago, I called Jirachi back and wished the Apocalypse wouldn't happen. He said it was beyond his power, it was even beyond Arceus's power. All he could do was choose people to survive."

"But…But you were gonna use Jirachi to make a new world! How is that not beyond his power?"

"I was misled. Jirachi wasn't controlling Zathura, it was my brother. It wouldn't have succeeded."

Karin kicked Hannibal back when his guard was lowered. "What's wrong, Hannibal? Did things not go according to plan?"

"You smartass little twerp. Perhaps a trip to the Yin-Yang World will fix your…" The robot reached for the yo-yos in its compartments. "W-Wait a minute! Where are mah yo-yos?!"

"Snatched them when I saved Nebula earlier." Karin smirked. "I already passed them to someone else."

"Who?!"

GKND H.Q.

Yachiru found the room with the GKND Code Module, Yin-Yang Yo-yos in hand. She narrowed her eyes, sensing the spiritual presence. "I know you're in here. You can't hide from me. I'm very good at Hide-and-Seek."

No response.

"Not here? Well, okay. I guess I better-" She turned away—whipped back around and shot twin rays above the Module, striking something invisible. The Chaos Kin hit the floor and turned visible: it had one eye and looked like a scorpion, its tail an axe, and its six legs also served as wings. "THERE you are!" Yachiru lunged forward to stab the monster, but Chaos Kin dodged and began to skitter down the hall like an insect.

"You're not running from me!" Yachiru flew after the creature, dodging its energy balls before phasing under the floor. The frightened Chaos Kin stopped and turned to see his pursuer had vanished. "BOO!" Yachiru shot up from behind and sliced the creature in half. The Chaos Kin turned into black ash that floated in place. "Time to lock you back where you came from. Yin-Yang Yo-yo!" She spun the yo-yos and opened a portal.

Realization swept over the GKND operatives like a wave. For some reason, they were working with the Brotherhood of Evil on a quest for universal conquest. They didn't know where this alliance spawned from, all they knew was it was over. The GKND turned against the Brotherhooders immediately and rounded up each and every one.

Planet Wisp

The Wisps snapped back to their senses and attacked the Brotherhood ships. Dimentia gasped: "Nebula, I'm so sorry! Why did I attack you?!"

"I don't understand!" said Hannibal in shock.

"I take it the Chaos Kin is finished." Karin deduced. "Sorry your reign didn't last long, Hanny."

"Villains, RETREAT!" Hannibal flew skyward. "Y'all are gonna be sorry! Mark my words, you'll-" Liaziana sliced a sword beam up to chop the boots off the robot. Hannibal crashed on the ground, and when the bean hopped out, Yuzu caught him in a jar.

"Who's sorry NOW, Hanni-Booger?" Yuzu retorted.

"CAWWW!" Ying-Ying swooped down in the form of an eagle and rescued her master.

"HEY, come back ya dumb bird! I was gonna eat him!"

"Just let him fly." Nebula said. "He needs a moment to realize his plan was a bust. …Chrysundra, you can let Mom go now."

The Amazon helped Dimentia to her feet and released her. "Sigh… I'm sorry for attacking you, Nebula."

"It's not your fault." Nebula landed on the ground. "But did you say you already tried wishing Jirachi to stop the Apocalypse? Did you know about it all along?"

"Yes… All the parents did." Dimentia said guiltily. "We learned from the Chronicler 15 years ago, but he told us not to tell any of you guys when you were born. He said to wait until Cheren told you."

"And he took his precious time doing THAT!" Nebula retorted.

"We just awakened the Seventh Light." Karin informed. "All we have left is the final Darkness and the last three Firstborn. The quest is almost finished."

"Are you sure?" Pluey asked. "We all saw that message in the sky. Is opening the Gate of Time really a good idea?"

"We have faith that Jagar King can defeat Ragaj. He'll stop Caliborn from coming back."

"But will that stop the Apocalypse?" Mae asked.

"Er… we don't think so. I mean, it COULD, but…"

"Opening the Gate will take us all to the New World where we can be saved." Kodama recapped. "I think the question is how we can round up everybody in the universe before then…"

"…" Nebula looked at Jirachi. "Jirachi… if I became your Guardian and could make a wish to you… how great would the extent of your power be?"

"Uh… I would guess it'd be a lot." Jirachi said with a confused frown.

"Do you think I'm worthy to be your Guardian?"

"I don't know. Try the Spirit Ball and see."

"I wasn't asking you. I was asking… the rest of you." She turned to all the Supreme Leaders. They all shared the confusion.

"Wait." Kaima spoke up. "You're asking if you are worthy to be our guardian? What does that even mean?"

"What I mean is, if the universe is going to be destroyed, do you trust me to protect every single one of your planets? Because I will admit… with all of you guys as my friends, and all your KNDs as my allies… I really do feel like I have the largest army in the universe. I take pride in being able to… unite all of you. And I feel invincible when I know I have you. I guess, in a way… I do feel like a Child Empress. But I can promise you I'm not evil. If I could have your trust, I wouldn't abuse it. I would protect your planets with my life. So, do you think I'm worthy?"

Silence followed as everyone contemplated her words. They knew Nebula was a good leader, who led them to victory against Viridi and Dimentio. She helped stop the war between Glomour and Kateenia. But even she must know that protecting all their worlds from a cataclysm was beyond her strength. The leaders turned to Jirachi and knew… she had a plan. The Firstborn may have had limits, but his power was still vast, so Nebula must have a plan to put it to use. And they trusted her.

Minksman passed the Spirit Ball to Lia, who gave it to Kaima, then to Giz, Pluey, Mae, to Chrysundra, who held it up to Griffin Firecrystal, to Jesbi, who passed it to Nebula. Jirachi floated to her with a bright smile, for he accepted her as his Guardian. Nebula threw the ball and caught the Firstborn. The Spirit Ball glowed with Jirachi's colors – bottom half white, top half yellow with Jirachi's blue ribbons, and a 'II' appeared on the forehead. Nebula snatched the ball from the air.

Nebula captured a FIRSTBORN! Only 2 more to go!

"So, what now? Supreme Galactic Leader." Lia asked.

"We don't have long until the Apocalypse. Make sure every one of your planets' denizens are safely in their atmosphere." Nebula stared at the glowing Spirit Ball. "It's time to put Jirachi's power to the test."

In some faraway land

Uxie guided Emily Garley and her friends to a land that was way off the maps, completely untraceable. The sky was pitch-black and they seemed to be going into nowhere. Uxie stopped, her face shining with excitement. "We're here." She flashed her emblems and lit the place up. (Play "Grunty's Furnace Fun Entrance" from Banjo-Kazooie!)

Lights switched on in the darkness, and Team Emily gaped, for they have never seen a place so amazing: it was an amusement park with Firstborn plushies, Ice Climber Ice Cream, Skypian Cotton Candy, bumper cars designed like shoes of Gameverse characters – the name of the park flashed above the entrance: GAMEVERSE LAND!

There were black "?"s decorated around the lit-up entrance, and there was an idol of Yours Truly up above, made of colorful lights, as I held a scepter with a "?" on it. "Are you ready for your Trial of Knowledge?" Uxie asked. Emily smirked and nodded confidently. Kris Hallows wore a red-and-white-striped shirt and top-hat, nodding to the guests as they approached the park. They passed the doorway lit with a red "G" and entered this wonderful world.