30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XI: "A Marriage Made in Meatballs"

CHAPTER THREE

William sat in front of the rest of the away team. "That's the situation, guys. Xur is attempting to drive a wedge between Flint and Sam, possibly neutralizing their Key power and rendering the Grand Key useless against him," William said.

Bayonetta held up her hand. "William, what can we do about this?" she said. "Simple, Bayonetta," Sofia said. "We get help."

"Exactly, Sofia," William said. A knock sounded on the door. "Mr. Pine, it's Flint Lockwood. Sam's with me, as you requested," the voice on the other side of the door said.

"Come in," William said. The door opened, revealing Flint and Sam. "It's time you two know the truth about us," William said. "My name is not William Pine. My real name is Prince William of Cinnabar, a kingdom in another dimension. In fact, all of us are from other dimensions."

"Princess Sofia of Enchancia," Sofia said as she stood up. "Beatrice Prior, but you may call me Tris," Tris said. "Phineas Flynn," Phineas said before gesturing to Ferb. "This is my step-brother, Ferb Fletcher. He tends to only talk when he needs to." Ferb simply nodded at Flint and Sam.

"Bayonetta," Bayonetta said with a nod. "Zenon Kar," Zenon said with a smile. "William told us about the messages you two received. Steve was right."

"Those messages were fake!" Sam said. "But, why?" "You two are the Key from this world that when combined with all of us and those Key components on the Enterprise—the ship that brought us here—will destroy the Army of Inter-universal Chaos," Phineas said.

"The organization's Great Leader, an alien called Xur, knows, as we do, that anything that happens to a Key component will alter the strength of the Key's power," Tris said. "So, for example, if you two were not to get married, your power would be weakened to the point where it would virtually be useless to us."

"I've seen and invented some weird things before, but this is ridiculous!" Flint said as he and Sam sat down. "So, what's the plan?"

"We marshal the troops," Ferb said. "Well said, Ferb," William said. "Flint, Sam, I'll assign Tris and Zenon to you in order to gather the human citizens of this town whom you most trust. Sofia, Bayonetta and I will do the same on the foodimal-inhabited side of the island."

"Then, you'll need to seek out Barb," Sam said. "She's our friend and the leader of the foodimal population. Here's a picture."

Sam pulled a picture of a purple monkey out of her wallet and handed it to William. William took his Mobilates, scanned the picture, then returned it to Sam.

"Phineas, Ferb, you'll return to the ship and coordinate things from there. Maintain comm silence except in emergency situations," William said. "We don't know if Xur has ears here, so we must be cautious."

"Got ya," Phineas said. "We'll pass the word to the crew as well." "All right, everyone," William said. "Be safe, and let's get the job done."

William, Sofia, Flint, Sam, Bayonetta, Zenon and Tris left the hotel room while Phineas and Ferb called the Enterprise for a beam-out.

A few hours later, William led Sofia and Bayonetta into the jungle that dominated the foodimal-inhabited side of Swallow Falls Island. "Sam and Flint told us that Barb lives in a cave near the former City Hall complex," William said.

He then gestured to a blinking red "X" on a map of Swallow Falls Island being projected from his Mobilates. "Be careful, as this overgrowth may disrupt communications with the ship." "Understood, Your Highness," Bayonetta said. Sofia simply nodded as William pushed aside a branch.

An hour later, William, Sofia and Bayonetta approached the location of the cave. William looked over and saw a purple figure sitting on a rock, helping a "tacodile" groom its children. "Excuse me," William said.

The purple figure turned to gaze at the group from the Enterprise. "I am..." William started to say before the figure interrupted him. "Prince William of Cinnabar. I have been waiting for you," it said. "I am Barb. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh."

"You have heard of me?" William said before closing his Mobilates and putting it in the holster at his waist. "I was told of you long ago by my former friend, Chester V," Barb said. "Before he went crazy, that is."

"How did Chester V know of us?" Sofia asked. "Through one of the inventions developed by a LiveCORP thinkquanaut," Barb said. "I remember the sight as if it were yesterday."

FIVE YEARS BEFORE

LIVECORP HEADQUARTERS

SAN FRANJOSE, CALIFORNIA USA

Barb watched as a thinkquanaut flipped a switch. "The d.o.d., or dimensional observation device, allows us to pierce the veil between our world and the others that lie beyond," she said. Chester V, chairman of LiveCORP, watched as a eerie green mist began to fill the oval portal in front of them. Then, the green mist parted to reveal a young man with dirty blond hair and a young woman with auburn hair standing on a platform in front of a group of individuals of multiple ethnicities.

"I am Prince William of the kingdom of Cinnabar. This world, known to my people as the Unaligned World of Divergent, is one of thirty worlds threatened by a group known as the Army of Inter-Universal Chaos," the blond-haired man began. "My fiancee, Princess Sofia of the kingdom of Enchancia, and I are seeking the one person or force from each World that, when combined with their counterparts from the other worlds, will stop the A.I.C. once and for all."

"Can they see us?" Chester V asked. "No, sir," the thinkquanaut said. "Neither can they hear us. The d.o.d.'s portal only allows a inward view."

Barb looked on as Prince William pulled a device from his pocket and flipped it open. "Prince William to Enterprise. Two to beam up," he said. The portal began to close as Prince William and Princess Sofia disappeared in a shower of blue and silver light.

THE PRESENT DAY

SWALLOW FALLS ISLAND

FOODIMAL SECTOR

Barb smiled. "I was fascinated by the way you two carried yourselves and hoped to be able to meet you two someday," she said.

Sofia looked at Barb. "And now that you have met us, you can probably guess why we're here," Sofia said.

Barb nodded gravely. "That A.I.C. you spoke of is here and looking to stop you. What's their plot?" she asked as she stood up.

Bayonetta pulled a device from the utility pack at her waist and switched it on. "Flint Lockwood and Sam Sparks each received a message, ostensibly from the other," Bayonetta said, tapping a few keys on the device. "Upon analysis, we determined them to be fakes."

Barb watched as the ersatz Flint and Sam spoke. "We determined that the faked break-up messages are part of an A.I.C. attempt to prevent Flint and Sam from getting married and neutralizing their power to help us defeat the A.I.C.," William said.

"We have members of our crew working to rally help from the inhabitants of the Human Sector, which leads us back to why we're here," Sofia said. "We need help from the foodimals, as well."

Barb smiled. "I owe Flint and Sam a lot for helping the foodimals survive Chester V's takeover attempt," she said. "I'm in. In fact, we all are!"

At Barb's summons, the air became filled with all kinds of chattering. Around William, Sofia and Bayonetta, foodimals of every size and description began to approach the clearing. Barb looked at William and extended her paw.

"Prince William, the foodimals of Swallow Falls are at your command," Barb said. William smiled, then shook Barb's paw.

::TBC::