81. What is a Firstborn?

DNK Moonbase

A poster of Nerehc was placed on a stand in front of his office, surrounded by bouquets of dandelions. Cheren and Sipa stood before the poster with bowed heads. It should have been a time of remorse and grieving for the lost DNK leader. …But in the Negaverse, birthday parties were treated as funerals and funerals like birthdays, so the DNK was trying to work it both ways. Tropical island music was playing as operatives were cooking barbeque and crunching chips. Everyone was upset, truly, but Nerehc would still want them to be happy, right?

"I can't believe we trusted that witch." Sipa stated. "Was it really vital that we bring Ganondorf back? Was there really no other way? I still don't understand why YOU'RE alive and he isn't!"

"I don't want to accept it either, Sipa." Cheren replied. "I really want to believe Nerehc is still alive somehow. But at the same time… I don't know what to believe, anymore. I'm a human child that has the powers of a god, there's more than Eight Firstborn… and why was Truman with the Thirteen Darknesses?"

"You saw Truman?!"

Cheren whipped around. The question came from the familiar voice of Harry Uno. "Termina Sector V! How did you get here?!"

"It started when Truman started acting all crazy." Melissa explained. "He destroyed the portal in Father's mansion just as he used it to cross to your world. We were going to ask our Negatives if anything happened to their Truman, and… luckily, they were at the mirror in Harry's room just in time to meet us, too. Basically, we used a Dimension Transporter in some jungle."

"Perhaps we can explain the rest of the story." another voice said.

"Oh, guess who!" Celeste jumped with a start. "Hey, Negative Sector V, this is our pal, Cheren." The five stepped aside to reveal their Negatives, including Truman's.

"Namurt here just decided to run off and come to THIS dimension!" Assilem Nagillig smacked him aggressively. "Wanna tell 'em what that was all about?!"

"So help me, Assilem, I…!" Namurt raised a fist, which shone a gold light. "No no no, patience, patience…" He faced Cheren. "Ahem: the short story is, I am a priest in training at the Church of Acirema. I can sense when very dark forces are afoot, and have recently felt a darkness radiating from my Positive. I quickly fled to this dimension to find him… but for the most time, I had difficulty acquiring anyone's help since I'm sort of a stranger."

"Well, I think I found Truman." Cheren explained. "He's with the Thirteen Darknesses. They called him Zorc; said he was from Ancient Egypt."

"Do you know where he is now?" Melissa asked. "Because we aren't going back home without him."

"I have sort of an idea… but I don't think he'll be able to come home anytime soon. It looks like he's a part of the prophecy."

"Can you take us to him, anyway? So we can see if he's still… Truman?"

"I guess I can… But I wanna stay for this funeral first."

"Hold on, how come Nerehc's dead but you're still alive?!" Celeste questioned.

"I'm going to get tired of explaining this." Cheren smacked his forehead.

Facilier's Voodoo Emporium

"Maaaan, does it feel good to be in the old emporium again!" Dr. Facilier kicked back in his chair with his feet on the table. With the World Government defeated, Wendy was no longer a wanted criminal, and the doctor could move back into his alleyway shop in Cleveland. Wendy had invited Chelia here to tell her friend about her most recent adventures. What really caught her off guard was-

"THIS LITTLE KITTY IS YOUR MOM?!" Chelia seized Carla and held her uncomfortably close to her eyes.

"OW!! That was extremely unnecessary!"

"It's true." Wendy replied. "My father made her that way. She's actually a Nimbi."

"That has got to be the CUTEST thing ever!" Chelia hugged Carla and twirled around. "It's like that movie Nine Lives! Except… better. Now I bet you aren't even sure which of you is the master, anymore."

"In all fairness, Wendy was never quite the brains."

"Moooooom!" Wendy flushed.

There was an impatient knock on the door. "When you're done 'Moming' in there, we have somewhere to be!" Viridi stated. "And I certainly won't violate my purity by stepping into a voodoo shop."

"Sorry!" Wendy blushed. "Would you like to come, Chelia?"

"I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

The two girls and Carla exited the shop, joining Viridi outside. "Close your eyes, girls." The goddess instructed. Wendy and Chelia did so. "You too, non-cat." Carla huffed and shut her eyes. Viridi warped them to the Spirit World, and from there they made the leap to Fairy World.

Fairy World

The magical city was situated above Avalar's atmosphere. It consisted of dozens of islands on glittery pink clouds and rainbow bridges connecting them. The fairies looked like child-size adults with big heads, wearing crowns, bug wings that helped them fly, and star-tipped magic wands that glittered like the stars above.

"I can't believe it!" Chelia had stars in her eyes. "Fairy World is actually real! Just like the stories said! The clouds are even cotton candy!" She dove down and ripped a piece off a cloud, eating it. "!!!" Her cheeks swelled and her stomach churned. "BLEEEH!! It tastes like… fairy vomit!"

"Ha ha ha! You humans are too puny-minded to appreciate the succulent taste of sprinkled baby powder!" a thick German voice stated.

"AAAAH!" Wendy screeched. "IT'S A GIANT!"

"I've seen bigger." Viridi remarked.

"So, you are the infamous 'Windy Marvel' that has caught Princess Mavis' attention." The giant fairy had a muscular tan body and wore a light-green sleeveless shirt and camouflage pants. "I am Jorgen von Strangle, toughest fairy in the universe and King of Fairy World. VIRIDI, BE GONE!"

"Geez, you're never gonna let that 'Forces of Nature' business go, are you." Viridi turned around with a fake resentful expression. "Every person in the modern day has anger issues, I hope the New Universe is a lot nicer in that sense. Buh-bye." Viridi warped.

"Hello, King Strangle." Wendy bowed politely. "If I may ask, how is it you know my name?"

"We fairies have been monitoring you ever since the crisis you caused in Orchid Bay. It seems that your father has been longing to acquire the Fairy's Tail in your namesake. And now, against my better judgment, Princess Mavis has personally requested you come to the first Fairy Princess Tea Party in 5,000 years."

"A Fairy Princess TEA Party?!?" Chelia exclaimed. "Wendy, HOW did you get us INVITES to this?!"

"SILENCE!!" Jorgen shook the world. "You are forbidden from discussing details of the party to anyone, not even yourselves, and smuggling food will result in one year of being turned into a bathroom rug. Now, with this in mind… LET US ADJOURN TO THE TEA PARTY NO ONE ELSE MAY HEAR ABOUT!!" With a great surge of power from his King Wand, Jorgen poofed the four of them.

They landed in a dining room with a long rectangular table. The girls gaped at the gigantic cake towering to the ceiling with 10 layers, each one consisting of a different fruit. The plates had succulent fruits, sweets, and teas more delicious than anyone could imagine. They were drooling and wishing they hadn't eaten at Cheren's birthday party. Two people were already eating – Lapis Lazuli and a ghost-white girl with green eyes and fangs. (At first, Wendy thought it was Daphne Anderson.)

"Is it yummy-looking?" a girl's voice said. The three turned and stared up a tall throne. Fairy Princess Mavis had shining blonde hair and a smirk on her face. Her giant neon butterfly wings flapped gently, and from her pink dress, her small bare feet hung from her seat. "Wendy Marvell… I'm glad you could make it."

"Are you the Fairy Princess?"

"Yes I am! Call me Mavis. And you must be a friend of hers!" she said to Chelia. "You know, I invited one of your other friends here, too."

A door opened, and an 11-year-old Chinese girl that was familiar to Wendy stepped in. "Hey Princess, when we use the magic toilets, where do they…?" Her eyes fell to Wendy.

"JUNE!!" She dashed up and grabbed her in a hug faster than a bullet.

"WENDY!" Juniper Lee squeezed her back, delighted to see her again. "I didn't think I would see you here!"

"I wanted to make it a surprise!" Mavis giggled, floating to the floor. "Well, don't just stand there, you three! Dig in!"

The four Fairy Princesses and Wendy's friends took places at the table and gorged on the marvelous sweets. Wendy reached for a little chocolate-topped cake- "HEY!" it turned out to be Sugar Princess Zeira. "I'm not a tasty treat!" She bashed Wendy with her ladle. "Apologize!"

"I'm sorry!" Wendy flushed.

"Good! Now, feed me grapes."

"As you wish." Wendy got grapes from a plate and held them for Zeiry to eat.

"The fairies helped us repair the Veil over Orchid Bay and wipe the humans' memories." June explained. "But after that, things pretty much went back to normal. The princess brought me here and asked me to tell them about you."

"What did you tell them?"

"Just that you came to Orchid Bay with your teacher and your talking cat. And that you stopped that crazy witch."

"In truth, I wanted to make sure there was nothing evil about you, Wendy." Mavis explained. "Not that I thought there was, but Jorgen wouldn't stop being paranoid."

"What has you so fixated on Wendy to begin with?" Carla questioned.

"As you guys must know, the Apocalypse is coming soon. I've known about it for a while and wanted to help… but as Fairy Princess, it's against my boundaries to fight mortals."

"Hasn't stopped me." Lapis remarked.

"When you're finished eating, Wendy, I want to show you something."

"I'm not too hungry. I ate earlier today, anyway."

Princess Mavis led Wendy and Carla to the main throne room. There was a pedestal before the throne that rested a golden wand with a blue gem on the tip and fairy wings on its sides. "The Fairy's Tail is a wand I crafted thousands of years ago." Mavis said. "It's the most powerful in the universe behind the Star Rod, and it remains as our most sacred relic. …" The princess drew it from the pedestal. "I want you to have it, Wendy."

"M-ME?! Are you kidding?!"

"The most powerful wand in the universe?!" Carla shared her disbelief. "She hasn't even gone to school, yet!"

"Well, I'm not expecting her to use it right away." Mavis blushed awkwardly. "I just want her to hold onto it. When this universe faces destruction, I want Wendy to take it to the New World and use it to fight the evils that await her. I want her to protect her friends with it."

"Do you… really think I'll need it?" Wendy asked.

"I've seen the Thirteen Darknesses and I fought some of them. There's a high probability you will need it. But I'm kind of hesitant because… I don't know what it'll do to you. I've never entrusted the Fairy's Tail to any mortal before. But you're the only mortal who's worthy enough in my eyes to wield it. So… the choice is yours."

"Wait, you said that you weren't allowed to fight mortals, yet you fought the Darknesses!" Carla noticed. "Why can't you help us now? Why place this burden on Wendy's shoulders?"

"…" Mavis bowed her head. "Because God Arceus wishes to salvage as much of this universe as he can. To do this, we fairies are going to meld back into him. In doing so, we may cease to exist."

"That's horrible…" Wendy almost cried.

"I haven't told Aisling and Lapis this because I was afraid. I don't exactly want to do this… but it must be done. That's the other reason I want you to have the Fairy's Tail. With my power imbued inside it… it will be like I'm still fighting by all of you. You don't have to use it, Wendy, but just keep it with you. Keep it and… remember me."

This was just like hours ago when Death the Kid took his father's place as Grim Reaper. They were the new generation… the guardians of the New World. "If you really want me to… I'll take it." Wendy nervously grabbed the wand. "But you have to tell the others, Mavis. They'll be sad when you're gone."

"I'm going to, Wendy. …Hm. I don't know why, but I have a very strong fondness for you." Mavis smiled.

"Hmm… I wonder why." Wendy smiled back. In truth, she knew Mavis from the parallel dimension, though not personally, as Fairy Tail's first master. Perhaps the wand in her hand marked the connection.

"Oh! And I had Lapis get this for you." Mavis raised a small vial with bright blue liquid. "This is Moon Drip."

Wendy gasped. "The stuff that removes magical curses? …Do you know about…?"

"I knew you were a Horcrux, yes. Let's see if this will rid you of that curse. Open wide."

Wendy opened her mouth and allowed the princess to pour the Moon Drip inside. ! ! ! ! A searing pain overcame Wendy—she fell on the floor in a fashion like instant death.

"WENDY!" Carla rolled her on her back. "Child, speak to me! Are you okay?! Wendy, wake up, please!"

Her long ears took the shape of normal ones. Wendy opened her eyes in time for Carla to see the scarlet-red become a chocolate brown. "Carla… what just happened?"

"Your eyes! They're… normal."

"Normal?" Carla pulled a mirror out of her backpack to show Wendy the result. The child helped herself up and felt her ears. Deciding to truly test it, Wendy reached under her dress and pulled off the Chi Stabilizers. They didn't feel any change in wind after a few minutes. "It's really gone… I'm not a Horcrux, anymore!"

"No charge is necessary!" Mavis beamed.

"Thank you so much, Princess Mavis! I'm so grateful!" Wendy embraced her in a hug. "Uh… but if it's not too much trouble, could you do the same for Carla?"

"The kitty who's actually a Nimbi? I want to say that I can… but Resurrección is more complex than any other Transformation Spell. It's like the target is literally born all over again in a different way, even if Carla still has her speech and some of her memories. …But I think I know a good substitute!"

King Dutchman

"GAAAAH!" Vaati clutched his head and squirmed in his cell, ankles cuffed to a wall. It felt as though half of his very body were chopped off.

"What's wrong, Red Eye?" Butch of Team Rocket smirked. "Is the pain too much for ya? That'll teach ya to fight the Thirteen Darknesses single-handed."

"Who is screaming-ah?" Davy Jones approached.

"Hey, Captain Jones. This Red Eye guy is pretty shooken up. That Diamond lady did a number on him, huh?"

Davy Jones phased through the cell door, brushing his tentacles on the squirming Vaati's face. "I am no longer feeling the severed half of his soul. Perhaps this is what Voldemort wanted-ah."

"It can't be!" Vaati rasped. "Has my daughter… died?!"

Cleveland Park

Cheren brought Termina Sector V to the setting of his birthday party. All his friends were still together… but there were some extra guests. "NO WAY!!" Kellie screamed in anger. "Your mom got you a gihugic pony for your birthday, and I don't even get a DONKEY?!"

"That isn't a pony, Kellie… It's Arceus."

"Ah, there he is." God Arceus looked Cheren's direction.

"YOU TOOK YOUR PRECIOUS TIME, CHERRY SH***!" Karkat's Zoni's antennas sparked from his anger. "WHEN IS A GUY LATE FOR HIS OWN DAMN WRIGGLING DAY?!"

"Karkitty, he already had his purthday!" >:33 Nepeta stated.

"Can We Get Back To The Point Guys?" a green-eyed Zoni named Kanaya asked (that name sounds familiar).

"FIRST, ARCEUS, YOU JACKASS GOD OF JACKASSES, BLOWING UP OUR UNIVERSE LIKE NO JACKASS BUSINESS!" Karkat unhesitantly swore at the god who destroyed their world.

"It was a necessary evil to prevent the conflict of Caliborn and Calliope from spreading."

"BULLS***, YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM AND WE KNOW IT!"

"I like that one." Jessie Sidney commented.

"I am terribly sorry, Karkat. Truly I am. It pained me to destroy something I created from my heart. I am thankful that you and your friends are still alive."

"EH, I'LL SWEAR YOUR ASS LATER. OKAY, SO WE HAVE ALL THE LIGHTS, THE DARKNESSES, AND ALL THE FIRSTBORN, BUT THERE'S ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE."

"When You Humans Came To First Byway You Saw Our God Production Chamber." Kanaya recapped. "Midna Has Expressed Some Familiarity With The Chamber. The Truth Is That While Arceus Created The Adult Gods The Trolls Were The Creators Of The Firstborn."

"You people created us?!" Midna asked. "How is that possible?"

"We harnessed Arceus's loose God Chi." Vriska followed. "Our technology is pretty tops, you know. ;;;; ) And we divided that chi in separ8 parts and used them to 8reed the artificial gods. Artificial, 8ut years stronger than the normal gods."

"Only Eight Of These Eggs Was Complete By The Time Arceus Was Ready To Begin The New Universe." Kanaya continued. "We Converted The Eggs Into Psychic Energy And Implanted Them In Arceus's Mind. Using His Own Psychicbending, He Imagined The Eight Firstborn Into Existence. He Did Not Know Of Our Part In This, Nor Did He Know About The Other Firstborn We Were Still Developing."

"We did the same to the egg that would 8ecome Manaphy, except that appeared in a more… mature manner." ;;;; ) Vriska implied. "When Crest's egg was complete, we converted his into Psychic Chi and warped it to Sunni's mind. She unknowingly gave 8irth to Crest one Mother's Day."

"I… Are you serious?!" Sunni remembered that day.

"And as for Diancie, that was part of a deal we had with Rose Quartz of the Gem race. She had already destroyed her commander Pink Diamond and stole her energy. She 8orrowed some of the Arceus juice we had in store and produced an egg with Titan of the Ores race. The child of that egg would possess their com8ined divine powers! There, Diancie, now you finally know what you are!"

"Why are you telling us all this now?" Anthony asked rudely.

"Because when we were creating the eggs, we also created chambers that would enhance the Firstborn's abilities." Karkat explained in low caps for their sake. "But we would only let them use these Egg Chambers if they were adjusted enough with their own power. The original Eight have lived for billions of years and Manaphy had his sister to help him. But Crest and Diancie are still new to the scene in their own bodies. They aren't ready, yet."

"What We're Saying Is We Would Like You To Bring The Firstborn To Their Egg Chambers." Kanaya concluded. "Their Enhanced Capabilities Can Help Design The New World And Help You In The Upcoming Battles."

"Will it really help?" Dillon snickered. "The Firstborn live by that 'moral code' of not hitting mortals."

"That's Why The Tiny Fraction Of Power They Will Give You Will Be Even Greater. But There Is A Price To This."

"8y putting the First8orn in their Egg Cham8ers, they will be upgraded to Second Age." Vriska explained. "Naturally, this change can't happen over night. It may actually 8e a few years until they are ready to come out."

"A few years?!" Midna protested. "What if potential shadowbenders or psychicbenders are born?! We're supposed to wait years until we see any new ones?"

"HOW MANY NEW BENDERS ARE BORN EACH YEAR?" Karkat emphasized. "I DOUBT ANY BENDER WILL BE BORN AND BE SUBSTANTIALLY USEFUL IN THAT TIME. SO, CAN WE TAKE YOU TO THE CHAMBERS AND GET IT OVER WITH?"

"I don't know… Do the Firstborn want to do it?" Cheren asked. "Do they think they can survive without us?"

"My natural curiosity peaks my brain." Uxie said. "I would like to experience it."

"But you never had a chance to examine my brain!" Emily cried.

"What about Arceus? How does he feel about this?" Nebula asked.

"I find all this… very difficult to believe." Arceus echoed. "But there have always been things even I cannot understand. The choice is yours."

"Sigh… I'll do it." Midna decided.

"Me, too." Azelf nodded.

"Man…a…?" Manaphy looked worriedly at his Guardian.

"It's okay if you're scared." Melody held him comfortingly. "You don't have to."

"…!" Manaphy yelled determinedly, "Do it!"

"So will IIII!" Meloetta sang.

"Can we wait a little first?" Nebula insisted. "At least two days? There's stuff I need to take care of with Jirachi."

"Sure thing, Empress." Vriska 8-winked. "You all can have two days with your First8orn. But on May 27, we will take you to the Egg Cham8ers. Get ready to say good-8ye, kids. 8ut hey, it's only for a few years."

"Children… please forgive your Father for his sins." Arceus bowed.

"We do, Father." The Lake Trio held hands and bowed. The other Firstborn followed.

Two days later…

Cheren was standing outside his house beside Azelf, watching the sun rise. The two turned back to Rachel, smiling from the doorway. Cheren and Azelf exchanged smiles and nodded. Karkat's Zoni appeared. "TIME TO GO, GOD BOY." At the same time as the other Zoni, the Nine Firstborn Guardians were warped to Great Clock's Cyberspace. (Play "Gourmet Race" from Smash Bros. Brawl!)

Stage 70: Egg Chambers

Mission: Bring the Firstborn to their Egg Chambers.

Act 1: Gourmet Rush

Sugar and Meloetta raced forward and jumped up some stairs—lights flashed on as living hotdogs charged at her, Sugar spin-punched them in rhythm with the music, then she jumped up a stairway of Apple Piranhas that tried to snap her. She grabbed a spaghetti zipline and slid down, landing and racing across a field where she ducked and jumped flying pizza shurikens. She then sung a Song Road stairway to go above some Licorice Serpents, then downward to avoid Gumball Flies. She sidestepped left-and-right to dodge chicken bone spikes, and had to punch three living cooked turkeys at the beat of three cymbals.

Sugar ran up a giant taco loop-di-loop where more bones popped up at the guitar strums. Once past it, Sugar ducked a shuriken, jumped one, then Ground Pounded a large mushroom three times to be launched into the sky. Sugar formed a Song Road and soared down under a long strum. The road became bumpy at little strums—Sugar was dropped onto a field littered with popcorn buckets, kicking them all down as she ran, punching angry hotdogs.

She ran vertically up a falling Pop-Tart and had to Wall Jump between parallel falling tarts. Still going with the music, Sugar performed the same maneuvers with high and low flying Pop-Tarts. She landed at the tip of a cereal hill and nearly lost balance racing down, unable to see the hidden bone-spikes in the falling cereal, but jumping on cue with the music. She landed on a giant ice cream ball and rolled across a field, having to jump Gumball Flies—she ducked to go inside the cream and avoid falling cones, which stuck in the cream and forced Sugar to jump when the tips rotated by her inside.

It rolled inside a toaster—giant toast shot Sugar up, and she jumped more giant toasts that appeared with the music, and ducked toast strips that were launched higher to obscure her path. Giant toasts blocked her path, forcing Sugar to Ground Pound the one she was on to sink down and run across some falling toast. Sugar was then grinding along vertical spaghetti guitar strings, having to quickly alternate levels to dodge spiky pizza, the music still serving as cues. Sugar was set on the ground, punching angry hotdogs and turkeys, then running up a giant sausage snake to the sky. The snake's head made roundabouts and snapped at Sugar on cue with the music, but the adult singer nimbly evaded and jumped off on the cliff up top. (End song.)

"This act reminds me of the very first level in this story!" Meloetta beamed. "Good times, good times…"

She and Sugar found a giant egg with a similar design as Meloetta. In the middle of the egg was a hatch door that was the Firstborn's size. She danced close, and it opened at her presence. "I guess this is where I have to go in. …I might not get to see you for a while, Sugar."

"I know. I felt like I barely had time to know you." Sugar frowned.

"Me, too. …Even though I watched you grow from 10 to 22 years old in less than a month."

"Hm hm hm!" Sugar giggled. "…Are you ready, Meloetta?"

"I am." Meloetta danced in the chamber. "Always keep singing, Sugar! Come back with an even prettier voice!" And the egg closed. Sugar nodded, and in moments she was taken back by the Zoni. (Play "Bramble Blast" from Donkey Kong Country 2!)

Act 2: Happy Flowers

Arianna and Celebi were in a vast, gorgeous garden in the sky. Blue skies up above, blue skies down below, the only solid ground was floating in the middle. There were giant plants everywhere, all with happy smiling faces. Arianna had to jump some small flower platforms over a bushel of giant rose thorns. The roses had lovely smiles that suggested, "We're nice, but if you touch us, we'll kill you." From the last flower platform, Arianna jumped to a Windmill Flower, a blue spinning plant that sent her flying like a propeller. Arianna carefully maneuvered a giant bramble tunnel and grabbed a giant floating dandelion.

The dandelion was adrift in the endless sky, and Arianna held it tightly when a strong wind blew. A flock of dandelions blew with them, it was a calming and gorgeous sight—Arianna was about to crash in some brambles, so she jumped to a nearby dandelion and avoided the fate. The wind changed course, two dandelions on either side, Arianna hopped to the right one to miss the brambles. Again the wind blew, all three dandelions would hit the brambles, but Ari saw the extra one underneath and dropped to grab it. One more breeze carried Arianna to a giant spinning sunflower platform.

The flower was steadily floating toward a flower field of rose thorns. Giant bumblebees were coming with friendly, welcoming smiles, but their true intentions were to attempt to stab Arianna once. They were coming faster and forced Arianna to dodge half a second after the previous, but she kept up the pattern until the sunflower arrived at the lush flower field. The flowers were half as tall as Arianna's body, and they were so lovely that she wanted to take off her shoes and frolic in them. "WHOA!"

"BII!" When she did this, Arianna fell through an unseen pit under some flowers, and Celebi rescued her before she fell into the sky. Across this vibrant field was a giant green egg designed like Celebi. Arianna saw Crazee Dayzees skipping in the flowers, likely in places where there was solid ground. The Harnitan used them as guides, but the flowers cowered at her presence and ran, falling into the chasm. Arianna still made note of the solid areas and could follow the nearest Dayzee to stay on the path.

About 20 feet from the Egg Chamber, she approached an Amazy Dayzee. The golden flower panicked and zipped around the area before the chamber in a certain pattern. Arianna was positive that pattern was the exact path she needed to follow to avoid falling. The flowers the Dayzee ran through had their petals scattered in the above air, and that served as Arianna's indicator. The path was a zigzag fashion, but very thin, so Arianna moved carefully but quickly before the petals would float down.

Arianna succeeded, and if she wanted to, she could go past the Egg Chamber and try to catch the Amazy Dayzee for a ***-load of points. But she decided she'll replay the stage later and chose to step onto the altar. The giant egg opened a small chamber for her Firstborn. "I'll miss you, Celebi."

"Bi…" Celebi smiled and touched Ari's heart. She flew into the chamber.

"When we meet again… I hope I will be a lot stronger!" Ari said determinedly. She watched until the chamber sealed Celebi inside. The Harnitan turned to head back.

"I hope I will be stronger, too." Arianna gasped and faced the egg again. It was shining from Celebi's presence. Arianna gave a heartfelt smile and was taken away by the Zoni. (Play "Sunset Shore" from Donkey Kong Country Returns!)

Act 3: Twilight Hill

A massive orange sun peered over the horizon, making the sky a deep fiery color. The entire landscape was black like shadow, so Dillon York and Midna were only visible against the sky like in a 2-D game (except Midna's eye, Hair Hand, and blue lines). The Shadow Dillon sprinted right as 2-D levels required, passing several harmless shadow bushes. However, one of them came to life as an M. Bush and gnashed at Dillon, so he jumped to stomp it to the ground. Dillon came to a wall of gigantic leaves with Embers (flame spirits) placed around it. He used Veil to slither up the leaves, following a path in-between the light of the fires.

Still against the leaves, Dillon's silhouette set foot on a black bar that was a foothold. Two black rectangles with torches on them moved down and would go up, allowing Dillon to Wall Jump them. Without touching the torch, Dillon kicked over the right bar to land on a platform, from which he could swing the shadows of vines over a chasm, avoiding Embers that floated up and down. Dillon set foot on the base of a hill, using Veil to avoid the giant boulders rolling down.

At the top of the hill, Dillon had view of Midna's Egg Chamber in the distant background, making it look the size of a real egg. It was here Dillon could ignore the 2-D rules and run in the direction of the egg. From the camera's perspective, it looked like Dillon was just running in place while the egg was steadily growing bigger. Of course, other things were growing bigger too, such as the disguised M. Bushes, which would attack Dillon when he got aligned with them. There were also fires that he had to avoid simply by moving left or right.

There were silhouettes of signs with X-shaped holes, indicating Dillon not to walk there as it would be a pit. When the signs passed the camera, it was safe for Dillon to walk on that segment of path. Signs began to come up in parallel diagonal fashions, indicating Dillon to follow the route between them. It became confusing for the player with all the signs flying up against the screen, especially when they had to watch the ones Dillon was aligned with as they indicated where to turn. Once he was past the signs, Dillon had to swing floating shadow vines over another chasm, all the while avoiding Embers.

Soon, Dillon arrived at the torchlit altar where the Egg Chamber rested. Dillon raced up and watched the chamber open for Midna. "That sure was a mind-boggling level. Pretty, though." Dillon said.

"Hopefully, it didn't boggle you too much." Midna chortled as she floated into the egg.

"Well… see you later, Midna." Dillon smiled.

"See you later… Dill." Midna thought of another time when she said this to someone. "Make sure your dad behaves himself."

"I will." With that, the chamber sealed Midna. Dillon waited for the Zoni to take him back. (Play "Water Stage" from Zelda: Tri-force Heroes!)

Act 4: The Ocean Fountain

Melody was wearing a brand new outfit: a white top that showed her belly and a blue sarong with fish designs. She and Manaphy splashed in a beautiful ocean, free of any contaminates including salt, making it the most pleasant water Melody ever soaked in. The sun was bright in the cloudless sky, complimenting the sky-colored water's beauty. Furthermore, there were fountains everywhere, and every droplet glinted sunlight.

"Mana Mana!" Manaphy joyfully jumped in and out of the purest of waters. They would enjoy swimming through this stage. They maneuvered around the fountains that had nothing of value on them—except for a Water Medal in an opening on the white pearl wall. Melody swam to a mini waterfall that came from a river between two walls. She Torpedo Jumped above the water fall, avoiding spiky puff-fish as she swam along. She jumped up another fall, and on this river she had to build enough momentum to jump over a spiked fence.

When they were past the walls, the river took them over a towering, suspended wall of water, pouring down in falls on either side. This marvel defied any laws of physics, but Melody couldn't lose focus and fall over the sides. She was careful in turning the curves and staying in the very middle, but sadly the river reached a dead end. Bubbles of water floated around the chasm, so Melody would need to Torpedo Jump to each one, then slow herself before diving straight through.

After the last bubble, Melody dove into a pool at the bottom of a towering waterfall. She mustered enough strength in her waterbending to swim directly up, swerving left or right to avoid falling Cheeps. At the top of the falls, Melody overlooked a vast region of the Ocean Fountain. There were some fountains, but in the very center was a high platform with a giant egg designed like the one Manaphy once inhabited.

Unfortunately, there was no way onto the platform, so the two dove underwater in search of a solution. The floor of the ocean was tiled like a pool, but still fresh enough for fish to swim freely. Inside the opening/closing mouth of a clam was a Silver Star, and collecting it would make a fountain activate close to the platform. Melody saw four other inactivated fountains and surmised they would form a staircase.

Another Silver Star was floating a few feet away and under the edge of a very tall fountain. Melody rode the fountain to the top and swam off that ledge to grab the coin. The third Silver Star was at the bottom of a hole that kept Melody out with a strong jetstream. Melody did a constant Torpedo Spin to break through the current, grabbing the star before allowing the current to push her back. The fourth star was seen in a sphere of jellyfish, which would spread out before closing on the star every two seconds. Melody had that long to surf through and get the star before getting shocked.

There were some rock piles and Froaks swimming around them. Melody could push the bomb fish into the rocks and destroy them, discovering the fifth and last Silver Star. The stairway of fountains was complete and Manaphy was already bouncing up. Melody mimicked his action and landed on one of the only solid footholds in this world. "There it is." Melody said as the Egg Chamber opened. "Are you scared, Uncle Manaphy?"

"Nana." The prince shook his head and jumped in. "…Bye-bye… Melody."

"Bye-bye… Manaphy." She waved at him.

"Love you! Happyyyy…!" The egg sealed. Melody missed him already. (Play "Pink Sea" from Yume Nikki.)

Act 5: Emotion Sorting

Harvey Harper and Mesprit were on an island in a peaceful pink ocean, a similar appearance to the Pink Sea in Madotsuki's world. There were Pikmin Onions parked around and planted Pikmin around them, but the Onions were labeled with emotions: Red were Feisty, Blue were Sad, Yellow were Smart, Pink were Loving, Purple were Strong-willed, and Brown were Tomboys. There were lifeless idols of various characters lain around. Harvey would need to use the Pikmin to carry them to the proper emotions.

The Feisty Pikmin collected idols of Sheila, Sunni, Ruby, Panini, Jessie, Chimney, Jinta, and Kodama. The Sad Pikmin collected idols of Miyuki, April Goldenweek, Ururu, Sandy, Wendy Marvell, Madotsuki, and Mason (Harvey went by Mason's old personality in that sense). The Smart Pikmin collected Artie Gilligan, Eric Horvitz, Emily Garley, Hibiki, Nolan York, Sarah-Jane, and Vanellope.

The Loving Pikmin collected Fybi, Wendy, Haruka, Kirie, Carol, MaKayla, Suki, Bon Clay, Arianna, and Aeincha. The Strong Pikmin collected Chris Uno, Maddy, Anthony, Mocha, Morgiana, and Tom Taylor. Lastly, the Tomboy Pikmin found the idols of Shelly Johnson, Kimaya, Wendy Corduroy, Makava, Aisa, and Lorac. With all the idols organized, a stairway appeared to take Harvey to a platform with the Egg Chamber. "That's all?" Harvey asked as they went up. "I guess emotions really aren't that much in combat."

"That isn't true!" Mesprit shouted. "Emotions are the very foundation to why we fight and how we do things! You wouldn't care about saving the universe if you didn't love it!"

"Heh heh… I guess not." Harvey snickered.

"Promise me you'll be a better emotionbender by the time we meet again!"

"Okay, Mesprit, I will! …Don't cry too much when I'm gone, okay?"

"Same to you!" Mesprit winked. The Egg Chamber sealed, leaving Harvey Firstborn-less as well. (Play "Inverted Stone Tower" from Majora's Mask!)

Act 6: Distorted Atmosphere

Sunni Chariton and Mew were in an enclosing of a stone building. They slowly approached a ledge, gasping at the sky chasm below. Above their heads was a street: they were in an upside-down city. Bits of gravel fell into the sky, yet Sunni's hair was standing straight as it defied the altered gravity. Sunni followed a path on her left, then used psychic to float to a path on an opposite building. The path turned a corner, and a Beamos stood guard up ahead. She grabbed a small rock in psychic and hurled at the Beamos' eye to destroy it.

A large gap separated Sunni and the next path, and her psychic wouldn't float her there in time (it had to be limited for action stages :P). Sunni looked up and saw a streetlight pole dangling from the sidewalk. She grabbed it in psychic and tore it off its stem, laying the pole down as a bridge to cross the gap. The following path ended as Sunni saw another one along the edge of the roof below. She dropped down, but felt the atmosphere shift in a diagonal fashion, resulting in her walking on the corner of the building and path.

Dumpsters opened on the streets due to the gravity and heavy trash bags were rolling down the building slides. The bags broke parts of the path, so if Sunni didn't hurry, she would slide off and fall. Sunni reached the corner turn of the building and had to sidle against the building's side along a gutter. The gutter sloped down because of the position, so all Sunni had to do was watch her feet and move slowly. The gutter would turn around the next curve, but now the width side was slanted. Since the diagonal building left little space for her, she had to hang on the slippery gutter and climb across.

The gutter would end at the wall of a dead-end alley, but this wall would let Sunni stand on it, so the universe was now sideways. Sunni headed to the bottom of the alley wall where the ground was. She jumped up some garbage cans that hadn't been affected by the gravity and made it to the street. She could sidle against the street along the curb of the sidewalk. At first, Sunni didn't see the point as she could've easily walked on the side of the building below her. However, one of the sidewalk squares was loose, and Sunni's weight caused it to fall and break a window of that building.

Sunni could then drop in and follow a zigzaggy stairwell (or at least the wall between the stairs) up to the very top of the building. She hopped out the roof door and suddenly flipped right-side-up, her hair hanging normally again. A giant white egg was on the roof, with a small opening for Mew. "Mew…" The Firstborn made a bubble around himself, curled up, and floated in.

"Good-bye, Mew! I'll miss yew!" X3 Sunni joked.

"Mew Mew Mew Mew Mew Mew…!" The cat's giggles faded when the egg sealed him. (Play "Special Course" from Yoshi's Woolly World!)

Act 7: Great Space Coaster

Nebula and Jirachi landed on an asteroid in a vast galaxy of shooting stars. A Warp Star appeared: the two exchanged bright smiles and hopped on. The star soared across the galaxy as Nebula stood, raising arms high and her hair blowing in the wind. "ULP!" A small comet flew into her open mouth. She spat it out and surfed left and right to avoid bullet-fast comets. She couldn't move the Warp Star any other direction, she had to rely on its chosen path. Nebula jumped and ducked bigger comets as the Warp Star made a great curve leftward. The star flew to a miniature Saturn and flew two extra rings around it before shooting to the sky.

The Warp Star was steadily sinking by their weight—"OW!!" it bumped against the tip of an asteroid, resulting in a forceful flip. Nebula and Jirachi regained balance in time to zip under an asteroid. When they would hit a low one, Nebula pulled up to make the star rise and miss. There was an upcoming high asteroid a few feet before a low one, so Nebula pulled up just when they were under the high to dodge the low.

They flew horizontally again as the Warp Star was going to make a tight drift on the right side of a row of suns. Nebula had to tilt the star right, or else it would touch the suns, then she changed to the left to avoid suns on her right. The Warp Star flew in a straight path as two black stars called Ztars pursued them. Nebula shot them with Starbursts, but had to dodge left, right, jump, or duck Ztars that shot in from either side. "Ah!" The Warp Star was hit by one, splotching a black spot, slowing the Warp Star slightly.

There was a roaring of an engine as a King Bill was chasing them, using Star Dust to fly at the speed of a comet. It was faster than the Warp Star, so Nebula hurriedly shot Starbursts to weaken it. If they were hit by more Ztars, they would go so slow and be dead by now, but hopefully one wasn't enough to condemn them. The King Bill was inches from touching the Warp Star, but Nebula formed a Starburst with both hands and destroyed it first.

The Warp Star finally came to a halt on a flat asteroid with Jirachi's Egg Chamber. "This is our stop. I hate for you to be trapped in an egg again, though."

"Don't worry, Nebula!" Jirachi beamed. "A few years is nothing to a hundred years! I can't wait to explore the New World with you!"

"Me either, Jirachi! There's gonna be a ton of new races in that world! Let's meet again soon!" Nebula yelled determinedly.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Jirachi flew into the egg and sealed inside. (End song.)

Act 8: Simon Says

Emily Garley and Uxie were in a small black room. The Egg Chamber was on a high platform over a pit. Before that pit was a pedestal with a Simon game. The first three colors beeped: Red, Green, Blue.

"…?" Emily pushed Red, Green, and Blue. Yellow, Blue, Blue, Green. Emily pushed those colors in order. Yellow, Red, Green, Green, Yellow, Blue. "Are you kidding me, this is a test of my knowledge?!"

"You're too absorbed with modern knowledge, this is classic knowledge." Uxie remarked.

"Waaaaahh! I want another quiz!" Emily pushed the Green first just to taunt it. Part of the floor behind them collapsed.

"Your life is still on the line. Is that fair?"

"Yes, but fine I'll do it, anyway." Emily restarted the game. Simon had 15 rounds, but with her keen memory, she bested the game like a boss. Stairs appeared to lift her to the Egg Chamber. The chamber opened at her presence, so Uxie could fly in.

"I still don't accept those trolls as our creators." Uxie stated. "Even if this science voodoo is real… Arceus is my father."

"That's so loyal." Emily smiled.

"See you in approximately three years, Em. Make that brain worth the wait when I return."

"I will, Uxie!" she saluted. When Uxie was sealed inside the egg, only one Firstborn remained. (Play "Multi-Man Melee 2" from Smash Bros. Melee!)

Act 9: MELEE!

Cheren and Azelf landed in a battle-scarred field under a cloudy sky. A circle of Bokoblin appeared and closed in, but with a powerful charge to his Master Sword, Cheren destroyed them all with the Hurricane Spin. Colorful Chuchus of every form fell in like raindrops, so Cheren threw M.A.R.B.L.E.s and wildly swung his sword—"Zzzzzt!" A Shock Chu got the better of him, but he rectified his mistake and threw his Banarang at the remaining Chu, stunning them as his sword did the rest. Black Bulborbs had landed beforehand, the father gathering his babies before they homed in to feast on Cheren. Cheren flipped above the beast and sliced off its eyes, then furiously slayed the younglings.

A Cheep Cheep bounced on him and dizzied Cheren, and more Cheeps ended up flopping on the field to be consumed by a Gulpin. The Gulpin grew bigger with each devour, then it would munch toward Cheren. He back-flipped and shot two M.A.R.B.L.E.s in its mouth to destroy it. A Lakitu flew overhead and threw Spinies, but Cheren shot it with an arrow before focusing on the swarm of Goombas trying to headbonk him. Hoping none of them were related to Goombella, Cheren jumped around and squished every last Goomba.

Three Kremling Kasplats appeared in a triangle around Cheren. He threw swings at one as it defended, then did a spin attack to hit the two behind him. Three Zingers flew overhead and dropped grenades, so Cheren ignored the Kasplats for a moment to shoot the bees with arrows. He jumped a Kasplat's shockwave and used a shield bash to stun one before slicing him up. Cheren whacked the other two with the Mirror Shield and decided to expend a Soul Surge on them.

Ten Anti Guys landed in the field, all empowered by a Sombrero Guy's tunes. Cheren swiftly dodged the Anti Guys and made his way to the Sombrero's platform, throwing his Bananarang to stun it, then shoot it with an arrow. Cheren used Demon State (now a weaker form of God Tier) to exterminate the 10 Anti Guys (their levels of 500 were nothing to him now).

His next opponents were Canvas Ladies and Headless Statues from the Guertena Gallery. None of his attacks could hurt them, but there were standing doors and breakable floors. The Canvas Ladies crawled fast, so Cheren ran to hide behind the doors. When the painting women tried to open the doors, they would fall and crush them. As for the Headless Statues, Cheren blew up the cracked grounds and lured them over the resulted holes. He heard the statues shatter at the bottom.

A swarm of Bell Heartless appeared with Large Bodies. Average spin attacks were easy to clear away the smaller Heartless, and the Mirror Shield stunned the Large Bodies when they charged. He then flipped above to behead the fat Heartless. A net trap appeared in the center of the field, and 10 Pipo Monkeys scattered around. Cheren had to use the Bananarang to lure them all in the net, but he was hit by a Chuck's torpedo from the sky. Cheren noticed three of said Planktonbots and took them down with arrows. With that, he focused on the Pipos again and got all 10 on the net, hitting the switch to catch them.

Sleepytime Planktonbots appeared, along with gunmen from Sandman's levels. The Sleepytimes' defense lasers shot back Cheren's arrows, so he had to tiptoe up to them and perform a Mortal Draw to slice them in two. The noise would make the gunmen look over, so he hid behind a rock. The gunmen came over to investigate, but with them all in a close space, Cheren went Demon State and flame-sliced them one at a time in seconds. He proceeded to stealth-attack the last two Sleepytimes.

An Amazy Dayzee and a Souflee danced onto the field, twirling beside each other while a Gold Beetle shone a spotlight on them. Cheren shot the Beetle first, but the dancing rare enemies split apart and moved swiftly around the field. Cheren shot arrows at the Souflee and missed—the Amazy Dayzee zipped by him—he slashed his sword and missed—he looked back-and-forth between the rare enemies until they both waved 'bye', showing their joyous smiles and jumping off the field.

And then the all-powerful Lord English towered high over the world, the same silhouetted form as the Sky Show. Cheren went God Tier and flew at his head like a comet. With a lightning blow from his Master Sword, Cheren STABBED the demon… which turned out to be a Duplighost. His sword was impaled in the ghost's sheet. The Duplighost vanished, and Azelf's Egg Chamber rose from the center of the field. Cheren flew down beside his Firstborn and disabled God Tier.

"Sigh… Nice workout. Don't you agree?"

"I've had better." Azelf flew into the chamber. "Until that day, Cheren. Keep getting stronger!"

"We're going to win, Azelf." Cheren pumped a fist. "You'll see!" Azelf mimicked the gesture, and the egg sealed her. With this, Nine of the Eleven Firstborn were suspended until further notice. The universe already felt like a different place.