Chapter -6: Alliance
Dnalevelc; Onion River
Nerehc resurfaced inside his own world and began to make the journey home. "BRO!!!" But 3 seconds hadn't gone by when Arorua glomped him from behind. "You're back!! Where have you BEEN??"
"Arorua, you… missed me?" Very strange for someone like her.
"I- uhhh… Well, I'm hoping I won't become Mom's midday barbeque now. The short version is, Sipa lent me a clone she made of you and it's, um, keeping up appearances. However OOC they might be… So, wh-where did you go again?"
"Another dimension—where is Sipa now, what is she doing?"
"I assumed she was trying to bring you back, don't ask me…"
"I'm calling her." Nerehc hurriedly pulled out his cellphone and began texting (there's a difference, Nerehc), Meet me at Dnalevelc Park in 10 minutes, if you get this. –Nerehc "Too bad I didn't get this over with before all this happened. …Remind me to clear out my messages later." This is another thing I'm sure MASKED clarifies. noted Patrick Stewart. "So Arorua, what's the Dictator been doing? The DNKG?"
"Well, according to Sicnarf, they've been hanging out at Aipyks all this time."
"Did the Nimbi join up with 'em?"
"I…I wouldn't know."
"Time to find out." With that, Nerehc began heading to the park.
"W-Where are you going?!"
"You said a clone's filling in for me, right? Then he can fill in longer while I make up for lost time."
"Uh, DUUUUUDE! Mom's already more than established you have a brain deficiency from doing math, if you aren't cured soon, you'll be sent to a loony hospital, THEN what'll I explain to her?? Ohhhhhhh!" She ran home annoyedly.
Aipyks; Supreme Leader's treehouse
Nimbi had Atnort surrounded left and right, trapping the alien under their impenetrable fearbending trance. Atnort kept hold of himself and ignited his fists with lightning, punching every which way and shocking the Nimbi into suspension. More Nimbi flew from overhead with machineguns and blasted, but Atnort moved at lightfast speeds with lightning boots, zipping around the air to confuse them before he dealt kicks and shocked them, causing them to drop. Atnort landed and faced what appeared to be a team of large, dark-colorful dodoes marching in the entrance, ridden by other Nimbi. Atnort squished his middle and index fingers together on his right hand, alit them with lightning, and stuck them through the ground to send a surge of lightning through and shock all of the birds, all of them falling.
Atnort blew the smoke from his fingers and marched toward the tall stairs, where Nimbi Leader Ibsej sat upon the throne. Atnort whirled his arms and ignited the lightning on his tips, aim set on Ibsej. "… … . . . I will speak with your leader now."
Atnort made a malicious grin before aiming his fingers out the window and blasting a mighty bolt of lightning. It formed the giant letters 'DNKG' for everyone within the area to see, its light shining inside Aluben's saucer as she awoke from her apparent sleep.
Dnalevelc Park
10 minutes had passed, and Nerehc waited patiently at the park. Lying on the bench where he and Sipa usually sat, wondering if she got the message. It was 5:02 when Nerehc checked his watch, marking it 10 minutes since the text. …3-2-1:
"HAZZAAAAAH!" Sipa popped from the smoke, scaring the boy upright. "The underling hath proven her worth! Welcome back, O Prince of the Sulfury Void!" She embraced him in a loving hug.
"Heh heh heh heh. Missed you, Sipa. What-…"
She pulled away and faced him with a vibrant smile, "I used a ritual to banish Ininap to wherever you went to bring you back! Does she deserve credit, or have you. . ."
"I… had no idea. Cheren and his pals helped me back. Panini was with us, so I assume… Inap is back, too?"
"Hmm. Well, half-credit will suffice. OOHHHHHHH but I'm so happy you're back! A quarter of my soul well spent, I'd say! Good thing, 'cause I thought of SOOOOO much stuff to do together!" Her eyes were bright and sparkly as they were when people suffer.
"Yeah- ummm… Sipa, I wanted to tell you about somethin'-"
"OOOOOOoooooooo whatisit, whatisit??" she jumped. "Ohhhhh I bet you landed in a jungle and burned the whole place to the ground!"
"Well, I DID land in a jungle, but that's not what-"
"Oh, you went to a blizzarding mountain and destroyed all the puny log cabins with your lightning!"
"No, of course not!"
"Okay, then you shot lightning at a rocket as it was leaving the atmosphere, leaving all the astronauts' heads to pop in space!"
"Ewwww, why would I do that?!"
"Because that would be like the coolest thing ever—OOOOOOOHH I have ton more ideas weshouldgodoallthatstuff right nooooowwww!" Sipa gripped his right arm in both hands and shook ecstatically. Nerehc doesn't think he's ever seen her this happy. "Yes yes, we DEFINITELY should! Right after we infest the beauty salon with lice and force them to shave their heads forever, or dump the Jellify Solution in the way of the marathoners to liquefy all their legs, or-! or-! sneak into the hospital and feed all the women (and men) this Mega Pregnancy Potion and make them have a hundred babies—!"
"NO!" Nerehc yanked his arm away. "None of that, no to ALL that stuff! No more planting hexes, killing goats, drawing circles out of blood, I'm…I'm just SICK of… the whole… THING."
"What 'thing'?"
"The whole… Negaverse… thing. Look, I'm not an Arceist, I know we live in a godless world, but I don't see why that gives us any reason to act… Negative."
Sipa heard the tremble in his voice as he turned back to her. Over his sunglasses, she found an odd look in his eyes. They looked a little… watery.
Nerehc turned away again. "That's all this whole world is, isn't it. Everybody hates each other. Teams never work well together and… nobody gets along. I just… I-I-I just want everyone to get along. The way Cheren and… his pallies do. They all worked together to… beat me and clear his name. Why…Why can't anyone in this universe be that way? Why can't anyone try to be friends with each other? I can't stand seeing everyone so… miserable all the time. I try to embrace that feature, try to be careless in my leader duties, run around and cause havoc… like my mom does… but I can't get used to it. That's why I like to… celebrate Christmas, be involved in the warm activity it brings. And maybe I…I really WOULD like to make peace with the Nimbis, and the Minish, ALL of those people. So we can all be friends just like the Positives… and not look like such a Hell."
She never heard Nerehc speak in this tone before. He must've worked up a lot of courage to speak his mind. Stumbling on his own words. The weight he must be feeling on his heart right now. "…KHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"What's so funny?!"
"Nothing, nothing!" Sipa wiped a tear away. "It always sounds silly hearing it out loud!"
"Just KNEW you'd react that way." Nerehc turned away, his head throbbing with anger and embarrassment.
Sipa leaned both arms over his shoulders. "It's silly to hear because it's a hopeless dream. Just like the Arceists trying to convert everybody to their nonsense. If everybody hates each other, it's a law of nature, it's no thing anyone can do about it. Making it your dream to CHANGE that nature will be just wasting your life, because humans, merpeople, and aliens are always gonna hate one-another for a bunch of meaningless crap. Nerehc, you should dedicate yourself to something more worthwhile than something that's utterly pointless."
"It's NOT pointless!" Nerehc shoved her off. "Even if we ALL do hate each other, that can't be the only thing we have to feel. It wouldn't HURT to try and support each other and… make better bonds or something. If you don't understand what I mean, then go away." He turned away again.
This certainly wasn't the interaction Sipa planned to have with him today. But she really didn't feel like leaving, either. She sighed and wrapped an arm around him for comfort's sake. "Well, whaddyou want me to say, Nerehc, that I'll be a goody two-shoes and risk my chance of going to Hell?"
"I'd just like it if you… support me."
"Aww, you're turning into such a FINE young woman." She cooed. "I don't really care that you do, Nerehc, but I can't go against my religion. You're not asking me to celebrate Christmas with you, are you?"
"No. I'd just like for our Nega-World to look a little less… gloomy."
"Hmmmmmm." Sipa shook her head. "Well, on a certain point of view, 'peace' is a way of making mortals weak, leaving them easy tools for the Devil to take control of. So… I'll support you. A little."
Nerehc released a light sigh. "Thanks… Sipa."
"So how can I start?"
"…By helping me get the Nimbi over to our side. We're going to Aipyks."
"But the Dictator's been hanging around there since you left, she has to have brought 'em over by now."
"Or maybe she hasn't, that's why we have to go up there now. Grab on, I'll fly us up there NASA." He held his right hand out.
"Hold on, hold on, a) the Nimbi will swarm our butts the moment they see your rockets burning about, b) are you even sure where the Naipyks KND Treehouse is?"
"Um…that would be worth looking into."
"If you really want my insight on this, we should go in there with a Nimbi. I don't suppose we know any Nimbi."
"What about Asia?"
"I was specifically intending to avoid the neat-freak."
"Yeah, but at least she gets out more than Ibyf. Let's go ask her, come on."
"You said it." Sipa took Nerehc's hand, flicked her wand, and warped them in a puff.
Nega-Sector W7 Treehouse
On another casual dark day in Sector -W7, Yenmihc was lain boredly on the couch with Ebnog on the floor while Ahcniea was measuring each of their faces with a ruler. "What are you doing, Ahcniea?"
"Recording the exact circumferences of your faces to see if they're compatible for a switch. I'm practicing face-switching and you guys were the closest subjects I could reach."
"'kay, but if you cut off my face, I will replace your head with a fountain."
"Tsk-tsk."
They heard a flapping as Asia came soaring in through the open window. "Well, it took awhile, but I found a new bottle of toothpaste for each of us. I'll take the liberty of labeling them, so-"
POOF. Sipa and Nerehc popped just beneath her and made her fall backward. ". . . . Wow, never Apparated before." Nerehc said dizzily.
"You get used to it. …Oh, Asia, great, you're here!" Sipa perked, seeing the angel on her rear.
"Watch where you're appearing!" Asia yelled, scooping all the toothpaste back in her satchel. "All that magic ash can't be good for the lungs!"
Nerehc recomposed his senses after a few seconds. "Asia, listen, I need your help with somethin'. In fact, ALL of you can help." He turned to the other -W7 members. "I wanna go up to Aipyks and get the Nimbi over to our side-"
"NOOO." The five girls chorused.
"Tsk-tsk."
"Nnn." Nerehc face-palmed. "Well, why not?"
"Those angels are all a bunch of JERKS, they're mean and unforgiving, and I HATE THEM." Lirpa exclaimed.
"It's so high up, and we might faaaaall." Ahcom moaned.
"And I know you aren't caught up, but Whatsherface has been there all this time, and she's probably got 'em over." Yenmihc reminded.
"Well, we can't just let them sign over to her side. If we let her armies get any bigger, they're going to take us over, you don't want that, do you?" Nerehc reasoned.
"What's she gonna do with us, anyway, our planet is so lazy. The only one'll suffer is you 'cause you're the leader, and she couldn't even force you. Why 'on't you just kill her ass."
"Maybe I could, but… I think this would be good for us, anyway. Don't you get tired of people like the merpeople or Minish bothering us all the time? And the Nimbi, too; that's why it would be a good idea to… be friends with them. W-We have a few Nimbi in our group, anyway, 'cluding Asia, why couldn't we be friends with them?"
"Because if other Nimbi are like Asia, why would we want to be friends with them?" questioned Yenmihc. "Just like Asia, all they are is a mockery. They shouldn't exist in our world, none of those aliens should. The angels are supposed to be the gods' servants. Pure, holy beings that help the gods protect those stupid enough to believe in them. Isn't it just weird that in a godless world, there're still Arceists holding onto a puny shred of faith? But where is that faith when the angels we're raised to know and love are represented by that godless, miserable group above our clouds?? And then Nimbi like ASIA show up down here to MOCK our ideology up close. If you ask me, they're better off slaving under the Dictator WITH ALL THE OTHER blasphemic fools! And BURN IN HELL WITH 'EM, TOO!"
"That's why you were always good for a laugh." Sipa replied with disbelief.
"Look, I don't CARE if your beliefs were crushed because of their existence, the fact is they DO exist." Nerehc stated. "Just because we live in a 'godless' world, doesn't mean we have to act like no gods are watching. And JUST because all those babies in the Posiworld are lovey and sappy with each other, even if that means we hate each other inside, we can still acknowledge each other as friends. As Supreme Leader of this DNK, I want to extend a friendly arm to other armies, so we can stop fighting each other and, share a damn planet at least. That's why we're flying up to Aipyks and asking them to make an alliance with us. And as leader, I ORDER you all to go up WITH ME!" He took the next several seconds to catch his breath. That was the only sound heard since -W7 remained silent, only staring at him with their regular gloomy looks.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Well fine, if it means so much to you." Ahcom huffed.
"If I do it, THEN will you be grateful?!" Lirpa shouted.
"Siiiigh. Fine. Introduce a little Arceism to the godless angels." Yenmihc sighed.
"Tsk-tsk."
"Except that we don't have any ships since YENMIHC refuses to fly one." Asia noted.
"I was thinking we'd do a more subtle approach, anyway." Nerehc replied. "Asia will fly us all there, and as a Nimbi, she could show that we don't mean harm."
"Okay, sure, everyone hop on my back and I'll get us there in a jiffy." Asia turned and pointed at her back in a sarcastic fashion.
"I'd love to break your back anyday, but I was thinking I'd cast a shrinking spell on all of us. Just for today." Sipa glared.
"I don't even wanna fly up there, anyway! The sky is always filled with smoke, how do you expect me to FIND Aipyks in all of that garbage?! I'll choke to death and you all will choke with me."
"Which is why I made this." Sipa waved her wand and poofed a small jar of faint white liquid at her feet, then picked it up. "It's a special Shield Potion that can protect your body from pollutants or toxic material. Lasts for 3 whole hours. I drink them to go swimming in the ocean and make kids think it's safe. Heh heh, those misshapen-face freaks."
"Mmmm… you sure it'll work?"
"If I can survive a glowing lake, you can survive a few clouds."
". . ." Never in all her life would Asia dream of flying anywhere near the stratosphere. The pure, sunny air of the Posiverse was one she could only dream of, but Asia knows no creature, even the Nimbi, that could survive up there. Supreme Leader Nerehc better know what he's doing. "Okay." She took the small jar, pulled it open, and guzzled the potion down in seconds. An odd tingly sensation swept across her skin as a wind-like barrier appeared over the shape of her body and disappeared, alighting every few seconds to remind her of its existence.
"So will it hold us, too?" Nerehc asked.
"If we keep near her body, yeah." Sipa nodded.
"Then it's time to fly, let's go."
He and the -W7 members, minus Asia, squeezed close together as Sipa called "Reducio.", shrinking them all down to inch-size. Asia laid her hands on the floor for them to climb on before stretching her wings and taking off through the window.
The sky
Asia soared a few meters under the black clouds, keeping her eyes squinted and mouth closed most of the time. "Umm, just wanna ask, when was the last time you all used the bathroom?" she asked the tiny group waiting in her hair.
Asia's thick forest of huge, dark-red trees was possibly the cleanest place they knew in the Negaverse, but -W7 made it their temporary living room as they lounged about doing whatever – Lirpa, for example, was making several laps around the maze of trees. "Relax, Asia, none of us wanna face the wrath of the Rains of Purity." Yenmihc remarked (referring to Asia's hairspray).
"Tsk-tsk."
"Just don't make too big a mess up there!" Asia yelled. "I trust you guys enough to infiltrate the safety of my barrier, you better not abuse that!"
"No, no, of course not." Ahcniea said as she was crawling around the scalp and knocking certain areas (she was extra tiny, so Asia didn't feel her). "Let's see, where's the best place to implant memory-scrub droids in an angel's brain?…"
"Asia, at some point you need to go above the clouds, we gotta ask around to find the main Naipyks treehouse." Nerehc told her.
"I know, I… just wanna find a clear-enough spot."
"You have the shield, just go up, we'll survive!"
It's not you I'm worried about. "Okay… I'll go… 3… 2… ONE." Holding her breath and shutting her eyes tight, Asia flew straight up and through the smoky clouds. In seconds, she felt their presence breeze away and bright light pierced her eyelids.
A sea of smoggy dark gray stretched across for miles beneath her. Directly above was endless bright blue, surrounding the most humongous, brightest light they've ever seen. The sun. Nerehc and -W7 held tight and climbed Asia's breezing strands of hair to view this marvel. Who would've thought that beyond all this darkness, there was light.
"A million times better than looking at it from space." Nerehc said.
"Ay… Arceus really does watch this world." Yenmihc gazed.
"Tsk-tsk." Ebnog's never been this entranced.
"….AAAAAAHH! It BUUUURRRRNS!" Ahcom cried, clamping her eyes shut.
"YOU AREN'T supposed to LOOK at it, Dummy, it's how it TRICKS YOU!" Lirpa shouted.
In time, Asia wasn't sure where over the world she was. The idea of being this high over the world was magical. It was hard to believe this was where the Nimbi lived. It wasn't at all like she imagined. Well, it was a little bit, with the gas-like clouds. If only the clouds were white and fluffy like in the Posiverse, then this place would look like Heaven.
"…Hey Asia, there's a place!" Nerehc yelled, peeking out the front of Asia's hair and pointing to a distant area with round, lumpy clouds.
Asia flew over this area and observed it with interest, the others having to hold her hair when the top of her head became vertical. All those lumpy clouds appeared to have slanted doors. "It… looks like a town."
"Maybe we're missing something." Nerehc said. "Asia, is there a way underneath?"
"Um…let's see." Asia spun her arms like windmills and blasted an air gust through the cloud-ground, breaking a way open. Asia pressed her arms and legs in and even kept her wings back so she could descend and fit in through the hole. After a few meters, she appeared in more open atmosphere, slowing and flipping right-side-up as she flapped in place. "Whoooa…" It really was a town, with upside-down buildings hanging from the dark clouds. Nimbi citizens were flying from building to building, and being underneath the clouds, it was as dark as the surface.
"LOOK, over there!" Sipa pointed, having climbed atop a strand of hair for a better view. Asia turned, and through the darkness appeared to be the faint form of an upside-down treehouse.
"Perfect. Asia, go talk to the kids there." Nerehc ordered.
"And say what?! 'Hey, I'm a Nimbi operative, but I have no treehouse and I don't know where Main Base is.'"
"Just tell them the truth. Here, I'll help you." Nerehc flew out of her hair with his rocket shoes and into Asia's right ear. "Okay…"
So with that, Asia soared to the distant treehouse as its appearance within the darkness cleared and expanded. "HELLOOOO? Anyone HOME?"
A team of four Nimbi kids soared out the windows and flapped before Asia. "Yeah, we're home. Welcome to Sector SUTARTOBMIN. Are you a transfer operative or something?"
"Um, actually, I'm…"
"My name is Asia, Numbuh -Heaven-77 of the Earth DNK." Nerehc whispered from her ear.
"My name is Asia, Numbuh -Heaven-77 of the Earth DNK."
"An Earth Nimbi?!" a boy operative exclaimed as they reached to grab weapons.
"No wait, just listen! …I was sent here by my Supreme Leader as a messenger. …He ordered me to find your leader to request an… a-a-alliance. …He wanted me to assure that… he seeks no harm for your group and… he-he hopes to set up a friendly audience… w-with your leader."
The four kids exchanged glances. "How do we know you're not an assassin?" the other boy asked.
"…Nerehc said that he assures you he bares no ill will. …After much contemplation, he thinks an alliance will be good for both of us."
"Well… okay." the girl complied. "But try anything funny, we'll off you like that." Snapped her fingers. "Follow us." They flew toward a wall of dark clouds.
"Asia, may I also say, how uncannily clean your ears are."
"What?" The Nimbi turned back to Asia with baffled looks.
"Um, nothing! Don't say that, you idiot."
". . ." They were very suspicious.
"Um, a—I have a condition, where I say random things. I'll try to control it, don't worry. Stop repeating everything I say."
". . ." With shrugs, the kids continued onward. Asia flapped her wings and joined them through the clouds. "For all I know, your nose is probably as breezy as an enchanted forest.." Asia mumbled.
Somewhere down below
On a lone, deserted island on the sea below, someone else was sailing there for his own meeting. A man in a ghostly white cape with long black hair, and only an exposed right blue eye on his pale face. He entered a cave echoing with droplets, lit with candles, and a small, very reflective waterfall. He stood before it for several minutes, watching as his rippled reflection morphed, his white cloak turning black, black hair silver, and his blue eye becoming red. His Positive stepped out of the waterfall. "I'm glad I could count on you to meet here." The Man With the Red Eye spoke with a deep voice.
"I understand that you'd like to form an alliance with me?" the Man With the Blue Eye replied with a higher voice (both were voiced by Dan Green, except Blue Eye sounds like Normal Yugi, Red Eye sounds like Yami Yugi).
"Yes. I would like to join my White Lotus with your Black Lotus. It's very much known that we essentially seek the same purpose."
"There's a difference. I am a follower of the law, you're a rebel. You seek to destroy your world's government."
"My reasons are legitimate. But still, an alliance would be beneficial. I think we both see it coming. This summer. Do you have any insight on that?"
"My assistant discovered a secret chamber, under the… Tree. A chamber with a strange door. But he saw absolutely no way of getting inside."
"Reminds me of the chamber underneath my own tree. I believe they both serve an integral purpose."
"Regardless, this isn't the kind of business the Black Lotus gets involved in. Our only mission was to serve the Negatar."
"The White Lotus's mission was to serve the Avatar, and keep peace and prosperity between the mortals and the gods. But in desperate times, we need to consider our priorities, and the Avatar does not reach the top of the list. But I believe I can help you find where the Negatar has gone. Please, allow us to work together, and I can guarantee the safety of both of our peoples."
It was a lot for Blue Eye to consider. He would never think of working with a man like him. But they did have a similar purpose. And similar values. "Deal." He took Red Eye's hand.
"Very good. Now I have a very good idea what's behind that door you mentioned. If we could open it… our side may have an advantage."
"That would be very difficult. No bender could possibly open it. It's a real puzzler. Oh, but if we're becoming allies, perhaps I could request your help. My daughter is… well… my daughter is really giving me grief. She goes out a lot and gets herself in a lot of trouble, and… she makes the worst decisions, I'm afraid what'll happen."
"Then I should schedule her a meeting with my daughter. I'm certain they can help each other out. Without letting them know who they are."
"I certainly hope so. When should they meet?"
"This Christmas sounds nice. Shall I see you then?"
"Very well. Farewell, Sir Red Eye." With that, his Positive stepped back behind the waterfall.
Aipyks; above Acirfa
The sky turned redder as the Nimbi children led Asia to a town that hovered above Acirfa. It was a huge town very populated with Nimbi, and a humongous treehouse stood in the distance. "Is that the Supreme Leader's treehouse?" she asked.
"Yeah, that's it." one of the boys replied. "But it looks like Ibsej is having visitors over. I wouldn't make too much a scene."
"Yeah…"
"'Course, we're gonna make a scene when I have to re-expand us." Sipa noted.
"Yeah, I know." Nerehc replied. "Maybe Asia can let us off someplace and we'll think of a-"
RRRRIP.
"Uh-oh." said Sipa. There was an odd stretching sound as a tingle fell over their bodies.
"Wh-What's happening?" Ahcom stuttered.
"I… forgot to mention that shrink spells have a limit, to keep it from being used darkly. Been trying to find a way to work around that. Can't even turn people into a beetle for too long."
"So weeeeee…?" Nerehc inquired.
"Are about to do the stretch thing, yeah."
"WHOOOOOAAAA!" Asia freaked when the seven passengers suddenly stretched back to normal size, more than overpowering her with their weight as they crushed Asia on the solid cloud ground. "UUH."
The Nimbi children whipped around instantly. "Hey… where did they all come from?" one asked.
"She was bringing in spies!! Assassins, even!" the girl exclaimed. "GET THEM!"
Nerehc shot to the air with rocket shoes and punched flames at each of them, backing them up. Sipa recovered and "Stupefy!" cast a stunning spell against the leader, the other three flying separate directions to surround them. One boy pushed Lirpa with air blasts to roll the fallen girl across the ground, but before she fell off an edge, she got to her feet and kept a sturdy pose, fighting and running against the wind as her sneakers scraped the cloud-ground. After pulling enough strength, she successfully fought against the wind, made it to the Nimbi, jumped, and pulled him to the ground by his legs, kicking him unconscious.
One of the other boys was a fearbender, unleashing a deadly screech to put Yenmihc under a trance. From behind, Ebnog leapt, grabbed Ahcom in his teeth, and tossed her on top to clamp hands over the Nimbi's eyes, freeing Yenmihc as she sucked in a huge breath, clamped her mouth tight, and built up pressure as clouds of black smog calmly flowed out of her nose and ears, and up to the Nimbi as he coughed and fell defeated. "Hm… didn't know you were a poisonbender." Nerehc said.
The last Nimbi boy faced Asia in midair, reaching an arm and closing his fingers as Asia began to choke. The boy whirled his arms as Asia's very breath began to rise out, the girl clutching her neck in desperate attempt to keep it in. But Ahcniea was climbing up his back and made it to his neck, pulling out two stitches to stick into his neck. He immediately started shaking uncontrollably, releasing Asia so she could suck her breath back in, followed by the girl punching double air blasts that bore the strength of punches, knocking the boy out cold while Ahcniea fell back in Lirpa's hands.
"Still call that a friendly greeting?" Sipa asked.
"Self-defense is a factor. Let's go." Nerehc flew ahead of the lot as they kept behind, on the way to the Naipyks Treehouse. But it appeared more swarms were coming for them, small colorful aliens with various shapes and colors. "Uh-oh, it's the Psiw. Aluben's minions."
Yellow Psiw hovered like rockets and blasted machineguns from above while orange ones burrowed below and shot cannons up through the clouds. Asia avoided those cannons and dove through the clouds, punching air blasts to knock the Psiw away, while Lirpa made terrific leaps to lower Psiw, to higher Psiw, grabbing the higher ones between her legs, spinning and flinging them to other ones, and leaping to other Psiw from there. Yenmihc puffed and released black smog into the air to poison a few Psiw, but the Green Hover ones used their power to make the smoke, and Yenmihc herself, force against the ground with super gravity, leaving the dark-blues to trap her inside flaming spheres. When Lirpa landed back down, she tried to run at the light-blue Psiw, but they slowed her to an unbearable speed, spending a minute or so trying to touch her next foot to the ground. Asia reemerged above the ground to blast more air gusts, until the Red Psiw froze her wings solid. Finally, the Bright-pink Giant Psiw, far bigger than the others, cast their magic on Ahcniea and grew her three times higher than each of her teammates, and this gigantic size made her unable to move.
Seeing her friends in trouble, Ahcom had no idea what to do. Without them to protect her, she would be torn to pieces in no time. With a sudden surge of gutsiness, Ahcom dashed to the Sphere Psiw, smacked her hand against each of them, and in that instant, the flames trapping Yenmihc burned out. "Huh?!" one of the Psiw gasped.
Surprised, Ahcom ran up to the Giant Psiw, smacked their huge tentacles, and suddenly Ahcniea shrunk back to normal. "Ascendio!" Sipa blasted Ahcom with a spell that propelled her up to the Slow Psiw, allowed her to smack them, and the moment Lirpa was back to normal, she ran below, caught her, and threw Ahcom up to the Ice Psiw to smack them and free Asia. With the Psiw incapacitated, the friends were able to go around and knock them out cold.
"Wow, Ahcom, more respect for you." Asia said. "How'd you do that?"
"It looked like chi-blocking." Nerehc observed. "Ahcom must've been born with unnatural talent. Explains how she passed training."
"Come on, that can't possibly exist."
"You'd be surprised." Ahcniea noted.
The team continued to the treehouse, cutting across the town as more Psiw came at them. While they handled them without problem, Nimbi began to fly down from the treehouse, blasting with machineguns as Sipa blasted a magic shield in their wake that made the bullets dissolve into particles. When the Nimbi tried to reload, Sipa hurriedly blasted more spells to turn the guns into snakes, which strangled the angels. Nimbi were still coming down as the eight continued toward the treehouse, having to fight against air blasts and Fear Screams as Nerehc, Asia, and Sipa countered with their powers. Two Nimbi took land behind them and grabbed Lirpa and Yenmihc in breath grasps, but Ahcom ran behind and chi-blocked the Nimbi so Lirpa could kick one across the head, and Yenmihc could force poison gas in the other while Ebnog tricked him as he backed up.
The team eventually made it to the edge of the clouds, a large chasm lain between them and the treehouse, a series of cloud platforms leading to the sealed entrance. "Sipa, let's try to get it open." Nerehc declared as he grabbed his friend and flew across the platforms, leaving the others to battle incoming Nimbi. He landed Sipa on the final platform as she blasted an attraction spell at the drawbridge, and Nerehc shot flames into its sides to burn it open.
Lirpa agilely kicked off some Nimbis' heads to grab higher ones and throw them to the ground, Ahcniea swung to various ones' necks using stitching threads, stabbing devices in their shoulders to make them shake furiously, and Yenmihc threw smog clouds at their faces to blind them while Asia spun whirlwinds to spin them dizzy. When Ahcniea wrapped her threads around another's arm, the Nimbi hurriedly flailed her off and into the air, then blasted an air gust that sent her flying across the chasm. "WHAAAAAAaaaaa!" She crashed into a lower part of the treehouse.
"Ahcniea!" Asia attempted to fly after her, but three Nimbi got in her way and blasted Fear Spheres.
At this time, Nerehc and Sipa successfully pulled the drawbridge open. "We can't let Aluben get to them first, it's time to move." Nerehc kept hold on Sipa's hand and flew inside, the other -W7 members leaping across the platforms after them. Another DNKG ship was already taking land in a top area of the treehouse.
Treehouse dungeon
"AAAH!" Ahcniea broke through the cloud-wall as though it were already crumbling ruin (and she were normal-sized), finding herself on the floor of a dark room. "Owww… I wish I coulda stayed a little bit big."
"Hello?"
"Hu!" Ahcniea flinched. "Wh-Who said that?"
A lantern was alit, and Ahcniea soon found a tall girl with ghostly white eyes staring down at her. "WAAAAHH!"
"Oop! I'm sorry." Ydolem Noskcaj apologized. "You just surprised me, that's all."
"Well, YOU surprised ME!! Wait a second, aren't you that secret girl?"
"Um…yes. I'm Numbuh -10.11 from Sector -L. Where did you come from, little one?"
"I'm -76.2 from Sector -W7. We came here with Nerehc to make an alliance with the Nimbi, if you can believe that."
"You mean Nerehc is here, too? To make an alliance with them? I was wondering why Hsa coughed out his secret."
"Whatever that means… w-where are we?"
"I came here earlier and was captured. This cell is chi-blocked, but I'd like to get up there to support Nerehc. Do you think you can help me?"
"I guess so. But do you think I could examine your face size later?"
"For what reason?"
"It's a secret."
"Well then… I'll comply to that." Ydolem smiled. "So can you help?"
"Sure, sure. If I can pick someone's brain, a lock is no problem."
"Pick someone's… huh?"
"Mum's the word." Ahcniea winked.
Upstairs; Supreme Leader's throne
The new ship that had just arrived in fact belonged to Annaira Eerfnud. Nimbi Leader Ibsej was knelt before Aluben and Atnort, having surrendered. Using her bloodbending, Anna took hold of Ibsej's left arm and began to engrave the letters into her flesh. "I was wrong, Atnort. Even after falling from the sky once, you're willing to climb back up and prove you have worth." said the Dictator. "I wonder if Beewv is making such effort with the Hsinim."
A sudden bolt of lightning shot in and struck Annaira in the back, the alien falling defeated. "Sorry." Everyone whipped around to find Nerehc and Sipa at the entrance, the former's fingers smoking. "But you have enough servants. Maybe the Nimbi would like somebody different."
"So, the humans' leader has returned." Aluben said with her ghostly tone. "I feared Atnort would take so long. I always have the right mind about my subjects."
"Grrrr!" Atnort growled.
"And just what are you doing here?" Ibsej asked.
"Supreme Leader Numbuh -27 B.C.E., I came here on the grounds to extend a friendly arm of- ugh, can't even understand what I'm saying, I WANNA make an alliance, that's all I'm trying to say."
"Hm. Well, you're a little too late-"
"No I'm not. Ask yourself this, do you WANT to be part of Aluben's army? Allowing her the use of your troops to risk THEIR lives for HER gain? And to be honest, it's hardly an alliance when you're the only side bowing down."
"I…"
"Even if she does not, what choice does she have?" Aluben spoke. "My armies are invincible. We are a single, powerful mind. You may have the will to resist my grasp… but she does not."
"Then I'll help her." Nerehc held his fingers ready. "If your army comes to harass them, I'll come to protect them. If you harass us, all I ask is they help us, too. That's what a real alliance is. Both sides helping each other if they need it. Not following the orders of one sole dictator."
"And I reiterate, what power do either of you have over my full army?"
"Well, they say an army is only as strong as their commander. Let's you and me settle it, once and for all." Nerehc marched closer. "The winner is officially the better choice for the Nimbi."
"Yes… but part of being a ruler, is sending others to battle for you. Atnort, if you please."
"WHAT? Why do I have to do it?"
"Your negligence has allowed Nerehc enough time to find his way back home, when there was so much I wanted to do beforehand. Your only chance of proving your worth now, is to accomplish what I couldn't. Submit him."
"Well, Atnort? Are you gonna?" Nerehc smirked. "Or are you afraid."
"Afraid of YOU?! The HELL I am."
"Oh yeah? Your lightning can be easily mistaken for lightbulb wires next to mine."
"Grrrrrr WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!" Atnort's boots alit with lightning as he flew at Nerehc in a flash, but the latter took to the air with rocket shoes and unleashed a beam of violet flames, only for Atnort to dodge in a blink. Atnort flew to the air with him using lightning boots and began zipping around and around, Nerehc charging lightning in his fingers as he attempted to take aim, but Atnort zipped and kicked him from behind, Nerehc falling to the ground as he blasted his bolt to the ceiling and blew a hole open. Atnort charged his boots with stronger lightning and shot down to stomp Nerehc, who dodged and blew flames along the ground to burn him, but Atnort was still the quicker as he got behind him. He had lightning sparking on his fingertips as he jabbed them at Nerehc, who dodged and lit his own fingers to counter Atnort's. He succeeded in shocking Atnort in the chest a brief moment before he jumped back and avoided his finger-swipe.
Atnort lit his whole body with lightning and blasted continuous bolts at Nerehc, who kept dodging and managed to grab a few bolts in his fingers. He kept the energy steady on his fingers and dodged further blasts before sending Atnort's straight back at him, but the alien dodged in a flash and appeared before Nerehc, shocking him in the stomach. Nerehc twitched in place while Atnort dealt punches against his face, then kicked him across the floor. While on his back, Nerehc saw Atnort hover above and ready a bolt, flipping up and dodging before the strike came and conjuring his own lightning to shoot up at him. Atnort dodged each blast in blinks, Nerehc's breaking several holes into the ceiling. Nerehc kicked on his rockets and shot up to shove Atnort directly up through the crumbled ceiling.
The two flew around outside, throwing lightning blasts that lit the dark-red region blue, and those watching from town would almost mistake it as a storm approaching. Nerehc flew around and down the Naipyks Treehouse as Atnort kept close after, eventually stopping to await Nerehc's loop around, but when he turned, Nerehc came back the way he was going and shoved Atnort a few meters up, grabbing hold and whirling him around before throwing him against the treehouse's side. Nerehc soared even higher, throwing flames while Atnort gave chase, soon going very high above the treehouse and inside the dark clouds.
The only indication of their fight from below were the blue flashes within the blackness. Nerehc and Atnort were still blasting lightning, but both moved fairly quick, and both were equally desperate to defeat the other. With no more time to waste, both began focusing lightning in both hands, taking energy from the clouds around and building up stronger power. Their gazes were locked on the other, and their lightning would soon follow that direction. Atnort was going to please his leader, teach Nerehc a lesson, and finally have the Nimbi at their service. Nerehc would extend a hand of friendship with the Nimbi, have an ally against the DNKG, and set an example for all those still against them, or even currently under them. The answer would come in just this one strike. Finally, both forces were ready to let loose with full power.
A humongous blue flash lit up the dark sky, great sparks of lightning around it, and the crackling of their strikes screeching for miles. Those watching below kept their gazes transfixed until that light went down. Any moment now, they would see which withstood such a blast, and which one took the fall.
Atnort's torn, soot-covered body fell from the clouds, past the broken ceiling, and crashed on the floor. The way he was passed out and motionless, he looked almost dead.
Posiverse; Viridi's Throne Room
A whole different war was taking place on Planet Flora, for the war against Viridi was nearing its conclusion. Vweeb, Makava, and Tronta – who were all tiny-size, were battling their friend, Arianna, who Viridi has brainwashed. During this scuffle, Tronta launched his Light Disc into Arianna's ear. The possessed girl looked confused, but Tronta pressed a button on his watch, and the Frisbee suddenly emitted a deafening ring.
"Ooohhh!" Arianna cupped a hand on her ear, desperately bonking her head. Tronta gave a light snicker, but Arianna wobbled and forcefully stepped on him.
"Tron!" Vweeb yelled.
Arianna was relieved when the ringing silenced, and stepped off to see Tronta flattened and dizzy. "Errr… good thing my sister's soft-footed."
Back in Aipyks
With that, everyone directed their attention back at the sky. Nerehc Onu came down, a little burned, but still alive and steady, landing lightly on his feet. He glared at Aluben behind his glasses, then looked down at Atnort and Annaira's fallen bodies. He picked both of them up and tossed them at Aluben. "They're your subordinates. Any real decent leader wouldn't just let them die. Granted, both of them are pretty powerful. I would take them back and give them help, so they'll be able to try and beat me another day."
For a few moments, Nerehc and Aluben only stared. Nerehc's furrowed dark-yellow eyes met Aluben's circular, mismatched, zombie-like eyes. Aluben snapped her fingers, summoning a team of Psiw to lift and carry the henchmen. "This is not over." And with another snap, four more Psiw lifted Aluben by the arms and carried her out of the ceiling, away from the treehouse.
Later…
Ahcniea managed to pick Ydolem's lock open, and they and the -W7 members all met up in the throne room. Ibsej was back on her throne as Nerehc stood before her, his head bowed. "So, you would like to make an alliance with me, is that it?" she asked. "But reports say the lot of you caused a bit of chaos downtown."
"Well, it didn't exactly go the way I wanted." Nerehc looked up. "Actually, I wasn't sure how to go about this. I really should've scheduled this meeting earlier, especially due to unforeseen circumstances. I know that humans don't treat the Nimbi very well, and I know you guys have mixed views about us. But I think we can both agree the DNKG is the real enemy, and there's no telling what Aluben will do with all of us under her rule. I think the only way to counter her so-called 'alliance' is to make our own alliance. We won't bully you, and you won't bully us, but when our DNKs are in danger, we should exchange a friendly hand and offer each other support. Asia there is a Nimbi among my ranks. Yenmihc is an Arceist, Sipa is a Ganonist, Ahcniea's a little person, if the human DNK can allow so many types, then I think we can come to an understanding, too. And when Aluben's armies come to see us in this light, none of them will ever have to live under that sole rule, at the same time, we won't be divided peoples who can only rage war against each other. That's…That's all I have to say."
Hearing this made -W7 view each other in a different light, too. They hated each other, definitely… but during this mission, they actually worked like a team. Like there were no past grudges. All because they wanted Nerehc to stop bugging them about this. Maybe this was what he was trying to tell them all along. …And it looked like, the Nimbi would understand this, too.
Ibsej flew down to Nerehc and reached a hand to him. "You have the Nimbis' full support."
"…" Nerehc smirked and took her hand in his. …He then looked at her left arm, seeing the 'D' and half the 'N' inscribed. "Shame I didn't come here sooner."
"Ay… I hope it heals soon."
"Ahcniea's a great surgeon." Ahcom mentioned. "She could help fix it up."
"Yeah… consider it a gift from us." Nerehc smiled.
"You did it, Cousin!" Ydolem cheered silently, going up to hug him. "The moment I saw your secret go free… I knew you would come through for us."
"Heh heh, yeah… That reminds me, though, Ininap and the others're probably wondering where I am. I better go find them."
"I have to say, Nerehc, you surprised me, too." Sipa spoke. "I never would've guessed the Prince of Demons would be the first DNK leader to make what seems like a friendship to a bunch of godless angels."
"You're not angry with me, are you?" he smirked.
"No, not much." Sipa smiled wryly. "But I request a free Imperio Curse when we get home."
"Then I guess we better get back." Nerehc turned to Ibsej. "I don't expect Aluben will sleep as soundly tonight with this on her mind. Better be on extra guard tomorrow."
"Same to you." Ibsej smiled. "Hope to see you soon."
"All right. And Sipa, I think you better come home with me for a bit.."
EiznekCm House
Yeah, things were messed up here, all right. Part of the house was a royal mess. All thanks to the mindless little clone whose cheeks were puffed, mouth an 'o', and marching in place while he made little slurping sounds. Arorua, Nerehc, and Sipa only watched him weirdly. "Slurp, slurp, slurp. Slurp, slurp, slurp. Slurp slurp.."
"Oh, hey, kids!" Lehcar beamed, walking in. "Boy, Nerehc sure can slurp a mega-frosty a long time, huh? You'd almost think his head's made of juices. Well, see ya around." She walked away like nothing was wrong.
"…On close inspection, I like him better." Arorua remarked to her brother.