Chapter 10: United We Stand

Me: Well, we're getting closer to the end of this story arc. Now I have to set the stage for the final battle.

Adhesive: Just as long as everything doesn't go blowing up in our faces, I'm good.

Arachne: And as long as Snivels and the other Go-Getters are okay.

Me: Don't worry, fangirl, they will be.

Snivels awoke with a groan, his head still aching from the blow he had received from Manstre. When he stood, he found himself once again in a cell, but this one was more sophisticated. He walked up to the bars and peered out, finding his friends, including the dragons and monsters, that were each individually locked in a multitude of cells down a hallway much longer than those in the mansion.

They were in the Distortion World Prison.

Snivels turned to the sound of an evil chuckle and found Hroar standing not too far away. The Servine's eyes narrowed in anger.

Hroar slowly approached the Prince of Pokémon's cell. "It's funny. You go through all the trouble to escape your confinement, and you end up right back at square one. As honorable as it is for you to try and save your friend, I'm afraid your efforts are all in vain."

He reached the cell that was holding HtBaT Astrid, and if looks could kill, he'd have dropped dead on the spot. But he ignored her glare. "My kindred spirit, it was never my intention to harm you. If only you could see just how much better I am than that boyfriend of yours. I'd make you my queen, and we'd rule over the entire Multiverse, two young souls in love."

If Astrid was a dragon, she would have snarled in anger. "Over my dead body!"

Hroar barely flinched at that. "Suit yourself. I may never know what you see in that toothpick, but if you cooperate well enough, I might consider sparing you." He turned and started to leave before stopping and looking back at her over his shoulder. "And by that, I don't mean your life."

Astrid's eyes widened as she realized exactly what Hroar was planning to do with her as soon as he was finished eliminating all of the Hiccups he had captured.

The young villain made his way to the door that was the exit. "Sorry to leave so early, but I have bigger dragons to slay, if you know what I mean."

Astrid started ramming into the bars of her cell, hoping to jar them loose. "You won't get away with this!"

Hroar shrugged as he pulled the door open and stepped out. "Oh, my kindred spirit, can't you see? I already have." He then left, shutting the door behind him.

Astrid didn't stop trying to dislodge the bars to her cell, ramming her shoulder into them with more ferocity. She didn't care if she dislocated her arm, she needed to get out.

Blaze, seeing no other option, joined in, ramming herself against the bars of her own cell, which was right next to her trainer's. "We've gotta keep trying!"

"That was the first thing we tried."

The voice belonged to Drageist, who was in his Origin Forme, and was also being held in a cell, this one much larger than most of the others. "Each cell is specially designed to neutralize the powers and abilities of whoever is held in them so they cannot escape. Even I can't get myself out of here."

"That doesn't mean we should give up!" Snivels said, determinedly. "There has to be a way out of here!"

MoB Snotlout, who was somehow still as arrogant as ever despite being held in an inescapable cell, scoffed. "And exactly how do you plan on doing that?"

In all honesty, Snivels didn't know exactly how, but he certainly wasn't about to give up. "We can get out of here! I mean, we've got..." He looked around frantically. "We're all still in one piece, we have each other for support, and..." He looked down at the floor and grabbed a handful of the rocks and sand below him in desperation. "We've got sand!"

"Great!" Snotlout said sarcastically, "Maybe we can make an hourglass and watch the time slip away!"

Snivels took that as a sign to keep looking for answers.

Hroar chuckled as he watched the many villains from nearly every single dimension in the Multiverse take over Ultra Megalopolis. He'd promised every one of them the power to conquer their home worlds, but of course, they were all just lies. Like Snivels had said, Hroar was making fake promises to use the other villains as pawns in his plan.

The young villain was standing on the top floor of the Megalo Tower, where he had a view of the entire city. The Ultra Guardians were all being held prisoner in the basement of their own workplace, so he was free to do whatever he pleased with the tower. He had already set two of the computer screens (with very much difficulty, of course) to display the many different versions of Hiccup he had captured and the Red Fatalis, who was almost fully recovered from Sightless's virus blast.

"Soon, you'll be at full strength," Hroar muttered as he watched his creation on the screen. "And all those heroes will know what it's like to be humiliated in defeat!"

The Red Fatalis couldn't hear him, but she still growled in anticipation as the last of the virus dispersed.

Snivels was in a panic, desperately digging in the dirt and sand that was the floor of his cell. His original plan was to try and dig under the barred doors, but it didn't take him long to realize that the ground laying underneath the thin layer of sand and dirt was too solid to even leave a dent in. And that made him even more desperate to find a way out. "There's gotta be...some minerals or...something. I mean, we can't just be stuck here!"

Blaze had sat down and was watching her friend since childhood dig around in the dirt like a Sandile. She sighed and turned to look at Arachne, who was leaning up against the bars of her own cell to try and see what her Servine friend was doing. "I've known Snivels since childhood, but I have never seen him like this. He's usually very smart, always thinking things through before he acts, so he gets it right the first time. That's part of why I used to have a crush..." She stopped, realizing what she was about to say. She quickly shrugged it off and gestured to Snivels. "And now look at him."

As if on cue, Snivels popped up holding an odd-colored rock he had just dug up. "Look, some feldspar! There's gotta be something we can do with this stuff!" He looked at it for a few seconds before throwing it away in frustration. "Oh, no, that's ridiculous!"

Now Batwings was also watching. "I haven't known him anywhere near as long as you, but even I have to admit he's being rather irrational."

Arachne looked depressed for a moment before she stood as tall as she could with a determined look on her face. "Well, I'm not giving up on him! He helped me pull through when I became Sirenide, and he helped me realize that I shouldn't let what happened to Venomwing slow me down. Snivels would never give up on his friends, and neither will I!"

Blaze gave the ten year old girl a smile. "That's exactly the way Go-Getters are." Then she looked thoughtful.

Batwings noticed. "What is it?"

The Blaziken looked up at the Siren. "I just thought of something Drageist said earlier today. This prison was also enchanted to eternally trap prisoners with lying hearts."

Arachne looked confused. "But Snivels..." She gasped in realization before finishing her sentence. "...Isn't a liar!" She turned to Batwings, who now looked rather hopeful.

"If that is so..."

The three of them turned to look at Snivels, who was still frantic. "We could...we could...dig a tunnel under all the cells! And then we could...we could...we...we...we can't." He gave up. "I can't...I can't believe there's nothing we can do!" He sighed sadly before sitting down. "Well, I guess we could all just sit and wait for the inevitable end."

Blaze looked the most shocked at what the Servine had just said. "No."

Snivels turned to look at her. "What do you mean no?"

The female Blaziken took this as a sign to stand up. "No, you are not going to just sit there! The Snivels I know would never give up, even if there was a chance his plan wouldn't work! You can get out of here!"

But Snivels just shook his head. "But, Blaze, there's nothing here for me to work with!"

"You don't need it," Blaze insisted. "Remember? Drageist said this prison forever holds prisoners with lying hearts. You're not a liar, Snivels! You just need to get out of your cell and find a way to free the rest of us! I know you can do it. We all do!"

Amazed, Snivels stood up, his eyes never leaving his friend. "Blaze..." He sucked in a breath before looking determined. "Alright, I'll try." He slowly backed up until he was pressed against the back wall of his cell. He eyed the bars that had been keeping him trapped within the small room. After a moment, he shut his eyes.

"This one's for you, Hic."

His eyes shot open and he charged straight at the bars of his cell. At the last moment, he turned to the side, exposing his shoulder. He rammed into the bars, which shook for a moment before they suddenly, and mysteriously, dislodged completely and fell to the ground with a loud *clang!* Snivels cried out as he fell over, but he immediately shot up and looked behind him to see that he had indeed made it out of his cell.

The sound of the metal bars falling over caught the attention of everyone who was within hearing distance. The members of Team Go-Getters were the most impressed.

Ninjark looked like he was ready to stick his head out from between the bars of his own cell. "Did you see what Snivels just did?"

The Servine didn't stop to listen. He picked himself off the ground and ran over to Drageist's cell. "How do I free everyone else?"

The Giratina looked down at him. "Just leave that to me. I couldn't do this earlier because I was weakened, but now I have just enough power to release everyone from their cells." He raised the streamer-like appendages on his back, emitting a ghostly aura. A second later, the bars to all the cells vanished, leaving the formerly imprisoned heroes free to walk out unharmed.

There was just one thing that was bothering Adhesive. "How was Snivels able to escape when no one else was? We all know he's not the only one here who doesn't have a lying heart."

Drageist looked thoughtful. "Hroar must have done something to try and make sure none of us could get out. Thank Arceus he didn't know enough about Snivels."

The Poipole shrugged. "It's just, well, it's kind of a plot hole, isn't it?"

Drageist thought for a few seconds before giving a curt nod of agreement. "You're not wrong."

It didn't take long for Team Go-Getters to gather their dragon friends, and the additional friends they made while traveling through dimensions, but coming up with the perfect a battle strategy wasn't easy.

"Alright," Snivels said with a surprising amount of calmness. "There are innocent lives at stake, and if we're going to save them, we all have to work together. That goes for you, too, Snotface."

The arrogant Jorgenson actually growled in frustration as his Tigrex Monstie gave a monster version of a laugh.

"This isn't going to be easy," Ninjark stated obviously. "Whatever dimension those villains are in, they'll be everywhere."

Snivels shook his head. "I know that, but it might be the only chance we have. I'd never ask my friends to do something I knew they couldn't do. Sure, one of us could take down a villain or two, but a whole army? None of us can do that alone. I'm not asking as the Prince of Pokémon, I'm asking as your friend. Help me get our friend back."

Arachne stared at the Servine wide-eyed. "Prince?!"

It suddenly dawned on Snivels that he hadn't told any of the Monster Riders the significance of his heritage. "Right, I'm, uh...next in line for the throne. Perhaps I forgot to mention?"

The ten year old girl's expression quickly died down. "I don't know if any of the Riders can do what you expect, and I'm still a kid. I'll bet you've already done a whole slew of cool stuff. The world practically belongs to you."

Snivels shook his head. "The world doesn't belong to me, it belongs to everyone." He gestured to Team Go-Getters before turning to face the Monster Riders and Adhesive. "Each of our worlds belongs to all who live in it. Those villains don't have the right to take it all for themselves. They made the mistake of thinking they're all better than we are. But they're wrong. If we all stand together, we can show them what it means to be a Go-Getter."

"But I'm not a Go-Getter," Fishlegs spoke up as he tried to soothe Heatray by rubbing the scales on her back.

Adhesive shook his head. "Neither am I."

Snivels gave them a determined smile. "We're all Go-Getters today. Every hero from every dimension has an opportunity to show what they can do, right here and right now. I'm still not sure how we're going to do it, but we need to act, and we need to act fast."

Drageist suddenly arrived with something hanging on one of his appendages. "Snivels is right. More of Hiccup's counterparts are being captured as we speak, including the one who wields this." He lowered his appendage to reveal that he was holding the Dragon Miraculous. "I managed to grab it before they caught him. I couldn't let it fall into the wrong hands." He handed the choker necklace to Snivels. "Everyone in the Multiverse looks to you, young prince."

Snivels looked thoughtful for a moment before he asked the Giratina, "How many heroes saw the Code White message?"

Drageist smiled. "I'll gather them." He turned to Adhesive whilst summoning a dimensional portal. "Go to Ultra Megalopolis and find Kuro."

The Poipole promptly left through the portal, only to return a minute later. "Those villains have taken over the whole city!"

"Then that's where we're going," Snivels said.

"And I know now where to send those who will aide us in the fight," Drageist added.

Snivels looked at the Dragon Miraculous he was holding before handing it back to the Giratina. "I think you and I both know the perfect person to wield this."

Drageist smiled. "You are right, Snivels." He reached out and took back the choker necklace before summoning a dimensional portal. He turned to Adhesive. "Use that portal to get to the city. I'll join you all shortly." When the Poipole gave a nod, the Giratina departed.

No sooner had he left, Heather shifted herself a little closer to Batwings, rubbing her arm nervously. "Listen, there's...something I need to say to you. Just in case this doesn't work."

The Siren looked intrigued.

"I've kinda, sorta got a crush..." the raven-haired girl started, but was cut off when Batwings put a clawed finger over her lips. Heather looked up at him, and he gave her a warm, knowing smile. She couldn't help but smile back at him, silently praying to Arceus above that there was a guy like him somewhere back at home.

Snivels and Arachne had witnessed the whole scene. It wasn't Hiccstrid, but it was still very touching to them. Their attention shifted to Adhesive, who was hovering near the portal leading to Ultra Megalopolis.

"Hey, can we try that disappearing hand thing?" Ruffnut suddenly asked.

She and her brother ended up getting annoyed glares from everyone.

The Red Fatalis stood tall over Ultra Megalopolis, completely Gore Magala virus-free. One of her eight eyes had spotted Hroar through the windows of the Megalo Tower. Normally, she was very destructive and malicious, but she was smart enough to recognize the villain behind her creation.

"Soon, my beautiful monster," Hroar said, "Soon, you'll have your fill."

Yes, the maniac of a teenager was planning to have the Red Fatalis eat every single version of Hiccup that existed in the Multiverse. But first, he needed her to dispose of the competition the other villains displayed. Hroar gestured to every evildoer he had gathered in the city.

"You can start with them."

As per her master's command, the Red Fatalis gave a roar and was about to charge in for the inevitable killing spree when dimensional portals began opening all over Ultra Megalopolis.

Drageist emerged from the largest of the portals in his Altered Forme.

"The problem with all you villains is: you always underestimate your opponents."

Multiple heroes, too many for Hroar to even begin counting, emerged from the portals throughout the city. Humans, animals and even otherworldly beings who fought for the side of good were lining up to face the army of villains.

The second-largest dimensional portal signaled the arrival of Adhesive, Team Go-Getters and the Monster Riders. Even Ratha and Rathi looked ready to do battle. Snivels, who was on Toothless's back, noticed Amber and the other Pokémon and dragons that had stayed behind at the Ice Caves in their own dimension earlier that day. Confused, he looked up at Drageist, who smiled.

"For a fight like this, we need all the help we can get. Care to lead us in?"

Snivels smiled and nodded, looking around at all who had gathered before staring ahead at the conspiracy of villains.

"Everyone, together!"

Both sides charged forward into what was going to be the biggest battle in the history of the Multiverse.

Me: I didn't name any specific heroes because I wanted you all to imagine the kinds of heroes you'd like to see in it. And I didn't know where to start with naming them all off!

Ninjark: That's quite thoughtful and considerate of you.

Blaze: Yeah, yeah. Less talking, more action!

Snivels: Am I the only one who's going to be breaking the fourth wall in this story?

Ninjark: Doing what?

Snivels: I'll explain later.

Me: Review if you guys want to read about the most awesome battle ever in the next chapter!