Battle of the Birds

Mobius; Rocketship

The sky was filled with ominous gray clouds as the Big Grin Pirates sailed. Aisa cast her fishing rod out to the ocean, her feet swinging over the rail as she awaited her next catch. She felt a bite and began to tug on the pole until a large bass flew up and she snatched it. "Yee hee, no one can resist a good meal!" Aisa beamed, throwing the fish onto the pile. "I say we have enough to fill Mocha's tummy."

"Nyeah, always for Mocha." Chimney rolled her eyes. "We'd have more for the rest of us if Apis would help."

"I would never use my power to lure animals to their doom!" Apis argued. "That's cruel!"

"You still eat them." Anthony reminded.

"Yeah, but at least I wouldn't have betrayed their trust!"

"Hey guys, guess who made a full recovery!" Tristan called, the ship quaking as Mocha stepped up to the deck, bandaged in some parts.

"Yeah, there's our favorite giant!" Aisa greeted.

"Thanks, Aisa, but I feel awful." Mocha hung her head in guilt. "I was completely overpowered by that monkey. Just when I think I've gotten stronger and I can take on anything, I get put back in my place. If only I was stronger, I could've saved Sally."

"Thanks, big girl, but I deserve all the blame here." Anthony patted her foot in comfort. "Not just with Sally, but I should've warned you about Manky. He can weaken your strength with his Gentle Fist attack. He just has to touch you with no violent intent and you'll grow softer."

"So, that's why he kept trying to hug me. I got some good hits off him, but then I felt as weak as a toddler, and he knocked me out just as easily."

"Yeah, we need to watch ourselves around that guy."

"CHIMNEY! Enemies to the port side!" Aisa screamed, pointing to a fleet emerging from the mist. The others coming to alert, Aisa used a telescope to get a better overview. The flagship appeared to be a galleon with steel-colored sails and wings, with the animated figurehead of a roaring dinosaur. "Hmm… April, can you show me your drawings of the Kremling ships?"

"Sure, here you go." April handed a sketchbook to Aisa, containing sketches of ships based on their collected info. She flipped through until she found the matching ship.

"Yes, that's the Triassic Terror, General Scales' flagship. He's one of the Kommanders."

"I don't think this is a good position to deal with a Kommander." Apis said. "Chimney, we have to run away from them."

"I'm sick of running! My train is too cool to run from boats!"

"Just start turning us away, Chimney!" April ordered. "I know a way we can lose them. I've been making paintballs made from my paint, and we can shoot the red ones at some rocks and make the enemies drive at them."

"Good, I'll start loading." Aisa went below.

As Chimney tried to pick up speed and outrun the pirates, a little seagull landed on the rail beside April. "Oh, hello, little one. I wonder if you are meant to be our symbol of hope as we head into battle—YOW!" The seagull cut her arm with a razor tongue and scooped the blood up in a vial, flying away. "Argh, what the hell?!"

"Tristan, hurry and treat April!" Apis yelled. "She's a hemophiliac."

"Okay!" Tristan quickly grabbed a cream and rubbed it over April's arm.

The seagull returned to General Scales on his deck throne. The dinosaur took the vial and drank the blood in one gulp. "(Mmmm, Type XF and very tasty…)"

Just as Aisa loaded a red paintball, her nose caught a whiff. "Sniff sniff, what's that smell? Sniiiiiff… smells like a sweet candy!" She walked upstairs.

"AAAH!" April was bit by Tristan, the artist bashing her off. "Tristan, why did you do that?!"

"I-I don't know!"

"April!" Aisa drooled at seeing her friend. "So, you're the one who smells good. Can I have a quick taste?" She went up and bit April's leg.

"Aisa, what're you doing?! OW, Gonbe!" The rabbit bit the other leg.

"Great, add this to my list of kinks." 'Gonbe' said.

"What's come over you guys?!" Aeincha shouted.

"I'm sorry, I can't resist!" Aisa yelled earnestly. "For some reason, April just tastes so…"

"Nnnnnn…" Chimney struggled to keep her hands on the helm. "April… does smell good… but why…"

Anthony punched the three in the heads and got them off April, but she was quickly attacked by the fish Aisa had caught, burying her and biting from all sides. "Stop it, get off my friend!" Apis ordered, her telepathy weakening the fishes' resolve as their bites softened. She and Anthony grabbed and threw the fish back to the sea, but they had to restrain the others from biting April again, her body almost covered in blood.

"Ugh!" April forced herself to her feet and limped over to Mocha's leg. "Sorry, Mocha." She painted the leg red, prompting the hungry trio to bite into the giant instead.

"Heh heh, it's okay." Mocha smiled awkwardly as their nibbles tickled her. "Do you think this is because of that seagull?"

"I have no idea, urk! Apis, that cream!" Apis grabbed the medical cream from Tristan's supplies and rubbed April with it.

"AAAH!" The group screamed when a cannonball hit their back car. "Crap, they're catching up!" Anthony yelled. "There's no way we can fight like this!"

"Guys, let's call Sector ZOU!" Aeincha suggested. "They're our only chance of surviving this!"

"Yeah, unless they decide to eat me as well." April said. "We need to figure out what's wrong with me."

"Urgh… Fybi, we could really use you right now." Anthony grunted, chucking boulders at the pursuing ships. "Please be okay."

A stormy sea (Play "Theme of Love" from Smash Brawl!)

Stage 18: Alpine Skyline

Mission: Rescue Aranea Fulbright.

Fybi Fulbright soared stalwartly through a fleet of flying ships; despite that they were on the White Sea, 7,000 meters above the planet's surface, storm clouds were still blotting the sky overhead. Neckies swooped in front of Fybi, spitting nuts with bullet speed, Fybi dodging and shooting them down with light arrows from her B.O.W.. She flew between two ships, shifting up or down to avoid lines of cannonballs, and then an Egg Bomb was catapulted in front of Fybi, exploding into a fireball, to which she formed an Air Bubble around herself and pierced through the center.

A line of Cloudrunners (pterodactyls) soared overhead, making the sound of fighter planes, and they arched down as they pursued Fybi, shooting with guns attached to their wings. Fybi used barrel-rolls to dodge whilst stirring the wind to deflect the bullets away. Fybi suddenly halted, the Cloudrunners flying past, and she blasted a charged arrow at the center three and dealt air-kicks at the remaining ones' heads. She was nearing a small squad of ships that sent Missile Bills flying, but beneath her was a gap in the sea, so she flew down and underneath the clouds.

Chimera Skyjaws flew down from the clouds, piranhas with feathered wings attached. One at a time, they would appear by one of Fybi's sides, clack their teeth, and gnash, the Nimbi punching them away with air gusts. Fybi saw the sea above her turn bright, so she flew further down and away to dodge the lightning. Multiple bolts cut down from the clouds, and they remained in place as Fybi flew around them, but Cloudrunners ambushed from behind the bolts and shot bullets, Fybi dodging quickly and shooting back.

The keel of a ship punctured the clouds as a very long ship was falling through, but Fybi landed on the keel and raced up the sloped ship. Crates and flaming barrels slid down, Fybi evading as she ran all the way to the back end and flew off, returning above the clouds. Tornadoes were stirring the White Sea, trying to suck Fybi in, the angel forcing herself in the opposite directions. A mountain of dark clouds blocked her way, but Fybi bravely soared through headfirst. With no light to guide her, she could only keep flying, praying that she was not delving straight into her doom. (End song.)

The light touched her face, her emerald eyes absorbing the sight of a towering, beautiful mountain range. Some of the peaks had statues of goat Mobians, as well as intricate chalk drawings and designs. The dark storm surrounded the mountains, but they were allowed to bask under a blue sky. "…Thither it is! The birdcage mountain." Fybi spotted a tremendous birdcage built around one of the peaks. "The architecture is truly a marvel. But more importantly…" She spoke to her wristwatch, "This is Fybi to Sector AC, dost thou readeth? I am viewing yonder birdcage mountain."

"This is Misaka, we read you. Our ship is docked on a cloud near the birdcage. We learned the Kommander of this base is the Helmaroc King, but we haven't seen him around. If he's gone somewhere, this may be your chance to save Aranea. If you need help, give us a call. Kuroko can teleport us to you in a heartbeat."

"Verily. Though I must confess, without mine team, I doth not need to confine myself to ground. But other prisoners are in need of rescue." (Play "Jib Jig Restored" from Donkey Kong Country 2.)

Fybi saw a long, thick rope extending from a mountain through the storm, landing on and dashing up it. Giant eggs were shot from cannons on four sides of the rope, so Fybi rotated around the rope to avoid them as if gravity didn't matter. The mountains had wooden birdhouses with Kremling flags built on them, and Fybi was headed for one of them. There was a chest on one end, so she snatched it and dodged an egg. Once at the rotating cannons, Fybi destroyed them with charged arrows.

Fybi set foot on the first birdhouse and was assaulted by Mad Crows, smallish round birds that swiftly dodged her arrows and tried to jab her with beaks. Fybi spun a whirlwind to brush them away and off the edge. She headed up stairs to the second floor, where a bar full of Murdo (crow Rito) turned guns at her. "Why, hello, fellow avian Kremling. We do enjoy our way of greeting by aiming our guns, as we greet all fellow Kremlings. Say, now that we're on the subject, what is your favorite way to greet someone?"

Fybi shot him with an arrow and dodged their bullets, taking the others down with air kicks. Two Murdo hid behind fallen tables, to which she destroyed with arrows, Screw Kicked one Murdo, and headbutted the other. "Yes… SHBOOM is also my favorite way to greet someone… Ouchy."

Fybi flew up to the roof of the house and saw the nearest peak had eagles patrolling the path to it. However, Fybi heard a cry for help and flew around the current peak, finding a small cave where Bumper Crows were guarding a cage containing a shadowy figure. The crows flew at Fybi and bounced her away, taking turns and giving her little time to recover, but she was able to, dodging and blowing the crows away. Her arrows seemed to bounce off their bodies, so she could only keep them away as she flew to free the prisoner.

"Get away from me!" demanded Professor Aizawa of Sector U.A., shirking in the back of the cave after his cage was broken. "Birds are creepy, always staring at me from the trees, and you're REALLY scary!"

"I fear to know what demons plague thy mine. Mayhaps rest will help thee." She kicked Aizawa and knocked him out, stashing him in the Infi-Cube. Returning to the birdhouse, she began to fly the eagle path, the noble birds using airbending to generate a strong gust and hold her back. Fybi's years of experience enabled her to fight through the wind, despite the five eagles' combined efforts in blowing her back. The eagles retreated when Fybi arrived at the next birdhouse, the first deck of which had several fireplaces. Fiery Crows jumped out, spitting fire bullets at Fybi, burning her a bit before she stirred the wind and blew them off once more.

The entrance to the birdhouse was sealed, with a green and yellow bell on the left of the door, and a blue and red to the right. There was a Mobian goat nomad outside the door. "This is the swans' bathhouse, but you need a code to get in. I think it's written somewhere around here." The only notable places to check were the fires, so Fybi began to blow them out, finding colored numbers underneath them: Red 1, Green 2, Blue 3, Green 4, Gold 5, Red 6. She hit the respective bells in that order and opened the door.

Fybi was greeted with a large, round bath where swans danced in rhythm with the music. The water was clean and looked pretty to rest in, but when the swans caught wind of Fybi, they used waterbending to attack her. Fybi was drenched, unprepared for the assault, but recomposed as she shot arrows and KO'ed the swans. She saw something sparkling under the pool in the center and walked in to collect a key, using it to open a door. The passage sloped up to a sauna, where Fybi could only see a forest of angled, skinny legs within the foggy steam. They appeared to be very tall herons.

"So like, I tell the Kritter, 'Oh what what, you comin' for me?!'" one of the herons was saying. "And I say, 'No, I'll just take a big backward knee step in the opposite direction. What, you think I'm afraid of you? I slept on your back last night, you dick.'" Fybi quietly and carefully maneuvered around the maze of legs, believing just one bump could alert the whole sauna. Fybi located a treasure chest blended in with some barrels and quietly sucked the gold into the Infi-Cube. She had to slip between a narrow set of legs to reach the exit door.

This led her to a large bird hole that let out on a diving platform, where a goat kid was standing. "Art thou a prisoner hither?" Fybi asked.

"I dunno. My mom says the Alpine used to be a lot better before the pirates took over six years ago. But so long as the adults bring King Helmaroc their tribute of worms, things are okay."

"Ay, the common story. I pray to free this world soon, so worry not." A cool breeze was guiding Fybi to a peak under a rain cloud, so she accepted the aid and let the wind carry her. Though she hoped to enjoy a moment of bliss where she could close her eyes and smile, a Swoopy poked her in the butt. Many more of the woodpeckers came flying from behind, but Fybi could shift position and let them fly past. The birds would all stick to a wood wall, while Fybi landed on a ledge underneath. She traversed on a path through the peak, finding a large pond with mergansers (also known as "aisa") swimming around. It seemed this area was chi-blocked, for Fybi couldn't fly. She had no choice but to hop across the backs of the aisa; surprisingly, they withstood her weight.

Fybi had to shoot down Neckies that tried to shove her in the water. She made her way to a waterfall, where the aisa were defying gravity and casually floating on the fall's surface. Still chi-blocked, Fybi grabbed the first duck and waited for it to swim by the second, steadily climbing up via this manner until she was at the top of the fall. "OUAH-OUAH!" A trollish move, a Klobber tried to shove Fybi off the fall, but she shot him, made him retract into his barrel, and kicked him off herself. Fybi set foot on a right path and exited the chi-blocked area, reaching a diving point that faced the Birdcage, with one more birdhouse built between them.

Fybi flew to that birdhouse and was met with Bumper Crows, the angel dodging and blowing them off the edge. Three robins then leapt out, wearing masks as they attacked Fybi with karate. They withstood her air gusts as they landed some blows, prompting Fybi to run away and shoot arrows from a safe distance. Fybi followed with Screw Kicks, and the robins went down after a few more strong hits. Fybi flew up to the next floor, "Whoa!" She ducked down to avoid a sniper shot. She peeped above the edge and saw two large nests far ahead, where common snipes were perched.

Fybi pulled her bow very tightly as a long, thin arrow formed. She kept just low enough to stay hidden, focused tight on the right snipe before she loosed and took it down. The left snipe reactively shot and decided to fly to the opposite edge of the deck. It was twice as intent and capable of shooting Fybi. The Nimbi readied another arrow, but to distract the bird, she used her foot to swing a gust into a barrel on the deck. The snipe shot—Fybi flew up and shot it in that brief instance. She flew onto the deck and could run down a sloped bridge to another platform.

Alarms blared from the Birdcage as energy barriers formed on the openings. Fybi saw what looked to be glowing hang-gliders—they were peacocks, and they flashed their tail feathers as colorful lasers shot at Fybi. "Sector AC, I may require thine assistance! A barrier protects the Birdcage."

"Yeah, we see that." Shirai Kuroko replied, studying the cage with a telescope. "Sissy, I see a peak we can warp to. Grab on."

"Right." Misaka took her hand. "Touma, Himegami, guard the ship." She ordered briefly before they teleported to the peak in question. "Look at those devices on the cages, I bet those are holding up the barrier. A few good shots of the Railgun should take it down."

"I packed plenty of change!" Kuroko beamed, holding coins between her fingers.

After Fybi shot down the peacocks, more Murdo flew up and shot guns at the Nimbi, Fybi suffering a few hits before returning fire. While taking them down, she noticed distant electric beams zipping from a peak destroying glowing points on the cage, causing some barrier panels to disappear. "Ah!" Fybi was pushed off from behind, for more Pushy Crows came. She kicked whirlwinds to keep the birds at bay, but had to repeatedly switch direction when more peacocks came from behind.

"Fybi, I've made large enough of an opening!" Misaka called. "You should be able to save Aranea before they fix it!"

"Watch out for those Railbirds!" Kuroko followed. Rails had landed on the bars of the cage, spitting Mini Bills with the same velocity as Misaka. "They must be chimeras as well."

Fybi flew straight for the cage, dodging the Bills and shooting arrows at four of the rails. They proved to be durable, so Fybi decided to make the air around them very cold, causing them to shiver and hesitate to spit their guns. Fybi kicked them off the cage one at a time, letting them fall. The inside of the Birdcage was enormous, big enough to hold several mountain peaks. One of those peaks had a massive nest, likely for the boss of this base. Other peaks had birdhouses perched all around or hanging; Fybi had to wonder if these were here even before the pirates moved in. It looked to be a paradise for birds, and Fybi would love to explore it on her own time, but she didn't have that luxury today with cannons gunning her from all directions.

Misaka and Kuroko warped to one of the cage bars as the former shot her Railgun at some of the birdhouses. "Fybi, I see someone on that bar over there!"

In the center of the cage, Fybi saw a giant, hanging seat which birds would normally sit in this scenario. She gasped, seeing Aranea tied to the seat. "Aranea!" She flew straight for the seat and landed. "'Tis really thou!"

"Fybi!" Nea exclaimed. "You escaped?!"

"Yea!" She flew underneath the bar and began to untie the ropes. "Anthony as well. We were all trapped in areas opposite to our elements. Being situated at such an altitude must hath been most discomforting."

"Yeah, I seriously think they put me up here to tease me. So, what about Sally and Harvey?" (End song.)

Fybi stopped for a moment as gloom overtook her. Almost fittingly, dark clouds began to cover the sky. "Aranea… Sally has passed."

"What?!"

She flew up to face Nea. "Sally died fighting those who held her captive. I was already flying to thine rescue, so I was only told. She will not be returning home with us."

"…Sally…"

"Fybi, hurry! There's a giant bird coming, I think it's the boss-"

"CAAAAAAWWWW!" The Helmaroc King BURST out of a flash of lightning, his feathers yellow, black, and spiked as he bore Zapdos' form. Helmaroc tried to bite Fybi, but she pushed him back with a powerful gust of wind, then kicked Nea's bar so it would swing away before flying down herself, so Helmaroc's bite would hurt no one. Helmaroc looked down, seeing Fybi fleeing, so the bird zipped down. Fybi gasped and barely dodged, hurriedly soaring to the outside of the cage. "Rescuing Nea will prove tasking with him around. I'm certain neither of us want our friends hurt, so let us take this a safe distance."

They flew a few miles away from the Birdcage before Fybi turned to face her opponent. With a sharp glare, Fybi readied her B.O.W.. "Let us determine who is the master of yonder skies." (Play "Helmaroc King" from Wind Waker!)

Boss fight: Kremling Avian King, HELMAROC

Helmaroc flew 20 miles away from Fybi, streaking the sky with his lightning. With a blinding bolt, Helmaroc vanished—Fybi whipped around to see him behind her, the same distance away. Helmaroc swooped around the air, but vanished again, still a large distance behind Fybi. He flashed again, then again—now he was directly behind the Nimbi, Fybi gasping and flying away before a Thunder Shower rained around the king. The bird spread his wings, sparked, and aimed at Fybi, the angel dodging once more as Helmaroc zipped across the air with lightspeed. Though he missed, several electric spheres were made in his wake, all homing in on Fybi, who used bending to discharge the air around her and protect herself.

Helmaroc repeatedly zipped at and tried to zap her with homing spheres, so Fybi tried to fight back by shooting light arrows. When Helmaroc felt the first strike, he formed an electric shield to defend from further strikes, releasing smaller homing spheres from it that Fybi dodged. Fybi bent the air around Helmaroc to try and discharge his shield, but Helmaroc fought back with greater chi and was able to strike her with a jolt. "Aaaah!" Fybi took the fall, too hurt to flap her wings. "I've got ya!" Kuroko suddenly warped up, caught Fybi in her arms, and warped back to her team. "Are you okay, Fybi? Can you move?"

"Nnnn… Yea." Fybi shook off the charge and flapped her wings. "I hath experience with lightningbenders, but this one dost not rely on a foreign device. His lightning is pure. I doth not wish to use Fury until I am sure of his weakness."

"Actually, we heard he got it from a Devil Fruit." Misaka replied. "But if you need help, I can damage him. Try to keep him still for a bit."

"If thou wishest." Fybi took to the sky again, dodging lightning bolts until she was level with Helmaroc again. The bird swiped his wings and sent electric slashes, Fybi dodging by continuously barrel-rolling to the right. Helmaroc zipped at her, and Fybi barely flew a few inches away from his beak, shooting a charged arrow directly at his mask, which merely blocked the damage. Fybi stayed close and blew a ceaseless cold breath, orbiting around Helmaroc's body. The bird remained in place and used his chi to warm his body back up, but was curious when Fybi stopped directly in front of his face to charge an arrow. Helmaroc decided to charge a powerful bolt of his own—Misaka suddenly appeared between them and Fybi, a coin on her thumb.

"CAAAAAAWW!" Helmaroc took a severe pointblank blow from the Railgun, the bird flying back with his head bent upward. Misaka fell, but Kuroko warped below, caught her, and returned to land. Fybi then loosed the charged arrow at Helmaroc's right wing, damaging it as the bird fell. He dropped 10 meters before recovering, zipping up at Fybi and scoring a shock off the angel when she tried to dodge. Fybi fell slightly, but Helmaroc whipped his tail and batted her to the earth at high velocity. She was dizzied from the trauma at first, but when she saw herself about to hit a peak, she blew down with great force, the gust stopping her just inches from death. She returned to the sky once more, facing Helmaroc. His mask had been cracked by Misaka's attack.

Helmaroc wasn't sure where that other girl came from, but he thought it unwise to stay in one place, so he performed barrel-rolls and spat lightning puffs at Fybi, the Nimbi discharging the air, and she dodged when Helmaroc zipped up. The bird began to soar in close circles around Fybi, the angel flying away as a Thunder Tornado was formed. Helmaroc remained in the center as he had the tornado chase Fybi. Fybi flew high speed around the tornado in the opposite direction, using her own lightning to discharge it. Helmaroc kept the tornado intact, but because he was stationary, the AC girls were able to act. Kuroko teleported Misaka right below the tornado, where there was a clear opening. She aimed her coin directly up and flicked.

"CAAAAAAWW!" The Railgun impacted with Helmaroc's pelvis. Though it did not puncture his skin, it was still incredibly painful. The tornado disappeared, and Fybi shot to the sky. She spun and dropped toward Helmaroc's face with a Thunder Screw Kick, channeling lightning to her foot as she spun ever faster, until she made impact with the king's mask. She landed with enough force to crack the mask further, distorting the yellow eyes to where Helmaroc couldn't see through them. The bird hissed and decided to smack off his mask, exposing his sharp red eyes. More alert than ever, he glared at the ground until his eyes fell on Sector AC.

"HE'S COMING!" Kuroko yelled. "Sissy, let's go!" She grabbed Misaka and teleported to another peak. Unfortunately, the king felt an electrical force appear over at said peak, so he zipped over.

"Phew, that was close." Kuroko said. "We'll have to be a lot more careful—AAAAAH!" The Helmaroc ambushed from over the peak, snatching both girls in either talon. Helmaroc flew back to Fybi to show her his catch.

"PRITHEE, WAIT!" Fybi cried, but Helmaroc flashed like a strobe light and electrocuted Misaka, frying her to a crisp. However, it seemed that Kuroko teleported herself out. Helmaroc dropped Misaka, but Kuroko warped back up and caught her friend.

"Ouch, you're so hot! Sissy, are you okay?!"

"Agh… I'm fine." Misaka grunted. "I'm glad… you escaped… or we both might have died…

"Fybi, I'll come back for you! Just hang in there!" Kuroko warped both of them.

"Yea, see to thine wounds. I shalt make him pay!" Fybi deduced the head as the weak point and shot rapid arrows, Helmaroc retaliating with Thunder Wing Slashes. Fybi flew out of range, but Helmaroc zipped up and resumed the attack, the Nimbi reacting quick to dodge as she shot arrows at his head. Helmaroc flew above the clouds and spread his chi to all of them, pouring a lightning shower all over the region. Fybi kept her eyes up and dodged all the lightning above her, but the storm came to an abrupt end when Helmaroc zipped down and tried to bite her, to which Fybi shot an arrow straight up his throat.

Fybi flew back and sucked in a massive breath, her head pulsing as she entered Air Fury, thunderclouds forming on her wrists and legs. Helmaroc zipped away, but Fybi followed with equal speed and kicked him upside the head. Helmaroc shot rapid bolts at Fybi, who formed a cloud to absorb them as it swelled up. When it got so large that Fybi was hidden, Helmaroc decided to ram headfirst through the cloud—Fybi had already flown back with a charged arrow ready, striking the bird dead on, followed by a Tornado Drill right between the eyes! When her foot dug into the bird's head, he spun around with her, but Fybi was pushed off with a burst of lightning.

Fybi growled in anger, flying circles around Helmaroc before kicking him in the beak, to which he tried to bite her, Fybi back-flipping and shooting his eyes with a charged arrow. Helmaroc did a Thunder Shower, but Fybi withstood the attack, having produced a discharge field around herself. She spun like a wheel and produced a circular Air Slice, going for Helmaroc's left wing, briefly cutting it before the bird zipped away and bashed her with a Thunder Wing. "Thou must feel full of hot air. But how much canst thou taketh?!" Fybi began to fly around in an orbital fashion, spinning a giant air bubble and drastically heating the air inside.

Helmaroc tried to destroy the bubble with a bolt, but Fybi moved it away and flew to outrun the bird. Helmaroc zipped in front of her, Fybi flew left, then lightning rained down from above, but she retained the Hot Air Balloon's form. She feigned weakness from the lightning, so Helmaroc zipped up to eat her. Then, Fybi returned to attention, swiftly dodged, and SHOVED the balloon against Helmaroc's mouth! "Hm hm~" Fybi smirked, applying more force as she molded the bubble to travel down Helmaroc's throat.

"Squawk, squawk!" Helmaroc choked, the hot air terribly drying his throat. "Scree, scree!" He tried to zip away, but Fybi kept up and kept shoving the bubble in. She kept the discharge field around herself to survive Helmaroc's lightning bolts, unstopping as the hot air filled the bird's belly. His lightning weakened to sparks as he struggled to breathe, the flapping of his wings slowing. "HAH!!" Finally, Fybi loosed a charged arrow down Helmaroc's throat and POPPED the balloon!

"AAAAAAUCK!" His body swelled for a brief moment, blowing the feathers off his belly. His red eyes grew dull as the Helmaroc King fell. He crashed onto a mountain down below and lay in defeat. (End song.)

"Huff…huff…" Fybi's Fury wore off, her limbs hanging limp. "Now… Aranea…" She used what was left of her willpower to fly to the birdcage. She found the bird seat where Aranea was tied and flew to land on it. "I apologize for that delay…"

"Fybi, I heard screaming. What happened?!"

"It was Misaka, but I believe she wilt live. Sigh, if this were three years prior, mine wings would be fried." Fybi sported a laugh as she cut Nea's ropes. "I am much stronger, wouldst thou not agree?"

"…" Aranea was silent for a moment. "Do you really want this, Fybi?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean… aren't you sick of this? All this fighting… all this killing… This shouldn't be our responsibility. We're too young for this. And now Sally's dead because of it. We should just go home, this isn't our fight."

"If thou wishest to return home, we will call for a GKND ship. But I canst not rest until the battle is won, and I doth not believe Anthony will either. And I feel that… Cheren believes in us. He believes we can win… and I do not wish to betray his beliefs."

"And where is Cheren, anyway? What does he think of all this?"

"I canst not say. We had yet to contact him. But is it really so strange to feel this? Does he not always believe in us?"

"So blind." A very low murmur escaped Nea's mouth.

"Hm?"

"Fine. If you're gonna stay, I'll stay, too. After all… I couldn't let the rest of you die."

"If thou wishest." Fybi smiled.

They gasped when Kuroko suddenly appeared. "Fybi, did you beat him?!"

"Yea, that beast wilt not be plaguing us for the moment. Look at yonder storm. It is beginning to clear." The dark clouds around the area were calming as the sun was allowed to shine again. "The storm was likely formed by his bending."

"Mmm… Then we'd better leave before it comes back." Kuroko smiled. She touched both girls and warped them to her ship, then warped herself.

Hideout Helm

"It is wonderful to have you on our side, Miss Kittigiri." King K. Rool said as he shook the hand of the Nyakuza Empress.

"Serving you is the least I could do for saving me from those savages." The cat woman replied with a sharp, seemingly forced grin. "I shall contact all my connections and tell them the good news… provided you haven't 'Reverted' them, yet."

"We make sure to liberate all the prisoners and criminals in every town we target and offer them a position. Of course, we can't be held liable for a few miscalculations, heh hur. You'll be assigned in the House Pet Division under Moge-ko. This little one will show you to her fortress." The Empress turned to find three polar bears, the largest one carrying a mouse.

"Well, I'll be stir-fried." Mr. Big said in surprise. "Thought for sure the Sky Gods woulda had you skinned."

"What is HE doing here?!" Empress growled at the mouse.

"Your little rival has sworn to our cause, too." Kroctus replied. "And I intend to secure the loyalty of all the elite Five Mafias of Mobius. He was assigned under Fredrik, so you won't have to work together, but I expect you two to get along. Now, go. I have other matters to attend to."

"This way, Mew Mew Power." Mr. Big remarked as the bears led her down the passage.

"Hmph. This Krew's standards are lower than I thought."

The gangsters passed by Kami, Noah, Kimaya, and Django on their way to the throne room. "Splendid. I see the mission was a success." Kroctus acknowledged the group. "You must be Kami's darling daughter." He bent down and softly stroked Kimaya's boney cheek. "My, how thin you are! Your mother must keep you on a strict diet, mweh heh hah!"

"Damn, you even uglier in person." Kimaya retorted, earning a bonk on the head from her mother.

"Heh heh ha! Even so, a deal's a deal. Klammy! The girl."

Baron K. Rool came out of the next room with Eri strapped to the metal bed. "Make it quick, ladies. We're on a tight schedule."

"'kay, so… we just gotta touch her?" Kimaya asked.

"Yes, but very quickly. Just a small tap." Kami cautioned. "If it worked on Grunty, it's sure to work on you."

"Okay. Wanna go first, Django?"

"Nah, you should probably go. Remember, I only got my dark magic after I died, and you only share the curse through me. If I came back first, I don't know if my power will last."

"Fair enough. A'ight, here goes nothin'." Kimaya slowly approached the timebender. With hands over her heart, Kami prayed for a hopeful ending. Kimaya carefully reached a single skeletal finger to Eri.

"My Lord, there has been an unprecedented problem." Manky Kong suddenly appeared inside the holo-barrel window.

"You better not have lost another prisoner!" Kroctus bellowed. The others paused to listen to this.

"It's more than that, see… Pink Monkey and one of the prisoners killed each other."

"What?!" Kami gasped. "Which prisoner?! Was it one of Sector W?!"

"That is a problem. Without Pink, we cannot power the Rainbow Crown." Kroctus thought aloud.

"Yes, but I believe the emotionbender himself could power it instead. After all, his chi is sure to be stronger than ever when he learns: the prisoner who died was his sister."

"His… sister? YOU MEAN SALLY?!" Kami whipped out her Keyblade. "YOU LET SALLY DIE?!"

"That will be all, Manky." Kroctus closed the window.

"You said you wouldn't hurt them!" Kami trained the blade on him. "You said you would let them go after all this was done!"

"This was beyond my control! Pink acted on her own, disobeying my orders, and paid the price. These kinds of things are inevitable in the heat of war. Just be thankful your daughter can be spared from this torture. Now, hurry up!"

Kami bit her lip, glancing to Kim. Her daughter's finger was still inches from Eri's cheek. Kimaya could easily turn back to normal. Nothing could stop her. …Nothing but her own conscience. "Eh, I'll stay dead for a bit longer." She bent down, farted a Gas Bomb at K. Rool's face, and then flipped up to slam both Keyblades on his head—Kroctus PUNCHED Kimaya into the wall, her skull shattering.

"KIM!" Kami screamed. Django strummed his guitar and reformed his friend's skull. "Hey!" Django yelped when Klammy grabbed his arms in his bulbous gloves.

Kroctus stomped over and gripped Kimaya's skull, lifting her as easily as a toothpick statue. "So, this is what I get for my generosity. You are just like your mother at her rebellious age."

"Sally was my cousin, you fat shit! I ain't talk to her much, but I ain't gonna let you get away with it!"

"This is your last chance, brat! Will you really let your mother's hard work go to waste and not revive yourself?"

"Go to hell!"

"Kritters, take Eri away!" Klammy ordered a duo of Robo-Kritters as they pulled Eri's bed backward. The scientist threw Django into the nearby cell, taking his guitar before sealing him in. "Now, if my theory is correct, this magic guitar is what's keeping you lot alive."

"Hey, don't smash it!" Kami pled.

"Yes, we certainly can't have that." Kroctus agreed, still holding Kim. "But it's always nice to have leverage. Kami, a thought has just occurred to me: since your daughter insists on sticking around, why not make you a mother/daughter duo? Oh, and Noah too, I guess."

"I like to pretend your bad eye keeps you from noticing me." Noah said.

"After all, a walking corpse with powerful poisonbending is too valuable a creature to lose. Yes, she'll be perfect for the Krew!"

"This wasn't part of the deal!" Kami shouted. "Kimaya, just get your flesh back and let me take you home! I know you're upset about Sally, but your safety still matters. Just let me take care of it."

"And what're you gonna do, Ma? You're a dang pushover, I beat up you and Dad every time in training!"

"That's beside the point!"

"Too late! My mind is made up." Kroctus declared. "I may have promised Kimaya's safety, but I never promised the same for the little musician in there, so whether I let you revive or not, BOTH of you have a reason to stay! But I think it'd be wiser to keep you undead. You see, I have a very important task I need done for a friend. If you refuse, I will force you to come back to life before I smash that guitar and end your friend's afterlife."

"I'm officially voting for Mandy as the best Emperor!" Django yelled through the window.

"What do you want now?!" Kami demanded.

"Kami, you and your daughter are going to rescue Peach from the Sky God Pirates! You'll be heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom, and more importantly, to Bowser."

Hyrule; near Mogma Volcano (Play "Engage the Enemy" from Xenoblade!)

The operatives had been brushed away by the flapping of Smaug's wings. After hours of chasing and fighting him, the dragon was showing almost no fatigue, smirking ravenously at the tired swarm. "Damn… if only I could get him in the eye." Drake said. "He always blinks when I shoot there!"

"Let me try!" Quill used a jetpack to fly up, dodging Smaug's flames and trying to shoot ice at the eyes, but had to quickly dodge the dragon's fangs when he got close. Jenny began to boost around the dragon, having installed spiked wheels to try and pierce through his armored claws. Solarans shot and directed fire at Smaug's eyes while the Glomourians attempted to chip through the armor with airwaves from their swords.

Meanwhile, Miko and Sector Hinobi surrounded the Ash Knight, trying to strike it with their solid-hologram weapons. Though each attack was able to make Gaz's control fizzle just a tad, her control was ever excellent as she dodged the Q-Knight's swings and dealt quick counters. She performed a diagonal spin to banish Five, Haneesh, and Zahra, and when Bergy got under the legs and tried to shoot the mech's pelvis, he was kicked away. Miko ran up from behind and leapt to bash the knight's head with her hammer, but Ash Knight withstood the internal damage and flicked her away. "So, this is the power of the Gamer Queen…" Five panted.

"I gotta say, it's kind of an honor to be fighting you, Gaz." Miko said earnestly, pushing herself off the ground. "But why are you working for Mandy? Why are you helping her take over this world?"

"You kids wouldn't understand, but life gets boring when you're a benevolent queen of a planet. I wanted the thrill of the old days, the feeling of conquering a planet! Flying around with my awesome mech and bagging all the rebellious brats!"

"Isn't your son in the Kids Next Door?!" Zahra questioned. "What if he were here? Would you attack him, too?"

"That's all part of the sport, isn't it? That's the classic KND way."

"You're terrible!" Five shouted. "Trying to hurt all of us just because you were bored?! When we tell everyone about this, you can kiss your career good-bye!"

"Heh! Then I guess I better finish you off right-"

"RAAAAH!" Smaug furiously swatted the operatives away from him and flapped up to smash a few aliens under his claws. "I need some MEAT!" The dragon stomped over to the Hinobi agents and, with no hesitation, chomped Haneesh in his teeth.

"AAAAH—!" His teeth enclosed on the dark-skinned boy and chewed him to pieces.

"!!!" Miko and her friends were utterly horrified, frozen like statues with their shock-ridden expressions. "HANEESH!!" Bergy cried.

"SMAUG!" Gaz tried to stab the dragon's forehead. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"You don't want them to blab about your identity, right? Then it's best if they die!"

"We weren't supposed to kill any of the operatives!"

"I heard you on the volcano! You said you can't let them leave alive!"

"I was just trying to scare them! It was all part of the act!"

Smaug leapt, grabbed, and SMASHED the knight against the ground. "Well, I'm done acting! I'm playing this game my OWN way!" As he smashed the Ash Knight to pieces, Smaug turned and blew a wave of fire over the Pumparians, charring four of them to a crisp, including the Pumparian leader, Pluey. The remaining operatives scattered as he blew his fire everywhere.

E. Carmine hid behind a rock during his rampage. "Maybe I can shoot this in his mouth…" she said as she loaded a grenade into her launcher. She saw Quill flying overhead as Smaug kept his eye on him, about to breathe fire at the vice-leader. The moment he fired, Carmine took the shot.

However, right then, Drake had attempted to shoot his harpoon in the dragon's eye. Smaug saw this and grabbed the harpoon in his teeth, swinging Drake forward. His swing was right in the grenade's trajectory… and the explosive went off.

"!!" Carmine internally paled as the explosion engulfed her own friend. He crashed on the ground, ripped and charred. Smaug made sure to finish the job by unleashing his breath over Drake's fallen body. "NOOOOOOOO!"

The Sector Q leader was left totally black and dead. Completely overcooked and unrecognizable from his former self. His teammates couldn't believe what they just witnessed. Their leader… always cool-looking, strong, caring, and dependable… he was… "DRAAAAAAAAKE!"

"Your cries of agony are annoying. Why don't you brats just give up and die?!"

The operatives gasped as a figure fell directly from above Smaug. She raised a mechanical gauntlet in the air and extracted a huge, digital axe. She swung down and CHOPPED the axe against Smaug's forehead, the dragon slightly reclining from the force as the purple-haired woman landed on his head. "Hur…don't have a robot to hide behind, do you? I'll just have to burn you, too-"

Gaz whipped the glove's palm at his eyes and FLASHED. "AAAAAHH!" Smaug's pupils receded as he frantically shook Gaz off his head. "What have you done to me?! I'm blind! Eyedrops! I need eyedrops!" The dragon flapped his wings and flew across the valley in a wobbly manner. "Where is that damned Goron with the eyedrops?! Aaaagh! Azula! Call Biggoron, now!" (End song.)

"Huff…huff…" Five gasped for breath. "He's gone… He…he…"

Sectors Hinobi and Q looked over Drake's charred body. The Pumparians mourned for their leader and friends, and Pyler's flame died as they looked over the smashed Solaran bodies. Hinobi couldn't bear the sight of Haneesh's remains.

"It's my fault…it's all my fault…" Carmine couldn't restrain herself. "AAAAAAHHH!"

"C-Carmine!" They watched as their friend ran in the direction of the volcano… yet, they couldn't bring their selves to stop her. Neither of them really knew what to do now. Their leader was dead… they were completely overwhelmed. They had no will to go on.

"…" Miko glared at Gaz, standing still and composed. The woman's eyes had opened into a squint, a rare occurrence. And through that squint, Miko could make out anger and regret. "That glove you're wearing… that's Mitch's glove, isn't it?"

"…"

"Was this all just a game to you?"

"…" Gaz turned and walked away. None of the operatives felt the urge to stop her.

"I…I can't believe it turned out like this." Five said. "Han…Haneesh."

"…" Miko sighed. "I'll… go get Carmine." She turned in the direction their friend ran and walked at a half-hearted pace.

Earth; Garley Household

"Hey, Matt, did you hear what happened to Eva and Kade?" Kimberly asked her husband. "Apparently, their neighborhood was raided by demon pirates and they were captured."

"That's terrible! But who would be able to overpower Eva? She's the strongest waterbender in the world."

"This probably has to do with the Pirate War. Do you think they were targeted because of Melody?"

"But if that's true, what if they target the other-"

A knock at the door disrupted their thoughts. …A feeling of utmost dread swept over them just as Matt was finishing his thought. The couple shared a horrid glance as they slowly walked to the kitchen drawers and withdrew 4x4 guns. They kept the guns under their coats and carefully approached the door. Three knocks occurred every three seconds. It was like a videogame cue that wouldn't stop until they performed the action. Once at the door, Matt was the one to touch the knob, and Kim cocked the gun. He opened.

The "Gas Gas Gas" song burst through the air as a chainsaw shot up and sawed their necks. "AAAAH!" The immense pain in their necks made them realize they weren't dead, and they had another chance to duck the saw. The pain would not end, for an endless gauntlet of fearsome hazards lay in their wake. They were no longer in their pleasant neighborhood, but a dimension of nightmares.

Moge-ko dragged the jittering parents by the scruff of their coats to her parked ship. "What cruel parents to let their children go to war. But we can be crueler than that, meow."