Dr. Pickles

Veggie Beef Reef

The Ivory Castle parked next to the Ace Sailor as Jonny the Legoan quickly built a bridge connecting the two ships. The Kiddie Corn Crew crossed to battle the Marzipan Pirates. Corlan the Fishboy spat Water Bullets at Rallo, who dodged hastily and countered with soundwaves. Rallo was able to blow Corlan off the deck, but the Fishboy used his bending to bring up cyclones that tried to drill into Rallo. Since Corlan remained underwater to do this, Rallo got on a lifeboat and cut it to drop on the surface. He then dunked his afro underwater and transmitted soundwaves through the currents, amplifying them and ruining Corlan's hearing. The Fishboy surfaced in exhaust.

"Huaaaah!" O-Tama leapt to bash Soup with her staff, but the Twili sank in a Veil, got behind, and punched the ninja. Tama flipped up and used Shadow Clone, her three clones hopping around Soup to confuse her. Soup's eyes became as swirly as her cheeks, giving the Tamas the chance to triple-whack her. But once they were close, Soup's shadow gnashed the clones, poofing them and hurting the real Tama. Tama leapt away and pulled a dango from her cheek, tossing it for Spoon to eat. The shadow grew tame after swallowing it. "Can Soup have one, too?" the Twili asked, drooling. Tama gave her a dango, and Soup swallowed with a delighted expression. "Ahh…Soup have new favorite~"

Glonno the giant Glomourian leapt belly-first at Nel, the cavewoman countering with kicks that smashed his belly in. He slammed the deck to make shockwaves and knock Nel over, but she dealt a breakdance kick to Glonno's head. He reacted to grab her other leg when it came around, slamming her against the deck, then he grasped the other leg in attempt to pull them apart. The cavewoman was strong, so he couldn't tear them off immediately, and she mustered her willpower to spin herself, haul Glonno overhead, and slam him on his back. Nel caught his giant neck in a choke hold and strangled until he passed out.

Jonny built a tower on his ship, waving to Maggie cheerfully. Maggie glared and tried to snipe him, but Jonny kept retreating into his tower, peeping out of different windows. Cannons were shooting from the tower, so Maggie switched to Spring Bullets, which would bounce the cannonballs back and destroy the cannons. Jonny began to repair those cannons, starting from the bottom, so Maggie kept eye on the top cannon. Once she saw Jonny through the window, a keen shot knocked the Legoan's head off. As his body scrambled to recollect it, Maggie shot a grappling hook to his tower and flew over, entering his cannon window to beat the brat.

Sarborg the robot zoomed around Stewie with rocket boosters, launching to kick him when a chance presented. He wasn't knocked back much due to his durability, but she nimbly evaded his missiles. Instead, Stewie decided to drop an EMP bomb, causing Sarborg to short-circuit. He smirked, going to dismantle the robot, but Silla jumped in to blow Stewie away. To match the giant Harnitan's size, Stewie became a Hulk, his mighty form leaping through Silla's wind to deal a fearsome punch to Silla's face. The Harnitan child cried and bled, but this didn't stop Stewie from smacking her unconscious. He reverted to baby form and began to dismantle Sarborg.

"Aiyah!" Tama swung her staff at Nati, the tiny fairy dodging. "Oryah! Hoi!" Two more misses. "Nnnnnnn!" Tama aggressively swung, but Nati giggled at how easy it was to dodge. She sprinkled dust on the ninja, forcing Tama to close her eyes. Since her own sight was useless anyhow, Tama calmed herself and used only her ears. She listened for the motion of Nati's wings. The fairy had fluttered above her right when Tama whipped the staff down, catching Nati off guard and slamming her to the deck. "Oh?" Tama felt the impact and saw the grounded fairy. "Mmm!" No mercy, Tama stepped on her. "Mmm-mmm-mmm!" She jumped on Nati three times for good measure. However, it seemed Nati would not be getting up. "Yatta! O-Tama hath bested two foes! August'n wilt be proud!"

The Marzipan Pirates tied up all the defeated Kiddie Corn, and it seemed that their Ivory Castle has been captured. "Commander Pea has already gone after the captain." Stewie observed. "We'd best catch up with them."

"Why did we let tiny Augsus go all alone?!" cried Nel. "Nel feels so terrible!"

"If the captain isn't concerned, we probably don't need to worry. But we'd best get after him just in case."

The Veggie Beef Reef was a region of boiling water with colored reefs that resembled ingredients for a soup bowl. Kid Augustus unwrapped a new lollipop to signify the start of this venture. (Play "Snaky Chantey" from Donkey Kong Country!)

Stage 45: Veggie Beef Reef

Mission: Locate Dr. Pickles.

The water reached up to Augustus's ankles and filled his shoes. Such a problem wouldn't exist in his grown-up form, so he hoped this spell would end soon. Giant sentient carrots hopped over, but Augustus easily KO'ed them with his Gobstopper. He had to watch for deeper patches in the reef that would totally submerge his small body and burn him. A large gap separated him from the next reef, but there was a stalagmite sticking out. Augustus backtracked and found a large plumb, carrying it around the holes before tossing it onto the stalagmite.

Augustus jumped it to the next reef, seeing a band of Kokiri pirates in veggie clothes. The kids screamed and charged August like bullies, but he showed no concern as he smashed their faces in with the Gobstopper. He used the back of his Lemon Cutlass to KO them, but saw one of the Kokiri bouncing on a Spaghetti Snake. After besting the rider, Augustus took the snake as his own, Pogo-hopping along the reef. Broken ship parts were sticking out of the sea, and the snake could bounce high enough to land on them.

Augustus bounced a crow's nest, a floating plank, and some slanted masts before landing on a ledge outside a tall reef. Augustus bounced the snake along the ledge, reaching a tall stairway where giant pineapples were bouncing down. They jumped the platforms while the pineapples were in mid-bounce, before they could hit the platforms. The pineapples were being chucked by a Pianta, but Augustus sent the chubby dancer falling as punishment. They bounced up a few more platforms and reached a small field atop the reef. Broccoli Korok pirates appeared to be jigging to the song, but had to focus priorities on Augustus.

They whirled their maracas rapidly and charged, but Augustus's trusty snake flew over them and made it onto a tall pillar. The pillar had Bomb Onions that Augustus could drop down and explode the Koroks. When they were all defeated, Augustus could safely open a cage and take a chest. He remounted his snake and bounced some platforms to another reef, but sadly had to bid the snake farewell as the route led underwater. This particular water passage wasn't boiling, but he had to maneuver around the bubbling hot spots.

The current calmed when Augustus arrived at an open, underground cavern with a magic barrier. He saw numerous blue rings, save for one green one. He swam through the green first, then saw the next ring turn green, and thus swam through them all as indicated. However, a school of French fry fish (Fish Fries) were chasing him during this puzzle. He managed to keep away from them until the path opened, leading Augustus to a tunnel where he could resurface. The captain was on a reef with a Ringtrot bushel. By suckling a ring, he was able to skid along the surface at great speed.

Augustus ran to a small island with another bushel and rested. The central island of this area had a large cannon, but when Augustus ran to investigate, it required three keys. Figuring they had to be scattered around this open area, he ran to a tall island first. He had to climb a winding wall of spinach to reach the top, avoiding the green slimes clambering it. Once on top, he collected the first key. He sucked another Ringtrot and raced the water once more. Giant squashes rose to the surface—they exploded like mines, so August maneuvered around them.

He reached a small island with a bushel, but noticed the water around it wasn't boiling. He was able to dive underneath, delving into a deep tunnel. Pickeels (pickle eels) stuck out of holes to bite him, so he evaded those holes and grabbed the key at the bottom. He resurfaced, took a new Ringtrot, and raced to the next island. Rather, he raced to a watchtower, from which pirates were shooting cannon-melons. Augustus dodged them and snagged the ladder leading onto the tower. There were Floro Sapiens, along with an Eggplant Wizard.

The robed wizard tossed an eggplant grenade that would transform Augustus into such, but he dodged. August bounced his Gobstopper around the Sapiens to KO them. Afterwards, he ran to the Eggplant Wizard and cut him down, seizing his key. Augustus headed for the central cannon, activated it, and launched across the sea! He landed on a giant mushroom, bounced to another, one more, and landed on another island. Augustus looked into a water pit, where the gaping mouth of a giant Piranha Plant longed to munch something.

There were leaves growing from the soil, and Augustus picked them for turnips. He tossed them down into the Piranha, but it wouldn't chew such small produce. Augustus had a harder time picking one of them, so he applied Haki—he pulled a giant turnip out, lifted it, and threw it down. The Piranha stretched out and chomped, and August could use its closed mouth as a platform. He approached a ledge overlooking a horde of Colliwobbles, floating cauliflowers with eyes. Augustus jumped the large vegetables to a small platform with a Puffsicle. Seeing the air full of Colliwobbles above him, Augustus bit the popsicle, inflated, and floated up while maneuvering around the vegetables.

August deflated and landed on a tall reef with a garden of Bok Choy. The Choy grew angry eyes and leapt at August with karate chops. He dodged the Chop-Choy and sliced them with his sword, and afterwards slid down a celery waterslide. He landed on a reef with a single Pianta. "'hoy there, young man. Welcome to the Pianta Chuckster Grounds. Have fun~!" With that, he flung Augustus to the next reef like a catapult. This reef had a large and short Pianta walking in circles. He would wait until the large one was aligned with the next reef before approaching and being flung—the Pianta threw him a short distance, causing Augustus to splash in the boiling water, and he scrambled to swim back to land.

It turns out, the short Pianta was the wiser choice in flying to the next reef. This reef was divided in a fork: the left side had a Pianta while the right had a Bomb Onion. The following reef was blocked by a lettuce wall, so August would have to pick the bomb, run to the other side, and toss the bomb to the Pianta, who would chuck it to blow up the lettuce. August could then be chucked himself. From here, there were rows of parallel platforms where Piantas were chucking bombs to one-another. August had to approach his Pianta when the opening presented itself, flying across without hitting any bombs.

On the next reef, the Pianta was running around in a hurry, August dodging before he would be chucked accidentally. His destination was a stairway of giant balloons, but to the left was an optional platform with a cage. He would have to time it carefully so he approached the Pianta at the perfect angle. He successfully flung to the optional platform and freed a Nimbi prisoner. A Pianta returned August to the main platform, where he would have to make the tricky alignment to the balloon stairs. The Pianta chucked, and his momentum grew up the popping balloons—he hit another Pianta that chucked him to a wide reef.

There stood a laboratory labeled 'Pickles Works.' Two Piantas were chucking a watermelon in an arched fashion from either side of the flagpole. Augustus approached the left one to be chucked, but he simply flew over the pole—before hitting the melon and both falling. Augustus returned the melon to restart its endless chucking. He would have to be chucked just when the melon would be over the pole. Once he did, his flight ceased and he fell onto the top, swapping Big Mom's flag with a Marzipan flag. (End song.)

"Oi! Is someone water-skiing?" a Pianta asked, pointing his stubby hand to sea. Seven figures appeared to be sliding along an Ice Road, conjured by Weiss.

"This place looks important." Weiss observed. "Too bad it has lax security!" She tossed icicles at the Piantas and KO'ed them.

"Ahh! About time you dorks arrived!" Augustus waved his arms. "Get over here!"

"There's a kid over there." Kokichi pointed. "Think he's one of the Kiddie Corn kids?"

"No, that's Augustus." Carol replied awkwardly. The Luxury Pirates crossed the shallow water and joined the age-regressed captain. "So, still tiny, huh?"

"Enjoy it while it lasts, brat." Augustus tossed his lollipop away. "With any hope, Dr. Pickles will fix me."

"Who's that?" Pacifica asked.

"The old coot that lives in this lab. He's the Big Moms' main scientist, but he's a pretty nice guy. …If a little wonky."

"NOW I've got you, Augustus!" an echoey voice called.

The group faced skyward, seeing a tall, Amazon-like woman in white garb. Cassiopea descended and splashed the ground. "It's the commander!" Ciel exclaimed.

"I half expected her to catch up sooner." August replied.

"Augustus von Fizzuras, you are under arrest for crimes against the Big Mom Pirates, and furthermore, to your family. If you want even a chance at being a good boy, you can surrender and come quietly."

"Awww, wook at wittle Pea acting like a big girl." the young captain cooed.

"She looks a lot bigger than you, dude." Carol remarked in worry.

"Do not test me, Augustus! If you do not surrender, I will NOT hold back!"

"If you're gonna ask that of me, you oughta do it with your own face!"

"Hmph… so be it!"

The Luxury Pirates watched as the woman pulled off her mask, anticipating what she could be hiding underneath. In a flash of light, her Amazon-like figure shrank into the body of a gentle, 8-year-old girl. She was a few inches taller than Augustus and wore a white dress that highlighted her innocence. The operatives were taken aback by the remarkable difference between forms, even though they were aware of it beforehand.

Also as opposed to her adult form's strictness, Pea seemed to be crying and folding her hands. "Please come back, Augustus. Grandma is going crazy. She's turning all our citizens into monsters! If she doesn't get happy, she'll do the same to the people in my hometown, and-and everyone else! But if you turn yourself in, maybe she'll be a little happier. Please, Augustus."

"You must mean the monsters that just appeared on the other worlds." Carol replied. "And those are your own people? I can't believe she would do something so terrible."

"Does it have anything to do with that candy everyone eats at church?" Augustus asked. "If so, I wonder if Dr. Pickles would know how to fix this. We were on our way to see him anyway, so let's ask."

"No way!" Pea stomped. "Grandma's watching, Augustus! She knows everything we're doing! If I go against her orders for even a second, I'll be punished. Just like Uncle Ernesto…"

"Ernesto? Wasn't he captured by the Sky Gods?"

"He escaped, but his soul was eaten because he was against the Titans. I'm scared, Augustus."

"Pea, this is exactly why I left the crew. Between Grandma and Great Grandma, not to mention some of the others like Hisoka and Lucky, there are too many nutjobs in this crew. Trying to infect the world with candy, turning people into monsters, that ain't why I became a pirate! True pirating is about freedom, not all the crazy shit these Emperors do!"

"Preferably not the Sky Gods' way of freedom, but sure." Ciel shrugged.

"But I wasn't crazy, was I?" Pea asked. "I thought you loved me, Augustus."

Augustus walked up and held her hands, smiling sweetly. "Of course I love you, Pea. You weren't anything like most of these freaks, so I felt comfortable around you. When I left, I was sad that I wouldn't get to see you anymore, but you were plenty strong to handle your own, anyway. And you're smart, too, so if you don't like what Grandma is doing, then work with us."

There was a time when Pea would take Augustus's words to heart, when she would look up at his charming eyes and let his wisdom as a big brother enlighten her mind. …She hadn't felt the same feeling from looking down at a naïve boy's little eyes. "Boo!" She pushed him on the ground like a bully. "And how'm I supposed to believe a puny little boy can beat Grandma?!"

"She's got a point." Kokichi replied. "I mean, he's smaller than a Pea!"

"That won't matter as soon as Dr. Pickles or stupid Pilaf fixes me!" Augustus argued. "But no matter what age we are, me and my crewmen are super strong."

"Fine. Then they can prove it." Pea placed her white mask back on and stretched back to Amazon height, the boy craning his neck back to see her face. "Which of your crewmen dare to challenge me?"

"Uh…pick any one you like!" August directed at the operatives.

"SINCE WHEN ARE WE YOUR CREWMEN?!" they shouted.

"Very well. I'll pick… that one." She pointed at Carol.

"WAT!" Carol turned pale.

Cassiopea opened a portal on her hand and sucked Carol in. "CAROL!" Ciel leapt and grabbed his friend, letting himself be sucked in as well. Pea sucked herself into the portal, which vanished with a pop.

The three landed on a platform in a swirling sub-dimension, stars glittering a blue veil. "So, you wish to challenge me as well?" she asked Ciel.

"Well, of course. Carol is far too weak to face a Pirate Commander on her own."

"Wow, how faithless!" Carol flushed.

"Excuse me, Carol," Ciel smiled slyly, "but as your 'butler,' it will not do well on my reputation to let you face such a dangerous foe alone."

"Sigh…hm hm hm!" Carol giggled. "Then don't let me down! That's an order!"

"As you wish." Ciel lifted her onto his shoulders. "I shall not let you down!"

"How charming." Pea shook her head. "Let's see how you fair against my masks. This one, I stole from a spacebender from New Zathura." (Play "Executor's Knight" from Ni no Kuni!)

Boss fight: Minister of Beans, Dinner Commander, CASSIOPEA JADES

Tip: On Easy Mode, Pea's riddles will be related to stuff in the story, while Hard Mode has riddles about the greater Gameverse.

Cassiopea soared around the space and cast Starbursts with lightning speed. Ciel watched for their movements carefully and dodged with monstrous speed, keeping Carol balanced on his shoulders as she mashed her laptop keyboard. With sturdy focus, she was materializing a solid hologram of a giant Game-and-Watch. When Cassiopea targeted it, Ciel intercepted her Starbursts with kicks, protecting Game-and-Watch long enough for Carol to finish. A 2D trampoline was uploaded for Game to bounce up to Pea and bash her with a 2D frying pan, grounding the Kokiri. Pea kicked the Program away, then flew to the kids to stomp them, but they dodged as Ciel pelted her with bullets. Cassiopea willed a giant Shooting Star to descend on them, and though they dodged, the shockwave knocked them down. Game-and-Watch returned to Pea and bashed her with a '5' hammer, which electrified the woman.

With that stun, Ciel released Carol and pounced Pea's face, firmly clutching her mask. He tugged vigorously, but Pea tried to pull him off in turn. With Gamen's added support, Ciel succeeded, Pea shrinking back to child size. As Ciel fell, he dealt a brutal kick to Pea's head, but she suffered little recoil as she grabbed his leg and threw him to Carol. "Her child form looks powerless, but my kick barely injured her." Ciel observed, picking Carol back up. "She lives up to her title as a Commander." Pea morphed into a large sphinx to tear up Gamen, then pranced away from the kids. She ran around for a bit before pouncing, but Ciel ducked them and shot Pea's stomach, the sphinx retreating once more.

Pea rooted herself and faced them, conjuring an impenetrable barrier. "I am the white that thrives under black. I cut down all in my path. What am I?" She began to charge an energy beam in her mouth. Knowing of her Sphinx Fruit power, they tried to think of any possible solution to the riddle.

"Might you be… a Glomourian?" Ciel asked, knowing they were a white-skinned species that lived on a dark planet. The barrier shattered, so Ciel kicked her in the jaw and tried to pin the sphinx down. Carol summoned three Gamens to shoot 2D flamethrowers at Pea, burning her face before she shook Ciel off and leapt away.

She reverted to Kokiri form and withdrew a red mask with white eyes and a gem on its forehead. "This mask was made from a dying shadowbender from a magic planet!" Pea donned the mask and became a tall, red-robed being with ghostly black hair. She sank in a Veil and slithered underneath the kids, Ciel performing a terrific leap to avoid her sneaky attack. He shot guns directly down when the girl reemerged, and Carol made a Game-and-Watch parachute to slow their descent, tightly clutching Ciel's head in her legs. Pea stretched multiple Shade Fists up, so Carol leaned them to maneuver around the air.

Pea kept evading Ciel's bullets, but Carol was also dropping Gamens down to whack her with keys. The angered Kokiri dissolved into a Veil as a shadow eclipsed the whole floor. Carol quickly downloaded a digital shield to protect the two, and they let their selves fall in the Shadow Shockwave. Pea's shadow viciously gnashed all the Gamens and chomped through the shield, but the duo backed out in time as Carol had a Gamen use Judge-4, slashing the shadow as Pea emerged. Ciel pounced the witch and tugged her mask, Pea Veiling to try and shake him off, but the demon kept a firm grip and unmasked her. Pea reverted to normal, taking another kick from the earl.

Pea became a sphinx and pranced away, spat a beam that they dodged, resumed prancing, shot another beam, then pounced the two. Ciel and Carol were slammed against the "wall," Pea sinking her teeth in the demon, so Carol quickly downloaded another Gamen to use Judge-2, while also bashing the sphinx's head with her laptop. Pea released and retreated, conjuring another barrier. Carol got off Ciel to let himself treat his wound. "I do not matter, except in matter. Unleash me, and you will not matter. What am I?"

As she charged her beam, the two desperately tried to think of an answer, using "matter" as the keyword. "…Oh, I remember Mason's story!" Carol gasped. "Maybe it's… the Netherverse?" The barrier disabled, so Ciel kicked Pea and held her down. Carol formed another Gamen and used Judge-1, which did nearly no damage to Pea and caused Gamen himself to derez.

"What bloody attack was that?!" Ciel questioned.

"Game-and-Watch's Judge attack is random; I hope to at least land a '9' attack!"

Pea shook them off and swiped her claw at Ciel's stomach before leaping away. She had stolen the white mask back and transformed into a spacebender again. She tried to catch them in Blocks, Ciel running and shooting bullets. The witch ascended to the sky, raining Fallen Stars, so Carol quickly downloaded a 2D rocket. She made Gamens to protect the rocket from stars until it was ready to launch, flying up and exploding against Pea. She was weakened enough for Carol to download several 2D trampolines in the air, which Ciel bounced up to reach the witch. Pea protected her mask, but Ciel instead chose to return her earlier favor and bite into her neck, his demon instincts growing. Pea frantically pulled and threw him off, slamming Ciel to the floor.

Pea morphed into a sphinx, now much larger in her adult form. She fell paws-first, chi building up, and the two were blown by a shockwave, smashing them to the wall as they coughed blood. Pea spat an array of Starbursts, Ciel grabbing Carol and dodging hastily. The sphinx snarled and pursued, Ciel dashing faster than ever. The speed made it hard for Carol to type, making several mistakes and having to backspace, but against all odds, she was able to download the Game-and-Watch Octopus. The 2D beast intercepted the sphinx and bound her in its tentacles. Ciel pounced the mask, tugged forcefully, and yanked it off. Pea shrank back to her child sphinx form.

A barrier appeared, preventing the octopus from attacking, so Carol disabled it. "I reap what I do not sow. I-"

"Grim Reaper." They chorused the first answer that popped in. The barrier dispelled, so Ciel lay another beatdown. Carol had three Gamens attack the commander, and one of them used Judge-8, briefly freezing Pea as Ciel did a forceful kick to her face. Pea escaped, became a Kokiri, and withdrew another mask of a polygonal face with a triangular mustache. "This mask was a very greedy earthbender!" Pea became a muscular figure with wavy green hair. She displayed earthbending and melted the ground into mud, using waves to bury the two. Carol held onto Ciel as he mustered his strength to swim them out of the dirt, but Pea kept trying to bury them. Carol downloaded a 2D boat to keep them afloat on the earth.

Pea dove underneath and shot up from beneath the boat, but Ciel anticipated this and already leapt up with Carol. The boat derezzed, and Pea re-submerged, waiting for them to land. They were descending on another parachute, but Pea would resurface. Remembering Pea's description, Carol dropped a wad of cash in the mud. Pea's head peeped up and was attracted by the wad, eyes sparkling with greed; perhaps that was her victim's conscience speaking. It worked in their favor as Ciel dropped on her and tugged the mask from behind. Pea's muscular strength made this difficult, so Carol dropped a Game-and-Watch to help. It dealt Judge-2, sadly not what Carol hoped, but it caused Pea to lose her grip on Ciel and lose her mask.

The ground re-solidified as Ciel kicked Pea away. "Looks like Cash Combat still had one ounce of juice left!!" Carol proclaimed proudly.

"At least I got this!" Pea yelled, withdrawing her White Mask.

"How did you get that back?" Ciel asked.

"You lost it in the sand pit! I'm tearing you bullies up once and for all!" Pea donned the mask and grew tall again. "Time for my Awakening!" She drew a syringe and injected herself. With a surge of power, her upper body attained its sphinx form, she grew two extra arms, and three tails.

"Good thing Sebastian isn't here. He would never let me maim such a majestic cat!" Ciel removed his eyepatch and unleashed a surge of chi, surrounding his body in black aura as his shoulders grew sharp. With Demon Earl Fury, he clashed his own clawed fingers against Pea's, the woman screaming as her belly was sliced. A barrier blocked him, and Pea's tails glowed as her wounds healed. Ciel could only restrain his Fury and snarl.

"My chi brings death, yet I am denied my own element. The heart was where I rest. Who am I?" Pea rained giant stars upon them as they tried to think of an answer. The shockwave of a star knocked them over, and another crushed Ciel, but the demon withstood.

"Um, chi, death…deathbending… Zeref?" Carol guessed the only deathbender she knew. The barrier dispelled, and Ciel zipped behind and pounced Pea's tails, biting one and violently tearing it off. The hybrid growled and kicked him in the head, showering Ciel with star bullets. She turned to Carol, the girl gasping as she was about to suffer a fatal kick, but Ciel pushed her away in time and took the kick himself. He grabbed her leg however and sliced it off at the base, then Pea trapped him in a Block and exploded it.

She created another barrier, her tails glowing as she reattached her leg and healed it. "I have no brain, yet I am abundant with creativity. My ideas are not mine, but others come to take them. What am I?"

"A T.V.?" Carol answered. The barrier was still active and Starbursts flew at Carol, Ciel whacking them away with powerful claw-swipes. "Ergh…ah! Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends!" The barrier stopped, and Ciel zipped between Pea's legs with blinding speed, scratching both, then he leapt to bite and yank off another tail. The Kokiri cried and blew both kids against the "wall" from the force. She rapidly spun and burned a beam along the floor, unceasing as Ciel reactively dodged and helped Carol do the same. After half a minute, Pea ceased and created another barrier.

"I am a monster that is like the sun: melting your precious sweets and bringing despair to your hearts. Who am I?" She was inhaling deeply, building up a powerful beam that was bound to annihilate them.

"I would bet Grandma came up with that riddle," Ciel remarked, "for Sheila Frantic." Correct he was, for the barrier vanished. Ciel pounced her remaining tail, and Pea viciously clawed her own rear to tear the demon apart. Carol sent another Game-and-Watch, which Pea didn't feel threatened by in the least and kept cutting Ciel. Carol hoped for the best as Gamen used his Judge attack-

RIIIIING! The '9' finally appeared, striking Cassiopea with such great power that she slammed against the spatial wall. A rift was blown open, sucking them all back to the real world. Ciel finished tearing the tail off in the air, throwing it elsewhere, but he and Pea splashed in the veggie sea. Weiss dove in to save Ciel, his Fury dying off in the water, and Augustus swam for Pea. He pulled off her mask, shrinking Pea back to child size, though she still retained her hybrid form. Both kids were brought to the surface. (End song.)

Carol landed on her rear in the shallow water. Weiss came to rest Ciel beside her, the young demon gasping for breath. As his blurry vision came to, he could make out a familiar shape: a blonde head with pigtails. "Lizzy…?" he muttered softly. However, the pigtails changed into puffy buns, and Carol's form became clear.

"Great work, partner!" Carol beamed, holding a hand above him.

"…That's an odd angle to offer your hand to me."

"It's a high five, silly."

"Oh…I didn't know we did those." Ciel weakly touched her palm.

Carol returned to sitting as Ciel sat up. Both looked to where Pea was brought up, being chained up as she weakly squirmed and growled. "Wow… I can't believe we beat a commander." Carol's heart beat with excitement. "Just think, I was barely even a rookie operative when I first fought the Big Mom Pirates. Between New Galaxia and this, I've been through so much and I've gotten so strong!"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Ah, right…" Carol blushed. "I really needed you for that fight, too. Just like I needed Dillon all those years ago. I guess I'm not the girl who can handle herself. But as long as I'm still useful for my team, that's not so bad."

"Indeed…" Ciel smiled, feeling warmed by her enthusiasm. Even though she wasn't strong, he wouldn't peg her as weak either. "Hey, Carol… can I tell you something?"

"Uh-huh?"

"Well… back when I was human… I was engaged to a girl named Elizabeth. She was very kind and reliable, but… after this demon incident happened, I had to bid her farewell. …And, not to give the wrong idea, but you sort of remind me of her."

"I… do?" Carol lightly blushed. "Was she a computer expert?"

"We didn't have computers back then. She was a swordswoman, and far stronger than you."

"Okay." Her face fell.

"However… when I'm around you, Carol… I feel as if Lizzy is still beside me. Wanting to watch over me."

"Awwww. You must've really loved her."

"I never said anything like that, don't go making wild accusations!"

"Whatever you say." Carol reached to pinch his cheek. "But if that's how you feel, then I'm happy to be here for you."

Ciel shared a smile with her. The two pushed their selves off the ground, in which Carol began to shudder from an awkward sensation. "Ohhhh!" Carol shook her rear. "This soupy water got all in my underwear! It feels like I soiled myself, it's so disgusting!!"

"Get a grip on yourself, there's a washer in the submarine. Besides, you aren't the one who's weak to water."

"No, but you're the one who's gonna wash my clothes!"

"After I nearly died for you?! I'm flippin' bleeding!"

"Master," Sebastian scolded, "a good butler cares not for their own health, but for the comfort of his master."

"And where were YOU?! Don't tell me a good butler can't breach a simple sub-dimension!"

"I don't recall hearing your order."

"Grrrrr!"

"Just keep Pea under wraps, ya twerps." Augustus ordered, marching toward the laboratory. "I'll be with the doc."

The lab opened with automatic glass doors. The inside was like an ordinary office building, until Augustus got around the whacky inventions that looked like crazy children's toys. He saw the man in question at a desk. He was a chubby man with skinny limbs, but large hands and shoes, along with a big nose and pale hair that stood in frantic spikes. He was rapidly tapping a keyboard. "Another order for twenty—thirty-thousand more cupcakes, hop to it on that icing, sprinkles sprinkles, any more sprinkles, maybe visit the sprinkle store…" His tone was that of a tired father working late at night, and his five-o'clock shadow and baggy eyes were a sign of this.

Augustus approached the grown-up. "Dr. Pickles?"

"H-H-Hey kid, wanna play in the ballpit, Uncle Stu is busy now, h-here eat this." He tossed Augustus a baby milk bottle and rolled his chair to a different keyboard.

Augustus was half-tempted to drink the milk—he remembered he was a big boy and tossed it aside! "Uncle Stuuuu!" He stomped over and tugged the man's pants. "I-I mean, Dr. Pickles, I need help! Do you know anything about Grandma's monsters?"

"Titans Titans Titans," his murmured words melded together from his quick speech, "Grandma's body made from captured Titans, infectious DNA that turns others into Titans, only when Grandma says." He sipped a coffee, the cup trembling in his hands. "NHC10 stabilizes the Titan transformations make them strong, eating Grandma's DNA without NHC10 makes imperfect Titans, useless-useless…"

Augustus's 5-year-old brain spun from the rampant information, confusing the youth. "Is there any way to fix the Titans?"

"No known cure, would take years, terrible-terrible fate," he grasped his head and shook, "what've I done, I didn't want this, this wasn't what I wanted to do with life, gotta live with your mistakes, gotta keep moving." He rolled to the next desk and drew a quick blueprint.

Augustus toddled after him. "But I think I might know some way! I know a couple guys who are timebenders. What if you had Time Chi, could you make a cure with that?"

"Timebending centered around the brain, a drug made with concentrated chi could revitalize cognitive functions, reversing the Gigantifying more work, takes years…"

"But you'd help us, right?"

"Sigh, sure kid, what'ver you say, eat your vegetables before dinner…"

"Thank you, Uncle Stu!" Augustus hugged the grown-up's leg. …Realizing this, he let go and brushed off. "Man, I hate being a twerp. Uncle Stu, can you fix me, too? Pilaf turned me little with his power, I wanna be big again!"

"Did you drink your bottle, kid?"

"Bottles are for babies!"

"New Super Growth Formula, helps kids mature faster, rids unnatural age-regression, countermeasure for Pilaf's Devil Fruit…"

"Huh?" Curious, Augustus returned to the discarded bottle and picked it up. With embarrassment, he suckled the bottle. He felt himself grow taller as his muscles developed. His child clothes poofed back to his jeans, vest, and boots, and his vision darkened when his sunshades returned. "HELL YEAH, BABY! I'm back in business!"

"Sure-sure, good job, Champ." Stu murmured. "Researched all the family's Devil Fruits, got cures ready 'case something goes wrong with their Awakening, happens all the time…"

"Really? Mind if I take a couple with me?"

Augustus returned outside, the operatives surprised to see him full grown again. He approached the chained Pea and fed her a pill. Her squirming subsided as her sphinx head compressed into her innocent human head. "You can uncuff her now."

"What?" Weiss asked. "She's still our enemy!"

"Nah, I don't think so." With that, he was handed the keys, unlocking Pea's chains gently.

Pea felt a pair of warm arms embrace her. She slowly awoke to Augustus's charming face. He possessed the aura and reliability she had once known in her big cousin. "Well, Pea, looks like my crewmen were a bit too much for you. And just imagine I got a ton more."

"Except we're not your crewmen." Pacifica noted.

"I don't wanna have to lock you up, Pea." Augustus pulled out a green lollipop. "So, I'll ask you one more time. You wanna keep serving Grandma and hope she doesn't make any more Titans? Or do you wanna take her down and stop anyone else from getting hurt? We'll make a cure for the Titans and put this whole nightmare behind us."

"Augustus…" Whenever she lay in his arms like this, Pea always felt safe from the nightmares. She felt that nothing bad could happen with him around. "…" With a warm smile, she took the lollipop and tasted it.

"Ally secured!" Carol cheered.

"But just a fair warning, your other crewmen might've been terribly injured by my own." August said.

"That's alright, they'll get over it. But could I ask for a favor, Augustus?"

"What is it?"

"I…I want you to beat up Uncle Tsao!" Pea turned hot with anger. "He hurt Uncle Ernesto! I really wanna teach him a lesson!"

"Leave it to me, Pea! I'll scramble that chicken!" Augustus raised his cousin to the sky, tossing her up and down as Pea giggled.

The child's joy reached the hearts of Sector $. Like the Hope Pirates and many others in this war, Pea was simply an innocent child dragged into unfortunate circumstances. She wanted this war to end just as much as the KND. Perhaps soon, they could grant her wish.

The Marzipans were happy to hear everything went okay. Augustus welcomed the inevitable hug from Nel, along with Tama's smaller arms around his legs. "August'n! O-Tama hath defeated two foes on her own!"

"Ya did? Great job, Tama!"

"Hai! The fairy dust beneath her feet is proof of victory!" She showed the smashed dust on her sandals.

"OH GOSH, NATI!" Pea gasped. "I mean, I know she'll self-heal, but poor girl!"

"O-Tama, we do not squash fairy kids!" Augustus scolded. "I didn't make you Junior Babysitter to hurt little fairies."

"O-Tama is shamed…" She bowed her head in disgrace.

Sunny Day

Mason received a call on his phone, sitting up on his bed and answering. "Yoohooooo! Maseyfairy! I just defeated a Commander, and I'm adding it to your bill~"

"Get real, Carol. I beat a Commander, too."

"Yeah, but you're a strong bender! I, on the other hand, used little more than my itty-bitty fingers!" She wiggled her fingers for emphasis. "THAT'S how good I am."

"Carol, this isn't the time. …Something happened to Sheila's mom."

Horror was quick to replace Carol's pride. "W…What?! Has she been captured?!"

"It's… a little worse than that."

Pawtucket Pat lay motionless in his chains. However, the Pawtucket Patriot on his hat, given life by Sherry's chi, smirked wickedly.

Luna Nova

Queen Sherry appeared atop the roof of the school, stunning the witches speechless. "So, it seems Sunny Fist is aware of her mother's… improvement." She bore a sadistic grin at the sight of the defective Titan. "She will be here any moment… Isn't she just atrocious, Akko?"

"Darn right! I HATE that Sunny Fist!" The Akko soul jumped out and punched and kicked the air. "I hope she gets fat and dies just like her mom!"

"That's exactly why I brought her here, so you and your fellow students can view this filthy family for what they truly are. Sheila Frantic will drown in agony! Her soul, her light will fade to utter nothing once she lays eyes on her mother! Then, I will humiliate her just the same." Sherry levitated ten cupcakes in her psychic. "Sheila and Marine Frantic… once stars of the pirate world, now my mutated playthings! I will ruin everything that they were and show the universe!"

"AHAHAHAHA! I'm cracking up just thinking about it! Make them so ugly that even toilets wouldn't welcome them! I can't wait!"

"Uhn-uhn-uhn, ol' Jiggy-Witchy be readin' mah mind." Lucky was brushing himself on Marine's mutated tail. "He gon' like havin' two seggy ringy-whirlies to sciggle his nether regions."

"Why did you say that last part normally?!" Goomnut shouted.

"Quit fooling around, Lucky, and go stop those witches!" Sherry ordered.

"Shallux, Mama, mah homies'll squishy-squash them. Jus' lemme honk the ring-whirly, it'll make Shiny-Ball look all the more honky."

"I suppose I can't argue with that." The queen shrugged.

One would look at the Marine Titan and think her to be completely brain-dead. Even if that were true, a desire burned in her heart. She…ila…She…ila… This one word repeated in her broken brain. Whoever this 'She-ila' was, her brain would register her appearance… and she would rely only on instinct from then on.