Annnd we're BACK at Planet Secco! What'll we find here? Well, first we gotta do this.
Chapter 42: Dust of the Past
Somewhere in space
All the KND and allies had returned to their respective flagships. "We're getting closer to Planet Secco." Magolor reported.
"Here we go, here we go!" Marx cheered, still bouncing away. However, he stopped when he noticed some red dots on radar. "…Ooh?"
The ship started shaking as laser fire came in contact. Tails' image appeared onscreen and spoke, "Guys! We've picked up a squadron of TIE Fighters coming right toward us."
"Activate the cannons and fight back." Meta Knight ordered. (Play "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Smash Bros. Brawl!)
Swarms of TIE Fighters began zooming into the area as both ships fired bullets and shot them down. Ahead of them was a small fleet of Star Destroyers where the TIE Fighters came from. "Oi, Sir Meta Knight. Some of the Fighters 'ave crashed into our interior." Sword Knight reported. "They're breakin' in."
"Hmph." Meta Knight threw back his cape, turning it into wings, and drew his sword. "Time for some action!" With that, the knight shot down the hall to where some TIE Fighters were crashing in. Stormtroopers started coming off, but Meta Knight started slicing them up before they realized it. He flew out of one of the holes left by the Fighters and flew around the ship's exterior, slicing at TIE Fighters and exploding them before they could crash.
The same thing was happening aboard the Typhoon, but Shadow was running through and tossing Chaos Spears at all the Stormtroopers, taking their guns and shooting other ones. Morgan and Mika climbed on the Halberd's bridge (wearing space helmets for breath), and Morgan floated to the Typhoon's bridge. From there, she easily grabbed TIE Fighters with psychic. She looked over at the Halberd's bridge to see Mika grabbing some as well, so the two psychicbenders tossed the Fighters into each other, blowing them up.
"Ready, Sonic?" Tails called to his best friend.
"You bet!" Sonic exclaimed, inside some kind of energy chamber.
"Morgan, move out of the way." Tails called through the intercom. Morgan did so and ran off the bridge as the roadway opened up, emerging a massive cannon. "Power from the Chaos and Sol Emeralds transferring to the Sonic Power Cannon."
The massive cannon surged with energy as Sonic charged a super-powered Spin Dash.
"Ready…" Amy began as the cannon locked onto a Star Destroyer. "FIRE!"
The massive energy pinball zoomed to the first Star Destroyer, directly hitting and destroying the cockpit, exploding the whole ship. "Target destroyed!" Tails exclaimed.
TIE Fighters crashed into the Halberd's lower interior, but the Stormtroopers were ambushed by the Junior Prospectors, jumping and throwing sacks over their heads before pulling them over. Mushi happily bounced on the soldiers' guts afterwards before Luvbi blew them out of the holes, back into space.
More TIE Fighters fired at the Halberd's deck, one of the shots blowing Mika away, but Meta Knight flew up to one of them, smashed through its windshield, and threw the Stormtroopers out before controlling the Fighter into crashing at another one. Meta Knight quickly shot over to another one, taking control, and crashing it into another one as well before flying out. "Dimentia, power the Reactor!" Meta Knight called.
Inside the ship's core, Dimentia unleashed her Space Lightning upon the Halberd Reactor. From the cockpit, Magolor watched as a gauge filled up with energy. "Energy charge complete, Meta Knight."
"Perfect! Double-twin Cannons: FIRE!" Meta Knight flew out of the way as the two large cannons aboard the Halberd's deck started to activate. Both cannons aimed at the second Star Destroyer and fired away, attacking the cockpit and exploding in an instant.
"YES!" they all cheered.
Star Destroyer
From aboard the final Star Destroyer, which appeared bigger than the other two, Ooblar, the Yokian henchman, flew around frantically. "Oh no! They're beating us, Sire!"
"Silence!" King Goobot ordered. "Release the Heavy Lobsters!" (End song.)
Back with the others
The Star Destroyer immediately dropped two pods towards the ships. As the Junior Prospectors were walking through, they were blown back when one of them crashed in the Halberd's wall. (Play the "Heavy Lobster" Remix – "Ultra Heavy Lobster" Version!) They watched as the pod slowly opened, releasing a big, golden robot lobster. The kids screamed when the lobster fired lasers from its claws, immediately dashing down the hall. The Heavy Lobster activated a jet boost and chased after them.
"Guys! We're being attacked by a big, robot crab!" Tommy shouted into his wristwatch communicator.
"Sword Knight! Blade Knight! Stop it at once!" Meta Knight ordered, still flying outside.
"Right then!" they both saluted, running down the halls, followed by Nigel, Rachel, and Kirby.
Boss fight: Heavy Lobster
The Prospectors hurriedly slammed a button on one of the walls, making a door close on the Heavy Lobster. However, they looked worried when the door started melting from a laser the robot was firing. "It's breaking through!" Tommy yelled.
"Those guys better hurry." Mushi said.
Before the Heavy Lobster could break through, the five arrived just in time from behind it. Rachel, Sword, and Blade swung their swords at the Nightmare while Nigel tossed fireballs to try and burn it. While they battled the monster, with none of their attacks seeming to work, Mika arrived just in time and tossed a Psycho Sphere at it, pushing and exploding the lobster into the door. The door was blown open, but the Heavy Lobster survived.
"Well, that coulda gone better." Rachel said as they kept running.
While Sonic and Blaze were running down the halls of the Blue Typhoon, another pod crashed into the wall, releasing a black Heavy Lobster. "Oh, great!" Sonic shouted, charging and trying to Home Attack the robot, but it only swat him away with its claws. Blaze spun into a tornado to try and burn the monster, but was ineffective as the lobster countered with its own fire. Rouge came up from behind it, and the bat girl immediately performed a Screw Kick, but her attack did no damage. The lobster charged its jet booster and started speeding down the hall.
Inside the Halberd's cockpit, Gabe was currently watching the Heavy Lobster's movements through the Halberd on radar. "That thing's heading for the Reactor!"
"DIMENTIA!" Infinity shouted, already running to help his leader down there.
Mika ran and ambushed the Heavy Lobster, attempting to lift it with her psychic, but to no avail. "It's immune to psychic!" she shouted.
"No wonder." Morgan said, hearing her through communicator. The Heavy Lobster boosted again and made Mika jump out of the way while it kept going.
Back on the Typhoon, the black Heavy Lobster was on its way to the main core when Mario got in its way, riding Yoshi. The robot launched flames at them, but Yoshi swallowed some and spat out fireballs, damaging the monster a little. Yoshi then leapt as the two tried to Ground Pound it, but did no damage as the robot swatted them away.
That's when Peach ran in front of him and shouted, "Get 'im', Toad!", holding up her mushroom-headed servant, who looked worried.
"Um, Princess, I'm not so sure if- Hey!" The Princess just tossed Toad at the monster, headfirst at its armor. After recovering from the impact, Toad immediately began crawling around the robo crab, dealing little mini punches, but Heavy Lobster easily shook him off. But while it was distracted, Peach opened its right claw and shoved a turnip inside, so when he tried to fire, that claw ended up exploding.
Peach gave herself a little clap, but Amy pulled her away when the lobster charged its booster and continued down the hall. Amy chased and jumped on it, giving it a few pounds with her hammer, but Heavy Lobster shook her off.
Tails continued to watch the Heavy Lobster's movements on their radar. "Guys, quick! He's reached the engine!"
The crab robot blasted down the doors to the Typhoon's core, ready to strike. "Not so fast!" Knuckles called, running from behind. The red echidna spun around and performed his Knuckles Attack, putting on his Shovel Claws and greatly damaging his booster, but the monster proceeded to shoot missiles at the core, anyway. "NOW, Sonic!"
The blue hedgehog arrived just in time for the show. He held the light-blue Chaos Emerald in his hand, using its power to charge a powerful Spin Dash and pierce straight through the back, the robot erupting in an explosion. "AW, YEAH!" Tails cheered.
"Great!" Sonic smiled. "Now let's hope the others can deal with their problem."
The golden Heavy Lobster continued stomping through the halls of the Halberd, approaching Angie Granite. The girl smirked as she stomped the floor, attempting to fling a rock at him… if only the ship wasn't made of metal. "Eep! I can't bend metal! AHH!" Sonya quickly pulled her out of the way before the lobster shot her, still boosting down the hall.
"He is reaching the main Reactor!" Meta Knight shouted in his thick Spanish accent.
When the doors to the Reactor slid open for Heavy Lobster to come in, Dimentia immediately pelted the robot with Space Lightning, electrocuting it, but not doing much damage. Unaffected, the monster just shot a missile from its right claw. "Dimentia!" Infinity yelled, arriving and shoving the Zathurian out of the way, the missile exploding on the ground and blowing him back.
The Heavy Lobster proceeded to shoot the colorful core that was the Reactor. Kirby hurriedly ran from behind it and shouted, "Pi, pi!"
"The ship is taking massive damage. Quick, Kirby!" Meta Knight shouted.
"Kirby!" Morgan called, running down the hall with the frying pan she previously used in the kitchen. "Eat this!"
Kirby smiled as the Uno girl tossed the utensil, sucking the frying pan inside and gaining his chef's hat and frying pan & ladle, becoming Cook Kirby. The pink puff happily caught the robot in a frying pan and proceeded to cook it at high temperatures. Some of the nuts 'n' bolts popped out of the Heavy Lobster from the intense heat, but it was able to shake away and punch Kirby. "PIE!"
"That monster is mechanical. Cook Kirby is not enough." Meta Knight said.
"Any more ideas?" Dimentia asked.
Morgan then pulled out a golden frying pan with a red handle. "Well, there is this special one I got from my grandmother. Try this!"
Kirby saw the gold utensil coming for him after Morgan tossed it, immediately standing up and inhaling. (Cue "Super Ability" Theme from Return to Dreamland!) Kirby glowed with light as a golden chef hat with a bright star emblem appeared on his head, holding a gold frying pan and other gold utensils. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed the Heavy Lobster and laid him on a kitchen counter (all of this is part of his form, oddly enough), then started chopping him into pieces with a golden knife. He rapidly tossed the pieces into a refrigerator, allowing them to freeze after a few seconds, then pulled them out and stuffed them in an oven, cooking at extremely hot temperatures for 5 seconds before the oven exploded. Kirby took the burnt pieces of the Heavy Lobster and chopped them up a few more times before tossing a plate with a piece to each person in the room.
The speedy Super Cook Kirby (which they've decided to name "5-Star Chef Kirby") scampered throughout the ship and tossed a plate to everyone else, finally stopping and eating his own in one bite. "Pie!" he smiled happily.
The others smiled at him and attempted to eat their pieces, but immediately hurt their teeth upon contact of the burnt metal. "I'll… skip out on lunch." Infinity decided.
"Besides, we just ate." Morgan said.
"Pie." Kirby blushed. Right as they finished, both ships were finally coming in for landing on Planet Secco. (Stop the music.)
Planet Secco
The ships had landed on the endless, sunny, sandy expanse that was Planet Secco. The land looked no different than when Nigel was first here, already feeling the sweat coming on from the intense heat. He was already feeling like Heavy Lobster just moments ago, when 5-Star Chef Kirby burned him in that oven. Unlike Sonic, however… who was freely running around.
"WOOHOO! THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO RUN AROUND ON THIS PLANET! NO WATER! !"
"Oh, Brother…" Tails shook his head, as did Knuckles.
Eva and Kade were standing in the sand, doing another KNN News segment with Sonic scampering about in the background. "Hello, everybody, and welcome back to KNN News. After our last segment, we've had an unexpected encounter with a few Galaxian characters, including the two great Star Warriors, Kirby and Meta Knight." Eva spoke.
"Pie!" Kirby smiled, getting his face in the camera.
Eva moved him aside and continued, "We've also met up with former galactic leader, Dimentia, who has surprisingly turned over a new leaf. We began our grand adventure into the stars, first crash-landing on a planet of vicious demon aliens known as Vaporians."
"Woohoo!" Sonic cheered in the background, leaving a cloud of sand in his path as he ran.
"But thanks to our heroes, including myself, a terrible curse was removed from the planet, turning the aliens back into the peaceful inhabitants they once were."
"Yeah!" Sonic cheered some more.
"They informed us about a lost civilization said to exist on the planet seen before you: Planet Secco. As well as an ancient Sun God they used to worship. Does this lost tribe exist? Tune us in next time, when we-"
"YEAH!" Sonic immediately zoomed between her and the camera, getting the anchorwoman completely covered in sand.
"And… cut." Kade said.
As Nigel, Rachel, and Meta Knight overlooked the endless sands from the deck of the Halberd, the two had explained their meeting with Darkrai. "A possible traitor amongst us?"
"Pretty much." Rachel replied. "I know it sounds vague, but…"
"There is something we wanted to ask you."
"Yes?"
"Were you…Were you another one of the first Nightmare King's projects… to create the Ultimate Nightmare?" Rachel asked.
"Hmm…" Meta Knight looked away. "I was created… some time after Kirby was banished. After that incident, the Nightmare King decided to practice making powerful weapons that almost match those of the Star Rod, Galaxia Sword, and other sacred weapons. He succeeded in making them, and created me specifically to use the powers of his artificial Galaxia Sword… and I was a master. My skills were close to matching that of Kirby." He turned back to them. "Which explains why I was designed in almost the same structural detail."
The two's mouths dropped when Meta Knight held up his mask, showing that his blue face looked almost exactly like Kirby's. He put the mask back on and continued, "I was the strongest Nightmare in his army at the time. But after a while, I realized the evil he was doing to the galaxy. I betrayed Darkrai the First, and hid out on the Dream Realm's Planet Popstar. But during my time, holding the fake sword… power never felt so good. I was truly one of the greatest warriors in Galaxia. Second only to Kirby. It has always been my dream to wield the real Galaxia Sword, and perhaps become the greatest warrior in Galaxia."
"And, would you go as far as to awaken the first Nightmare King if it meant getting to wield the real sword?" Rachel asked.
Meta Knight's eyes immediately widened. "No! I would never attempt something so reckless and foolhardy!"
"Okay, okay! Just asking…"
"Um, Meta Knight." Magolor called, floating over. "The Reactor's taken plenty of damage. I'm not sure if the ship can survive another attack."
"We will have to look for resources on this planet. Tatooine Town is nearby. There must be a scrap shop that sells the materials we need."
"Oh, we can go looking for it." Morgan offered, with Mika nodding in agreement. "We're pretty used to these types of hot temperatures."
"Very well. But be cautious. Secco is very well-known for its crime rates." The psychics nodded and jumped off the ship, walking toward the town ahead. "But hurry back so we can get this fixed! This ship has gotten me laid several times."
Some time ago; in some random city
Five college girls in a convertible were pulling up to and stopping at a red light in a downtown street. The Battleship Halberd was coming in for landing right behind them, landing and scraping along the left side of the road, and scratching several buildings and tearing down telephone poles with its wings.
The five girls looked up as Meta Knight stuck his head out the cockpit window. "Any of you girls like to make the Stardust Sweep?" he asked, coolly.
"Sure, but, we only got 12 parsecs." one of them replied.
"Hm hm hm, hop in."
Back on Secco; present time
Nigel and Rachel slid off the ship and spotted Dimentia standing and looking off in the distance. "Um… you okay?" Nigel asked.
"…I hate this planet."
"How come?" Rachel asked.
"I was around when this planet was still… more lively. It was one of the nicest places in Galaxia. I always loved coming here to mellow out and play with the little robot children. But after those demonified Vaporians attacked this planet… I've never forgiven those Nightmares for what they've done. I hated the desert they made of this place, and never wanted to return."
"Hm… I wonder what this planet used to look like before." Rachel said.
"I can answer that." Jagar said, walking over with the Marauder's Map. He held it open as the three looked over his shoulders. The map showed a brownish desert expanse like they saw now, but their eyes widened when the image on the map changed to that of a grassland. "First of all, there was plenty more vegetation… though not that much. But it was mainly more advanced in technology. Most of it could be found in the Ancient Wastelands to the west."
That's when Sonic ran and stopped by them with Blaze joining as well. "And is this Sun Temple found within the Ancient Wastelands, perhaps?" Blaze asked.
"Wouldn't doubt it." Sonic said. "But do you know anything about these Timeshift Stones the Vaporians told us about?"
"I heard plenty of them are still lying around in the wastelands." Jagar replied. "But no one knows if they really work. When the Timeshift Stones are sprinkled with Time Dust, which can be created using timebending, they would react and restore any life in the surrounding area, changing it to a past state."
"Then you could probably make them work." Rachel figured.
"And then we can find the Sun Temple and meet Solaris." Nigel deduced.
"Sounds like an adventure to me." Sonic smirked. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's find us a Sun God." With that, the speedy hedgehog charged ahead of the others.
"Um… the wastelands are that way." Jagar corrected, pointing the opposite direction.
Sonic quickly ran past them and yelled, "Whoopsie!" The others hurriedly ran after him that direction.
Outside the Halberd; a few moments later
"Ahhhh… nothin' better ta do in the desert than work on your tan." Fanny Fulbright said as she and Eva lied back on lawn chairs, dressed in their vacation outfits while the sun heated their skin.
"I know our cousin could sure use the heat." Eva replied. "Good thing they went off to visit that Sun God."
"Ugh, don't remind me. I still can't believe I'm related to that baldheaded weirdo."
"Ah, cheer up, Fanny. Who knows, maybe it'll turn out Cole's wife really wasn't related to Grandfather's wife."
"Shyah, but what're the odds of that happening?"
"Hey, Fanny?" Fanny raised her sunglasses and glanced right to see her youngest brother.
"Hey, Shaunie. What's up?"
"…Fanny…" Shaunie nervously scratched the back of his head. "Do you think… I'm… a coward?"
"Well, ya had the guts to come all the way out here without any shoes or socks." Fanny smirked.
"Fanny!"
"Hm hm hm!" she giggled. "Just kiddin'. You are pretty brave, Shaunie."
"You're just saying that to be nice."
"Come on, Shaunie. Me, bein' nice to a boy?"
"Heehee! Well…"
"I'll admit, you're not the bravest kid in the world, but you are braver than you realize." Fanny smiled, placing a hand on his little shoulder. "You and Paddy, really. You both came to save me from that detention center, where ya fought that bounty hunter. You were brave enough to stand up against a kajillion-foot tall monster to help me. Come ta think of it, ya had the guts to turn me into a giant knowin' I was totally gonna eat yer heads off."
"Heeheehee!"
"But just remember, Shaunie: even if ya feel small, don't ever feel intimidated by anyone bigger than you. Don't let anyone hurt you, don't let anyone push ya around… and you'll probably be as brave as… well, heck, Kweeb. He's the only one that's got experience with that sort of thing."
"Heehee! Yeah… thanks, Fanny. You are nice. Um… but there was one other thing."
"What's that?"
"Well… can you train me? I wanna get big and strong like you."
"Heh, like me?" she smirked slightly.
"Well, yeah. You're the biggest, strongest person I know, Fanny. You're really brave and tough, and everyone's afraid of you. If I was like you, Fanny, no one would ever bully me again. Could you pleeeease teach me?"
"Awww!" Fanny sat up and ruffled his hair. "I never knew ya admired me that much! Okay, I'll train ya." She decided, standing up. "But don't whine if Ay get too hard on ya." With that, they entered the ship and walked up to the bridge.
Ancient Wastelands
(Play the "Lanayru Desert" Theme from Zelda: Skyward Sword.)
"Welcome to the Ancient Wastelands…" began the mariachi band leader as they stood on a rock, playing their usual music. "Once the center of an ancient and proud civilization… now the center of disaster and ruins after the toll of the ages…"
The kids arrived at a distant, desert canyon area. Ruins of minecarts and high-technical machines littered the area, and there seemed to be no signs of life anywhere. "Hm. Haven't seen them in a while." Nigel said, noticing the musical owls.
"So, these are the Ancient Wastelands, huh?" Rachel said. "Definitely not the liveliest place I woulda picked."
"This place was a lot more flourishing centuries ago." Dimentia replied. "But the course of the ages took its toll…"
"The map says this was the area where the robots mined for Timeshift Stones." Jagar said, looking at the Marauder's Map.
"But where is this Sun Temple?" Blaze asked.
"Probably buried beneath the sand… or something." Sonic figured.
"I bet these robots would know something about it." Nigel said.
"Well, if these Time Stones really work, we'd be able to ask them ourselves." Rachel thought. "So, let's get going. This place is already real depressing…"
Stage 36: Ancient Wastelands
Mission: Find the Sun Temple.
Act 1
The kids passed by the mariachi band and started their venture between a small trench, walking into a cave. "Whoa!" Rachel tripped on something in the sand. The six looked and saw it was some kind of old, dusty robot. "Hm… must be one of the inhabitants."
"It is." Dimentia informed. "Let's keep going."
The kids entered the cave and saw a minecart leading to a high wall. Rachel and Sonic pushed the cart to the wall and used it as a boost to make it up for the others. They reached the other side of the cave to a small field of fallen robots and machines. Their attention was directed to a strange, dark-blue stone with a phoenix symbol in the center.
Fi popped out and reported, "Master, signs indicate this is one of the Timeshift Stones mentioned previously. According to Jagar's explanation, the stones make work with some Time Dust."
"How can we make that?" Rachel asked.
"Any kind of timebending, I guess." Jagar figured. "I'll just use Rewind." With that, he held his hand open at the stone and used a Rewind on it (which wouldn't do much, considering it's been there for years). The strange material called Time Dust appeared on the stone, and everyone jumped back startled when it immediately turned a bright blue. (Switch to "Lanayru Desert Past" Theme.)
The group stared with amazement as a circle expanded around the area. Grass and flowers started to bloom, the fallen machines lit up with electricity, and the robots were brought back to life. The little mechanical creatures immediately started digging in the walls or putting gems on treadmills, taking them someplace else. The robots were about as tall as 7-year-olds, like Sector W, and were white with reddish-brown faces. They had no legs, but had arms made of electricity, connecting the hands to their bodies.
"Wow… it actually worked!" Rachel beamed.
"Hm… so it did." Dimentia followed, still feeling glum.
"Talk about eternal life." Sonic said.
"Not quite." Jagar corrected. "It only goes as far as the energy field. Anything that steps outside it falls apart again."
"Well, while they're alive, let's ask them for directions." Blaze suggested, walking over to one. "Excuse me."
"What do you want, vrrpt?" the robo asked.
"Could you direct us the location of the Sun Temple?"
"No! No one sees our Sun God, vweeep! Not strangers like you!"
"Strangers? We just brought you back to-"
"They don't know what's happened, yet." Jagar whispered. "This is a past state. We're technically back in time."
"Aha. Either way, we must speak with Solaris. Perhaps this will show you we're worthy." She held up the yellow Sol Emerald.
"Ahh. Sol Emerald, zweeep. Those belong to Solaris! Mmm… fine, vweep. Get that to Solaris. His temple is on an island out in the ocean. There're monsters and bad robots around, so be careful, sudo-WOOP."
That's when one of the doors opened to their left, letting in a minecart that hovered just a few inches above the track. The group got into the minecart and let it take them inside a huge cave with a bottomless pit. It was supposed to take them the rest of the way across, but the cart reached the end of the Time Stone's field and stopped. They spotted some platforms on their right, leading to a bigger platform with another Time Stone, surrounded by four skeletons. They jumped across the platforms and reached the stone for Jagar to use some timebending to make it light.
The entire cave was immediately reverted to a past state, and the rest of the minecart track was activated, too. However, it also brought the skeletons to life, turning them back into Bokoblin with lightsabers. The monsters switched on their weapons and attacked, but Rachel dealt several strikes against one and kicked it off the edge, Sonic Home Attacked another one off the edge, Nigel and Blaze shot flames at the third, while Dimentia just warped the last one over the pit.
The six hopped back to the minecart and proceeded to ride it the rest of the way. They passed by a couple stalactites with Boko Baba hanging from them, but Rachel easily cut the heads off the demon plants. The cart finally reached the door on the other side and exited outside. The cart was at the stone's limit and couldn't go any further, so they climbed out.
They walked to a small trench with a Time Stone in the middle, along with a few platforms with fallen robots. Jagar activated it with some timebending and restored life to that area, the robots turning out to be Bladed Spinners and hovering back up. Sonic Home Attacked across the robots and pulled a lever on the other side, extending a bridge for the others to get across. Then they leapt down a gorge with two parallel rows of train tracks with broken trains. They found yet another Time Stone in the center, which Jagar activated. The trains activated and slowly moved forward while some fallen Eggman robots were restored around the area as well.
Dimentia stunned them with her Space Lightning, allowing Sonic to Home Attack and Rachel to slice them in half. They saw the path continued on another high ledge and decided to climb onto the train cargo, letting it carry them over and jump to the ledge. Next, they were at a small river of quicksand with some giant lobsters walking around. Nigel stepped in the quicksand, but Rachel immediately pulled him out when he started to sink. "Okay… bad idea." He figured.
Rachel noticed a nearby lobster and thought of something. "Hey, lobster boy! We just ate another one of your kind for lunch!"
The lobster screeched at her, curled in his shell, and rolled over. He bumped the side of the ledge they were on and came out dizzily, allowing Rachel to shoot and kill it with her arrows. The shell fell over, and the kids proceeded to jump on and ride it down the sand river. A few other lobsters were trying to roll into them, but Jagar quickly froze them with Time Stop. The shell started to sink, but they reached the end of the river just in time and hopped off.
They were now at what seemed like a lake of quicksand with a few short walls and small islands. "Well, now what?" Rachel asked, seeing no way across.
Jagar pulled out the Marauder's Map and studied it. "It says this is where the roadways used to be. …In fact, there's one right here. I wonder…" The Time Spirit then stepped into the quicksand.
"Hey, you're not sinking!" Rachel noticed.
"The roads must just be inches below the quicksand. Follow me." They did as instructed and followed as the timebender walked along the sunken pathways that appeared on the map. He led them to a circular island in the center, where he then used his timebending to activate a Time Stone.
An energy field expanded, restoring the flowers and grass around the area. It also revived a few giant robot parts, which turned out to be Egg Hammers, as well as one of the good robots held prisoner in a cage. Sonic and Blaze performed several Home Attacks on one of them before it fell. Jagar froze the second one in time, allowing Dimentia to shock it, so when he unfroze it, it fell apart. Nigel shot fire in the last one's eyes for Rachel to cut off his legs, making it topple, then slice its head off.
When it was gone, the cage containing the robot opened, letting the little creature out. "Thank you, zrrpt! Say, you remind me of this one kid in green clothing, voo-weep." He said to Rachel.
"Oh, you don't say…"
"By any chance, would you know where the Sun Temple is?" Blaze asked.
"Oh, sure, vrrpt! But if you're trying to meet Solaris, you'll need what's in that chest." He indicated a large chest right behind him with three little rods on its lock. One rod had a lightning bolt, and was pointing right. The other had a tornado, and was pointing down left. The last had a flame, and was pointing upward. "To open it, you'll have to activate the three elemental rods around this area. There's a wind one, a fire one, and a lightning one. They're all around this area, cher-EEEN!"
"Hehehe. Cheren." Rachel chuckled.
"We should name one of our kids that." Nigel whispered to her, making her giggle.
That's when Fi popped out. "A report, Master: scans show this chest is made of the same material from these rods. As I failed to mention earlier, I am able to use dowsing. When a person or object's aura is similar, or has made contact with another aura, I am able to use dowsing and detect other persons or objects with the same aura. I can detect where these rods are located."
"Oh, well, that helps a ton!" Rachel exclaimed. "Let's try it out." Fi jumped back in the sword as Rachel pointed it around the area. "There's one." She stated as her sword started to blink faster to one area. "There's another." She said, pointing at another area. "And there's the last."
"But which ones are which?" Sonic asked.
"They're in the direction of wherever these rods are pointing, vrrpt. For example, the tornado is southwest." The robot said.
"Alright, then. Let's split up." Rachel decided as they divided into three teams of 2 (since there were 6 of them).
"Hold on." Jagar stopped them. "I have these bags of Time Dust. Use them just in case you find any stones." He took out two bags of the dust and handed one to Sonic and the other to Rachel.
"Jagar, just what exactly IS Time Dust, anyway?" Rachel asked.
"I dunno. But if Solaris is really a timebender, we could ask him."
"Okay… let's go, team."
Sonic and Blaze were paired together, and they used their speed to easily run across the quicksand before they sank, running over to a safe ledge where Rachel's sword pointed to. They arrived at a trench with a bottomless chasm, which had a platform with a propeller on the edge of it. They spotted a Time Stone and sprinkled a bit of Time Dust on, making it light. Life was restored to the area, and power came back to the platform.
Both animals stood on as Sonic used his airbending to spin the propeller, making the platform levitate. Blaze blew some flames in the opposite direction they wanted to go, like a rocket, making the platform move forward while Sonic kept it levitated, flying across the chasm. However, they were reaching the limit of the Time Stone's field, but Sonic spotted another one in the wall and quickly pulled out more dust, blowing it over and lighting the stone, then quickly continued spinning the propeller. With more range, they were able to keep the platform moving forward, having to repeat this process and activate other Time Stones as their range ended. When they finally arrived at the wind rod on the other side, Sonic used his Sonic Tornado and blew around it. The correct element caused the rod to light up, making the identical rod on the chest light up as well.
Nigel and Rachel were paired, and the two walked up a crumbled side of a wall and started walking along the path atop the walls to get across the quicksand to an area in the north, reaching a similar trench that went around rather than straight. They spotted some rocks piled in a minecart, along with a Timeshift Stone. Rachel poured some Time Dust onto the stone and lit it up. The minecart proceeded to carry the stone along the track across the trench.
As a result, the energy field was moving with the cart, causing some square platforms to spawn wherever it went. The two quickly followed the cart along the platforms, trying to stay within the stone's range, otherwise the footholds would vanish and they'd fall. They had to quickly climb across vine walls in some areas to keep up with the cart, and when the vines ended on one wall, they had to jump to the vines on the parallel wall to continue. They walked on more of the platforms that appeared in the past state, where Rachel sliced the heads off some Boko Babas that appeared. When they finally reached the fire rod, Nigel blew some flames onto it, making it alight with energy.
Jagar and Dimentia were paired and were using the Marauder's Map to see and cross the paths hidden beneath the quicksand, over to the area on the eastern side. There, they entered a small building, which was flooded with quicksand and giant boxes. The two hopped the boxes across the quicksand and reached a Time Stone in the center. Jagar used his timebending and lit the stone up. Fans switched on within the walls and claws lowered down from the ceiling, grabbing and carrying boxes off.
Jagar and Dimentia hopped on one of the boxes and were carried across a bottomless pit, jumping to a ledge on the other side. There appeared to be a power generator with a small compartment on the bottom. Dimentia formed a small electric sphere in her hands and stuck it in. The generator powered and opened a door beside it, and the two stepped into the next room to find the lightning rod. Dimentia easily powered it with her Space Lightning, causing the rod on the chest to light up.
The six returned to the platform just in time. With all 3 rods activated, the chest lit up with energy and slowly opened. Rachel peeked in and pulled out two identical claws, attached to golden handles by chains. "Uh… what are these?"
"They're called Hookshots, foo-WEEP! They're extendable chains that can grab onto distant wooden objects and pull you to them, zrrpt." The robot answered.
"Well, that might be helpful!"
Rachel got the Double-Hookshots! With these, she can grab latch distant items and pull them to her! She can also pull herself to wooden things!
"You can use them to get to the cave over there, vweep." He pointed to a ledge above a sand waterfall to the west. "The ocean's just past there, and beyond that, the Sun Temple! Say 'hi' to Solaris for me, VWEEB!"
"Hm hm hm. Vweeb." Dimentia chuckled as the six followed the Marauder's Map and went across the quicksand.
When they arrived at the sandfall, which was between two parallel walls with wooden targets, Rachel used her new items to latch on the first target, pulling herself higher, then latched her way up the others after that. When she arrived at the top, she found another Time Stone and sprinkled some more Time Dust on it. The waterfall was restored, and a vine wall appeared for the others to climb up. Afterwards, they proceeded into the cave. (Play the "Lanayru Sand Sea" Theme from Skyward Sword.)
Act 2
When they came out on the other side of the small cave, they found their selves on a cliff, overlooking a vast ocean of sand. "So… this is Secco's ocean?" Rachel asked.
"Best ocean I've ever seen." Sonic said jokingly.
But in reality, it wasn't the best ocean they've seen. In fact, it was the worst, even to Sonic's eyes. It was all but vast, empty sand, for miles and miles. This desert had few signs of life already… but this ocean looked the most dead of all. They could imagine, endless oceans of beautiful, sparkling water, seagulls chirping as they soared under sunny skies, and fish swimming freely in the salty sea. But all that remained… was endless, dry dust.
"This used to be a real ocean, with water." Dimentia replied. "One of the most beautiful in Galaxia, with some of the most refreshing water. But after this planet fell into ruin by the Vaporians… the seas dehydrated, and sand flooded the area… much like the rest of this planet."
The kids walked down a path down the cliff, arriving at the shore. Sonic stepped into the sand, but started to sink faster than the other quicksand, so Blaze immediately pulled him out. "Whoa! Hehe… don't wanna go in this ocean, either."
"Hey, there's something over there." Rachel pointed out, noticing a pier with a boat at the end. The kids ran over and found another fallen robot, wearing a pirate's hat, beside a small speedboat resting in the sand. They noticed a Time Stone inside the ship's rudder, so Jagar used timebending to activate it.
The speedboat and the robot powered back to life, and the sand around the life force field turned into pure, clear water. The robo captain hacked and coughed a little as he recovered and viewed his surroundings. "Huh? Holy smokes, I'm alive, bzz-rrpt! Those monsters 'aven't gotten me yet!"
"Um… who are you?" Blaze asked.
"Huh? Whoa! Aliens! Argh, a pleasure to be meetin' your acquaintance here, eh, zrrpt." The captain greeted, tipping his hat. "My name's LD-301N Skipper. Call me Skipper, ay? Now, what brings ye here to this planet?"
"Well, Mr. Skipper… we're looking for the Sun God."
"Solaris, ay? Oh ho ho, sure! His island's just up ahead that way! My boat here can take you in a flash, bzzrt. Solaris is a very important deity to us, zrrpt. When our planet has reached its end, it is said that Solaris will use his magnificent time powers and alight the Timeshift Stones, forever keeping our land prosperous, bzz-rrpt."
The group exchanged sad glances, feeling they should tell him. "We… aren't really so sure about that… Captain Skipper." Rachel told him. "Your planet's… kinda already met its end."
"Ar?" The confused captain then passed by them, over to the energy field's edge. When he stuck his right hand out of the range, it turned to rust, so he instantly pulled it back. "Oh my…" The electric-powered captain looked around, seeing the desolate wasteland in the place where the ocean once flowed.
"Here's a map of the current area." Jagar said, showing him the Marauder's Map, which now viewed an overhead of the current appearance of the planet: a desert.
"So… it's actually happened."
"We're really sorry…" Rachel said, sympathetically.
The captain walked to his boat where the Time Stone rested. "Then… the Time Stones really work. But… Solaris hasn't activated them. Does that mean… his powers over time really don't exist, bzz-rpt?"
"We don't know for sure." Blaze said. "But it isn't completely deserted. There are towns with people in other parts of the desert…"
"Aye… but that not fair well for us." The captain said glumly. "It's just as I feared. All these stones were good for is doing what they do: taking us back to the past. They don't grant us longer life. They only play the same events… over and over again as they did in the past. We're all just trapped in one time… while hundreds of years go on in the rest of the universe… What's the point of goin' on, zrrpt?"
"Hold on! Even if it's the same life over and over… you still gotta enjoy it while it lasts, right?" Sonic smirked.
The captain looked back up, his bright mood slowly returning. "Aye… 'tis true."
"Yeah! So, if you were a captain that loved to sail the seas, you gotta keep going!" Rachel shouted perkily.
"Yes… YES, OF COURSE!" Skipper cheered. "I can't stand around, moping forever… I'll keep sailing these seas until my circuits burn out, aye?"
"That's the spirit!" Rachel smiled.
"Anyways… I'd be honored to take ye to see Solaris. Le's hop in and shove off!"
The gang rode the small speedboat over the vast, sandy ocean, sailing the water within the Time Stone's range. They eventually arrived at an island with a tall, rocky cliffside with a swervy path that led upwards. Before continuing, however, they decided to rest a bit from the long journey. Rachel and Blaze were happily swimming in the refreshing water (created by the Time Stone's range) while Jagar and Sonic just kicked back on the path. And Nigel and Dimentia were sitting on the ledge, dipping their feet in the water.
"So, what's it like, anyway… the immortal life?" the Brit asked.
Dimentia stared at the sparkling water in thought. "It's… not as good as one might think."
"Oh…"
"Always aging and aging as the years go by… never able to get too far from my life source. Having to suffer the enduring pain of watching others closest to me slowly dissolve and decay, letting the toll of the ages take their pay, turning them into dust. Much like this gorgeous vacation paradise of mine… where robot children play, day in and day out, barely any care in the world. I wanted that kind of life to last forever with me. But no matter how much youth I took, nothing ever truly changes. People are doomed to grow up, and doomed to become dust. Just as this planet's become. Because nothing ever lasts forever…"
"Well… no, it doesn't. But it's like Sonic said. You have to enjoy things to the fullest in the time you have. …And it's what I said, too, actually."
"I know." She looked back up. "And… I've been thinking… maybe this second chance that Clockwork gave me… really can help. I could regain the friends I never had. Battle the villains I always wanted to. And…" she turned and smiled at him, "even find love."
"Mm." Both of them smiled and looked back out at the ocean. "Hey… do you think Darkrai ever feels that pain?"
"Hm?"
"He's the only spirit that interacts with humans. More than any other spirit, at least. I wonder how he feels… seeing his mortal friends get old and die."
"I know how he felt during my time as a tyrannical leader. It must be no different."
"Mm… hehe. That Infinity has his eye on you."
"Hm hm hm." She blushed and giggled. "He most certainly does…"
"Yaaawn. Are we ready to go, yet?" Sonic asked. "We're gettin' bored over here."
"Hm hm, okay then." Rachel replied. "Let's go."
The six of them headed up the cliffside path until reaching the top. There was a long bridge over a bottomless chasm, leading between rows of torches into a massive temple with a phoenix symbol above the entrance. The gang slowly approached the Sun Temple while the mariachi band played music on a rock. "And so, the young bald hero and his friends reach the temple of Solaris. What will they find in this ancient dungeon? Will Solaris inform them on what they need to know? Or will they meet an untimely end along the way?" The band leader yawned. "Boy, this scene is really depressing. Let's move on to a much happier scene." (Stop the music.)
The village from "Peter and the Wolf"
In a distant, snowy village somewhere else, the many townspeople joyfully danced as a team of hunters carried a wolf tied to a-
"No, not that one. Please." the band leader spoke. "ANYTHING but that one."
Tatooine Town
At this time, Mika and Morgan were walking around Tatooine Town, looking for a decent place that sells ship parts. But in a town of thugs, it was hard to find such a thing. "Man, there're all kinds of crazy monsters out here." Morgan said as they walked by several thuggish aliens, such as Sand People sharpening blades, curved-neck aliens dealing drugs, with most of them shooting the girls glares.
"Yeah, and you can tell they added more for this story." Mika replied, noticing a short blue elephant yelling at the Cantina Band.
"D'AW, what ya doin', Man, we gotta gig goin', Man, we got a f^&kin' gig."
"There's gotta be someone out here that sells useful junk." Morgan said.
"Wa-ha hey-hey!" called a strange, short alien with fly wings, an elephant-like nose, a brown hat, and rotten teeth, dressed in a rather messy, repair shop getup. "If it's junk you want, yah, then I got just the place." The two shrugged and decided to follow the alien into an old junk shop. "So, what can I get you kids, hah? Some root beer, a couple o' wheats, eh heh… 'EY, RAINIER! Comoni ako! (Rainier! Get over here!)"
In came a boy with slightly pale, peach skin, dark-violet eyes with blue glasses, and slightly long, messily cut hair, which was onyx black. He was wearing an old tan robe, brown shorts, and brown shoes. "Chochinono passa? (What do you want now?)"
"Mochinono passa! Cassa mes-AH! Cas... (We got customers, little boy! So, get them what they want, I'm busy! Gah, stupid podraces…)" The alien flew out.
The boy, who looked about 13, sighed and walked over to the psychics. "I swear, I don't know how I'm able to put up with that Watto. He didn't give you too much trouble, did he?"
Mika couldn't help but blush when the boy focused his violet eyes on her. He seemed about an inch taller than her… but he looked really handsome. Something about this boy made Mika feel… very sweaty. "Uh… n-no, no, not really. Um… I'm Mika. This is Morgan."
"Nice to meet you! My name's Rainier. The big fly over there is Watto. He's my master."
"Master? So, you're an apprentice!" Mika exclaimed.
"Er, no… he's my slave owner."
"Oh… you're a slave?"
"Eh, kind of. Just because the galaxy's at peace with The Empire and GKND gone, doesn't really change much in these lowly parts. So, what can we get for you?"
"Well, our ships got pummeled by some TIE Fighters, and we're looking for stuff to repair it." Morgan explained simply.
"Oh ho, if that's what you want, then I-a got ALL the perfect Raritanium!" Watto perked, flying back in. "But, uh, we willin' to discuss a price, yah?" he asked, rubbing his fingers together.
"Well, our mom gave me 50 bucks." Morgan replied, pulling some money out of her wallet.
"Bah!" Watto swat it away. "Earth Money? Your Earth Money's no good in these parts, I need something a little more, uh, interesting."
"Ohh…" Mika walked over and waved her left hand by his face. "I'm sure Earth Money will do fine."
"No. It won't."
Mika waved again and said, "Earth Money will do fine…"
"NO! It WON'T! Whaddya think you are, some kinda Jedi?" This caught Rainier's attention. "I'm a Toydarian, mind tricks don' work on me, yah? Now gimme somethin' to pay for, or you ain't gettin' nothin'." With that, he flew off to fix some junk.
Rainier then walked over and looked at Mika with curiosity. "Um… what were you trying to do there?"
"Oh… mind tricks." She blushed, glancing away.
He rose a brow. "Are-Are you…Are you a Jedi?"
"Hahahaha!" Watto laughed, flying over. "Silly Rainier! The Jedi are all gone, yah? All killed by that Palpatine and that no-good Anakin kid many years ago, yah? They ain't evah to be seen again…" He left them alone again.
Rainier looked back at Mika and asked, "Are you?"
"Well… we're more Padawans."
"It's just that… I thought all the psychicbenders in Galaxia were dead."
"Well, we're not exactly from Galaxia." Mika replied. "We're from Earth… very far away. But we are psychicbenders."
"Wow… I never met a psychicbender before!" he smiled with interest.
"You actually like psychics?" Morgan asked.
"I like any benders, really. They're such unique people, and I always wanted to know how their powers work. But the ones I'm interested the most in are psychicbenders. How do you guys manage with so much power and not feel lonely?"
"Lonely? What do you mean?" Mika asked.
"Well, I dunno. I heard, because of what the Siths did, people around the universe hated psychicbenders."
"Well, we always had our families." Morgan replied.
"And I had Mewtwo." Mika mentioned. "Plus, we have tons of friends now."
"Mmm… boy, if I wasn't stuck here with this geezer, I'd sure love to come with you. Just what are you up to, anyway?"
"Saving the universe from a Dark Master, pretty much." Morgan answered.
"Ah. Man, I wish I could come with you. I'm pretty good in martial arts, and great with electronics. I could probably help fix your ship AND help you fight."
"Is there any way Watto will let you come with us?" Mika asked.
"HEY-HEY!" Watto called around outside. "Come on, place your bets for the podraces, uhn? I got 40 gold pieces on the little Kateenian boys, so who-sa ready to bet, yah?"
"Well, unless he bet me on a podrace, I doubt I'll be getting out of here pretty easily." Rainier figured.
"Well, you said you're great with technology, right?" Mika asked. "Maybe if you built your own vehicle and entered the race, and you won, you could come with us!"
"Yeah! There's plenty of that 2x4 stuff in our ship!" Morgan said.
"I dunno…"
"Come on, Rainy, it'll be great to have you in our team! You can see all our bending abilities and everything!" Mika practically begged.
"Hmm…"
"Hey, you, kids!" Watto called, flying back in. "A bunch of people just bet me 140 gold pieces, yah? Any o' you kids, eh, want a gamble?"
The 2 psychics and Rainier exchanged smirks. "Actually, I'm gonna enter the race." Rainier spoke.
"Huh?"
"And we bet, that if he wins, he gets to come with us." Mika stated.
"We also want the necessary parts to fix our ship." Morgan followed.
"Ho HO no no no! No slave o' mine is entering any podraces again, eh?"
"Well, someone's afraid of gambling with a bunch of kids." Morgan smirked.
"Come on, Watto. It's not like we're JEDI or nothin'." Mika followed.
"Nnnn… alright then, a bet it is. Is not like Rainier could pull off a miracle with these big boys anyhow. Just get ready to pay up something big and fancy if he doesn't win, hah? Ha HAH ha ha ha hah!" And the Toydarian flew off laughing.
The kids exchanged another smirk and walked off.
And so, we cross the desert. Just like in Skyward Sword! And Rainier is Mika's newest OC, whom she paired with herself, as you see. And she also made up the Time Dust idea, too, in her Operation DUSK story; you should check that out!