80. The Thirteen

Play "Open Your Heart" by Crush 40.

Chapter 80: The Thirteen

Semifinal boss: King Andrew Johnson

Power Levels: God Cheren – 9100. Andrew – 9600

Cheren Uno and King Andrew rocketed to each other, Master Sword against Armament Fists as the atmosphere vibrated. A burst from the Octogan blew Cheren across the town, but he recovered and flew like a comet as he evaded Andrew's energy missiles. Cheren flew in a circle around The King, and without warning shot to him with lightspeed, colliding his sword with Andrew's fists before His Highness blew a Hyper Beam that sent Cheren 20 miles away. The King slowed time to follow him quickly, and Cheren was forced to use lightspeed to block his sped up attacks with the Mirror Shield. Eventually Andrew kicked the shield away and punched Cheren halfway down Mariejoa.

Cheren flew to recover his Mirror Shield, but Andrew grabbed the boy's shoulders, whirled around rapidly, and hurled Cheren against the mountain. Before he could recover, Andrew flew above and stomped him with Armament. Cheren fell all the way down, but he stabbed his sword in the mountain to slow his descent and then dashed all the way up the mountainside. King Andrew blew Hyper Beams down the mountain, but Cheren sidestepped the beams, and once at the top of the mountain, Cheren leaped high above The King, charged a Skyward Strike in his blade, and sliced down his body with enough force to spill blood.

A furious Andrew flew down to clash fists with Cheren's sword, eventually grabbing the sacred weapon and throwing it into the ruined town. Cheren and Andrew locked fists, in which His Highness would easily crush Cheren's small hands, if the boy hadn't bursted into golden flames and scorched The King through his armor. Cheren performed a flip and kicked Andrew into a crater in the ground, quickly blasting an Ice Arrow down before recovering the Master Sword. Andrew's right fist was froze to the ground, so he mustered Armament Haki to pull himself free.

Using the Octogan, Andrew stopped time to attack his opponent, but Cheren immediately countered with a slice to the face. "I used the Ocarina of Time to make myself immune to any timebending!" Cheren used a Soul Surge to land four precise, deadly blows against The King's armor, then flew 30 meters back to charge a lightspeed stab into the Octogan.

Time unfroze, making everyone confused by their change in position. "WHOA!" Aurora exclaimed. "That was so fast, I didn't even see!"

"Sewene is so stwong!" Five-year-old Sugar pointed.

"You think golden flames make you special, Boy?!" Andrew shouted. "Hit me all you want, but my armor will never break! It has existed nearly 4,000 years, worn by all the Kings of my family and imbued with their Haki! And with the Octogan to continue healing my wounds, it's completely invulnerable. No weapon in the entire universe can crack it!"

"4,000 years? Holy crap, you must reek." Cheren waved by his nose.

Andrew snarled and turned his head Armament, blasting an Iron Beam that Cheren narrowly avoided. Andrew spewed one again, so Cheren raised the Mirror Shield in defense, only to end up flying 40 meters backward. Cheren charged for a lightspeed boost, going shield-first through The King's Iron Beam, but His Majesty's breath proved the stronger as Cheren faltered. The King seized the chance to zip above and Iron Punch Cheren to the mountaintop.

"You may be a god, but you're still mortal. Remember the pain of your past!" The Octogan flashed and trapped Cheren in a wave of realistic memories: his battles with Majora, Viridi, Cragalanche, and Aunt Morgan gave him painful physical wounds. The time he attacked Panini in his Demon State, he fought Sheila when he thought Panini died, his father died, he killed Doflamingo out of rage and demanded GUN lock Sugar away. His body felt the wounds, his mind felt the turmoil, and his tongue felt the nacho cheese- "What?"

"HI, ANDY!" Zach Murphy was "mooning" the Octogan to shield Cheren. "I just learned my heinie's a natural memory filter!"

"YOU IMBECILE!" Andrew tried to demolish him with an Iron Beam, but Zach dug into a hole to avoid. "Diglett-Dig." He peeped out as a Diglett Pokémon.

"Hahahahaha!" Cheren began giggling on the ground. "HAHAHA hahahaha!"

"YOU THINK THAT'S FUNNY?!" Andrew fumed. "Let's see you laugh when I BURN ALL YOUR FRIENDS!" He cast a fearsome Hyper Beam and turned Anthony, Maddy, Rachel, and others into Ash… Ketchum.

"I'm gonna be Pokémon Master!" the Ashes chorused. They were each dressed and animated like their respective series. "Huh? No, I'M gonna be Pokémon Master! Yeah, right! I bet you haven't won ONE Pokémon League! Th-That's not true!" They flushed. "PIKACHU, THUNDERBOLT! DWAAAAAAAH!" They lit the area yellow with lightning and wide-eye faces.

"PAH HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Cheren clenched his chest, and the gold flames burned brighter.

The Octogan was vibrating from the deception, spreading its anger to King Andrew. "STOP LAUGHIIIINNNG!" The King burned an Iron Beam all the way through the core of Mariejoa. However, Cheren had already flown above to avoid the laser.

"Hyou know, you almost had me for a minute, Kingy!" Cheren grinned. "But I almost forgot my Gold Flames are lit by happiness! All it takes to defeat you is a little laughter!" With lightning speed—Cheren SLICED Andrew from his left, then went for a Skyward Jump Attack. Andrew flew away and blasted an Iron Beam, but with more light imbued to his Mirror Shield, the black beam was absorbed inside of it so Cheren could fire back. The force of the attack blew Andrew 80 miles and cracked part of his armor.

"HA HA HA HA!" Cheren kicked his legs and pointed. "You said your armor couldn't break, but you broke it! HAH HAH HAH!"

Andrew slowed time to zip up and grab him in a choke, but seized only gold flames as Cheren flew behind. "Haha, poke!" Cheren reached around to poke his left eye.

"Stop that!" Andrew threw a smack, but missed.

"Pbbbth!" Cheren blew a raspberry.

"Is that supposed to be fighting?!"

"No, it's supposed to be mocking! What, can your Octogan not detect it?"

"My Octogan detects only the relevant stuff!"

"Well, that explains a lot. NOW, ZACH!"

"WHAT NOW?!" Andrew whipped around.

"Not really." Cheren became a golden comet and SMASHED him to the ground. Afterwards, Cheren unleashed an unending flaming beam into the crater where he lay, making His Majesty a golden brown. Cheren stopped the attack and sealed the deal with a Light Arrow to Andrew's Octogan. (End song.)

Cheren softly landed on the ground and stared at his fallen opponent. His friends and their parents, even the ally Inferi, gathered around the defeated King. Andrew's other eye was closed, but the Octogan kept flashing away. Cheren stared at the hand with the Triforce of Courage mark. With this hand, he would reach down and take the Octogan.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" A bright white beam blasted and nearly hit them. They looked at the castle to see Abram Johnson at the base of the stairs. "Stand back! Let ME take it!"

"It's Abram!" Dipper screamed. "Cheren, there's something about Abram you need to know!"

Before Cheren could respond, several KND ships landed on Mariejoa, and one GKND. "CHEREN!" Melody ran off, followed by Sector RZ, Emily Garley, Nebula & Arianna, and even Azelf showed up. "Yo, Cuz, what's with the flashy clothes?! Or better yet, WHY ARE YOU ALIVE?!"

"Did you bring your Firstborn?!" Midna shouted.

"Yes, they're the ones that pestered us to come!" Nebula yelled, indicating Jirachi.

"Is there an emergency?" Arianna asked, releasing Celebi.

"Yes! Over there!" Midna pointed at Abram, who was on his knees and rasping.

"I feel some kind of power from him!" Jirachi yelled. "It's… familiar…"

"No! It couldn't be…" Uxie followed.

"Eleven Firstborn, together!" Azelf flew first, and the others followed. All the Firstborn surrounded Abram in a circle, aiming their hands.

"Um, what are we doing, exactly?" Crest asked.

"Channel your chi into him." Uxie replied.

"Okay, got it!" Diancie nodded.

"WAIT, DON'T!" Abram pleaded. "I need to touch the Octogan with-!"

The World Prince was trapped in the center of their combined power. Firstborn God Chi consisting of Plant, Water, Stars, Psychic, Shadow, Willpower, Emotion, Knowledge, Moon, Music, and Earth, connected with Abram's body. There was only one other time when the Firstborn were together like this… and now, the same effect would happen.

Abram BURST with white light, and from his tiny mortal body, Supreme God Arceus flew into the dawning sky, finally free. "AaaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The great god stretched his limbs and back like a pony. "You have no idea how EXHAUSTING it is to spend so long inside a SIMPLE MORTAL'S BODY!"

"Arceus was… sealed inside Abram?! All this time?!" Cheren choked on his words.

"RAAAAAH!" King Andrew had recovered and struck the god with a constant beam from his Octogan.

"With the Octogan's help, I conducted a ritual designed to seal spirits inside mortal bodies! You won't believe how much power I exhausted to trap Arceus… With him, Abram was going to help me design and control the Spirit World Project. But now, I'll just have to use him myself. I knew you Firstborn were going to come here and free him, so before Arceus recomposes himself, I'll make use of his spiritual energy."

The Octogan's beam sucked power from Arceus's body as Andrew glowed with a white aura. "The Octogan sees through reality… AND IT REWRITES REALITY!" (Play "Dark Gaia 1" from Sonic Unleashed!)

A blinding white light swallowed the mountaintop of Mariejoa. The energy took solid form around King Andrew, and now he was in command of the Crown Goliath: a titanic version of his armor with giant cuckoo clocks on the shoulders, a spinning dress with purple and yellow stripes, and gears inside the chest. "WUOOOOH HOH HOH HOH HOH!" The King cackled like the Sir Knightly he once portrayed, safe in the titan's head. "WHATCHU GONNA DO NOW, CHEREN-CHAAAAN?"

Cheren became a comet and shot up to the cockpit, but the Goliath spun a fist and BASHED him to the ground. "Master Cheren, I sense King Andrew is trying to absorb your chi as well. Deactivating your God Tier may prevent him from becoming stronger than he currently is."

"I trust you, Fi." Cheren's golden body extinguished, reverting to his normal colors. "But I can't defeat him like this!"

"I got ya covered, Cherry!"

"Oh?" Cheren glanced at something tiny in his lenses (his glasses reappeared with his normal form). "Zach?"

"I turned your glasses into mini TVs! Let the comical stylings of Zach, Blinks, and Floop give you a chuckle! But don't let it out until the time is right."

"General Guy is here TOO, ya fool!"

"YOU'RE NOT IN, YET!" Zach kicked him away.

"I don't even know how I got here!" Floop yelled.

Zach is trying to build up my God Chi for when I use it again! Cheren smiled.

"WAAAH!" Dimentia suddenly splorped out of space and was dropped on the ground by Dimentio.

"Sister, I would like to introduce you…" Dimentio looked around, then frowned. "Oh, it seems they aren't here, yet. Ooo, that thing has a nice dress. Um, ciao!" He warped again.

"What was that about?" asked Melody.

"Dimentia, I'm glad you're here!" Cheren said. "Listen, I want all of you to help fight him! Fly up there, attack from below, do whatever you can to keep him busy!"

"We're on it!" Wendy yelled determinedly. "Let's go, Carla!" Her kitten grabbed her master and flew up to the Goliath's head, along with Vaati, Mika, and Morgan, while others attacked parts of the body.

"While they're doing that, I'm heading up there." Cheren drew his sword.

"Let me help you up the legs." Nebula cast a Gravity Path up the Goliath's legs.

"Thanks!" Cheren began to race up, staring directly up the titan's skirt. Slots opened up and fired Bombshell Bills, but Cheren bounced the golden missiles back with the Mirror Shield and destroyed the cannons. He couldn't advance farther up this leg because an electric wall was coming down, so he shot his Hookshot to a target on the other leg and ran up that Grav-Path. Bombshell Bills fired from cannons on the base of the body inside the skirt, and to break an entrance open, Cheren had to bounce the Bombshells back. Cheren punctured an opening and quickly raced inside.

He landed in a dimension of hearts where millions of clones of his many girl friends were swarming on him. Cheren stabbed Panini, Miyuki, MaKayla, Sugar, Wendy, Karin, Grenda—he knew neither of them were the same girls, yet he was terrified of being buried in kisses. "KAH HAH HAH!" One of the Meridas poofed into King Andrew as he skipped across the crowds, his mouth grinning and his eyes sticking out. Cheren charged a Hurricane Spin and sawed through the crowds in order to find The King. He hit one of the Celestes and changed her into Andrew, but the spin attack made him too dizzy to attack again.

Andrew spun his arms like fans and bonked Cheren rapidly, but the boy ducked and did a Youth Roll to knock Andrew off his feet. Cheren used Soul Surge to land fearsome blows against The King, and the act warped him out of the dimension.

Cheren was now outside and on the spinning skirt, having to jump Amps that rotated with him. Different layers of Crown Goliath's body were rotating, and one had a ledge for Cheren to grab onto. The above layer had a Snapdragon hole, so Cheren whipped his sword up to cut the creature when it passed by. Cheren then grabbed the ledge on that layer, waited once more, and kicked up to the next ledge. Two Snapdragons waited below the final ledge, so he sliced them before climbing up.

Now on a solid foothold, Cheren had to fight past some Spear Guys to advance up stairs along The King's body. With a burst of power, Cheren was blown several feet away from the Goliath, using the Pirate Sail to stop his fall. "Hold on, Cheren!" Vaati used airbending to blow him back onto the titan. At the end of the stairs, Cheren could Hookshot up to an opening into the gears.

The inside of the machine was much bigger, full of giant gears with Hookshot targets. Cheren latched onto one, which would rotate into an Amp, so he hooked up to the underside of a horizontal gear. It would spin Cheren into a wall with a thin gap, so he lowered himself via the Hookshot's chain, going under the wall while the chain passed the gap. He saw a target on one of the points of a vertical wheel and latched to it, the wheel taking him underneath before he would be crushed against another gear. Cheren Hookshoted to another higher gear and dropped on a flat one below it.

From here, Cheren could grab and swing across a series of chains hanging from rotating gears. Some of these chains had Shock Chus slithering down, tempting him to progress quicker. "Kehe-!" Cheren held in a chuckle. In his glasses TV, Floop was having an awkward first date with giant nail clippers. It was amazing how he could focus on his objective while watching that show at the same time.

From the final chain, Cheren had to build swinging momentum, wait for it to rotate aligned with, and then jump off to glide to a distant opening using the Pirate Sail. Bombshell Bills launched from the sides and homed in on the child, but he ignored them and kept flying. The missiles would simply explode against each other and Cheren would be out.

Cheren was now on the back of the Goliath, having to climb a grated wall where square segments would turn and shoot out "CUCKOO!" birds. They turned without warning, and Cheren was flung off by one of them, but he quickly used the sail while Vaati blew him back on. "Kyah hahahahaha!" He heard Andrew cackling madly. "What are ye gonna doooo, Cheren? Going to cut me up? Why don't you go GOD TIER, HUH? It's okay, don't be shy!"

Cheren made it to the shoulders of the Goliath, using the Mirror Shield to block the cuckoo bird that shot out, then froze it with an Ice Arrow. He decided to do the same to the other one, so there was nothing to stop him from grabbing the ledge under The King's chin where the cockpit was. He climbed around and up the side, where a ladder would take him to the titan's crown. Again, Cheren sidled along a ledge, and was directly above the cackling King's cockpit.

I'm putting all my faith in you, Zach. And with that, Cheren dropped down, grabbed the edge, and kicked into the mouth to swing slices at King Andrew. The King blocked with Armament and PUNCHED Cheren out—thinking fast, Cheren whipped out a Hookshot, latched it to The King, and the world moved in slow motion as Cheren was pulled to him. (MaKayla was doing this to help him.) Cheren drew his sword, charged the Skyward Strike, and just five inches from making impact, Cheren changed into God Tier. "SKYWARD COMEDY STRIKE!"

"KUOOOOOOOHHHHH!" Cheren's blade was imbued with a blinding golden fire ignited by the humor he felt in his heart, steadily built up by Zach's comedic routines in his very glasses. The Octogan met the full force of the blow, but King Andrew received the pain.

The King was forced inside the Goliath, and everyone could hear a "Dook dag dah ow daik dah!" as The King was comically bouncing down the stairs of his robot. Once at the bottom of the titan, an airship popped out, and The King used it to make his escape. (End song.)

"You're not getting away!" Cheren rocketed after the high-speed ship and tossed gold flames to damage the engines. After a few hits, the ship swerved out of control and exploded. This time, Andrew hopped on a hoverbike and kept flying, so Cheren had to move faster and throw quicker flames to damage it. The hoverbike exploded, but Andrew saved a wheel and made a unicycle to keep floating. Cheren stared with total disbelief, throwing one flame to destroy it. Andrew grabbed the wheel and kept floating on that, so Cheren destroyed it.

And now The King was left with only his legs to rapidly kick in the air and move ever so slightly with the Flutter Jump. Cheren shook his head in disapproval and casually grabbed him by the hair. PUNCH, PUNCH, PUNCH, PUNCH, Cheren made Andrew's eye black and burned with his golden fist. He combined his Three Sacred Treasures to strike Andrew's backside with the Three Sacred Fusion. The King's armor shattered completely, and his muscular body fell into a crater.

"GAH!" The Octogan popped out of his eye socket and bounced along the ground. Cheren gasped and quickly flew down to grab it.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH…" His mind was open to the colliding worlds, the First Dimension, and the crumbling multiverses.

"CHEREEEEEEEN!" Panini cried.

"AAAAAAAaaaaaahhhhh. . . ." His body was crumbling under the Octogan's divine power.

"It's useless!" Andrew yelled. "Even your godly body can't comprehend the Octogan's power and knowledge!"

Cheren's body was a blinding green, the unstable energy blowing a whirlwind around the mountain. "…" Maddy Murphy entered Haki Fury and rushed up to grab the Octogan, too. "AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Even her Haki couldn't protect her from the pain of a trillion years. King Andrew smirked wickedly as their bodies decayed.

"AAAAAAAHHH!" Chris Uno grabbed the Octogan, sharing the pain with his brother and friend.

"WAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Anthony McKenzie grabbed it, and remained firm on his feet through the pain.

"EAAAAAAAHH!" Wendy Marvell bravely joined her future teammates.

"AAAAAHH THIS IS A BAD IDEA!" Nebula cried, linking her hand with the others'.

"AAAAAAHH STICK WITH THE REFERENCE!" MaKayla used her Timebending Fury to help them.

"Aaaahhh…!" And now, the pain was gone. Their bodies were unharmed, yet they were still holding the Octogan. Cheren smiled at all his friends. Their hands linked in the same place. Their hearts were as one.

"?! ?" Andrew was in complete shock. Their bodies hadn't obliterated at all. "But… HOW?! You're children! H-How can you possibly…?!"

"Don't you remember, Andrew?" Cheren asked. "We… are… KIDS… NEXT… DOOR…"

"!!" Andrew jumped up and grabbed the Octogan. "KAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" His body was overcome with greater pain, as though the Octogan grew tired of him.

And then the Octogan's power vanished: Jagar King trapped the gem in a steel box. "Chi Container!" he announced. "And they said we never needed one this strong!"

". . . . ." A gaping, frozen-mouth Andrew fainted.

…

…

…

Andrew Johnson found himself in a grassy meadow with a gentle breeze. He looked up as his blurry vision noticed a blackish shape with a purple top. "T…Travis?"

His old friend looked very disappointed. "What happened to you, Andrew? Where did it go wrong?"

"What do you mean? I…" Andrew glanced left. Dillon Simmons was there.

"You lost it, Andrew. You spent all this time up on God Mountain… you forgot what was really important to you."

"You don't understand! I did it for you! I did it for all of us! The Octogan was going to show me the way… It was going to help me save everyone."

"Andrew, if your Octogan was so all-knowing, why didn't it stop you from getting your butt kicked?" Travis remarked.

Andrew choked on his breath. "I…"

"We understand what you were trying to do… The Octogan may have showed you the end, Andrew… but did it show you the Kids Next Door?"

"Yes! It showed me the Kids Next Door's destruction! If they finish this prophecy… they'll all be doomed. I'm sure of it."

"You know, Andrew… maybe you're right." Dillon said. "Maybe the Kids Next Door will be destroyed. But… that's no excuse to destroy them yourself. When Travis died, did you stop fighting? When I died, did Nolan stop fighting? Yeah, you were a bit shaken up… but you knew that if you stopped, we would've been upset. And your all-powerful Octogan was just beaten by the Kids Next Door. If that could surprise you… don't you think they could surprise you again?"

"…" Andrew reached behind and took the frying pan off his back. The '100' was displayed clear on it. It was true… he had forgotten who he was. He relied on the Octogan's wisdom… but all it brought was deception. It had not seen Zach was the Seventh Light… it had not shown his own defeat… Andrew was a fool for trusting it. "Travis… Dillon… Nigel… Kuki. …I'm sorry." The world turned into light.

"Mmmmnn…" Andrew awoke on a rugged, ruined ground, cuts and bruises all over his muscular body. In the remains of his armor was his frying pan helmet. He picked it up and pushed the broken crown off of it. "…?" He looked up. The Kids Next Door and White Lotus were holding weapons to him. Kirie Beatles smiled bubbly and had chi-cuffs ready. Arceus was floating above and watching with the Eleven Firstborn.

"Hm hm hm…" Andrew smirked and sat against a jagged rock. "If it means anything to you guys… I'm up for Lime Rickey's."

"Kah ha!" Cheren laughed.

Sometime later

"ON YOUR KNEES, Failed Leaders!" Mabel Pines held her grappling hook to the four World Leaders. They were chi-cuffed and on their knees. "If any of you THINKS about calling another zombie, I'll grapple-hook you in the face! Now WHAT do you have to say for yourselves?"

"SORRY." they complied. ("–Felius Umbridge says with humiliation.")

"Hm hm hm." Andrew chuckled. "Chi-blocks don't hold well on us. The Octogan showed us the secret equation that disables them."

"There's a thing like that?" Dillon asked. "Is that how Daphne escaped from prison?"

"Yes. Well then… I suppose it's time to stop the Inferius. I'll go give Dr. Strange the news."

"So, Dr. Strange was the one who started it?" Nolan asked.

"He's studied ways to harness magic and use it. Quite impressive, considering the power source he used."

Mabel started to march back-and-forth like a military trooper in front of the World Leaders. Vaati's left eye was slanted into a glare. "Dad, why are you looking at them like that?" Wendy asked.

"Those people have done unforgivable crimes, Wendy. They put you on the wanted posters out of blind fear, they have killed innocent people… We must do more than imprison them to ensure they never harm again."

"They're not going to hurt anyone, anymore. Don't you think… they wanted freedom, too?"

"Hmm… I suppose that's true. But I still intend to continue my quest. I still believe in true freedom."

"I think you still owe Wendy some 'true freedom.'" Carla reminded. "Remove the curse you placed on her now."

"I don't know how to do that without gravely harming her. I still don't understand how Harry Potter survived… and apparently, neither does Voldemort. I asked him."

Team Sandman followed Andrew into the castle's cellar, finding Dr. Strange's laboratory. "Dr. Strange, the battle is over. Disable the Inferius—!" The doctor was laying dead on the floor. "HUGO!"

"Well, this is anticlimactic…" Crystal commented.

"The crystal's broken!" Nolan pointed at the platform, where fragments of purple crystal lay. "Zeref must have escaped!"

"But that crystal was supposed to be unbreakable!" Andrew exclaimed. "…!" He sensed a presence outside with Observation Haki. "They're here."

A gargantuan vessel had risen above Mt. Mariejoa: seaweed-green and covered in coral and sea fauna, with a great mouth of sharp teeth on the keel, and five times bigger than the Flying Dutchman: it was the King Dutchman. "HAH HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Medusa towered high on the deck. "So, the Kids Next Door establish their selves as this world's rulers! You think you've won this battle? Let me show you what TRUE power is. Introducing… the Thirteen DARKNESSES!" (Play "K. Rool Battle Intro" from Donkey Kong 64!)

The ship lowered and allowed them to see everyone on deck. There were some they recognized, others they didn't… but here they were, together in one place. "Ladies and gentlemen," Bill Cipher announced, "I'm your host, Bill Cipher, here to introduce you to the MOST POWERFUL beings in all the MULTIVERSE! Ladies first!"

The first Darkness, a yellow giantess, leapt high off the ship and shook the mountaintop upon landing in the town. "Hailing from the First Dimension, Empress of the Gem Empire, IT'S YELLOW DIAMOND!"

"Yellow Diamond?!" Anthony exclaimed. "No way! She wasn't this big when I first saw her!"

"Hm?" Yellow Diamond glanced down, scowling. "Oh… if it isn't Pearl's old pet. You've become… smaller."

Without warning, Thanatos appeared by Azelf, grabbed her, and warped to Yellow Diamond. "Quick, attack this creature!" Thanatos threw Azelf, and Yellow Diamond swung her massive boot and struck the Firstborn.

Azelf calculated the results. "Yellow Diamond's Power Level is: 15453."

The next Darkness to jump on land was someone everybody knew. "Captain of the Flying Dutchman, Ferrier of Souls, the Heartless Captain DAVY JONES!"

"Princess Eva!" Jones drew his sword. "You did not think you could hide from me again, did you?"

"YOU'RE one of the Thirteen?" Eva chortled. "I defeated you when I was an amateur waterbender!"

"Ahh, but tell me this, Eva… would you have been so lucky, had I no heart to stab?" Jones smiled wryly. "Uh huh ha ha ha hah! HAAAH!" He lashed a swift Water Ship at Azelf.

"Davy Jones' Power Level is: 13267."

"And Mom defeated him like THAT?!" Melody exclaimed with sheer disbelief.

"Next up, all the way from the Land of Fire, founder of Hidden Leaf Village and the Uchiha ancestor, give it up for MADARA UCHIHA!"

Madara's Inferius eyes were in the form of Sharingan. Using the Mangekyō Sharingan's power, Madara brought to life Susanoo, a colossal samurai composed of a sapphire body with flaming wings. Azelf gazed at the colossus in horror, but embraced for the worst as she allowed the great sword to slice her. If she were not unkillable, she would be obliterated. "Madara Uchiha's Power Level is: 20163."

Bill Cipher continued, "Hailing from Soul Society, master of illusions, and one HELL of a Kidōmaster, cry his name to the heavens, SŌSUKE AIZEN!"

"I won't need to measure my Power Level." Aizen said. "My example speaks for itself."

Azelf gasped loudly—Sectors V, W, IC, the adults—EVERYONE was lying on the ground with their throats slit, blood spilled everywhere. "NOOOOO!"

In reality, the operatives were confused at what was sparking so much fear inside Azelf. "I wonder what she's seeing?" Aizen gave a dark, yet charming smile. He had drawn his sword, Kyōka Suigetsu beforehand, and made Azelf witness the action. Without saying another word, Aizen sprouted a blackish-purple energy coffin to encase Azelf, spears piercing through it. Everyone was struck silent, but when the coffin dissolved, Azelf was still intact. To her shame, however, the Firstborn was getting bruises.

"Sōsuke Aizen's Power Level is… 19981. Ow."

"Please stop!" Wendy pleaded. "You're hurting her!"

"Oh." Aizen faced the girl. "Would you rather we demonstrate on one of you?"

"Gulp…" Wendy froze in fear, choosing not to respond.

"A Pirate Emperor who conquered treacherous seas," Bill resumed, "he wields powers of Tremors and Darkness, the legendary Marshall D. Teach! Or should I say… BLACKBEARD!"

The large bearded pirate quaked the ground before Cheren, showing missing teeth in his big smile. "Blackbeard?!" Cheren instantly recognized the man. He was the same crazy person eating cherry pie that he met before the Viridi War.

"I'm impressed, Cheren! You came farther than I thought you would! So, did the poison work? Did you teach Viridi a lesson?"

Cheren growled and switched to God Tier, but Teach grabbed the boy and slammed his face to the ground, his gold flames extinguished. "AAAH! What happened to my God Tier?!"

"My Dark-Dark Fruit nullifies the powers of anyone I touch! I wonder if it does the same to gods?" Teach set his sights on Azelf. The pirate leapt forth and smashed the Firstborn to the ground with a punch that sent a godly tremor through the very air.

Azelf felt like she was flattened past the 2-D plane, but when she recovered, she brought the news. "Blackbeard's Power Level is 22072."

"Following the act, former Czar of the Chrome Dome Empire, he likes magic, shaving, and doodling in school, CZAR BALDY BALD III!"

"KAH HAH HAH!" Baldy Bald grabbed Wendy and Nagisa's heads. "Your hair is so blue, it must taste like blueberry! Get ready to go bald, girls!"

"NO, PLEASE! I don't wanna be bald!" Wendy cried.

"I'm a boy!" followed Nagisa.

"Leave them out of this!" Azelf smacked Tsuru off of them.

"How dare you attack me! Red Magic Attack!" Tsuru cast a red beam and did little harm to Azelf.

"Baldy Bald's Power Level is: 100."

"ONE HUNDRED?!" Zach cried. "That's so powerful! We're never going to win against him!" He sat on the ground and cried a stream of tears.

"It's okay, Zach, I'll one-punch him for ya." Maddy patted his head.

"This Darkness came a long way from Hollow Bastian, a Keyblade Master and Seeker of Darkness, open your hearts to the wisdom of XEHANORT!"

"When I was told that children are the heroes of this universe, I was a bit humored!" Xehanort laughed as he stepped past the kids calmly. "But you children are more than what you seem… I eagerly await our future interactions." He drew his Father Time Keyblade and froze Azelf in time, swiftly flipping around her and laying 20 hits.

Azelf unfroze and reacted to the strikes, looking like she was being beat around by someone invisible. "Xehanort's Power Level is 21822."

"Now, this guy decided to come here early! The darkest wizard history ever knew, leader of the Death Eaters and a Slytherin graduate, LORD VOLDEMORT!" Bill snapped his fingers and exploded the ice holding Voldemort and Bellatrix.

"AAAAH HA HA HA!" Bellatrix cackled. "Lord Voldemort is superior to ALL OF YOU! You think yourselves powerful?! My Lord can demolish you in one flick of his finger!" One second later, Voldemort's Inferius head rolled off his body. "VOLDY!" Bella gasped and quickly put his head back. The arms fell off, so Bellatrix reattached them. "Please, My Lord, show these wretches how powerful you are." She put his Phoenix Feather wand in his hand and helped aim at Azelf.

"Avada… Kedavra." Voldemort shot a very small green spark at Azelf. Even if Azelf was mortal, the tiny Death Curse would only do as bad as a bloody nose. "Voldemort's Power Level, or at least his Inferius, is… 56."

"LIES! MY VOLDY IS NOT THE WEAKEST!"

"It's okay, Bella, we believe you." Bill said awkwardly. "Let's move on. I bet you folks didn't see THIS comin'! A demon of Ancient Egypt in Termina, a father of dark magic, ZORC NECROPHADES! Known by modern day humans as Truman Kirman!"

"Truman?!" Cheren and Panini chorused.

"Truman is no more." the boy stated. "I am Zorc. And soon, the universe will remember it." Zorc spawned a card in which a Red-Eyes Black Dragon emerged. The dragon struck Azelf with its breath and vanished.

"Zorc's Power Level is 25666."

"Of course it'd be those numbers." Goombella commented.

"Better show your respect, folks, because THIS Darkness will show no mercy! From Marvel-199999, he's a powerful warlord who holds the Infinity Gauntlet, bow before Mad Titan THANOS!"

"Thanos?!" Diancie gasped. "He was the one that killed Stone!"

"You make Thanos look like a joke." Thanos stated firmly, pushing Bill aside. "This is how you strike fear in your subjects, Child. Ahem… BOW!" The Titan punched the ground with his Infinity Gauntlet, and with a burst of power from the Power Stone, everyone on the planet died. Thanos then used the Time Stone to rewind the events, restoring life to the planet. He proceeded to flick a horror-struck Azelf with his other hand.

"Thanos' Power Level is 9500… but that Infinity Gauntlet is another matter. If I could, I would estimate… 1,051,788."

"That's a good estimate." Emily quivered.

"A man you all know, he's the King of Evil, ruler of demons and holder of the Triforce of Power, it's the return of GANONDORF DRAGMIRE!"

"I never thought I would get to see you again, Rachel!" Ganondorf grinned devilishly. "How shameful that your son is… a lot more interesting to me."

"You wanna see how 'interesting' I am, Ganon?!" Cheren drew his sword.

"Oh, I will… but for now… just a small demonstration will do." Ganon faced Azelf, took a breath, and "AAAAAH!"

He blasted a soundwave that blew Azelf across the town, her ears ringing and her eyes dizzy. "Ganondorf's Power Level is 30,000. I think that was more than a lucky win for Rachel."

"And now, the eldest of the Darknesses, over one million years old and still looking young and sharp, it's our FAVORITE long-lasting Zathurian, DIMENTIO Z. WINKIEBOTTOM!"

"But alas, I had already spoiled the surprise like a giddy fanboy." Dimentio giggled. "I arrived earlier to drop off my sister. I couldn't allow her to miss this show, I just couldn't!"

He blasted Azelf with a Starburst. She recorded and concluded, "Dimentio's Power Level is 36755."

"Aren't you glad that I held back, Dearest Niece?"

"And finally, a Darkness who was a bit late to the party, but we got that mess sorted out, he comes from the Floating Land of Alakitasia, the black wizard ZEREF!"

"How did you escape from the crystal, Zeref?!" Andrew demanded.

"During your exciting showdown, I snuck into the castle to free him." Medusa explained. "I did it using a magical substance called Moon Drip."

"I read about that." Wendy mentioned. "Moon Drip is a kind of healing remedy harnessed from moonlight that can undo almost any magical spell or-!" she gasped in realization. "Or curse…"

"Yes, and Acnologia's explosion spilled a hefty amount of Moon Drip. I guess I have Diwata's harnessing of the Lunar Magic to thank for that as well. Zeref, honey, show us your Power Level!" Medusa spoke like a mother to her toddler.

The dark wizard attacked Azelf with a Death Sphere, and to his amazement, the Firstborn didn't die. "Zeref's Power Level is 4595."

"That doesn't sound too bad." Mason said.

"Guess again." Goombella was examining Zeref with Tattle. "Zeref's HP is infinite."

"Infinite?!" Wendy gulped.

"Every possible method to kill myself has failed." Zeref spoke. "Such is my curse. I passed that ability onto the Inferi. That is why… I can command them." With a wave of his hand, Bellatrix lost her free will and collected Voldemort's remains to bring him aboard the King Dutchman.

"And my Power Level is a solid million." Bill reminded. "But I don't want you guys to feel bad or anything. I mean, when it comes down to, what is a Power Level, anyway?"

"CIPHER!" Arceus's godly voice thundered. He hadn't looked so furious since his drive to Darkness. "How DARE YOU attack my daughter like a tattered ragdoll! If her curse were still intact, you would know pain and humiliation like no other!"

"Well, Daddy, if you didn't want us to kick Azzie around, you should have left her curse!" Bill remarked. "But if you insist, then… DARKNESSES: attack Arceus!"

All at once, the Thirteen attacked Arceus with their fearsome power, Aizen's Hadō 99, Madara's Susanoo, Thanos' Power Stone, Davy Jones' Dark Spirit Cyclone, Ganondorf's lightning, Tsuru's Red and Blue Magic, and Yellow Diamond used white diamonds to absorb some energy from their attacks and amplify them. Bill Cipher joined the fray and burned Arceus with full power, the combined power would leave everything in its wake in complete oblivion. However, when it was over, Arceus was safe in his bubble barrier. (A tiny green spark floated up and popped on him like a bubble.)

"RAAAAAAH!" Arceus blew the Darknesses back onto the Dutchman with his bellow. "If your villains were not vital to the prophecy, I would deliver justice upon YOU ALL! Take heed, heathens, that my Power Level is one billion. You may believe you have the potential to conquer worlds like petty bullies, but I will always be the Principal!"

"Relax, Arcy, we're just having some fun!" Bill said in a mock consoling fashion. "We'll get out of your hair, okay? We just need to collect something first. Ahem… the Octogan, if you will." He looked at Jagar King.

"What?! I'm not letting you have this!" Jagar stated.

"I wasn't instructing you." (End song.)

"HAH HAH HAH HAH!" The Chi Container was grabbed in psychic, floating up to Specter. The intelligent ape joined the Darknesses on the King Dutchman. "You fools were so busy with CP10 and the World Leaders, you forgot ALL ABOUT dear old Specter, didn't you?!"

"GAAAH!" Emily panicked. "I can't believe we forgot about Specter! Oh, why did we waste time going to stupid Tree of Beginning?!"

"It's simple, Emily: even as an intelligent human, you are still unevolved. This is for you, Lesser Lord!"

Specter passed the container to a man in bright green garb and a pale white head shaped like an orb. "It's… Ragaj Gnik." Jagar said with fear.

"His… face!" Aurora was disgusted. "…Where is his face?!"

"He doesn't have one!" MaKayla gaped.

Indeed, Ragaj's face was completely blank and round. "How…How does he eat?!" asked Chris.

"Kids Next Door, you have my earnest thanks for retrieving the Octogan from King Andrew. It is true that his family's interference prevented the Octogan's power from running unstable… but now, his use is now finished. I'll dispose of him for you." Ragaj aimed his hand at Specter.

"WHAT?!" Specter was suddenly lifted by an unseen force, flying to grab onto Andrew.

"During one of our meetings, Specter, I froze time and implanted chronitons in your bloodstream so that I could control you. My apologies that you cannot realize your dream of an ape-ruled world, but… such is fate. Good-bye, Specter."

Specter grabbed Andrew under the arms and flew skyward. "NO! RAGAJ! YOU'LL RUE THE DAY YOU DECEIVED THE AMAZING SPECTER!"

"And you aren't taking Andrew over my dead body!"

"Huh?!" Jennifer Bush was suddenly clinging onto Andrew.

"She escaped her restraints!" Sunni exclaimed. "Did anyone see her?!"

"She must've moved fast!" Darcy said.

The 2,000-year-old girl jabbed her fingernails into Andrew's neck, Light Chi transferring into him. "Jennifer! Don't!"

"I'll miss you, Andy…"

An explosion of green light distorted the surrounding space. No trace of Specter or Jennifer was left behind… whereas Andrew's body began to reform itself in a ray of light. He fell back to the peak with a great thud. "W-What just happened?!" Haruka screamed.

Andrew pushed himself up, examining himself. "Jennifer… transferred her reviving chi to me. I don't feel it, anymore… It was only a one-time thing. But because of that… she's gone."

"Jennifer…" Henry faced the sky with a solemn expression. "I hope… she can be with God now."

"Hmm…what a pity." Ragaj sighed. "Still, I suppose you were dead, if only for a moment. The Octogan is now free of His Majesty's control. But I'm certain you have a spare, Jagar. Bring that spare to Great Clock on May 31. There, we will have our final battle… and my master will return."

Ragaj opened the Chi Container and took the Octogan out. He commanded the gem to release the Soul Stone from its captivity. Thanos took the green stone and stuck it in the index knuckle of his Infinity Gauntlet. "NOW Thanos is truly reborn! I will keep true to my word…" The Soul Stone shone as Thanos touched Dimentio, Madara, Davy Jones, and Voldemort. Their Inferius eyes vanished, bringing them back to life.

"Welp, nothing left to do but bring these guys to VIP. Zeref, leave them with a little parting gift." Bill ordered. "Fellas, turn the ship 180 degrees and let's ditch this planet!"

The titanic King Dutchman turned and sailed to the sky. It was now that the heroes could see the vessel's helmsmen: a red-haired woman, blue-haired man, and their Meowth smiling gleefully. "Looks like Team Rocket is sailing away with the big boys!" ("Wobbuffet!") ("Chiiiime…") The ship became a twinkle in the sky.

The Inferi of Nigel, Dillon Simmons, Travis, and the others remaining lost their free will and readied to attack the heroes. Trees erected from the ground and sealed the zombies inside. "You're welcome." A giant 8-year-old with flowing blonde hair and a rose thorn dress emerged from the edge of the mountain.

"Viridi!" Cheren exclaimed.

"NOT HER AGAIN!" Anthony shouted. "Quick, Cheren, kill her!"

"Calm down, Anthony Ant, I'm currently on your side. Your friend, Majora freed me from prison and I persuaded him to warp me to Fairy World. With the threat that Majora would destroy the place with his power, Princess Aisling restored me to… partly my old self. I did you humans a favor and rounded up all the Inferi I could. I can't remove the curses on them, but I can keep them contained."

"Well, you've partly made up for your crimes." Cheren said.

"Maybe this will make up: your mother forgot to bring this from home." Viridi tossed him a little ball with a silver bottom and blue top.

Cheren smiled and faced Azelf. "Am I worthy to be your Guardian now?"

"You are a god." She shrugged. "I don't see how you can get more worthy than that."

"I'd say you're worthy of some rest after that endeavor. In you go, Azelf!" Cheren threw the ball and caught his Firstborn. The Spirit Ball brimmed and a 'II' appeared on the forehead.

Cheren Uno captured a FIRSTBORN!! Once again, we have them all!!

"Hello, Viridi!" Arceus greeted her happily. "How have you been?"

"Oh, shut up, Dad." Viridi Ascended to the Spirit World and vanished.

"…Was it something I said?" asked the Supreme God.

"Well, we're in for a fight, it seems." Dillon said.

"All's well that ends well. For now, anyway." Aurora shrugged. "I think we're late for something else." She smirked.

"I'm way ahead of you." Kid replied. "We will be ready by tomorrow."

After the battle, the World Leaders and Abram Johnson were taken to Arctic Prison. The Spirit Kids Next Door helped Viridi search for and seal the remaining Inferi, but the ones that were sent beyond the planet had not been found. All in all, at this time tomorrow, the chaos created by the World Leaders had all seemed like a nightmare. Tomorrow was a beautiful sunny day…

Cleveland Playground, the day after… (Play "Apotos Day" from Sonic Unleashed!)

"Haaaappy birrrrthday toooo you." Cheren was sitting on a table with a three-layer cake. It had white icing, cherries on top, and 10 candles. "Haaaappy birrrrthday toooo you." All his friends were here. "Happy birrrthdaaay Chereeeen Uuuunoooo. Haaaappy birrrrthday toooo you!"

"And you smell like one, too!" Artie finished. "Oops, wrong song. Haha!"

"No need to get antsy." Death the Kid told everyone. "We baked 20 cakes of the exact same design, so everyone gets an equal amount. And don't worry, we cut out any demon material from the recipe."

The cake was baked with a similar recipe as the Delightful Children's cake. Everyone took a slice and picked a table where they were happily chatting amongst friends. Wendy and Nagisa were getting acquainted, as were Chelia and Morgiana beside them… though Morg was mostly quiet, keeping her eye on Wendy. Index and Chimney were having a hotdog-eating contest—both girls devoured a sufficient amount.

Vweeb, Aeincha, and Ururu were sharing one slice of cake, which was so big to their size that they burrowed through the cake like moles. When those three couldn't stomach another bite, Team Rupert sent Pikmin to recover pieces of cake and divide it amongst their Minish friends.

Arianna was speaking to Princess Gonshiri and Shelly, trying to form a friendship. Sadly, the twin sisters used her as a target for their snarky remarks, showing off their royal smugness.

Zuri, Gonbe, and Waddles were nibbling their own slices, but Sparky settled with a cup of oil. Carla was appalled by the animals' behavior, using a fork to eat her cake like a proper lady.

Zach was on a stage doing a comedy routine with Floop, Jar Jar, and General Guy. By the end of the show, each participant had more bruises than the CP10 or World Leader battles combined.

Anthony was showing Aisa some earthbending moves, and while she couldn't use the element herself, it may help her in combat. In return, Aisa would tell Anthony how to use Red-Foot Style.

Miyuki was leaning in the shade of a tree as April painted her. The environment in the painting was dull, gray, and captured emotion beautifully.

Ruby and Diwata Uno were arm-wrestling using their flaming fists. Sapphire was externally accepting of the friendship between Ruby and the blue-skinned Lunarian, but internally, her mind was in turmoil.

The Eleven Firstborn were on a picnic blanket, sharing delicious food and sweets. They had gotten used to Diancie quickly, since Crest appeared out of nowhere as well, but it did raise questions on if there were more Firstborn. Crest and Midna were under an umbrella, preferring the shade.

Nebula was personally requesting Death the Kid to join the Galactic Kid Council. And for the 8,000,008th time, Kid said "NO." Sheila Frantic was furiously beating Augustus up for ripping off her epithet—Augustus didn't know why the fairies took him back for this to begin with.

Marine Frantic and Mandy Cortix were drinking rum as the former wrapped an arm around her and swayed, singing "Binks' Sake." Henrietta settled with soda, giggling at them.

Ib and Mary were sharing a table. Phosphora, Jack Frost (using a Gigai), Django (who was saving cake for Luviro), and Shade were sharing one. Suki, Sonny, and Donna were having fruity snowcones and becoming quick friends. Alexei was sitting with Sector KB, still awkwardly wondering if he was allowed to be here.

"Guys, don't start the party without me!" Everyone turned to the direction of the voice.

"GEORGE!" MaKayla jumped up and hugged her older brother. "Where were you all this time?!"

"I… don't really remember." George scratched his head, which was wrapped like a mummy. "But my mom brought me back. So, who's got cake?!"

Chris stared at George suspiciously. Now that he thought about it, the '8' under his headband looked just like the Octogan. "What's wrong, Chris?" Maddy asked him.

"Uh… nothing. Hey, whatever happened to Lucci?"

"I don't know. I guess he got scared and ran when Cheren came!"

"Lion has become a kitty, it seems." Chris chuckled.

There was a FLASH, and pink flames appeared in the air above the middle of the park. They assumed it to be Bill Cipher coming to ruin the party… but the one to appear was Madotsuki. "Whoa!" The girl whirled in the air, trying to balance. "How do I stop??"

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Darkrai II appeared and held Madotsuki. "Well, it seems my theory was true after all. Madotsuki borrowed some of Bill's powers when they switched realities. Bill was able to send his energy to peoples' dream bodies and enable them to see him in the real world. Madotsuki is now doing the same."

"She looks just like me!" Mabel expressed. "It's like… a twin I never had!"

"I'm your twin, Mabel." Dipper reminded.

"I always thought you were adopted."

"Hello, Madotsuki!" Mary waved. "I'm very glad you could join this party with us! There are so many friends we wanna introduce you to!"

"This is the best birthday I could've asked for." Cheren said. "Thank you all for being here. Tomorrow, we'll have a funeral for Leanne."

"It's not a big deal." Lee Andrew complied. "We have an Apocalypse to worry about."

"Yeah, but there's nothing else we can do now. We found all the Keys, we got all the Firstborn… we just need to root for Mr. King when he fights Ragaj. …AAH!" Cheren screamed.

"WHAT?!" Panini shouted.

"NEREHC! What happened to Nerehc when I died?!"

"Nerehc was thrown into the Sanzu River." Kid explained. "His life force was stolen by Ganondorf's soul, and that's what revived the Evil King."

"No! Nerehc…" Cheren's happiness decayed. "But if… I'm still around, Nerehc should be…"

"Perhaps on normal terms." Another voice spoke. Zanifr Mimchi and Viridi came out of a dark portal. "But God Tier is a law of the First Dimension. Its laws do not comply with yours."

"Happy birthday, Cheren!" Viridi greeted joyfully. "It's so great to see all you again!"

"What do you want now, Poison Ivy?" Anthony retorted.

"I wanted to give Cheren my best wishes, for one thing. I must admit, despite his destructive tendency, there is a charm that sets him apart from other humans. …But now that he's a god, I can't help but lose respect for him a little." Viridi frowned. "I guess it's a matter of him letting it go to his head."

"I am impressed that Cheren was able to achieve the God Tier." Zanifr said. "It mmmeans he was at the right strength and the right mmmentality, for the mmmost part. However, Cheren, from this point forward, you will never age again. In other words, it will be your birthday forever."

"Wow… we're gonna need a lot more cake." Cheren felt slightly disheartened. "Sigh… but it was a necessary sacrifice. Now I'll have the strength to fight whatever the New World throws at us."

"But if Cheren doesn't age… well…" Panini twiddled her fingers. "He can't grow up with us. He can't be with… anyone…"

"Don't worry, Cheren!" Mary patted his shoulder. "I'll be happy to spend eternal youth with you!"

"Hm hm." Nebula chuckled. "Knowing what my mom has done, this is a tad ironic."

"You have no idea." Sugar remarked.

"I guess I'll just have to watch all my ladies get old!" Cheren laughed.

"CHEREN!" Panini startled him. "How can you be okay with this?! I mean, never growing up… it goes against everything you taught us!"

"Panini, just because my body won't age, it doesn't mean my mind won't. I taught you all to keep moving forward and become stronger. And that's what I'll keep doing, too. I may be a god, but I'll still fight beside all of you. And when the time comes… I'll resign as Supreme Leader and pass the duty to someone else. Are you guys okay with that?"

No, Panini wasn't okay with it. But everything else he said was true… so she nodded. Cheren's siblings nodded, Anthony nodded, Melody, Wendy, Bon Clay, and everyone else. "I'll make sure to stop him if he tries anything." Viridi mentioned. "But the other matter I came here for… WAS YOU, Wendy!" She whipped around to the blue-haired girl.

"M-ME?!" She flushed.

"When Aisling returned my powers, her friends asked me to bring you to Fairy World. They said you should feel free to bring your magic friends. We can go after the party."

"Um… Okay." Wendy was extremely curious, but it didn't show on her nervous expression.

"Zanifr, are you sure Nerehc isn't still alive?" Cheren asked.

"I have already been to the Negaverse. The DNK is terribly upset by his loss. Today, they are having Nerehc's funeral/birthday party."

"Sigh… I should go." Cheren got up. "You guys don't need to wait for me. Zanifr, can you take me to the Negaverse?"

"Very well." The troll opened a dark portal. (End song.)

Before they could enter, however, emerald flames ignited outside the park and the Grim Reaper appeared. "Father!" Kid yelled.

"COUGH, cough!" Grim used his scythe to hold himself up. "H-Happy… birthday… Cheren. COUGH!" The reaper was a deep gray, cracks and wrinkles all over his boney body.

"Grim, you look horrible!" Cheren said. "What's wrong?"

"Cough! Cheren… I have a confession to make. That Unbreakable Vow… dat I made with you near the start of this month… I've been breakin' it every day since then."

"W…What?!"

"I told your friends what I had been doing… but what dey didn't know was that they were still dying… and I kept bringing dem back to life… just like I had always been doing. I'm sorry… Cheren… but I could not allow any of you to die. You had to… complete de prophecy and save de universe. All I wanted… was to do my part."

"Grim…" Cheren didn't know whether to feel angry or thankful.

"Father…"

"Cough! Son…" Grim faced Kid. "I dink I've… taken this curse as far as I can. No being can break the same Vow so many times and…and survive. It's… over for me, Kid." He limped toward his son. "De New Universe… is going to need a new Reaper."

Kid shook his head. "No… I couldn't…"

"You can. Cough." Grim held the scythe to him. "Take de scythe, Kid… Become a better Reaper… than your old man… cough!"

"…Father…" With a heavy heart, Kid took the scythe in both hands.

Grim fell to his knees and coughed the last of his nonexistent breath. "Kid… help Cheren with the upcoming battles… I'm sure he will need it. Until I met you kids… I never thought mortals were much of anyt'ing…" He spoke to the adults as well. "But you've all… done amazing t'ings. I know you'll save de universe… I'll be watching you. Good-bye…"

The Reaper's bones turned into ash and blew away with the breeze. His cloak dissolved into smoke and reformed over Kid's body. The new Reaper bowed his head, holding the scythe tightly.

"…Let's go, Zanifr." Cheren entered the dark portal as the troll followed.

You know, after listening to "Open Your Heart," I never realized that song foreshadowed a lot of future Sonic games. XD Well, people, this story only has two chapters left. Next time, we will do the final stage.