Let's begin this chapter with a narration from Patrick Stewart.
Chapter -7: Unregistered Timebending
Somewhere on the sea
All these big timeskips are REALLY starting to confuse me. I can't tell which parts of the Negatives' stories take place during which parts of MASKED. I didn't even read MASKED very well, the stages were WAY too long, I just skimmed them. I assumed nothing entirely major happened, but I'll have to refresh my memory. So it looks like Nerehc got drunk on Tortuga Island, and then the pirates deemed him a sissy and had him thrown overboard. He found Cheren's Mirror Shield and encountered him in Japan, where they got in another fight. Now, Nerehc and the Spanish kid, Pablo are adrift at sea, in another scene that was also in MASKED, but will include a different touch for this story.
Nerehc and Pablo were back on their little rowboat, drifting along an empty part of the vast sea, with Nerehc still looking frustrated over his latest defeat with Cheren. "Sigh, I can't leave that do-goody Cheren alone for 1 second without him being able to turn into several new forms. Is that just the special treatment he gets in this dimension?"
"No sé. (I dunno.)" Pablo said.
"Sigh, I shouldn't even be trying to worry about Cheren. All I wanna do is get the heck outta here. …Of course, that's why I went after Cheren to begin with. Still, if I don't get back, Mom's gonna fry me to a crisp. There's GOT to be a way back."
"Tal vez si deja de tratar de luchar con Cheren, se le puede decir cómo volver. No veo el momento de la lucha contra él, Señor. (Maybe if you stop trying to fight with Cheren, he can tell you how to get back. I do not see the point in fighting him, Mister.)"
Nerehc clutched Pablo by the shirt and yelled in his face, "DUDE! LEARN ENGLISH! LEARN!! ENGLISH!!"
"English."
"Wah!" Nerehc flinched when the Zoni suddenly appeared behind him. …Not that he recognized the creatures.
"English…"
Nerehc exchanged a confused glance with Pablo. "Um… y-yes, I would LIKE him… to learn English."
"English… ENGLISH!…" the Zonis' eyes grew wide.
"Um…"
"STOP… THE ENGLISH!"
"Um, I was only saying 'cause I can't understand-" Nerehc was given a shock by the Zoni, and he fell unconscious.
Kingdom of Darkness; Derse
Nerehc found himself in a strange city of tall, purple buildings under a pitch-black sky. When he stood, he saw that a purple jumpsuit with a three-swirl symbol, that lined up like a triangle, was over his body. "What…What is this place?"
So Nerehc wandered mindlessly around this city, jumping many buildings, and seeing the place was populated by shadowy black chess-piece creatures. A large purple castle sat in the distance, but before going, he spotted two particular chess-guys reading a newspaper, and he jumped down behind them. "Hey, the Queen's got a new prisoner. Some guy that fell on Derse a few weeks ago."
"Was it a salamander?"
"No, it's… a human."
"Human? You mean those things with the snow-white skin?"
"No, this one has a light-brownish color. …Like that kid."
"Huh?" the two finally noticed Nerehc, and the Negative child immediately took out the right one, then kicked the left one down before standing on and aiming his sword at him.
"Hey." He grinned innocently. "You mind telling me the name of this planetoid?"
"Um… it's Derse."
"Ahh, Derse. And, how would one get into that castle?"
"Um… try knocking?"
"Okay. Lemme try." He bent down and lightly tapped the guy's forehead with his knuckles. "Knock…" followed by a punch that knocked him out, "KNOCK. Yeah, that doesn't work for me. I prefer to get creative about it." With that, Nerehc turned a few more corners of the town, where more black creatures tried to shoot him on his way to the castle. They were all very terrible shots, and Nerehc was able to slice them all in seconds. They were probably aiming their guns upward, or backwards.
When Nerehc made it to the front door of the castle, he decided to try what the chess man suggested: he gently knocked on the door, and said, "Knock-knock."
A tiny slot opened to reveal a black chess's furrowed white eyes. "Who's there?" he responded.
"Shocking."
"Shocking who?"
"It's shocking that I was going to do this." With that, Nerehc zapped the guard through the slot and afterwards used lightning to blow the door open. "Well… not really."
Nerehc charged into the first hall as several guards were already coming to shoot him, but Nerehc swiftly sped around and sliced them all. There was one guard remaining, so Nerehc threw his sword and stuck him to the wall by his collar. "Where's the prison block?" he demanded.
"Downstairs. I think the stairs leading downward should help you."
"Okay, Sarcastic." With that, Nerehc knocked the guard out and pulled his sword back before heading to the nearest staircase. He slid down the stairs into a hallway with several prison cells, and apparent criminals behind them, mostly white guys. Nerehc looked at a sign on the ceiling that read Minor criminals. There was an intersecting hall that read Major criminals/Refused to pay taxes, and straight ahead was a door labeled, Prisoners so special that the Queen just has to see them. Why are they so special?
Nerehc nodded (disbelieved) and sped into that door, only to appear in a smaller hall with another door, labeled Door 2. He sped forward, and found Door 3, then passed 'Nother Door, then into Yet Another One, then into We Sure Love Doors, then finally reached a room with a large, secured door labeled Finally, You Made It. Nerehc peeked into the small window to see what was up.
Sitting on one end of the room was a pitch-black queen, wearing a black crown and rather colorful getup, and she was facing who Nerehc assumed was the human. He couldn't get a good look at him, but he was baldheaded, and a slight mustache and beard. "Who is he?…"
The queen stood. "I'll return to bring you dinner." So with that, she left through an alternate door in the back of the cell.
The mystery man closed his eyes and hung his head down. "Well… I didn't think I'd have anymore visitors here."
Nerehc gasped. Seems he'd been noticed after all…
"Don't be alarmed. I don't have any benefit to ratting you out. …My name is Gnaa."
"Gnaa? Negatar Gnaa? The one who destroyed the universe?"
"The very same. The darkness inside my heart was too strong for me to handle. I thought I, the Master of Dark Elements, had total control, but I was a fool. Thanks be to Morgan and my Positive for pulling me out."
"Yeah, you sounded pretty messed up in my mom's story."
"Your… mother?"
"Yeah, Lehcar. Ganondorf's daughter."
"So you're Ganondorf's grandson… hmph. Seems like only yesterday when he banished me into that chaos dimension. Ahhhhh, those were the days. I was the most popular character on the KND Fan Forums. How has everyone been?"
"Oh, good, good. Depthcharge started a new series, bunch of One Piece characters are being added to the wiki, there's also this girl obsessed with Smash Brothers, and the critics finally accepted Gamewizard's too awesome. Anyway, lot of questions I wanna ask. First of all, is Legend of Korra canon to this series, or-"
"No. That Tarrlok thing during Heroes Together was just a bit."
"Didn't think so. Okay, so, um… what happened to Arceus?"
"I… don't know. When Arceus's body exploded, I was blown into a dimension far beyond my limits. I've wandered this realm for 20 years, trying to find a way back… until, just 3 weeks ago, I was captured on this moon and locked up here. It seems the very presence of a human here… makes people afraid."
"But, if you're here, that means your Positive…"
"No. He is not. Spirits and the Spirit World are one that exists in all worlds or realms. As the Avatar and Negatar are half-spirits, the dimension-hopping rule doesn't apply to us. But other factors do, such as our lifespan or age factor. That's why, for 100 years, I didn't age a day."
"Well, you must feel lucky. Not having a life totally determined by your Positive." Nerehc stated angrily.
"Care to elaborate?"
"My life's been a real MESS lately because of my Positive. I'm suddenly BLOWN into this alternate dimension, it happened earlier while I was shrinkified, before you know it, Dumbo's going to get himself killed."
"Hmmm… it's a funny thing. I can't imagine where my life would've gone had I not battled my Positive."
"Whatchu mean?"
"During the grand climax of our unforgettable quest, Avatar Aang and I battled for the fate of the universe. That was only before my phantom betrayed me and joined with Arceus himself. I joined forces with Aang… and gained the most amazing sensation. At that moment… it seemed our hearts were as one. A single entity of perfect balance, embodied with ultimate power. And my heart felt so… uplifted."
"Yeah, my mom said you like, merged or somethin'."
"We did. What we did was called Collision. An extremely rare thing to happen between a Positive and his Negative. When both sides interact, bond, and feel close to each other, they are finally able to come together to form a single, powerful entity. Both their histories, their knowledge, their powers, get melded into a single body. Aang's emotions became mine, and mine became his… it was wonderful. But a very dangerous connection. Very few Positives and Negatives are seen doing the Collision, because most's bodies cannot handle the sheer power that results. But Collision or not… melding with Aang did give me a feeling like no other. I truly felt that… our destinies were linked in one way or another. We were of the same entity… and the same heart. And since then, I thought that, even if both halves don't Collide, they can still feel that connection."
"But if you're in this world, Aang's in the other… aren't you ever afraid something will happen to him? And you'll die?"
"98% of people in the universe are unaware of Positives or Negatives… though knowing my life is bound to Aang's, I know it will not change fate through his or my safety. I can still go on, as though I still don't know of his existence… and I am still in jail all the same. Whatever fate comes for me will be a fault of my own, should I be unprepared for it. I would hope… Aang is following the same philosophy."
"Hmmmm… so what you're saying is, human lives are human lives." Nerehc sighed. "We live, we get warped to dimensions, we die, either by accident or intentional means. Looking back, I did walk into that Minish Portal, I dunno what Cheren's end of the story is, but the decision was mine all the same. I guess, no matter how our worlds are divided… destiny is all the same, huh?"
"Yes… and I was forced into suspended animation the same as Aang was, regardless. I don't know what your relationship is with Cheren – or how on Earth you managed to get here, but extraordinary things can happen when a Positive bonds with their Negative."
"You're probably right… then I guess I should quit fighting with Cheren and, just get him to help get me outta this dimension."
"If you can find the way out of here, of course."
"Oh this world is no problem." He smirked. And on that cue, the Zoni zapped Nerehc out of this plane of existence.
"…Mind lending me a hand, too?" Gnaa asked them.
"ONLY SIRE. You must staaaaaay." And they were gone as well.
"Siiigh… well, that was disappointing. Guess I should break out of here soon. I wonder if Naruto finished that cake for me, yet.."
And that's why Nerehc ultimately decides to help Cheren in his grand battle against Majora. To see the rest of this exciting tale, go back and read Operation: MASKED. You'll see how EVERYTHING ties together. Speaking of tying things together, let's finish the others' story.
HcorbNud Kingdom; -800 years ago
"NYAAAAAAAHHHH!" As if this hadn't occurred enough lately, Ininap plummeted down the vortex and landed in the middle of town, attracting the confused attention of townspeople. "…Um… he he he… excuse me." Pretending nothing happened, Ininap tip-toed into an alleyway. "Siiigh… Ay'm never gonna find Nerehc like this. Everything that's happening… Ay'll end up staying here forever. Hmmm… what am I going to do."
"Ya look a little down. Are ya lost?"
"Huh?" Ininap turned and found a girl about her age, with long, shiny smooth orange hair, a green dress, and blue eyes. "AAAAAH!" Both screamed at the top of their lungs.
"Wh-Wh-Wh-What??" the girl stuttered.
"Y-Y-Y-Ye SCARED me!"
"Ya scared ME!"
"Well, if ya hadn't SCREAMED!"
"I screamed 'cause YOU did!"
"I DID NOT!"
"AAAAAH!"
"Mmmp!" Both clapped their mouths shut. "….Eh hehehehehehe." They blushed and laughed sheepishly.
"Eeeemm… sorry." Ininap scratched her head. "Ay've just been through a lot lately."
"Like falling out of a hole in the sky?"
"Y-Yes… Ay came here looking for my friend; it's a really long story—the short version is, Ay have no idea where he is, and now I'm starting to have doubt of ever finding him."
"W…Would ya like me to help?"
"Siiigh… Ay don't think it matters now. Besides, the last people I asked to help, I think they're in trouble now. Do you, perhaps, have a place I can stay for a while?"
"Ya can come over to my treehouse. Ay'm sure the guys won't mind, but they're um… well, they're awfully nice."
"Ay'd like to come over there, please. Ay really need to… refresh myself."
"OK. Come this way, please." She warmly took Ininap's hand and leads her outside town, to the distant Arabian palace. "My name's Adirem, by the way… Ay'm the princess."
"W-Wow! Ay'm Ininap. Ay'm… well, a servant."
"Well, that's okay. Ay won't order you around any."
"Hehe, okay. There's only one person I'd like to serve, anyway…"
Year -2031; outside HcorbNud Kingdom
The battle was over as far as Adaras was concerned. Already packed-up (though she never really unpacked) and returning to the R.E.P.M.A.C.S.. As she prepared to step in, her teammates appeared behind her out of thin air. "Where're you going? We're just gonna let your dad take that girl?" Iadakihs asked.
"What's your plan? Go up against a master timebender like my father? How d'you plan to do that?" she replied.
"Well-… with your timebending."
"I know we barely know this girl, but a prank is no fun when we never see the victim again." Nijoni said.
"If that's what you think, you never should've suggested we come here in the first place." Adaras stated.
"We thought, since your dad was the master timebender, he could see where Nerehc ended up… or something. And we didn't even get that outta him. Besides, I know gods don't really give a hoot what happens in our world, but I thought the Time God chose carefully when he gave people his powers. Don't you think he wouldn't've given 'em to your dad without reason?"
"…No." Adaras stared at her hand. "According to my father, most timebenders – however few there may be, have a sense of morality and balance. But our chi is different than other timebenders. It's a kind of… unnatural chi that certain timebenders get their hands on, even if they're undeserving. Sometimes, these benders slip Dialga's vision, so he has to do extra recon checks for people that have it. Depending on how they use the power, he might put tabs on them. But because this is the Negaverse, he hasn't searched in here very well. Anyway, it's no use trying to fight 'im."
"But why not? It's not like he's a Logia."
"No, but it doesn't do well to waste energy over minor, maybe impossible tasks—even that girl. Even our village's BEST ninjas know what they're up against, and when to quit. Often times, it's better to save ourselves."
"Well, you gotta hand it to our parents, they were total losers, but they never quit." Iadakihs said. "And we are too, that's why we prank everyone. But not the kind of pranksters that leave someone for dead. You sure we can't go back for her?"
"…No." Adaras boarded the R.E.P.M.A.C.S. without another glance to them. Exchanging saddened expressions, Iadakihs and Nijoni merely followed their leader and started up its engines, flying back for Exposed Twig. The leader had made her decision and wasn't planning to come back. Not in 800 years… or even 5 months.
HcorbNud; Sector BD Treehouse
"Umm… h-h-h-hellooooo, everyooooone." That was probably the softest greeting anyone could give as they come in a room, and that was Merida.
"PRINCEEEEEESS!" Clearly nerds still existed in this age, 'cause that was Merida's three sectormates. The fat one, Rubra, wore circle classes, the skinny and flabby one, Stephen Nehpets, wore half-moon spectacles, and the most intelligent one, Eilliw, wore big square glasses.
Nehpets zipped over first, "H-h-h-h-h-h-hi, Princess, who is your-" Rubra shot over and pushed him away.
"Yo, what up, I'm Rubra, pleasure to meet yours. Ehhhh, acquaintance." He held a hand out to Ininap.
"He-he-he-he… hi." She grinned and shook his hand timidly.
"Oh, please do excuse my fellows' adherability, it is quite an annoying, and sad gesture." Eilliw told her with a smooth look behind his glasses. "But if you must know, I am engaged to Her Royal Highness."
"No he's noooot! It's me!" Nehpets yelled.
"No, it's me!" Rubra countered.
"G-G-Guys, stop it, stop it! I don't want to think about marriage until Ay'm 16—I mean you're all really great guys, I just need time to decide." Adirem told them with a blushed face.
"Well, when are ya gonna??"
"Ay don't know, Ay don't knooooowwwww!! Can we please just get some food for my friend?"
"Sure, sure. Nothing's healthier than a fresh bowl of cabbage stew!" Nehpets beamed before going to the kitchen.
They settled at the table and fixed up cabbage soup for each person, as well as a few bread pieces. The soup packed little flavor and strength, making it easily swallowable for Ininap. "So, ahhh, Princess, you never told us where you found her." Nehpets said.
"I-I found her downtown. She came out of… w-where did you say you're from again?"
"W-Well, first… uhhhh, what year is it?"
"I believe our current cycle is 1212." Eilliw answered.
"Well, this may be a wee bit hard to take, but… Ay'm from the Year 2031."
"HUU!!" they gasped.
"So time-traveling is REAL?!" Nehpets exclaimed. "How do you do it?!"
"It-It-It-It wasn't me, it was… a timebender. Named… Menma."
"Menma? Sounds like a soup ingredient." Nehpets replied.
"W-Well, whatever he is, he sent me back in time, and I, I don't know if he'll let me come back. Siiigh… Ay don't think it matters. Soon, Sipa's just gonna send more people to find Nerehc, and that's IF he doesn't find a way back on his own, all I am is a disposable minion. A useless slave that… shows no worth to her master."
"W-Well… maybe that's just how it is, then." Adirem said. "I've always felt that.. everyone had set destinies and there wasn't anythin' you can do to change them. Maybe you coming here means you were meant to be away from Nerehc. Be away from anything that reminds you of him."
"But I…I just feel incomplete without Nerehc. I wonder if… he'll even miss me."
"Ahh, you'll be fine, Lass." Adirem smiled, touching her shoulder. "There's plenty of fun stuff to do here. Safe… fun stuff. A day or two, you'll be over Nerehc in no time."
"Siiiigh… I hope so. What did ya have in mind first?"
Out in the deserts
"WHEEEEEEE!" It really was among the most joy Ininap had in her life. Sitting between both humps of a camel on a soft cushion, curtain roofs over each of them as they calmly strode through the desert. "Ha ha ha ha! This really is fun! The humps really help keep yer balance and they sure aren't as bumpy as horses!"
"Ay know." Adirem smiled. "It's fun to ride them to the oasis for their daily drinks. And this route usually doesn't have those scary sand creatures, so we can avoid getting into a fight."
They arrived at the oasis before too long, so while the camels got their drink, the kids used long sticks with blades at the end to cut fruit from trees. "Um- Um- Um-, I may need some help here." Ininap stuttered, her stick shaking as she held it up. "I-I-I-I'm afraid-" Cut a mango, "Eeeeek!" She braced for impact as it fell on her head.
Adirem was also shuddering. "Aiiii'p!" Several bananas fell from the tree. "…W-W-Well, we got 'em."
"Pleeeeaaase Princess, here is one with the real mastery of removing fruit from trees." Eilliw readied a bow and took aim at coconuts. "Enn. Enn. Enn. Enn." It was questionable he was trying to hit them, because look at how far off they were.
Nehpets struggled to lift up a club, and with utter weakness, he hit it against a tree. …The whole thing fell straight on him, and as he rose from the leaves, birds swirling 'round his head, a watermelon smashed over and became his mask.
Ininap picked up her mango and loaded it in the camel's sack. Er, satchel. "W-Well, it's nice to get stuff to eat, but em, I'm not really a fan of… cutting stuff."
"You don't really have to, Lass. Me mum usually handles it for us, she's a real pro." Adirem told her.
"Sh-She is?"
Castle kitchen
"YA BETCHER sweet bottom, Lassie." proclaimed Queen Ronile, a slim, messy-haired woman with thick warrior's clothing, chopping the coconuts in perfect halves with her axe and slices apples and pineapples to pieces with knives in seconds. "So you little runts better eat yer fill if ya want those wee bods to grow buff and masculine." She let the fruit pieces scatter on the table.
"Ehehehehehe. Me mum's got a wee bit more warrior in her compared to other people." Adirem smiled sheepishly. "She scares me sometimes. I wish she'd be a bit more gentle."
"Well, if ya were a bit more like me, Lass, ya wouldn't be afraid to stuff yerself more and not bother with these li-l boys. But yer me daughter, Lass, and I love ya!" She pinched her daughter's cheek, giving Adirem a bruise. "Ay'll be back with the dessert if ya want some." The strong-willed queen marched off. The five kids began to eat.
"…Hehehe." Ininap giggled with a blush.
"W-What's funny?"
"Well, i-it's just nice to know there's someone else who gets as timid as I do. It's like we're… long-lost sisters or somethin'. Matter of fact, me mum's the same way—like me, that is—and you.. kind of look like her."
"Wow, that's somethin'. I wonder why that is."
Now, the immediate conclusion would be that Adirem is her ancestor. But since this is the Negaverse, that conclusion does not come as soon. Plus, it's a parallel dimension, so they aren't technically related. "Who knows. But I love havin' someone that feels the same way about stuff I do. Back then, Ay didn't have anyone except bullies who.. picked on me. Of course, Nerehc was around, and he also…"
"We were never one of the bravest countries, anyway. 't's okay, though. What do ya want to do next?"
"Ay don't know… what do ya do around here?"
"W-W-W-W-We could dig in the sand for buried treasure." Nehpets stuttered.
"Oh. Th-That sounds fun…"
Later..
Who says you couldn't have fun while being safe, argues Ininap? 'Cause for Sector BD, that's what life was all about. The friends wore large sunhats and returned out to the desert as they dug around the sand with mini shovels. It wasn't the most efficient way of looking for treasure in a giant desert, but technology was still pretty unadvanced, and at least it was safe. Except when Rubra stumbled upon a tiny Aracha, which latched onto his back and he ran around for several minutes trying to get it off.
Afterwards, they returned to the treehouse so an exciting race could take place. Not between horses, not between camels, rabbits, or puppies… but between slow, simple turtles. All five stood in a row at one end of the living room, and the flag was waved before they all marched off. The suspense, the excitement was great. All five kept neck-n-neck, none knew whose neck would cross first. They couldn't take their eyes off them, there was just no predicting. An hour-and-a-half later, Nehpets' turtle came in victory. The five kids were already asleep.
The next activity was debatably safe, but they settled with it: fishing. The palace courtyard had a pond with many small, happy fish swimming freely. They sat on the walkway crossing through the middle and held fishing poles. None of the fish looked big enough to pull them in the water, so it didn't look too risky. Nehpets yanked up a greengill, which knocked him out upon colliding with his face. Adirem caught a catfish, which made her shoot to the sky like a rocket at how fast it flew out. A skippyjack flew out toward Eilliw, stopped in midair beside his face, and dealt a few quick tail-slaps before going back. Rubra caught a pike on his lure, and when it flew up, it whooshed around and around his head to tie the rope around him, then returned. Finally, Ininap pulled up a tiny Esenihc frightfish, which looked so tiny and terrified in her giant hands, she smiled to assure it was safe.
The next second, Ininap went flying for smiles from the fish's surprisingly powerful upper-cut.
After she got a single tiny band-aid on her arm, Ininap and the kids met in Adirem's room for a pre-bedtime slumber party. They played Truth or Dare without the Dare, because the boys always dared Adirem to kiss them, and they only had to tell non-embarrassing truths. They played Duck Duck Goose where they had to let the person know before they were tagged, and they could only walk slowly, not run. Then the night was concluded with a slow, very gentle pillow scuffle.
The boys went to sleep in their own rooms, but since Ininap had no place to sleep, she shared a bed with Adirem. Snug and warm under opposite sides of the blanket. Today was the most fun Ininap's ever had in her life. She wouldn't want it to end…
And it didn't end, 'cause the next day, they returned out to the desert to get fruit from the trees. Adirem's mom chopped them up, scaring the girls, then let them feast, and they went out searching for buried treasure before Rubra was attacked by an Aracha. They watched the turtle race anxiously before falling asleep, then had quiet, simple fishing which the fish made not so simple. Night fell for their pre-slumber slumber party, engaging in nice simple games, then they went to sleep.
The next day they rode their camels to the oasis for fruit – for a moment Ininap thought she was taller and her chest expanded, but it must've been the desert heat 'cause they were still the same when they came back. They ate the fruit, searched for buried treasure (Rubra was attacked by an Aracha), watched a turtle race, fell asleep, got attacked by fish, pre-slumber party, and sleep.
The next day, they rode out to the oasis – Ininap almost slipped off her camel she was so tall – collected fruit, returned (or maybe she wasn't), watched Ronile chop it up, ate, looked for treasure, Aracha ambush, watched turtles race, went fishing, attacked by fish, slumber party, then sleep.
The next day, they rode out to the oasis – but returned when the camels, and oddly themselves, felt as feeble and wrinkly as old people, but felt energetic again when they returned, ate some spare fruit out of the fridge, treasure-hunting, saving Rubra from Aracha, turtle races, fishing, slumbertime, and party. Wait- reverse that.
Next morning, they rode to the oasis – returned 'cause they were tired, spare fruit, treasure, Aracha, turtles, boredom, fish, attacked, slumber games, slumber. Next morning, oasis, returned, food, treasure, turtles, fish, party, sleep. Then again, and again, and again, and again—so many times, Patrick Stewart asked for time off 'cause this was getting really boring. But the next day, and the next day, it starts all over again, then again…
Then after like, a million days, we lost count. So let's just say we're on Day Two-hundred-and-ninety-four when the team set off for the desert on camels again.
"'ey, what's wrong, Inap? You look a little down today." Adirem said.
"Ay don't know… my life feels a little… repetitive lately. Don't ya think we're being too… predictable?"
"Predictability, in which one performs recurring maneuvers or routines." Eilliw replied. "And yet, I feel as though I barely knew you long at all."
"Siiiigh. Ay don't know if I wanna go to oasis today." She slowed her camel to a halt.
"OK. We'll just get extras for ya." Adirem offered as her team proceeded forward. "Should've brought my helmet, but I guess we'll make-" In a split second, the kids and their camels morphed into bones and collapsed.
"HUU!!!" Ininap was ready to collapse into bones herself. The friends that had taken her in when she was lost… gone just like that. Death's cruel shadow gave no warnings. Even when out of the blue. Inap climbed off her camel and carefully approached the spot they collapsed. She reached her arm forward, and as a faint blue aura appeared from her fingers, the flesh of her hand turned bone. "Mmmmmp!" She yanked it back quickly, and it changed back. She never felt more afraid, never felt a greater amount of adrenaline. Sector BD was dead, as though eons of aging caught up with them. And had she stepped any farther, the same would've happened to her.
Ininap left her camel and ran straight for the palace, moving faster than her feeble little legs would've taken her. Everything fell dead silent around her; she was ignorant to any possible life-forces in town or in the flora, her mind only focused on the dead clumps of skeletons. She raced into the passage to BD Treehouse, climbed so fast her senses were nonexistent, and back into the living room.
"Hey, Ininap!"
"GYAAAAAAHHHH!" And why wouldn't her heart stop now, when Sector BD appeared.
"OW—uhhhh please don't do that." Nehpets flinched.
"W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-What are you DOING here? Ye-Ye-Ye-Ye-Ye-Ye just… DIED."
"Uhhhh, heheh… weird joke, Nap." Rubra chuckled.
"Inap, is everything all right?" Adirem asked, noticing her friend's rapid shuddering.
"YOU ALL JUST DIED!! We were walking to the oasis, you ALL turned into skeletons, and NOW you're here! H-H-H-HOW are you ALIVE?"
"Well uh, we've always been alive. E-E-Especially since Lord Menma came, he…" Nehpets scratched his head.
"M-M-…Menma?"
"The one who took over as king and brought prosperity to HcorbNud, yeah…" Adirem replied.
"B-B-But, you didn't know about Menma when we met, w-w-when did he show up here?"
"Ay don't know… we lose track of time pretty easy."
"Hnnn!" No sooner did Ininap rush back down the secret passage, and in through the castle's front gates. Many large, marble halls did she run, up many flights of stairs, until she ran forth down the vast throne room.
And there was that very same black-haired man in the kitsune mask. "You look suddenly troubled. You looked like you were very much enjoying your life here until now."
"Wh-Wh-What have you done to this place? How…How long have I BEEN here?"
"Long enough to help you realize. Using my timebending, I have locked this town within an indefinite Time Stasis. The same fashion seen with Timeshift Stones. As long as its citizens remain within the confines of the bubble, they will live. And should they leave, I can bring them back. Over and over again."
"S-S-So this town… is trapped in an infinite loop?"
"But not one they are blind to. Nor one where outsiders are unable to visit. Because of the order I've created… the people in this kingdom have led happy, healthy, endless lives. And as you can plainly tell… Positives are removed from the equation. Their relevance is futile."
"But this…this isn't normal. We're just… repeating. Over and over again. What year is it exactly?"
"I don't know. It could be 1700s… could be four-thousand-and-fifty. What matters is you are in peace. If a fish can be happy, swimming loop after loop, mindlessly inside a bowl, unaware of life or death… can't we?"
"N-N-… no! I-I just… wanted to find Nerehc! I've been running around in circles, all for… w-why are you doing this? What have any of these people done to you?"
"…It's not what HcorbNud has done… but the Positives! Look at me… I'm a WRECK!" He ripped off his mask, exposing a face that looked to belong to a 17-year-old boy, with lovely blue eyes and strange whiskers.
"Hu!"
"My name is Menma Ikamuzu, and my Positive was Naruto Uzumaki. I've always known about the connection between Positives and Negatives." His voice sounded fairly young, too. "I came to the Posiverse to see him, only to find out he had already sacrificed himself in battle! No body to be found… no trace of him at all! I haven't aged for 19 years… I was forced to use my TIMEBENDING in order to mate with Arukas! But changing my age weakens my timebending, so I couldn't stay changed forever. So I've been a standout… an unreal anomaly!"
Ininap quivered as Menma began to pace around her coolly, his voice still livid. "Since then I've suffered… WONDERING what kept me from sharing my Positive's fate, wondering when and where I would finally end the delay and DIE. Then more than ever… I knew that Positives couldn't be trusted! Our lives were bound to them… we had no say, we were forced to go wherever they went. But now I can't even track my Positive, I'm the only one who stayed in my own world, but EVERY day I wonder when he'll finally kick the bucket. But it was because of Positives… that a good, simple town like this had to die. So using my timebending, I revived this town, born anew while their Positives remain dead. Thanks to me… everyone can live in peace. I may not be able to alter my own age, but I can still give these people the life they deserve. No longer will they have to worry about dying because of someone outside their control. The gods disconnected us from them as a means of balance, and yet we still share their life-force. Well… not anymore. Finally… we can be disconnected. We can be our own, whole person…"
"But if we're just repeating like this, nothing's getting done. Time is just… frozen. No new things can happen, no new advances… maybe the reason a Negative needs their Positive… is because something like this can happen."
"What are you implying?!"
"You're so afraid a-and absorbed with anger because there's no one to balance you out. Ay've never met my Positive, but I, well maybe things could be different for me if I have."
"Even if that means relying on your Positive for existence? Even if you would lose balance in yourself, thanks to me, you don't have to worry. I've given you indefinite life. A limbo where such imbalance could never happen. Your Positive will die on her own, while you can exist forever."
"But…But it's not JUST the Positives. We have other friends, too—I have other friends. I only wanted to find Nerehc… I can't stand being apart from him for this long. It's like… we're the Positive and Negative of each other. Someone besides the literal thing that can balance you out."
"That's even MORE ridiculous." Menma snarled. "Even if we needed Positives, how could some OTHER person fulfill that role? I stopped believing in bonds between people, ever since Arukas and my village began to shun me for the unaging mutant I was. Surprised she acknowledged me enough to tell Adaras I was her father… but one day, they'll come to thank me. I will grow stronger with my timebending as time passes. I can keep myself alive, regardless of my Positive's life or death, but those of my homeland will die. I will revive them just like I have this kingdom, and in time, I will be able to encase the whole world in my Time Stasis. No one will ever have to fear of death, let alone an afterlife where even the Reapers won't seek our souls. Bonds between people or no bonds, that won't be what keeps people happy, it'll be ME."
"Going every day the rest of my life without Nerehc? Ay just can't imagine anything like that. I…I want to go back to him!"
"Very well, then tell me. You care about this Nerehc so much, but does he care about you? How do you know his life isn't going on just fine without a cowering worm like you?"
"A-Ay… well, maybe he would be just fine. He's strong enough ta get 'imself out of anythin', and 'e has feelings for someone else… but I don't think he would feel the same, either. And I…I pledged my loyalty to him."
At just 5 years old, Nerehc was going to his first day of kindergarten. He had just met Pablo, who happily strummed a cool guitar theme for him, and was exploring the playground for other possible servants. Then he saw a bunch of kids watching a pony-tailed girl nervously step to a cliff.
"W-W-Will I really fly, i-if I jump off?"
"Ponytails like yours, sure you can! You'll flap like a helicopter!" one of the big kids proclaimed, before they all snickered devilishly.
So many things could go wrong with this plan. She could not fly, and take a tremendous fall to her death. She could fly, and go too high, to the stars where she'd suffocate. Or fly into a helicopter and be chopped to bits, her blood raining everywhere. But… she would try. "O-O-Okay." Taking a few steps back, she wobbled forth and took the weak, skimpy leap.
A boy zipped by on rocket shoes of purple flames, setting her back on the ground. "What were you thinking?! Unless you're a mutant, airbender, or space or something, HUMANS can't fly!!"
"B-B-But those boys said-"
"What boys? The ones serving as my man-made barbeque over there?" The bullies were on the ground, dark as overcooked steak. "If you listen to just what any idiot tells you, you're gonna wind up dead." With that, he walked away.
"B-B-But, how do I know which ones I should listen to?" She followed him a bit before slipping to her knees.
"I dunno," he turned back to her, "ones that'd like to keep you around for some extra hands? If you were a decent servant, I'd love to keep you around." He began to walk away again, until Ininap followed him on her knees.
"C-C-Can I be your servant?"
"I dunno, you look a little spineless. 'specially if you don't even use your feet."
Ininap stood up and bowed, "A-A-Ay can be your servant. Ah'll do whatever you ask, and I'll never be against ya. Just protect me from all the big, scary kids."
"Hmmmm. Well, you'd barely be a servant if I can't beat you around every now and again."
"B-But, you wouldn't let me die, would ya?"
"Nah, sure, of course not. Now carry my lunchbox." He dropped the box in her hands.
"O-O-Okay." She grinned with a weak face.
Then 3 years later, Nerehc became Supreme DNK Leader, and was speaking with Ydolem, whom they considered spiritual cousins even though they had no blood connection. "I've been learning under my mother, and I'm a terrific secret-keeper. If you have a secret, it'll be safe with me." Her white eyes surrounded-by-black creeped Inap out.
"…Alright… well…" So Nerehc leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I really want to…" and despite his hushed voice, Ininap was listening close, and could hear every word.
"Okay… I won't tell anyone." Ydolem said with a loving face. But then that secret was prevented from being spoken by anyone when it was transferred to a Secret Sack, then inside Hsa. No one else but she and Ininap would know…
"Nerehc…Nerehc really is kind. He would hate it if… I weren't around for him. Y-Y-YOU'LL take me back right now!!"
"Or what? Is Nerehc going to come save you? I encourage him to…"
"In that case, we'll let him know, but we were in the middle of looking for him." At that moment, Adaras came down from above and stomped Menma in the back of the head, flying him several feet. The surprise made her heart begin racing as she looked at the ninja girl, who stood proudly. Menma got up, snarling furiously, until gushes of water and fireballs flew from several directions and took him down again.
Iadakihs and Nijoni landed beside Ininap and helped her up. "You didn't think we would leave you, did you?" asked the former.
"W-W-Where did you guys come from?"
"I have timebending, too." Adaras said. "The three of us honed our skills for a few months before I warped us all back to save you. Just leave Whisker-Face to us."
"Only a few months, hm? Hmph." Menma scoffed. "We'll see what good THAT GETS YOU!" (Play "Kokuten" from Naruto: Shippuden.)
Menma vanished in a flash, and Ininap cowered when the three kids scattered. Menma appeared in front of Nijoni as the latter pelted fireballs, Menma defending before he zipped behind Nijoni, the boy whipping around and thrusting a Flame Punch that blew Menma back. But it seemed that Menma was a blue Time Clone, and the real Menma came from the side and kicked Nijoni away. He was suddenly encased in a water bubble created by Iadakihs, facing the boy as he wore a witty smirk, and was caught off guard again when Adaras shot through the bubble and kicked Menma upside the face. As Menma recovered, he saw that was a blue Time Clone, was kicked from the left by a green clone, then punched away by the current Adaras.
Nijoni and Iadakihs stood together and attacked him with both elements, but Menma recovered and escaped once again. He stood several feet away as he conjured a spiraling dark sphere, Adaras grabbing Ininap before the four jumped away when it came, swallowing several meters of radius in an explosion. Adaras landed on a pillar with Inap, but gasped when Menma came from behind and smashed another sphere into the pillar, blowing the girls away. But the real Adaras grabbed Inap safely while the Time Clone fell, and Iadakihs grabbed Menma's legs in a water tentacle while he was still in midair, and whirled and slammed the man onto the ground. But this turned out to be a Time Clone, and Menma landed on Iadakihs from higher above and smashed him with terrific force.
Menma looked as Nijoni was conjuring lightning in his fingertips, but became distracted when various Adaras clones warped around every direction, confusing him greatly as he tried to strike them. But this allowed Nijoni to charge the lightning enough and blast Menma, only for the older ninja to open a Time Portal and suck the bolt inside. He spun another darkball and shot it at Nijoni, who dodged as Iadakihs attempted to smash Menma with Water Fists, but he flipped onto the liquid fists, to Iadakihs, and dealt rapid punches against him before sending the boy away. He defended when Adaras attacked from behind, the two exchanging a sequence of punches and kicks, then morphing into Time Clones as both current selves got atop the clones and continued. Those two morphed into clones as well, and the next current selves ran directly up in midair via each other's feet, both jumping away and hurling kunai knives that passed the other, and struck their opponent in the arm. As both fell to the floor, they morphed into clones: Menma got under Adaras's, Adaras under Menma's, and threw their fists up to punch.
Both relatives glared at each other, gasping for breath. In a blink, they both began throwing kicks at each other in many areas of the throne room, afterwards running along the wall as they shoved each other, then zipped down to the throne room's center where they clashed with kunai. They jumped separate directions from each other as Iadakihs and Nijoni charged at Menma together, but the man looked up as his Time Portal appeared in the air, and struck the two with Nijoni's lightning.
"Hnn! …" Menma saw Ininap a few feet away, on her knees and her hands folded in prayer. "What are you doing?"
"Ah-Ay'm… praying for a miracle."
"You look more ridiculous every minute. It's more than a known fact that the Negaverse has no gods. Anyone who'd still pray… who's gonna hear it? What god will bother to listen?..."
Instead of an answer, a sudden whirlwind blew him up in the air, followed by a boulder that flew and sent him several meters. Menma kicked the stone away upon landing, glaring at his new assaulters. Six new children, three boys and three girls, were his opponents. "Wh-Who are… they?" asked Inap.
"Sector -V!" Adaras exclaimed with shock.
"Th…Them?" They sure weren't the -V Ininap was used to.
"Yeah. Some of our best benders, too." Nijoni mentioned.
"We came over 'soon as we got your distress call." Yrrah Onu told them.
"We did?"
"Ohhhhh that's right, our past selves sent the call and we agreed to meet them here back in time, remember?" Iadakihs reminded.
"Oh yeah, I totally forgot."
"Perfect timing. Let's take this guy down!" Adaras declared before lunging for Menma. (Play "Emergence of Talents" from Naruto.)
Menma quickly made a series of swift hand-movements before planting his left hand on the ground. "Svāhā: Nine Masked Beasts!" Out of a puff of smoke, Menma summoned nine monsters with his kitsune mask, sending them at the operatives. Yrrah flew forward using psychicbending while Eillek Seltaeb slithered through the ground via Shadow Veil, emerging behind the White Tiger and sending her shadow to grab its hind legs. The tiger snarled and about-faced to attack her, but Eillek leapt and kicked off its face, and as she flew away from it, she pulled her shadow while it still held the tiger's legs, yanking him backward onto the ground.
The Death God – a Grim Reaper-like monster with a scythe, flew at Etselec Krots, who pelted fireballs at him before he lashed his scythe, Etselec flying overhead with Rocket Boost and blasting a stream of flames directly down. When she landed, the reaper flew around and grabbed her face in attempt to drain her chi, but was saved when Namurt Namrik punched Light Spheres and stunned the dark spirit. Samoht Yksvolird flew around using a glider with airbending while the Suzaku – a bird with long tail-feathers, chased him, lashing its tails while Samoht swiftly avoided and blasted air gusts. Samoht flew down before shooting directly up and stabbing the bird with his pointed glider, keeping up higher before the Tennyo – an angelic maiden with flowing robes, stretched her ribbons to wrap Samoht and yank him back down.
Assilem Nagillig faced the Black Tortoise, Genbu, stomping her bare feet on the ground to fling boulders to try and crack its armored shell, dodging to the right when the turtle spun around and shot at her. When it came for the rebound, Assilem stomped a rock-jab beneath and flew him onto his back, then raised another boulder to smash its belly. Yrrah chucked Psycho Spheres at the Northern and Southern Sages, who blasted magic spells before conjuring a purple cylindrical barrier above and attempting to trap him, Yrrah warping away before this happened. He was then wrapped tight by the Golden Snake, Kinja, who began squeezing the juices out of him until Iadakihs sliced it with waterbending, allowing Yrrah to escape.
Iadakihs stretched water tentacles over his arms and lashed them at Kinja, the snake attempting to gnash them before he succeeded on the left arm, the water splashing around his mouth before Iadakihs froze it shut. The rest of the tentacle still connected to Iadakihs as he pulled the snake over, leapt forward, and slammed a water hammer on his solid gold head. Etselec punched fireballs at the Azure Dragon, a seahorse-like dragon, before the creature countered with a stream of sapphire flames, encasing Etselec in a firewall. She looked up when Nijoni flew over with rockets, landing on the dragon's head and keeping hold like a seahorse while he stabbed it with fire daggers. He wrapped arms around its neck when it opened its mouth to charge energy. He forced the dragon to face Etselec before the girl thrusted both fists and blasted twin flame beams down its throat, causing the dragon to explode.
The Death God opened his robe and unleashed a swarm of pitch-black bats, all swarming around Namurt as he tried to ignite bright lights and scare them off. They kept him swallowed in darkness as the reaper approached and raise his scythe for the final strike, until Yrrah sent Psycho Spheres to blow the demon away. This gave Namurt enough time to explode a bright light and scare the bats away, and kept that sphere expanding. Seeing the Death God recover with a rage, Namurt let the Light Sphere fly, obliterating the spirit in its brightness.
Samoht was unable to escape the Tennyo's binds, but Assilem flew sharp rocks that sliced her ribbons, Samoht immediately taking to the air again. Tennyo extracted sharp, bladed angel wings and lashed at Assilem's ankles, the girl throwing her arms up to make a rock platform rise her several feet, and the angel began slicing layer after layer of the pillar. Assilem dislodged the top layer of her pillar, lifted it in midair, and forced it against the angel's head to send her sliding across the floor. Before she recovered, Assilem raised twin pointed boulders and stabbed through Tennyo's wings, pinning them to the ground.
Eillek kept appearing and sinking around many parts of the ground, tricking the White Tiger into trying to catch her like a shiny light. Eillek later came behind and trapped the tiger in Shadow Possession, running the direction of the Sages and jumping in the South Sage's way of its Killing Curse, destroying the tiger. Eillek exchanged glances with Yrrah before they ran separate ways around the Sages. The North Sage created a large purple square shield and pushed it to Yrrah, who made a psychic barrier and countered with equal slow force. When both barriers shattered, Yrrah created a cylindrical barrier around the Sage's waist, beginning to squeeze it. Meanwhile, Eillek blew Shadow Breath at the South Sage's face, blinding his vision as Eillek caught him in a Shadow Shockwave. Her shadow flew out and began tearing at its face, the same time Yrrah exploded his barrier and destroyed the North Sage.
Watching their sheer victory put an assuring smile on Ininap's face. "It's not over, yet!" But that smile vanished when she saw that Menma was holding a massive dark sphere above his head. "I'll destroy all of you in a single strike!"
"Oh yeah?" But at the same time, Adaras created a spiraling blue sphere that was just as large, using the combined works of her Time Clones focusing energy on one spot. "We'll see about that!"
"Great Spiraling RING!" Menma ran forth.
"Massive RASENGAN!" Adaras kept hold on the giant sphere and came at him. The very world seemed to slow in time as both forces were inches from colliding. Everyone was blinded by the whiteness that resulted. (End song.)
The great marble palace that was the core of HcorbNud Kingdom vanished in a tremendous explosion. The wind blew across HcorbNud for roughly 10 minutes, swallowing it in fog.
One at a time, the denizens of the castle fell from the sky, laying shocked, motionless, but nary a scratch on the ground. "YAAAAAH!" cried the buff, but cowardly King Sugref, leaping into his wife's arms. "Ay thought Ay put an embargo on those scary explosives, what 'appened to our house, Ronny???"
"Oh, get yerself a backbone, ya wee piggy."
It took some time before the members of Sector -V and LG managed to find each other. Ininap helped Adaras stand and walk, since the girl had burnt out all energy. In the smoke, Sector BD managed to find them as well. "I-Ininap. W-W-What is going on? . . ." Adirem stuttered.
"Ay… don't worry, Adirem. It's all over… now…"
"…No. It's not." Ininap really felt her heart stop then. The smoke all blew away when Menma appeared with another Great Spiraling Ring. "This time… the lot of you vanish."
Once again, everything else fell silent as the body of immeasurable power was headed right her way. Death and nonexistence was approaching her, and it was scary. All she could do was fold her hands and pray. If there was one god, any god to hear her… let them come.
The moment Menma's Spiraling Ring made contact with absolute power and ferocity, a great beam of blue light stretched down from the sky. The dark sphere and all of its power laid nary a mark on the mighty, diamond god that stood before him. "No… you're…"
"Dialga…" Adaras choked whatever breath she could muster.
The four-legged god looked mighty and proud, his purple eyes fixed on Menma. The ninja's shock, mixed with his extreme exhaust, caused him to faint. Dialga raised his right foot and touched the tip to Menma's forehead, alighting a lovely blue light. "Why…Why are ya here.." Ininap spoke.
"The gods hear all prayers, no matter who they're from. But only when the world is in extreme unbalance do we provide aid. Ininap's prayer was strong… it was thanks to her I was able to locate this timebender that escaped my vision."
"What do ya mean 'escaped yer vision'?"
"I did not give Menma, or Adaras timebending. It was something I and Arceus have feared since the very beginning. The existence of a very unusual Time Chi, a presence roaming about the universe, infecting a variety of unworthy timebenders. I cannot keep track of the chi very well, and even when I locate its benders, I cannot even take the chi away. I can only use my own power to put limits on them. Rumpel Stiltskin had this chi, but I made it so he can only use it with his special deals. I never told him this, but—one of my own apprentices possessed this chi, and when I granted him my own during his time as a spirit, it melded with that chi when he came back to life: Jagar King."
"A-Are you going to put a limit on Menma?"
"There isn't much I can do at this point… but I think it's for the best if I reconfigure him. I shall age him 19 years as he's supposed to be, and remove his memory of Positives." As he spoke, Menma's pitch-black hair became blonde. "Until the day he can truly meet his Positive, may his mind be in balance."
"But what about… mine?" asked Adaras.
"I do not sense evil in you, Girl… much. I will allow you to keep your timebending." The glow vanished as Menma grew taller and older. "I must return balance to this land as well. All of it will be returned to its normal time. As will you, Child, so you will be able to see your loved one again."
"B-B-But, where is Nerehc?"
"Fate has connected him to his Positive. He landed in the Posiverse upon arriving here. But I sense his adventure is bringing him back to his own world. You must do the same, soon."
"Then… he found a way back after all." Ininap smiled. "He didn't need me…"
"I like to think your thinking of him slowly drew him home as well. But I am a Time God, so naturally I just look at the future, and boom, stuff happens. Funny thing, though. Just recently, Palkia has had to deal with unregistered spacebenders springing up in places. About 20 years ago, it started happening. I happen to know the cause of this, but, let's let events play out. I must return." Dialga turned and began marching to the wide blue beam. He stopped and turned to the kids for a moment. "You must forgive us for overseeing the Posiverse more than the Negaverse. The truth is, far more chaos happens there, and far more attention does it need. But we promise you… the gods will be there when you truly need us. Remember that." Dialga proceeded into the portal, and was gone. The great beam expanded and swallowed the entire kingdom of HcorbNud, blinding everyone in blue.
The fog, the city, and Sector BD was gone. All that's left now was… ruins. "Hmm… Ay never got to say good-bye." Ininap frowned.
"You became great friends with them, didn't you?" Adaras asked.
"Y-Yeah… we were fishiiiing, and looking for treasure, Adirem's mum scared us, then we were fishiiiing, finding treasuuuure, and those boys were—D'OH, it was the most boring time I ever HAD!!! Thank GOD that's over!"
"I think… we may need some clarification." Yrrah Onu commented.
"Hey, who's that?" Nijoni asked, noticing the strange ship coming down for a landing.
Three familiar children to Ininap's eyes came hurrying out. "HEY, Inap, what are you doing here??"
"H-Hcaz? Yddam? You're here, too?"
"Heheh, HWOW, what a party this is!" Ikuyim beamed, joining the twins outside as well. "Before you know it, the whole DNK will be here!"
"Did you come here to find Nerehc, too?" Yddam asked.
"Y-Yeah… um, but Dialga said that Nerehc already found a way back!"
"Dialga? The Time God?" Hcaz asked.
"Yes, Ay'll-…Ay'll explain later. Erm- Sipa told me what happened, and she used this spell to send me here to find him. …I have this."
"Hu!" The three gasped when Ininap raised her shirt, showing the Satanic symbol on her back.
"I think it was supposed to send me back after I've found Nerehc. But if Nerehc's going back on his own, I… I'm not sure what Ay can do now."
"…" Hcaz scratched his chin in thought.
High Jungle; Kahcrek's lab
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" That was definitely the most painful energy-extraction Ininap's endured in her life.
"Astonishing, absolutely astonishing!" Kahcrek exclaimed. "This symbol was created with an ancient form of magic used to jump through space itself! Using it to power this machine, I may just be able to not only track the magic to its original source, but FINALLY get this baby up and running! FIRE IT UP, Nazrat!"
At the pull of a lever, the Dimension Transportifier began brimming with energy. It was all transferred to the circular archway, where a spiraling pink portal made its appearance. "If my calculations are correct, this SHOULD take you STRAIGHT back to where the magic came from!"
"It'll take us… home?" Yddam asked.
"YES, FINALLY, thank goodness!" Daddy exclaimed. "Let's go home, Dimmy!" He skipped frantically into the spiral, joined by his associate at a slower rate.
"Aww, that's too bad. I really wanted to explore this world more!" Ikuyim smiled.
"Well, I guess… this is good-bye." Ininap said to Sector LG. "Thank ya fer helpin' me, guys. You've really… done a lot for me. You and Sector BD."
"Well, you turned an everyday prank into a wild and crazy adventure, so we're gonna miss you, too." Iadakihs winked. "Later, Inap."
"But I really hope you come back to visit sometime." Adaras smiled. "We can get you in all kinds of trouble!" ;D
"Ehehehe. Maybe just ta say 'hi'."
"Come on, let's go in already!" Hcaz rushed. "There's no tellin' what the Dictator's done by now, Nerehc'll need us!"
"R-Right." Ininap agreed as he and Yddam ran in. "B-Bye, guys! Hope to see you again!" She ran in.
"GIVE IT 5 months or it'll create a time-paradox!" Adaras yelled.
"Byyyyyye!" Ikuyim joyfully joined her friends.
"Boy, this'll create one heck of a mission report." Nijoni knew.
"Yeah." Iadakihs agreed. "But it's too bad we won't get to see this Nerehc guy. Wonder how 'e got back, anyway."
Posiverse; Delightful Mansion From Down the Lane
It was one heck of an adventure for Cheren, Nerehc, and their friends, but the Dimension Transportifier was up and running, so it was time to go home.
Zach, Maddy, and Bright Idea—whom were turned into monsters since the start of this, were the first to enter the portal, shrinking into the pinkness. The four remaining kids faced their Terminan friends one more time. "Hm…" Cheren smirked. "I'll come back."
"I hope you do." Harry said.
"He'll have to talk with me about that." Nerehc stated.
"Ahhh, make it a surprise!" Melissa grinned.
"Hm…" Cheren really didn't want to leave these kids. Despite the little drama that's happened, he really enjoyed his time in this world. The whole adventure was exciting. And traveling with them made it even better. He hoped to see them again. And he could tell, they felt the same way, too.
The four kids stepped into the spiraling vortex, smiling and waving as they slowly shrunk into the pinkness. The seven operatives and Pablo waved and waved, long after the operatives had vanished from sight. They didn't want to say good-bye. But maybe, they didn't have to. They would see each other again. They knew it… After all, they would leave the portal open when they could.
Delightful Mansion; Hyrule Dimension
The four exited the front doors of the mansion and breathed the sunny air that was their world. "Well… time for me to head home." Nerehc said before heading the opposite way.
"Don't wanna hang around for ice cream?" Cheren asked with a raised brow.
"Well, I was dealing with my own problems before all this happened. So it's time I resolved them."
"Yeah… we were in the middle of stuff, too. See you soon, Nerehc."
"Yokay."
And with that, Nerehc went to the Nugget River to return to his own world. Bound by destiny, bound by fate… that was the connection between Positives and Negatives. And because Nerehc helped Cheren, the world was saved from a terrible cataclysm. Just like Lehcar helped Rachel, and Gnaa helped Aang. He wondered if his friends would find similar adventures with their Positives. Or if they already have. Well, one way or another, their lives had to go on like normal. And before Cheren got both of them in trouble again, Nerehc had to resolve a few issues.