Operation: MONARCH, Part 2: The Desolation

KND Moonbase

At the Global Tactical Station, Panini was gazing confusedly at an image of Planet Hyrule. "Ay don't see what the problem is!"

"That's because they don't appear on digital screens." Nebula replied. "But none of our operatives have been able to enter, or receive transmissions from Hyrule. Our Avalaran operatives confirmed that Anti-Fairies are the cause. They tried to fight them, but they were overpowered. Their magic revolves entirely around misfortune."

"But Cheren is still training on Hyrule! Will we be able to rescue him?!"

"I don't know, Panini… We're trying, but my brother and I can't even Space Warp to the planet. There must be a spell in place."

"Grrr, this is terrible. Cheren could be in even more danger than before. I HAVE to get down there! There must be some way of getting past the Anti-Fairies! Like…Like timebending! Ay can get the timebenders to freeze them and—DAAAAAH, Sector IC was captured by the flippin' Big Mom Pirates!! Wait, but I wonder if the mages can use any time spells. Ugh, but Sector MG is on holiday at Mushroom Kingdom, GOD this is the worst."

"You want me to ask the Avalarans for any potential members?"

"No, I don't want to trouble other Kids Next Doors. Hmmm…" Panini could only think of one other group of mages. She pressed the button and said, "This is Moonbase to Sector TD, come in, Sector TD."

The face of Numbuh Card, Sakura Kinomoto, appeared onscreen. "This is Sector TD, how can we help you?"

"Numbuh Card, I don't suppose you know any strong time-stopping spells?"

"Oh yes, one of my cards can do that! But it's only for a second or two."

"That's okay. I hate to ask this, but I might need your help for a mission. Cheren might be in danger!"

"Oh, my! Don't worry, we'll get there as soon as possible!" Transmission ended.

"Sigh… Still, I don't think I should take them alone. This might be too dangerous. But who… Wait, of course! Sector JP! I wonder if Anti-Fairies are the same as ghosts?"

"What about Sector V?" Nebula asked.

"We don't really know what we're up against, so I don't want to send them, yet. But that ain't gonna stop me from helpin' Cheren."

Hyrule Castle Town

"BIG NEEEEEEWS!" cried Big Bird, recording the exciting ceremony that was transpiring. "For nearly 4,000 years, the Kingdom of Hyrule has been without its true ruler! Princess Zelda and the royal family remained on Earth while her people have migrated to a new planet. Although a stand-in family have managed the kingdom, they have left the throne unoccupied, forever awaiting their princess's return. At long last, that time is now… but just LOOK WHO IT IS!!"

This should have been a wonderful moment for the Hyruleans, for every single race and the rulers of every region were in attendance. Yet, the once-happy citizens sulked in fear of the demons that overfilled their town. A squat minister approached the queen at the top of the towering altar, gently placing the crown over her horn-shaped blonde hair. "Um… a-all hail the new Queen of Hyrule, the descendant of Princess Zelda." And she stood as all citizens were forced to meet her terrifying glare. "Mandy McKenzie! May she lead our world to ever-lasting glory!"

"Oi, you can't be serious!" yelled a blacksmith. "She's a recognized criminal! Just look at all these demons!"

"SILENCE!" Mandy commanded. "There's going to be some changes around here. So, let's get to brass tactics: my first decree as queen will be that demons will no longer be discriminated or hunted. Welcome them as citizens like any other race. My 2nd decree is that we are no longer welcoming tourism from outside planets. And no trades with other planets without my permission! Hyrule is becoming a sovereign world!"

"THAT'S ABSURD!" roared King Zora. "My people LOVE Aquaria's sushi! Not to mention some of them are currently there on vacation! You're going to let them back in, aren't you?!"

"Anyone who leaves the kingdom is no longer a citizen. The same as anyone who sets foot on this planet is a citizen now and forever, tourist or not. Oh, and that rule ALSO applies to the Kids Next Door!"

"NO WAY!" yelled a Hylian boy with a sword.

"How will we see Brother Anthony again?!" yelled a Goron, shouting with his three brothers.

"None of those are my concern. These are the laws of New Hyrule and there are plenty more to come. In fact, I'm aware you kids use Sheikah Tech for some of your inventions. Since you won't be needing them anymore, we'll put them to better use."

"Hyrule is a constitutional monarchy!" yelled the Goron patriarch, Barbus. "You cannot enforce these laws, and our armies will bury your demons back in the ground!"

"Why don't you take a look up there!" Sivam yelled, wand aimed skyward. "My Anti-Fairies are flying around the planet like bugs! They won't let anyone get in!"

"Furthermore," Azula followed, "with the amount of demons and outlaws joining our ranks, our army is superior to yours."

Beyond Hyrule's atmosphere, Anti-Fairies circled the world like orbital rivers of darkness. A pink ship with angel wings and the figurehead of a stuffed lion was closing in on the planet as Sectors TD, JP, and Panini observed the situation. "I don't believe it… Anti-Fairies really DO exist!" Sakura said in awe.

"Our Kero Cruiser can fire a giant net for situations like this." explained Naoko, the ship's pilot. "But it's not nearly big enough for all of them."

"Plus, I never really tested the T.H.E.R.M.O.S. on fairies before." followed Karin, Sector JP's leader.

"The important thing now is landing on the planet." Panini said. "From there, we can find Cheren. Sakura, can ye do it?"

"Yeah!" she said with conviction. She drew a card with a design of a cloaked woman holding an hourglass, labeled The Time, and inserted it in a slot at her station. "Naoko-chan, full speed ahead!"

"Hai!" Naoko nodded, hitting the boost.

"I'll give us a boost, too!" Kodama said, pressing a remote to ignite fireworks on the back.

One of the Anti-Fairies, a girl with pink eyes and big teeth, spotted the ship. "Look, Omsoc! Ther's a purdy lion flyin' up like a white batty!"

"You dimwit, that's a ship!" Omsoc bashed her with his wand. He was a green-eyed Anti-Fairy with a monocle. "Shoot them down!"

"THE TIME!" screamed Sakura, striking the card with her magic wand, the Clow Rod. A bubble formed around the Kero Cruiser, completely freezing time around it. It only lasted for a second, but in that second, the ship flew full speed and bypassed the Anti-Fairy swarm.

"Holy cheesenuts, they done poofed!"

"No, Adnaw! They're down there!" Omsoc yelled, seeing the ship descending toward Hyrule. "Squad -12, after them!" They and a group of fairies gave chase, shooting black beams of magic.

"They're coming after us!" yelled Tomoyo Daidouji (Numbuh Catch), holding a video camera. "And for some reason, they won't appear on my camera! This is going to make the movie look so awkward!"

"Just keep outrunning them!" Panini ordered, tapping her wristwatch. "If we get into the planet's atmosphere, maybe Cheren will respond."

"AAAAH!" cried Naoko. "Our engine's been hit! It's shut off on its own, we're gonna crash!"

"I hope this works! The Shield!" Sakura placed another card in the ship, projecting a magic shield around the vessel. The 11 operatives held onto something as their ride whirled around, and upon crashing on a pointed tower, the Kero haphazardly bounced down like a ball, creating an unsettling experience.

When it finally settled to a stop, the barrier disabled. The kids groggily recovered as Sakura climbed out of the sideways-turned craft. "Urgh… At least we're okay. I wonder where we landed… ueh?!" she gasped, realizing they landed just outside the Castle Town gates, surrounded by hundreds of demons with pirate ships hovering in the air.

Commander Azula marched across the bridge beyond the south gate, scowling viciously. "Do you know how rude it is to interrupt a queen's coronation?! It's a crime punishable by execution!"

"You're in the KND's criminal files!" Sakura recognized. "You're part of the Boogey Pirates! If you're here, then that means…"

"Aunt Mandy is responsible for all this?" Panini whispered, finding this hard to believe for several reasons.

"How many people are in there?! You can't be the only one!" Azula demanded.

"I can use my powers to help us escape." Karin said. "But there's a lot of you, and I can't make Infi-Cubes intangible."

"Sakura and I can try to fight them." Li Syaoran said.

"In that case, I wanna stay, too!" his cousin, Meiling insisted.

"I'm not leaving Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo vowed.

"Fine. Sector TD, you can fight them, but try to escape." Panini ordered. "If JP and I escape in secret, we can plan a counterattack."

"Then get going!" Naoko ordered, grabbing a ray gun with a Power Star turret. "We'll locate you as soon as we lose them!"

"Ururu, you can take my Infi-Cube and escape on your own!" Kodama said, tossing her the device. "Wait for a chance and escape before they spot you."

"Okay, I'll try." Ururu said, putting on her Tiny Devil.

"Sector TD, ATTACK!" At Sakura's signal, Naoko jumped out of the hatch and rapidly blasted demons, and Meiling cried, "SHYAAAAAH!" as she flew out and began attacking demons with swift martial arts. Syaoran aided her by quickly slaying them with his sword.

The cousins faced Azula, and Meiling was the first to run up and throw the first hits. Using Fire Kung-Fu, she endured and countered Azula's Fire Fists, but the sapphire embers were steadily scarring her as Meiling leapt away. "With that armor, chi-blocking her will be a challenge."

"I think we've got an even bigger challenge!" Syaoran said, frightfully pointing at the gate.

It appeared as if a greater demon were crossing the bridge, accompanied by a blood-red cloud of death. In actuality, Queen Mandy had come to greet her intruders. "Didn't I make it specifically clear that we aren't welcoming anymore visitors?! Hm?" She studied Sakura's attire: she was dressed just like Princess Zelda, albeit with a much shorter skirt. "Don't tell me you were planning to claim the crown as well. I don't take kindly to usurpers."

"Pirate Emperor Mandy." Sakura spoke with passion and fearlessness. "Wanted with a bounty of 97 billion. So, you're the one terrorizing this peaceful kingdom."

"You know, you remind me of one of those anime magical girls. Euck. I hate those."

"You're wanted by the KND for what you did to Beach City too, you know! So, as a dedicated operative, it's my job to apprehend you!" Sakura grabbed a card with gusto and declared, "Light, encase my body in a holy glow that banishes evil!" Upon striking the card, Sakura's body brimmed with an angelic light.

"So beautiful! !" Tomoyo beamed, recording every second. "Now she looks like a real Zelda!"

"And then I'll combine it with The Power!" Sakura said, striking a second card. "Give me the strength to lift boulders and fight the strongest enemies!" Now filled with a terrific surge of strength, Sakura ran forth and punched Mandy directly in the stomach. The Light pierced her Logia defense, and Mandy blew back into Castle Town like a bullet, across the southern road as she crashed into the square fountain.

"CAPTAIN MANDY!" Creeper screamed.

"GORO! Looks like a fight!" Barbus cheered. "Clear out of town, all of you! ! Give them space!"

Everyone was quickly scrambling out of the city as Mandy lay in the ruins of the fountain. Her expression was unfazed. "Was that supposed to hurt?"

"Haaaaaah!" Her heart filled with bravery, Sakura ran for the next attack. Mandy stood, brushing herself off, never batting an eye when Sakura swung a mighty kick. She struck the spot between Mandy's legs, the queen blasting straight to the sky.

"Wooooow! She's going so high!" Tomoyo's eyes shone brighter. "My beautiful Sakura vs. a dreaded Pirate Queen! She'll be a KND legend! She'll be a movie star!"

Up in the sky, still unfazed, Mandy checked her watch and said, "Ten more seconds." She then took the fall, and Sakura readied her wand like a baseball bat. With a hearty swing and perfect timing, Mandy was blown into a building. "Ehh… That's enough of a headstart." Mandy casually recovered as Sakura ran for the next attack—the Emperor blasted her across town with a giant Fear Sphere. Sakura had no time to recover when Mandy WHOOSHED over with nightmarish tentacles growing from her back, mercilessly whipping the young Cardcaptor until she was a bloody mess.

"SAKURA-CHAN!" Syaoran cried, racing into town. With a start, he drew his sword in defense when Kimaya ambushed with both Keyblades.

"Hey man, it's one-on-one, back off!"

"Thunder God!" Syaoran slapped a jufu (magic paper) over his sword and zapped Kimaya with lightning. It only damaged her bones for a moment before she dropped her pants, flipped upside-down, and fired a Corpse Gas Blast at the Chinese boy. Syaoran held his breath and countered with Petals of Wind to disperse the gas, and he resumed clashing with Kimaya.

Mandy watched as Sakura weakly got to her feet. The Light was steadily fading from her body. "She's powerful… I don't normally play this card, but I have to help my friends escape." She grabbed another card and called, "Transform me into a tower that looms high into the skies. Big!" Within seconds, Sakura expanded to a size that rivaled Hyrule Castle. Without hesitating, she SQUASHED Mandy under her foot before reaching to grab Syaoran. "Let's go! I can carry you all a good distance before the card wears off, and that'll give us time to hide—AAAAH!" A black and red cloud began to swallow her foot and travel up her leg.

"NOO!" Syaoran struck lightning at the Fear, but it opened gaps to dodge as it traveled up Sakura's body.

"Oooops!" Sivam drawled, watching the battle from the sky. "Your glowy thing stopped? That sure is bad luck!"

"UUUUEEEEEEHHHH!" The fear reached Sakura's head, drowning her in a nightmare.

"Sakura, you failed your math test." the teacher said. "You've been slipping a lot lately."

"Oh dear, Sakura, you sprained your knee." the coach said. "Looks like I'll have to cut you."

"What do you mean you lost my doll, Sakura?!" Rika yelled. "That's it, I'm never speaking to you again!"

"Oh, Sakura. You disappoint me." Mother said.

"UEEEEEHHH! NO, MOM, I'M SORRY!" Sakura stumbled on her own feet, crushing every building in Castle Town except the castle itself. "I'll work harder, I promise! Guys, please don't be mad at me!"

"STOP, SAKURA!" Syaoran screamed. "YOU'RE DESTROYING THE—" Kimaya shot him with Corpse Gas and knocked him out.

"NOOO! SAKURA-CHAN!" Tomoyo cried, shutting off her camera to avoid filming her friend in such disgrace.

"ROOOOAAAAARRRR!" A fearsome bellow ripped the air as, in the distance, a great dragon was soaring toward the castle. Despite the great distance he had yet to travel, the gargantuan girl was all-too clear a target for him. His guts and throat brimmed with flames, building up before unleashing a tremendous ball of fire. It flew toward Sakura like a meteor cannon, and her fear-induced eyes could barely process as the fire struck her in the face.

The force overwhelmed Sakura, and the 13-year-old stumbled backward, crushing the south bridge. Her foot slipped in the gorge and she tripped and fell, her teammates screaming as they and the Kero Cruiser were squashed underneath. Sakura was completely unconscious, the flesh on her face melting away as she shrank down to normal size. Tomoyo, Naoko, and Meiling were uncovered, left as smashed bloody messes. Lord Mandy rematerialized and planted a foot on Sakura.

"You have such petty fears. You're the kind of girl that lives a perfect life with people who love her. 'Ooo, I'm not good at French, I'm so ashamed because I can't speak French, yet I can do all this other shit.' That's what you are. And I TRAMPLE over privileged brats like you!"

"Hiiiissssss…" The tremendous dragon planted himself over the remains of Castle Town, his snaked head looming over Mandy.

"Oh, yeah. People of Hyrule, I would like for you to meet my pet: Smaug. You might know him as the King Under the Mountain. You Gorons might be familiar with him. Let it be known that any town that tries to rebel against me will meet the same fate as this one."

"Well, so much for decimating the city." Smaug hissed. "You found yourself another monster, I see."

"You were late, Smaug."

"It takes a while to burn down 23 KND treehouses. They're like hornets swarming around me after I destroyed their hive."

"Regardless… Men, take these fairy brats and throw them in the dungeon." The Bokoblin grabbed the TD members and followed their order. "Sivam, have your Anti-Fairies scour the area in case any more ships try to land. Azula, look for any craftsmen in the crowds and start making them rebuild the city. I can't have the capital of my new empire looking like this!"

As the operatives were taken into the castle, Creeper used a mechanical purple eyepiece to examine them. A star icon highlighted the members and brought up numbers. "According to this Scouter, Sakura's Power Level was 4,200, Syaoran's was 2,200, Meiling's was 1,500, and Tomoyo and Naoko were both Level 9. Yeesh, talk about an unfair fight. Our Captain Mandy's Level is 22,278!"

"Where'd you get a dorky thing like that?" Cindy asked.

"Our spy in the Sky God Pirates sent it. I think it's quite stylish, really. Your Level is about 2,000."

Meanwhile, Panini and the JP members were able to seek refuge on a mountain. They could see the giant Sakura quite clearly, especially when she fell. "Well, there goes our fodder sector." Jinta remarked.

"Don't say that!" Yuzu stated. "I really hope they're okay!"

"I still can't believe the timing of this." Panini said. "First, Sector IC was captured by the Big Mums, then Sector W by the Kremlings, and now Mandy is takin' over Hyrule when Cheren's supposed to be trainin'? This can't all be a coincidence!"

"Those three are the Yonko, right?" Jinta asked. "I thought they hated each other."

"Yeah, but you can't deny this is kinda weird." Karin replied. "Let's assume they WOULD form an alliance… but why?"

Panini thought for a moment. She tried to think of any recent events that would convince the Emperors to team up. "…Could it be Sector SA?"

"Huh?" The four Asians each raised a brow.

"A few weeks ago, when Index's secret was broadcasted to the universe… a lot of operatives fell into a panic, and the same could apply to a lot of other people. What if the Emperors are teaming up to rise against the KND? What if their target is Sector SA?"

"It is a possibility…" Karin figured.

"But I still can't believe Mandy would be involved in it. I know she's evil, but she's always had a soft spot for Cheren. Oh, he's not even responding to his watch! I can't tell if he was captured or still training."

Kodama saw an Infi-Cube flying toward them, but a closer look would reveal it was Ururu. The Tiny Devil grew back to normal size and reunited with her team. "Thank God you made it!" Kodama beamed.

"There was so much going on back there, it was hard to find an opening."

"Sorry we put you through that, but those are all our weapons. And I think we're gonna need them."

"It sounds like we can't leave the planet very easily." Yuzu said. "But Karin should be able to travel to the Spirit World, right?"

"You're right." Karin acknowledged. "But I wanna stay and collect info first. So Panini, let's search for Cheren."

Hyrule Castle

Tidbits about World Governments: Using Hyrule as a reference, it is a planet composed of a single grand nation with a supreme monarch. Of course, the various regions of Hyrule are governed by their own rulers with their own rules. Other similar planets include Mobius, Glomour, Kateenia, Sweetopia, or Coruscant. Then there are planets whose nations are more "heavily" divided, such as Earth, Mushroom, Poké, and the Avatar Realms, where no grand law encompasses the whole world. Despite this, some of those worlds' rulers elect a single leader to represent the planet in Galaxia's Intergalactic Council.

Mandy, Cindy, Rā's al Ghūl, and Azula accompanied some Sheikah guards to the castle library. Little did they know that a young girl was spying on them from the ceiling. "Welcome, Queen Mandy." bowed an elderly Sheikah. "My name is Impoz, Head Attendant of the Royal Sheikah. We have kept watch over the castle for generations, long awaiting the return of the royal family. We are in your service."

"You're strangely cooperative, considering I just destroyed the capital."

"History will see it as a titanic monster rising from the earth, only to be felled by Your Highness. You can be sure of that."

"You must have quite the influence. I bet you know all this kingdom's secrets."

"Secrets that have long gone unknown to all eyes but our own. They are for royal family's eyes only. The eyes of Zelda's bloodline."

"Show them to me. Now."

"If that is what you wish—"

"AAAAAAHHHH!" A child's scream ruptured the air, and all eyes whipped upward. A Sheikah girl fell from the ceiling with rage in her gray eyes, ready to impale Mandy with a small sword. The queen showed no fear or surprise, for the sword merely cut through her Logia body. "IT WAS YOU! You made those people attack my village!" She furiously stabbed Mandy, leaking Fear Gas out of those parts.

"How did this brat get in?" Rā's asked.

The girl faced the man, her rage growing. "YOU'RE THE MAN THAT STABBED FATHER!" She ran to stab him, only to be stomped in the face. Azula pinned the child on the ground.

"For you to be able to sneak in here, you must at least be an operative. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"It's Koko! I'm from Kakariko and that man stabbed Father!" She desperately tried to push Azula's leg off. "What'll happen if Father dies?! Me and Cottla will be all alone!"

Azula projected a strong aura and weakened the child, her strength and conviction shrinking. Some of the servants in the room dropped to this aura. "You know what this is, girl? It's Conqueror's Haki. The aura of those born with the divine right to rule. I may be below the queen, but I'll crush defiant worms like you all the same."

"Noooo… sniff." Koko began to cry, feeling extremely helpless and hopeless. "P-Please… If I go, no one will take care of Cottla. No one will cook for her. Please, have mercy!" Four different streams flowed from her eyes and nostrils. "Please! Please! Please!"

Mandy's head throbbed every time she said the word. This brat had the gall to attempt to assassinate her, but now she was begging for mercy? Just look at her, so weak and pathetic. Her fears reeked of worry and care for her little sister. In Koko's mind, the sight of Cottla alone and crying was clear as day, and Mandy saw it. "I just wanted to be strong! Koko has to be strong for Cottla, or Koko is a failure to Mother and Father! Please! Please!"

"I've had enough." Rā's decided, about to stab her.

"Wait!" Impoz pled. "I recognize this girl. Her family visits the castle on occasions. She would beg us to let her work with the chefs and they would let her help cook. Dare I say… her meals are extraordinary."

"It's unfortunate that she's a traitor." Azula said. "Kill her, Rā's."

"STOP!" Mandy ordered. "YOU, TOO!" Koko ceased crying, her lip quivering as she gazed up at the wicked queen. "You clearly didn't get the message when I fought that magic brat. So, I'll discipline you myself." Mandy grabbed Koko by the scruff and dragged her away. "You'll pay for keeping me from my national secrets."

Dungeons

A woman with short black hair, leather jacket, and a red ninja suit was wrapping Sakura's head in bandages. Her name was Shiva, a general in the Shadow Division. "You are lucky that Lord Mandy never lets her enemies die immediately. But she has ordered your incarceration here until further notice. We have also taken photos of you and your friends, and we will show them to everyone in your hometown. Lord Mandy will relish in their despair… as well as the damage to your reputation."

After being treated, Sakura was taken to a lonely cell and left abandoned. Her friends were all separated throughout the dungeon, slowly descending into despair with their injuries and defeat. Even if they were to be rescued and returned home, they would forever live in guilt and disgrace.

Kitchen

Mandy dragged Koko to the castle kitchen and discarded her on the floor. The child remained in a bowing position for several minutes until a group of Moblins marched in with large sacks. They lazily threw the sacks on the floor, ripping open as piles of horrid materials spilled out: Moblin toenails, Bokoblin eyeballs, Octorok brains, Molduga guts, they brought body parts from any and every monster in their arsenal. Mandy was pleased when Koko covered her nose. No human would want to stand this stench for long.

"Here is your punishment." Mandy began. "You are going to cook a buffet using each and every one of these filthy demon parts. And it will be served to your village."

"Y-Y…You want me to serve this to my village? To Cottla?!"

"The people of Kakariko must pay for defying my will. If you refuse, Smaug will turn them all to cinders."

"B-But, th-this stuff is-"

"Horrendous, I know. That's why I make the Fire Soldiers cook my meals. I will return in three hours. After you're finished, you will personally lead my demons to Kakariko where it will be served. Don't even think of slacking off." She and her demons left, sealing the kitchen.

Pinching her nose, Koko looked over the hideous materials. The yellow nails of a Hinox, oozing eyes of a Bokoblin, the guano of Keese… no human could knowingly ingest these ingredients with a smile. But Koko already knew… With the food I can make from this, Kakariko won't go hungry for weeks. She shut her eyes tight and clapped hands in prayer, mustering every ounce of courage and passion in her heart. Chef Yuzu, I only wish you were around to taste this! Please, give me your strength!!

Underground Dock

A boat followed a river from the sea and sailed onto the castle moat. It sailed into a tunnel leading under the castle grounds, where it would park at an underground dock.

A black-haired man with green-lensed glasses and black clothes with a red scarf stood at the dock. He watched as a purple-haired woman stepped off the boat, wearing a black dress with gray sleeves and a skull on the chest, and black- and purple-striped stockings. The front of her hair and bangs almost resembled the fangs of a beast.

"You must be Queen Gaz." The man spoke in a droll tone, his teeth green. "My name is Nergal. I've been asked to show you to your quarters."

"Uck, I can smell the demon poo already." Gaz retorted. "It better not smell like this when I get up there!"

"Rest assured, we have already cleaned. We've also made sure there was plenty of space for your games. Mandy was strict in seeing you were comfortable."

"Then this is going to be a pleasant vacation."

"Indeed. Jeff, start carrying Gaz's luggage!" Nergal ordered to a large spider on the ceiling.

"You got it, Boss!" Jeff replied cheerily. "Oops, I mean, aye-aye, Captain! Gotta stay with the pirate theme, right?"

Mandy's adoptive son, a demon spider

JEFF

Nergal escorted Gaz up the stairs, entering a corridor to the castle. "Though I wouldn't think the newly-conquered abode of the Nightmare Queen is the ideal hotel."

"What, Mandy invited me to her crew and I figured I'd give it a shot. Being the queen of Planet Wisp isn't as exciting as I would've hoped. I mean, it was pretty cool at first, but it gets so redundant. I'm excited to try out these new drones Mandy promised me."

"Knowing your political reputation, it would be wise to keep your identity secret when going out. I recommend wearing this." Nergal presented a white-faced mask with purple hair and blank, black eyes.

Gaz put the mask on. Oddly enough, it went well with her own hair and meshed well with her face. "Hmm…I like it."

"Hey, Brooooo!" Gaz removed the mask as a blonde woman with curly pigtails swayed down the hall and slumped her arms over Nergal's shoulders. She wore a short white dress with a red bow around the waist and exposed cleavage. "Is this the new girl? Ooo, nice and goth, I bet you'll get along~"

"I'm not actually a goth." Gaz corrected. "I just like the colors. Who're you?"

"This is my little sister, Catherine." Nergal answered. "She's a succubus."

"Succubus? So, you two are demons?"

"Uh-huh!" Catherine released Nergal and brought out two bottles of rum. "Our father is one of the Underworld Demon Lords, Nergal, Sr.! And get this, we're also the cousins of Mandy's husband, so that almost makes us related!"

"Catherine's also a game developer at Fowles Electronics." Nergal Jr. mentioned. "You might not've heard of them."

"I know a couple of their games, actually." Gaz replied. "Like that creepy peeping tom game…"

"Hehe, that was me!" Catherine winked and made a "V" gesture! "Are you into that stuff, Gaz~?"

"Don't be crazy. So, where is Mandy, anyway?"

"She's going to be busy today." Nergal said. "But she'd like to make time for you tonight."

"I want all my consoles hooked up by the hour, or all your rations are mine for a week!"

"As you command, my 'Tallest.'"

"Hee hee." Gaz snickered. In truth, Nergal kind of looked like her brother, Dib, so she might enjoy bossing him around.

Outset Island

A News Rito had come to deliver a newspaper to the humble little island of Outset. When Biscuit Krueger seized the paper, her pupils shrunk in horror. "No way! Emperor Mandy… became Queen of Hyrule?! Grrrrr! This was NOT supposed to happen so soon! Not when I finally made progress with Cheren! Ugh…" She faced up at the Headstone Cliff, which concealed a hole to a deep underground. "If he finds out, he'll want to speak to Mandy himself. And worse, he might find out what's been happening to all his operatives. Urgh… but no matter what, I have to keep training him. I have to keep going until he's ripe."