Riku and Lea immediately summoned out their weapons.
Once the navy warrior's spell had reached the end of its duration, Connie and the others felt themselves falling back down.
-SLAM!-
When Connie looked up, she saw the green warrior rolling towards the warp pad, sparks flying with each roll.
Riku and Lea had taken a few steps forward, but they were caught up in the warrior's lightning roll.
"Grrgh!" Riku uttered.
The green warrior suddenly stopped, raised his keyblade up, and then conjured a miniature, wispy green tornado out of nowhere, which quickly engulfed everyone but the two armored keyblade warriors.
So this is the power that Riku was talking about.
But just as suddenly, the whirling wind seemed to stop. Connie found herself inside Steven's bubble along with everyone else, who then came crashing down onto the bubble's floor, though it still remained adrift inside the green tornado.
Connie then heard the door to the inner temple open behind her.
"Ah, splendid timing!"
"Sir!" the navy warrior said, making a salute.
When Connie looked back, she saw a third, red-armored warrior carrying a large, metallic capsule.
"How did he even…" Pearl began to say.
"I could have done it any number of ways, my dear Pearl," said the red-armored warrior.
"Soldiers, I applaud your efforts and efficiency in capturing the boy Riku… and his companions. The Ogrelord would be pleased with your performance."
"Ogrelord…" Connie muttered.
Despite having heard that word before, she was still amazed at how these people took such a ridiculously lame pun so seriously. Even she was starting to take it seriously.
"Ah," said the red-coated leader, "so you have heard of the greatness that is Shrek!"
"Yeah," said the green warrior, "he's pretty goddamn great."
"Shrek is love," the navy warrior said with utmost solemnity. "Shrek is life."
Connie could hear Riku seething with anger.
"Yeah," said Amethyst, "Riku might have told us a couple things about him… like how much he sucks! Ohhhhhh…!"
"Do not dare make a mockery of our Ogrelord and savior!" said the red warrior. "It is only natural that the boy would provide you with such a false opinion, when he is in fact the creation of Lord Farquaad!"
"Lord Farquaad?" Connie thought aloud.
Connie tried thinking back to that strange TV show she watched with Steven and the gems, but she couldn't remember anyone by that name.
"This is something new," said Riku.
"Do you think this has something to do with that show you guys watched?" Pearl asked.
"A show, you say?" the red warrior said.
"What show are you talking about?" asked Lea.
"You know, that show we saw just yesterday," said Steven.
"I don't think he was here when you explained that," said Pearl.
Just then, the green warrior's tornado had dissipated, causing Steven's bubble to crash into the floor. Steven, Pearl, Amethyst and the other gems were able to control their descent, though Connie and the others slammed into the ground upon impact.
"Ow!" Connie cried out.
The red warrior stepped forward, and tried applying a spell similar to the one the navy warrior applied earlier, though it seemed to have no effect.
"That's unusual. But nevertheless, you folks seem to be in a bit of a pickle."
The other two warriors got into fighting positions around the bubble.
The red warrior then pressed a button along his left forearm, causing a flip-phone-like flap to open up.
"Regardless of if you somehow manage to liberate yourselves, we have taken additional precautionary measures."
It didn't really take a genius to figure out what those precautions were.
"Your father," the red warrior continued, "Mr. Greg Universe, and your third compatriot are currently being held by one of our companions. Much like your so-called 'Smart-Phones,' our suits can communicate with each other instantaneously. Dim-witted as me may be, our friend is perfectly capable of handling himself, and as you might know already, your fellow gem is currently incapacitated. If you do not hand over the boys Riku and Axel…"
"Lea you mean," said the navy warrior.
"…peacefully, Greg and Garnet's lives shall be considered forfeit."
Connie and Steven looked on in shock, though the others simply watched angrily, readying their weapons for when the opportunity presented itself.
What can we do in this situation? Even if we escape, they'll just use that anti-gravity spell, and not even the gems have a way of dealing with that.
Though, why didn't the spell work through Steven's bubble?
"It is a shame that we would have to kill someone who has so recently been touched by Shrek's divine ogre love, but these are circumstances we find ourselves in."
What was that supposed to mean?
When Connie looked towards Steven, she saw him reaching one of his hand up to his mouth, as if to bite his own nails. Pearl also seemed to turn towards Steven with an expression of both horror and concern.
Riku then crossed his arms and closed his eyes, and then spoke to Steven, "Garnet and your dad are both important to you, right?"
"Yeah," said Steven.
"Alright," said Riku, "I'll go with you, but only if Greg and Garnet are returned here safe and sound."
"And what about you?" said the red warrior as he turned to Lea.
"I guess I'm on the same boat as him," Lea replied.
"Excellent. A deal is a deal," said the red warrior, who then pressed a few buttons on his armor suit, "Private, return with the two hostages at once. The deal has been done."
"You got it, boss!" a voice responded on the receiver.
"Good."
The red warrior ended the call by pressing another button on his forearm.
So just like that, we're handing them over. Is there nothing else we can do?
They were safe in Steven's bubble for the time being, but so long as those warriors had Garnet and Greg hostage, and so long as there was no way to counter the pursuit force's magic, there was not much they could do.
The red warrior then held out the capsule in his arms to the green warrior.
"Would you mind holding onto this?"
"No problemo," said the green warrior.
"What is that anyway?" asked Amethyst.
"It certainly doesn't resemble Homeworld technology," said Peridot.
The metal capsule, comprised of two half-spheres bolted together and a handle on top, looked like it was supposed to be some kind of pressurized container or bomb, though it wasn't clear what it was supposed to do.
Though, on a second reflection, it looked like it was just about big enough to contain one of the bubbles the gems used to hold other objects in.
"This is a piece of advanced Shrekpire technology," said the red warrior. "I'm afraid I can't divulge its current uses in the event we might have to use it against you."
There was a pause before the red warrior continued.
"Well," he said, taking a look at a small screen on his wrist, "we have time to spare until our comrade gets here, so why don't we have a little chat?"
"You could tell us what that thing does," said Connie.
"Nice try, but we shan't fall for your petty tricks."
Something about this situation reminded Connie about all those times the villains tend to reveal all their plans to the heroes when they think they've won, though these guys didn't seem to be the ones behind everything.
"Why are you after Riku and his friends?" Steven said. "They didn't do anything wrong! And why are you releasing all these Heartless into our worlds?"
"We do not have any direct interest in these things you call 'Heartless,'" said the red warrior. "Most likely, their presence is the result of the boy Riku's attempts to escape us. You see, we cannot allow the boy to go wandering willy-nilly, as his adventures might produce complications that could hinder the Shrekpire's ogre-all natural growth.
"But there is another, more important reason that we are after him. For you see, Riku and the denizens of his world are the creations of Lord Farquaad, and as Lord Farquaad is the enemy of Shrek, we must work to purify the multiverse of his wretched taint!"
"But that's just like…" Pearl was about to say.
"Homeworld…" Steven finished. "Why would you do something like this?"
"Because Shrek is the love and life that illuminates our souls!" said the red warrior. "Folks like you would never understand… not when you have never experienced Shrek's divine ogre love.
"Because without Shrek's love, you can never see the multiverse as it truly is… and thus experience true happiness.
"That is why we must fight against those who would declare themselves the enemies of the ogrelord."
"Shrek is love," said his two underlings, "Shrek is life."
"Of these, there are four who reign supreme: Lord Farquaad, who violated the sanctity of Shrek's Swamp; The Fairy Godmother, who tried to wed Princess Fiona to her son and imprisoned Shrek in her evil sex dungeon; Prince Charming, who tried to take Princess Fiona's hand by force; and Rumpelstiltskin, who tried to take Shrek's life away from him just so he could declare himself king.
"So long as these four horsemen of the apocalypse continue to lurk under the folds of time and space, we, disciples of Shrek's divine wisdom, must always stay vigilant and defeat those who would align themselves under their banners."
So this is why they are after those two.
Connie was still trying to make sense of the red warrior's outrageous claims, though doing so was beyond difficult.
"So you think we're aligned with this Lord Farquaad guy?" said Riku.
"It is irrefutable fact!" the red warrior replied.
"But we've never even heard of the guy until now," said Lea.
"Tell me, boy, who is the man or mouse who now rules over your precious 'Kingdom?'"
"You mean…"
"King Mickey," Riku said aloud.
"Yes, the all too infamous Mickey Mouse," said the red warrior. "Like his fellow horsemen, Lord Farquaad has lived through countless lifetimes, many of which are unknown even to us."
"You mean something like reincarnation?" Connie asked.
She honestly had no idea how these people would be capable of verifying something like this, but then again things were likely different outside this universe.
"You might call it that," said the navy warrior.
"Yes, but one thing is certain," the red warrior continued. "During one of these lifetimes, perhaps even during the time of The Great Shrekoning, Lord Farquaad gave birth to a creature known as Mickey Mouse, who would form the basis of his diabolical Disney Empire."
Disney, huh?
Something about the name seemed familiar to Connie, though she couldn't quite place where she had heard it before.
"Looks like there's no reasoning with these folk," Lea said with his arms crossed.
"You're not really in a position to talk right now," said the green warrior.
"Besides, it's all true," said the navy warrior.
"I would appreciate it if you folks did not interrupt me while I'm talking," said their leader. "These inhabitants wish to hear our side of the story, so I shall give it to them, common courtesy and all."
"Just get it over with already," said Lapis.
"Ah, yes, now where was I? It was thanks to this creation, the 'all so benevolent' Mickey Mouse, that Lord Farquaad was able to seize control of Shrek's Swamp, and use it as his dumping ground for 'unwanted Fairy Tale Creatures.'
"Now, some may believe that without Mickey Mouse, we would not have anime as we know it, but these claims are ludicrous."
"Anime…?" Connie uttered.
"Now that you mention it," said Peridot, "I believe I have heard that term used at some point."
"Does this have anything to do with those shows you guys watch?" Amethyst said.
"Yeah, Ronaldo talks about that stuff all the time, that is, when he's not going on about conspiracy stuff." said Steven.
"But what does any of this have to do with Shrek, Lord Farquaad, or Mickey Mouse?" Connie asked.
Wait a second, don't Riku and Lea look kinda like anime characters?
"So these guys haven't experienced it yet," the navy warrior said to her superior.
"Indeed, these folk have not experienced that great upheaval that once afflicted our own world," said the red warrior.
"Care to explain?" Pearl asked.
Yeah, it might be interesting to hear what they have to say about this, even if they're our enemies.
"I of course speak of The Great Shrekoning, wherein Shrek had freed us from the tyranny and chaos of The Fairy Godmother and bestowed upon us his ogre love."
"Because of his great deeds," said the navy warrior, "anime is now real for us."
"The stories you might know from books, TV shows, and children's cartoons all became tangible reality on that momentous day," said the red warrior.
"Shrek is love, Shrek is life," the three armored warriors said in unison.
"So is that why…" Connie began to utter.
"The keyblades…" uttered Riku.
"Yes," said the red warrior, "you might have been wondering how it was possible that common folk like us could have gotten a hold of such weapons. I myself do not know the details, but considering how long anime and pony magic have been woven into the fabric of our universe, I do not imagine it would have been difficult to simulate the physical properties of your own universe."
"What?" Amethyst uttered in bored bafflement.
"This just raises even more questions," said Pearl.
"Okay…" said Connie.
Connie was still struggling to take in just what these people were saying.
So for these people, the stuff in anime shows became real for them, and on top of that, there is pony magic?
There was this show about ponies a few years go that had a surprisingly large upsurge in popularity. It sorta just faded out, but there was a time where everyone was talking about it.
Then a thought sparked into Connie's head.
"Wait, did you say you simulated their universe?"
"Not quite, but you have the right picture," said the red warrior.
"So the secret is out huh?" said Lea.
"It is not as though you have the technology to replicate our methods," said the red warrior.
"This is nuts," said Lea.
"The circumstances through which our universe endured were quite exceptional, but because of those circumstances, we are ever stronger. And for that, we give Shrek our thanks."
"Shrek is love. Shrek is life," said the other two warriors.
Out of the corner of Connie's eye, she saw a small, orange figure coming forth from the north side of the beach. As it came close, she could see it carrying what was presumably Greg and Garnet.
Considering how large, and presumably heavy, Garnet was, the figure must have been strong, or the suit was giving them extra strength like some sort of exoskeleton.
"Garnet, Dad!" Steven shouted, even though it was unlikely his voice would reach them.
"Looks like he's back," the green figure remarked as he headed toward the window.
Though if he was carrying them both like that, wouldn't that mean he wouldn't be able to react quickly?
He might drop them, but they weren't in danger of falling.
The navy warrior readied her keyblade.
"They're up to something."
"Of course they would be," said the red warrior, "what do you expect?"
"The hell is in this thing anyway?" the green warrior said as he raised the capsule.
"Put it aside for now." The leader then turned his attention back to everyone inside the bubble, "Remember to keep your end of the bargain. I don't want any more trouble than necessary. Now, Riku, Lea, de-summon your weapons."
The two warriors from another dimension begrudgingly did as they were told.
By this point, the orange warrior had gotten up to the front porch with the bodies of Greg and Garnet. From here, Connie could now see that Greg had been tied up with rope, and his mouth had been shut with duct tape.
"I got 'em right here boss!" said the newcomer.
His voice sounded like it belonged to a cartoon character who was supposed to be a bit of a doofus.
"Ahem!" the red warrior said.
"Oh, right, sorry!"
The orange warrior threw Garnet's body aside, summoned a keyblade with his now free hand, then then pointed it to Greg's head like it was a gun, causing him to let out a muffled shout.
The keyblade in the orange warrior's arm looked more like an actual key, with a long, silver shaft ending in a key-shape and a yellowish-golden knuckle-guard.
At this moment, the red warrior summoned out his own keyblade. It was black, and about as jagged and menacing as the ones Connie had seen already, though its blade portion consisted of two spiked shafts, which joined at the end to form into a fire-ax like "key."
"Now, Steven…" the warrior began to say.
Suddenly, there was a thud outside, and the orange warrior turned his head left as he moved his keyblade away from Greg's head.
Riku suddenly flashed out of existence, and then reappeared just a few feet away from the door.
"Now's our chance!" shouted Steven.
"It's party time!" Lea said as he summoned out his chakrams.
A shimmering barrier, similar to the one Riku had used, appeared around the orange warrior as Lion pounced upon him from out of sight, though almost simultaneously, Riku collided straight into the warrior from the side, causing him to be pushed through the railing and onto the ground below.
As Riku executed his series of strikes, Steven de-summoned his bubble, replacing it with his shield.
The navy warrior moved to prepare her spell, though Amethyst was quick to remove her keyblade from her hands with her whip.
"Not this time, lady!"
The woman was quick to return the keyblade to her own hand, though simultaneously, both of Lea's chakrams came flying towards her.
-POW!-CHINK!-POW!-
"Ow!" Peridot cried out.
"What kind of attack was that?" said Lea.
From miniature compartments on the navy warrior's gauntlets, a pair of shotgun-like shots burst out from them, not only deflecting the chakrams away from her, but landing into the people around Lea, namely Perdiot and Amethyst.
Almost simultaneously, the green warrior began rolling forward, with lightning crackling from him.
"Watch out!" Steven cried out.
In one swift motion, Steven Universe summoned out his shield, and then flung it at the incoming green warrior.
-CLANG!-
The shield struck hard, and the green warrior was sent tumbling back.
"Whoa, nice going Steven!" said Lea.
"The fuck?" cried the green warrior, "What kind of fucking cheap attack was that?"
"You're one to talk," said Lea.
Connie wasn't sure what they were talking about, but she couldn't just stand around while everyone else was fighting, so she summoned out Rose's sword, still maintaining its keyblade form.
"I thought I told you guys to watch out for that bloody lion!" the red warrior seethed.
"We didn't find any goddamn lion!" said the green warrior.
"Yeah," said the navy warrior, grabbing Amethyst's whip and then pulling her close to smash her with her keyblade, "it wasn't here when we last looked."
"It fuckin' teleports!" shouted the red warrior, "Why do think I told you to be on guard at all times?"
As a volley of energy blasts came from Pearl's spear, the red warrior casually jumped and then somehow began to glide through the air upright, all while a thick aura of darkness surrounded him.
He just casually shrugged off that attack like it was nothing.
Sure, part of the floor was now blown open, but the red warrior was largely unscathed.
While this was happening, Lapis attempted to fly over the squad of keyblade warriors.
"Where do you think you're going?" the red warrior said with casual annoyance.
Once the red warrior was out of his second wave-dash, he launched himself up high, and then smacked his dark keyblade into Lapis.
"Oof!" she cried out as she was sent hurling down.
"Nice try."
The red warrior's downward momentum rapidly accelerated, and then he plunged his keyblade straight through her, causing her to poof.
"Lapis, Amethyst!" Steven cried out.
Connie then turned her attention back to the fight on the right side of the house. Holding the purple gem in her grip, the navy warrior continued wailing on Amethyst with her keyblade, leaving her with little opportunity to shapeshift or attempt to escape.
"Hang in there!" Pearl cried out as she began to move to strike the navy warrior.
"This looks bad," said Peridot. "Isn't there…"
Though just when Pearl was a few feet away, the navy warrior jumped up and then planted one of her feet into Amethyst's stomach.
-POW!-
In an instant, the navy warrior shot herself back, using the shotgun-like blast from her boots, and landed just on the stairs.
Upon landing, the navy warrior performed another spell with her keyblade.
"Waaaa…!" Pearl began to scream.
"Not again!" said Amethyst.
A few feet away from where the navy warrior was standing, a dark sphere appeared in midair, with a pair of rings made of lighting circling around it. A pair of magic orbs, one red and one blue, circled around each of the rings.
Pearl, Amethyst, and several nearby objects, including Steven's TV, were lifted up and drawn towards the dark sphere, until they crashed together into one spinning ball.
"Hold on," said Peridot as she crept towards the strange sphere, "Let me see if I can…"
Although it looked as though she was trying to use her powers to help, it appeared as though she could not pull anything away from that black hole-like sphere.
Amethyst poofed.
Although it took her a few seconds to realize it, Connie wasn't sure anymore whether there was anything she could do in this situation.
That guy, their leader, cleaved through Lapis so easily, and that one girl alone was rendering Amethyst and Pearl helpless.
She could fight, maybe, but so could these guys, and they had a variety of magic at their disposal too.
She heard an audible clench from Lea.
"These guys aren't joking around," Lea said to himself.
As all this was happening, the red warrior, briefly turned a bit to the side and addressed the green warrior, "Private Almond, fall back and see if you can help our comrade outside."
"Roger," said the green warrior as he stood back up and complied with his order.
The red warrior then returned his attention to the remaining people before him.
"Steven," said Lea, "you wouldn't mind if…"
The red warrior suddenly drew his free hand up, drew his keyblade back, and then waved his free hand towards him, as if beckoning the group to come towards him.
Lea was suddenly lifted from place, and was then sent flying towards the red warrior.
"What the?" Lea uttered.
A light blue spark shined from the tip of the red warrior's keyblade, and then the warrior plunged it straight into Lea.
A sound akin to shattering glass rang throughout the room, and Lea was instantly encased in ice.
Connie simply stood awestruck.
"Lea!" Steven cried out. "Connie, just…"
"This is going to be the end of us…" uttered Peridot, "Our… shattering."
"Effortless, really," said the red warrior. "Why, this is child's play compared to the trials we've endured. Don't worry, that effect is not permanent, but your defeat is already inevitable. To think, all this could have been avoided if you simply played along."
But if they didn't do this, if this Shrekpire was really expanding as they said and killing people for such arbitrary reasons, shouldn't they try to stop them now?
They were powerless against them.
And yet, Riku saw that opening and decided to take it.
Were these warriors truly as invincible as they seemed?
Steven's shield…
The red warrior broke through Connie's train of thought, "Oh, and what do we have here? Another keyblade wielder? I know just the thing to do with you!"
Steven was willing to fight, yet why did I lose my courage back there? I had no problem fighting those Heartless, or anything else. Why did I freeze up?
These guys are strong, but if we don't do anything, we'll all end up dead.
Maybe we should have handled things differently, but now, there's no going back.
If she didn't fight, who would protect the others?
Connie finally regained her resolve.
"And I won't let you hurt Steven either!"
"Should I help?" said the navy warrior.
It was at this point Connie noticed that neither Amethyst, Pearl, nor their gems were anywhere in sight. Furthermore, the strange black sphere had disappeared, and any objects that had been drawn into it had been smashed, lying on the ground underneath where the sphere had once been.
"No need, Private Black," the red warrior answered, "I have this situation perfectly under control. Take the capsule outside and see if the others are in any need of assistance."
"Understood, sir," the navy warrior said as she began to comply with her orders.
The red warrior turned his free hand outward, as if to push Steven away.
"Odd…"
The red warrior then swept his hand inward and clenched it into a fist.
Connie felt herself being flung forward.
I can get through this.
As Connie came close, she tried to upright herself, and then held Rose's sword in front of her.
Connie might not have been as durable as Steven or the Gems, but her keyblade, she might be able to defend herself.
"Hmm…" the red warrior grunted with a hint of satisfaction.
He drew his keyblade back, which began to glow with dark energy.
When he swung it forward, a shimmering barrier appeared before Connie.
It worked.
Though despite the barrier managing to deflect his attack, the red warrior continued striking.
Connie watched as the swift strikes continued to smash into her barrier, though none of them seemed to break through.
But then, the warrior began to draw his free hand back, which also began to glow with darkness.
"Your time… is ogre…"