Author's Notes: It's been forever since I last updated, so here's another one. It's a bit more preparation, for 4 upcoming battles. I know that it's a tad dull, but please bear with me on this one. However, I hope you enjoy this anyhow.

Chapter 37: UPCO

"Whatis that?" Eddy asked.

"IT'S EVIL! PURE EVIL!" Bloo shouted. "OFF WITH IT'S HEAD!"

"OFF WITH IT!" Luffy chimed in.

"Calm DOWN!!" Nami and Mac both shouted at the same time.

"Yeah, it's just a door!" Double D said, with a nod.

"Just a door?" Vivian asked. "If memory serves, we had a very rough time with a certain millennium door once."

They stood outside where they had just parked the Ed Mobile; at the side of the Clock Tower, aside a strange, yellow glowing door.

Vivian approached it. "Really strange, huh?"

"Who cares?" Eddy asked. "Let's just open it."

"What if it's a trap?" asked a nervous Mac.

Bloo smirked. "Don't worry, I know what to do!" He laughed, and placed a monocle, top hat, and fake mustache ensemble on his face.

"NOTAGAIN!" Mac shouted, ripping the piece off his face.

"YOW!" Bloo shouted.

The door slowly creaked open. There was a very bright light on the other side, causing the rest of the group to squint.

"Eeek! It's an ambush!!" Goombella exclaimed.

The entire group closed their eyes and braced themselves.

For a few seconds, the sounds of Big Ben clicking and the cars on nearby streets sounded, until…

"Am I dead?" Eddy asked.

"Maybe?" Bloo asked.

"So this is what it's like to be dead?" Luffy asked.

"So strange." Goombirro stated.

Vivian sighed. She stood behind the four of them and slapped them in a row across the backsides of their heads.

"YOW!" Eddy shouted.

"Being dead hurts!" Luffy shouted.

"Nobody died." Double D sighed.

"Whoo, I'm back to life!" Eddy shouted.

"Was it a 1-up shroom? Or a life shroom?" Goombirro asked.

"SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL, AM I INVINCIBLE OR WHAT?" Bloo asked.

"It's 'cause I'm a rubber man." Luffy said, smirking.

"Nobodydied because nothing happened!" Double D shouted.

"He's right." Nami nodded.

Vivian and Goombella nodded in agreement.

"No, no, I'm sure it was a 1-up shroom-"

"NOBODY DIED!" Double D, Vivian, Goombella, and Nami all shouted at once.

"GEEZ!" Bloo shouted. "Don't be so mean about it. They're crazy, huh Mac?"

………………….

"…Mac, hello?"

It was about then that they realized Mac's sudden and mysterious absence.

"Wasn't he just here?" Vivian asked.

Bloo began running in circles. "MAC! Ol' buddy, ol' pal, where are you? SPEAK TO MEEEEE!!"

"BLOO!!" Mac called out.

He stood alone, in a small hallway. There were a series of stairs which led strait up. The floor was made of an elegant, polished marble. The walls were white, though a lot of them were hidden behind strange, angelic looking statues. A bright light poured in from large, arched windows on the left side of the walls as it continued to lead him strait up.

"I guess I got pulled into the door…" he said, sounding a bit shaken up. "Normally, my senses would tell me to run like heck."

However, he continued to ascend up the stairs.

"Wherever I am, this isn't Big Ben. The architecture is too different."

"You're right." said a dark voice.

Mac gasped, and glanced to the top of the staircase. Standing at the very tip top, was a strange, cloaked figure.

This man was wearing a tall overcoat, with pieces of shoulder armor that resembled horns. His pants and matching shoes were black, and he wore black leather gloves that hid even his hands. This man was wearing a mask as well. It was made of a blue cloth, and covered most of his head. Printed on the front, where his face would be, was a picture of a white skull, starring forth on this man's behalf. For some bizarre reason, the mask smelt of gunpowder, and there was a fuse hanging off the side. The dark cloak, as well as his dark appearance, entirely contradicted the white, calming halls of the stairwell.

"Hello, Mac." said the figure. "My, oh my, it's been so many years, huh?"

Mac stopped, dead in his tracks. "…dad?"

"What do you take me for?" asked the man. "I'm not your dad! Geez, just 10 years pass and it's like you can't even recognize me anymore."

Mac's eyes widened. "Then who are you? And where am I?"

The mysterious man laughed. "Unless you're chicken, follow me."

The man suddenly walked away, proceeding to the top of the stairs and into an passage to the right, bringing him out of view.

Mac looked down for a second. "It's clearly a trap. But he must work for Beldam too, I'm sure of it. Maybe I can-"

The little boy looked back up, with a determined expression in his face, and raced up the stairs. His feet echoed on the marble floor as he raced. Fists were clenched, teeth gritted, and growling in a fierce tone as he finally reached the top, and turned the corner..

The room he stumbled into was incredibly spacious. There was very little within for the most part, aside from a tall structure, that held another odd gold bell. A set of stairs to the right led up to an interior balcony, which appeared to be at least 3 stories higher. The most disturbing thing in here, however, was a strange structure, which separated two different platforms of the balcony: a giant scale. It was made of gold, with odd, ancient inscriptions written on them. Both sides of the scale were perfectly balanced at the moment, each side as large as helicopter platforms. The gold structure of the scale shone brightly in the odd lighting of the chamber, giving it somewhat of a glow.

"…what is this?" Mac asked, starring in astonishment.

"Welcome to the chamber of judgment." stated the mysterious man. Mac looked up, to notice the man standing on the very top of the scale. "This chamber is just one of many in the temple of time. This temple resides in a gap between time and space. Don't bother to make yourself at home."

"Gap between space and time… you're messing with me! There's no such thing!" Mac shouted back.

"Easy there, Mac. That's no way to talk to a King."

Mac stared, startled. "You are a king? King of what?"

"I am king… of all. I am the commander of the X-nauts, director of Beldam and Dimentio. The Kraken is a pet of mine too. I think you might be acquainted-"

"Then… it… was you?" Mac asked. He was now completely shocked. "The possessing of Nazz… kidnapping of everyone… the attack at fosters, and at the village at Peru, and now at London- YOU DID ALL THIS?"

The King smiled, and looked down at Mac. "Heh heh… no, I have my subordinates to thank for most of that. All I wanted them to do was to find the Crystal Stars. I couldn't help it if Beldam felt a little creative."

"…tell me, King." Mac stated, having a serious face. "Was it you, who told Masque to attack fosters?"

The King smiled. "Oh, Masque? Hm… I gave orders to so many people. I can't remember everyone. Maybe- OH!" The king pointed into the air. "That lizard guy with the mask on his face! Right, that idiot was perfect for my goals! It's a shame he used that music sheet to turn himself into a monster too early."

Mac clenched both of his fists. "You…"

"Oh, you feel angry at me for this?" King asked.

"Masque was my father's imaginary friend. Doing that was like using a part of my father." Mac began to look angry now, slowly approaching King.

"What is it?" the King asked.

"Take off your mask." Mac said.

The King didn't react. "I do not think so, Mac. A king does not take orders from low-life peasants."

Mac grabbed one of his arms, as if to prepare for an attack. "Low-life?"

"What are you going to do to me?" asked the King. "You are only 8 years old."

"I don't care!" Mac shouted.

The King jumped from the top of the scale, landing right in front of Mac, in am imposing manner.

"You, alone, dare to take on a king?"

"Somebody has to stop you!"

"Don't you even know about my plans?" the King asked. "Do any of you know what my true objectives are?"

"All I know is that it has something to do with something called the 4th relic."

The King gasped and backed away, frightened. "How do you know about the 4th relic?!" he gasped and grabbed Mac's collar, lifting him into the air. Mac strained and flailed, trapped in the King's grasp.

"YOU WILL NOT MAKE IT OUT OF HERE ALIVE!" the King shouted. He then tossed Mac to the ground, causing him to crash.

"Go, iron knuckle!" The King shouted, running away. "Dispose of this rat!"

The 8 year old watched from the ground, as the King ran away. He then got up, and slowly peered to his left.

There, standing above him, was a tall, heavily armored knight. He was dressed in a large, black, set of armor, with golden regal designs painted all over it. His face was shrouded by a metal helmet, and he wielding a giant axe, large and polished enough to be a mirror.

Mac laid on the ground for moments, starring at his own scared reflection in the iron knuckle's axe. That is, until the hulking knight grunted a battle cry, and rose the axe over Mac. The 8 year old screamed and rolled out of the way, before the massive weapon could land.

As Mac completed his dodge, he looked back upon the monster. The Axe was still imbedded into the ground, having sliced through 2 full feet in the marble floor.

"OH MY-"

"GOSH!" Bloo shouted suddenly.

All of the others glanced over to him, looking nervous.

"What is it?" Goombella asked.

"Nothing." Bloo replied. "I just felt the need to scream."

"Idiot." Nami sighed.

"So, what is this?" Eddy asked.

Double D, and the others, stood in a huge chamber, which appeared to be the foyer of an unusual temple. "I have no idea. But we're not in London anymore."

"What the heck does that mean?" Luffy asked.

"It means that we need to find Mac, fast." Double D said. "C'mon!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Mac shouted, as he continued to be chased around the room.

"Halt at once!" the iron knuckle exclaimed. "In the name of UPCO, you shall stop!"

"UPCO? What's UPCO?" Mac asked.

The knight ignored him, and continued to chase.

"At… least… I'm… faster then him." Mac told himself as he ran. He looked back, to see that he had at least gained some distance.

"Now all I have to do is wait until help comes." Mac sighed.

He was interrupted by the whistling of something flying in the air. Mac turned back, and saw that the knight had thrown his own axe. Mac screamed and ducked. Luckily, the Axe flew just overhead, stabbing itself into a wall, suspending it there.

"Why you…" the Knight shouted, approaching Mac.

Mac reached for the Axe, and attempted to pull it out himself.

"You are unfit to wield such a weapon!" the knight shouted, rushing towards him.

Mac finally managed to free the weapon from the wall. He swung it backwards with enough force to smack the oncoming knight with the dull side. The armor fractured instantly upon impact, and the knight let out a groan.

It was about then that Mac noticed a glowing, coming from out of the newfound cracks. It was an odd, but somewhat familiar glow, illuminating the area to the color of gold.

"What is that?" Mac asked. However, it was about here that he could no longer grasp the mighty weapon he wielded, and was forced to drop the very heavy axe.

"MAN THAT'S HEAVY!" he shouted.

The knight reached down to reclaim his weapon. Mac watched, his eyes still affixed to the armored man's glowing.

"You have England's Crystal Star, don't you?" Mac asked.

The knight did not respond to the question; he only rose the axe over Mac and shouted.

Mac proceeded to run away from the knight again, screaming once more, the knight in pursuit. Mac raced behind a pillar and stopped, breathing heavily all the while.

"I have to get that star from him!" he said to himself, before looking back.

Meanwhile, Double D and the rest of his group rushed into the main chamber of the temple. It was a huge, spacious room, maybe 3 stories tall, with a ceiling so high that light itself couldn't reach. There were a series of balconies above them.

"It looks like a big ball room!" Goombella commented.

"Maybe it is." Double D said. "That or the grand hall."

"Yawn." Bloo sighed.

"It looks like a nice place to find some treasure." Stated Nami, a gleam in her eyes.

"Isn't it beautiful?" asked a familiarly dark voice.

All but Double D and Vivian in the group looked up.

"Beldam." Vivian said. She was more then familiar with her tone of voice.

"Hahahahaha!" Beldam cackled, while standing on a higher balcony. She flicked her new body's blonde hair and smiled.

"I am SO tired of you!" Eddy shouted. "And your new look doesn't suit you at all!"

Beldam's frown disappeared. "Fine." she said. "I'll cut to the chase." She looked behind herself. "Hey, bring them in!"

"What do you think I am?" asked a distant voice. "A slave?"

"Just do it, Dimentio!"

A small portal appeared behind Beldam. Sarah, now back to original form, fell out of it, and Midna proceeding. Both were tied together by strong rope. Dimentio appeared as well, before closing the portal.

"Sarah!" Double D shouted, pointing at the red-headed girl.

"What's-your-face!" Eddy shouted, pointing at Midna.

"Nice to see you too." Midna sighed sarcastically.

"Now, dearest guests, it's not polite to point." Dimentio said, bowing courteously at the group.

"Can it, pretty boy!" Bloo shouted.

"YEAH!" Luffy exclaimed as well. "Where's my crew?!"

Beldam laughed, and held up her medallion of life. "All of the people I kidnapped from that foster house and those ruins from Peru are with me, for safekeeping."

"And where's Mac?" Bloo asked.

"The little boy that wandered in here by accident?" Beldam asked. "Heck if I know."

"This time, I really mean it!" Vivian shouted. "Sis, give us back our friends, or I'll-"

"Throw me into lava like last time?" asked Beldam. "Graceful proposition, but no. By the way, didn't you get my message in Peru? I already told you, I'm not your sister."

Vivian smiled. "I have a message for you, by the way?"

"Yeah?" Beldam asked. "What is it?"

"Fire!"

A wall of fire blasted from behind Vivian, illuminating the area in a bright red glow. The wall passed through Vivian on her command, and proceeded right towards Beldam. The witch in the swordsman's body did not have enough time to react, and was thrown backwards by the blast.

"Vivian!" Double D cried out.

Vivian looked back at her, glowing red herself, her hair waving. She held a serious expression.

"Let me fight her alone." Vivian said.

Double D nodded. He knew that it had to be done.

Beldam got to her feet, and groaned. "Fine, if it's a fight you want, you can have it!' Beldam turned around and ran from her spot, proceeding towards a hallway. She turned around quickly, to slam the door behind her.

"Oh no you don't!" shouted Vivian. "Pathi-flare!"

The doors reacted to her spell and blasted open. Vivian flew upwards, to the top of the balcony, and proceeded after the witch.

Dimentio smiled as they departed. "Well then, hello everyone."

"Enough with the formalities!" Goombella shouted. "What are you up to!"

"Well, let me just make it simple." Dimentio said. He held out an item, one which looked rather familiar. It gleamed in his hands.

Double D gasped. "That's the Sapphire Crystal Star that you took from us in Peru!"

"We also have the Gold Star, Beldam found in a hotel." Dimentio said.

"I found it first!" Eddy shouted. "Beldam's a thief, it's MINE!!"

"…yes, quite." Dimentio sighed. "Listen, we have 2 stars. And you have one too, right? The Emerald Star that Mac found at Foster's. I'll take it in exchange for these two lovely ladies." he gestured to Midna and Sarah.

"Hm…" Eddy thought. "A huge, glowing, magical, star-shaped emerald, or princess loudmouth? Meh, you can have Sarah."

"YOU FAT HEAD!" Sarah shouted, wriggling in her ropes. "When I get out of here, I'm gonna-"

"ENOUGH!" Dimentio shouted suddenly, slamming his fists against the railings. "It's clear this isn't leading anywhere."

"You're right." Double D said. "We'll fight!"

"But Double D, what about Vivian and Beldam. Shouldn't we help?" Goombella asked.

Double D sighed, and nodded. "What do we do then."

"I and Goombirro will stay here to fight." stated Goombella. "The rest of you guys go on and find Beldam and Vivian."

"Let me fight here too!" Bloo shouted confidently. "These two Goombaswill need me!"

"Are you sure you can handle yourself in battle?" Goombella asked.

Bloo smiled, and placed a set of sunglasses on his face. "Does that answer your question?"

"We'll leave it to you guys then!" Luffy shouted.

The remainder of the group, comprised of Double D, Luffy, Nami, and Eddy proceeded onwards and away, leaving Goombella, Goombirro, and Bloo behind.

"Well then…" Dimentio said, looking down at them from atop the balcony. "Shall we go?"

"Hey, Double D." Nami said as they were running down the hallway. "Is it ok that we left the three of them back there?"

"I know Goombella." Double D said. "She can't be defeated very easily. And Goombirro looks very dedicated to her, so I'm sure he'll fight hard too."

Eddy scoffed and looked away, still running alongside them.

"It's Bloo I'm worried about." stated Double D. "He doesn't have any magical powers or weapons. I don't think he even knows how. The only time I have seen him fight was a Foster's, but with my aid. I hope he'll be ok."

"Have more confidence in your own crew." Luffy said. "I think he will do fine too. He's kinda silly sometimes, but he is very determined."

Double D nodded. "Anyway, let's just keep going."

The group arrived in a large, spacious chamber, located at the peak of the stairs, after a long hike upwards. The room was entirely circular, and unlike all the other rooms they entered, this one was particularly dark. A series of candles that hung on the walls barely lit the room, and a small beam of light which rained from the ceiling indicated that they had made it to the top floor.

"We must have made a wrong turn somewhere." Double D said, looking around the chamber. "We should go back."

"No, we're at the right spot." Nami said.

Double D and Luffy had puzzled expressions. "What do you mean?" Double D said. "There's nobody to be found."

Nami and Eddy rushed past the other two and proceeded into the chamber. They raced to what appeared to be a small treasure chest, waiting for them in the opposite corner of the room.

"Don't tell me we came all the way up here just for treasure!" Double D exclaimed.

"Aw, c'mon Double D! I can just smell it!" Eddy shouted. "Lotsa cash!"

Nami reached the chest first, and frantically opened it.

"Money Money Money Money Money!" Nami and Eddy both chanted at the same time.

Unfortunately, the chest had nothing. Looking inside, the two disappointed greedy ones stared into the cold, vast emptiness of nothing. For a brief moment, Double D could have sworn a tear ran down Eddy's cheek.

"Nonononononono." Nami said. "I couldn't have been wrong."

There was the sudden, distinct sound of chains rattling. Before anyone knew it, a huge metal cage fell from the ceiling. As it landed, it encased Nami and Eddy within it. The cage struck the ground with a metal clank and a thunderous roar, making everything tremor if not for a brief moment.

"What the-HEY!" Eddy shouted. He gripped the sides of the cages and shook them hard, causing it to rattle.

"Darn it all!" Nami exclaimed, also shaking the bars. "Who did this?!"

"Stay calm!" Double D shouted, him and Luffy still free. "We'll get you out."

He placed his two hands together, which both began to glow bright red. "Maybe a bit of my own power will break the cage open."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." said a voice.

A strange figure suddenly appeared before them. His cape flowed behind him, as he starred down Double D and Luffy from behind his skull-shaped mask.

"Hello, you two. Whadya think of my fortress?" he asked.

"Your fortress?" Double D asked. "Who the heck are you?"

The man laughed. "Me? Just call me king."

"…very well, this place is yours?" Double D asked.

"It's the temple of time!" the king shouted. "It exists in the gap between times. A long time ago, around 10 years ago, I found out of how to escape my own time, and came to this glorious place! Ever since then, I have been growing my very own army, for the day that we would take this place over-"

"-and siege universe at the same time." Double D finished his sentence. "You're behind this… behind everything, right?"

"Still as intuitive as ever, huh Double D?" king asked.

"Sorry, I don't think we know each other." stated the sock-hatted boy.

"Right then. Well, where to begin…? I'm King, and I was born and lived in Peach Creek."

Double D gasped. "You lived in our hometown? …just who are you?"

"AS I was saying," sounded King blatantly ignoring Double D. "About 10 years into my past, I learned about this amazing treasure! It's called the 4th relic! It was a great and powerful relic, that was feared even by the shadow queen herself! So I decided to hire some pigeons into doing my work. It wasn't easy, you wouldn't believe the things I had to do to get some of my agents. My new army is called UPCO! It has everything! A shadow siren, X-nauts, and a time distorting jester! All that's not enough, though! I found out from a nerdy friend of mine that the 4th relic was thrown into another time, the same day that the shadow queen destroyed that world! So I used UPCO to siege this temple!"

"But that's not the last part. In order to get full control of this temple, I need to get all 7 crystal stars, and use their power here. If I do, then I will be able to travel to any time, and any world I want! Then finding the 4th relic, and ruling the world will be a breeze!"

Luffy sighed. "This guy done yet?"

King grew angry. "How dare you!"

"Was that wise, to reveal your plans like that?" Double D asked.

"I would have if I were him." Eddy said from within the cage. "Builds up dramatic tension, ya know?"

"Shut up, Eddy!" Nami exclaimed, striking him on the head.

Luffy shook his head. "So, all we have to do is stop this guy, right? Easy."

King rose both of his arms up into the air. With each of his hands, he snapped his fingers.

It was about then that two more figures fell from the ceiling on either side of him. One looked like a tall, dark man in an overcoat with a white eagle mask. The other one looked like a cyborg, with a yellow mask over his face.

"Sock hat and Straw hat, meet Bremen and Keaton." King laughed. "Bremen and Keaton, Sock hat and Straw Hat."

"Your two henchman, I assume?" Double D asked.

"I'm no henchman!" Bremen stated. "I am 3rd in command of the UPCO empire."

"Don't speak out of line!" King exclaimed. "10 years pass and you're still an idiot."

"Sorry, King."

Double D nodded, and snapped his fingers. They ignited instantly, and a small flame arose from his fingers like a lighter.

"Enough. I'll say this only once. Please release Nami and Eddy." Double D said.

King laughed. "No."

"Have it your way." Double D said. "Luffy, are you ready?"

Luffy cracked his knuckled and adjusted his hat. "I thought you'd never ask."

"Let's fight then!" King shouted.

Author's Notes: Very well, I haven't exactly revealed who they are. Perhaps you'll be able to make a guess of who King is? I'll reveal his identity sometime in the next couple chapters. I also added in an intresting paradox, if anyone happens to notice it, I did so on purpose. Until then, thank you for reading, and please review.