A/N: And this is the conclusion of today's story and boy, is it dark. But don't worry, although it may seem otherwise at first, someone will pull through. I can't say for sure who, though. But bconfer368 and I want everyone to know how irredeemable Polaris is. Just wanted to let you guys know. Anyhoo, enjoy. :)
Infinity Train X Glitch Techs
Book Three: Chapter 10: The Ultimate Enemy
The tape bots were leaving Polaris' broken tube and headed straight for Tulip, Grace (who is now back in human form), Gummi, Simon, and Jesse when Max woke up with a gasp first before getting up with a slight groan and then noticing a piece of tape dangling down from his head and streaming down before looking up to notice the cause: the tape bots on top of his head! Max exclaimed in reaction for a moment before then realizing something.
"Of course. There has to be something here.", Max spoke as he then went for his gear and got out a sort of sound player before then playing it to give off a beep that One-One uses since taking his place as conductor back, causing the tape bots to flash red before flashing green and moving away from his head, ceasing the tape flow and causing the tape to fall off his head.
Max sighed before noticing Amber, Kazar, Lena, Damien, Atticus, Alan Dracula (who puffed his nostrils), Miko, Five, and Lake being the next to wake up with tape coming out of their heads, much to their shock and worry.
"Hold on a sec.", Max spoke before playing the sound, yielding the same result as it did for him as numerous tapes fell off their heads and onto the ground.
"Ah. Thanks.", Lake sighed.
"Don't thank me yet. We still have to wait for them to wake up.", Max spoke, gesturing to the comatose Tulip, Grace, Jesse, Simon, and Gummi.
"But Polaris captured Hazel! We can't just sit here! We've gotta do something!", Amber urged.
"Why don't we hack them out like a boss?", Miko suggested.
"Wait, no! We are not hacking the tape bots. The repercussions of doing so are chaos magnified.", Max responded.
"I know it's probably for a good reason, but why not?", Five puzzled.
"Because then, their brains'll get blasted by a trillion volts of electricity. Interrupting the tape bots in the middle of their job is literally dangerous! A slight mistake while hacking the tape bots could end them both!", Max warned.
"So, we sleep on it?", Atticus suggested.
"Not exactly. We'll have to keep watch over them until anything happens.", Max suggested.
"Wha...? Tuba, are you sure this is a good idea?", Amber asked.
"I don't see any other option.", Tuba responded.
"Finally, someone sensible.", Max responded.
"Oh, guys... Please make it.", Amber spoke hopefully.
Meanwhile, in the memory scape, Grace, Simon, Tulip, and Jesse were screaming as they fell down before landing on the ground. But it was of no consequence as the ground below was oddly squishy and quite soft as Gummi perked up with a squeak and hopped off while going to Tulip before she and the others got back up as Gummi squeaked before noticing a giant Zenith standing in front of them.
"You wheeled a denizen! Twice! I should've known. You, Polaris, all of you! You're all reckless, nothing but trouble!", Zenith reprimanded.
"No, we didn't mean for it to go this far!", Grace responded.
"Your mindless actions have led to the capture of that innocent passenger!", Zenith shouted.
"No, it was Polaris who captured her!", Simon exclaimed before a dark silhouette of Polaris appeared as visions of Hazel appeared.
"He didn't come up with the idea to kill denizens on his own!", one vision of Hazel spoke before another in her turtle form appeared.
"It's your fault he got me!", another vision added before the third appeared with the third and final one appearing, this time without the wave and with the shell appeared.
"You two think you're strong, but you're scared!", the third vision added.
"COWARDS LEADING COWARDS!", all three visions shouted in unison, pointing to Grace and Simon as they walked toward them.
"Hazel, please, we didn't know!", Grace pleaded.
"This isn't their fault!", Tulip urged.
"Yeah, they had no idea!", Jesse agreed as Gummi squeaked.
"And worst of all, when you had the opportunity to make it right the first time...", a vision of Zenith spoke before a rectangular screen popped up from Simon's back before then emerging from his static covered chest and stretched toward his eyes before showing the one scene that proved to be a mistake in the end.
"Well, maybe you can be in the Apex with us. Just abandon Zenith and his crazy plan.", Simon suggested.
"In time, I will, but for now, I have to play my hands right.", Polaris responded before Simon sighed.
"Alright, but until then, she'll stay with Grace and I.", Simon spoke as he turned back to Polaris.
"Thank you. I appreciate your assistance with that.", Polaris responded while giving a sinister look.
"You handed her right to him! You tried to make this all about you instead of being more understanding of the situation!", the vision of Zenith reprimanded as Simon started to shed tears before crying with Grace in the same boat before both their past selves from before they first met Tulip and the others walked over to the sobbing duo from behind and approached them up front.
"You're wrong, Grace. Wrong about numbers, the conductor, denizens, everything. And you know it.", the other Grace spoke while shedding silent tears.
"And you're not any better either, Simon. There will always be times when you're wrong and there is no force on or off the Earth that can change that.", the other Simon responded.
"It's true. I-I'm afraid. Afraid of being wrong, of disappoint others, of not being enough... I did everything to avoid being alone, and it's exactly how I ended up.", Grace agreed as she, too, she'd tears, not knowing her number was going down.
"You think you're the only one, Grace? I was terrified. Sometimes, I think, what if what I know on my own is not good enough? What was I supposed to do then? What if I'm always wrong...?", Simon responded, not knowing that his number was going down as well.
But Tulip, Jesse, and Gummi noticed as they looked in awe.
"So..., I guess the only saving grace is that we're alone together.", Simon finished before Grace sighed.
"We're sorry, Hazel. We should never have done things the way we did back then.", Grace apologized before the static started to go down on both Grace and Simon just as a vision of Kazar appeared behind them before they, Tulip, Jesse, and Gummi turned to see him.
"It's about time you realized that.", the vision of Kazar spoke before then aiming his gauntlet at them before letting loose a beam, which blasted the four towards a sort of staticky screen all around the memories with one of them being the time Kevin was floating in the air.
Then, all four woke up with gasps before groaning while getting up as Max and the others noticed.
"Oh, good. You're all awake.", Max spoke before Grace and Simon both noticed tapes streaming down from somewhere before looking up to notice that they were coming from their heads, much to their panic while Tulip and Jesse were shocked to discover the same thing happening to them as they exclaimed.
"Don't worry about that. I got it covered.", Max assured before he played the beeping sound from his sound player, causing the tape bots to stop and move a way from the center of their heads with the tape then falling off their heads.
"Whew. Thanks, Max.", Jesse sighed.
"Guys? Look.", Amber spoke, pointing toward something before the rest of the group noticed the carnage wrought by Polaris as the denizens in the car were torn apart and ripped to shreds.
"Oh, no! This is horrible!", Lena exclaimed.
"Looks like Polaris has been busy.", Damien spoke.
"Yeah. If that were me, I wouldn't tear them apart like that.", Simon responded.
"Is there any way we can put them back together?", Grace asked.
"There is one solution, yes. And it's effectively simple.", Max responded before getting out a roll of clear tape.
"Well, what have we got to lose?", Simon sighed in response.
Then, in half a minute less than no time, the group all managed to patch up the origami denizens before they were all able to fly again.
"You okay?", Grace asked.
"Well, they certainly are now, that's for sure.", Simon grinned before they flew away while a silver one landed on top of Grace's shoulder with Grace looking at her reflection before wiping off the red wave on her face once.
"Well, Grace, if you don't need to wear this wave anymore, then neither do I.", Simon assured as he wiped the wave off his face with Amber looking on in awe before wiping the wave off her face as well.
"Same here.", Amber agreed.
Then, Tulip spoke up.
"All right, guys. Polaris couldn't have gone very far. So, where do you think he went?", Tulip asked.
"Since he said he was planning to kill all the denizens, leaving only passengers remaining, my guess is that he's headed to where the Apex are. At the Mall Car.", Simon guessed.
"Then, that's where we're headed.", Jesse spoke.
"Are you coming with us?", Tuba asked.
"We really could use your help.", Atticus spoke.
"No. This train is too dangerous to press on any further. I'm sure we'll meet again someday, though. I can at least say that much.", Max spoke.
"So, we're going our separate ways, then?", Miko asked.
"For now.", Max responded before turning to the entry door behind him from a distance and heading out.
"Uh..., okay. See ya.", Lena responded as she and the others headed out the other way with a Simon the last one to get to the exit before turning around and speaking to Max.
"Zenith? I mean...Max?", Simon asked before
"Huh?", Max puzzled.
"Once this mess with Polaris...with Mark is over, we'll come back for you.", Simon spoke before Max only nodded with a soft grunt before closing the door as he left before Simon sighed with a smile.
"Until next time.", Simon spoke before he then closed the door.
Later, the group got out of the lucky cat car and finally found themselves at the mall car amidst the wasteland, now in a dark blue light with clouds above them starting to rain as lightning arced around the clouds.
"That's odd. I never saw the wasteland in that weather before.", Tulip spoke.
"I don't think we've ever seen it like this before, and we've been on this train longer.", Simon spoke.
"Looks like there's a storm coming out here, too.", Damien spoke.
"No matter what happens from here on out, we have to be prepared for anything.", Kazar states before the group nodded.
Then, Simon opened the door to the empty mall car to notice that it was now in an orange-color as the time here was either sunrise or sunset before looking down to see the red writing on the ground that says, "Down with the false conductor.", making him shudder.
"I can't believe I ever got comfortable with that.", Simon spoke.
Then, the group went forward before Tulip noticed something.
"Huh? Guys, look at this.", Tulip spoke, pointing to a book before Grace picked up a book, which read, "The Esmoroth Trilogy: Book 1 - The True King."
"You make books?", Tulip asked.
"Yeah.", Simon responded as Grace sighed before a sudden push from a broom surprised Tulip as she exclaimed with Gummi squeaking in surprise.
"That's as far as you go, voids.", Lucy spoke up.
"Wait, what?", Simon puzzled.
"Lucy, what's going on? And what's a Void?", Grace asked before Lucy hesitates for a moment and replied.
"You two! And we all know how the Apex deals with voids.", Lucy spoke.
"Well, we don't.", Simon responded as he went forward before Lucy stopped him.
"Lucy, I...", Grace began before one of the Apex shouted to someone, holding a toy in his hand.
"Polaris! Polaris, the voids infiltrated the car!", the Apex kid shouted.
"So, what are we supposed to do?", Amber asked.
"I have an idea but I need time. Lena, Damien, with me! The rest of you, distract him!", Kazar urged before he, Lena, and Damien headed out.
"Wait! Where are you going?!", Simon urged before the rest of the Apex kids swarmed around Grace, Simon, Tulip, Gummi, Jesse, Amber, Tuba, Miko, Five, Atticus, and Alan Dracula.
"Wait, Wait, stop! It's just us!", Grace assured.
Then, the Apex aimed the spotlight toward Polaris with Gummi being the first to notice as well as Alan Dracula before the former squeaked and the latter brayed before the group turned around and saw Polaris, but much to their horror, he is now a large, hulking demon with purple skin and throbbing pink veins, sporting an elongated neck along with a slightly hunched over body with fanged teeth and clawed hands and feet, heavily armored, with two long, thin, dark red ribbon-like strips of cloth on his back, four arms, and with his head much smaller compared to the rest of his body as he stepped forward.
"Oh, no. It can't be...!", Amber spoke in worry.
"Now that you know the situation, you've decided to play hero, eh, short pants?", Polaris asked before opening his purple eyes and stepping down.
"He's a monster...!", Lake exclaimed.
"We didn't betray anybody.", Grace spoke.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's your fault.", Polaris responded.
"I don't believe you, you're lying!", Simon retorted.
"Look, we've been doing things wrong. As leaders of the Apex, it's our responsibility to...", Grace began before Polaris interrupted.
"Break people. That's just how you were born.", Polaris interrupted.
"What's with you?! If Grace hadn't met me, we wouldn't be here.", Simon responded.
"I always have to get my hands dirty because of your selfishness, Void.", Polaris retorted.
"Okay, what is a Void?!", Grace asked.
"I'm not getting through to you. Allow me to be clearer.", Polaris spoke up as Hazel, now trapped in a sort of empty canister looked in from above in worry for Grace, Simon, and the others.
"Huh?", Hazel asked.
"You're going to die down here.", Polaris finished.
"What are you talking about?!", Simon shouted before Polaris raised his right hand up.
"What is a Void, Apex?!" Polaris shouted.
"A leader who is unfit to lead; a danger to us all!", the Apex replied.
"So, then what do you suppose you should do?", Polaris asked calmly as he lowered his hand while Lucy, Todd, and his friend grew hesitant.
"Wheel the voids! Wheel the voids! Wheel the voids!", the rest of the Apex chanted as they pushed Grace and Simon our forcefully.
"Stop!", Grace urged.
"Wait! Armistice! Armistice!", Simon shouted.
"Let go!", Grace shouted as lightning struck outside the door with Hazel worried for them.
"Stop it! Stop it!", Hazel shouted.
"Get off! Stop, okay, please don't do this!", Grace urged before lightning struck outside again with Grace gasping.
"You're done, kid. The only way to truly prosper on this train is to take what's ours and kill anyone who gets in our way.", Omega Polaris spoke as he then placed his hand on the car's surface, causing it to eject upward and then dash forward on top of the other cars.
"The Nulls are nothing but a means to kick us off the train and take it for themselves. So that's why I'm going to offload my perfected formula to eliminate all the denizens and make sure only passengers remain on this train.", Polaris added.
"Don't listen! The Void is trying to infect you with its lies!", Simon shouted.
"You don't have any room to speak, Void.", Polaris retorted before the car stopped near the engine.
When it did, Grace moved away from the Apex and fell down to the top of the car closest to the engine with the Apex looking in shock while murmuring their surprises.
"You see?! She's a Null. No, worse than that, she's a void. After all, none of you want to be lead by a filthy Null, right?", Polaris asked as he jumped down to her level before Grace then gave a determined look.
"So what if I am a Null? Either way, I've decided to do what's right. We've been doing it wrong. We can still change.", Grace spoke as her number went down.
"Yeah! I know you might not understand now, but trust me!, Simon shouted from above.
"Give up already. It's like I told you heroes earlier...", Polaris retorted before then lurching his claws near Grace, surrounding her.
"You're all going to DIE!", Polaris shouted before launching himself toward Grace, who blocked his leg with her arm before blocking his arm and next and trying to attack with Grace barely able to keep her defenses up as the Apex kids knew it could get ugly, especially Lucy, who was worried.
"Be careful, Grace.", Lucy spoke in worry before she and the rest of the Apex ran back inside.
"Tuba, see if you can find Hazel and get her out of there. I'll go back for Grace.", Simon spoke before Tuba nodded.
"We all will.", Amber assured, gesturing to herself, Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Gummi, Atticus, Alan Dracula, Miko, Five, Lena, and Damien with Simon giving a determined nod to her.
Back outside, Grace and Polaris were still squaring off with one another as the former even managed to block his clawed fists and struggled to keep them at bay as she grunted with Omega Polaris then noticing Grace's number going down again, enraging him.
"Stop, stop, stop!", Polaris shouted before pushing her back as she landed on her shell on the top of the car with Polaris closing in on her.
"Stay out of my way...!", Polaris growled before Gummi squeaked loudly.
"What...?", Polaris puzzled before Gummi suddenly leapt on top of his face, covering it and promoting him to try and remove Gummi from his face, but with little success so far.
"What the...? Gummi?", Grace asked.
"Hurry, Grace! Over here! We're not sure how long he can hold him off!", Simon urged before Grace nodded and then got up and went over to them.
But at the same time, Polaris finally managed to remove Gummi from his head by giving off lightning from his head to shock him out, allowing for easier access with Gummi squeaking weakly after reforming back to normal form.
"Just remember, you made the first move.", Polaris shouted before he then pulled his right arm back and then tossed Gummi out with a grunt, making Tulip and the others gasp in horror.
Play Super Dragon Ball Heroes Music: "Final Battle"
Then, Tulip tried to catch Gummi but failed as the little gummy bear-like gerbil fell overboard.
"No! Gummi!", Tulip shouted before Gummi gave a yelling squeaked as he fell down before hitting the wheel and splattering onto the wheel.
"GUMMI!", Tulip shouted in despair before crumbling to her knees and sobbing as the others glared at Polaris angrily.
"How could you do that?!", Simon shouted.
"Yeah! How could you wheel something so adorable! You have no soul, foul creature!", Miko shouted.
"That's exactly why I have no fear. Besides, he was standing in my way. A fatal mistake.", Polaris retorted in response with Simon growling at him.
"There's something to be said for a person who refuses to admit defeat.", Polaris spoke before then turning back to the car at the top.
"SOMEONE ELSE IS ABOUT TO DIE BECAUSE OF YOU! IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU WANT, HAZEL?!", Polaris shouted with Tulip's sobs turning to growls of anger as she then turned to face Polaris and roared angrily while firing a full-charge electro blast at Polaris, zapping him as he writhed in pain for 5 seconds with a pained yell before the zap stopped with Polaris now on his knees.
"Who...did that...?!", Polaris panted.
"Hey! Turn around and look at me!", Tulip shouted before Polaris turned toward with a screech and saw Tulip's angry, tear-stained face as she panted in a slight hyperventilating manner.
"Oh. It's you. I honestly didn't think you had enough firepower for that.", Polaris smirked as he recovered.
"Don't talk to me! I've had it with you!", Tulip shouted in response as she then went to the settings on her gauntlet and altered the laser projections in order to form a plixel-like energy ball before then launching it toward Polaris to knock him off the car only for Polaris to grab on by the sides of the car before getting back up with Tulip then angrily aiming and firing the blasts at Polaris at a faster pace, seemingly making them miss Polaris before Tulip then turned the blasts around and then hit Polaris in the back.
"Oooh, right in the back!", Jesse winced.
"Way to knock him down, Tulip! Now, end it!", Miko exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Tuba spotted Hazel in an empty canister as she looked up in joy.
"Tuba!", Hazel shouted.
"Cover your ears.", Tuba spoke, puzzling Hazel.
"Huh?", Hazel asked before the gorilla stepped closer.
"I said, cover your ears.", Tuba spoke.
"Oh.", Hazel understood before she covered her ears as instructed.
After that, Tuba took a deep breath and then roared as her tubas blared, pushing the canister back before it broke apart with Tuba then picking Hazel up.
"Tuba!", Hazel grinned as she hugged her by the big arm.
"Let's get you out of here.", Tuba assured before leaping above the escalators and then running off outside just in time to notice that the rest of the Apex had suddenly started turning into turtle people as they now already have light green skin and scales, claws, beaks, and shells, not to mention turtle tails.
"What's going on?", Lucy puzzled in worry.
"What's happening?", Todd asked.
"Are we turning into Nulls?!", Todd's friend added in worry.
"This is weird.", another Apex kid commented.
As if that wasn't surprising enough, Hazel widened her eyes upon noticing that Simon was among the Apex that were changing as well.
"Simon, you too?", Hazel puzzled.
"Hazel, you're okay! And what are you talking about?", Simon puzzled.
"Try checking your hands.", Tuba suggested.
Then, when Simon looked, he was surprised to see that he was a turtle person before noticing the rest of the Apex in the same condition.
"You might have to explain that when this is over.", Simon spoke.
"I know.", Tuba responded.
Meanwhile, Tulip was grazing her holo-blade from her gauntlet against the car as she stormed toward Polaris, who got back up to notice her about to attack him before she gave him three cuts as she shouted angrily toward him.
"YOU'RE AN INFECTION! A ROT! A POISON! Gummi was the cutest companion I ever had, AND YOU KILLED HIM!", Tulip shouted angrily before giving Polaris a sort of scar on his chest, making him give a pained yell as the Apex kids gasped, even Tuba, not only from how Tulip was attacking him viciously, but also what he did to deserve said punishment.
"Gummi's dead?! Oh, no!", Hazel spoke sadly.
"I won't let you kill anyone else!", Tulip shouted next as lightning struck.
"Just like your friend... he didn't know when to give up either.", Polaris retorted.
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT GUMMI!", Tulip shouted angrily in response.
"Why are you so hung up about that Null? I don't owe you anything.", Polaris retorted casually.
"You owe me...EVERYTHING!", Tulip shouted before she raised her holo sword, which turned into a sort of giant enormous broadsword and yelled angrily while lowering it, aiming to cleave him in half before lightning struck the sky as everyone gasped.
Tulip panted with her eyes shut before opening her eyes and gasping as well, mostly because...it was only cleaved on the center, not at the top or bottom at all! And worse yet, Polaris was still alive and well as he clutched the holo blade and shattered it into plixels before he stood up.
"I'm curious, really. After killing me like that, what do you plan on doing next?", Polaris asked as his scars and slashed regenerated as if nothing happened at all before he then grabbed Tulip and then tossed her aside as she screamed while falling.
"Tulip!", the group shouted as Simon gasped before meanwhile, Tulip managed to grab onto the railing on the side of the bridge to stop her descent and pant sadly.
Back on the car, only Simon noticed Tulip dangling down sadly before turning to notice Polaris speaking.
End Super Dragon Ball Heroes Music: "Final Battle"
"Filthy animal...", Polaris spoke before Simon gasped upon the sight of him attacking Grace and backing her up before placing his clawed foot near her head.
"Filthy, sickly infected! All you infected will die!", Polaris shouted.
"You have officially gone too far, Mark! Too far!", Grace exclaimed.
"I told you that's not my name anymore!", Polaris shouted.
"Look, I'm not responsible for your problems. I don't owe you anything.", Grace responded before Polaris growled.
"Fool, don't you dare...GET IN MY WAAAAYYY!", Polaris roared as he raised his foot and was about to crush her when the Ghom suddenly flew right by him, grazing him by the cheek as it passed him before he screeched while turning around before Simon and the others gasped and Grace got up and saw the Ghom on top of the car, chittering as it was moving its antennae around.
"Is that...?", Jesse began.
"A Ghom...", Lake finished.
Then, Simon knelt down and turned his electromagnetic shoes on, prompting the Ghom to screech as it turned to see Polaris and Grace before charging in toward them with Simon headed for Grace as the Ghom chittered, circling around for Polaris and Grace before Simon caught up with the latter but not before tipping the Ghom over by its side.
"Hang on, Grace!", Simon urged as he took Grace's hand before Hazel noticed.
"I have to go help her!", Hazel shouted before leaping off Tuba's arm and boldly running off as both Grace and Simon jumped off the car with Polaris glaring and Hazel sliding underneath him before falling as well.
"Hazel! Know that you are mine!", Polaris roared before turning his gaze toward the chittering Ghom behind him with a calm growl.
Little did anyone know that Gummi's splattered remains on the wheel of the car started reforming back into Gummi, who gave a squeak as it worked up and looked around in the rotating wheel, apparently stuck on top of it before he started running on top of the wheel and then notice the sobbing Tulip dangling down.
"I'm so sorry, Gummi...! I... I couldn't avenge you!", Tulip shouted sadly before sobbing, left to dangle alone on the bridge, that is, until she heard something she never thought she'd hear again: Gummi's adorable squeaks before Tulip turned to notice Gummi running as fast as he could on top of a wheel, squeaking, with a gasp.
"Gummi!", Tulip grinned before Grace, Simon, and Hazel landed on the bridge nearby, making her worried as she looked up to notice the two on the bridge as they panted.
"You...saved me.", Grace spoke.
"Uh...yeah. I did.", Simon grinned.
"Am I interrupting something?", Tulip asked before Simon and Grace noticed Tulip dangling from the bottom of the railing of the bridge.
"Tulip! You're okay!", Grace grinned.
"Don't worry about me. Worry about him!", Tulip urged, pointing toward Gummi, who was running on top of the wheel as he squeaked.
"Gummi!", Hazel shouted with a grin.
"He's alive?!", Simon exclaimed.
"Yeah. But we don't know for how long.", Tulip responded just before the Ghom screeched.
"Huh?", Simon puzzled before he and Grace turned around to spot the Ghom headed right for them as it was tossed toward them by Polaris!
"Get down!", Simon shouted as he and Grace went for the railing, causing it to go down by the sides so that Grace can hang on while Simon hides underneath via electromagnetic shoes while Hazel managed to back away.
"So now what?", Tulip asked.
"Let me worry about Gummi. You two just make sure you get back up safely and keep that Ghom away from Hazel.", Simon spoke.
"But could your shoes even hold on at the walls of a car outside with all this rain?", Tulip asked.
"I at least have to try.", Simon responded as he walked in the bridge upside down toward Gummi.
Then, Tulip and Grace turned to each other before then cautiously getting up back onto the bridge as the Ghom was chittering, about to leap onto Hazel when Tulip jumped on top of the Ghom, making it screech as it was being held back with Tulip holding it by the antennae, allowing Grace to get back up safely. When she did, Tulip bounced off the Ghom's head, pushing it to the ground, before joining Grace next to her as the Ghom got up and then took off toward them with a dash only for Tulip to blast the Ghom away with a sonic Grenade, releasing a negative feedback discharge and pushing the Ghom away as it screeched. But as it did so, it also managed to knock Polaris off-balance before he landed onto the ground with a thud, weakening him enough to the point that he could barely get up before he laid down and Tulip sighed.
"Okay. That takes care of the Ghom. And Mark, apparently.", Tulip spoke as Hazel gave a raspberry to Polaris.
"But what about Simon?", Grace asked as she and Tulip turned to him.
Simon was having no problem climbing onto the wall of the car so far as he grinned when above Gummi before walking down close enough to try and reach him.
"Hey! Up here!", Simon shouted before Gummi looked up to see him.
"Hey, little guy. It's good to see you're still kicking. Listen, I'm gonna need you to trust me and jump into my hand!", Simon urged as he lowered his hand.
"It's now or never, Gummi! Besides..., you can trust him.", Tulip assured before Gummi looked back at Simon's sincere smile before Gummi hopped off the wheel and landed in his hand.
"Gotcha. Now, let's get you back on the train.", Simon spoke as he put his hoodie on and gently squeezed Gummi in next to his head just before he suddenly started to slip the moment he took a step forward, making him lose his balance.
"Oh, no. Simon!", Grace exclaimed as Tulip gasped.
Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time before Simon slipped and fell of the wall of the car, but not without making a jump for the railing only to miss. Fortunately, Tulip and Grace managed to catch him before lifting him back up onto the bridge and laying down just as the others gathered around at the edge of the car to notice Tulip, Hazel, Grace, and Simon on the bridge as the trio helped Simon up.
"Geez... try to play the hero one time.", Simon spoke as he opened his hoodie with Gummi peeping up from next to his head with a squeak before the others cheered for Gummi's survival.
"Thank you, Simon.", Tulip grinned while hugging Simon, shedding tears of joy, before Gummi squeaked as he then hopped from Simon to Tulip.
"Oh, Gummi. I thought I lost you!", Tulip sniffled as she gently pressed him against her cheek before he squeaked.
"I guess he put the durable in adorable.", Grace grinned, making Hazel laugh a bit.
However, that joy was not to last as when Polaris recovered, he was shocked to notice not only the fact that Gummi was still alive, but also the fact that Grace and Hazel were laughing together, angering him further as his purple eyes glowed.
"Why doesn't anybody...SEE THE BIG PICTURE?!", Polaris shouted, making the group gasp before then swinging his right arm and pushing Grace and Hazel off the bridge as they screamed with Grace holding onto Hazel.
"No!", Tulip exclaimed.
"GRACE!", Simon shouted before everyone at the top of the car gasped while the Apex kids murmured in shock before Polaris shouted next as Simon glared angrily at him.
"I'm going to tear down this entire world, destroy it's very foundation! You're all blinded by some outdated sense of what's right! You're just pretending to be heroes! I WON'T LET YOU STAND IN MY WAY!", Polaris shouted as he raised his claws only for a small laser to hit him on the shoulder before turning to notice One-One in the steward and Amelia.
"Amelia!", Tulip shouted.
"We both came as soon as we heard!", Amelia spoke.
"Eat hot laser, glitch.", Sad One spoke before the mask lowered and the steward fired at Polaris, driving him back enough to a point before roaring and then trying to pin the steward and succeeded only for it to wrap its legs around him, trapping him and making it so he couldn't move.
"Hah! Got you right where we want you!", Glad One grinned behind the steward's mask.
Then, Amelia turned to Kazar.
"Anytime you're ready, Kazar!", Amelia urged.
"What?!", Polaris exclaimed before he was suddenly blasted by a highly concentrated laser that was starting to cause Polaris and the Omega Glitch to diffuse.
"How is it doing that?", Simon puzzled.
"Polaris let his anger get the best of him. And it's affecting his bond with the Glitch. It can't maintain itself.", Tulip responded.
"YOU FILTHY HEROES SCREWED EVERYTHING UP!", Polaris shouted before the diffusion finished with Polaris incredibly weakened as well as the Omega Glitch in its root form.
"The Omega Glitch. It's in its root form!", Five exclaimed.
"Good. That means we should be able to contain it in its weakened state.", Kazar spoke.
"Well, what do you say we go lasso that Glitch up, buckaroo's!", Miko suggested adventure she asked her gauntlet at the Omega Glitch.
"Way to read my mind, Miko.", Jesse grinned as he asked his before Tulip, Lake, and Five ailed their gauntlets at the Omega Glitch.
"All right, guys! On 3! 1...2... 3!", Kazar shouted as he asked his gauntlet as well before all 6 fired their beams at the Omega Glitch making it screech as it tried to resist capture for 5 seconds, but ultimately failed before it was then sealed away in their gauntlets, giving them all 1,000,000,000,000 EXP as the gauntlets beeped.
"Omega Glitch contained.", the gauntlets spoke.
"This is the best day of my life!", Jesse gasped excitedly.
"Phew! We did it.", Tulip sighed.
Just then, Simon noticed Grace and Hazel suddenly being flown back to the car as Grace was carrying Hazel while being carried herself by the origami car's denizens.
"Guys. Take a look at this.", Simon spoke, pointing to that before Tulip and the others saw what Simon saw much to their amazement.
"Grace!", Lucy shouted with joy as she and the Apex kids celebrated again as Grace and Hazel smiled before Simon then ran to Grace and hugged her.
"Grace! You and Hazel are okay! I can't believe it!", Simon grinned.
"Yeah. They came by to lend a hand just as Polaris pushed us off. Can you believe it?", Grace asked.
"But how did you know we'd be here?", Tulip asked.
"Someone came by to tell us about what's going on.", Amelia responded before gesturing to the door just as it opened with Max stepping out of the door.
"Max, y...you came back.", Simon spoke in surprise.
"I did say I'm an undercover counteragent.", Max responded while getting out the vial of Polaris' perfected formula and tossing it before Grace caught it, making Polaris gasp upon noticing it.
"How'd you know where to find this?", Grace asked.
"Not really that hard to figure out taking all together the clues in his memories. All you need to know now is that he lost.", Max responded.
"Huh. Well, that much is true. So...", Grace began as she turned to Polaris.
"Give it back...!", Polaris spoke weakly before Grace only smashed the formula against the bridge as purple liquid before walking away as Max stepped forward.
"This nightmare is over, Mark.", Max spoke.
"Did you come to kill me...?", Polaris asked weakly.
"Kill you? No. I'm not going to do that.", Max responded before a deep guttural roar was heard.
"But that thing will.", Max spoke, pointing to the source of the roar before everyone all looked up and saw a Ghom much bigger than the others in the air before landing on the bridge as it snarled.
"Okay, what kind of Ghom is that?", Simon asked.
"That must be the alpha.", Amelia responded.
"How do you know that?", Jesse asked.
"I have been on this train long enough to know these things.", Amelia responded.
Then, at that moment, the alpha Ghom then suddenly pounced on the weakened Polaris and began sucking up his life force like a vacuum as he squirmed in fear.
"You will lead the Apex no longer. In fact, as far as the Apex know, Max Wilson was never here.", Max smirked before Polaris' body started turning to dust as he gave a final scream before his eyes and skin turned to dust first followed by his whole skeleton as it turned into a dust pile as Simon shuddered with Grace being uneasy from the sight.
Then, the Alpha Ghom chittered a bit as it shook before then roaring as it started to glow brightly. At first instinct, Simon knew what it meant.
"Clear away! Now, now, now!", Simon shouted before the Alpha Ghom exploded in a cloud of blue dust, which then dissipated.
"And that's gonna give me nightmares.", Jesse commented.
"Well, either way, at least now we can all rest easy.", Glad One grinned.
"Or can we?", Sad One added.
"Now, that Polaris is gone..., what now?", Simon asked.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm glad that this nightmare is over. And I still have Gummi with me.", Tulip sighed in relief as Gummi squeaked.
"You know, you two, I've been thinking. Your numbers have gone down by a vast margin. But if you like, I'm willing to let you stay on the train to help guide passengers as you were, but with a push toward the right direction.", Glad One suggested.
"Really? You'd let us stay?", Grace asked.
"It's the least I could do as conductor after seeing how you cared deeply for each other and the denizens in the face of a great adversary.", Glad One grinned.
"Huh. Well, when you put it like that...", Simon grinned.
"And what about you, Max? Would you like to stay here as well?", Glad One asked.
"No. As I said before, this train is too dangerous to go along any further. And also, like I said, I'm sure we'll all meet again someday.", Max spoke as he then went to the door and opened it.
"Well..., be seeing you around.", Simon spoke.
"Farewell..., Simon.", Max spoke before closing the door.
Just then, there was an incoming call from Phil as the gauntlet spoke while giving a beeping ringtone.
"Incoming call from...", the gauntlet spoke before continuing in Phil's voice.
"Your boss.", Phil spoke flatly.
"Oh, crubs! We've been so busy with what's going on with the train that we forgot to let him know what was going on!", Five exclaimed.
"Uh..., yeah. You better take this.", Kazar suggested.
Then, Five answered the call before Phil spoke up.
"Oh, Five! There you are! We haven't from you or the others for weeks! What was happening out there?!", Phil exclaimed.
"Well, Phil... It's a bit difficult to explain, but...", Tulip began before Grace and Simon stepped forward in view.
"We'll be happy to fill in for you.", Grace grinned.
"Yeah. It's the least we can do.", Simon grinned, making Tulip grin as Gummi squeaked.
Later, the mall car was now remodeled after the Bailey Branch Glitch Techs lab with the Apex kids now playing around like before, but in a less destructive manner compared to before as Amber played with Hazel in turtle form before the former suddenly changed into a turtle herself with both turtle girls giggling as they did a race together with Atticus as well as Lake and Jesse riding on Alan Dracula (with some encouragement from grass). As for Grace, she was now in her turtle form wearing a variation of the Glitch Tech uniform, which consists of a white suit, a blue symbol with a white H embedded onto it, black sleeves and boots, grey knee padding, a Glitch Tech glove, green goggles, and shoulder coverings as she was in front of a few mirrors in the "Throne Room" before the mirrors then raised upward with Grace walking off the chair before twirling and leaping around like a ballet dancer. As for Simon, he was now wearing the similar outfit as Grace, but this time, his hair was let down with a bang hanging down in front of him as he was putting the finishing touches on a soldier on the game screen with Tulip's help and finished before turning around with a smirk. Then, a moment later, Grace and Simon went closer to each other before turning around and then speaking to the Apex as they went down, along with their numbers, before they marched forward near the Apex.
"What happened to Polaris was the last thing we ever wanted to happen to any of us. But we know the truth and we can't ignore it.", Grace began.
"Grace is right. We're all on this train for different reasons. But it's unfair for us to tell you all how to understand yourselves. I mean, we don't even fully understand ourselves.", Simon added.
"But together, we can make some changes. First change being...we can't be the Apex anymore.", Grace finished.
"Then what are we gonna be?", Lucy puzzled.
"Well, I preferred the 'Reptillery' myself. Get it? Reptile? Artillery?", Glad One grinned.
"Does no one get the joke?", Sad One puzzled as the Apex kids only have puzzled looks to One-One.
"Well..., that's something we all just have to figure ourselves.", Simon responded before the Apex kids grew puzzled before their numbers started going down with them getting excited while even changing into turtle people as well as Tulip, Jesse, Lake, Miko, Five, Grace, Simon, Atticus, Alan Dracula, Tuba, Hazel, One-One, Gummi, Lena, Damien, and Kazar looking into with joy as Gummi squeaked before the team all gave grins at the sight their way, looking forward to the future...
A/N: Yay, mega-happy ending! Well, I'd say that it was a big step-up, wouldn't you agree? Glad I was able to get these chapters ready for Christmas today. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Unitl next time. :)