Stephanie squirmed in the Nightmares' grips as she tried to free herself from their cold, clawed grips as they went through a forest.
"Let go of me!" Stephanie shouted as she kicked her legs, smacking one across the eye with her heel as it shrieked in pain.
The Nightmare released Stephanie and covered its eye with its clawed hand, and Stephanie took this chance.
She wiggled around in their grasp, causing them to struggle to hold onto Stephanie as the Nightmare with its eye kicked hissed with pain.
Once she was back on the ground, she summoned her staff, turned it into a sword, and swung it at the Nightmares.
The Nightmares hissed and scrambled away from Stephanie when she summoned her sword.
They got cut when she swung it towards them and bled the same liquid Stephanie found in the room where the Hero Factory heroes kept them captive.
Stephanie was focused on attacking the Nightmares as they had their claws out and baring their teeth.
She held the crystal sword with both hands and stared down the snarling creatures with a fierce expression.
Stephanie noticed something forming behind her and looked over her shoulder with a confused expression.
The Nightmares' expression changed to a grin when they saw that it was another Black Zodiac.
The Black Zodiac's body was split into two with a split necklace around their necks, and they looked like a deer Minotaur with a snake's tail.
The first head was a tiger's, and the second's was a deer's, and their bodies were covered with rope around their bodies as if to keep them together.
Stephanie gasped after seeing the Black Zodiac as the Nightmares started to give smug smirks across their faces.
The Black Zodiac sees Stephanie and gives an animalistic roar before charging toward her, causing her to move to the side quickly.
The Nightmares were startled when Stephanie moved back but did not have a chance to dodge the Black Zodiac as it stomped its hands down, squishing them as black goo came from them as it lifted its hands.
Stephanie ran from the huge Black Zodiac, dodging its attacks and planning her next move to bring this monster down.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blasted her into the air, causing her to shriek in fear as she fumbled around.
The Black Zodiac used air manipulation to throw Stephanie forward, making her fearfully scream as she soared.
She transformed her sword into an umbrella to go faster, giving a short yelp when she was launched forward, soaring through the air.
The Black Zodiac laughed when he saw Stephanie turn her sword into an umbrella, seeing how ridiculous it looked, and she looked pitiful and weak.
Then, it chased her through the forest after transforming into a huge two-headed tiger, causing Stephanie to worry more.
Realizing she was slowly being lowered back to the ground, Stephanie looked around for any ideas of trying to get rid of this Black Zodiac.
The Black Zodiac grinned with satisfaction at the thought of catching Stephanie while she was lowered and enjoying the 'cat and mouse' game.
With a flurry of panic, Stephanie scanned her surroundings for inspiration before time ran out for her.
Her eyes fell upon the towering trees, their branches stretching outward, creating a small clearing that might serve as a place for her to swing.
Stephanie extended her arm, and her golden strings appeared, wrapped around a branch as she closed her umbrella, causing her to fall.
'Too fast! Too fast!' Stephanie exclaimed as the Black Zodiac was closer.
Stephanie grabbed the golden strings with her free hand as her umbrella transformed into a bracelet around her wrist.
Then she pulled down hard and zoomed past the Black Zodiac, narrowly escaping its snapping mouth.
She swung from one tree and back into the air as the strings unwrapped, causing her to soar.
The Black Zodiac smirked as it puzzled over what had just happened but found it mildly amusing.
It continued the chase by splitting itself into multiple tigers and went in separate directions to speed up the process.
Stephanie did the same thing again by swinging her arm outward and her golden strings wrapped around a branch, gripping it as she swung before flying through the air.
The same Black Zodiac suddenly appeared in front of her with its jaws wide open to eat her, causing Stephanie to scream and flail her arms around.
Stephanie's arms turned into wolf arms covered in black fur with light blue paw pads extending down to her feet.
The Black Zodiac's expression changed to surprise after witnessing Stephanie's arms transforming into large werewolf-like arms.
Stephanie moved her arms forward, grabbed the top of the Black Zodiac's jaw, and pushed herself upward, missing the bite as they snapped as she looked startled.
Stephanie stumbled on the way down but luckily caught onto a tree branch with her new paw, not using her golden string ability.
She swung herself through the air while the Black Zodiac followed behind her.
Diesel 10, P.T. Boomer, and Ember saw Stephanie swinging through the forest but had trouble catching up because Nightmares appeared when it became dark.
Ember carried Lucy and Notches in her arms while the others were running ahead, though Diesel 10 was a little faster than the two.
"This isn't good!" P.T. Boomer exclaimed, wincing slightly when his knees started hurting from arthritis.
Diesel 10 nodded as he gritted his teeth with frustration, wanting to get Stephanie back to save her from the Nightmares and turn him back to normal.
But he cannot while those Nightmares are roaming, and he would lose his chance!
Something from the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he looked, seeing what looked like two Dust Crystals Stephanie showed him when she was digging near Muffler Mountain.
He effortlessly picked up two Dust Crystals from the ground with the help of Pinchy, seeing one was bronze, and the other had a darker brass color.
What if he could use these Dusts to help Stephanie?
"Here goes nothing." Diesel 10 muttered as he grabbed the bronze-colored Dust into Pinchy's grip.
He wanted to use them both simultaneously, but remembering Stephanie's warning, Diesel 10 used one at the moment, not wanting himself to become corrupted.
Diesel 10 broke the bronze-colored Dust with Pinchy, and the bronze-colored Dust swirled around Diesel 10 and started to grow bigger and bigger.
The bronze-color Dust disappeared after swirling around Diesel 10, and he looked a little dizzy once it cleared but perked after seeing his height change compared to a tree next to him.
"Perfect!" Diesel 10 smiled after seeing his height change before looking at the other, noticing it was pinched between his fingers. "Now for the next one."
He crushed the next Dust between his fingers, and a large amount of the same Dust came out, swirling around Diesel 10 before clearing, now with six or seven different Diesel 10s.
Each had the same personality and color scheme, but the colors were either swapped or had different outfits or appearances.
"Huh, that's new." the Diesel 10s remarked, speaking simultaneously.
"Okay, listen up," the original Diesel 10 spoke as the others turned to him. "We all split up, so we could search for Stephanie. Be careful with her, and don't let any Black Zodiac or Nightmare get her. Capiche?"
"Capiche!" all Diesel 10s nodded after the original Diesel 10 asked.
Diesel 10 turned to a surprised P.T. Boomer, an awed Ember, and a worried Lucy, while Notches was a little ruffled as the other Diesel 10s went off to find Stephanie.
"You might want to take a ride with me," Diesel 10 spoke, kneeling to them as he had a hand out to them. "It's not safe around while a bunch of mes around."
"Awesome!" Ember remarked, climbing into Diesel 10's palm with excitement.
After Ember got into Diesel 10's hand, P.T. Boomer followed suit, sitting next to her as Notches and Lucy were on her shoulders.
Diesel 10 then stood up and slipped them all into his overall pocket before taking off to find Stephanie.
Stephanie ran through the forest as she used her wolf arms to act as momentum, jumping over rocks as the Black Zodiacs followed behind her, jumping over rocks with ease and chasing after her.
She slid underneath a tipped-over tree, and the Black Zodiac jumped over it, missing Stephanie by inches as she took a sharp turn, causing it to skid and tumble on its side.
Stephanie stumbled a little when her right arm slipped a little, causing her to fumble, but she kept herself upright as she ran through the woods.
Suddenly, a two-headed monster from the Black Zodiac appeared before her.
She reacted quickly by diving forward, curling into a ball, and then rolling underneath the monster.
This caused the monster to miss her as it snapped its jaws and collided with another chasing her.
Stephanie ran while two others hissed angrily at each other after they got up before getting into a fight, slashing and biting at each other.
She stopped and climbed a tree, digging her claws into the wood as she climbed up.
Another one appeared and tried to climb the tree, causing branches to snap as it awkwardly climbed up it.
Stephanie climbed the tree and reached the top, but as the tree leaned into another one, she had to jump onto the second tree.
The Black Zodiac's weight made the tree creak, and when she jumped off, it caused the weight to be shifted, and the Black Zodiac was launched into the air, roaring and crashing in the distance.
Stephanie sighed in relief after the Black Zodiac was launched, thinking it was over.
Suddenly, she heard a hissing sound and saw a snake climbing up the tree, the same Black Zodiac.
She gasped and jumped from the tree, missing barely inches from the snake Black Zodiac as it snapped its jaws at her, and Stephanie started to swing from branch to branch.
Suddenly, one of the branches snapped after a fourth snake Black Zodiac attempted to bite at her, and she avoided it, only for the branch to snap.
Stephanie screamed as she fell through the air as the snake Black Zodiac chased after her, transforming into a tiger Black Zodiac.
A gigantic hand suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Stephanie, yanking her back as she shrieked before something metal appeared and sucker-punched the tiger Black Zodiac's face.
The Black Zodiac launched back after being punched across the face, and Stephanie was startled, her claws digging into what was gripping around her.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Stephanie perked after hearing a voice. "Kid, remove your claws! It's me! Diesel 10!"
Stephanie looked up, seeing it was Diesel 10, holding her with his left hand while Pinchy was scratched from punching the Black Zodiac.
"Oh my god!" Stephanie exclaimed as she removed her claws as they slowly transformed back to normal. "Thank you, 10!"
Diesel 10 smirked a little before perking as the Black Zodiac pushed itself up, growling with anger as a bit of blood came from the corner of its mouth.
Knowing this was powerful, Diesel 10 turned around to run as the Black Zodiac chased after him, disliking that he had grabbed its 'mouse.'
"10, be careful!" Stephanie exclaimed as she held onto Diesel 10's finger with her arms. "It's a Black Zodiac, and it can shapeshift and manipulate air!"
"Got it!" Diesel 10 nodded as he ran through the forest before putting Stephanie into his overall pocket.
The Black Zodiac continued chasing after Diesel 10, giving angry roars as the others followed behind, transforming into tigers and joining the chase.
Stephanie gripped the edge of the pocket as Diesel 10 continued running, entering a large space as the Black Zodiacs jumped towards him.
Suddenly, more Diesel 10s appeared from the forest and tackled the group of Black Zodiacs, putting them all in grips as they snarled and growled, trying to get out of their grips.
The Diesel 10 with Stephanie stayed behind before walking over a tree where P.T. Boomer, Ember, Notches, and Lucy were, taking Stephanie out of his overall pocket before handing her to them.
"Hold her for a minute!" Diesel 10 responded as Stephanie was given to the group before turning to the fight.
The Black Zodiacs were almost out of the group before their expression dropped when Diesel 10 jumped, shouting, "Dogpile!"
He landed directly on the group as they gave off noises of pain, trying to squirm away as the Diesel 10s grabbed them all, forcing them to be in one group as they formed back to their original appearance.
The Black Zodiac tried to push them away and use its tail to smack them away, even using elemental powers, but the Diesel 10s were much stronger as they pinned the gigantic being to the ground.
"Okay!" one of the Diesel 10s called. "Do your magic, Steph!"
Stephanie nodded and quickly rushed forward, transforming the bracelet into small twin daggers and landing on top of the being, feeling it was squirming around as the Diesel 10s pinned it.
With one quick, smooth move, Stephanie sliced the necklaces simultaneously, causing the being to disappear into thin air.
After the Black Zodiac disappeared, two stars appeared before Stephanie, and she perked before watching the stars go into the sky, joining what looked like the Gemini constellation.
One of the Diesel 10s scooped Stephanie up from the ground as she flinched in startlement, looking up at the surrounding group of Diesel 10s.
"Are you okay?" one of them asked.
"Are you hurt?" another asked.
"One at a time!" Stephanie chuckled before looking confused and asked, "Who's the reason Diesel 10?"
"I am!" all the Diesel 10s responded with smirks before a faint glow of bronze, copper, and a third color shined over their pupils as they became dizzy.
"10?" Stephanie spoke worriedly as she hugged Diesel 10's thumb, and the Pinchys were being used as leverage to keep from falling over. "Are you okay?"
"Felt a wash of dizziness go over me," one of the Diesel 10s responded.
"Yeah, what was that?" another asked.
Stephanie pieced together what that feeling was as she had briefly experienced it before, looking worried as she responded, "I think we need to get back to the rails to transform you back."
"Good idea," nodded Diesel 10. "I've been waiting for a full day to turn back."
He held Stephanie close to his chest as he stood back up, wobbled a little like the others but kept themselves upright as they also picked up Ember and P.T. Boomer, carrying them.
"WHAT?!" the two Nightmares coward with fear after an angry voice shrieked angrily. "What do you mean the Bound Woman had been defeated?!"
"W-We saw it with our own eyes!" one of the Nightmares argued. "That gigantic human with a claw helped the blue-haired kid to defeat the Bound Woman!"
An angry growl came from someone they were speaking to as a shadow loomed over them, showing what looked like a blend between masculine and feminine with long hair and a pair of wings with antlers.
"You both failed me the third time with keeping that blue-haired girl from ruining everything!" the voice shouted angrily. "I want you both to stay with either the Withered Lover or the Torn Prince to alert them."
"Y-Yes, ma'am," a third Nightmare nodded before quietly making the 'D'oh!' sound.
"What was that?" The claws gripped the chair's arm angrily, demanding.
The two Nightmares scooted to the side in fear as the third Nightmare panicked, lifting his hands defensively.
"Nothing, ma'am!" The third Nightmare panicked before realizing his mistake and exclaimed, "D'oh!"
A low growl came from the stranger before standing up on what looked like a throne and lifting their clawed hand.
They summoned a black sword, grabbed it as the third Nightmare tried to escape, and threw it at the third Nightmare, killing it instantly by stabbing its heart.
The Nightmare disappeared once its core was shattered as the two Nightmares turned pale after witnessing the third being killed off.
The scene switches to what looked like a figure sitting back down as it showed their arm as they calmly spoke with a hint of anger, "Make the same mistake, and you'll become like what he is!"
They pointed at where the third Nightmare used to be, and they both nodded silently, not wanting to say a word or mess up with the gender.
"Good," the figure nodded. "Now leave!"
The two Nightmares swiftly departed when the stranger demanded, exiting what looked like a dark throne room.
Then, the figure shifted its attention to a whistle-shaped, dull gold object on a pedestal next to the throne.
The lightning revealed ruby-red eyes with small pupils in the darkness but not the rest of the face as it was hidden.
"Such a shame you wouldn't be here anymore, old friend," the figure chuckled darkly. "She will not complete what you had already started, and I soon will have my chance."
He gives off the evilest laugh before coughing, pounding his chest with the side of his fist before demanding, "Somebody go fetch me a glass of water!"