I wonder how many people would be mad that I didn’t let Spyro join the team—a popular and beloved character—yet I let Marine join—an unpopular character.
But guess what: that’s gonna be a trend throughout the Gameverse.
Chapter 20: Rachel Visits Dungeon 6: Aquaria Tower Mission: Make it to the top of the tower!
The first room had a waterwheel on the ceiling, being pushed by a spout from a large faucet beneath it.
There was a parallel, red faucet across from it, but it was inactive.
There was a hallway across the other side of the room, but gears were grinding within it.
To disable the gears, they had to shut off the waterwheel: its faucet was connected to a huge two-sided handle.
Dib tried to use his mech arms to push the handle, but it was too heavy.
“I’ll ‘elp ya, mate!” Marine got on the other side to push it as well.
Their teamwork and strength twisted the handle and shut off the water flow and the wheel.
“Hey, you’re pretty strong for someone so short!” Kweeb remarked.
“Excuse me?!” the 2’8″ raccoon asked the inch-tall Kateenian.
Nigel and Ava passed the hallway of gears and found a tall, yellow platform with a smaller handle on top.
There were large globs of water drooping down around the platform, all spaced out.
They found a Blue Cube Wisp behind the platform, so Nigel broke its capsule.
“CUBE!” His burst of power froze the globs solid.
They would serve as platforms, but Ava had to throw her swords to serve as stairs between each of them.
She remained on the ground, threw them for Nigel to climb, then called her swords back to throw them between the next set.
Nigel reached the top and turned the crank.
This caused another faucet in the prior room to shoot up another spout.
Nigel and Ava headed back as the group rode up the spout to a higher foothold.
They needed to ride some moving platforms to reach the next one… but they were inactive.
Dib and Marine went back down to reactivate the waterwheel, causing the platforms to move.
Afterwards, the group could climb some stairs and enter a door to a small room with a drain.
As the door locked firmly behind them, the room flooded.
They held their breaths as the next door would allow them into a towering room with a swirling current.
The current flowed counterclockwise and was just gentle enough for them to swim effectively.
There was an enormous rotating device in the center, two other tunnels they could flow through, and giant turbines above that would prevent them from ascending.
They chose to swim through the higher tunnel.
It led into a room where they could resurface, and would have to climb a long pipe that slanted and zigzagged its way up to a platform.
There was an Irken on that platform, sending down walking piranhas with her Piranha Launcher.
Marine made her way up the pipe while punching Light Spheres at each piranha, eventually KOing the Irken.
She turned a red crank at the top, which caused water to flow through the pipe.
There was an exit tunnel leading back into the central rotating room.
They swam into the lower tunnel this time, but there were jellyfish in the way.
Nigel shot his W.E.T.-N.E.T.
to trap and electrify them right back.
The team resurfaced on a ledge with a sealed door and an inactive generator beside it.
“Hmmmm…” Marine punched a Light Sphere to bring life to the generator and open the door.
“Voila!” “Wow!” Dib perked up.
“This is some kind of solar-powered device.
…In an underwater facility.
Who’s the architect who decided that?” The following room had a grated ceiling they would have to climb across above a current, which would send them back to the center room.
Problem was that the ceiling was covered in Dexihands; cyan-colored hands that were very frail with white nails, like ghouls from the Underworld.
Nigel threw N.I.N.S.T.A.R.s to sever the hands as he clambered across.
He reached the next handle and turned it… but he realized no water was flowing through the red pipe.
“Weird.
This pipe seems to connect to the upper room.
“Ava, flick me over!” Kweeb requested.
“Maybe there’s a clog, I can crawl inside and see.” “Alright.” Ava held him in her palm, positioned her fingers with careful aim, and flicked.
Once at Nigel’s platform, Kweeb crawled into a gap beneath the crank.
“Better you than me.” Nigel commented.
Kweeb journeyed through the pipe until he found a pile of rubble and water barely seeping through it.
He shot and shattered some rocks until the flow was able to push through.
“Uh-oh!” But then he realized another problem: “WAAAAAHHH!” He was caught up in the flow.
“It’s working!” Nigel said.
“But I think Kweeb was still in there!” “Welp, he’s gone the way of the latrine now.” Marine said.
“Let’s go back to that bottom room!” Ava ushered.
“I remember seeing the red pipes link down there!” They swam back to the central room and could swim into the small room with the drain.
The door sealed, the water drained, and they could exit to the hallway leading back to the waterwheel room.
From the vantage from which they entered, they noticed a spout coming out of a nearby red faucet.
Ava jumped over to it and found Kweeb relaxing atop it, wearing tiny sunglasses and sipping a smoothie.
“Hey, babe.
You come here often?” Ava snickered.
“Where did you get those, anyway?” The spout could help them jump to another two-sided crank on a red platform, so Dib and Marine jumped over and twisted it with their combined strength.
It caused a red faucet beneath the wheel to spout up, but with two faucets pushing either side of the wheel, it slowed to a halt, which also sealed the path to the churning room.
Dib and Marine had to go down and turn the yellow crank to disable that one.
Afterwards, they climbed back up as Team Uno backtracked through the corridor.
However, some unexpected guests came out of the draining room: two robo-pirates, green and yellow.
Kweeb jumped on the floor and blasted his Tri-gun at the yellow while evading his shots, and Marine pummeled the green with Light Fists.
The group reentered the churning room as the water began flowing clockwise.
There was only a single new tunnel for them to enter.
It shifted upward slightly as they dodged around some spiked mines; there was a window where the mariachi band was watching them, as if the ops were in an aquarium.
The kids resurfaced in a vertical room that had five waterfalls pouring down.
“Uck!” Luvbi coughed.
“My regret is nigh for not having stayed above!
My wings are soaked and salted to the brim!” “I guess each of us has a planet we don’t work well with.” Ava remarked.
“Heh, you have no idea.” Dib passively agreed.
“I see a Wisp.” Nigel noticed a Green Hover inside one of the falls.
Ava threw a sword to cut its capsule.
Nigel absorbed it, “HOVER!” and drifted upward.
He had to avoid the waterfalls lest they push him back down, but otherwise, he could reach a ledge and press a switch to drop a ladder for his teammates.
They climbed up and entered a longer, wider room.
There were three caged platforms across a pool, and what looked to be legged barrels inside them.
These barrels had slots for their angry eyes and shock rods on their heads.
The Robarrels were constantly electrifying the water.
“Oi, leave this to me!” Marine said, noticing the flickering light vantages going up the left side of the wall and along the ceiling.
She flicked her fingers toward the first one and, “Woohoo!” formed a Light Chain to pull herself to it.
She swung the ceiling lights and got above each cage.
Marine dropped inside to fight and destroy each Robarrel; they were fairly durable and she had to evade their gas bombs, but they succumbed to her Light Fists in time.
With each Robarrel destroyed, the ops were able to swim in the water and follow a current.
It led them into a higher part of the central room, above the turbines.
They dodged mines that were flowing with the current and entered the next tunnel.
They were about to flow right into a turbine!
But Nigel was able to stamp his M.A.G.N.E.B.O.O.T.S.
against a metallic chunk of the wall, forming a chain with his teammates to keep them from going in.
He used his free hand to throw a Water B.O.O.M.E.R.
and blow up the turbine.
They had to repeat this maneuver with another turbine further up.
They were able to resurface in a long room and saw two pirates through the grated floor above them.
“Mehears this tower used to be a place of training for the waterbenders.” one pirate said.
“Supposed ter help them feel their chi flow like the water through these pipes.” Ava propped Luvbi’s feet up on her hands, giving her more space to muster her airbending.
“Aye, but now it’s—ARGH!” Luvbi blasted a gust up through the grate and into some cogs above, grinding them up.
“So, there are waterbenders, too?
Like Luvbi’s airbending?” Nigel asked.
“Ah, to be so blissful and ignorant.” Luvbi sighed.
“You know what, forget you.” There was an up-and-down platform to lift them up to that grated floor.
There was a tunnel that led back to the center room, but Nigel noticed the two pipes close enough to Wall Jump up.
The pipes led above the cogs, and there were Light Hooks leading across them.
Marine had the honor of Wall Jumping and swinging the hooks to reach another crank.
After twisting it, water flowed through the pipes and she swung back.
They crossed the tunnel toward the churning room, high above the water this time.
There were two platforms rotating with the churning device, so they hitched a ride on one.
It brought them to a spout above a green faucet; the same color Marine just activated.
They rode the spout up, but would then have to jump some vertically rotating platforms.
They succeeded and landed on a stable foothold, but their next challenge was crossing a fast-spinning, rounded bridge.
Luvbi noticed the propeller switch above the bridge: blowing wind against it caused the spinning bridge to slow down.
The operatives crossed it quickly and carefully before its speed increased again.
Afterwards, Nigel retrieved a Cyan Wisp from a capsule.
They noticed the spaced-out diamonds ascending further up the tower, though Nigel had to time his launch between some turbines.
“LASER!” He grabbed his friends and zipped up in the form of energy.
They reformed and followed an exit leading out of the tower.
(End song.) They stepped onto a walkway a few meters above the ocean’s surface.
The top appeared to be a large, circular area with a huge pool of water in the middle.
They looked into the pool and noticed bubbles coming out of it.
They readied their battle positions for what may pop out.
A gigantic, cyan-colored squid with red eyes, a big nose, and a frowny mouth emerged from the pool and roared.
“I’m guessing that’s the Squidlord!” exclaimed Nigel.
“Yup.
Unless you were expecting the Squidsquire.” Marine remarked.
“Then let’s take it out!” Boss fight: Squidlord The Squidlord quickly threw its tentacles at the team, attempting to crush them, but they avoided.
“‘ey, squid face!
‘ow about a helping of this!” Marine exclaimed as she fired her Light Spheres at the Squidlord’s eyes, the beast groaning in pain.
The Squidlord reached out a tentacle and grabbed Ava.
Said girl held up her sword with her free hand and stabbed his tentacle, making him drop her.
Luvbi then blew the Glomourian back onto the safe foothold.
“Oh, my aching tentacle.” “IT CAN TALK?!” they all shouted.
“Yes, I can talk!
What, you thought I was just some ordinary giant squid?” “Uhhh, yeah?” Dib answered.
The beast sighed.
“Look, it was stressful enough having to put up with that sponge back in Bikini Bottom!
But I WON’T have the same trouble with a bunch of alien freaks!
So, it’s time for you to hear my next piece!” He pulled up a giant, black clarinet and blew into it, causing it to shoot giant notes, which homed in on the heroes.
“Whoa!
Those are some heavy notes!” Kweeb exclaimed.
“Good thing I have no ears.” “Ah ain’t afraid o’ some bad music!” Marine said as she punched a few notes with her Light Fists.
It just so happened that one of the notes contained a Yellow Wisp, which flew into Nigel.
“I’d like to know how these Wisps get into these odd locations we find them in.” Dib said.
“DRILL!” Nigel dove into the large pool and became a drill.
He began to move along underwater, destroying any tentacle he encountered.
He then drilled up through the Squidlord’s underside and made his way inside.
The Squidlord screamed in pain as the Brit was beating away at his insides.
“Ah think it’s time we beat this drongo!” And with that, Marine threw a Light Sphere at the Squidlord’s nose, generating an energy rope from the nose to her hand.
She began to pull on the nose until it was completely ripped off his face.
Nigel leaped out of the hole that was left as the Squidlord coughed up the Star Piece.
He then began to blow around like a balloon until he was only a few inches taller than the heroes.
A puff of smoked engulfed him, and once it cleared, he was wearing a brown shirt and his head became round and flat.
He weakly stood up, groaning.
“Well… it’s back to the register for me.” Squidward dove into the water.
The team stood and stared at the Blue Star Piece floating above the ground.
“Was that it?” Ava asked.
“Pretty easy for a boss fight, huh?” Kweeb replied.
“Well, we got the Star.
Let’s take it back to base, so we can get back to our vacation.” Nigel recommended.
Before Nigel could grab the star, a load of miniature bombs fell from the sky and exploded around them.
“What was that?” Ava asked.
“LOOK!” Nigel shouted in alert: a flying metallic pirate ship approached them.
On the edge of the ship was a short pirate with red and white pants, blue- and white-striped shirt, a big red hat, yellow eyes, and silver body.
“YARR!
I be Admiral Razorbeard!
Sharpest pirate ever to sail the stars!
And I’m gonna send ye fleshy scallywags straight to Davy Jarg’s Locker!” “Don’t you mean Davy Jones?” Dib asked.
“No.
I mean Davy Jarg.
He’s the one for space, not the sea.” “Oh.
Well, not if we send you there first!” “I wouldn’t count on it!” Tak appeared on the edge by Razorbeard.
“TAK!” Nigel, Ava, and Dib shouted.
“Who?” the rest of them asked together.
“She’s an Irken we fought a while back.” Dib answered.
“What are you doing here, anyway?” “Well, ever since you defeated me, I’ve been resting here on Planet Aquaria.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to come to the Underwater City on vacation?” “Can’t argue with that.” Ava replied.
“Since I heard the pirates found a Star here recently, I decided to hang around until you showed up to try to retrieve it.
Took you long enough.
Which reminds me: FIR!” At Tak’s cue, FIR flew down and retrieved the Star, then flew back up to the ship.
“It was fun talking with you, but I have a Star to deliver.
See you around!” Tak laughed as the ship took off.
“They’re getting away!” Nigel exclaimed.
“Thanketh thee for pointing out the obvious!” Luvbi shouted.
“Not on my watch, mates!
Hold on tight!” Marine said as she fired a Light Sphere at the back of the ship and created another energy rope.
The team formed a chain and held on tight as they were being lifted up (Luvbi flew).
They started to swing back and forth until they gained enough momentum to get onto the ship.
“You won’t get away that easy!” Nigel exclaimed.
“Oh yeah?
FIR, destroy them!” Tak ordered.
FIR saluted and ran over to Marine, scanning her, and taking her form.
Razorbeard and Tak hopped into an orange, floating, circular tube and took off to the sky.
Dib beat some pirates with his mech-arms, Luvbi blew some off the ship, and Kweeb flew around in his hover car while blasting some.
Nigel, Ava, and Marine were focusing on FIR, who was blasting the team with Light Spheres in Marine’s body.
“How ’bout some of this?” Nigel said, coming up behind FIR and kicking the backside of her head.
“‘ey, that’s not very nice, eh?” she said in Marine’s voice.
“‘ow about Ah teach you a lesson!” She scanned Nigel and turned into him.
Nigel threw several punches at FIR, who just mimicked his every move.
At that instant, Ava came up behind and struck her with her swords.
FIR scanned Ava and turned into her.
As she faced her counterpart, she was hit by a punch in the head by Nigel.
“Too bad you can only copy one opponent at a time!” Nigel retorted.
Before she knew it, FIR was surrounded by the rest of the team, who finished beating the pirates.
“Uhhh, this doesn’t look too good.” she said in Ava’s voice.
“Care to do the honors?” Nigel asked Marine.
“No problemo!
Let’s see what she thinks o’ my charge attack!” Marine began spinning her arm rapidly.
Once she finished, she released a Light Sphere the size of a beach ball and fired at FIR, who went flying into the sky from the terrific force.
“Lesson learned, mate: never tango with Cap’n Marine!” “Good job, Captain!” Nigel praised.
“Now to find out where Tak and Razorbeard went!” He then looked over to see a robot pirate on the floor by the mast, barely conscious.
He walked over to pick him up by the neck and hold him to the mast.
“I don’t suppose you know where they went?” “Arrgh.
They’re heading over to the secret floating isle.” “And where’s that?” “Errgh.
Just over there.” He pointed to the right of the ship where they saw the shadow of a floating object in the distance.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” Nigel said, dropping the robot.
“Take the wheel, Dib.
It’s time we put Tak in her place!
To that island!” Star Haven Dimentia was pacing back and forth on the fountain.
Where is he?
she thought to herself.
Just then, Jirachi appeared with Gabe and Jeremy.
“Sorry I’m late!” Jirachi said.
“Never mind.
Let’s just do this.” Dimentia replied, sticking her hands in the water and started to sing.
O great, mighty star Let your power shine Make the tides turn backward Give me what once was mine What once was mine… The water seeped into Dimentia’s skin and her wrinkles vanished.
“There we go!” Jirachi cheered.
“So, how was Sea Slide?” Dimentia asked.
“It was great!
When we were there, Jeremy-” “Dimentia!” They looked to see the Magiblots flying in.
“There’s an Irken ship approaching!” said Blue.
“What?
Well, go stop it!
Gabe, Jeremy, you go, too!” They all saluted, and Dimentia teleported them away.
GKND H.Q.
Rachel was impatiently flying in Zim’s ship, still set on autopilot.
“Now approaching GKND Headquarters.” Rachel looked out the window to see she was coming to a strange base shaped like a head.
“Here I come, Nigel.” she said as she was about to land.
The ship landed in the base’s hangar as Rachel stepped off and looked around.
“Hmmm…” She silently admired the advanced technology as she stepped out into the main room, greeted by a swarm of surrounding Wisps staring angrily at her.
The Magiblots were staring at her from the other side of the room with Gabe and Jeremy.
“There’s the intruder!” Red exclaimed.
Gabe and Jeremy gasped.
“Wisps: ATTACK!” Rachel shut her eyes as the Wisps charged at her, but were then stopped by Gabe and Jeremy.
“NO!
STOP!
She’s not an enemy!” Infinity said.
He turned to Rachel.
“Numbuh 362, what are you doing here?” Rachel opened her eyes and studied the Wisp, recognizing that voice.
“Numbuh Infinity?
Is that you?” Gabe chuckled nervously.
“You’re probably wondering why we look like this.” “Numbuh 74.239?” “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” Dimentia shouted, appearing before Rachel’s eyes.
Dimentia gasped.
“What are YOU doing here?” Rachel was silent for a moment before replying.
“Uh, ahem!
I’m Numbuh 362, Supreme Leader of the Earth Kids Next Door.
I’m here because I hear that one of my operatives was taken here.” Right now, Dimentia had the strongest urge to warp her to the deepest corner of space.
But for now, she thought it’d be best to pretend she didn’t hate Rachel at all.
She smiled and replied, “Oh, yes, I know who you are, Rachel T.
McKenzie.
I am Number 256, Supreme Leader of the Galactic Kids Next Door.
But you can call me Dimentia.” “You… know who I am?” “Well, yes!
Number 1 told me all about you, Rachel!
Smart, strong-willed, well organized, and… mature.”she said the last part through gritted teeth.
“In fact, I’ve been meaning to ask: what does the ‘T’ stand for?” “Don’t ask.” “Right.
Anyway, Number 1 is on vacation on Planet Aquaria with his new friends.
But just why do you want to find him?
You weren’t thinking of taking him back, were you?” “Well… kinda.” “I’m afraid that’s out of the question.
For one thing, you’re no longer his Supreme Leader, so you have no say in the matter.” “I wasn’t going to force him to come back.” “Indeed.
And in any case, he has no desire to.
He’s grown accustomed to his new home and finds his new friends far more refreshing.
That’s to say nothing on our improved technology and new planets.” “I admit the technology here is pretty advanced and I imagine the missions would be far more exciting… but I really don’t think he wouldn’t miss his old friends back on Earth.” “Well, he doesn’t.
In fact, I recall him saying he hardly remembers having any friends down there.
Only a few choice people that liked hurting him.” “Okay, now you’re just making stuff up!
He had plenty of friends down there!
Including me!” “Ooooh… That’s not what I heard from him.” “Then… what did you hear from him?” “This isn’t really the place.
How about we go up to my office?” “Uh, okay.
Just one thing, though.” Dimentia sighed.
“What?” “I didn’t really eat before I came here, so I was wondering: got any cheesecake in this place?” she asked with a smile.
“Oh, so it’s CHEESECAKE you want, huh?
Old Rachel T.
McKenzie can’t get enough of her CHEESECAKE?
Well, how ’bout I call the Cheesecake Planet and have them send up a whole flagship of cheesecake and hook a hose up to Rachel T.
McKenzie’s mouth, so Rachel T.
McKenzie can suck up all the cheesecake she wants until there’s no more cheesecake left FOR THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE’S POPULATION!!!!” Rachel backed up in fear.
Dimentia’s calm demeanor shattered like fragile glass.
The two-faced leader breathed heavily before replying, “Sorry about that.” She turned to her Magiblots.
“You three: get her some cheesecake.” The three minions exchanged confused glances and saluted before flying off.
Dimentia turned back to Rachel.
“Now then: shall we… head up to my office?” Aquaria’s skies Back with the main group, the team continued to ride on the floating pirate ship, getting ever-so closer to the floating isle.
Once they made it, they saw that the isle was made of Irken technology and that there was a tower, which consisted of several cannons, saws, and a cockpit on top, sitting in the middle.
The team lowered the ship’s anchor and hopped off onto the platform.
“Where are they?” Dib asked.
“Up here!” They looked up to see Tak and Razorbeard standing in the open cockpit.
“So, you fools have defeated FIR.
That’s a real shame.
No matter.
Feast your eyes upon this!
The Irken Empire’s NEW most powerful weapon: the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.!” (Play “Boomsday” from Mario Galaxy!) Irken Empire: B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
Beats Other Opposing Monsters Superiorly Destructive Attacking You “With this weapon, we’ll easily beat you and take back those Stars!” “YARR!
Now ye will pay for what ye did to me maties, Marine!” Razorbeard said as he hopped into the cockpit.
Just then, Tak stomped on the button labeled ‘Eject’ and Razorbeard was sent flying off the platform via spring.
“You don’t have a score to settle, Razorbum.
I DO!
And now it is time I settle it!” She hopped into the cockpit, which then closed.
“Now, you meddlesome fools: it’s time I sent you to Davy Jarg’s Locker!
Avast!” Boss fight: B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
Saws lined up around the tower and began spinning around the sides, while the cannons fired cannonballs made of electricity at the heroes.
The bottom of the tower shot blasts of fire along the ground as well.
“There has to be something that can penetrate it!” Dib said as he drew out his golf club and began knocking Golf Bombs at the tower.
“HA HA HA!
You’ll have to do better than THAT to break THIS baby!” “If only we could reach that cockpit.” Dib said.
Marine saw that one of the cannonballs coming their way was light-blue.
“‘ey Nigel: ready for a Color Power?” “One would be nice about now!” “Then ‘ave some o’ this!” Marine punched at the light-blue ball and destroyed it.
As she guessed, it released a Speed Wisp, which Nigel quickly absorbed.
“SPEED!” Nigel shouted as he began to run around the tower, making Tak dizzy.
He saw some cannonballs coming for him and decided to jump up them.
He jumped until he was at Tak’s level.
Once there, he spun up into a pinball and shot at Tak’s cockpit, damaging it slightly.
Nigel fell back to the ground just as the Color Power wore off.
“It’s time I take this to the next level!” The B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
rose out of the ground and revealed digger tracks on the bottom.
“Now, I can easily crush you as if you were just pieces of DIRT!” She drove around in the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
and attempted to crush the heroes.
“And I thought it was menacing when it was still!” Nigel said.
“I wish there was a way in there, so I can disable somehow.” Kweeb said.
“Wait!
Maybe there’s a way in where those tracks go up!” Ava figured.
“You think you can get up there?” “Sounds risky, but I think I can do it!” With that, Kweeb landed on the ground and ran toward the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.’s tracks.
Just before it crushed him, he jumped into one of the gaps and let it carry him along.
As soon as the tracks carried him up into the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y., he jumped up onto a safe platform and saw several gears and gizmos inside.
“Now to show her what this little piece of dirt can do!” he said as he drew out his gun and shot at the tower’s insides.
Outside, Tak could feel the tower rumbling.
“Huh?
What’s going on here?” “I think that’s our cue!” Nigel said.
“Care to do the honors?” he asked Marine again.
“That’d just be ripper!
Gimme a boost, Luvbi!” Marine jumped up and Luvbi used all her force to blow Marine up to Tak’s level.
The young raccoon rapidly spun her arm around as she was falling to the cockpit.
She landed and punched the cockpit with tremendous force.
“AH!
NO!” Tak screamed as the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
began to crackle and smoke.
“I have to get out of here!” “Not so fast!” As Tak was about to leave, Dib climbed up to the cockpit and dealt several blows and punches at Tak, knocking her back in.
B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
self-destruct in 3… 2… 1… Dib jumped off just in time for the B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
to explode, sending Tak flying and screaming into the air.
“WOOHOO!
That was so, totally RIPPER!” Marine exclaimed.
Once the explosion cleared, they could clearly see the Blue Star floating overhead.
The Star spun around before taking off for the Star Sanctuary.
“That takes care of that!” Nigel said.
“And to think we wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for…” Ava gasped.
“KWEEB!” She ran over to where the tower exploded and found the tiny alien passed out on the ground.
“Kweeb, are you okay?” she asked, picking him up.
He groaned and opened his eyes.
“I am now.” Ava smiled and pressed the Kateenian to her cheek.
“Well, since everyone’s okay, what do you say we get back to our vacation?” Nigel suggested.
They all cheered as they boarded the ship and took off.
The mariachi band was standing on the edge of the platform, playing their music.
“And so, the team recovered the sixth Star and headed back to Sunny Island to rest, for soon, they would have to return to base to continue the arduous journey.
Now, what do you three say we get back to partying on Rio?” he asked his bandmates.
As they all agreed, they felt the whole platform begin to shake.
The floating foothold collapsed and fell into the sea, the band screaming.
GKND H.Q.
“And here we are!” Dimentia announced as she entered her office/throne room along with the cheesecake-eating Rachel.
“Number 362-” “Numbuh 362.” “Whatever.
Welcome to… my office!” Rachel swallowed a piece of cheesecake and examined the office as Dimentia took a seat in her throne.
“Wow, this is some office!
All I have is a lousy desk.
But where do you have room for doing paperwork?” “Paperwork?” Dimentia merely laughed.
“Oh, you silly girl!
Why would we do PAPERWORK?
That’s an ADULT thing!” “Well, yeah, but without paperwork, how do things get organized around here?” “Things can be organized easy if you know how to run things properly!
All good leaders know that.” “Riiight… So, Dimentia, what did Nigel say about me?” Rather than answer, Dimentia examined the Gold Star necklace Rachel wore around her neck.
“Where did you get that necklace?” “Oh, this?
It’s a McKenzie Family heirloom.
It’s been passed down through generations.
It’s supposed to grant good luck or something.” Dimentia studied the star closer and could feel a force radiating from it.
Her eyes widened as she recognized it.
The Seventh Star.
“Uhhh, Dimentia?” “Oh, uh, sorry.
That’s a pretty nice necklace.” she said, hopping down from her throne.
“Mind if I-” As she was about to touch, an electric spark came out and zapped her hand.
Rachel chuckled.
“Sorry about that!
Funny thing is this necklace zaps anyone who tries to take it.
The only way for it to NOT zap you would be for me to hand it to you.” “Oh, well, can I see it?” “Not really.
I’m sorry Dimentia, but I need all the luck I can get right now.
Now, care to answer my question?” “Oh, yes, ahem!
I think he said something about you… being nothing but a traitorous friend whom never really cared about him?” “He… really said that about me?” she asked in an upset tone.
“As far as I can hear.
Yep.” “But… why would he say that?” “You tell me.
Maybe it was something you did around the last time you saw him.
Remember anything?” “Well… I did kick him off the cake mission.
And he really wanted that mission.” “Then that must be the answer.” “I… didn’t think that would have such an impact on him.” “Well, you know what they say: sometimes it’s the little things that have such big impacts on people.
But I’m afraid you’ll have to accept the fact that Nigel left because of you.
He probably thought he could find much better friends here in the GKND that wouldn’t betray him.
Someone like me.” Rachel looked down in sadness.
“But I didn’t mean to…” Dimentia walked over and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Oh, don’t be sad, Rachel.
I know the pain you must be feeling right now.
And I have the perfect solution for getting rid of that pain.” Rachel looked up.
“What’s that?” Dimentia smirked.
“A little thing called… decommissioning.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Gamen_Watch The B.O.O.M.S.D.A.Y.
comes from Mario Galaxy 2.
The Squidlord was obviously Squidward Tentacles from the Spongebob series.
Razorbeard was the robo pirate captain from Rayman 2: The Great Escape.