Mixels Unite: Retold

by synonymforexpd

Three years after the event of the I-Cubit scam that shook the world, the colorful and creative Mixels have drifted apart. With the help of a terrifying new power, King Nixel scatters the Mixels to the winds and takes over Mixopolis once more. Hope is not lost, and a new, monochrome Mixel sets out to discover his past, stop the Nixel Armada, and unite all Mixels!

1. City of Mixing

Chapter 1

City of Mixing

Based on the Mixels Unite fangame

An explosion of rainbow essence and light boomed above the grand city of Mixopolis. Color rained down on the dullened metropolis, restoring the light and color of the city from the black and white state the Nixels had left it in after the I-Cubit scam. As Mixels everywhere had their monochrome, zombie-esque state reversed, the cheers of celebration echoed and bounced across buildings.

The hero of the city - one small, Glorp Corp Mixel - parachuted down to the hands of the celebrating Mixels. While the Weldos wrecking crew laid waste to the remains of the Nixels' building of operation and the Trashoz began the cleanup process for any of the destructive creatures left laying around, the king and major of the swarm had silently fled the city.

Hours later, as the celebrations continued throughout the streets of the once again colorful city, the council of tribal leaders began their impromptu meeting in Mixopolis' central building to discuss the recent happenings. With the head of the council, Klinker leader Gox, taking his seat on his golden throne of a chair, Flain took a look around the room. He sighed, noting the absence of particular tribe representatives, such as the Trashoz, Lixers, Pyrratz…

The high-pitched screech of Gox's whistle interrupted these thoughts.

"Well, my fellow Mixels." The Klinker started. "There certainly have been some events happening in this fair city, have there not? Ho-ho!" The Medix leader, Surgeo, appeared unimpressed. "Don't tell us that you've only called us here for some laughter over this catastrophe, have you not? I have patients to attend to, so you'd better make this quick."

Gox sighed, and began again. "You're right. I've called you all here for two reasons, and I fear that the first has made itself painfully clear." His eye looked to the empty seats of the room, with the other leaders taking note. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're referring to our absentees, although, fortunately, you would have one right here." Kraw said smugly, only to have Jawg snarl in disapproval. Gox nodded. "Precisely, my stretchy friend. Our petty spats have gone from simple disagreements, to a lack of a will to Mix, allowing the Nixels to pull what we have just lived through."

Silence was all that could be heard within the meeting room. Each Mixel reflected on their adventures, Mixing to defeat Nixels, the Murps that would happen if two weren't ready, and the desire for glory that the Mixamajig scam had brought out in all of them.

"Tell us something that we don't already know, scrap-head." Everyone turned to the Weldo, Kramm, who seemed discontent. "I told y'all after that Mixamajig fiasco that this city would be all we needed, and yet here we are! If that Glorp Corp kid hadn't been lucky enough, who knows what woulda happened by now?"

Krader slammed his fist down on the table, breaking off a chunk of it with his massive arm. "You think that only one got away? Me got away, me didn't fall for stupid I-Cubit scam! Me would have helped!" Flurr soared over to the Cragster, picking up the shards of wood that had been smashed out of the table and freezing them back into place. "Guys, we've gots to calm down a bit…"

The conversation only devolved as Globert hopped atop the table, striking a pose. "Puh-lease! That rock-brained brute has a point! Us FABULOUS Glowkies never had a claw laid upon us! Why is that? Our intelligent tribe was on the Mixel Moon, of course!" Niksput let out a chuckle. "Speak for yourself! At least us Orbitons were on the front line, willing to fight against the Nixels!" Globert only smiled. "Why, such acts of foolishness led your troop to be Nixed, of course." Niksput became visibly angry, attempting to shove Globert, who stylishly swerved out of the way. "At least that would be better than your cowardice!"

As the meeting further spiraled downwards, Gox was unable to calm down the Mixels present. All hell had broken loose, with tensions growing between the leaders. Flain, not having made a comment until now in an attempt to stay truly neutral, was having trouble keeping a level head. The sight of his friends and fellow leaders fighting was enraging. How had they gone from such a united species to one unwilling to communicate and work together? Flain stood up and grunted before firing a plume of fire out of his head. The blaze had scorched its way through the ceiling of the room, even bursting through the building's roof. This had caught the attention of all Mixels present, who had halted their disputes with one another. Flain slammed his hands against the table, flames bursting from his crimson eyelids.

"Is it so hard for you guys to just.. talk?!" This enraged plea was interrupted by the appearance of a smokescreen towards the top of the table. As the smoke cleared, the wise Nindja leader, Mysto, was revealed. The Glorp Corp leader, Glomp, opened his mouth to speak, but one tap of Mysto's staff silenced everyone in the room as he raised his head, clearly unhappy.

"All of you are nothing but mere fools! Your lack of unity has led to this city's downfall once and it will most certainly happen again." Mysto looked at the Mixels present, with all silent but one, or two. "Vat are you talking about? Ze Nixels are no more, we have nothing to worry about!" The top head of Vaka-Waka had chimed in. Mysto could only sigh, realizing that all hope was lost. "Where the light does not shine, shadows grow. Do not say I didn't warn you, my fellow Mixels." With a tap of his staff, the Nindja was gone in a puff of smoke.

"Well, that's enough for me. Toodles!" Magnifo raised his wand and was gone in a blast of magic, only to be seen falling on the other side of the room's windows. "You may all do so. I resign, starting now." Gox pushed back his chair and left the room, the Klinkers in need of a new leader.

One by one, the Mixels cleared out of the meeting room, only Flain, Krader, and Teslo left. All three were sharing the same thoughts of disappointment. Flain opened his mouth to speak, but Teslo and Krader had already begun to leave, and shortly, were gone. Anger, disappointment, and overall sadness came over the Infernite. He turned to the window of the room, overlooking the gleaming city as life began to return to normal.

"One day, we'll all be cool with one another again." And with that, Flain too left the room. A new era of Mixopolis had begun.

Three years later…

Deep in the underground caverns that stretched for thousands of miles, the Nixels' home was present. Sunlight was never to be seen in this land, nor colors that were but black or white. Once, this place stood as a dwelling for dastardly schemes. Flags of thumbs-down emblems lined the halls. Layers of lairs in an array of shoddy, dug out caves. It was a symbol - a beacon of destruction for those that dwelled within it. Jagged, rough, a place of hatred for the uncreative pests that once resided in it.

But what this complex previously represented was no more. The once-vast Nixel Armada had crumbled. Former Muscle Nixels were reduced to overweight decorations for the bored Nixel to play a game of cupcake-pong on. Long-damaged machinery such as cannons and flyswatter machines were mere toys for the few dozen Nixels that remained, spending their days merely kicking around the lair in its state of disrepair.

No better was the head on which the crown laid rest - King Nixel. The disillusioned tyrant slouched back where his throne once stood still, only to have been replaced by a shoddy couch, falling apart at the seams. Tired, out of shape, and null of purpose, the king's lifestyle had been reduced to that of a couch potato: eating Cookironis all day and watching TV. His minions still took his orders, but bar demands for snacks and the occasional tuning of the TV signal, they weren't needed, and they knew that. They didn't fear King Nixel anymore, they just viewed him as one of them.

"But when the Lightbulb Sun sets and the Mixel Moon rises, am I anything more than one of them in a tattered cloak with mech limbs?" He thought aloud, not paying heed to the Nixels present, and neither did they to him.

Settling back into the perfect imprint of his rear engraved into the cushions, someone called for him. It was a voice unfamiliar, with a booming volume and a rock-hard tone. "Hey, you!" King Nixel turned his gaze to the TV, witnessing a massive Cragster on-screen. "Yes, you!" The Cragster's hand pointed directly at the screen. King Nixel could only dart his gaze around, wondering if the message was intended for any other Nixel present. Surely a Mixel would never be attempting to talk to the one and only leader of the Nixels, right? "Aren't you tired of going nowhere? Of spending your days waiting for what you're destined for?" A chord was struck with this line. King Nixel sat up in his chair. His attention was focused squarely on this Cragster, regardless of his unbridled hatred of all things creative - including Mixels. His journey had gone nowhere for three years, his destiny plucked from him. He was listening, all ears.

"Long ago, I too was but a meek Craglet - a pebble in those rocky suburbs doing NOTHING! I was weak, I was on a road to nowhere… So I picked myself up." King Nixel stood, perhaps for the first time in years, engrossed in this programme and internally relating it to himself. He saw this Cragster in himself, and himself in this Cragster. "I got myself out of that Maximum Mixel-forsaken place, and I FOUGHT! I fought hard. Some blows were fierce, but no matter what, I always got up! I became the most recognizable face in Mixopolis: a symbol of motivation for all out there, Big Boxer Joe! But it's up to you… You make that first step to be great."

"That's it!" Firing the TV remote to the far ends of the throne room, King Nixel seethed. A passion was reignited in that moment, the flame burning like a bonfire. Nixels all around looked to their king, showing concern in his presence for the first time in a long time. His teeth gritted, the ruler turned to the assembled Nixels. "We cannot give up HERE! Those revolting Mixels have beaten us before, and we… Will just as easily… Rise again." Doubt overcame the king. His gaze was only met with looks of disinterest and fatigue. Truly, he had nothing to show this time would be it.

Slumping back into the prison of his couch, true defeat overcame King Nixel. The Mixels had done it, they'd won. As a Nixel brought him his dinner atop a rainbow, rectangular coaster, he was about to begin lamenting the state of the Nixel Armada, before realizing what the coaster truly was. In shock, his pupils shrank and his body trembled.

"A RAINBOW CUBIT?!"

Gone was any look of disinterest from the Nixel minions, as they all crowded around their king. Echoes of his surprise that ricocheted around the caverns were soon followed by anger - rage. Fury of which the Nixel Armada hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. As his claws dug deep into the colorful ore and its essence oozed around his fingertips, King Nixel bellowed. "WHY?! Why do those pitiful Mixels have the advantage?! Why can they Mix and undo all of our schemes with the touch of a… rock?! Why can't there be balance?!"

The silence that followed this question was haunting. Any expression of anger had faded to an idle expression. Widened eyes stared in fear at the tyrant, only widening as his idle expression cracked before one of laughter took its place. He turned to face his subjects with a look of what could only be described as insanity, before speaking four words.

"I've got a plan."

Rainbow essence bubbled in vats that had been swiftly reconstructed after years of disrepair. The two Nixels that had been assigned to act as scientists were not cut out for this, being covered head to toe in dried-up orange and blue paint. But this didn't matter to King Nixel. Typical scientist Nixels were not present, so these would make do. As a liquified version of the Cubit oozed through a long, clear pipe, King Nixel observed. Conflicted thoughts rattled his mind like a thunderstorm. What was about to be fabricated defied all Nixel morals, but morals were out of the question. Tearing apart the Mixels was all that mattered.

As the reverse engineering began and the color of the essence shifted to monochrome, King Nixel's grin grew. The two Nixels worked double time, manning several stations at once to reach the end product, and it finally came. With the monochrome essence funneled into a square shape and immediately solidified, the first part of the plan had been completed. King Nixel gently picked up the object that had been formed and could only laugh. The Negative Cubit had been fabricated.

Turning to face the two minions, a falsely apologetic tone came over King Nixel. "My apologies, but, we don't exactly have our regular test subjects." The Cubit was tossed to the two, and both attempted to catch it, grabbing it simultaneously. At first, nothing happened, but then both Nixels shrieked. Shells were rearranged and flesh combined as the two began the unnatural process of Mixing as two Nixels. A four-legged beast stood before King Nixel. It was horrifying. It was beautiful. It was the trump card the Nixels needed.

Outside the lab, as King Nixel ordered the production of further Negative Cubits, the hangar doors blasted open. Dormant Nixels looked upon the behemoth that entered it's home for the first time in years - Major Nixel's airship. Wind swept throughout the deepest caves of the land as the airship came to a steady landing. The two side doors opened, and dozens of Nixels stepped out, looking as if they had just come back from a fantastic vacation. Major Nixel too disembarked, his eyes widening at the sight of both King Nixel and the ruined lair. He rushed to speak and slammed himself into a bow. "Y-your righteousness! I-I was… Us N-Nixels were…" King Nixel only laughed in response, interrupting the Major's excuses. It wasn't one of hatred, but one of pure evil.

"Welcome back, Major! Worry not about your absence, for I have just created a new plan!" King Nixel rushed up to the major, who was still attempting to stop cowering in his presence. Holding out his hand and showing Major the Negative Cubit, King Nixel lit up. "We've done it, Major! We have their power in our hands, just look!" The Mix between the two impromptu scientists stumbled towards the two leaders, as Major's eyes widened. This was wrong. Nixels don't Mix, Nixels destroy Mixes. But could he tell this to the king?

"E-Excellent, your highness! Truly, we can destroy the Mixels now!" Major sputtered out lies, followed by a faux laugh, but King Nixel didn't even realize. "We'll need plenty more of these Negative Cubits to take on the city tomorrow, so, get those Nixelators working pronto, Major!" King Nixel clapped, signaling the Major to get to work. "At once, your royal high-horse!" Calling for three Nixels of each shell variation to follow, Major set out to clone the Nixel Armada back to size.

As the hours passed and thousands of Nixels were cloned, including an accidental three-eared variation, King Nixel grinned. It wasn't a grin of happiness, nor of genuine love for the armada that was before him. It was malice. Malice that would fuel him and his desire that would defy Nixel tradition for the ultimate goal. Nothing would stand in his way, nothing would take his revenge from him.

"Your wickedness? For the invasion tomorrow, should we repurpose the old technology like the giant flyswatters or cannons?" Major Nixel had snuck up to the king, although he wasn't taken by surprise by his presence, only his question. "Those old scraps? Don't make me laugh, Major. All we need now is the Negative Cubit." A look of worry and conflict came over Major as he sighed. "Of course, sire." As he strolled away, he overlooked the newly reformed armada, and the thousands of Negative Cubits they now bore. For the first time in a long time, he doubted King Nixel's leadership.

Tomorrow was the day the Nixels' revenge began.

Fireworks exploded in the vibrant skyline of Mixopolis, an indication of only one thing: the annual Mix Festival had begun. Held in the very center of the city in Mixopolis Park, Mixels young and old had gathered to celebrate the special occasion. Of course, after the Nixels were defeated, this event was changed to occur on the day of victory. The Mix Festival had become less about celebrating Mixing and unity, and more about celebrating the defeat of the ultimate enemy.

Disappointed was the host of the festival, Flain. As he stood atop the center stage of the festival and his brother, Vulk, blasted out songs from his mixer and Flain overlooked the crowd, he recognized very few Mixels present. The celebration felt hollow. "This is even worse than last year… No Trashoz nor Klinkers, usually Slumbo loves to have a nap at these and yet I don't see him… I can't see Scorpi or his brothers, and they're party addicts! Not even Zaptor, and after all that trouble I went through on a Hamlogna run…" Flain sighed and cleared these thoughts from his head. No matter the circumstances, the Mixels that were there seemed to be having a good time.

It was time to address the crowd and let the festival truly begin. Flain tapped the microphone as the crowd settled down, and cleared his throat. "Welcome, my Mixel friends to this year's annual Mix Fest! A day where we all come together as one to celebrate the amazing Mixing powers of the Cubit!" He held an Infernite Cubit high above his head, expecting a cheer from the audience assembled, but only received vague whispers in response. "He does know this is the worst turnout ever, right?" A small, antennaed Electroid whispered. "Yeah, this is almost as bad as the ones before Mixopolis." A Muncho with lollipop arms said, even louder.

"Look dudes, I hear you all. I know we have a pretty lame turnout, but I promise that there's still a lot to celebrate!" Flain was about to continue, before a loud Mixie from the crowd interrupted him. "Oh yeah, like what?" Flain only stuttered, before coming to a painful realization. Nobody present was here for the Mixing. With a sigh, he looked off-stage to someone, before turning back to the crowd. "May I introduce to you… Booger." He said, in a nonchalant tone.

As the Glorp Corp hero walked up to the mic, at least half of the crowd began to cheer. Many were excited, while others were stone-faced, unamused at the sight of him. Booger had changed a lot. His ears now stuck out through the top of his cap and his second tooth had grown, as well as his height increasing. Most of all however was his personality, one shaped by fame and glory. He stopped before the mic as the crowd calmed down, and prepared to deliver a speech.

And as he opened his mouth, a thunderous, electronic roar sounded throughout Mixopolis.

Everyone turned in the direction of the sound, only to find its source flying high in the sky above the city. It was Major Nixel's airship. Horror and shock were the first emotions to strike the Mixels. "How have they come back? Booger defeated them!" One top-hat wearing Wiztastic shouted. What nobody noticed, however, was that the Glorp Corp hero had quietly slipped away, as Nixels began raining from the airship.

Immediately the battle began. Mixels everywhere used their powers to fight the several dozen Nixels that had fallen from the sky to ruin this year's festival. Flain was quick to act, throwing out Cubits from their podiums to the crowd. The only surprise to him was that many disregarded the Cubits, kicking them aside as if they were junk. "Ugh! Why won't they Mix?" Flain was annoyed, but noted that despite the lack of Mixes, the Mixels seemed to be winning. "Flain! Let's fix this with a Mix it!" Vulk rushed up to his brother, eager as ever to get back into an old-fashioned Nixel battle.

Pulling out an Infernites Cubit, the two Infernite brothers Mixed into a tall and buff Mix, leaping into the scene of battle and blasting away Nixels with plumes of fire. After only a few minutes of fighting, the Nixels were defeated. It seemed almost too easy, but everyone was quick to accept this. Mixels began to cheer and celebrate once more. "Was that really all they had?" A Bonzipod-esque Glorp Corp asked.

"Why, I'm glad you asked!" Major Nixel's voice boomed from the airship over a loudspeaker, the entire city hearing him. The side doors of the airship sprung open as more Nixels jumped down. Mixels all around prepared to continue the battle, but Flain caught sight of something peculiar. Two Nixels landed first, one holding a cuboid shape, almost like a Cubit. The gleam of the object revealed it's pattern, four black squares separated by gray lines. It resembled an I-Cubit, and immediately, Flain feared the worst. Calling out for others to get back, he launched a fireball from his head, but that would accomplish nothing as the two Nixels grabbed the Negative Cubit and formed a horrific Nixel Mix.

Countless more Nixels rained down and Mixed in mid-air, sometimes up to nine Nixels joining together. The Nixel Mixes rampaged throughout the festival, easily overwhelming individual Mixels and singling them out, Nixing them. As Flain watched in horror and attempted to fight back, Vulk was quickly Nixed, pulled aside by a colossal Nixel Mix. Cornered, Flain began preparing to launch a huge fireball that would leave him weak. "This… This is wrong! How are you dudes Mixing?!" The only response he would get would be the Nixel Mixes charging him, biting him and quickly draining his color.

With the festival Nixed, the Nixel Mixes began to spread out onto the streets, followed by the Nixed Mixels, as Major's airship landed in the park. King Nixel was the first to disembark the vehicle, laughing. "Finally! My dreams of revenge have come to fruition! Go, my Nixel minions, scatter those Mixels to the winds!" As King Nixel laughed, Major Nixel stood beside him. "Brilliant, your highness! Just one query, what now?" King Nixel's laugh immediately stopped as the question broke him. "Oh. Uh… I didn't think this far. No matter! For now, you and I sit back and relax, Major. Once our Nixel Mixes have crushed the city, I'll figure out what we do next!" King Nixel trailed off, admiring the park and plotting how to transform it into a base of operations, while Major Nixel's inner conflict toiled away at him.

It was only a few hours before the majority of Mixopolis had fallen to the Nixel Armada. As more Nixels began to move throughout the city, terrorizing and Nixing countless, a light of hope was to be found in the most unlikely place - a pile of scraps.

Something - or someone - shot awake in a heap of rubble and destroyed tech. He gasped for air, before calming, standing to his feet with a wobble. Clearly, this was new to him. It seemed that everything was. Looking down on himself, the monochrome Mixel was confused and scared. No memories came to him. He knew a basic idea of speech and the Mixel language, but nothing else.

Looking up, the Mixel gazed upon the horizon before him. The lightbulb sun was nearly blinding. All around him were plumes of smoke that gave way to a scorched landscape. Micro-volcanoes stretched as far as the eye could see, magma lakes at their base. The only sign that this wasn't some sort of hell was the small dwellings made of stone and scorched wood, in addition to the countless umbrellas and mats scattered around the area - clearly for relaxing.

The Mixel made his way down a path, seemingly once formed from molten rock itself. Lava lamps and smoking pipe trees were a common sight as the Mixel continued on his trek. But why? Where was he going? What was his purpose? "Who am I?" He thought aloud in a deep, yet young voice.

That question was a mistake. Stumbling onto the pathway, a zombified Mixel revealed himself, drawn to the sound of the Mixel's question. The Nixed Mixel resembled a flightless bird, with a flaming head. If he hadn't launched a fireball directly from his head at the monochrome Mixel, he would've stayed to say hello. Fire rained down around the Mixel, he was trapped on all fronts as the mindless Mixel approached, intent on passing the ailment.

But that wouldn't happen. As the Mixel cowered in fear, he never turned to witness the unthinkable. A being that appeared to be a yellow cloud materialized from thin air, having three eyes, two angelic wings and a golden crown. No sooner had they appeared did a blinding light emit from their form, stunning the Nixed Mixel in place and curing him, restoring his colors.

The Mixel turned to face his now-restored opponent, a crimson and maroon Mixel still reeling from the sudden effects of being freed. He only caught a glimpse of the entity before they turned to him, realizing they had stayed a moment too long before disappearing into the air in which they came. This was a shock. What was happening? Who was that? Who am I?

"Yo, dude!"

His thoughts were interrupted by the other Mixel calling to him. "Thanks a bunch for the save, man! Never been Nixed before, never wanna do it again!" He only looked to the other Mixel in confusion, which was returned with a similarly puzzled expression. "Oh! Of course, where's my manners? Name's Flain! You might know me as the leader of the Infernites, right?"

"Uh… I… Um…" The Mixel only stuttered for words. He hadn't had a conversation before, let alone really understand all these terms being thrown at him. Flain was concerned, but remained patient. "That's cool, no worries man. Got a name?" Looking at the Mixel that stood before him, Flain came to the realization that he wasn't of any known tribe, the greys and blacks of his body not even matching that of a Cragster. "Whoa, wait. What tribe are you from?"

"I don't… know. I don't know either of those things. I… I'm sorry?" Flain was puzzled, but let out a short laugh. "No worries, dude. If you really know nothin' then I can help! First, I gotta give you a nickname, hm…" He eyed the Mixel, taking note of his colors, before coming to a conclusion. "Hows about M.C.? Mono Chrome?" The look of enthusiasm on Flain's face was enough for him to return one, and he nodded in approval. "That sounds… Right. Yeah, M.C.!"

The duo strolled down a scorched lane. Foliage that should not survive in an environment such as that of the Infernites District were, bonflowers and plowers blooming all around. All of this was normal to a Mixel such as Flain, but for M.C., it was an interesting first impression of the city of Mixopolis.

"So… Is the entire city as fiery as here?" M.C. innocently asked. Flain could only let out a laugh, before responding. "No, no. Of course not! The city's divided up into a bunch of districts for each tribe, all fitting to how we like it. As you can see, this place is perfect to chill out!" As he said this, a torrent of flame shot out of a nearby pipe tree, causing M.C. to duck while Flain embraced it, his fire burning more intensely as a result.

"Or at least, it should be, and was until the Nixel takeover made this place a ghost town! I don't see any of those pests around, but if I got Nixed, I'm sure there's plenty more of them around." Flain grimaced. M.C. was still unaware of what he was talking about. "That sounds bad, but… What's a Nixel?"

Flain's patience was clearly thinning as he continued down the path. "Right - us Mixels are born to Mix and spread creativity across the world. Flip that on its head and you got Nixels, lame jerks that live to break us apart and turn us into mindless zombies! They've been a nuisance for years, but they took over the city today after disappearing for a long time." He stopped and sighed, and started again. M.C. ran to catch up. "I dunno how they learned to use our own power against us, but it worked, man. Those pests can Mix too." M.C. pondered these words for a minute. He didn't fully understand, but he knew things were bad in the city.

"If any other Infernites escaped, they'd absolutely be in there. The place is swarmed every weekend for whatever's on in Mixopolis Stadium, let alone during any day." Flain pointed to a building on the edge of the district, bordered by one of ice and snow. The building was jagged in shape, similar to the landscape of the district. A darkened sign read out the place's name - the Lava Lounge. "I hope so anyway, this place has gots to be the best in the city!"

Stepping into the lounge, M.C. and Flain witnessed a scene unfolding before them. Flain's assumption of any surviving Infernites being here was correct, but one major problem was too - a Nixed Infernite. Donning spiked leather boots, he resembled a bomb, complete with a fuse atop his head. He roared in a mindless state as the other Infernites cowered behind the bar. It was time to act. "Dude, you thinking what I'm thinking?" Flain turned to M.C., having pulled out a Rainbow Cubit. M.C. shook his head, but this didn't deter Flain. "Let's Mix it up a notch!" He extended the Cubit to M.C., who looked confused. He had no idea what this gesture was, and yet, he felt some sort of instinct to place his hand on the ore, which he did reluctantly.

Suddenly, the Cubit had activated. It's illusion triggered, the Cubit displayed Flain and M.C. as if they were hands on a clock spinning into overdrive. With the gears in extreme motion, the hands became a blur, and a Mix formed. Typically, a Mixel's first combination would be a Murp, but this was not the case for M.C. The Mix closely resembled him, but Flain was the dominant Mixel. He felt more confident than ever and his flame burned white-hot.

Turning to the Nixed Infernite, the battle was about to begin. "Hey, bozo!" The Infernite turned to the Mix and quickly switched targets. Approaching with slashing claws, the Mix fired a volley of fireballs from its head, circling the Infernite as he bellowed. Charging up one massive fireball as the Mixel was stunned, the Mix turned to face him. "Time to pay your tab!" The fireball shot out of the Mix's mouth, slamming the Infernite directly and launching him into the wall with a thud.

Suddenly, the cloud from before materialized before them and freed the Infernite with a wave of light. The Mix split and Flain called out to them, but they had already disappeared again. "What was that?" He turned to M.C. "That thing freed you before. I have no idea what it is, but I guess they're trying to help?" M.C. shrugged, and Flain nodded. "Yeah, that's true. Any help in times like these can't be dismissed." M.C. paused for a moment, before lighting up in a smile. "That… That was amazing! What did you call it, a Mix? Yeah, yeah! It was incredible, let's do it again!" Flain chuckled. "You never Mixed before, bro? Haven't seen anyone light up from a Mix like that in years, ha!"

This conversation was interrupted by a roar from the Infernite that had just been freed. Everyone in the lounge turned to face him as he pointed at M.C. "Why?! Why did you free me? Could you not see that was what I wanted?!" With that, he quickly turned and stormed out of the bar, much to the confusion of M.C. and Flain's indifference.

A cycloptic Infernite with a prominent eyebrow approached the two, clearly the owner of the lounge. "Thank you two so much for dealing with him! We would've been dragocat-bait if not for you. Drinks are on the house, you've earned it!" Flain lit up at this statement, and before M.C. could bat an eye, the Infernite leader was seated by the bar, patting the stool beside him as a signal for M.C. to join him.

Confused, M.C. joined Flain as he finished speaking with the cycloptic bartender. "Dude! You need to try this while you're here!" The bartender handed two drinks to Flain and M.C., the latter of whom overlooked the strange beverage. It appeared to be served within a coconapple's shell, with a magma-esque liquid inside topped by an umbrella decoration. "We call it a Lavanut Deluxe - it's the best thing in the whole CITY!" Flain excitedly announced as he sipped away, his enthusiasm making M.C. begin to crack a smile.

This was M.C.'s first liquid of any kind, and it was a very unique experience. He swallowed a mouthful, and the effects were immediate. M.C. settled for a moment, before proceeding to breathe a torrent of flames on Flain, who only burst into laughter. The drink seemed to be primed for an Infernite's heat resistance.

This brief moment of relaxation was interrupted by the sound of the lounge's TV being switched on. "This is an urgent news report courtesy of Mix TV's very own reporter Screeno! Our great city of Mixopolis has fallen! Nixels have overwhelmed our streets and homes and are pushing out into the tribal districts!" Everyone in the lounge was silent as the broadcast showcased footage from a birds-eye view of the city, courtesy of a flying reporter. "King Nixel has been sighted setting up base in the former Mix Festival! Will the horrors end? Will anyone stand up to the Nixels? Will I leave this dumpster I'm broadcasting from? Screeno signing off, more at 8!" The TV broadcast cut, and the lounge turned silent.

The air of gloom was interrupted by a grunt from a massive, lavanut-esque Mixel residing in the lounge's hot tub. "Tch. If nobody round' these parts can work together against some er' those Nixels, maybe we're better off." Discourse broke out in the lounge. "You know that ain't true, Lavanut Ed!" A cycloptic Infernite with no arms cried out in response.

"Hey… What does he mean by that?" M.C. turned to Flain, who's previous enthusiasm had turned to disappointment. "A few years ago, the Nixels hit us with two schemes back to back. Before any of us even KNEW about Mixopolis, they drove us apart with fake keys to glory. Then when we came to Mixopolis, we were all still uneasy with one another, which is why we couldn't work together when the I-Cubit scam drove us apart again with negative thoughts. And of course, earlier's Mix Festival… The Nixels won a long time ago, they drove us apart and just never realized it. I guess we didn't either, man." Flain simply finished his lavanut drink without saying another word, overcome with emotion and clearly losing hope. M.C. pondered this for a second, uncertainly coming to a conclusion. "We just Mixed and it felt amazing, if these Nixels have been defeated before… We can do it again! Maybe I don't know or remember other Mixels, but I'm sure that there's others out there willing to work together!"

Flain looked to M.C. and let his words sink in, before his signature grin returned. "You've got a point man, and hey, maybe with the help of that cloud thing that keeps showing up? We might have a chance, dude!" Excited, Flain held out his fist to bump M.C.'s, which only confused the monochrome Mixel, who awkwardly shook Flain's curled fist. Flain only laughed, and M.C. joined in too, even if he wasn't sure why he was laughing. The two's bond had truly begun in it's own special way.

"Flain!" A hunched-back Infernite with an axe tail rushed in, out of breath. "Yo, Aresun! What's up?" Flain and M.C. approached him. "It's your brother, Vulk! He got Nixed and he's melting the roads near the Electroids' border! It'll blow up the whole district!" Flain turned wide-eyed and grabbed M.C. by the arm, rushing full-speed out of the lounge to find Vulk.

The duo once again paced through the streets of the Infernites District. Flain had directed M.C. to New Volcanoville, a housing estate of circular homes stacked up like apartments. Various Infernites were outside. "The Nixels haven't been through here, phew! At least there's no swarm of zombies in addition to Vulk!" Flain thought to himself, relaxing for a moment now that the pressure was off.

"So, a Lavanut Deluxe it was called, right?" M.C. enquired Flain, referring to the drink from earlier.

"Yeah! Best drink in the entire city. Those hardhat Weldos will tell ya otherwise with their… oil. But the Lavanut Deluxe has gots to be number one, ha!" Flain responded light-heartedly.

"Weldos?" Everything Flain seemed to mention was another question from M.C., although he was getting used to it.

"Oh, they're some yellow-black Mixels that build stuff around the city! Dudes helped transform the wasteland surrounding the city into where we reside now. Very loud, but they're chill."

"You mentioned other parts of the city before, what are those places like?"

Flain stopped and held out a hand to keep M.C. in place too as his eyelids narrowed. "You'll find out pretty soon, man. Look!"

He pointed to a river of lava flowing towards the border of the district itself - where fire and rock gave way to modern technology. An enormous electrical plant was the first building in sight, something a Nixed Vulk was aiming for. With his super-heated fingers, he was melting rock to a molten liquid, directing the flow towards the power plant.

Flain's eyes widened as he realized Vulk's intent. "If he gets that river any closer, it'll blow the whole plant! That thing powers the whole city! Use one of your powers, quick!" He turned to M.C., who stuttered for a moment. "Powers..?"

"Y'know, like this!" Without skipping a beat, a fireball launched from Flain's head, whirring through the air as it collided with Vulk, stunning the zombified Infernite for a moment. "Your tribe powers!"

"I don't think… I have any? Uh…" Flain was unamused as Vulk began to stir, making eye contact with the two and beginning to kick up molten rocks, flinging them with his massive hands. The two barely dodging as molten rock spewed everywhere, Flain quickly thought of a plan. "Alright, alright! You distract him while I prepare a volley of fireballs. Got it? Go!" Flain quickly emitted a screen of smoke from his head, disappearing and leaving M.C. to face Vulk alone.

Molten rocks zoomed past M.C., the Mixel barely dodging in time. "Dude, why didn't you just Mix with me?! Agh!" He heard no answer. Wherever Flain was, he was preparing for a sneak attack. Finally, one rock collided with M.C., sending him sprawling towards the edge of the river. Feeling the heat up close, Vulk approached M.C. "Flain! Whatever you're going to do… Do it now!" M.C. cried out as he cowered before a zombified Vulk.

No sooner had he said that, did he hear a volley of fireballs being launched. Even Vulk turned to face the direction in which the sound had come from, only to be barraged, downing him and giving M.C. a chance to slip aside. Flain appeared, wobbling in his legs from the sheer energy that took. "Great.. job, dude!" The lack of energy wasn't enough for Flain to shoot M.C. a thumbs up.

As if on schedule, the yellow cloud entity had reappeared, restoring Vulk's colors with a flash of light. Flain took this chance, and leaped towards the cloud, attempting to grab them yet only phasing right through. "Wha-?" The three eyes of the entity suddenly fixed their gazes on Flain, with the yellow cloud that surrounded them suddenly turning to a harsh red, a clear sign of anger as a thunder-esque sound boomed from them. Stunned, Flain only looked in fear and surprise.

"Whoa, wait!" Both Flain and the entity turned to M.C., who had gotten to his feet and begun approaching. "Please, don't go! Who are you? Why are you helping? …Not that it's a bad thing, but-" His awkward sentence was interrupted by a sigh, and the cloud's hue shifted back to yellow.

"I am Pippy, and I have come to help." Despite having no mouth, they spoke in a heavenly voice - one that sounded both incredibly ancient and yet so young and pure at the same time. "I am a messenger of the Maximum Mixel themself."

Flain's jaw essentially hit the ground. In all of his adventures, he had never seen something like this, so he believed every word they said. M.C., on the other hand, didn't even know of a Maximum Mixel, being as unaware as ever. "Okay… So, why are you helping, Pippy?" M.C. sheepishly asked.

"I… have observed this planet since it's creation. Ever since the Nixels declared war on the Mixel race, this world has fascinated me. Beings of creativity and unity always coming together to beat back the destruction… Until recently." Pippy's form shifted to a light blue hue, indicating sadness. M.C. helped Flain to his feet, although he was still speechless.

"Ahem." Pippy's hue shifted back to their default yellow. "To put it simply, you mortal beings have no unity. Hence why I, Pippy, have been sent to help. No need to thank me, I already know." Something told Flain there was more to this Pippy than met the eye, and the mildly playful smugness was adding to that, but it didn't matter.

"Thanks for the help, so, how exactly do you do that whole color restoration thing?" Flain asked after finally recomposing himself.

"Hm, a technique your feeble mind cannot comprehend." Pippy looked at Flain playfully, which began to annoy the Infernite as his head began spewing fire.

"Alright, listen. I cannot help for extended periods of time, so I ask that one of you let me establish a mental link to call for me, hm…" Pippy eyed Flain before turning to M.C., having happily decided. "You there! Just one moment…" M.C. felt a sharp and brief pain in his head, which quickly subsided. "Ouch?"

"Right, I forget mortals find that painful. Think hard enough and you can mentally call to me if you find any more victims of the Nixels. Got that? Good, toodles!" M.C. didn't even get a chance to nod before Pippy dissipated into the air once more. Flain was awestruck. "When I saw that cloud, I did not think he'd be a celestial being, huh."

Vulk began to stir, letting out a groan. The fireballs had clearly knocked something around. Flain quickly turned to his brother, rushing over. "Yo, Vulk! Sorry about that, man, but we had to free you somehow!" Flain let out an apologetic grin as he helped Vulk to his feet. "Ah, no worries, Flain. I was hoping I'd never have to experience being Nixed again." Vulk turned his eye to M.C. "Oh, hi there! Pleasure to meet you..?" He extended his massive palm for a handshake, which M.C. followed up with by placing his fist in, clearly not getting the gesture while Flain began to snort. "Hey, I'm M.C.- OW!" He yanked his hand back, which had burned bright red from Vulk's superheated fingers. "Ah! Sorry, sorry. I forget everyone else doesn't have heat resistance like us Infernites." Vulk sheepishly apologized.

The sound of an engine whirring alerted all three Mixels. M.C. looked around, deducting the sound to have come from a pile of rocks. Moving closer to inspect the situation, it appeared the rocks had been freshly dropped on something.

"Oh, uh… I think I might've knocked around a bunch of rocks while I was Nixed, huh." Vulk said.

"Alright, you threw em', you pull em' apart." Flain crossed his arms as Vulk approached the pile of stone. The dim-witted Infernite placed his two hands on a single stone, only to be unable to move it. M.C. thought to himself, before approaching Vulk. "Maybe we could Mix it to fix it? I mean, if you want to…" He suggested, with Vulk lighting up at the suggestion.

"Yeah, let's Mix!" Vulk pulled out a Rainbow Cubit and held it out for M.C. to grab, which he did. The Cubit suddenly blasted out a tornado, sucking up the two Mixels and rearranging their parts until a two-eyed Mix formed, crashing back into the ground. With only a single slam of the ground, the pileup of rocks were sent flying upwards, the Mix swiftly smashing each one as a massive dust cloud engulfed the group.

The Mix landed heroically and split, Vulk ecstatic from the experience with M.C. smiling. "Dude! That felt so different from any other Mix! My strength was… kicked up to 11! Haha!" Flain was surprised at Vulk's words. "Huh… When I Mixed with you, dude, it felt like my cockiness was amplified too… Vulk, were you in control of the Mix?"

"Yeah. That's interesting, maybe bad luck?" The two looked to M.C., who opened his mouth to talk, only to be interrupted by the revving of an engine as the dust from the rocks finally began to clear.

A huge form shot out of the dust cloud, just barely avoiding the three Mixels. Revealing themself as a living taxi, the being spun around to face the Mixels. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" His eyes lit up, nearly blinding the three as a huge smile formed across his face. "Whoa, you buried a whole vehicle, man." Flain turned to Vulk, who immediately formed an apologetic expression.

"Aw, don't worry none! Name's Tassy, by the way, and you lot have earned yourself free rides around the fair city for freeing me out of that jiffy!" Tassy excitedly honked his horn. "Guess you buried the right taxi, dude. This is great!" Flain was excited, but M.C. began wondering about the other areas of Mixopolis, now having a gateway to them.

"I'll be outside that Lava Lounge if you blokes need me, toodles!" With a roar of his engine, Tassy shot off, blazing trails left behind him as he sped through the scorched district. "I think that guy believes he's a sports car." Vulk chimed in, causing Flain to laugh.

Flain turned to M.C., remembering the effects of the Mixes he joined in on. An idea struck him. "Maybe your lack of a tribe might have something to do with what happened with our Mixes. I know just the Electroid who might be able to figure out a thing or two, if you're up to it!" M.C. looked to Flain, surprised. "Whoa… Electroids can just do that?!"

Flain frowned slightly. "Well, not exactly." Vulk chimed in. "But Teslo can! He's the best inventor in all of Mixopolis - no, Planet Mixel - I'm sure he's got some sort of device that can help you out!" M.C. smiled. "Yeah! I'm up for that, let's go find this Teslo!"

A colossal explosion rose from a nearby bonflower garden, startling all three Mixels as they turned to face the source. A familiar figure rose from the ashes, bursting through the smoke.

"There you are."

It was the Infernite that M.C. and Flain had freed in the Lava Lounge. He now donned black leather boots with three white spikes on each. In one hand, he held a crimson, round bomb with a fuse. He looked directly at M.C., coming to a halt atop an elevated flower bed.

"So, if it isn't the two little Mixels that made the mistake of restoring my color, hm?" He juggled the bomb in his hands, raising an eyebrow as Flain and M.C. looked confused. "Whatever, we're here to repay you."

The smoke cleared, revealing four more Mixels - a Murp between an Electroid and a Frosticon, a Pyrrat with a cannon atop his head, a tiny Muncho with a lollipop wand, and a Glowkie resembling an anglerfish. "Allow me to introduce you to the N-Mixel Armada." Vulk was quick to point out all five Mixels had the thumbs-down symbol of the Nixels somewhere on their bodies. "Before you are Murphy - the inventor and permanent Murp, Kabum - the loose cannon, Sour Poppa - the royalty, Anglow - the frightening, and I, Fuzer - the leader of this rag-tag troop."

The five Mixels that stood before M.C., Flain and Vulk were truly formidable. Each of them looked to have their own power that could be used for harm, and yet, Flain broke into a laugh. "Wow, the 'N-Mixel Armada', huh? Wouldn't it be 'M-Nixel'? Hah! You guys are something else."

Before Flain even wiped the laughter-induced tears from his eyes, Murphy broke into action, slamming their fist into the ground and forming a trail of ice that flash froze Flain's entire bottom half, followed by a blast of electricity that stunned the Infernite.

"My, my. It appears we have a confident one! You realize that is bad for your head, sir cardinal, do you not? Although I suppose the fire wisping from your brain tells a story about that." The voice that came from Murphy was twisted. It sounded like two corrupted voices at once, speaking with a hint of pure insanity, reflecting the crazed eyes of the being from which it came.

"Can it, scatterbrain!" The thunderous voice of Fuzer was enough to stop the Murp dead in their tracks. He turned back to face Flain, Vulk, and M.C., the latter two helping Flain break the ice around his feet. "As repayment for your misdeed in taking away my lack of free will, we are here to show you revenge before leaving you for the Nixels themselves." Grins formed across the faces of each member as they stanced up.

"What… What will that solve?" Vulk cried out, being met with a horrifying laugh courtesy of Fuzer. The massive Infernite lit the fuse of a small bomb with his own ignited fuse as M.C. looked on in horror. "One… Two!"

The next moment happened in a blur. All five of the N-Mixel Armada members yelped out in pain as an orange blur looped around them, dealing some sort of damage. Fuzer dropped his bomb, which exploded and covered all five in ashes. With a final blow being dealt to even Vulk as Flain's ice melted away, the blur came to a rest in front of the trio. A towel in hand scorched from whipping, Zorch looked to the N-Mixel Armada, laughing.

"Ha! And there's plenty more where that came from!" He said, twirling the towel around at extreme speed. "Zorch!" Vulk roped his arms around his brother and bear-hugged him, regardless of the single blow he dealt to Vulk. "Heh! Seems I came at the right time." The prank-loving Infernite raised an eyebrow and turned back to the N-Mixel Armada, who were all seething.

"500 Muck bounty on that laddy!" Kabum shouted, firing a cannonball with extreme force at Zorch, which he easily outmaneuvered. "Come and catch me then, big guy, ha!" Murphy, Anglow and Sour Poppa had begun their attacks too, attempting to tackle the Infernite to no avail. Giving chase as Zorch began taunting while running away, only Fuzer was left to face the two Infernites and M.C.

The four Mixels stared each other down in silence, as bonflowers rustled and sparks fizzled from the chase happening all around them. Fuzer was outmatched, but this wouldn't cease his determination as Flain, Vulk and M.C. looked to one another. The two Infernites were confident, M.C. less so, but a look of encouragement from both of them instilled some courage.

"Fine, have it YOUR way!" Fuzer hurled a crimson explosive at M.C., only for Vulk to quickly leap in and deflect it, exploding in a cloud of smoke and fire. "Great shot, dude." Flain was unimpressed as the glass titan toppled and molten rock began flooding the terracotta road where they stood. Fuzer knew Flain and Vulk had the natural heat-resistance of an Infernite - the lava wouldn't affect them - but the only target here was M.C. With crazed eyes, the tyrannical Infernite laughed as the magma approached M.C., slowing down the two Infernites as they cried out.

Making a split-second decision, Zorch sped faster than he had before, creating dozens of blazing trails and white-hot blurs, confusing the four N-Mixel Armada members. "Uh, which way did he go?" Anglow asked. "Split up! We'll corner the punk one way or the other." Sour Poppa spat from his lips. It wasn't a great plan, but the four went their separate directions. The bait hadn't been just bitten, it had been devoured. At what felt to him like the speed of sound, Zorch hastily snatched a Rainbow Cubit from a fire-winged Infernite in New Volcanoville, speeding back to the now-ruined square in which M.C.'s life was flashing before his eyes. "YO, DUDE! GRAB IT!"

Without a moment of hesitation, M.C. latched onto the Cubit as a blender exploded from it, mashing the two together into a supersonic-speed Mix. With a third eye open, the Mix stared Fuzer dead-on as they pulled out a towel, stretching it in preparation. "Bring it on, Mix-mess!" Fuzer lunged towards the Mix, but he wouldn't land a blow before they vanished. Immediately, Fuzer felt a blow to his back, an orange blur signaling the source. He turned again, finding the Mix standing with a smug grin. "Heh! Too slow, bombs-a-lot!" Taking note of the lava surrounding their feet, the Mix had an idea, having already begun speeding in a circle around Fuzer and kicking up molten rock with them. Fuzer let out a laugh. "Have you forgotten I have the heat-resistance too?!" His fuse ignited, burning down to his head before he exhaled a storm of fire, dispersing the lava that had begun to rain down on him.

Anything he was trying was in vain, as the first thing he saw once the smoke cleared was a towel to the face. He grunted as another smack came to his arm, then his leg, and then all over. A white-hot blur surrounded him as blows were dealt hundreds of times in a single second. With a final attack to his rear-end, Fuzer was sent tumbling atop the now-hardened lava, the lamp having been drained entirely and cooled with the exposure to open air. "Haha! You mess with us, you get my punishment, short-fuse!" The Mix split apart, M.C. laughing along with Zorch as the two high-fived.

Fuzer turned to face the duo as Flain and Vulk regrouped with them, becoming teary-eyed at the sight of Fuzer on the ground, covered in marks. "You… You fools! This isn't over! I'll- I'll… GR!" Slamming a bomb to the ground in front of him to create a smoke cover, Fuzer was gone, retreating to find his armada. "Wait… Shouldn't we go after him and… Stop him?" M.C. looked to Flain, who was still teary-eyed. "Pfft! Yeah, let's give him a head-start! Ha!" Zorch was the first to answer. "Nah, I think that guy'll get a grip on what he's doing. Besides, the MCPD are always…" He paused. "Right. Mixopolis is overrun. We're toast."

The smiles of Vulk and Zorch both quickly faded, with M.C. taking note. A spark of hope overcame him. "Flain, we just took back this entire district, if we can do that, then why not the same for however-many others there are?" Flain turned wide-eyed. "Actually, uh… Our cousins are still unaccounted for… Maybe the campsite?" Vulk chimed in. Zorch suddenly sped away, before quickly returning, half on-fire. "Yep! They're there! Nixed too, gonna take all four of us, heh!" M.C. clenched his fist in a hopeful thought. "It'll work! We've done it twice, who says it can't work a fourth?"

"An 'N-Mixel Armada', huh?" A familiar voice echoed around the four. "Uh, have you three dudes freed a Wiztastic by chance?" Zorch asked, unaware. "Oh, how hilarious!" A yellow cloud materialized before the four Mixels, it was Pippy, and they were amused. "Oh, right. Uh, Zorch, this is Pippy: a messenger of the Maximum Mixel?" Pippy looked to Zorch and Zorch to them, with Zorch squinting as Pippy mimicked his expression, even down to forming a cloud to imitate his hand against his chin. "Yeah, you guys sure you never saw a Wiztastic?" A booming thunder cloud and lightning strike quickly formed by Pippy was enough to make the prankster zip it.

The four began along the trail to the campsite, with Pippy following, floating gently above M.C. "I realize my services will be needed, so it would be a waste of my time to return home only to be called upon again. You're welcome!" Flain was mildly irritated by their attitude, but Vulk and Zorch were in awe. "So, uh, Mr. Pippy, sir?" Vulk nervously asked. "Or ma'am, king, miss, queen, deity. I am far beyond you mortals' concept of gender, for I am but a cloud." Pippy answered nonchalantly. "Right. Uh… What's it like acting as a messenger of… The great and praised Maximum Mixel themself?"

Pippy halted for a moment, M.C. stopping in concern. It took a second, but they would respond and resume moving. "It is an occupation, indeed. Is that what you living beings call it, an occupation? It happens to be incomparable in every aspect, but that is the closest my knowledge can allow me to construe." Zorch smirked. "You really think you're above us all, huh, fart-float?" Pippy was unfazed. "I am."

"Hold it, dudes. Look!" They had reached the campsite, or what remained of it. It looked as if a storm had rolled right through it, leaving nothing but charred remains. The four quickly rushed to observe from behind a large stone. "Did… You strike this?" M.C. looked at Pippy. "No, no. Of course not, I struck the exact coordinates 21.1642 North and 93.1255 South. This location is not that." All four Mixels looked to Pippy in confusion. Numbers were not any of their games.

A thunderous stomp was enough to grab the attention of the four Mixels, who were wide-eyed at what stood before them. The Max of three Infernites looked down on M.C. and the three core Infernites with one eye, devoid of color. "I thought you said you saw them, not their Max, Zorch!" Flain angrily spouted as Zorch sheepishly laughed. Pippy only chuckled. "It appears three have come together as one, this makes things easier for me! Well, without further ado." Pippy closed their eyes and reopened them, emitting a wave of light that stunned both the Max and the group. After a few seconds of waiting to regain vision, Pippy was met with a blast of fire. Of course, being immortal meant this did nothing, but something had gone wrong. The Max was still Nixed, and they were angry.

"A monochrome Max that cannot be freed… Fascinating!" Pippy observed, as the Max brought down a charred palm tree on the group of Mixels, the four scattering around. "Yo, a little help, man?" Flain angrily called out to Pippy, barely dodging a blow from the Max. "Hm… To interfere any further than I have been granted permission…" Pippy pondered as the four Mixels ran around the Max, enraging it even further as it bellowed like a beast. "Ugh, fine!" Flain rummaged around for a Cubit and pulled one out. It was crimson red, matching the color of the Infernites themselves. "Vulk, Zorch, let's go!" The two Infernites nodded and rushed past the Nixed Max, grabbing ahold of the Cubit Flain held high.

Suddenly, the Cubit burst apart, forming a flip-phone. The keyboard cushioned the three Infernites, only for the top screen to slap down into them, and then again, and again, until a huge Max had been formed. M.C. was in awe of the three-way combination, but that awe wouldn't last as Max collided with Max. Flames erupted in every direction as the two titans traded blows, letting out deafening roars as they went. The monochrome Mixel ducked behind the ruins of a log shack, Pippy suddenly appearing beside him.

"Well, I am afraid this is beyond my permission." Pippy and M.C. looked on at the two Maxes duking it out. Despite their best efforts, Flain's Max was being overwhelmed. The cousins' Max was bigger and more formidable in every way, breathing fire down on the other Max before bursting through the flaming cover and landing a blow. "I… Why can't you help? You could level this whole place right now and choose to simply stare?" M.C. was annoyed with Pippy, who remained unfazed. "Yeah. This is beyond my 'pay-grade', so to speak."

"I don't even… Know what that is." The cousins' Max was atop the other now, dealing punch after punch. M.C. looked in horror. "Think, M.C. What can help out here?!" The punches were deafening, now. M.C. darted his eye around the ruins of the shack, and he found what he was looking for: an ice cube. "Ice… That must be the weakness of an Infernite!" He ran over to the cube, placing his hands on it, instantly feeling the cold as it traveled up his arms.

"Fine! If you aren't gonna help, I will!" M.C. hoisted the cube above his head and ran towards the brawl. Flain's Max was one punch away from splitting apart. The Nixed Max raised a fist, but halted, something overcoming them. "Hey!" This thought subsided as they turned to face the source of the sound. "Catch!" M.C. flung the ice cube at the Nixed Max with extreme force, striking them. In an instant, the Max was frozen, as Flain's Max rolled out of the way to avoid suffering the same fate. The Nixed Max was now like an azure statue, stuck in place as it stared M.C. down.

"Great thinking, dude!" Flain's Max shot M.C. a thumbs-up, before turning to take advantage of the opening he had just created. "You guys need some apart-time!" Curling a fist that instantly shot ablaze, the Max slammed it into the frozen Max, melting the ice in a fraction of a second and splitting the three Nixed Infernites apart. "Ah, something I can take care of. Finally." Pippy shot into action, firing three rays of light from each of their three eyes, striking the three Infernites dead on and stripping the black and white from their bodies. Zorch and Flain were both furious with Pippy, pointing to him. "Dude, we almost got Nixed! Why couldn't you have acted any sooner?!" Flain's head began to bubble, nearing an eruption. "Yeah! I almost kissed my pranking days goodbye! How could you have almost let that happen!" Vulk pushed the two aside. "I-I apologize for these two being SO rude!" Vulk let out a forced grin and slapped the two on the back. "We thank you for your excellent assistance, Sir. Messenger almighty!" Sweat ran down Vulk as the two Infernites were unamused.

Pippy laughed. It didn't feel right coming from an angelic entity, but it was soothing and calm, uncharacteristic of their condescending attitude. M.C. wondered if they were laughing at the acts of the Infernites, or something else. "No thanks are necessary, mortals. I shall be waiting for the signal in the future. Laters!" Pippy dissipated once more, gone like the wind.

"Ugh… Who made the lightbulb sun so bright today…?" Burnard stirred, as did Meltus and Flamzer. "It's no brighter today than it was yesterday, numb-nut!" Flamzer helped his two brothers to their feet, before being interrupted by the gasp of Meltus. "The shack! The huts! The entire campsite! We ruined it!" Meltus frantically attempted to pile up pieces of rubble to no avail. Burnard only giggled. "Heh. We really made this place look like a swarm of Mixapods came through here." Flamzer sighed, and looked to the other four Mixels. "You guys really saved our bacon, thanks for the save." A piece of the shack's ruins creaked, before falling down. "Even if it could've happened sooner." Flain chuckled. "No sweat, man. You can thank M.C. for that ice cube anyway."

Flain turned to introduce M.C. to Flamzer, but the Mixel was curled over, in visible discomfort. "Yo, you good, man?" M.C. couldn't respond. Suddenly, his eye widened as he grunted, and in an instant, a flash of light transformed the colors of his body. His signature gray and black had been done away with for a regular Infernite's red and orange. Completing his appearance were two fires bursting from his ears.

The other six Infernites looked at him, each with varying expressions. Flain, Vulk, Flamzer and Meltus' were of shock, while Zorch and Burnard were impressed. "Ha! Look at that! Decided to join the best tribe, huh?" M.C. was in disbelief as he looked at himself. "I… Wh-" As soon as it had appeared, his Infernite form disappeared as he reverted to his monochrome color scheme. "What?!" M.C. looked at himself, and came to a realization. With all of his focus, he willed his color to shift back to that of an Infernite, and then back to monochrome. "Dude. That is awesome! You can shift between no color and an Infernite? Imagine the pranks you could do with that!" Zorch sped around him, patting him on the back. "That must be your power… But how?" Flain was amazed, no Mixel had ever done this before.

The three core Infernites turned to the ruined campsite that lay before them, as M.C. noticed a glimmer from the ruins. He approached the source, and unearthed it, revealing a large, crimson object. This caught the attention of Vulk, who rushed over to grab it. "Whoa… This looks like part of a Cubit?" Burnard plucked it from his cousin's hand, juggling it while keeping his eyes fixated on it. "Whoa. Heheh, looks like someone took an Infernites Cubit and got rid of the darker red. Whaddya call it?" Flamzer approached, sighing at his brother's lack of vocabulary. "Crimson, ya Murp-monkey. Whatever that is, you'd better hang onto it. It looks… important."

"Let's kill two mix-jays with one rockball - we get Teslo to look at both M.C. and this… Cubit thing!" Flain chimed in. "We'd better stay and tend to this place. Nobody else even comes through to check up anyway. Also, I'm allergic to anywhere else." Meltus sneezed after finishing this sentence, singeing the unibrow of Burnard. "Heh, this place hasn't looked this bad since your last sneeze-storm, Meltus." Burnard said, ignoring his ablaze unibrow. "Alrighty, see you guys later. Stay safe!" Vulk waved farewell, and Flain, Zorch, and M.C. followed suit. M.C. hadn't realized it yet, but his journey had truly just begun as the first of many areas in Mixopolis was freed in its entirety.

A swift blow to the face launched the shell of a Nixel halfway across the city, with the actual Nixel following soon after. Big Boxer Joe retracted his arm, regaining his footing as he stood before a swarm of Nixels. Behind him was a neighborhood of Cragster homes within their district, relying on the boxer as their only defense. Cheers erupted from behind windows carved in stone as their hero triumphed over Nixel after Nixel.

"Never fear! These PESTS will never lay a claw on my neighborhood, for I am Big Boxer Joe! Protector of Mixopolis! Wrestling champion! And-" His triumphant speech was interrupted by a droning siren overhead. His headband rustled in the wind from the behemoth casting a shadow on the entire Cragsters District - Major Nixel's airship.

"Greetings, miserable Mixels! Your rubble of a habitat has been chosen as a base of operations. Of course, all of you must be drained of color to allow this to happen." A speaker blasted the Major's voice all around the district. "NIXELS! ATTACK!" Cragsters everywhere trembled, but not Big Boxer Joe. Nixels rained down from the airship, landing before the boxer, who kept his defiant expression. "More punching bags? Perfect!" He lunged towards the swarm, but they were unmoving. One Nixel raised up a Negative Cubit, and several dozen mobbed it. Big Boxer Joe came to a grinding halt, staring in horror at the beast forming before him.

The Nixel Mix that formed stood two-storeys high, eyes and teeth everywhere with shells twisted to unnatural shapes. It roared, locking all of its eyes on Big Boxer Joe. As more Nixels began to Mix with one another at the titan's feet, Big Boxer Joe was immobilized in horror. All of his training and days in the ring had not prepared him for this. With the Cragsters witnessing the ordeal equally horrified, the boxer fell as the titanic Nixel Mix landed a blow with it's colossal fist.

As it turns out, free rides with a living taxi were particularly useful. Tassy sped out of the scorched landscape of the Infernites District and into the bustling outskirts of the Electroids District, with the three core Infernites and M.C. seated inside. The district was a work of art. High-tech, neon buildings made up the skyline, all sleek and modern in design. Electrical wires ran through the streets themselves, a sign of the colossal power the district took up with it's countless lights and electric contraptions.

The living taxi hummed cheerfully to himself, as if unaware of the catastrophe that had struck Mixopolis. M.C. peered out a window with his one eye, observing Electroids taking shelter in various alleyways. The streets were a mess, with trash cans overturned and potholes everywhere. What may have once been vibrant neon lights were now reduced to black and white.

"Nixels must've been through here, ugh." Flain grimaced. "Oh, they were, man! I zoomed past here and those Nixel Mixes were everywhere, it's a dump! Zorch said casually. "YOU'RE ONLY SAYING THIS NOW?!" Flain and Vulk said in perfect sync, as Zorch laid back in his seat, hands behind his head. M.C. wasn't mad at Zorch, but his attention had been squared down to the mention of "Nixel Mixes" coming from his mouth. "Flain… You didn't tell me those evil Nixels could Mix?!"

Flain sighed, Vulk cutting in to answer. "Actually, um… The Nixels SHOULDN'T be able to Mix… But, uh…" Without warning, Tassy grinded to a halt, slamming all four Mixels within into his doors. "Dude, what the heck was that for?" Flain nursed his head, having taken impact from the sudden act. But Tassy didn't respond. Instead, one single word originating from outside told everything.

"Nix!"

The three Infernites burst out of Tassy, ready for action as M.C. attempted to follow up. Flain, Vulk, and Zorch had expected a swarm of Nixels, but what stood before them may as well have been. A Mix of several Nixels stood before them, drooling at the mouth. It was at least five feet high, armored in jagged shells with teeth and eyes protruding from every spot imaginable. Flain and Vulk were both taken aback, remembering similar Mixes at earlier's Mix Festival.

"Whoa! A true mess of a Mix right there, even Cragsters don't get that bad with their Murps!" Zorch taunted before blasting into a run, looping around the Mix and trapping it in a blur of fire. This was brief, as the Mix plucked him out of his run and proceeded to throw him at blazing speed towards Flain, toppling him like a bowling pin. "Guys! We have to Mix back to fight that… that thing!" M.C. stood in horror, overlooking the two stunned Infernites.

But no Mix would be necessary. In a blur, Pippy had appeared, blasting the Nixel Mix with rays of light, only increasing in intensity as the messenger continued their assault. "P-Pippy? What are you-" M.C. attempted to call out to them, but to no avail. Something was wrong. Red, blue, and green puffs of dust all emitted from Pippy. They were in turmoil.

Unable to take any further attacks, the Nixel Mix split, with the several Nixels involved hissing before scattering into various alleyways. It was only then that Pippy halted in place, firing off one last beam of light for good measure. The four Mixels looked at Pippy with a hint of a confusion and fear. "I thought you were only meant to help us free Nixed Mixels?" M.C. asked.

The tone that came from the angelic being was duller than before. "Those creatures aren't supposed to Mix. If they… If I didn't…" Pippy stopped, before turning to M.C., breathing a sigh. "I have observed many things, but Nixels combining with one another is not one of those things. I apologize, for this is out of my control. You mortals must deal with this without further interruption." M.C. called out for Pippy to wait, but they were gone again, only a puff of smoke indicating they were ever there.

With fists clenched, Flain had enough. "Ugh. What is their deal? Why do they keep showing up only to act like they're soooo much better than us?" Zorch laughed. "Ha! You'd really disrespect a servant of the gods like that, huh Flain?" Flain's head spewed flames in overdrive. "You think that punk is really a 'messenger of the Maximum Mixel', huh? Maybe I dunno their tribe - or species - but they're hiding something!" Flain was angry, and M.C. moved to intervene. "Guys! Enough of the shouting, look!" Vulk's pupil had widened as he pointed to a building at the end of the street. It was Teslo's lab, but something was off. The four Mixels approached closer, ducking behind a bench to observe the scene.

Outside the lab stood a Nixel Mix, bigger than the one the four had just fought, with eight huge tentacles, laced with spiky teeth. To make matters worse, at least a dozen electronic devices were scattered around the exterior, each containing a Nixed Mixel inside creating power by running on a treadmill. "Shockotrons! We once used those to fight off Nixels, guess they gots their own version?" Flain exclaimed. Electricity burst out of each, striking the tentacle Nixel, seemingly only powering it up more as it roared.

Crouching beneath the bench, the group began discussions of attack. "Okay, we need a plan. Zorch, don't run off." M.C. looked at the prankster, who scoffed and crossed his arms. "If we free those Mixels first, surely the Mix will lose it, right?" Flain frowned. "Dude, Mixes get more power from the more people taking part. I doubt those Shockotrons are doing much more than acting to instill fear." M.C. snapped his fingers. "But the more involved, the more coordination, right? I don't think those Nixels have any unity, so what if the lead one is using those shocks to keep the others merged?" Vulk lit up in agreement. "It makes sense!" Flain pondered this, before agreeing. "Alright, sounds crazy, but what else do we gots for a plan? Hah!"

That laugh was a mistake, as the Tentacle Nixel had been alerted to their location, ripping up the bench from the ground and staring down at the wide-eyed Mixels. "NIX!" The Nixel Mix prepared to slam down the bench as the four scattered. "Stick to the plan! Show em' what you got, M.C.!" With those words from Zorch, the monochrome Mixel quickly became the target of the Nixel as it barraged its way towards him, tearing up chunks of road as it went. "Uh oh!" Flain lobbed fireballs at the Nixel, stunning it briefly, only for it to turn towards the Infernite leader and slap him with a tentacle. Flain soared through the air, before crashing into a Shockotron, dismantling it and freeing the four-eyed Electroid within.

The Tentacle Nixel stumbled, the loss of a Shocktron had weakened it. M.C.'s plan was working, but Flain was out of the fight, laying stunned and starry-eyed in a pile of broken glass and machinery. "Zorch! Let's Mix it to fix it!" Vulk rushed towards his brother, Cubit in hand, but Zorch was faster, reaching him before Vulk would ever get near. The Cubit transformed and engulfed the two in an incinerator, clocking into overdrive and boiling to the point of exploding, revealing a lanky Mix with flamethrower arms.

"M.C.! Use your fire powers and blast those Electroids free, we'll hold off this mess!" The Mix shouted at, with M.C. nodding in approval as the Tentacle Nixel shook it's head, having come to. "NIX!" It rushed towards M.C., but was met with a torrent of flames, courtesy of the Vulk & Zorch Mix. "Not on our watch, buddy!" The Nixel growled, grasping the Mix with four arms and tightening its grip. "Ack! Anytime now… M.C.!"

M.C. rushed up to a Shockotron, noting the ant-esque Electroid being forced to run within. "Okay… Okay, you've got this M.C., just focus, and… Uh." M.C.'s eye widened. He had no idea how to activate his powers on command. He turned to the Tentacle Nixel, just in time to watch the Nixel Mix slam Vulk & Zorch into the ground, having ripped their Mix apart. The sight was overwhelming, freezing him in fear. His friends were in danger. With clenched teeth and fists, fire engulfed M.C.'s ears as his transformation began, activating his Infernite powers.

The blasts of fire coming from M.C.'s transformation were deafening, and the Tentacle Nixel had noticed. "Nix… NIX!" It let its grip on Vulk and Zorch loosen, dropping the two barely-conscious Infernites to the ground as they gasped for air. "Not… Cool… Man!" Zorch said through stuttered breaths. Clumsily rushing towards M.C., the Tentacle Nixel had realized his plan, and lunged at full speed. M.C. focused, the stunning nature of his transformation wearing off as the building-sized Nixel Mix soared towards him. With a blast of fire from his hands, he launched out of the way, tricking the Nixel as realization struck it. It was too late for the Mix to attempt to cushion its landing, as it crashed and rolled into several Shockotrons, destroying them and scattering the Electroids housed inside. M.C. cheered as the Tentacle Nixel was too stunned to move, and turned to the remaining three Shockotrons. M.C. coughed, a huge ball of fire being ejected from his mouth as he did. "Woah! …This is so cool. Ha!" M.C. launched dozens of fireballs, before finally managing to strike the Shockotrons, freeing the exhausted Mixels.

With a whistle, Pippy appeared, remarking at the sight of so many Nixed Electroids. Shakily, they turned to M.C., floored at the sight of the fallen Tentacle Nixel. "How did you…" Flain finally got to his feet and shakily stood by M.C.'s side, patting him on the back for his work. "Through unity, man!" Pippy was surprised, visibly so. "Very well. Allow me to assist in freeing these mortals." They turned and began blasting the various Nixed Electroids with light, restoring their colors. M.C. smiled, and Flain elbowed him in approval. "Dude, you took on that whole thing! Be proud of yourself." The two looked back at the Tentacle Nixel, which began to rumble on cue, splitting apart into several dozen Nixels, who all scattered at the sight of M.C. and Flain, much to their laughter. "I mean, if Vulk and Zorch, and you, hadn't helped, do you think I would've been able to do that ALONE?" M.C. asked, to which Flain shot back a shrug. "Maybe. Never seen anything or anyone like you, man. For all I know, you could have some hidden tribal power no Mixel's ever heard of." Flain laughed, but M.C. became slightly worried at this.

Zorch helped Vulk to his feet as Electroids all around began to stir. Suddenly, Vulk spotted a familiar face. "Teslo!" The two Infernites rushed over to the recovering Electroid. "Hey guys-z-s-z! Whew." Teslo said, shocking himself mid-sentence. Vulk offered to help the tailed Electroid to his feet, but Zorch gently pushed his massive hand aside and pulled Teslo up, much to Vulk's disapproval. "YO, TESLO!" The three Mixels turned to see Flain and M.C. approaching, the Infernite leader ecstatic to see Teslo. Similarly, Teslo lit up. "Flain! Hey!" The two leaders shook hands. "It's been forever, man, where were you earlier?" Flain asked. "Power outage! How's-z-s-z-s-z about you!?" Teslo explained. "Mix Festival hosting duties always call! You can tell how that went, and by the way…" Flain looked to M.C., who returned to his regular, monochrome form, as Teslo's eye widened. "I met this guy, M.C., we need some help in figuring out a thing or two about his powers." Teslo stroked his chin in thought. "Fas-z-s-z-scinating! Follow me to the lab."

Teslo's laboratory was like a playground of all things science. Although having an exterior resembling that of his home in the Mountain City, the interior was instead grand in scale. Bookshelves extended to the very ceiling, containing years' worth of knowledge, while colossal beakers lined up against the walls, waiting to be used. A podium rested in the center of the building, where Teslo would teach his Electroid brethren.

"Stay here, I have just the tool for this-z-s-z!" Teslo said, proceeding to climb a ladder that led to an array of shelves containing various devices. Vulk and Zorch were quick to begin messing around. They moved past several shelved terrariums for tiny Mixamals, one of which was labeled "Nixie". It was the only one with a hole in it and also empty, too. Grabbing a beaker containing a strange liquid, Zorch superheated it with his jet boosters, causing it to explode and cover the two Infernites in green ooze.

"Found it!" Teslo called out, dropping a variety of electronics before sliding back down the ladder, ignoring the mess Vulk and Zorch had created. "Never mind thos-z-se, they're obsolete. Now, hold s-z-still." The Electroid placed a small device on M.C.'s arm, round in shape and yellow in color. "This little thing'll scan your vitals-z-s and send the info back to this scanning device! Be warned, there is a s-z-s-z-shock!"

"A wha-" M.C. immediately felt a shock that grew in intensity, electricity surrounding his body as if he were an Electroid. "Got it!" Teslo shut it off, watching the screen of his handheld scanner generate information, as M.C. groaned from the force of the electricity. "Hm… Oh my… Fas-z-scinating! Yes, yes, of course!" He became more and more shocked by the growing results, building up the suspense for M.C.

"I got nothin'. Clearly this-z-s machine's got some bugs if it's displaying the properties of a Rainbow Cubit! Sorry, M.C." M.C. sighed, but remembered something else. "That's disappointing, but, uh… Could you also scan this, somehow?" He pulled out the Cubit shard from before, which made Teslo's tail raise in curiosity. "That's…A very large Infernites Cubit…" M.C. handed Teslo the shard, piquing his interest. "It only looks-z-s-z-s like a single piece of one, yet it's so large. Cubits can be huge - Flain and I broke a titanic one before - but never individual parts… You'd better hold onto this, M.C." He handed the shard back to M.C. "Okay then, thanks for your help, Teslo."

As M.C. went to go help Vulk and Zorch clean up, Flain and Teslo sat down, having a conversation for the first time in a while. "Y'know, man, I've never been to this district before. Never expected it to have so many buildings." Flain said. "Likewis-z-se to the magma wastelands in your district, haha!" Teslo laughed, Flain snorting in response before a thought gloomed over him.

"I know we kinda needed these districts to shut up the Mixels that wouldn't get along upon seeing one another in the street… But don't you think they've only separated all of us even more?" Flain asked, as Teslo sighed. "Yeah… I haven't seen anyone that isn't an Electroid come through here in months-z-s. Maybe that's why the city fell so fast." The fact hit the two Mixels hard, and neither said a word for a while as they processed the reality they now faced.

M.C. finished scrubbing the last of the ooze off of Vulk as the lights in the lab switched off, dropping the entire room into darkness. Vulk, Zorch, and M.C. all screamed, the three all latching onto something, unable to see a thing. "Calm down! Those darn light bulbs…" Teslo flicked on his tail light, revealing the three Mixels to be latched onto one another. "Happens-z-s all the time, come outside, the power box needs to be restarted."

The five Mixels stepped outdoors, only to find every building in sight without lights. All electricity in the immediate area was depleted, with Electroids running rampant on the streets in a panic. "Huh, guess it's not just us." Teslo shrugged. "Teslo!" A long-armed Electroid ran up to him, gasping for breath. "Some Murp went on a rampage in Party Valley and knocked out the aboveground power! You gotta get down there and do something!" M.C. immediately thought back to the Murp that faced him alongside Fuzer earlier, noting that they were part Electroid. "Got it, Boltron! Try to s-z-stay calm. Infernites, M.C., let's go fix this!"

"My, my. This will do. This will do, indeed." Murphy overlooked an enormous subwoofer, a trademark of the Electroids District's underground Party Valley. "Of course, it still has to be tested, the audio waves may not be tuned enough to pierce a feeble mind." They thought to themself. "It will work. It will work, of course it will. It. Will. WORK." One crazed eye looked to their claw hand as they lifted up a triangular, yellow shard. "With this Cubit shard in my possession, why wouldn't it?" Their grip tightened, a rage building as if they were unable to drown another opinion they could hear that was not their own. "I HAVE THE POWER OF A THOUSAND MIXELS WITHIN MY GRASP!" They screamed, for the entire valley to hear, but they did not fear the response from whomever heard. In fact, they broke into a laugh. A layered cackle of insanity.

Overlooking the multi-colored dance floor, one of many that made up the underground, they spotted at least thirty Nixed Mixels, mindlessly toiling at the glass beneath their feet. "With this power source, ho-ho, I have the power of these… Peasants, for an army." A characteristic shock of an Electroid followed this sentence. "And once these fools are mine, the armada is next."

"Well, here it is!" The group stood behind Teslo, who stood proudly before a run-down, shoddy elevator in the middle of a clearing. "Dude, this looks like a Trasho made it. You sure?" Zorch playfully asked. A single shock from Teslo was enough to shut him up. "Certain!" He whistled, and the elevator carriage shot upwards and opened before the group, the line creaking as it went. "After you." Teslo signaled for the others to enter, all five shuffling inside the shoddy contraption as it shuttered its rusty, iron doors once more, uncomfortably spiraling back underground at high speed.

As soon as it had started, it had stopped. The elevator door swung open, and any doubts about the technology of the underground Party Valley were put to rest. Dance floors emitted neon lights every color of the rainbow with subwoofers to go along with them, some reaching dizzying heights. Giant windmills and lightbulbs dotted the horizon, even some arcade machines visible along the computer chip-esque lanes.

The three Infernites and M.C. were awestruck. "You guys were hiding this the whole time? Rad fun!" Flain lit up, before being quickly reminded of why they were there in the first place as a deafening shriek stunned the five Mixels. After what felt like forever, the noise stopped. "What in the Mix was THAT?!" Vulk asked. "S-z-someone just overloaded a subwoofer." Teslo grunted and pointed to the central dance floor, where dozens of Nixed Mixels stood.

"Alright, man, that's too many of 'em' for us to take on. I dunno how we're gonna do this. Hey… Where's Zorch?" Flain asked, before Zorch immediately reappeared in a blur, clearly having been shocked more than once. "Thirty-two of 'em, one is Volectro, and some weird Murp is on top of a subwoofer! Any bright ideas, guys?" Zorch said casually, only for Flain to become unamused. "You're really good at running into danger, man."

"Hm…" Teslo overlooked the situation, trying to think of a plan, before a thought came to him. "Hey, M.C.! Don't you amplify the other Mixel's power when you Mix with them?" Teslo turned to the monochrome Mixel. "Uh, yeah. Why?" Teslo responded by pulling out a Rainbow Cubit. "Let's Mix and amplify my brain to deduct a plan!" He held out a Cubit to M.C., which he enthusiastically grabbed hold of.

The Cubit immediately placed the two in a textbook, flipping pages to find an illustration of Teslo, then flipping again to one of M.C., and finally, to one of a Mix between the two, the book exploding and revealing the Mix. Immediately, they sprung into action, squaring their eye down on the subwoofer where Murphy stood. "Bingo!" The Mix promptly split, Teslo snapping his fingers and ready to tell the plan. "That Murp has to be using something to drain all the power from the aboveground, probably at the back of the s-z-s-z-subwoofer! They're not gonna let us by easily though, so…" Teslo pointed at Zorch and Vulk. "Me, M.C., and Flain will distract 'em, you two rush around the back and unplug whatever it is-z-s-z-s they're doing. Got it?" The five nodded in agreement, and the plan begun.

"No, no, incorrect frequency. Imbecile. Adjust the power and… Pardon?" Murphy squared their eyes on something unusual stirring amongst the Nixed Mixels, before taking a blast of fire to the face. "PARDON?!" When the smoke cleared, a Mix of Flain and Teslo standing alongside M.C., Infernite powers active, faced down Murphy from the end of the dance floor. "And there's more where that came from, Murp-head!" The Mix cried out with confidence. "A fatal error. Fatal, fatal, FATAL!" Murphy screamed before sending a shock into the subwoofer, letting out a blast of sound loud enough to launch everyone on the dance floor back.

Meanwhile, Zorch grabbed Vulk and zoomed around to the back of the device, locating a control panel. "Found it!" Zorch attempted to pry it open, but it was sealed tight. "Let me try." Vulk rubbed his two hands together and placed them on the panel, melting it within seconds as the superheated Infernite looked to Zorch with a smug expression. "Heh! Show-off." Zorch remarked, before turning to face the electronics, only being met with something unexpected. "Um, a little help would be nice?" Zaptor returned the look to Zorch and Vulk, being strapped into the back and being used as the sole power source.

"You worthless souls cannot stand a chance against me, MY army, MY armada, MY city!" Murphy let out a long, thrill laugh as M.C., Flain and Teslo were stunned by the subwoofer's power, only for it to suddenly stop. "WHAT? Why isn't it working?!" Murphy asked aloud.

The subwoofer began to rumble, being followed by a red-hot glow that gave way to a massive explosion, destroying the entire machine. A Mix between Vulk and Zaptor stood where the subwoofer once did as the smoke cleared and debris rained down, having used their superheated fingers to create a massive electrical blast. "Zaptor!" Teslo called out as the Mix split, ecstatic to see his brother. "Teszzzlo! Took you long enough!" The two Electroids bumped fists, as M.C. used the opportunity to call for Pippy, slowly freeing the various Nixed Mixels.

A distant scream slowly increased in volume until Murphy crashed into the ground, enraged from their failure. "You… YOU PITIFUL MIXELS! THAT was the only way of CONTROLLING YOUR NIXED BRETHREN!" A bolt of electricity whirred past Murphy. "You mean US?" Volectro stood alongside M.C., with the several dozen previously Nixed Mixels now free behind them. Murphy's disconnected upper mouth frowned in anger. "Very well. But this? Oh-ho-ho. This won't STOP ME!" Like a bullet, Murphy shot into action, landing a solid blow on M.C. that launched him through the crowd of newly-freed Electroids, toppling several like bowling pins. They laughed like a maniac before being blasted with electricity back as M.C. returned to where he stood, Electroid powers activated.

"What is THIS?!" Murphy was stunned, but also curious. This curiosity wouldn't last as the Electroids and Infernites both formed their Maxes behind them. Cornered on all sides, they breathed a sigh. "You win this battle, but not the WAR! HAHAHA!" They were engulfed in a bright light, one resembling how a Mixel looks before being Mixed. Intangible, Murphy stumbled forward, stepping right through the Infernites Max. Even a tackle from the Electroids Max went right through them. "Foolish peasants." Away from the Mixels, they turned tangible once more and scrambled to the elevator. "Toodles!" They laughed as it shut with a bang.

"That has gots to be the most troubled Murp I've seen." Teslo stated, after splitting from the Electroids Max. The Infernites followed suit and looked to M.C., who was now toying with his new Electroid powers. "Look at you, bud! You've gots Electroid powers now too!" Flain said, amazed by M.C.'s growing powers. He shifted back to his default monochrome state. "I don't get it either… Maybe being around so many Electroids is letting me?" Zaptor and Volectro both eyed M.C., fascinated. "Wow! A tribe-s-z-s-z-shifter?! I'm so jealous…" Volectro said. "Pleasure to meet ya, by the way!" He extended his hand for M.C. to shake, which he did, only to be shocked by Volectro's electrical fingernails.

"PARTY TIME!" A floating DJ Electroid rushed over to the nearest mixing desk, blasting music out of a working subwoofer as several engineer Electroids began working on repairing the now-destroyed one that Murphy had used. The other Electroids Pippy had freed began to cheer and join in on the dance floor as neon lights illuminated the artificial cavern. A glimmer from an object alerted M.C., and he found the source to be from a Cubit shard similar to the one he found before, only in bright yellow.

"No hamlogna s-z-s-z-sandwiches? What kind of party is this?!" Zaptor expressed his disappointment at the gathering, as M.C. picked up the Cubit shard, comparing it to the previous one. Flain and Teslo both took notice, expressing interest. "Another one?" Flain asked. "That must be what that fiend was using to drain the power, look at it!" Teslo pointed out that the shard was laced with electricity, only for the energy to blast out of it, restoring all power across the district. "Those things are powerful, huh?" Vulk added.

The group of seven returned to the surface, where an Electroid wearing a blue baseball cap greeted them. "That was INCREDIBLE! The six of you working together to take back the power, and of course, this little guy that can swap tribes! You guys did amazing!" The group were taken aback, with Zorch laughing in response. "Ah, a fanboy! Telling us right what we need to hear, haha!" The Electroid froze for a moment, and remembered what he was trying to say. "Of course, my manners! Name's Save, I'm looking for a scoop to break into the Mix TV industry and this might just be it! Whaddya say?" He smiled and looked at M.C., who was eager about it. "Sure! I don't know what this Mix TV stuff is, but I'm for it!"

The two shook hands, from that moment, Save would be willing to record the adventures of M.C. "Alright, I'll be waiting at the nearest Zap-Zap joint! Give me a call when you need something to be written down!" Save departed for the aforementioned food stand, only for a deafening jet engine to buzz overhead. In shock, the group looked up, sighting an airship all too familiar to some.

"Major Nixel! Where's he going?!" Vulk cried out. Teslo stared at the airship, analyzing its flight path. "He's heading for the Cragsters-z-s-z-s District!" Volectro was quick to respond. "C'mon guys, we gots to s-z-s-stop him!"

Deep in the darkness of the mineshafts underneath the Cragster District, labor was underway. Nixels equipped with their teeth and nothing more hacked away at the stone walls housing thousands of Cubits, each in a different color from the last. Of course, in the fashion of the current occupation of Mixopolis, these Nixels were working together to achieve this extraction. There were plenty of Nixel Mixes, no, dozens. It hadn't taken long to sweep through the labor intensive mines and Nix the unexpecting Cragsters, many of whom had not seen the light of day in years. Cubits were loaded into carts once extracted, which were then funneled into a contraption to be converted into Negative Cubits. The former Cubit Quarry had become a factory for Negative Cubits.

No different was the centerpiece of the caverns, a giant Rainbow Cubit. Nixels had overturned it, ripping it from it's various brush contraptions and bringing it to the largest clearing of the caves. This could be a lethal weapon, if used correctly, and in typical Nixel minion fashion, they were not doing that. Attempts to Nix the Cubit through their venomous teeth had not worked, having only broken them off of dozens of loyal Nixels. It would take a greater mind to work their magic on this.

Major Nixel marched through the deep and dark caverns of the mine, entering the largest cave in which Nixels slaved away. "Attention!" Every Nixel in sight turned at once and saluted the Major, an act of loyalty at display. "Squad leader, report!" With a heavy stomp, a Nixel Mix approached the Major, drooling at the mouth. "Nix… Nix, nix." It barked out, droplets of saliva hitting Major as it went.

To Major, this was wrong. Everything the Nixels stood for was being broken. Nixels swore to destroy creativity, not take part in it. King Nixel had tried to reassure him that this was the price of victory, but to him, this was not a victory worth having. Of course, these thoughts would have to be silenced. The city was under their control now and any surviving Mixels scattered to the winds, or so he thought. "Nix!" A lone Nixel scampered into the clearing, gasping for breath. "Well, Nixel? Spit it out!" Major addressed it. "Nix… Nix, nix nix! NIX!" The tone of the Nixel was urgent, and Major Nixel was alarmed.

"Some Mixels took back the Infernites and Electroids Districts… Ha! Let them have it!" Major whistled, a thunderous roar responding, making even the fiercest Nixel Mixes tremble. "When they set foot in here, their resistance ends." He broke into a laugh, a disgusting, evil laugh. His contingency was ready.

Tassy cruised through the outskirts of the Electroids District, populated only by giant power generators, a lot more cramped than usual. Zorch and Volectro had Mixed to free up space and ran alongside the living taxi, but those seats were not made for five. Being pressed against an Electroid, as it turned out for M.C., was rather unpleasant with their constant on-off electrical shocks.

"So you just woke up in a pile of junk and found Flain?" Zaptor asked to M.C., who was sandwiched in between him and Vulk. "Pretty much, dude. I can't remember anything from before then and I guess I've learned everything I know about the world from that point onwards?" He shrugged. "Heh, at least you've gots more of a brain than that prankster out there." Vulk snorted and pointed at the Mix running alongside Tassy. "Hey! We heard that!" Volectro's scatter-brained and loud voice replied back, shouting through the open window.

"Settle down, lads! We're here!" Tassy slammed on his brakes, slamming the five Mixels inside against his windscreen. "Road's too rocky, so you lot will have to trek it from 'ere. Good luck!" The five disembarked Tassy, with Volectro and Zorch regrouping with them as the seven overlooked the Cragsters District that stood before them.

To M.C., this wasn't anything like he expected. He had grown used to the wastelands of the Infernites District and the bustling buildings and greenery of the Electroids District, but what he saw before him was like neither. The area looked like it had only recently been established, cobbled pathways leading up to circular stone buildings everywhere. Dozens of mailboxes dotted the exteriors of each house. A minecart railway ran through the streets, shoddily put together as waterfalls raged into deep cave systems.

Moving along a cobbled path, the group were taking in the sights. "Wow! I've never seen this place up clos-z-s-z-se before, it's just like the old mine in Mixel Land!" Volectro yelled out. "We oughts to find Krader, or one of his brothers if we're gonna track down Major Nixel. They know this place better than us." Vulk pointed out. Flain grew visibly uncomfortable, grabbing the attention of M.C., who pulled the Infernite aside. "Everything good?" Flain sighed. "Yeah, it's just… Forget it. C'mon, let's go, man." He rushed to catch up with the others, much to M.C.'s concern.

They continued along the road, passing by houses seemingly abandoned. The place was eerie, and clearly the Nixels had been through here first. "If we follow along this path, we should find Kraders-z-s-z-s house! I fixed his water pipe a few months ago." Teslo stated, with Vulk being embarrassed at the mentioning of that, remembering an incident in which he set both Krader and Teslo's pipes ablaze.

"Whoa, quiet!" Zaptor stopped in his tracks, the other Mixels following suit. "Nixels. A whole s-z-s-z-swarm of them!" Zaptor whispered as the seven ducked behind a building. "Right outside Krader's house too! It looks like they're trying to bus-z-st down the door?" Teslo observed Nixels headbutting the stone door of the house, making no progress. It wasn't until a Nixel brandishing a large cannon loading to the brim with cupcakes stepped in that any progress was being made.

"None of them are Mixed, what's up with that?" Zorch observed. "Maybe they realized how wrong it is for them do z-so." Teslo said coldly. "Hey, M.C.! Let's-z-s Mix and clear that swarm!" Zaptor held out a Cubit to him, and the two began to Mix, torn apart by wind and spliced together in a tornado. The Mix stood tall, with a turbine attached to a lightning rod ready to create a thunderstorm.

"Stand back!" The Mix called out, in Zaptor's voice, spinning their turbine with extreme speed, causing a thunder cloud to generate. The Nixels took notice and stopped their attempted break-in, before being promptly struck with a colossal blast of lightning, scattering all of them to wind with little effort. "Alright, let's move in!" The Mix called out before splitting.

With a heavy effort, the seven Mixels managed to push the giant boulder door of Krader's home open, but they were not prepared to have rocks pelted at them from there. "What the?!" Flain cried out, only for a light to be shone in everyone's face. "They no Nixed! Cease fire!" The torch was shut off and the several dozen Cragsters taking refuge in the house were revealed, Shuff in the center of them, donning a tactical strap holding dozens of rocks.

"Guys! Welcome!" Shuff threw his rocks aside and rushed to greet the group, seeing the Electroids first before eyeing the Infernites with distaste. "Hello too, firespitters." He said in a dull tone. "Pleasure to see ya too, pebble!" Zorch responded nonchalantly. M.C. caught on to the obvious bad blood between the two, something was not right.

"Guys, cool it. This can wait, we need to-" Flain tried to interject, only for Shuff to cut him off. "And if it isn't flame-brain! You no get opinion, you big-hurt Seismo!" Flain froze in place, not able to say another word. Everyone looked at him in confusion, unaware of anything between the two. "Weren't you two not the bes-z-s-z-st of friends?" Zaptor asked. Flain only looked to the floor in shame. "We fell out. Hard. Some of you guys might've taken the Mixamajig incident in stride, but…" He clenched his fist, holding back a tear. "Look, we're not here to reopen scars. Shuff, what's the state of the district?"

"Did you no see outside?! Nixels storm through, Nix many! We escape, safe-hide here, until you show up!" Shuff called out, waving his arms in anger. "Dude, those Nixels were getting in anyway! We saved you guys!" Flain responded, the two physically butting heads. A blast of lightning forced the two apart, M.C. using his Electroid powers to intervene and moving to stand between the two. "Both of you know we have a city to save, right?" He asked, rhetorically.

Shuff sighed and Flain frowned, their differences were put aside, for now. "Follow me." Shuff said, moving to a door on the other side of the room, kicking it open with little effort. M.C. was amazed at the strength of the Cragster, noting how it took all seven of them to open one stone door.

The room they entered was small, only having a stone bed, a slab of rock acting as a desk, and some marble wall shelves holding various ceramic figurines, one of them being taped together. "This my room. If me use computer, maybe news available." The group entered, with Shuff seating himself in front of his stone computer. It defied all logic, but somehow it was fully functional as the Cragster tapped away at various keys, opening up the Mix TV website.

"This is reporter Screeno coming to you live from the air, courtesy of Mix TV's Hoari-Coopter! We are broadcasting the current state of the Cragsters District, where Nixels have overturned the local Cubit Quarry! Major Nixel's flagship is parked on the outside, oh, the horror! Just what is it that these devilish fiends are up to with Mixopolis' number one source of Mixing? Found out this and more after this commercial break."

"They gots to be trying to make more of those… Anti-Cubits, or something! Whatever lets them Mix!" Vulk realized, horror striking his face. "And that why Krader wanted the giant Cubits in quarry to be spread out across Mixopolis, Flain! One outpost not enough!" Shuff was angry. "All the more reason to get out there and stop Major Nixel! Arguments can wait until later, c'mon!" Flain was determined, and even Shuff respected that. The eight Mixels burst out of the house and began rushing along the path to the quarry.

"If we take path through Rockball field, we get there faster! Follow!" Shuff pointed for a clearing dotted by flags and bleachers, only to be launched back by the force of a speeding rock. Everyone halted as Shuff pried the Rockball off himself, groaning and out for the count. The Infernites knew too well what the source of this was already as they turned to face the source.

It was Seismo, drained of color. He slammed his massive feet into the ground, creating a ridge in the ground that pushed the Electroids and Infernites apart. "Guys! Let's-z-s Mix this up a notch!" Teslo cried out, pulling out two yellow-red Cubits and tossing them to Flain and Zorch, who used them to Mix with Zaptor and Teslo, respectively. Seismo didn't even flinch, only choosing to kick up a ball into the air and pelt it towards M.C., being blasted apart by the Mix between Flain and Zaptor. "Two can play at that game!" The other Mix cried out in Teslo's voice, tossing a bombardment of electrical mines at Seismo. It didn't take long for Seismo to kick into action and deflect these back at the two Mixes.

"M.C.! Grab the Cubit!" Volectro called out, dodging a barrage of rocks blasted up by the mines while carrying a Rainbow Cubit. The two grabbed hold of it, being caught up in a Cubit-generated frying pan and flipped until their Mix was formed. Turning to face the zombified Seismo, the Mix overlooked the other four Mixels now split apart, overpowered by Seismo. "Hey, S-z-Seismo!" They called out, gaining the attention of the cycloptic Cragster. "Play well!" They rubbed their hands against their frazzled hair at supersonic speed, generating a massive burst of static electricity that rocketed towards Seismo, colliding with him and bringing him to his knees.

Believing to have succeeded, M.C. and Volectro split apart, cheering and approaching the other four. "Wait… Oh schnixel." Volectro held out his arm to stop M.C. as Seismo stirred. He got to his feet and spat a single tooth from his mouthpiece, only angered now. M.C. and Volectro braced themself, ready for whatever came next, and what came next was a Rockball to Seismo's face, courtesy of Shuff. Despite the absolute shock of the quick turn of events, M.C. whistled for Pippy, who promptly appeared and restored Seismo's colors with a blast of light.

Pippy took a moment to look around, noting the area and the two Cragsters now a part of the group. "My, my. This group hasn't faltered yet? Perhaps this could be the spark of hope Mixopolis needs!" Shuff rushed over to help his brother up, making a particularly confused expression at the sight of Pippy. "So do we mention-talk that cloud, or?" He asked as they dissipated to whereabouts unknown. Seismo groaned as he got back up. "What did me do..?" He blinked several times, turning his head, the first sight of his being Flain.

"YOU!" He shot back into action, slamming the ground and ripping out a chunk of stone, kicking it up and launching it at Flain with extreme speed. Flain barely ducked in time, the rock grazing his flame and exploding not far behind him, scattering Volectro and M.C. "Uh, hey man. Long time no s-" Flain tried to say, letting out a forced grin as Seismo cut him off. "You no apologize? You keep try to joke? Enough!" This silenced Flain, who looked on in sadness. "You know me ever since we kids! We would always adventure together… Where were you when Mixamajig happened?!"

"I was in Mixel Park and got caught up with Kraw and Footi, man! If I had known you got a key, I would've been there in a heartbeat!" Flain tried to explain, but this only upset Seismo more. "So you would have found ultimate Mixing power for yourself if me no had key?! Me went looking for you! Me search all of Infernites Land, and me no find you!" Seismo stopped, his rageful expression turning to one of sadness. "Me thought me was the chosen one, me would have shared great Mixing powers among best of friends, Electroids and Infernites, but especially you. When me saw you in other crowd… Me hurt. Me hurt a lot."

A tear rolled down Flain's face. "I'm… I'm sorry, dude. I put my own selfish wants above my friendships, and that hurt you. I took your trust for granted… and I'm sorry." His voice was genuine, and even Seismo realized this. The other seven Mixels looked on, not wanting to interrupt the situation.

Nixels, however, were far more willing to do so. "NIX!" A Nixel latched onto Seismo's foot, before being flung back, revealing the swarm M.C. and Zaptor had defeated earlier, only doubled in numbers. Everyone prepared for a massive brawl, M.C. Mixing with Shuff and getting ready to cause a massive earthquake. "I'm not asking you to forgive me, but we need to work together here! Our Mix can sweep these guys with ease!" Flain looked to Seismo, who pondered the thought. As Nixels got closer, Seismo came to a conclusion.

The two grabbed a Cubit, generating a thundercloud that zapped both Mixels at once and Mixed the two into their iconic Mix. "Let's get Mixel!" The Nixels approaching fast stopped in their tracks, fearing the titanic Mix that stood before them. With a stomp to the ground, cascades of magma erupted from where the Nixels stood, blasting them to the sky to land elsewhere in the planet. With a clap to dust off their hands, the Mix split, both Flain and Seismo breaking into a laugh from the experience. Their friendship had been reforged once more.

Volectro whistled in awe at the sight of Major Nixel's airship parked outside the entrance to the Cubit Quarry. "Zaptor, Teslo, we could probably dis-z-s–z-sable that thing from ever taking off again!" He pointed out, rubbing his fingers through his hair to generate more electricity. "No! We need to get down to Major Nixel now, stop time-wasting!" Seismo pushed the three Electroids out of the way as he overlooked the vast hole that was the quarry. "Down there are many caves, Seismo and me will lead way to giant Cubits. Electroids, give light." The three Electroids nodded. "So, how are we gonna get down there, exactly?" M.C. asked.

Minecarts. Minecarts at extreme speed down a vertical track, was how. Seismo and Shuff cheered on the way down while the others screamed in terror, the carts coming to a violent halt at the base of the quarry. "We here! Move time!" Seismo said and hopped out of the cart, happily moving with Shuff. The other seven Mixels tumbled out of their carts, trembling from the experience.

"This cave leads to big Cubit. Follow me." Seismo took the lead. "Hows about we Mix and get through faster?" Teslo asked, with Seismo nodding in response. The two grabbed a Cubit, but things were not to go their way. The Cubit sputtered and spun the two down a whirlpool, creating a Murp closely resembling Seismo, but with arm and leg positions swapped around. "Murp! Murp-murp. MURP!" They shot off into the darkness, trails of electricity following as they went. "Uh oh." Shuff said as the other two Electroids used their electricity to illuminate the thin cavern.

The cave the Murp sped through was very long, with the occasional thin wooden pipe beams holding it up. Holes punched in the wall by Cragsters searching for Cubits long ago were everywhere, a cave painting every now and then too. The Murp took a sharp right, leading into a clearing where they took a heavy punch to the face. "Murp?" They illuminated the cavern, facing a Nixed Krader, one that would pack a punch. "MURP!"

Of course, the others were hot on their trail, and had caught up just in time to see Krader punch the Murp apart. "Woah! I'll distract him, keep a light on!" Zorch sped into the cave, creating a blurred ring around Krader by speeding in a circle. Krader managed to pluck Zorch out of his run with his massive hand, staring him down. "Urgh! I see you haven't lost that strength, bud!" Zorch taunted before being flung into Zaptor, knocking him down.

Vulk and Shuff combined into a scorpion-esque Mix, scuttling around Krader and distracting him with their fire breath while Flain and Volectro Mixed to keep the light. M.C. rushed over to Seismo. "Hows about we Mix and finish this, huh?" M.C. smiled as Seismo grabbed ahold of his Cubit, the two being engulfed in a giant slab of jelly, Mixing as it sloshed around. Now with the power to shatter tectonic plates, the Mix slammed their foot against the ground, causing a piece of stone to shift and launch Krader towards the ceiling, stunning him as he hit the ground again. "Nice job, unfortunately…" Zorch called out, having his sentence finished by the support of the clearing starting to shatter.

With no time to waste, Zorch went supersonic, grabbing all nine of the Mixels and shoving them back into the thin cave system, barely escaping himself as the open cave came crashing down, filled in with stone. "Heh! You're welcome." He said nonchalantly, with the others stunned. "Oh, right!" M.C. quickly shot to his feet, realizing Krader was still Nixed and called for Pippy, the being appearing out of thin air and freeing Krader. "Huh." They said, illuminating the entire cavern with their yellow light. "What started as two of you mortals is now ten, most fascinating."

"Should teach ya to not look down on us, dude!" Vulk said in defiance. "Yeah! We may have started without hope, but here we are, three leader groups reunited!" Teslo joined in. "No matter what the odds, we're reuniting, Pippy." M.C. said. They were surprised - no, impressed. "Very well. Congratulations, but good luck with what comes next!" With that, they were gone once more. "What'd they mean by that?" Flain asked.

Krader groaned, but instantly lit up. "Wow! You guys found me! Me thought me would be trapped here, forever!" Krader instantly grabbed Seismo and Shuff in a hug, one too crushing for comfort thanks to his massive arm. "Happy… See you too… Please let go!" Shuff gasped through breaths, Krader cheerily dropping the two and turning to the other Mixels present. "Even Infernites and Electroids here too! Wow!" Krader said, before eyeing Flain. "Wait… Flain!" He said angrily, only for Seismo to stop him by placing an arm in front of him. "We worked it out, Krader."

"I can't even think of the las-z-s-z-st time we were all together like this! If only we had some hamlogna to celebrate…" Zaptor said, his tone turning to disappointment with that last mention. "It's so nice to be reunited, haha!" Vulk added happily. "When we're done here, drinks are on me, guys!" Flain added.

Despite everyone being so happy to see each other once more, M.C. felt a sense of emptiness. He didn't really know everyone as well as he'd like to. He didn't even really know himself, he was just forming his own personality based on those he was meeting. Did he really fit in at all?

"Of course, THIS guy's the one to thank! He helped me when I was Nixed and even though he doesn't gots a clue about the world, he's been the glue that keeps us together!" Flain pointed to M.C., with everyone agreeing. Any doubts M.C. had subsided as he smiled with teary eyes. "T-Thanks guys, ha!"

"Come on! Faster! Get this giant Cubit ready for take-off!" Major Nixel barked orders at the various Nixel Mixes he now commanded, few of whom seemed interested in his demands, blowing the lid off his already-low anger threshold. A hole had been created in the roof of the cave to allow for the Cubit to be lifted out with the Major's airship. King Nixel wanted it, for reasons unknown.

A blast of stone barraged and buried various Nixels towards the end of the cave as M.C. stepped through, now using his Cragster abilities. Behind him were the Infernites, Cragsters, and Electroids, ready to fight. Major smiled, he was ready for this. "Why hello there, miserable Mixels! You've done an excellent job making it this far…" He paused for a moment. One Mixel stood out amongst the ten, one who just shifted from a Cragster to a monochrome color scheme. "I don't know who you are, or why you're familiar, BUT THIS ENDS NOW! NIXELS! PULL!" With that command, the Cubit began to lift up, Nixels rushing to latch on and escape.

"We can't let him get away!" Volectro called out, but Krader and Flain were one step ahead, having grabbed a Cubit… only to Murp. Zorch didn't let up though, and started running fast enough to mount the wall and loop around the Cubit. Major Nixel latched on to the Cubit and whistled, a figure lunging in and punching Zorch into the ground with force great enough to crack the walls. Major cackled, escaping with the Cubit.

The figure landed as the others helped Zorch up. It was Big Boxer Joe, stripped of color. A mindless zombie, and a terrifying brute. "So that how Nixels got through here… ATTACK!" Krader yelled. M.C. and Krader joined together in a Mix, being smashed by a mallet deep into the ground, resurfacing using their claws. They rushed up to Big Boxer Joe, landing a solid blow that echoed all around the quarry. The boxer didn't even flinch, landing a punch back that split M.C. and Krader instantly and sent the two flying back into the far wall of the cavern.

Suddenly, Pippy appeared, firing bolts of light. M.C. hadn't even signaled, but they were here, even if their attempts were futile as Big Boxer Joe dodged every bolt. "What?" Pippy went wide-eyed as the boxer lunged for them, having to teleport away to avoid being attacked. This gave the group an opening to form several Mixes. A Mix between Shuff and Volectro pelted Rock Pops at the boxer, blinding him as he roared. Seismo had Mixed with Zorch in an act of desperation, and now he was absolutely regretting it, flying around the cavern uncontrollably - even if managing to knock around the boxer a few times. Both of these Mixes proved futile as Big Boxer Joe roared like a beast, slamming his fists into the ground and launching up dozens of rocks, knocking Zorch and Seismo out of the air and stunning the others.

Flain grunted, he wasn't taking this well. M.C. came to and helped Flain up. "Ugh, if we could break that Cubit, it'd free him! It'd just be like Mixel Mountain!" Flain said. "Wait, what? Aren't there other Cubits in this mine? Could they work?" M.C. asked, and Flain came to a realization. Krader had Mixed with Volectro now, and was creating an electrical force field around the boxer to try and buy time. "I've gots an idea. Rush through the caves and try to find another Cubit. Once you see it, slam it with your Cragster horns as hard as you can. We'll buy you some time, go!" Flain cried out, shoving M.C. aside and turning to face the battle.

"I'm feeling that we Mix this to the MAX! Hows about you guys?" Flain said with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah! CUBIT!" Krader pulled out a Cubit for his tribe, as did Teslo and Flain, and before they knew it, all nine Mixels had begun to form their Maxes, being huddled into three separate chicken's nests and sat on. After being forced inside of separate eggs, three Maxes emerged, ready for battle.

M.C. tripped through the caverns. His friends were at risk. If they fell, surely the city would soon follow suit. Turning the millionth corner, he found it. An opening gave way to a cavern with a giant Rainbow Cubit, much like the one Major Nixel had stolen. The only problem was that several dozen Nixed Cragsters were situated at the base of it, ready to fight.

The three Maxes weren't faring much better, either. "Cragsters! Get over here! Electroids, buy us time!" The Infernites Max had an idea. "Alright, listen bud. I'm gonna set you on fire and use you like a Rockball. You've gots to trust me." The Cragsters Max was not keen on this idea, but they had no other option. "Make it quick, go!" Breathing a plume of fire, the Cragsters Max was ignited. Without wasting another second, the Infernites Max kicked them up and towards Big Boxer Joe, striking him directly in the head fast enough to extinguish the flames of the Cragsters Max. All this managed to do was simply give the boxer a black eye.

M.C. had whistled for Pippy, but they never responded. Several Nixed Cragsters lunged at him, a massive stone wheel one managing to knock him to the ground. Being approached by several, M.C. began to freak out, thrashing around as he was cornered. "No! Not when we're this close! Pippy, please!" But Pippy wasn't coming, nobody was, he was at a Mixel's weakest, when they were alone. Out of options, M.C. activated his Infernite abilities, setting a support ablaze and bringing the whole cavern crashing down. The first rock smashed against the Cubit, and a rainbow light engulfed him and all of the Nixed Cragsters.

On their knees, the Maxes had fallen at the hands of Big Boxer Joe. His power truly was unmatched, even when Nixed. "C'mon M.C… C'MON!" The Infernites Max yelled out. This would be answered immediately, when a blast of rainbow light engulfed the entire cavern and shot out into the sky, raining down Cubit essence on bordering districts. Slowly, Big Boxer Joe's colors were restored, and he fell to his knees, finally defeated.

Along with all of the Cragsters, M.C. was launched into the opening where the battle had just taken place, the formerly Nixed Cragsters now restored too. As the Maxes split apart, exhausted, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Those sighs soon turned to cheers, and cheers to celebration. "What in the heck just… happened?" Big Boxer Joe stood up, overlooking the various Mixels before him. "Woah." He immediately rushed to help the various Cragsters back to their feet.

"We did it! We DID it! YEAH!" Krader yelled and flailed his arms around, celebrating. His energy rubbed off on everyone, and they all too joined in. Vulk even managed to sneak up behind them all, and locked them together in a forced hug, burning everyone and setting off the Electroids' shocks, to even further disaster. The ten Mixels took a moment to process their soot-covered and shocked state, and proceeded to share laughs.

"You guys just saved not only ME, but the whole Cragsters homeland from the tyrannical Nixels! That is totally RADICAL! As a token of my gratitude, please enjoy this Big Boxer Joe-branded Cookironi box! Laters!" The boxer crouched, before leaping upwards at mach speed, busting a hole through the ceiling of the cavern. "COOKIRONIS!" Everyone unanimously cried out, M.C. the only exception. "A what?" He asked. "The best snack on Planet Mixel, man! Here, have some-" Flain slit open the box and attempted to pour out several, but only one dropped into his palm. He inspected the inside of the box thoroughly, but there was nothing more to be found but some crumbs.

In confusion, M.C. witnessed everyone eyeing one another with unpleasant intent. "THE LAST COOKIRONI!" Everyone once again screamed, only this time beginning a massive scrap-heap to fight for it.

Major Nixel unshackled the giant Rainbow Cubit from its ropes, leaving it behind King Nixel's newly-established throne. In the span of a few hours, the King had spent most of his efforts converting the former Mix Festival site to a base of operations. Hastily assembled computer systems and aerial landing zones littered the former park, with one corner dedicated solely to a pileup of various equipment. It was a mess, and one coordinated attack would bring it down like a house of cards.

King Nixel did not see any issues with this, overlooking the various Nixel Mixes terrorizing the city from a collection of hologram monitors propped in front of his throne. "Haha! Perfect. The puny Mixels have fallen, just as I planned! Now, this Cubit, a symbol of their unity, is ours! It couldn't be any better, Major…" He laughed, with Major not returning the sentiment.

"A-Actually, your magnificence… The Infernites, Cragsters and Electroids Districts have all been taken back." King Nixel froze in place at Major's words. He immediately pulled up a hologram of each district, overviewing various Mixels helping one another, repairing infrastructure, and chasing out Nixels.

"Ha! Those outer districts? They're of no worth to us! Let these Mixels have their failed attempt at 'fun' before we crush them." He slouched back in his throne, content at the state of affairs. "B-But sire! These Mixels reforged their b-bonds! They even have a weird monochrome-" King Nixel answered Major by slamming his fists against the arm rests of the throne. "SILENCE! Let it go, Major, take a moment to relax. I sure am! Now, if you'll not be so rude, I'm going back to looking at the various facilities to exploit in each district." Major Nixel felt a sense of defiance, but not one that wasn't easily swayed by the greater presence of fear. "Very well, your highness."

Major didn't know it yet, at least for certain, but the seeds of division in the Nixel Armada had been planted. Mixing was wrong, it defied everything a Nixel stood for, and King Nixel was not letting up. It was inhumane, and no worse were the Mixel goons that claimed themselves the "N-Mixel Armada" being given the thumbs-up from the King. There was no plan on what to do from now, and now Mixels were running amok, freeing each other and reuniting against all odds.

Today wasn't the day for Major Nixel's thoughts of a coup to take back the armada that was plucked from him. Those would have to wait for one more failure at the hands of the unfitting King.