Hey, welcome to the next chapter, the aftermath of the shitstorm. I hope you enjoy.

The robot landed back home and Otto rushed to the lower base.

"Mandarin!" He called out as the others made it inside.

"Get Trent and Willow onto the tables, they need to rest." Gibson ordered.

The two were then laid down, Jinmay quickly leaving to follow Otto.

Amanda looked over Willow and held her hand. Arwen walked up next to her and sat down.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Amanda asked, anger in her voice.

Arwen bit her lip.

"You've heard the news back then. Sueronians were being hunted for their powers and for taking over their planets. I had to keep this a secret to protect you." She explained.

Amanda got up, glaring at her.

"And you couldn't have protected us from this?! Willow could have been-!" She turned away.

Arwen looked down.

"I know. I should have told you, that way Willow wouldn't have been bullied and none of this would have happened...but a lot of the hunters were on Natulis."

Amanda turned to her, eyes wide.

"It wasn't like that before...people were once so accepting of sueronians that were kind. Now..." Arwen choked and put a hand to her mouth.

Amanda sat back down and gripped her knees.

"Natulis just keeps getting better." She sighed.

Arwen held back a sob, tears running down her face.

"I'm so sorry Amanda...you have every right to hate me."

Amanda whipped her head at her.

"I don't hate you! Don't ever think that! Yes I'm a bit mad at you but I don't hate you!" She exclaimed before hugging her.

"Still...I'm so sorry." She sobbed.

Amanda sighed, it's going to be a while for her to forgive her for this.

"I know..."

Otto rushed down and looked around the living room until his eyes came across Mandarin, still sitting in the same spot he was before. He darted over to him while Jinmay began to catch up.

"Mandarin! Mandarin!" He said, trying to get a response.

Mandarin didn't say anything, he didn't even look at Otto in the face. Otto looked over him until he found the communicator and dialed Tilamat.

"Come on...come on!"

"Mandarin it hasn't even been a day!" Tilamat sighed.

"Tilamat it's me! Otto! Please check on the baby!" Otto demanded, panicked.

"Otto? Why are you trying to call me?" Tilamat asked but he gasped. "Wait! Where's Mandarin?!"

"He's right here! Please check!" Otto pleaded, nearly bouncing in place.

"O-okay! I'm checking right now." Tilamat said.

It took a few minutes, Jinmay rubbing Mandarin's shoulder.

"Huh? She's fine." Tilamat said.

Otto blinked in confusion.

"What?"

Tilamat looked over the data and the ultrasound.

"Yeah, she isn't in any distress or anything. Why? What happened?" He asked.

Otto put down the communicator and looked at Mandarin, who didn't move. How is that possible? How can Mandarin be in so much agony and stress and the baby is not at all affected? How?

"Otto! What happened?!" Tilamat asked again, serious.

Otto blinked before putting it back up.

"I think Mandarin's having a mental breakdown."

"What? How?!"

"It's a long story just tell us what to do!" Jinmay said.

"Keep talking to him, try to get him to sit on something soft and keep his stress levels down. If this keeps up the baby will go into distress." Tilamat advised.

Otto tried to pull on Mandarin but he didn't budge.

"He's not responding!"

Jinmay then got him up and over to the couch. Mandarin still looked down, not speaking.

"Just stay with him and talk to him, try to get him to calm down. Can you please keep me on the line just in case?"

Otto nodded and sat down next to Mandarin. He set the communicator down and crawled up on his shoulder and onto one of the purple torso pieces.

"Mandarin? Listen...this...I mean..."

"It was an accident." Jinmay muttered.

Otto nodded and turned to him.

"Yeah! An accident! You didn't know any better! You don't even remember it happening." Otto snuggled him.

Mandarin bit his lip.

"Mandarin this isn't your fault. You had no idea this would happen." Jinmay said.

Otto smiled.

"Besides it's all in the past now. Skeleton King is gone and the universe is free from him. I think Antauri would say something like 'the past is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today's a gift' or something like that." Otto breathed.

"...but I still did it." Mandarin finally said.

"He's speaking again." Tilamat muttered.

"I still did it, I created him. I unleashed one of the universe's greatest evils and it's all my fault." Mandarin said, his voice shaking.

Otto shook his head.

"No Mandarin-!"

"No matter what I do, I'm always on the path of darkness. No matter what side I'm on!" He choked.

"Mandarin that is not true-!"

"Then explain to me why I shouldn't feel this way! Why shouldn't I be blamed for all of the corrupted planets that have been destroyed in his wake?! Why shouldn't I be blamed for Antauri sacrificing himself?! Why shouldn't I be blamed for the millions of people that have died or suffered! Tell me why I shouldn't be blamed for any of that!" Mandarin demanded, getting up.

Otto fell off and onto the couch, then sat back up.
The Hyperforce peered into the room, watching this happen.

"Mandarin-"

Mandarin turned to the others.

"All of you don't have that burden. You can just go on without any regrets, of not having the universe suffer because of your actions. But I have to carry this burden until I die!" He growled.

"Skeleton King wasn't the monster unleashed in this universe! He wasn't the one who caused so much suffering!" He yelled before looking down.

"It was me all along." He choked.

Antauri stepped forward.

"That isn't true and you know it." He said.

Mandarin looked away, pained. He then began to walk away.

"Mandarin!" Otto ran after him.

Everyone watched him go, unsure of what to do or say to him. Tilamat then sighed.

"His stress levels are going down...but his emotional state is right back where it started. It's even worse now..." He said, sadly.

Two days past, Willow and Trent were still unconscious. Antauri looked at Willow gently before holding her hand. He's been visiting her a lot during the two days, waiting and quietly talking to her while she slept.

"Do wake up soon you two..." He said.

Amanda walked into the room and jumped slightly.

"You-you're holding her hand!" She squeaked.

Antauri jumped and let go, his face a bright red.

"I-I just!"

Chiro then walked in and Antauri stood up, clearing his throat.

"S-so Mandarin still hasn't left his room?" He asked.

Chiro sadly shook his head.

"No, no he hasn't. Only for meals but that's it." He sighed.

Amanda leaned a bit.

"So was he really the cause of Skeleton King?" She asked.

Chiro sighed.

"One of our friends said he must have gotten entranced or something by a creature in the Netherworld and tried to scare it away. We don't exactly know what happened, the Alchemist wiped the monkeys memories away. He didn't give them back their memories either after we turned him back because the team didn't want them." He explained.

Amanda nodded slightly and looked down. The poor guy, having to find out you somehow caused the creation of an extremely powerful and evil villain like Skeleton King? She couldn't imagine what Mandarin was feeling right now.

"This can't continue, we need to find some way to make him feel better about what happened." Antauri said.

"But what do we do? We tried talking to him and getting the citizens to cheer him up will only make both parties feel weird." Chiro sighed.

The two nodded before they heard some groaning noises behind them. They turned to see Trent sit up, rubbing his head. Tears welled up in Amanda's eyes as she ran over and hugged him.

"Trent!" She squealed.

Chiro smiled.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

Trent blinked at him, silent.

"I...I feel...wait!" Trent pushed Amanda off him and curled up slightly.

"No! Don't touch me! I'll only hurt you again!" He yelled, shaking.

Amanda was clearly hurt and confused.

"Huh? Trent that wasn't your fault!" She said.

"Yes, Mandarin 2 was controlling you." Antauri said.

Trent shook his head, tears filling his eyes.

"I still did and said so many horrible things to you-I- I don't want-!"

He got up and ran off, covering his face.

"I don't want you to get hurt by me again!" He ran to one of the tubes and went down before the others could get to him.

"Trent!" Amanda called out to him but he was already gone.

Sprx looked back at the three. It just keeps getting better.

"What happened?" Gibson asked.

Amanda sniffled.

"Trent is blaming himself for turning evil..."

Sprx bit his lip, he knows how that felt. After turning back to normal from the fire of hate, it took him a really long time not to blame himself for bringing back Skeleton King. He made a mental note to talk to both Trent and Mandarin, since he knows how both sides feel.

Nova laid her head back.

"This is terrible, now Trent is upset. Now what?"

The others began to think, not hearing someone coming up one of the tubes.

"I hope I'm not intruding, but I visited like I said I would."

Everyone quickly turned and their eyes widened.

"Alchemist!"

Trent ran into the storage room and jumped when he saw Mandarin still in bed. He figured he was asleep so he quietly closed the door and tiptoed his way into the now empty nursery and silently closed his door. He sat on his bed and sobbed silently. He remembered he remembered everything he did to his friends. Turning Willow into Diamanda, hurting those close to him, betraying them, it all just hurt so much.

If his stepfather were here, he'd no doubt yell at him to stop crying and be a 'man' or some shit like that. However, he couldn't help it.

Mandarin on the other hand, found no tears could fall from him. He could only stroke his stomach and feel the insane amount of guilt that flowed through him.
He wouldn't blame anyone if they couldn't forgive him, he wouldn't even blame the man who turned into the Skeleton King.

"I-I don't understand. What are you doing here?" Nova asked, clearly happy.

The Alchemist smiled as he sat down in one of the chairs offered to him.

"Like I said last year, I would visit you annually. Just to catch up and see how each of you are doing. I see you have made some new friends." He said.

Amanda nodded and walked forward. So this was the Alchemist, the one who used to be Skeleton King.

"Yes I'm Amanda Clint. My mother and a friend of hers are buying my sister flowers. She uh kinda..."

Everyone looked at each other and the Alchemist's smile dropped.

"Wait what happened?" He asked.

The others were silent for a minute.

"Things have really changed since you've been gone." Antauri said.

After some explaining the Alchemist sighed sadly. This whole situation just sounded terrible. Except for the fact that there were new members to the team and that Mandarin was having a child, that he was happy about.

"The poor dear, is she alright?" He asked.

Antauri nodded.

"She just needs some rest for now, Gibson said she'll wake up soon enough." He explained.

The Alchemist nodded.

"I will say I have seen Sueronians before, the majority of the ones I met seemed to be nice enough. Though I think a few of them wanted me to fall in love with them." He muttered the last part awkwardly.

Nova shivered.

"Wow why?" She asked.

"Not sure, maybe it was a part of what they programmed for their stories to follow. All of them have some unique backstory or another." He said then looked sullen and was silent for a second.

"I was hoping if the original Mandarin was found he wouldn't have to know about this, or at least was told not during times of battle." He said sadly.

Amanda tilted her head.

"So it is true..."

He sighed.

"I should have kept a better eye on the containment grid, or at least made it more impenetrable. That way Mandarin wouldn't have..."

Otto bit his lip and looked at him.

"Are you mad at him?" He asked.

The Alchemist turned to him, eyes wide.

"Of course not! I mean what happened was terrible, but I forgive him." He said.

"You do?" Jinmay asked.

"Of course, I also was at fault. However that doesn't matter now since it is in the past and I'm back to normal, thanks to you." The Alchemist said looking at Chiro.

Chiro scratched his chin and smiled.

"Aw come on...anyway! Anyway! Mandarin is still depressed about it, he hasn't come out of his room in two days." He explained.

The Alchemist felt his heart ache hearing how depressed his first child was.
He then stood up.

"I think I should talk to him." He said.

Otto titled his head.

"How?" He asked.

The Alchemist then turned to Sprx, who blinked in confusion.

Mandarin laid on his side, facing away from the door. He kept stroking his bump, trying to soothe the kicks.

"How are they not blaming me for what I've done? I've created their biggest enemy and yet they still treat me so kindly? I don't understand it at all." He thought to himself before closing his eyes.

Mandarin opened his eyes again when he heard several knocks at the door.

"Mandarin? It's me." Sprx voice chirped.

Mandarin didn't respond.

"Listen I know how you feel. How you and Trent feel actually and believe me I know the pain doesn't go away super quickly. However I think if you actually let people in to help you, it can go away a lot quicker. I didn't let anyone in for a while during the war and it nearly cost me." Sprx sighed.

"So please let us help you two."

Mandarin didn't respond, he could only quietly think about what he said. He then heard Sprx sigh loudly.

"Okay you can try to talk to him. He's really stubborn."

"Oh I know, believe me I know." Another voice chuckled, a voice Mandarin didn't recognize and yet felt so familiar.

The door then opened and shut.

"Oh what have I done to you?" He heard the voice mutter.

Mandarin looked off to the side, before soon recognizing the voice. He quickly sat up and turned to the Alchemist. He smiled as Mandarin frowned slightly.

"I thought they destroyed you?" He questioned.

The Alchemist shook his head.

"No, they helped to cleanse my soul and turn me back into who I once was." He said.

Mandarin's eyes soften but he still looked away a bit.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I wanted to talk to you. The others are worried about you." The Alchemist said.

Mandarin hissed slightly and looked down.

"What is there to talk about? You know what happened, you knew who was at fault for..." Mandarin bit his lip.

The Alchemist shook his head slightly.

"Mandarin, I was also at fault." He said, causing Mandarin to perk his head up.

"The portal wasn't safe and I should have known not to place any of you near it. I did not see the consequences of my actions." The Alchemist said solemnly then looked at Mandarin in the face.

"We both are at fault." He stated but smiled.

"However, that doesn't mean I don't forgive you, because I do."

Mandarin looked around before leaning forward.

"Why?" He asked.

The Alchemist smiled and walked over to him.

"Because it all happened in the past and it's over now. Isn't that what Otto told you?"

Mandarin blinked before looking back down.

He then felt the Alchemists thin arms attempt to wrap around his neck and leaned foreword. Mandarin froze, barely moving.

"Why are you being...so nice to me?" He thought.

"It's all over now. The universe is starting to heal, people are finally at peace, and no one can be in fear of him anymore." The Alchemist sighed, stroking the top of Mandarin's head.

"Everyone here forgives you and loves you. Even if you don't understand why, they want to help you. So please let them and..." He paused.

Mandarin stared at the door, tears stinging his eyes.

"Please forgive yourself."

Mandarin's breath caught in his throat as he heard that. That was it, he couldn't forgive himself most of all. He let a few tears slip before harshly wiping them away, cursed hormones. However, he then didn't really care as he let more tears fall. He held back several sobs as the Alchemist pulled away.

"I understand this won't go away quickly, however you need to let the others help you."

Mandarin grumbled slightly, wiping his eyes.

"Don't give me that, they really do care." The Alchemist huffed before smiling.

"Also, congratulations on your first child." He said.

Mandarin blinked before putting his face in his hands. Of course they'd tell him! That and the size of his stomach was a pretty big indicator of his pregnancy.

"Hush." He huffed, embarrassed as hell.

The Alchemist chuckled before getting up.

"So I take it you feel a bit better?" He asked.

Mandarin looked back at him and paused a bit.

"A little." He admitted.

The Alchemist smiled before turning to open the door.

"Now let's go and-"

Then as the door was opened Otto ran into the room and crawled onto Mandarin, despite the others pleas of waiting. He wrapped his arms around Mandarin's neck and wept. Mandarin instinctively wrapped his hands around Otto and sighed.

"I'm sorry for making you worry." Mandarin muttered.

Otto shook his head and kept hugging him, tears rolling down his face. The others peeked in, trying to see how the situation turned out.
A small smile grew on the Alchemists face. This was such a familiar scene to him, as before after the accident he comforted Mandarin after luring him out of the vents. Then afterwards, Otto ran up to him and hugged him clearly worried. Just like now, except the huge differences in appearance.

Most of the others soon went up to him.

"Hey you doing okay?" Sprx asked.

Mandarin looked over him as Otto moved a bit. He looked at Otto, who still had a bit of tears in his eyes.

"A little bit but I'll be fine." He huffed.

Sprx nodded a bit and smiled. They then saw the other door open and a tearful Trent peeked outside. Mandarin frowned a bit.

"Hey you don't have to hide in there." He said, causing Trent to slowly come out of the room.

"I heard you come in and you just went into your room." Mandarin stated.

Trent tried to speak but no words came out. Mandarin blinked before realizing why he just went to his room. He blames himself for turning evil.

Sprx turned to him.

"Trent look, I-"

Mandarin stood up, Otto still clinging to him.

"If it's alright, I'd like to talk to Trent alone." He said.

Everyone turned to him.

"Mandarin are-are you sure?" Jinmay asked.

Mandarin nodded while Trent looked down in guilt.

"I got this." He sighed, as Otto hopped down.

He shooed everyone out and shut the door before looking at Trent.

"I...Mandarin...I did so many terrible things." Trent sniffled.

Mandarin closed his eyes.

"That's true."

Trent began to shake, trying to hold back tears in front of him.

"And I said so many horrible things, I hurt Willow, I hurt you, and I hurt the team! I even brought Diamanda back! It's all my fault!" He choked, biting back tears.

Mandarin was silent before sighing.

"Do you honestly think you should regret it?" He asked, causing Trent to look up at him, eyes wide.

"Of course I should! I mean-!"

Mandarin crossed his arms.

"Did you have any control over what you did? Did anything you do while that happened was of your will alone?" He questioned, sounding serious.

Trent began to talk but paused, thinking.

"N-no...I didn't. Your clone thrusted a crystal into me." He said.

Mandarin tilted his head.

"So can you really say it was all your fault and you should regret your actions? Because even though I may have caused Skeleton King to exist, when I became corrupted the things I have done was not the fault of my own will. I had no control over the things I did or said." He said.

Trent blinked.

"And do you want to know something? I don't regret much of anything I did while I was corrupted."

Trent was taken back by this comment, as well as the others.

"You don't? Why?" Trent asked.

Mandarin sighed.

"Because why should I feel regret over things I had no control over? I mean yes some regret for hurting those close to you can still be present, but blaming yourself for everything is silly. To me anyway." He said as he walked over to Trent.

He placed a hand on Trent's shoulder, causing him to jump slightly.

"So don't be all depressed over something you couldn't control. Nothing you did was your fault." Mandarin stated.

Trent looked up at him, tears filling his eyes.

"You don't have to cry about it. It's fine now." Mandarin sighed before smiling.

"You cried, shush." Trent huffed, wiping his eyes.

Mandarin flinched and looked away.

"Mood swings." He excused.

"Uh huh." Trent huffed but smiled, averting his eyes.

"I guess you're right, I mean...I still feel bad." He said before looking up.

"However I couldn't control anything...thanks." He said.

Mandarin slightly nodded as Trent frowned slightly.

"I'm sorry about what happened with you and that guy...it's good that he forgives you." Trent said.

Mandarin felt a flash of guilt.

"True, but I need to forgive myself the most." He said.

Trent nodded, sounds like he needs to do that with himself too. He then gasped.

"Oh no! I was pitying myself so much I forgot to ask how Willow was!" He exclaimed.

Mandarin snickered before going over to the door.

"I'm sure she's fine. We should ask anyway just in case." He said, opening it and causing most of the others to fall to the floor.

"Also hi."

The Alchemist chuckled as the others stumbled up. A sense of relief came over the group as the two's spirits were somewhat lifted back up. There was still some heartache but as the saying goes, time heals all wounds.

Awww well at least that's over for the time being. Thanks for reading!