The Journey's Climax

Using the map that was given to them by Elder Librari, the heroes made it to Castor Wilds. It was a bog full of skeletal trees that were covered with moss and had snakes hanging on the branches. The bog was also filled with murky swamp water and the air carried a pungent aroma. Rather than walk, the heroes decided to fly.

When they came to the Fortress of Winds, they had to start walking again. It was hard to get through because the winds were so rough. But once they made it and came to the temple, they saw that the place was deserted. The people of the Wind Tribe had left and the Wind Element wasn't here either, meaning that they took it with them.

At this moment, the heroes' only option was to go underground and find the Temple of Droplets. Thankfully, while coming to the Fortress of Winds, they were able to acquire a pair of Mole Mitts – another item made by the Picori. Using the Mole Mitts, the heroes dug a tunnel leading underground. After digging for what seemed like hours, the heroes were able to find the Temple of Droplets. They also saw a large group of Picori going into the Temple.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Link asked the Picori.

"There's a Great Mayfly Fairy in the Temple of Droplets," one of them answered. "We've all come to hear her sing."

"Great Mayfly Fairy," Max repeated. "I've heard of them.

Emily had heard of them too. "They're beautiful creatures who are born to sing. But when a Great Mayfly Fairy stops singing," she paused, then finished sadly, "her life ends."

It was true. The Great Mayfly Fairy who was singing inside the Temple of Droplets was born just a week ago and she's been singing nonstop for seven days and seven nights.

When the heroes stepped inside the Temple of Droplets, the Great Mayfly Fairy stopped singing. "No, don't stop!" Link begged. "You have to keep singing or-"

"My song is through," she interrupted.

"But… but you're so young," Joey protested. "You can't accept your fate now!"

"What truly matters is that I got to share my song with someone who cares," she said. That was why she was happy. Though the Great Mayfly Fairy knew her fate, she was ready and willing to accept it now because now she could die in peace. To show her gratitude, the Great Mayfly Fairy brought forth a blue crystal and presented it to the heroes. It was the Water Element.

"The Water Element quenches thirst and brings healing," the Great Mayfly Fairy told the heroes. "It will aid you in your journey." It was true. The power of the Water Element made everyone in the group feel refreshed.

Suddenly, Max and Emily gasped as they felt that same sharp tingle from before. "It's him," the blonde girl said. "He's coming."

"What are you talking about?" Link asked her.

Suddenly, someone broke through the Temple walls. The Picori began to panic while the heroes recognized the intruder. "It's Vaati!" gasped Yugi.

"What's he doing here?" Joey asked.

Vaati looked at the girls. "So you were able to sense me coming," he asked mockingly. "What a coincidence. I sensed you were here too."

"You're wasting your time, Vaati," said Max. "The power you're looking for isn't here."

Vaati waved his finger. "Tsk, tsk. My dear Lady Max, you are cunning as you are clever, I confess, but you cannot deceive me."

"I speak the truth," she said. "I know you're searching for a power called the Light Force."

Vaati continued smiling evilly. "How clever of you. Of course, you could have only known that by reading my mind and seeing my ideals."

Max had other ways, but now wasn't the time to talk about any of that.

Vaati's smile grew. "You know where it is, don't you, Lady Max? That's why you're helping these fools to protect it from me."

Max wasn't going to deal with his mockery anymore. "You have a warped way of thinking, Vaati. Did the Dark Lord take away some of your brains when he gave you your Cobalt Star shard?"

This caused all of her comrades to gasp. Vaati, on the other hand, was not amused with her remark. He was about to attack her until Ezlo cried out Vaati's name.

The mage looked at the cap on Link's head. "Well, well, I never thought I'd see you here, Master Ezlo."

This surprised everyone even more. Of course, Ezlo knew it would be a matter of time before everyone would know the truth. He had only hoped that it wouldn't have been this soon. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. "Vaati, please tell me it's not true," he begged. "Please tell me you didn't pledge your allegiance to the Dark Lord!"

In response, he shows them the Cobalt Star shard hanging from around his neck. "Why else would Lady Max and the Heroes of Millennia have come to this world? They came here for this."

This was getting to be a lot for Link to take in. Vaati was Ezlo's student? Now he serves the Dark Lord Cobalt? And what was this Light Force he and Max were talking about?

"You are partly to blame for this, Master," Vaati said to Ezlo, "but ironically, also just as deserving of my thanks. After all, it was you who made this cap I now wear; the cap with the power to grant the wishes of whoever wears it. With it – along with the limitless power the Dark Lord has given me, I am the most powerful being in this world. All I need now is the Light Force. Once I obtain that, I'll have the power I need to rule this world and destroy the Heroes of Millennia!" And he cackled.

"Fool!" Max shouted. "There's so much you don't understand! Gathering all that power will backfire and destroy you!"

"She's right," Emily agreed. "Many of our other enemies had that same idea and met that very fate!"

Vaati glared at Emily. "You think so. Well, perhaps you weren't listening, Princess. I am more powerful than those you met before me: Chase Young, Fiore, even Naraku. I learned from their failures and I will not make the same mistakes they made."

Clearly there was no point in trying to reason with Vaati. For Emily, it seemed the only way to get through to him was to fight him. But she also knew that this wasn't the right time or place for that.

Max knew as much and said to her comrades, "Let's go, everyone."

Ezlo agreed. "Max's right. Right now, we're no match for him. And we won't be until we've obtained all the Elements and repaired the Picori Blade."

"But Max and Emily have the powers of the Stars!" Link protested.

"Link, we can't just fight him as we are now!" Emily snapped.

"Perhaps you need another demonstration of my power!" Vaati shouted. He placed a curse on the Great Mayfly Fairy, turning her into a moth creature. "You should be thanking me," Vaati told the heroes. "In this form, she can live forever." And he grinned in amusement as he watched her fly and flutter around in confusion, panicking because of the curse that was placed on her. Vaati cackled once more, taking his leave.