The Subspace Emissary's Worlds Conquest (Megaman Legends Arc)

[DededeCloneChris]

Mouses?

lol

And good writing. A bit lengthy, but still good.

Whoops. I'll leave the mouses thing there, then. XD

And sorry if it is lengthy. The people at fanfiction like this so much as they don't seem to mind the length at all as much as there's humor in it.

[The Seventh]

Whoops. I'll leave the mouses thing there, then. XD

And sorry if it is lengthy. The people at fanfiction like this so much as they don't seem to mind the length at all as much as there's humor in it.

I don't mind the legnth of the fic.  I love it!

[DededeCloneChris]

Chapter 136: Kindred Twins

Subspace
Deep Inside the Great Maze

"Where is Bowser?" Ganondorf asked. "It has been a long time since I last heard of him."

"This is really odd," the Ancient Minister said. "I was sure that he would be over soon, but he has been delaying his arrival."

"What does that imbecile think he is doing?" Tabuu asked. "We canont afford to wait for him until he comes when he wants to. I believe that King Dedede should go and see what happened to him."

"Why me?" Dedede asked.

"I see the future," Tabuu said. "I see a fool in red robe begging for my mercy."

Dedede shuddered. "Violence always is your answer, huh? ...Fine, I'll go and get his scaly butt here."

The Waddle Dee user walked into the darkness and disappeared.

"Quite strange, indeed," Tabuu said. "However, we must not stop our plans. I forgot to announce that we have a new supporter to conquer the worlds."

"So is that why I felt a new presence in here..." Ganondorf turned around. "You can stop hiding from us. I know you are there."

"Heheheheheheheh..." a voice chuckled. "I quite like the darkness in here, thank you very much."

"You cannot stay in there for much longer," Ganondorf threatened.

"Stop," Tabuu said. "Ganondorf, I have another assignment for you to take. Since we have failed to conquer the worlds where the Smashers came from, we will have to aim to new worlds in order to succeed."

"New worlds..." Ganondorf repeated.

"And our new "client" is going to be very important while we take on a new task... Because of the kid's intervention, many new worlds have been opened to our advantage, and...we may as well say that some additions have appeared in them..."

"I shall explain everything when the time is right," the voice said. "I'm afraid I should explain to everyone here...once everyone is here, of course."

"It's for the best," the Ancient Minister said. "I don't want either Bowser or Dedede asking at the time."

"Ganondorf," Tabuu began. "Go to the darkness of the subspace, take a Subspace Bomb with you, and beforehand, prepare a small unit of our Shadow Bugs. Do not forget about the monsters as well."

Ganondorf nodded. "Very well. I shall start the task."

As the king of darkness walked to...the darkness, he glanced to the person hiding. Ganondorf was able to indentify that the person wore glasses covering his eyes, and he was bald as well. The person flashed a small grin as he chuckled, making Ganondorf narrow his eyes at him before disappearing.

"My," the person said. "The people I'm going to work with are sure very grumpy."

"Do not mind their behaviors," Tabuu said. "You should start preparing your speech in order for me to approve your help."

"All in time...all in time...heheheheheheheh..."

As Tabuu and his client talked, the Ancient Minister looked away. "(With him around, my escape will never come...)"

The executive of the subspace noticed a glaring Charizard, staring at him. "What are you doing?" Charizard asked harshly.

"Does it matter to you?" the Ancient Minister asked. "My ideas would make you feel a headache if you ever bothered to know."

"The hell are you talking about?" Charizard asked.

"I'll leave your mind to wonder by itself," the minister responded before disapearing into the darkness.

Charizard glared where the Ancient Minister disappeared before walking away, leaving Tabuu and the client alone.

Final Fantasy IV DS

Birthed from womb of Dragon's maw
And borne unto the stars
By light and darkness cast aloft
Are dreamtide oaths resworn
Moon is swathed in ever-light
Ne'er again to know eclipse
Earth, with hallow'd bounty reconciled

Or so it said the Mysidian legend...

Mysidia
Village

The mystical village called Mysidia lies on the southeastern continent of the Blue Planet called Earth. This village is most well-known for its abundancy in the teachings of Black magic and White magic. Many Black Mages and White Mages can be found, learning to master the spells that they're taught.

The village of Mysidia was a very peaceful village that didn't mean any harm upon the world outside. Nobody inside its territory meant violence to anyone since the village was just normal.

Of course, it wasn't normal. Many legends were spoken day and night in this village.

Anybody could spot Black Mages or White Mages walking along the village. Even if they were smart, that didn't mean they acted very calm. A lot of mages also liked to hang out and the such with other people, making this village normal.

When legends are spoken, then that would mean they came from the elder of the village, who knew suchs tales very well.

It happened today that it was time for 2 young children to learn more about magic...

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mystic Mysidia

...And for some reason or another, one of the main sanctum's roofs exploded, and the mages outside covered their heads and gasped in horror.

"Oh no..." a Black Mage said with a frown.

"Don't tell me that he did it again..." a nearby White Mage said embarrassed.

"I"m afraid that he did it," the Black Mage said. "This village can't have a peaceful day without that brat showing off his magic at the wrong time."

"What can we do," the White Mage said with a sigh. "There should be a day where he will learn."

"Oh, sure," the Black Mage said as he rolled his yellow eyes (because Black Mages always wore the magic hats). "Not even in 15 years or something like that."

"Why 15?"

"Do I care?" the Black Mage asked annoyed.

Hall of Prayer

Within the hall, several mages seemed to be in a panic as they tried to stop the fire inside. Fortunately, it wasn't very hard for them due to some using Blizzard to cease the flames with an icy wind.

The mages stopped panicking as the elder came from behind them. With a sigh, he frowned and said, "Did Palom do this again?"

"I'm afraid yes," a Black Mage said. "That kid got happy for learning Fire a few days ago that he started to play with it. I know people shouldn't play with fire, but not play with the SPELL Fire."

"Where is he?" the Elder asked, ignoring the Black Mage's complain.

"Hiding and laughing his butt off," a White Mage said bored.

"Elder!"

The elder turned around and looked down at a young girl. This little girl wore a somewhat large green cape, held a rod on her right hand, had some kind of red-stripped clothes, a small and thin brown ponytail hung from the top of her head and it was always behind, and she also wore a small but normal green pendant around her neck. She wasn't very childish at all because she was an adept at White magic for her age.

"I came as soon as I saw the smoke," she said. "And did this happen because..."

"Your brother, Palom, did it again."

"That brother of mine!" she yelled. "PALOM! Palom, where are you?! Get right here, right now!"

Not soon she said that, a frog passed between them and it looked up to Palom.

"Ribbit," the frog said.

The elder sighed. "Palom...your magic can't fool us very easily now..."

Did he just talk to the frog?

"..." The girl closed her eyes and shook in anger. "Remove the bad omen... Esuna!"

The frog got enveloped in light as it started to transform into a kid, crouching down. It seemed that the kid used some kind of magic to turn himself into a frog in order to hide from the mages. This young kid looked exactly like the young girl...because they were twins. He almost looked exactly like her, save for his different style of clothes (not making that much of a difference since they were green-stripped clothes), and wore a long red cape.

"Hahaha!" the kid laughed as he got up. "You're very sharp, elder. You managed to see through my veil o-"

The kid got interrupted as the girl grabbed the ponytail of his head and pulled him to her.

"Oww! Oww, oww, oww! Knock it off!" he pleaded.

"You IDIOT!" the girl yelled. "How many times must we tell you about not playing with your magic?"

"Palom, Porom! Stop fighting!" the elder yelled.

"Ha-ha!" the kid (named Palom) said. "You-got-scolded!"

The girl (named Porom) let go of his ponytail and he fell down to the floor. "Hush!" she yelled.

Final Fantasy IV DS - Palom & Porom

"Enough is enough," the elder said. "Palom, why have you been playing with Fire again? You know very well that using magic for games isn't allowed in the village."

"Chill out, elder," Palom said as he got up and folded his arms. "This place needed a good event 'cuz I was bored."

"Just because you're bored doesn't mean you have to kill us off!" Porom yelled angrily. "Think about the consequences for once! I hate people yelling at me because we ALMOST look the same for being twins. I'm sick of that in all honesty!"

"You gotta play along!" Palom suggested. "It could be fun!"

"Fun for you, but bad news for me!" Porom yelled.

"Enough!" the elder snapped out. "Don't start fighting after the day our crystal got stolen by Baron's forces. The people of the village have been depressed ever since, and none of you are helping at all."

It happened that Mysidia was assaulted by an airship force of Baron (a militarist kingdom) called Red Wings. The soldiers didn't hesitate to kill the mages from taking the Fire Crystal, a sacred relic important to the legends of the same village.

"Those guys would have whited out in fear if I wasn't there," Porom bluffed. "Too bad me and Palom went to a field trip."

"It wasn't a field trip!" Palom yelled. "It was a trip to train our magic, thing which you didn't do at all."

"But I befriended a Goblin!" Porom said. "Harry's awesome with that knife he carries around."

"I remember you got yourself injured in the face," Palom said with a sigh. "Must I look after you that much?"

"Yeah."

"What?!"

The elder sighed. He would wish for Palom to be disciplined for once in any day or sooner.

Palom is an apprentice Black Mage of the Land of Mysidia. Though young, Palom has proven himself a skillful, if arrogant, student of magic. He frecuently misbehaves, and is often scolded by his twin sister Porom as a result. He is mostly enthusiastic, to the point of being stupid.

Porom is an apprentice White Mage of the Land of Mysidia. Mature for her age, Porom is already an accomplished spellcaster. She is also a highly responsible child, and must constantly struggle to keep her twin brother Palom from stirring up trouble. Both of them often argue, or Porom is actually the only one arguing.

"Stop!" the elder yelled annoyed. "Palom, since you played with the spell, I am going to add more hours to your training!"

"Aww!" Palom groaned. "No fair!"

"It IS very fair," Porom said. "Serves you right."

"And you are going to promise that you will not play around with the spells you learn?" the elder asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Palom said pouting. "Whatever. I screwed myself over...bit it's going to be fun at least."

"Everthing is a game for you, isn't it?" Porom asked. "Anyway, since I came all the way here to see what was goin-"

Music stops

Something weird happened. Porom couldn't tell, but something happened.

"...Elder...did you feel that just now?" Porom asked.

"It wasn't me," Palom said.

"Not you, dork!" Porom yelled. "Elder! I-I just felt a horrible presence appearing, but I'm afraid I don't know where!"

"Porom, calm down," the elder said. "I know... The air suddenly became uneasy after that presence came... What is that presence, though? It just appeared so suddenly that it vanished as fast as it came."

"Hmm, I felt it too," Palom said. "Must have taken off because it knew I was here, and it got so scared."

Final Fantasy IV DS - Palom & Porom

"Will you just shut up for once?" Porom asked.

"I dare you!" Palom dared before running away. "Hahahahahaha!"

"You come over here right now!" Porom yelled before chasing her brother. "Palom! Stop fooling around and come over here! We have to stay caution about that presence!"

"Why bother?" Palom was heard saying. "Leave it to me!"

"So it kills you? No way!" Porom yelled as Palom laughed again.

The elder sighed and frowned. "I really look forward to the day those 2 grow up...especially Palom."

"Elder..." a Black Mage said as he walked to him. "I'm afraid Palom is turning some mages into frogs thanks to the spell he learned 2 days ago, and Porom is still chasing him around."

"I-I'm sorry!" Porom was heard saying. "I-I'm going to heal you as soon as I murder my own brother! PALOM!"

"...I will leave it to Porom," the elder said as he turned to the sanctum. "Porom can handle that child better than myself..."

"PALOM!" Porom yelled.

The laughs of the young Black Mage echoed through the village as the sky was shown...

Music stops

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Smash Mansion

As the sky was shown, it then went up as the Smash Mansion was shown before changing scenes within the mansion.

Command Room

It passed a day after everyone came back from their vacations. Most of them either talked or narrated what they went through during the 6 months that they got.

"I see..." Master Hand said. "Everyone, Tabuu started to make his moves on a new world."

One by one, everyone stopped talking.

"As I expected, he didn't want to let go of this chance, and we have to work again where we left."

"I'm pretty warmed up after that long break," Link said. "I'm ready to give it all if it's necessary."

"However, I have bad news as well," the hand said. "It seems that this world only allows 5 people to go, and it says that twins should be separated so they count as 2 characters...weird."

"What kind of rule is that?" Chris asked.

"I don't know," Master Hand said. "Maybe YOU do, but I want to keep this world a secret until you go in..." He cleared his throat. "Alright. This world specifies that only swordsmen, mages, and twins can go in to mix well with the environment."

For some reason, everyone started talking between each other.

"Chris, since you probably know more about this world, you'll have to go."

"I always go to every world," Chris said bored.

"I don't remember you going for C. Falcon nor Samus, right?"

"Fine, not all the worlds!"

"Better..." The hand looked at Lucario. "Well, sorry, but you can't go in. I know you regained your aura and all that but rules are rules."

"I understand..." Lucario said depressed.

"I promise I'm going to come back soon," Chris said. "I know it won't be too dangerou-"

Master Hand snickered.

"Maybe not TOO dangerous, but I'm going to come back soon."

"I understand, Chris," Lucario said. "Just go and fight."

"...That sounded scarring."

Lucario blinked shocked. "I-I'm sorry."

"It's okay, but don't say it again, please..." Chris said.

"Alrighty!" Crazy Hand said. "Wanna see my wares? I've got new stuff for you and those guys over there. Your wallet should have gotten fat after fighting Smithy."

Chris took out his wallet...and he found 1501 Smash Coins.

"If you could have succeeded in the fight in Exor, you could have won over 5000 coins, but u phailed so it got reduced drastically."

Chris mumbled. "Well, let me see your things."

Jobs - Stickers - Smashing Abilities (New!) - Items

Smash Coins in hand: 1501

Jobs

Beastmaster - 1000 Smash Coins

Smashing Abilities

Over Limit Lvl. 2 - 20000 Smash Coins

Call me Kirby! - 5000 Smash Coins

FLUDD Devices - 5000  Smash Coins

Allows Mario to use FLUDD's Applications.

Mr. Utility Belt AKA Link - 5000 Coins

Allows Link to use his extensive weaponry.

Learn - 1000 Smash Coins

Allows Smashers to learn different moves in different worlds (except the World Traveler). However, these learned moves will soon disappear as soon as a Smasher leaves the world where he or she learned the new skill.

Items

Bunny Hood - 300 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Beam Sword - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Bob-omb - 300 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Bumper - 500 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Bunny Hood - 300 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Cracker Launcher - 500 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Deku Nut - 200 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Fan - 100 Smash Coins - 4 copies
Fire Flower - 200 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Food (contains 10 dishes) - 400 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Franklin Badge - 400 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Freezie - 300 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Golden Hammer - 1000 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Gooey Bomb - 200 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Green Shell - 200 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Hammer - 700 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Heart Container - 500 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Home-Run Bat - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Hothead - 200 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Lightning - 600 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Lip's Stick - 200 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Maxim Tomato - 300 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Metal Box - 300 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Motion-Sensor Bomb - 100 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Mr. Saturn - 100 Smash Coins - 100 copies
Pitfall - 200 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Poison Mushroom - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Pokeball - 800 Smash Coins - 6 copies
Ray Gun - 300 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Screw Attack - 200 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Smart Bomb - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Smash Ball - 1000 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Smoke Ball - 100 Smash Coins - 5 copies
Soccer Ball - 500 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Spring - 200 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Starman - 800 Smash Coins - 1 copy
Star Rod - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Super Mushroom - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Super Scope - 400 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Superspicy Curry - 300 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Team Healer - 200 Smash Coins - 3 copies
Timer - 500 Smash Coins - 2 copies
Unira - 200 Smash Coins - 4 copies
Warp Star - 600 Smash Coins - 2 copies

Items in hand:
Green Shell
Poison Mushroom

Stored items:
None

"Learn?" Chris asked.

"I think you should buy this freebie," Crazy Hand said. "It helps a lot. Imagine someone using magic in a world. This ability could balance things against monsters or the like."

"...Okay," Chris said. "I'll wait for the day Olimar uses magic."

With that, he bought the skill "Learn" with 1000 Smash Coins and everyone glowed for a moment before stopping.

"Can you stop that sudden glow?" Mario asked. "I think it's a little bit unnecessary to do that."

"You guys don't understand my ways at all," Master Hand said. "Fine, I'll stop that."

"We're not f(beep)ng Christmas's lights," Snake said.

As the 2 characters walked to different ways, the hand looked at Chris. "Well, start preparing your team. Again, you can take only 4 people with you."

"But some of those rules sounded weird, don't you think?" Chris asked.

"Yes," he said. "But maybe it's because of the world you're going."

"And why don't you want to say the name of the gam-I mean, world?"

The hand turned away. "Because I don't want your fanboism going haywire today."

"What?"

"Just get your people and you'll see by your own eyes!" Master Hand said. "Hurry! The sooner, the better! We're going to hold the Classic Mode today as well!"

He said way too much information as most of the Smashers in the room stopped talking and quickly looked at him.

"...Did I say the secret word?" Master Hand asked. "I-I mean, yeah. We're going to start the Classic Mode today to get those Trophy Stands once and for all!"

Even if his fake excitement didn't give them the same feeling, most of the Smashers cheered and whistled in response at the announcement.

"Did I hear 4 people wanting to defeat Chris?" Master Hand asked.

"E-er, I'm going to start getting my team assembled!" Chris panicked as he thought about who to take. "(Let's see, I should start developing a stronger partnership with Ike...and maybe I should take Zelda because she could be defined as a magician for her magic...then I should think about the other 2...)"

The World Traveler walked to Ike. "I think I need a swordsman, so I thought about taking you."

"Really?" Ike asked. "It was about time you asked me personally."

"Why is that?"

"Because I don't think we haven't met each other very well, am I right?"

"(My god, he's pretty sharp,)" Chris thought surprised. "I know..."

"I'm sorry," Ike apologized. "It's mostly my fault."

"Huh? Why?" Chris asked.

"It's for the fact that I have just hanging out with Marth and Roy a lot of my time because I'm still a little bit unfamiliar with this place so they explained a lot of things to me," Ike explained. "I haven't spoken to many because of that problem."

"Your barbaric attitude against machines surely has disappeared now."

"D-don't remind me that," Ike said. "So, do you want me to go?"

"If you don't mind," Chris said.

"Then I'll do my best out there."

"You don't really have to act so soldier-like. Just treat me as equal."

"Oh, okay. I got that."

The World Traveler nodded and went to Zelda. "Do you think you're ready to go?"

"Aren't you choosing Link?" Zelda asked. "Normally I would g-"

The princess looked at Chris.

"I-I mean, it's not like I feel scared or something! Not that!" she said embarrassed. "B-but I'm fine if Ike goes... And Link and I don't have anything between us! Not even a single bit of...whatever your mind is thinking! Ugh!"

Chris sweatdropped and turned around. "(What did I even do to begin with?)" he thought confused.

"Nana, I found something better on internet," Popo said to Nana.

"...What..." Nana asked bored.

"After exploring the wonderful world of encyclopedia dramatica," the blue Ice Climber said. "I found a place EVEN better than that!"

"What..." Nana asked in a loss.

"Newgrounds! Lots of sick things are in there!"

Oh, for the love of god, thought Nana. This was getting very stupid; super stupid for her to listen at her brother's hobby. It was like if she wanted to shut him up for once due to her being annoyed to the maximum point where she couldn't take it anymore...

And she snapped out.

"SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!"

Everyone in the room stopped talking and looked somewhat shocked at the pink Ice Climber.

"Popo, that does it!" Nana yelled. "What the heck is wrong with your microscopic brain?! I AM so sick of you!"

"Ooh, you're getting angry now," Popo said. "Want ice to chill down?"

"That DOES IT now!" Nana yelled angrily. "Popo, from this day on, we're not going to fight together! I'm sick of all, I'm sick of you!"

The Smashers watched as Nana grabbed Popo's throat.

"I'm sick of listening to your stupid findings of the internet, I'm sick of seeing your goofy face every morning, I'm sick of having to tell you to take a bath so you don't stink like a rotten cabbage, and I'm sick of being the smart one out of our small team!"

"You wanna break out, baby?" Popo asked.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" Nana took out her hammer and she lunged at Popo. Before long, both Ice Climbers seemed to be fighting against each other as many of the Smashers watched in shock after seeing both siblings duking it out in the middle of the room.

"O-oh my god!" Peach yelled. "I don't want to see this anymore!"

"Stop them!" Ness yelled.

Some of them carefully got closer to the fight between the 2 before Diddy and Olimar grabbed a furious Nana, while Mario and Luigi...didn't do nothing because Popo swung his hands around while on the floor.

"S-should we do something?" Luigi asked as he looked at Popo fighting the air.

"I don't think so..." Mario said confused.

"Let me go! Let me kill that idiot!" Nana yelled.

"Okay, stop now!" Pikachu yelled before he slapped Nana. "There!"

Nana panted heavily and Olimar and Diddy let go of her. "Thanks...I needed that..."

"U-um..." Chris looked unsure. "A-are you 2 okay?"

"Does it even matter now..." Nana said depressed before she started sobbing. "I-I'm sick of all of this...I'm really sick of all..." She covered her face and cried. "I can't tolerate my own brother any longer... T-this didn't use to be like this before, and I don't know why he started to get dumber like now!"

Popo was still swinging his hands around.

Nana turned around and cried louder. "I don't care if I look pathetic now! Laugh at me if you want! I'm just a loner climber with a stupid brother who doesn't even try to focus!"

And Popo kept going.

"It's like if I were adopted or something!"

Was Popo slowing down?

"I wish I knew our parents so they could look after you and not me!"

Did Popo stop, and did he look miffed?

"I don't want to see your face again! If they ever ask about you, I'm going to say you died as a brother!"

"..." Popo looked normal as he sat up.

"Popo?" Lucas asked. "D-did you just listen?"

"...Burp."

"STOP!" Chris yelled as he stopped Nana from grabbing her hammer. "P-please, stop! I don't want to see you 2 fighting!"

"Popo isn't even fighting!" Nana cried. "He's just sitting down on the floor like nothing happens!"

Popo looked sad.

...HOLD ON!

Popo looked sad.

"Wait!" Roy yelled. "He just got sad all of a sudden!"

Popo looked very happy the next second. "Dudes! Let's go and party all the afternoon!"

Nana pushed Chris's hand away and she slammed Roy's right foot hardly with her hammer.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Roy screamed in pain.

"Stop lying to me!" Nana cried. "I hate when somebody lies with something very unbelievable like my brother getting sad!"

"I-I saw him getting sad for a small second, I swear!" Roy said.

Nana looked down. "I know you're trying to cheer me up...but...I just want to be alone and not think about having a brother..." She covered her face with her hands. "It's...it's just...very sad...so sad..." she muttered silently.

"..." Zelda walked to Nana and she rubbed her back. "Don't feel bad anymore, please. Everyone cares about you."

"...Really?" Nana asked.

"Not me," Snake said.

"Or me," Wolf said.

Zelda glared at both before looking at Nana. "Just don't get angry again and things could probably work out well. If you feel sad, just come to me so I can make you feel better with yourself."

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Master Hand said. "But we have to start the mission before they get an advantage on us. Chris, have you choosen your party yet?"

"I..." Chris said. "...I picked Ike, Zelda..."

He forgot that 2 spots were empty...

Come to think of it, twins were supposed to be separated characters as well...

"(This is so odd... Why would twins be separated?)" Chris thought. "(Is this some kind of ephipany? This is so strange...)"

"So?" Master Hand asked.

"I-I'm taking Popo and Nana with me."

At the mention of her name, Nana looked up shocked. Popo seemed to cheer happily.

"I-if it's alright with her, that is..." Chris said.

"..." Nana sighed. "What else can you do? I guess I need to do this by my will. If it is against it, I'll try harder to try and stay calm."

"I'm going as well," Zelda said. "You can speak to me if you fee-"

"Are you treating me like a child?" Nana asked. "I'm mature, you know."

"I-I'm treating you like I do with some people," Zelda said. "Really, I am."

"...Thanks..." Nana muttered. "(But even Zelda can't make me feel fine with Popo... Isn't there someone who can understand how I feel about Popo? Nobody here understands very well at all...)"

Final Fantasy IV DS
Current Status: En-route to Mt. Ordeals
Race: Humans and Dwarves
Number of protagonists: 13
Level of danger: Medium
Members allowed to dispatch: 5
Highly recommended abilities: Swordsman skill, magic prowess, and twins (though separated as 2 characters)

Final Fantasy IV DS

Mysidia
Village

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mystic Mysidia

"And again," Porom said to a Black Mage. "I'm sorry for my brother burning your...magazine..."

"Well! I hope you're sorry!" the Black Mage said angry as he showed her something called "Ninja Sutra."

The Ninja Sutra is some kind of weird book of arcana of some sort...or it could be a filthy book designed for special people.

"This magazine is very hard to get and find these days that I had a lot o-"

"And again, I'm very sorry," Porom apologized. "But my brother will be punished for his pranks, I swear."

How did she was able to stop her brother?

"Fortunately," Porom went on. "Since I learned Mini a few days ago, I made him shrink to the size of an ant, and now he's inside this little bottle of Potion." She showed him a bottle of Potion where her brother waved at the Black Mage.

"Hey there!" Palom yelled within the bottle.

"A-aah!" the Black Mage said as he backed away. "Take him away from my sight!"

"(That's it. My popularity as a White Mage is done for,)" Porom thought bored. "Very well, sir. Have a good day with your filthy magazine..."

As she walked back to the sanctum...

"...I-it's not what it looks like!" the Black Mage yelled as he blushed and turned to another direction.

"Okay, you got your fun," Porom said as she didn't look her brother. "And I had my time chasing you. Now, behave before the elder before I throw you into the ocean."

"You can't," Palom taunted. "I'm inside this bottle, and you're out of it. Come to think of it, maybe I can build a house in here!"

"You are not making any sense!" Porom yelled.

"Whoopsie," Palom said with a chuckle.

"Better now..." Porom said. "We must go back and return to our studies. I bet you want to learn Flare someday, right?"

"Totally!" Palom yelled excited. "And maybe you could learn Holy, and turn into the mage you want to be!"

She couldn't contradict that as she chuckled heartily. "Well, our goals are kind of the same..."

"(She's falling for it,)" Palom thought. "(Sister, you're so guillible.)"

"...Wait," Porom said. "Are you flatering me or something so I can forgive you?"

"What makes you say that?" Palom asked with folded arms.

It was not too late before Porom moved the bottle up and down, making her brother bump inside of it several times before he got dizzied and fainted.

"There must be somebody out there who understands the situation I'm with you," Porom said. "Unfortunately, we won't find someone like that at all."

[DededeCloneChris]

Outside of the village, a small hill overlooked the whole settlement as an enthusiastic Chris ran to the top of it and looked at Mysidia's glory with his own eyes. The World Traveler smiled happily as his own fantasies started...to go haywire.

"Fantasy, fantasy, fantasy," Chris sang happily. "Since I like to believe in fantasy so much, Final Fantasy could be the perfect example I have. I love my job as the World Traveler!" he yelled excited as his voice echoed.

From behind him, Popo, Ike, Zelda, and Nana walked to the top and looked at Mysidia. Chris remained in the middle of where they were standing.

"So this is the place?" Ike asked.

"Yes," Chris said with a nod. "Before you lies Mysidia, the village of Black Mages and White Mages. I don't know what we're going to do here, but I think we should walk in and see if we can find the characters."

"Fear not!" Popo said. "Our chibi looks will make anyone fall in love with us!"

"What do you mean by chibi looks?" Chris asked. "..." He looked at his hands. "...Er...w-what just happened?"

Chris looked at himself. Since he was using the Musician job, he looked a little bit smaller than he used to be...

Not to mention the 4 in his group. The 3 tallest Smashers remained the same height, as Popo and Nana seemed to be way smaller.

"Um..." Zelda looked at her hands. "I think we got affected by how this world looks like, right?"

"W-we look like if we were in the game," Chris said shocked. "Squared hands, childish looks, almost everything changed..."

"I don't mind..." said Nana. "I care about doing what we should do here, that's all."

"(And she's very small...)" Chris thought before he shook his head. "I guess we should go with the flow, right?"

"Yes," Zelda said with a nod. "But I'm worried about meeting the "protagonists" of this world..."

"Why?"

"I think she's saying that because they're not going to believe us," Ike said. "Think, we just can't say something like, "Hello, we're in a trouble and we need you to help us in our fight against the Subspace Army" or something else."

"...Ike..." Chris trailed off. "...I'm amazed. You made an important point."

"Was it good?" Ike asked. "I just wondered, that's all."

"But that's a problem as well," Zelda said. "We need to find a way to convince them from joining them in their journey. Master Hand said we needed to follow the storyline in order to maintain it as it is, or we could end up altering something that could drastically change the whole story."

"Hmm... Don't worry," Chris said. "I'm sure we'll do it if we think about a plan."

"Yeah," Popo said. "We could, like, help that dark soldier over there."

"What dark soldier?" Ike asked.

The 5 turned their heads to a weakened soldier trying to stay on his feet as he walked to Mysidia. The soldier seemed to be in great pain as he grunted many times. He was dragging his left foot as well.

This soldier wore a dark armor that covered his whole body. His face was covered behind a steel dark plate that didn't let them see through.

"..." Chris knew the soldier very well. "...Cecil!" he spoke.

"Cecil?" Zelda asked. "Is that his name?"

"H-he's Cecil!" Chris said. "He's the main protagonist!"

Cecil Harvey was the Lord Captain of the Red Wings of Baron until he questioned the king for leading an attack to Mysidia a few days ago, resulting in his banishment from his rank. Cecil was trained the ways of the dark sword under the king of Baron, but he feels that there is another way for him to put his strength in good use. He is a very honorable man in a few words, and feels guilty for his action towards the Mysidians.

"He seems to be in a pain..." Zelda trailed off. "And is there a reason why he is in a such state?"

"I remember that he was commanded to burn a village, but he didn't know he was sent to do that because a ring he carried got activated as soon as he got in," Chris explained. "From there, he went through a lot problems until he wanted to go to Baron by ship, but Leviathan stopped the ship by attacking it, and he ended up all the way in this continent."

"I see..." Ike said.

"And he surely saw Mysidia and wanted to go in there," Chris said.

"...Wait, I have an idea," Zelda said. "Since he seems weak, why don't we help him? He's the protagonist, right? We could convince him to believe in us."

"Or we could join him and just make sure nothing weird happens to him," Ike said.

"Or we could cream him, and steal his stuff," Popo suggested.

"...Great idea, Zelda!" Chris said, ignoring Popo. "We need to hurry!"

"Wait!" Nana suddenly spoke. "We just can't go and help him!"

"Why?" Ike asked.

"I have a better idea," Nana said. "Instead of running to him..."

Some minutes later...

"I..." Cecil muttered weakly. "...I need to...reach...Mysidia..." he muttered as he grunted in pain.

Some feet away from him, a small group of travelers seemed to be talking between each other in peace. The young girl, however, didn't want to talk to her younger brother because she didn't want to see him...

And yes, those travelers were the Smashers.

"So, Ike," Popo began. "What do you do to pay taxes?"

Ike frowned before he spotted Cecil. "What the... Hey! Look over there! That man is injured!"

"We need to do something!" Nana said alarmed. "We have to help him or he could die before he reaches the village nearby!"

Bingo, Nana's plan worked.

Basically, they acted like they didn't know what Cecil went through, and so they decided to stand in a point without doing anything special. It was better than the idea to rush at him and help Cecil. Why not wait for him to get closer to the village and then act normal?

Even if she was depressed, Nana thought about a good plan.

"Wait!" Ike yelled as the 5 ran to Cecil. "You seem to be in a lot of pain. Do you want us to help you?"

Cecil looked up at Ike and the 4. "You...please...take me to the village..."

"S-sure," Chris said. "Ike, can you help him?"

"Certainly. (Why do I have to be the only one to carry him?)" Ike said and thought as he let Cecil hung his right arm over his shoulders.

The 5 began to walk to the village with the weakened soldier.

"(Eureka,)" they all thought.

"(Checkmate, aaaaand match,)" Popo thought proudly.

Hall of Prayer

Porom dropped her brother to the floor and used Mini to return him back to his normal size. Upon returning to his size, he folded his arms and looked cheerfully at Porom. "Okay. Whatcha gonna do today?"

"Learn to use Poison appropiately," Porom said.

"But I learned that yesterday!" Palom protested. "I'm not going to practice that again! Not after I poisoned mysel-"

"That's why you need to practice," Porom said. "If you can't target your enemy, then for what did you do all that for? That is wasted effort and you know that."

"Umm..." Palom grumbled. "Fine..."

Both turned to different directions...

However, something seemed to be happening outside as they walked back.

"What's that big commotion outside?" Palom asked. "I can't train with all those "boos" and "get out, you filthy dark knight!" at all!"

"I'm surprised," Porom said bored. "You ACTUALLY are going to practice in peace for once."

"What?!" Palom asked. "I wanted to go fishing!"

"Never mind then!" Porom yelled annoyed. "Well, we cannot overlook this because...well, we just can't! The village hasn't been like this!"

"Sweet! I want to gossip!" Palom said excited as he ran outside.

"...Get back here!" Porom yelled as she followed Palom. "We should be training rather than stop the arguments outside!"

Village

Chris forgot an important detail about Cecil and the Mysidians...

1) Since Cecil leaded an attack to Mysidia without previous advice, many Mysidians died.

2) It was accidental as Cecil didn't want to do it.

3) The Mysidians developed a hatred towards Baron, but they hated the Red Wings even more, and they knew how Cecil looked like.

And most important of all...

4) The god of tomatoes wasn't happy today, and many Mysidians decided to assault Cecil's little group with... Guess what? Your favorite Vitamin C fruit.

"You killed my cousin's brother's aunt!" a Black Mage yelled before he tossed a tomato to Chris.

"I didn't kill anyone! I just arrived!" Chris yelled back as he wiped the tomato off his face.

Getting inside the village with Cecil was a really bad idea for the Smashers. The Mysidians thought that they were under Cecil's commands that they instantly hated them.

Well, they were helping Cecil, but the mages took this the bad way.

"Get out!" a young White Mage shouted as she tossed a tomato to Zelda's face.

"I have a very important lineage to the royalty!" Zelda yelled. "Stop treating me as a normal commoner!"

"I think they're not going to listen to you at all," Ike said as he dodged a tomato. "They hate us for some reason."

"Because Cecil leaded an attack to the village before, that's why!" Chris yelled before a tomato hit his face.

The walk to the sanctum was actually very hard to achieve since most Mysidians halted their progress and tossed more and more tomatoes.

"Don't let them get near the sanctum!" yelled a White Mage. "They want to steal more relics!"

"We don't want to!" Nana yelled. "Stop being such hypocrites to us!"

Out of the 5, there was someone who thought different...

"Thank you!" Popo said as he catched a tomato. "Thanks for giving us free food!"

The 4 Smashers groaned. Popo took the bad welcome as some sort of food re-stocking as he jumped and grabbed the tomatos, getting more and more by each person.

"...See the bright side." Ike tried to cheer them up. "We have food at least."

"Can somebody toss more tomatoes at him?" Zelda asked and Ike looked a little shocked.

Some feet away from them, Palom and Porom emerged from the sanctum and looked at almost the whole village throwing tomatoes at the traveling 6.

"What in the world is happening now?" Porom asked.

"I'll tell you," Palom said. "There's a Tomato Festival today, and they didn't invite us."

"No, not that!" Porom yelled. "I mean, why are they tossing tomatoes? We don't have that many in the whole village... What I was saying just now?" she asked confused. "The elder is going to be mad if he sees the village in such uproar!"

"Meh, let him do it," Palom said. "Everyone respects the old man very well in village."

"You don't dare call the elder an old man," Porom said. "Show him the respect he has been waiting from you!"

"I'll give him my respect when he teaches me Flare."

"Palom!"

"Porom!"

"What?"

"The mob! Let's join them!"

"What? No!"

"It's going to be fun! I have tomatoes right here as well!"

"We're not going to act immature now! And you won't either!"

This only summed all up with the uproar of the village. In truth, nobody was safe from being silent. Mysidia never looked this perturbed before in its long years, and probably the ancestors were quite helpless.

It was enough for one person as he walked out and saw Mysidia in its uproar.

Not only that. Don't forget the twins.

"SIIIIIIIIIILEEEEEEEEEEEENCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

The Mysidians stopped throwing tomatoes (althought a kid Black Mage kep throwing before a hand pulled him back to the crowd) and gasped at the voice that gave the order of complete silence. Even Palom and Porom stopped arguing to look back at the entrance, where the elder showed up.

"E-elder!" both twins said.

The elder simply walked forward, passing both twins before he looked at the village looking back at him. He later looked at a red spot (Cecil's group) and he nodded his head.

"...U-um, elder, what are you trying to say now?" Porom asked.

"..." The elder looked back at the village.

It seemed that the Mysidians dropped their tomatoes to the ground and they started to walk away, muttering Cecil's death in the process.

The 6 that were covered in red looked up to the elder.

"Come," the elder said. "I was expecting the dark knight to come today. I'm sorry for the village's behavior towards you, but I know you know why, am I correct?"

Cecil nodded his head.

"Then hurry up," the elder ordered. "If you want to do some explaining, I'll be willing to listen."

The elder walked back inside as the twins looked at each other. Bith decided to go back inside as well.

"..." Ike looked around. "Well, they all stopped..."

"You..." Cecil muttered. "Please, take me to the sanctum..."

"R-right away," Zelda said with a nod as the 6 walked to the sanctum.

Hall of Prayer

The elder saw the 6 getting inside with the weak Cecil. "You're injured, I believe?"

"If it's not much..." Cecil muttered. "I need to be cured in order for me to explain fully..."

"Very well."

"E-elder!" Porom yelled in disapprovement.

"Porom, heal him," the elder ordered. "He won't cause any trouble."

"U-understood," Porom said before she moved her rod forward. "Heal the wounds... Cure!"

A light covered Cecil, and his wounds were rapidly recovered as he managed to stand up. "Thank you," Cecil said. "I was very injured after I came here by accident."

"Accident?"

"The ship and the crew I was traveling with were attacked by Leviathan on its way to Baron," Cecil explained. "I do not know if all of them survived, but my memory can't seem to remember well."

Some time later...

The Smashers seemed to be left out as Cecil reached his main point.

"I want you to forgive my bad actions towards Mysidia," Cecil said. "I'm deeply ashamed for all I've done to your people. I was ordered to attack here against my will."

"I see..." the elder said. "It's true that Baron has been changing into a nation of cruel order?"

Baron is the heavy militarist nation of the whole planet. Its power has been changing into a cruel one after some events happened.

"I think it is because of the leader of the Red Wings," Cecil said. "His name is Golbez."

Not long after Cecil was banished from his rank of the Red Wings, a mysterious man named Golbez came to Baron and gained Cecil's rank quickly. However, some have said that Golbez could be the one behind Baron's change.

"He attacked the neighboring nations of Damcyan and Fabul, and he stole their crystals...like I did with the Mysidia's crystal."

"Hmm..." The elder closed his eyes.

"But I want to stop him. He kidnapped a very special friend of mine. Her name is Rosa," Cecil explained.

Rosa Farrell is a White Mage born of Baron nobility, and childhood friend of Cecil. She's well-known as "Baron Beauty" by some, but she doesn't care about this nickname. Last time when Cecil last heard of her, she was kidnapped by Golbez personally during the attack of Fabul (a nation that trains monks everyday).

"I beg of you," Cecil said as he knelt down. "I beg for forgiviness. My name hasn't been this ashamed in my life before."

"..." The elder opened his eyes. "Your name is Cecil, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, Cecil," the elder began. "You seek to defeat Golbez."

"Yes."

"But you can't fight him with a dark sword."

"Why not?" he asked as he looked up.

"The ways of the dark sword can't defeat true evil," the elder explained. "If you want to know a way to harm Golbez, you must go to Mt. Ordeals. That mountain lies to the east of this continent."

Mt. Ordeals is considered a mountain full of roaming spirits that could attack anyone who dares to climb it.

"Mt. Ordeals..." Cecil muttered. "Then I'll go."

"Alone? You wouldn't come back alive if you go alone," the elder said. "I'm going to give some some company with 2 of my mages."

"Mages?" Cecil asked. "Is it fine for you to lend me your help?"

"I could be wrong, but the way you spoke your words were convincing to me," the elder said. "Maybe you do want to make up for your actions."

"Yes."

"Then...Palom, Porom, you 2 will go with Cecil."

Final Fantasy IV DS - Palom & Porom

Both twins looked at the elder. "Elder? Are you sure?" Porom asked.

"Yes," the elder said. "You 2 will go with Cecil and make sure he comes back alive from the mountain."

"I don't want to sound rude, but..." Cecil trailed off. "They look very young to be out fighing monsters."

"Do not worry," the elder. "They're very talented for their age. Palom and Porom are very dependable when it comes down to request their help."

"Yeah!" Palom said as he folded him arms. "You just leave the whole battle to me and the enemies will shiver at the mention of my name!"

"Hush!" Porom yelled. "Don't listen to my brother of mine. His head needs to understand the definition of very well behaved."

"That's 3 words!"

"Forget it, will you?" Porom asked annoyed. "A-anyway, we would like to go with you, Cecil."

"..." Cecil nodded.

"All well ends well!" Palom said chuckling. "This is gonna be awesome!"

"Again," Porom said. "This isn't a field trip."

"..." Cecil looked unsure. "Then let's be on our way."

As he turned around...

"Who are you?" Cecil asked.

"Finally!" Nana spoke. "Somebody notices us after all of your discussion!"

"I'm sorry," Cecil said. "I forgot I was taken here by you. But, why are you still here?"

"Come to think of it," Palom began. "You guys should have left a long while ago, but you got in here like nothing."

"O-oh!" Chris hopped a little. "S-sorry if we remained here, but..."

"But?" Porom repeated.

"W-well..."

Trouble, pure trouble. They managed to get that far, but what now?

The 5 turned to the entrance.

"Now what?" Chris whispered. "We came all this way, but I don't think he's going to let us go with them."

"Sorry," Nana whispered. "I didn't think about this outcome at all."

"We're stuck in a tight spot," Ike whispered. "There's no other way to explain ourselves, is there?"

"I hate to lie, really, I do," Zelda whispered. "We have to lie them so they listen t-"

"Funny you guys you're going that weird mountain!" Popo said.

The other 4 noticed that the blue Ice Climber was talking with them. They all cursed in their minds.

"We were planning to go there as well!"

"What?!" Porom asked. "Y-you must be nuts! Why you people want to go to such a dangerous place?"

"Aren't we going to that place?" Palom asked.

"Hush!" Porom yelled. "I-I don't think you should go there!"

"Why do you want to go there?" the elder asked. "Not many travelers have gotten to come back from the mountain. I don't see a clear reason for your journey to Mt. Ordeals."

"Accept our benevolence by these," Popo said as he showed the same tomatoes he caught.

"Accepted!" Palom said.

"Palom!" Porom yelled. "We want to hear a good reason for your involvement to such a place like Mt. Ordeals."

"B-because..." Ike began. "...We heard of this treasu-"

"There are no treasures in Mt. Ordeals," the elder interrupted.

Busted.

"A-actually, we were going there because we spotted a weird monster," Zelda said. "We don't look like it, but we're monster hunters."

"Ah, I see. Hunters," the elder said. "Your small group doesn't look like hunters to me."

"B-but we're surely the only monster hunters of the whole region," Chris said. "Have you seen monster hunters before?"

"Not that many," the elder said. "You're the first ones in a long time to appear."

"I have an idea!" Palom interrupted. "Since we're going in there as well, why don't we tag along?"

Oh, Palom. Your weird brain just saved the Smashers.

"Then we part ways when we get there!"

And surely Chris wanted to kick him away.

"Hmm... I'm sorry to ask you this," the elder began. "But could you go with them? I'm sure that their journey could be safer with all of you."

Bingo.

"I-if you don't mind, that is," Chris said. "What do you say, leader?"

Ike looked a little bit shocked. "L-leader?"

"Yes," Chris said through gritted teeth. "They won't believe that a "kid" is the leader because they would question us, got that?"

Ike quickly looked at them. "I-I'm fine with it."

[DededeCloneChris]

"Then," Cecil began as he removed the plate and showed them his face. Some of them thought he looked evil, but behind the plate there waited a blond man. "Thank you. My name is Cecil Harvey, dark knight of Baron."

Zelda blushed and looked away. "(N-no, you mustn't fall in love with him. T-this is so quickly, and my heart is beating too fast today...)"

"May I know your names?" Cecil asked.

"M-my name is Chris. Nice to meet you," Chris said.

"I'm Ike," Ike said.

"M-my name is Zelda, princess of Hyr-" She stopped. "I-I mean, just Zelda."

"(A princess?)" Cecil, Palom, and Porom thought confused.

"Hell-o," Palom said. "I'm Palom, Mysidia's prodigy Black Mage at your service."

"Don't listen to my twin brother," Porom said bored. "And my name is Porom. That brat who can't mind his mouth is my twin brother Palom."

"I heard that, you know!" Palom called out.

"And who might those 2 be?" Porom asked.

The White Mage looked at Nana. The pink Ice Climber seemed to be depressed again, but she looked up. "H-huh?" she said confused.

"I asked for your name," Porom said. "What is it?"

"M-my name is Nan-"

Popo suddenly appeared right in front of her. "And my name is Popo, Nana's twin brother! Awesome Ice Climber!" He turned around and hung his arm above Nana's shoulders. "Both of us are called the Ice Climb-"

"Shut up!" Nana yelled suddenly and pushed her brother away. "I-I don't know that guy at all! I don't have a twin brother, and my name is Nana!"

"..." Porom blinked shocked. "....Did you just say that he is your twin?"

Nana couldn't lie. It was easy to tell. "...Unfortunately..."

"...I see," Porom said. "And did he annoy you before coming here?"

"Huh?" Nana looked at her. "How do you know?"

Porom chuckled. "Your face tells everything. I know that."

Nana blinked surprised. "Y-you do?"

"W-wait," Porom looked worried. "Does your brother annoy you a lot of times?"

Nana nodded. "Does your brother make you feel uncomfortable?"

Porom nodded. "Does your brother embarrass you?"

Nana nodded. "Does your brother focus on weird things?"

Porom nodded. "Does your brother do pranks?"

"Does your brother-"

"Does your brother-"

"-act like an idiot?"

"-misbehaves?"

Both nodded at the same time.

"..."

"..."

It seemed that both smiled a little at each other. As they kept staring at each other's face...

"Do you roll that way, Nana?" Popo interrupted.

"I don't mind if you like girls," Palom said. "Go ahead."

Both twin girls shook with inner fury before they leaped at their respective brothers and started to shook them violently. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" both yelled in fury.

The Smashers frowned in embarrassment, the elder put his hand on his forehead, and Cecil looked confused at the whole thing.

"Oh no, not this again..." the elder said with a sigh. "I can tell that the twins will grow very good to each other, but..."

"I-I'll take care of them," Cecil said. "This won't make any problem to me."

"Oh, thank you," the elder said. "Please, you should be on your way to the mountain. Go to the village and get your supplies ready."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Nana and Porom yelled angrily.

"And please, try to calm them down as well..."

Cecil, Palom, and Porom temporarily joined your team!

As Cecil turned to the Smashers and nodded to them, the twins were rolling around on the background. "Let's go," Cecil said, and the Smashers nodded back.

Village's Marketplace

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mystic Mysidia

It seemed that the Smashers and Cecil's group started to talk between each other little by little. However, this didn't mean that they became fast friends.

It was going to take longer than that.

Since the elder told Cecil to get his supplies ready, the group decided to stop by the market.

"I doubt a dark knight could wear paladin armor," the Black Mage of the store said. "You can't wear this."

"I see..." Cecil said somewhat disappointed.

"Not to mention the armor alone is expensive than the gloves," Ike commented.

Who could have known that the armor in the market produced foreshadowing?

"Hey!" Chris yelled. "This Potion was 20 gil a moment ago!"

"No," the Black Mage behind the counter said. "It is 2000."

"What kind of lie is that? Did you raise the price because of Cecil?"

The Black Mage stared at Cecil for a moment before he looked back at Chris and shook his head. "No."

"...You little..." Chris muttered.

"I'm gonna go outside and wait for you," Palom said as he left the shop.

The Black Mage suddenly changed prices from 2000 to 20.

"W-what the?" Porom noticed this action. "Did you raise the price because of my brother?"

"He still owns me 10 Hi-Potions!" he said. "Remember the accident with Thunder?"

"Ugh," Porom grunted. "Fine..."

The Black Mage noticed Cecil and he raised the price to 5000.

"Oh, come ON!" Chris yelled.

"Pay it, or leave it!" the Black Mage protested.

"I'm done," Cecil interrupted as the mage shot him an icy glare. "We can leave now."

"Don't come again..." the mage muttered.

"What was that?" Chris asked.

"Come again with more gil next time!" the mage said, faking excitement.

"Let's just go," Cecil said ashamed before he left.

Zelda got closer to Ike. "Can we try to get 10000 gil? I want to buy that Gaia Gear."

"Why me?" Ike asked.

"You're the leader, remember?"

Ike frowned and decided to walk out from the shop with the others.

The mages that were in charge of the shop watched them leaving so they could later put the real prices back up.

"Good, they're gone," the Black Mage in charge of items said. "But really, you should decrease the price for the paladin armor."

"Never!" the other Black Mage yelled.

Overworld

The party was now leaving the outskirts of Mysidia.

Final Fantasy X - Besaid Island

Now, it didn't look very simple as if someone would look from the DS. The overworld didn't look like it was supposed to.

For Chris's surprise, the long road to Mt. Ordeals was full of small rivers, trees close to the beaches across the coast, and it didn't seem to have monsters at all.

All in all, the road looked very safe and gorgeous.

"This is..." Zelda said as she admired the panorama. "Beautiful..."

"It's hard to believe that a mountain like Mt. Ordeals lies across all this field," Porom said. "Unfortunately, I would recommend to be careful when walking through here."

"Why?" Ike asked.

"Monsters," Cecil said. "I know that because the monsters have been attacking innocent travelers. They used to be peaceful, but they suddenly turned wild and decided to attack anyone in their sight as long as it is a human."

"You heard him," Porom said. "We must stay alert for anything out here."

"We're safe," Palom said.

"Just because the monsters don't know how you look like doesn't mean they will run away," Porom said. "What are you thinking?"

"I'll burn them up!"

"Dude, that's like, so awesome!" Popo said. "I could freeze them up after you burn them!"

"You freezing?" Porom asked. "Can you use magic?"

Chris, Zelda, and Ike stopped and looked shocked.

"Yeah!" Popo said before he blew out an icy wind from his mouth.

"W-what th-" Porom shook her head. "H-how did you breath ice out of your mouth?"

Nana sweated...

Well, they should know sooner or later anyway.

"We're not ordinary hunters," Nana said. "We have special abilities that only we possess. Popo can use ice, and I can use ice as well as he does." She looked at the others. "Chris have a wide sort of abilities, Ike can use fire imbued to his sword, and Zelda knows some magic."

"..." Cecil nodded. "I see. You looked very unusual to me for being hunters."

"We're sorry for not mentioning that part," Ike said. "We thought it was better to tell you that in a later time."

"(Good. They seem to believe in us,)" Zelda thought.

"I thank you for joining me in my journey," Cecil said. "To be honest, I used to travel with a small group, but...all of them were taken away from me..."

Chris knew very well. "Who?" he asked.

"I was traveling with a girl from the village of Mist named Rydia, the prince of Damcyan and traveling bard Edward, and a monk of Fabul named Yang. All of them were with me to the voyage to Baron, but Leviathan appeared and destroyed the ship, and everyone on it if I'm right..." Cecil looked down as they walked. "I feel ashamed... That couldn't have happened if I didn't start my assumptions against Baron."

"Oh, I see," Porom said. "It must have been unfortunate."

"It did," Cecil said. "But...maybe they survived somehow, like me."

"A question," Ike interrupted. "Do you think we're some kind of a new group for you to travel with?"

"Why'd you ask that?" Cecil asked. "I just bring people to their deaths if they help me. I don't want to endanger any of you at all, not after what happened to Rydia, Edward, and Yang."

"Oh, we don't mind," Zelda said.

Wrong response.

"What? You don't mind being killed?" Cecil asked.

"What did you just say?" Chris whispered angrily.

"I-I meant we don't mind helping you. We're...um...strong..." Zelda said.

"..." Cecil sighed. "Just don't help me that much, or don't follow me."

"Oh, great," Ike whispered. "He wants us to go away already."

"We have to convince him, no matter what," Zelda whispered back. "But how?"

"And my brother kept annoying me with the same stupid finding he found," Nana said to Porom. "I kept saying and kept saying, but he didn't understand at all."

"Typical of twin brothers," Porom said. "My brother once kept using Blizzard to cool down the Potions of the shop, and the owner yelled at me for being unresponsible of Palom. He did it all by himself! Why should I accept the blame?"

"I know!" Nana said angrily. "The fact that we are twins doesn't mean we're the SAME person or something."

"I thought we were the same person," said Popo.

"And where was I?" Nana asked, ignoring her brother. "Oh, right. He hasn't been like this at all in the past..."

"Really?" Porom asked.

"Really. In truth, he was almost like me, except he is a boy," Nana said but later shook her head. "I mean, he used to have more...what's the word? Intelligence?"

"Well, that is weird," Porom commented. "A person suddenly turning stupid? Hmm..."

"I can also turn into Rick," Popo said. "I'm his N.1 fan, did you know that?"

Nana tried hard not to strangle her brother. "And I want to kill very soon..."

"Wait, hold on there," Porom interrupted. "Kill him? Why?"

"B-because he's an annoying bastard!" Nana yelled (despite Popo being nearby). "I don't want to see or know about him anymore! I'm sick of him! what about you? Don't you hate your brother as well as I do?"

"I-I understand your hatred to your brother," Porom said. "But I-I don't really wish to be taken away from Palom at all."

"Why?" Nana asked. "I thought..."

"Look," Porom said. "I know I dislike my brother a lot of times, but I actually care a lot about him."

"Then why were yo-"

"Because he was crossing the line this day," Porom said. "But I was able to calm myself down."

"Porom!" Palom said as he and Popo went to the girls. "Guess what song I learned from him?"

"Song?"

Nana UNFORTUNATELY knew what song he learned. "No! Don't sing it here!"

"And 3, and 2, and a 1!" Popo counted down.

Palom inhaled deeply before starting to sing, "Never go-"

"An ambush!" Cecil interrupted the twins.

Final Fantasy IV DS - Battle Theme A

A big Zu (a big blue bird) appeared from the sky and it dove down to the group. Everyone gasped and quickly ducked to evade the sweaping attack of the monster before it went up and turned around in the air to attack them again.

"W-what the heck is that thing?" Chris asked in panic, despite knowing the monster well.

"A Zu!" Porom yelled. "They live around these parts!"

"What? A bird that big lives around here?" Zelda asked.

"I told you that it's unbelievable that monsters like the Zu live in these areas!"

"Look out! It's coming down again!" Cecil yelled and everyone ducked back to evade the claws of the Zu. "We don't have any choice but to attack back!"

"Good idea!" Porom yelled. "The Zus won't stop pursuing their preys until they eat them alive!"

"In this case..." Chris looked up at the Zu. "Us!"

"How do we fight it back?" Zelda asked.

"I thought you knew!" Porom yelled. "Weren't you monsters hunters?"

"W-we just found this monster!" Ike yelled. "We haven't explored this place very well!"

"Fight!" Cecil yelled. "It's coming down to us!"

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh!" Chris yelled. "I-I thought they looked less violent than this!"

"Ha!" Cecil jumped straight to the Zu and struck down his dark sword on the Zu's throat. "Die!"

And it did just that. The Zu instantly crashed down on the ground and it let out a cry of pain before it fainted and vanished.

Music stops

Cecil looked confused at the sudden victory. The others seemed to be completely confused at the fast death of the giant bird as Cecil looked at his sword.

"Um..." Porom scratched her head. "It takes a little bit longer than that to beat a Zu... How did you take it out so quickly?"

"...I remember that the king of Fabul gave me this sword for trying to protect the kingdom from Baron," Cecil said. "The Deathbringer. He said it brings death to the enemy sometimes."

"Oh," Porom said. "He must have meant it has some sort of related spell like Death."

"Cool!" Palom said. "Getting to the top of Mt. Ordeals is going to be very easy then!"

"Idiot!" Porom yelled. "Mt. Ordeals is full of undead enemies, and Cecil's dark sword will become very useless! Although he can still deal some damage, but will surely not kill them with one hit as he did it with the Zu just now. Undead are strong against darkness, and dark swords are mainly imbued with dark energy, remember?"

"Oh," responded Palom.

"Phew..." Zelda sighed. "I'm glad we were able to kill it in time before it did to us."

Chris took the Deathbringer off from Cecil's hands and...hugged it. "Oh, thank you, Death-imbued sword. That monster wanted to eat me first."

Cecil took his dark sword back. "Why did you do that for?"

Chris blushed. "D-didn't you see? It was going after me!"

"Anyway!" Ike said. "Can we move on before another Zu monster appears in our way?"

"Yes, let's," Cecil said with a nod before the 8 continued their way.

The long journey to Mt. Ordeals...

Came to an end.

Mt. Ordeals
Entrance

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mt. Ordeals

How did the group manage to get there so fast?

Mostly because Cecil's Deathbringer annihiltated most Zus and the other enemies on the way.

"Dude, I want to be a Dark Knight," Palom said. "One-hit KOs will bring me my so deserved victory!"

"Hush now!" Porom yelled. "Okay. We're here at last."

Mt. Ordeals looked very ominuos. The mountain had a weird fog surrouding it, and the rocks that made up the whole formation that was the mountain itself were a little shade of purple. They looked up where the summit was, and the sky looked grey the moment they stepped into the mountain.

Zelda embraced herself. "I-I'm feeling goosebumps from being here."

"Because the undead plagues the air around," Porom said.

"How do we get to the summit?" Cecil asked.

"Easy," Porom said as she looked at the left. "There's a direct path from over there which we can take. It has a long path to the summit."

"But what about those flames?" Ike asked.

For their misfortune, a random fire seemed to block the path to the mountain.

"Oh, I guess it's there to prevent travelers from climbing up the mountain," Porom explained.

"Er..." Chris looked skeptical to this. If the flames were blocking their path...why didn't they jump the small gap around the flames? "Can't we just jump over the gap?"

"We have to get through the flames," Porom responded annoyed.

"But jumping over th-"

"WE HAVE to get through the flames," Porom responded in annoyance. "Palom, I believe this is your area of expertise. Make those flames disappear."

"Alright!" Palom said cheerfully.

"W-wait!" Nana interrupted. "L-let me do it instead. I can use my ice breath to blow the flames away."

"In that case." Popo jumped next to her. "We'll do it tog-"

"NOW!" Nana yelled angrily as she used Blizzard to blow the flames away. Popo quickly joined in and both of them made the flames disappear completely.

"...So it's true that both have ice powers," Porom said.

"Well, that is going to be useful," Cecil said.

"Hmph," Nana grunted as she looked away from her brother.

"..." Porom seemed to get sad at this action. "(I should try to persuade her to tell me what story she and Popo have together... I hope it doesn't take too long...)"

"We need to move on," Cecil said. "I don't feel good for being here."

"I-I-I was already feeling the chills," Chris said as he embraced himself. "I-I hope there aren't any ghosts..."

"Too bad," Palom said. "Ghosts hang out here and like to SUCK UP YOUR BLOOD!!!"

That wasn't scary.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Chris screamed in horror as he started to go through the path.

"He's such a wuss," Palom said before Porom whacked his head with her fist. "Oww!"

"This is going to be a trip to remember..." Ike sighed.

"What can we do..." Zelda added with another sigh.

And so, they started their way up to the summit of the mountain full of ghosts, zombies, spectrums, phantoms, and more undead creature this world has ever seen before.

Preview of the next chapter

"Did that monster groan?" Ike asked. "I thought Zelda's Din's Fire was going to deal damage to it."

"Those monsters absorb fire," Porom pointed out.

"And that wasn't a groan," Palom added. "It was moaning in pleasure, like when a girl and a guy love each other too much, they start t-"

And Porom whacked his head.

...

"Death Mountain Wannabe. Guess what? I thought up the title myself! Pure win!" Palom said.

"Hush!" Porom said annoyed.

"You get your own segment later! It's Palom's shine time now!" Palom said proudly as her sister sighed.

Do you want to save your data?

Yes

Overwrite File?

Yes

Mt. Ordeals
Chris, Lucario, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Pikachu, Pichu, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Red, Squirtle, Ivysaur, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Samus, Kirby, Meta Knight, Link, Zelda, Toon Link, Fox, Falco, Wolf, Captain Falcon, Olimar, Marth, Roy, Ike, Ness, Lucas, Pit, Popo, Nana, Snake, Sonic, Cecil, Palom, Porom

[DededeCloneChris]

Chapter 137: Death Mountain Wannabe

Overworld
Tower of Zot (AKA the place where is somewhere in the overworld, but yet isn't there)

Final Fantasy IV DS - Meanwhile...

A room clad in golden walls was shown, and inside of it there were 3 people.

One of them wore a dragoon armor, had a spear on his right hand, and had a long blond hair coming from behind his helmet. This person was Kain Highwind.

Kain Highwind is the commander of the Baron Dragoons. Like Cecil, Kain lost both parents at an early age and was subsequently raised by Baron's king. He has long been both a friend and rival to Cecil. Unfortunately, he seemed to have joined Golbez (leading an attack to Fabul) for some reason after Cecil and Kain were separated in Mist...

The other person, however, seemed to have a much darker attitude. This person wore a black armor that easily covered every part of his body. This person also wore a helmet with 2 horns at the sides, and also sported a long black cape. This person was none other than Golbez.

Golbez is the new commander of the Red Wings, but also he took control over Barol in some way or another. He seeks all the crystals of the world to achieve an important plan by assaulting all the nations of the Blue Planet (Damcyan, Fabul, Mysidia, and Troia).

And lastly, the last person was the girl Cecil mentioned before. She was Rosa, who was held below a thin pendulum with hands tied up right below the mortal item, and was also unconscious.

"Golbez," Kain began. "The guards have spotted a new guest in here."

"A guest?" Golbez asked. "This place is supposed to be off-limits for anyone. Who dares to come in?"

"Me," Ganondorf said as he appeared from the door of the room. "Good afternoon, gentlemen," he said with a malicious grin.

Kain quickly took a fighting stance. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What is your business to get in here?"

"Settle down," Golbez said. "Something about this mysterious man intrigues me."

"What?" Kain asked.

"I see that you got in here very easily," Golbez said. "Nobody knows about this place except for myself and my troops. What do you want?"

"Simple," Ganondorf said. "I came here to give you my aid."

"Your aid?" Kain asked. "Why would be ask for your aid? You seem to be pretty shady to us."

"Are you not shady as well as you say?" Ganondorf asked.

"Kain, stop," Golbez said as he stepped forward. "Now, what is that about your aid?"

Ganondorf chuckled. "Yes! I wanted you to hear me out."

"Just tell us already," Kain said. "Or else..."

"Fine," Ganondorf said. "Do you know about a small group that appeared out of nowhere?"

"No," Golbez said. "I just care about Cecil. That pest is climbing Mt. Ordeals as we speak, and it's said that there's a sacred power at the top of the mountain. He needs to be taken out before he does so."

"If I may interrupt," Kain interrupted. "Our sources told me that a small group did join Cecil on the way to Mt. Ordeals."

"That small group is the pest I was talking about," Ganondorf said. "They are not ordinary, and they should be taken out immediately."

"Why should we?"

"Because they will help Cecil," Ganondorf said. "And you do not want that to happen, am I right?"

"..." Golbez looked down before looking up. "Then...why do you want us to accept your aid?"

"They also want to hinder my boss, should I say."

"...Very well," Golbez said with a nod. "I shall accept your aid."

"Golbez!" Kain yelled.

"Listen to me, Kain," Golbez began. "Cecil shouldn't be underestimated at all. He is perseverant, I give him that, and you know that as well...or much more that I do."

"Ugh..." Kain looked down and clenched his right fist.

Ganondorf chuckled. "Allow me to support your forces with my Shadow Bugs."

"Whatever you want to do, it shouldn't look suspicious," Golbez warned him. "Scarmiglione!"

A figure from the darkness appeared and it approached Golbez. This monster wore a long brown cape that covered his whole body, except for his old hands. This monster also had glowing yellow eyes shining beneath the cape he wore above. "You called, ssssssire?" it asked.

"Scarmiglione," Golbez began. "Cecil is climbing Mt. Ordeals as we speak, and you must make sure he doesn't get to the top."

"In other wordssssss," Scarmiglione said. "You want me to kill him?"

"For the best if you can."

"Right away, ssssssire," Scarmiglione chuckled before he disappeared.

"Come back here!" Golbez demanded.

The monster came back. "What issssss it?" he asked.

"This man over there," Golbez said as he pointed at Ganondorf. "He will provide you more power."

"What kind of power?"

"Dark."

"Yesssssss," he said. "I sssssshall enjoy the extra boosssssst of power."

"Plus with Cecil's dark sword it won't do much damage to you as well," Golbez said. "Get going."

Scarmiglione nodded before he disappeared right before their eyes.

"Who was he?" Ganondorf asked.

"He is one of the Elemental Lords," Kain explained. "Golbez's main guardians."

The Elemental Lords are monsters that aid Golbez in his quest to obtain the crystals. Each lord possess a different element: Scarmiglione possess earth and undead elements, Barbariccia possess wind, Cagnazzo possess water, and lastly, Rubicante, the strongest Elemental Lord, possess fire.

"I trust him that he will kill Cecil and this small group very easily," Golbez said. "And with your help, it might be better."

"Of course it will," Ganondorf said with a smirk. "Of course it will..."

"C-Cecil!" Rosa yelled suddenly. She yelled because she was probably having a nightmare.

"That man will soon die, Rosa," Kain said. "And you will be all mine."

"..." Ganondorf looked at Golbez. "Is he..."

Golbez nodded. "Yes."

"(I knew he looked odd,)" Ganondorf thought. "(He was brainwashed against his own will... Very interesting...)"

Mt. Ordeals
Entrance

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mount Ordeals

The group, meanwhile, was starting to climb the mountain of the undead.

"I'm tired..." Palom complained.

Porom pointed at the entrance a few feet away.

"...Your point?"

"We haven't even gotten 30 feet away, and you're tired already!" Porom said.

"Maybe because of all the walking we did to here," Zelda said. "Wasn't it a little bit too long?"

"I still have energy left," Ike said.

"I'm not tired yet," Cecil said.

"Men like you don't get tired that easily like I do..." Zelda sighed.

"Palom does," Porom pointed out.

"E-er..." Chris peered from a wilted tree. "C-can we move on?"

"I thought you were against climbing up the mountain the moment you screamed," Ike said.

"I-I know we have to climb this place and there's no other way, right?"

"Oh, right," Cecil said. "You came to kill a monster, right?"

"A-about that..." Ike trailed off. "I think we should stick around a little bit longer to make sure everybody gets out alive, don't you think?"

"Hmm..." Cecil thought for a moment. "...Fine. But please, don't do anything dangerous."

"Fear not, my night knight," Popo said. "The Great Popo will use poltergeist abilities to defeat the ghosts."

"And the Amazing Palom will create a spectacular finisher worthy of my awesomeness!" Palom said before 2 broke out laughing.

Porom frowned. "Can we proceed? I want to leave my brother at the base of the mountain."

And so, they now started the climbing through the path.

"So," Porom began as she looked at Nana. "I want to know more about you and Popo."

"..." Nana looked down.

"I'm sorry for making you remember him, but I seriously need to understand both of you more so I can grasp an answer."

"..." Nana sighed and looked at her. "Before, Popo wasn't like this at all..."

"Pss, Chris," Kawashima whispered. "It seems that Nana has some vital information about her and Popo."

"So?" Chris asked.

"So! You should eavesdrop a little bit to understand them more. I'm know you 3 have already mastered the partnership, but if you keep spending time with them, then your partnership will never be reduced. However, you might broke it if you screw up."

"..." Chris wondered for a moment. "Okay. But it's your fault if she gets angry at me for eavesdropping..."

The World Traveler walked slower to overhear the twins before returning to their normal pace.

"Popo..." Nana trailed off. "He was far more intelligent than today."

Porom watched Popo using Blizzard to create an ice cone that he gave to Palom, who then got stuck his tongue with the first lick. "Continue..." she said.

"Popo and I were closer before," Nana said. "I still remember those days at Icicle Mountain..."

Flashback

Icicle Mountain

A frigid blizzard navigated through the mountain of icicles. It was so hard to see through it, but on the side of a cliff, there were Popo and Nana climbing with their ropes, hammers, and survival equipment.

"The Icicle Mountain is the tallest mountain of all the mountains surrounding it. Popo and I live at the base of it, and many feet away from the mountain itself."

"Why were you climbing a mountain?"

"Because somebody stole something from us, and flew to the top."

"Wait, aren't you 2 a little bit young to be climbing?"

"I could ask the same to you..." Nana trailed off.

"I...guess..."

"Popo!" Nana yelled from below. "Get the rope ready! I'm going to go up!"

"Sure!" Popo yelled from above. "There! Get climbing and don't slip!"

"That sounded...a little bit smarter than what he says now," Porom said.

"I'm going up!" Nana yelled through the blizzard. "Ha! Is this blizzard trying to stop us?"

"I know!" Popo laughed. "Mother Nature isn't going to stop us today! We have come a long way from the base of the mountain, and our goal is to get to the top, and get our precious eggplants!"

Music stops

"...Did I hear well?" Porom asked confused. "Eggplants? Why were you 2 climbing up a mountain for eggplants?"

"The 2 of us love to eat eggplants," Nana said. "Actually, we like to eat them a lot. They're very healthy an-"

"But seriously, were you climbing the mountain because of food?"

"I'm not Kirby!"

"Who?"

"I-I mean, our food was stolen because of a condor that came one day to our house, saw the food we gathered outside, and stole all of it to the peak of Icicle Mountain," Nana said. "And I tell you, gathering the food in a barren land of ice and snow isn't very easy to do. The 2 of us work very hard together in order to survive with our family."

Gold was found for Chris.

"(Family? They have a family?)" Chris thought.

"You 2 have a family?" Porom asked.

"U-um, yes, we have one to these days..." Nana said.

"I'd would like to know more about your family. Maybe I could find an answer to your problem faster if I-"

"B-but unfortunately, I need to continue with where I left."

"Oh... Fine, continue. It had passed a little time after I climbed pass Popo...but then..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!" Nana screamed as the rope suddenly became loose from the ice screw she was using. The pink eskimo girl yelled as she fell down, but suddenly, she stopped falling as Popo grabbed the rope in time. "P-Popo!"

"I-I got you!" Popo struggled to prevent Nana from falling. "I-I'm going to attach the rope to the second screw! ...There!"

"A second ice crew?" Nana asked.

"I was prepared for something like this!" Popo yelled. "We can't afford to fall or we could die at this height!"

"We were 1268 feet away from the ground."

Porom gasped. "M-my goodness! H-how tall was that mountain?"

"Its height was about 5 kilometers, I know that because Popo and I measured it with our alpinist equipment...or we just simply guessed. I don't remember the height anymore."

"T-thank you!" Nana yelled.

"For what?" Popo asked.

"You dummy!" Nana yelled. "For saving me from dying!"

"Oh, right!" Popo laughed. "I forgot for a moment!"

"It's okay!" Nana yelled. "This has been happening a lot of times in the past. Let's keep going!"

"Yeah!"

"But wouldn't in that height be unnecessary to get the food back?" Porom asked.

"No," Nana said. "The condor that stole our food wasn't exactly at the top. It was hallway through the top because we thought we reached the top..."

A hand was shown appearing from the side of the cliff, and it revealed to be Nana, who then later helped Popo to get on the floor. Both of them sighed in relief after they made it to safe floor.

"That was...very dangerous..." Nana said.

Popo looked down at the mountain. "My god, how long have we been climbing?"

"Didn't we start to climb this place at 1 in the morning?"

"I think so."

"...Hey! There's the condor!" Nana yelled at the...relative small pherodactyl.

The condor seemed to be on a small nest, but the food was nowhere to be found. The Ice Climbers thought that it all eaten by the animal itself.

"Okay..." Popo glared at the condor. "You can say sorry for stealing our food, or we can do this the hard way."

The condor shrieked angrily at them.

"Did it say the hard way?" Popo asked. "Nana! Let's finish her!"

"Right!" Without previous advice, Nana merely tossed her hammer at the condor's head...and knocked it out. "..."

"..." Popo blinked confused. "...That's it? It became defeated by that single hit?"

Nana blushed. "Well, I thought it would get knocked out by a hard hit on the head, so I went ahead."

"..." Popo shook his head. "O-okay! T-that should teach that monster a lesson!"

Nana looked above. "Popo..."

"Yes?"

"I don't think we even came close to the real summit..."

"Real summit?" Popo asked before looking up. "Oh my... No way..."

Before them there was a big ice wall, but there was also a bigger portion on the mountain. The floor that they stepped on was just a small "checkpoint" of some sorts. The peak wasn't visible at all because of the heavy mist covering the view.

"Aw, c'mon!" Popo yelled. "We've been climbing this thing for 14 hours, and we had a lot more?!"

"Popo, shut up!" Nana whispered. "We could cause an avalanche!"

"Oh, right..." Popo muttered.

"And we didn't climb this because we wanted to," Popo said as he looked at the knocked out condor. "We climbed this because THAT stole our foo-OUR FOOD!" Popo suddenly said before he ran to the nest.

Nana followed him and both suddenly turned white of horror...

The food was behind the nest...but the fact that the temperature decreased by the height, it became instantly frozen.

"Noooooooooo!" Popo said before he ducked and sobbed. "O-our food got frozen... I-I knew there was something wrong about this!"

"Awwwwwww!" Nana groaned. "All of this for nothing! Nothing, I tell you!"

Both Ice Climbers hugged each other and sobbed pathetically at their frozen food.

"..." Porom looked bored.

"W-we were so emotionaly attached that time, JUST that time," Nana said.

"...Did anything else happen?"

Both Ice Climbers stopped sobbing and looked back at the nest. "...Why?" Nana asked. "Why would the condor come all the way here to hide? It should have known better that the food would get frozen at this height."

She was suddenly interrupted as the nest began to move.

"?" Popo tilted his head. "Did it just move?"

"I-it did," Nana said with a nod. "But since it's a nest, don't you think it..."

The nest began moving more before long i-

End of flashback

Mt. Ordeals
Trail

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mt. Ordeals

"Tellah!" Cecil yelled suddenly.

Both Nana and Porom were interrupted by his yell that they noticed that they were in a new area. "We both got distracted by our talk that we reached a higher place..." Porom looked around. "But what else happened?"

"I'm sorry..." Nana looked down. "I don't feel like explaining more now... Maybe another time..."

"Tellah!" Cecil yelled again.

The group stopped and came across an old man in the next part of the mountain. This old man was a sage. He wore a very weird assortment of clothes, a pink robe, small glasses that completely covered his eyes, and he also had a small red nose and a long grey beard. This sage was called Tellah.

Tellah is a legendary sage of Mysidia. Many mages have known about his mastery in both Black Magic and White Magic that he has been very popular. Due to his age, however, he has forgotten many powerful spells. He met Cecil during his journey, but left him after he witnessed the death of his daughter Anna at the hands of Golbez during Damcyan. This prompted Tellah to revenge Anna.

"Cecil?" Tellah asked. "Oh, what brings you here? ...Where are Edward and Rydia?"

"Ugh..." Cecil looked down. "They were...killed during a voyage to Baron with me, but I was able to survive."

"I see..." Tellah said. "Edward...may he rest in peace with Anna..."

Edward was deeply in love with Anna, but when the Red Wings attacked Damcyan, she shielded him from the arrows out of love to save him from death, thus causing Anna to die.

"...Well," Tellah began as he looked up. "What is your business in here?" He looked at his group. "And who are they?"

The Smashers introduced to them.

"Oh, I see," Tellah said. "You came here for a way to defeat Golbez?"

"Yes," Cecil said. "What about you?"

"Since I know that my magic alone can't defeat a man like Golbez, I decided to look for Meteor. This place seemed to radiate with strong magic waves, and I came here to see if Meteor is here."

"Meteor?!" Palom and Porom asked in shock.

"T-that's the strongest Black Magic spell there is!" Porom said. "But you're far too old to use such a dangerous magic!"

The Smashers weren't that surprised. (Apparently, Rita's Meteor Storm looked far more powerful).

"I don't care!" Tellah yelled angrily. "Let this old body of mine kill Golbez! I don't care if I die! I'm going to die, and I'm going to take Golbez with me for what he did to my beloved Anna!"

"I know you need to take revenge..." Zelda spoke. "But you mustn't sacrifice yourself t-"

"What I said a moment ago is definite!" Tellah interrupted.

"Sheesh," Palom said as he folded his arms. "Old people sure are grumpy."

"Hush!" Porom yelled. "O-oh, I think we haven't introduced ourselves except for them. My name is Porom, and this boy over here is my twin brother Palom. Both of us come from Mysidia."

"Nice to meetcha," Palom said. "Porom, you didn't insult me!"

"We're before a high authority now," Porom whispered. "Mind yourself around Tellah."

"Mages of Mysidia?" Tellah asked. "I see..."

"(And he already thought about sending them back,)" Chris thought.

"In any case," Tellah began. "Cecil, since you're seeking a new power as well as I am, we might as well travel together again."

"Thanks," Cecil said. "I will appreciate your help."

Ike made a bored look. "(So he doesn't care about us dying.)"

Tellah temporarily joined your team!

"Let us be on our way!" Tellah said. "We have to explore this place further!"

"U-um, wait," Chris interrupted. "(It's time to ask...) I-I think I saw you in the continent of Baron before, but how did you get here?"

"How I got here?" Tellah asked. "I have some connections with some mages of Mysidia and I asked them to get me here by boat. I told them to go back to Kaipo and not return for me. I know the elder of Mysidia for a long time and I can always ask him for help."

"...Oh," Chris responded.

"Why'd you want to know?"

"B-because... (Because it was never explained in the game, and I wanted to ask you personally)...I was just curious."

"..." Tellah frowned and walked ahead.

The others had to follow him in order to stay close for any monsters.

And surprise, monsters became more apparent.

Crossing

Final Fantasy IV DS - Battle Theme A

The crossing had several Ghouls (green zombies) and Souls (green head-ghosts). They seemed disturbed as the 9 got in the area.

"Get prepared!" Tellah warned them. "Monsters in higher areas tend to be get more violent!"

"That won't stop us," Cecil said as he unsheathed his dark sword. "We will have to rush in. Go!"

"Taste fire!" Zelda yelled as he used Din's Fire to a Soul. When it reached the phantasm, it exploded, but it also made the ghost mumble...in pleasure. "Huh? It didn't do damage?"

"Did that monster groan?" Ike asked. "I thought Zelda's Din's Fire was going to deal damage to it."

"Those monsters absorb fire," Porom pointed out.

"And that wasn't a groan," Palom added. "It was moaning in pleasure, like when a girl and a guy love each other too much, they start t-"

And Porom whacked his head.

"Now, if you want to use fire on those zombies there..."

"Oh!" Palom cut in. "I know! Ehem... Burn them to greater ashes... Fira!"

"Fira?" Porom repeated confused before small storms of fire incinerated the Ghouls in the path as they screamed out in horror before they turned into ashes. "Palom! You just learned Fire some days ago, and you can use Fira already?"

"Yeah!" Palom said proudly. "I bet it was because of Cecil killing the Zus in the way here!"

Chris thought that some RPG rules still applied to the world, and Palom gained enough EXP to learn Fira in such a short time...

"What are you talking about?" Porom asked. "Oh, and let me guess, I can use Cura because I was around when Cecil wa-"

"Ugh!" Chris grabbed his right am after a Soul bit it. "Y-you're supposed to be invisible, not physical!"

"..." Porom stared at her rod. "...It's worth the try... Heal grave wounds... Cura!"

A shiny light covered Chris's right arm and his wounds instantly healed. "Oh, thank you," Chris said.

"This is so weird..." Porom said confused. "This doesn't make any kind of sense!"

"Behind you!" Nana yelled as she jumped above Porom and smashed her hammer on a Ghoul's face before it could slash the White Mage. "Phew..."

"My apologies," Porom said. "I was a little bit distracted myself."

"No worries," Nana said. "But don't get that distracted again."

"(Get closer...)" Ike thought as 3 Ghouls began to walk closer to him. He seemed to be charging his Eruption attack. "(Closer... Closer! Quick! It's going t-)"

"Burn them to ashes... Fire!" Tellah yelled as he opened his arms and cast Fire on the Ghouls' backs. The zombies yelled and were pushed right towards Ike.

"HUUUUUAAARRRR!!!" Ike yelled loudly as he struck down his fire sword on the ground and created a big eruption of fire that burned the zombies completely before disappearing. "Thank you..." Ike said as he panted.

"Hey, old man!" Palom yelled as he was chased by 2 Souls. "How come I can use Fira and you can't?"

"Palom!" Porom yelled as she whacked a Ghoul with her rod.

"I'm too old to remember my spells," Tellah said. "Just you wait until I remember all my spells!"

"We have to move on!" Cecil yelled as he sliced a Soul. "We can't afford to waste more time in here!"

"There's the path!" Zelda yelled. "Go!"

The 9 quickly rushed up to the path as several Souls came from behind them. They decided to chase them from behind.

"Oh, no way!" Chris yelled. "I'm not going to let ghosts follow me!" He turned around and prepared his harp. "If you have ears, let them bleed!"

Several musical notes flew out from his harp, and all of them struck the Souls. However, this attack didn't kill them as they backed away.

"Oops..." Chris gulped. "B-bye!" he yelled before running back to the group.

"Are you some kind of bard?" Tellah asked.

"Y-yes!" Chris yelled.

"What kind of magical melodies do you have with you?"

"E-er, I can heal and cure ailments, I can give Regen to a single person... Just those for now."

"There!" Cecil yelled. "I see the summit!"

"That soon?" Zelda asked confused. But the summit was just close to them now. "That trip was so short..."

"But there are still enemies following us!" Ike yelled as he looked over his shoulder and found 3 Revenants (palette swaps of Ghouls, except red).

Zelda (gracefully) turned around, shot instantly a Din's Fire and made it explode right between the 3 Revenants. However, these zombies were stronger versions of the Ghouls as they were just pushed back.

"Bull's eye!" Popo exclaimed from below the crossing.

Below the crossing?

"Popo!" Chris yelled. "What are you doing down there? Get back up!"

"Can't!" Popo yelled. "These guys wanna drag me somewhere!"

4 Souls latched their long tongues around his arms and started to drag him away from the cliff.

"T-they're going to let him fall!" Chris yelled at the others.

"Aw, cr-" Nana was interrupted.

"What do we do?" Ike asked. "If we attack those ghosts, they'll let him fall to his death!"

"(...)" Chris looked at a tree, then he looked at the others. "I-I'm going to call a little friend of mine..."

"What?" Cecil asked. "Why at this time?"

"J-just come up with a plan to save Popo! I'll see if I can call my friend!" Chris yelled before he ran behind the tree.

"..." Cecil looked back down. "Do something to stay on ground!"

"Gimme instructions!" Popo yelled excited.

"I..." Cecil couldn't think of anything. "Damn, those zombies are after us!"

6 Revenants appeared from the cliffs and they decided to rush after the 8.

"Attack with fire!" Tellah yelled. "Give them all the fire they need to get burned!"

"(I heard Holy magic can deal damage to the undead as well...)" Porom thought. "Heal grave wounds...

"Burn them to ashes..." Tellah chanted.

"Burn them to greater ashes..." Palom chanted.

Zelda simply sent a sphere of fire.

"Cura!"

"Fire!"

"Fira!"

All the 4 attacks collided with each other between the Revenants as they created a big explosion of fire (though it shone due to Porom's Cura) and obliterated the Revenant group.

"What is that?" Cecil spotted a Moogle (guess who) that appeared close to them and dove down for Popo.

"(The things a poor guy like me does out of need...kupo...)" Chris (in his Moggle Knight job) thought ashamed before he went for Popo.

"Mr. Fur Wings!" Popo exclaimed happily.

Chris readied his sword and sliced a Soul in half. "Grab on, kupo!" he yelled to Popo as he grabbed his hand.

Something made Chris remember an important detail.

One hand can't support a full body.

"KUPO!" he yelled as both he and Popo began to descend...

...Then the poor little Moggle started to come up by flapping his red wings faster as he grabbed Popo's hands. Chris slowly turned around in the air to return back to the group. He slowly made his way to them before dropping Popo close to Nana, but she looked away.

"Who are you?" Cecil asked.

"K-kupo!" Chris yelled and ran away to the tree.

"?" Cecil looked confused as the creature hid behind the tree, but then, Chris (in his Musician job) came back and walked to them. "Hmm?"

"D-did my friend come here?" Chris asked. "Oh, Popo!"

"'S up?" Popo asked.

"That's the only thing you're going to say after you were about to die?" Porom asked.

Palom walked to Porom. "'S up?" he said.

"Hush!" Porom yelled.

"..." Cecil decided to think about the summit. "Let's not waste anymore time and get back in our track. The summit is a few feet away from here."

Music stops

Summit

And so, they reached the summit of the mountain. Since the mountain was surrounded by a circle of trees, they managed to catch a glimpse of the area around.

"Well, we reached this place...quite too fast," Ike said. "I'm starting to wonder about the travelers that didn't come back..."

"I bet the elder was just making that up so I could stay at home," Palom said. "Geez, he needs to understand my power."

"And you need to understand the word manners," Porom said bored.

"Ssssssssssssssssssssssss..." hissed someone nearby.

"And stop that hissing," Porom added.

"What hissing?" Palom asked.

"I believe I heard a hissing too," Zelda said.

"Same here," Ike said.

"It's Scarmiglione," Chris said.

Lie, because he didn't say that.

"I-I heard that too..." Chris shuddered. "(Whatever you do, you must follow the storyline's flow, or I'll end up messing it up like I SUPPOSEDLY did with Sonic's.)"

"It was a monster," Tellah said. "Probably a zombie we fought. I was waiting for something more dangerous, but it seems nothing is bad now."

"Let's hope it stays like that..." Nana shuddered. "I didn't like those zombies' faces at all..."

"BOO!"

"YIKES!" Nana yelped and hid behind Porom in an instant.

Popo and Palom laughed hysterically at Popo's mimic and both high-fived each other.

"Y-you little!" Nana yelled.

"Palom! Behave yourself in front of Tellah!" Porom ordered.

"S-sorry!" Palom held his stomach. "I-it was just too funny! Hahahahahahaha!"

"H-how could you scare me like that, Popo?!" Nana asked angrily.

"Palom kinda told me to do it," Popo said. "And he's like, the same level of awesome I am."

"So true!" Palom said as both high-fived again.

"Ugh, I wish I could shut your mouths for the rest of your lives..."

"Can you 4 stop it?" Cecil asked. "We have to get to the top and see what the elder meant to say about my destiny."

That sounded very...how does one say it?

"Pardon me," Porom said politely. "My brother can't just mind his behavior."

Palom folded his arms. "Though we do look good for spyi-"

Porom gasped and she instantly whacked Palom on his head. "Hush! You're not supposed to say that out loud!"

"Oww..." Palom groaned.

[DededeCloneChris]

"What was he trying to say?" Cecil asked.

"N-nothing important," Porom said. "My brother is always like that."

"So true..." Ike trailed off.

"Well!" Popo spoke up. "Let's see who gets to be King of the Hill!"

"Oh, please, don't tell me you and Palom have been trying t-"

"Last one is a putrid eggplant!" Popo yelled as he ran to the slope and started to walk above. Shortly after him, an excited Palom followed.

Nana sighed. "This isn't him at all..." she muttered.

"W-wait!" Zelda said suddenly. "What if there are more monsters above?"

The 7 quickly ran to the slope and went up to try to spot monsters. Once they went to the next new floor, nothing was there, except the boy twins looking around.

"What?" Cecil asked. "I thought you were playing."

"Whoops," Palom said. "We kinda didn't want to go up here." He pointed at some stairs that directed to a higher ground, but it also leaded to a small bridge, that also directed to a small altar that posed as the summit of the whole mountain.

"That is the summit?" Cecil asked. "An altar?"

"I betcha there's something weird with it."

"Hmm..." Tellah looked at the right and found a blue circle across another bridge. "A Save Circle..."

Save Circles are enchanted with holy magic to prevent monsters from entering the center that is formed by several holy stone formations...

...And it's also a way to save your progress.

"Good," Cecil said. "We can use it to rest here for the night."

The Smashers looked up to see that it was sunsetm and night was going to come very soon.

"(So what?)" Chris thought. "(Are we going to save our progress inside the Save Circle?)"

Ike yawned. "We...may as well rest for the night... Hey!" he suddenly yelled. "Isn't bad to rest in there?"

"Save Circles can prevent monsters from getting close to us," Porom explained.

"It's like the bathroom," Palom said. "They respect our private area."

"And there's an important backstory behind the Save Circles," Porom said. "It all began whe-"

"Let's get between the rocks so we can rest," Cecil said. "I have a Cottage ready."

Cottages are better restorative items than Tents are. They replenish someone's health to the fullest (and it also makes the users have pleasant dreams).

"Awesome! You have a portable Cottage?" Popo asked.

"I happened to find one long before I came here," Cecil said. "We can set up the camp inside the circle and rest."

"We surely feel sooooooooo tired, right?" Chris said (and lied) to the Smashers.

"Let's go in," Ike said. "Are you sure we can acompany you?"

"The more, the merrier, as they say," Tellah said.

The 9 prepared to set up the cottage inside the holy circle to rest for the night...

That night...

There was a nice and soft cottage inside the Save Circle. Inside of it, there were the 9 sleeping peacefully using sleeping bags. The cottage itself looked small from outside, but it was very spacious from the inside.

And it was an enchanted item, since many of them dreamed pleasant dreams as Porom explained.

Final Fantasy X - Yuna Theme

"..." Popo seemed to be smiling. "...Dad...Mom...you're here with me and Nana..."

A few feet away from him, there was Nana, who managed to overhear him. She couldn't sleep well that night as her mind reminded her about the hatred towards Popo.

"I'm so happy..." Popo muttered. "I'm so happy that you're here..."

"..." Nana started to sob. "S-stop it..." she muttered. "D-don't make me feel homesick, you dumb bastard..."

She didn't want to hear more, and she left the cottage as she sobbed sadly.

Once she sat outside the cottage, she looked up to the starry stars over Mt. Ordeals and sobbed another time. "Why..." Nana sobbed as she sat down and embraced her legs. "Why is he like this? Why? ...I don't understand why at all...and on top of that..."

She moved her head down.

"Why is he dreaming about our parents? Doesn't he know that we have parents, but the real ones..."

Nana stopped sobbing once she heard footsteps coming from the cottage. She felt sad, but she didn't want to see the person she woke up by accident.

"Nana?" Porom asked. "You can't sleep?"

"..." Nana simply moved her head down.

"So he woke you up because he was dreaming of your parents like Palom is doing right now, right?"

"..." Nana looked at her and nodded before looking down. "...Is Palom dreaming about your parents as well?"

Porom walked to her and sat down. "Yes..." Porom said. "It seems our brothers dream of our parents, right?"

"Are you 2..."

"Yes..." Porom said somewhat sadly. "...Palom and I... We weren't raised by our parents because they...they were gone..."

Nana looked at her.

"It's been like this since I can remember," Porom said. "We were born in Mysidia, but our parents...I don't know... They were gone, and nobody knew why."

"I see..." Nana said before looking down above her knees.

"The elder...he took care of us," Porom said. "He told us that he found us near the hall, and both were crying loudly as we were just newborns. The elder told us that he couldn't remember our parents because our birth was so sudden... Sometimes, when he raised both of us, he mentioned that 2 villagers seemed to be gone forever." Porom looked up to the sky. "I always thought that they were attacked by monsters, and tried to protect us."

"Uh-huh..."

"But that's not true," Porom said. "Because it wouldn't make sense that we were dropped off in Mysidia out of luck. There had to be reason..."

Porom sniffed one time.

"They must have abandoned us because they couldn't raise 2 babies. Maybe they left us because they couldn't raise 2 children instead of 1... But..." She smiled a little. "I wasn't sad anymore, you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because...I have Palom with me," Porom said. "He's the only family I have left, and I couldn't be happier. The elder told us that having someone else of your same lineage is good for your own self...and he was right..."

"..." Nana nodded.

"How about you?"

"Huh?"

"You have parents, right?"

"...I guess I should tell..." Nana said. "...Both of us don't have human parents...we have...a Topi and a Polar Bear as father and mother..."

"W-what?" Porom asked. "Why would you 2... What is a Topi?"

"Let me continue..." Nana said. "...I still remember very well..."

Flashback

Icicle Mountain
Base

The blizzard raged during the night, and the fields around Icicle Mountain got covered in more snow. Through the snow, 2 lonely figures walked through it. These 2 figures were holding hands together, but they were not humans.

One of them was a Polar Bear. This Polar Bear wasn't exactly wild as normal Polar Bears because she was pacific towards anyone.

Next to her was Topi. This Topi wasn't wild as the normal Topis, and he seemed to be holding hands with the Polar Bear.

"I swear," the Topi said. "Blizzards can be wonderful sometimes, but they had to be strong on our way home."

"I know that very well," the Polar Bear said. "Good thing I'm wearing sunglasses to see through."

"You ALWAYS wear sunglassess, woman."

"And you ALWAYS remind of my hobby to wear sunglassess."

Despite this, both were a happy couple. Sure, they looked weird together, but as many, but many, but many, but many, but many have said before.

"True love is for those who fall in love with each other," the Topi and the Polar Bear said in unison. "As long as it's not bestiality. Hahahahahahaha!" both laughed heartily.

"So..." the Polar Bear began. "When are you going to decide to have children?"

"...Well..." The Topi looked embarrassed. "...Can we really have them? I mean, our races don't mix that well, and I don't want to see what children we could get..."

"Then..." she began. "Should we?"

"...This is so crazy..."

"...Seconded," she said blushing. "Unless we could adopt them instead..."

"Where?" he asked. "There are no adoption centers around here, and we're stuck in this situation."

She sighed. "This is unfair, isn't?"

"Yep," he said. "Unfair that we don't have children because we can't mix together well, and unfair for them for being abandoned."

"I know..." she said as she looked down. "...Wait, who are abandoned?"

"These 2 babies I just found now," he said as he pointed at 2 mantles with 2 babies. "They were abandoned, right?"

"Oh my!" she said suddenly. "W-why didn't you say this before?"

"I didn't?" he asked. "I-I mean, babies!"

Either they were too distracted, or they were deaf, because the babies that they found were crying loudly through the blizzard.

"Poor dears..." she said. "They're so young..."

"Hey, wait a minute," the Topi said as he eyed the babies. "...They're humans!"

The Polar Bear ducked to see them closely. "...Oh, you're right. They're humans."

"Pitiful," he said. "Their parents must have left them."

"How can you say that?"

"I don't know," he said sarcastically. "Those footsteps' marks from over there seem to be a reason."

The Polar Bear looked at the marks close to the babies. The marks also turned back from where they came from.

"...How cruel..." she muttered. "They were abandoned by their parents, weren't they?"

"And they're so young..." he trailed off.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Let's take them as our children."

"What?!" he asked shocked. "A-are you crazy? What would the other families say about us raising humans?!"

"I don't care!" she yelled. "They're babies! They don't understand anything they went through! Would you rather leave them here and die under the snow?! Are you that cruel?"

"W-well..." the Topi trailed off. "This is why I can never win an argument with you..."

Both of them looked at the babies.

"...They look so young," he said again. "And they...kind of look cute."

"Oh, please," she said as she picked one. "They look adorable to me... Hmm? This one is wearing a pink eskimo..."

"Really?" he asked before he took a closer look to the other. "...And this one is wearing a blue one."

"How cute," she said as she put the baby girl in her arms. "They were already given clothes...but...they were abandoned..."

"..." He smiled at the baby. "Aw, screw what the others would say. This baby over here needs a home, and we're going to give them one."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Totally!" he said. "...Hey, look! They stopped crying!"

Both of the babies seemed to be calm now, and they were looking at their holders.

"..." The baby girl smiled at her.

"..." The baby boy smiled at him.

"Mama!"

"Papa!"

"Oh, geez," he said sarcatically. "They decided for us."

"It seems so," she said with a small smile. "Who's a little cute baby?"

"Who has his stepfather's face?"

She looked odd at him.

"...What?" he asked. "I was just asking!"

Both of them suddenly got surprised looks as the babies laughed.

"What do you know?" he asked. "They understand what we're saying!"

"Let's not waste more time!" she said. "We have to take them to our home!"

"To the igloo!" he said, faking an heroic voice.

Her wife chuckled heartily and both ran off to their home with the babies as they disappeared into the snow...

Mt. Ordeals
Summit

"..." Porom looked worried. "You were raised by..."

"Please, don't say it," Nana said. "I haven't finished yet... We got a home with our adoptive parents, and it wasn't bad at all..." Nana hid a small smile. "...There was happiness after all..."

Flashback

Icicle Mountain
Home

The next day...

Inside an average size igloo, the Topi and the Polar Bear were looking at the babies as they laid down on an ice bed. The ice bed itself wasn't completely made of ice since it had normal pillows and the such.

"So," the Topi began. "Have you decided yet for their names?"

"Hmm..." the Polar Bear wondered. "It's so hard to think of names for them. I can't simply decide..."

"This is a dilemma..." he said. "By the way, have you removed the mantles off them?"

"Oh, I haven't," she said. "Let me take them out..."

As she began to unwrap the babies off from their mantles, both adoptive parents discovered that the babies were already wearing more different clothes. The boy had a full set of blue clothes, and the girl had a pink set.

"...They look cute," she said. "Those clothes really fit on them..."

"...Look!" he suddenly yelled. "There are notes inside the mantles!"

The Polar Bear spotted 2 notes that were hidden within the mantles that both babies had. She looked confused as for the notes inside that she took both. "...Wait, this seems like some kind of..."

The Topi took the notes away and began reading them. "Hmm. These notes are so small and so dirty... Let's see what it says here..."

We can't raise children...

We're so poor and ill, and we can't let our children live in the conditions we're in. We can't do anything for them, and we just can't ask someone to raise them because we don't want anyone to think awful things about us...

This is it... We have to abandon them for their own sake...

We were driven to madness after we got 2 babies. We originally wanted to have 1, but 2 were born, and we just couldn't raise them...

The Topi began to read the other note.

I know this is so inhuman of us to abandon them in the middle of nowhere... But we decided that the only way to be punished for such action was to...

"..." The Topi's eyes widened. "...No..."

But we decided that the only way to be punished for such action was to suicide ourselves and leave this world forever. We were taken to the worst of bad luck there is, but our children couldn't be taken there as well...

And so, we decided to abandon them before we died by letting ourselves fall into the near abysses of the mountains, where no one would find us...

"..." The Topi let the note fall down to the icy floor. "They..."

"...Dear god..." she muttered with a frown of shame. "..."

"...Wait a minute," he said as he looked down at the note. "There's more behind the note..." He took it back. "Ahem..."

When both were born 2 days ago, we were so happy nevertheless. Fortunately, we gave each one a name before deciding each one's fates.

To the enthusiastic boy in the blue eskimo, we named him Popo.

And to gorgeous girl in the pink eskimo, we named her Nana.

Both are our pride and joy, even if we're dead.

And, to the parents who manage to find these babies...

Please...take care of them...give them love...give them a home...give them happiness...and most of all...raise them as they were your children... Please, do this for us so we can rest in peace...

The Topi and the Polar Bear shed tears as they looked at the cheerful babies. They couldn't tell the babies that their parents were dead, and they had to keep their happy selves like that.

"Popo..." he said.

"Nana..." she said.

Both babies responded with happy claps.

"...They're our children from now on," she said.

"And we couldn't be more proud to accept their last wish," he said.

The babies looked at each other and shared smiles with chuckled before looking at their new parents. They seemed very happy to see them that they sat up and looked curiously at them.

"And after that," Nana narrated. "We found a family that we have to these days, and also, we made friends with the neighbors as well. At first, they gave us odd looks, but we were slowly accepted by all, and our parents were so happy that we were happy..."

A long time passed after both were found until they reached their respective ages...

"Popo! Nana!" the Topi yelled. "Come inside! We have gifts for you 2!"

"Sweet!" Popo yelled from outside before both twins came in. "What do you have for us?"

"Popo, Nana," her mother said. "Ever since the day you were born, we decided that you can finally use these for adventuring around the mountains."

"What?" Nana asked.

"Your own..." she began as she walked sideways and revealed a lot of alpinist stuff on the table. "Climbing set!"

"..." Nana looked skeptical. "A climbing set?"

"Yes!" her father said. "You know that a lot of your friends like to climb mountains, so why don't you 2 join them as well? The mountains around here are safe, and it's safe as well!"

"Awesome!" Popo said. "Look! We can belay with those ropes!"

"Dad, Mom," Nana began. "Is this okay? I mean, we just started to climb with our friends, but..."

"Oh, please," she said. "Don't be so afraid of using it. We're fine with you 2 going outside."

"Besides," he began. "We know that there's a small chance of you being attacked by wild monsters, and then we came up with..." He took out 2 same hammers from his back. "These babies I made up!"

"Hammers?" Nana asked. "And a climbing set?"

"Nana!" Popo began. "We should be happy that they're giving us presents! Why can't you accept them?"

"B-because I'm a little bit worried myself, that's why!"

"Nah," her father said as he put his hand on her back. "You 2 are pretty tough. Think of this as some kind of enhancement to your defenses!"

"B-but..."

"My little girl is one tough cookie," he said with a chuckle. "You know how to give the monsters hell very well, and you're going to teach them the true definition once you bang this baby on them."

Nana looked down...but smiled a little. "Heheheh..."

"Then, are you going to take it or leave it?"

"...I'll take it!" Nana said cheerfully.

"Yeah!" Popo took his hammer. "Climbing set, hammers, what else is there?"

"Family hug!" her mother said suddenly as the 4 made a group hug.

"C-can't we say this is a bear hug because of you?" the Topi said as he turned purple.

"Oh dear," she said.

"Hahahahahahahaha!" Popo and Nana laughed heartily before both of their parents joined them. They laughed and laughed as they could do.

"And from that point an onwards, we became very good with the climbing set that many of our friends nicknamed us as "Ice Climbers." I was so embarrassed when they called us like that, but we grew on the nickname, and we had fun with it as well."

Flashback

Mt. Ordeals
Summit

Nana wiped out her tears and looked at Porom. "Those were the most happy days of my entire life. I found a family, I made friends, and..." She looked depressed. "...I don't understand why Popo acts like that now."

"You really got lucky," Porom commented. "I'm a bit jealous, but you 2 deserved greater things. It's good that we're kindred spirits."

"Kindred...spirits?"

"Yes. We both understand each other so well," she said. "And I didn't think I would find someone like you."

"And I did as well... Maybe I have more emotional strength to tell you more, but I don't want to do it right now."

"I understand. I'm not pushing you."

"Thank you..." Nana said. "Thank you for being my kindred spirit."

"Likewise here," Porom said. "And for the problem of your brother..."

Nana looked away.

"Maybe I'm wrong," she began. "But Popo could be trying to hide his saddest memories."

"...What?"

"Trust me," Porom said. "My brother is not that different from your brother. I heard that the most enthusiastic of people tend to be very happy because something so awful happened in their lives before, and nobody is different from each other."

"But how the hell can I tell if Popo is just acting retarded or not?" Nana asked a little bit angry. "I've been trying to solve that "puzzle" but I can't find the answer!"

"Calm down," Porom said calmly. "You must stay calm and think again."

"...Think...think if Popo is using some kind off facade to hide his true feelings..." Nana muttered. "...I...I..."

Porom smiled a little. "You?"

"I...I...I...I..." Nana looked down. "...I can't find the answer..."

Porom looked worried. "...I see..." She looked up to the stars. "...I'll help you, don't worry. We're both in this together."

"..." Nana looked up to the stars. "...But...do you think I can find that answer?"

"Of course yo-"

"With you?"

Porom blinked surprised before she nodded and chuckled heartily. "Yes. We're going to find that answer...together..."

"...Thank you so much..." Nana muttered as she shed a tear.

Both girls smiled to each other before staring up to the stars as a shooting star was seen crossing the night's sky.

After that, they decided to go back to the cottage...

Music stops

But just then, some monsters that came from the ground appeared right from darkness and shrieked silently. These monsters looked familiar, but decided not to go through the Save Circle as they decided to patrol the area. And the night went on.

The next day...

After the group walked out from the cottage (and the item disappeared out of magic (and Ike questioned this (and Cecil said he didn't understand either (and Chris muttered the "plothole' word)))), they went to the bridge that leaded to the altar.

"Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss..." hissed a sound.

"We were just waking up, and you're playing again?" Porom asked annoyed.

"I swear it wasn't me!" Palom said. "I don't hiss like that either!"

"And come to think of it," Zelda said. "It was closer this time."

"Because Palom here did it," Porom said.

"Gotcha proof?" Popo asked. "You look shady. You sure you're not you?"

"W-what kind of question is that anyway?"

Chris gulped at the bridge. He knew what was going to happen. He could even think of the event in his mind.

They would approach the bridge, and Tellah would sense something and say:

"I sense evil," Tellah would have said.

And since 5 more people (the Smashers) were with them:

"Dude, you can sense evil? That's so l33t!" Popo would have said.

Then Palom would say:

"And I have a sixth sense," Palom would have said. "I can sense food."

Porom would have whacked his head for that and say:

"Hush!" Porom would have said after whacking her brother.

And then, the atmosphere would turn purple and Scarmiglione would appear before they would step on the bridge and say something like:

"You're finally here, foolissssssh mortalssssss..." a voice would have said.

Then Cecil would look around and say:

"Who is there?" Cecil would have asked. "Show your face!"

Then Scarmiglione would appear before us and s-wait a minute!

"Aw, god!" Chris cursed under his breath. "This is not a vision in my mind, but it IS happening now!"

That wasn't his vision, but reality.

Final Fantasy IV DS - Tower of Zot

"Hello," Scarmiglione greeted as he moved his hands up and down. "I have been waiting for you to arrive here... WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SSSSSSSO LONG?!"

"Er..." Ike looked confused. "...What are you exactly?"

"ANSSSSSSWER THE QUESSSSSSTION!" he demanded.

"We..." Zelda looked behind her. "Stopped to rest for the night before crossing the bridge?"

"FOOLSSSSSS!" Scarmiglione yelled. "I wassssss here all the time for you to come, but you decided to resssssst before you could do sssssso!" he yelled angrily. "You don't know the pain to wait for you all! Damn you all to hell!"

"Aw, that's cute of you," Popo said. "Can we go through?"

"Ssssssure." Scarmiglione nodded and moved away. "...WAIT!" He moved back to his position. "I can't let you go any further! My missssssssssssion issssss to kill Cecil and hissssss bunch of imbecilessssss!"

"Can you please tell us your name?" Zelda asked with a glare.

"My name issssss the great Sssssscarmiglione!"

"And tell us your whole job for that matter!" Palom demanded.

"Elemental Lord of Earth and Undead, Golbez's archfiend, the firsssssst archfiend you will ever face," he explained. "And ssssssingle."

Most of them sweatdropped after knowing that Scarmiglione didn't have a wife.

"..." Scarmiglione looked confused. "What the hell did I jusssssst ssssssay?"

"That you don't have a wife, so you suck?" Popo asked.

"...You weren't ssssssuppossssssssssssed to know that, darn you!" he cursed. "Cecil! I am here to bring you your death by Golbez!"

"Golbez?! You work for him?!" Tellah asked angrily.

"Yessssss! Are you deaf, old man or what?!" Scarmiglione asked.

"Well, move aside," Cecil said. "I don't want to deal with ridiculous archfiends like you for the moment. Go back to Golbez and tell him to give Rosa back to me."

"Who're you?" Scarmiglione asked. "My bossssssssssss?"

There was someone who had the power to make Scarmiglione feel utterly furious.

"Do you know that you overuse the "Ss" a little bit too much?" Chris asked.

And that was enough for the archfiend.

"That issssss it! Revenantssssss! Come and suck their blood!" Scarmiglione commanded.

Final Fantasy IV DS - Battle Theme B (B for Boss Battle)

4 Revenants suddenly appeared from the ground they were on and they stood up and created a barrier in front of the archfiend. The 9 stepped back and prepared to fight against the undead enemies.

"Go!" Scarmiglione ordered. "Kill them, and eat their flessssssh!"

[DededeCloneChris]

Unfortunately for Scarmiglione, he didn't count that someone of the group knew how to defeat him rather fast.

"I hear undead are so weak to fire!" yelled Chris in a high-pitched tone.

"I know!" Palom began. "Let's kill them with fire!"

"And I also hear that a guy named Scarmiglione can't stand fire as well!"

"Why are you yelling like that?" Cecil asked.

"..." Chris felt extremely embarrassed. "I...he...um..."

"(I got an idea here,)" Ike thought. "That's the monster we've been looking for!"

For being a new addition to the Smashers, Ike surely learned fast.

"Y-yes!" Zelda said. "That monster, Scarmi...whatever its name was it's the monster we've been trying to hunt!"

"What?" Scarmiglione asked confused. "Nobody hassssss never met me becausssssse I jusssssst got out!"

"And..." Nana thought about something. "T-that's why you need to be hunted! I-isn't that right, everyone?"

"Yes!" the other older Smashers said in unison.

"...For being hunters that just knew a monster that came out of nowhere..." Cecil trailed off.

This was a really bad signal.

"(Busted,)" the 4 (except Popo) thought in shame.

"...You're hard workers," Cecil remarked.

"..." The Smashers looked around in embarrassment. "We-um-er-y-yes!" they said in unison.

"Would you sssssstop talking and let my servantssssss eat your flessssssh?!" Scarmiglione asked annoyed. "Go, my peassssssantssssss!"

"No, you won't do such a thing, fiend of Golbez!" Tellah yelled. "Burn them to ashes..." He opened his arms. "Fire!"

A small burst of flames hit the 5 undead (counting Scarmiglione) and made the red zombies back away.

"Ooh, ooh! Let me continue!" Palom pleaded. "Burn them to greater ashes... Fira!"

A stronger burst of flames covered the undead, and the 4 Revenants disappeared into thin air, leaving Scarmiglione alone.

"All right," Cecil said. "We have to get through him and we're done with this."

"You won't do ssssssuch a thing!" Scarmiglione yelled. "Thunder!"

Bolts of lightning fell on everyone on the field (or in this case, cliff) and they backed away...though the attack was really weak.

"Ha! You call that Black Magic?" Palom bluffed.

"Heal the wounds... Cure!" Porom cast Cure to restore everyone's health.

"Oh no!" Scarmiglione said. "Why can't my magic hurt you?!"

"I think he's just a joke for a monster..." Ike trailed off. "Alright, let me go after him."

"Let me join you as well," Cecil said and both nodded to each other before running to the zombie.

"Y-you get away!" Scarmiglione demanded.

"Ha!" both swordsmen yelled as they leaped to the archfiend and slammed their swords down on him...

...And that's how they ended the battle after slidding across Scarmiglione.

Music stops

"No!" Scarmiglione yelled. "D-darn you all to hell!" he yelled angrily before he disappeared.

"...That was it?" Nana asked. "He went down so easily... Hey, I didn't do anything!"

"That was odd," Cecil commented as they walked back to them. "I thought Golbez's archfiends were going to be stronger than this."

"Well, we shouldn't waste more time," Tellah said. "Meteor awaits for me, and we have to go forward."

"Sheesh," Palom said as he folded his arms. "The first one to lose against the Mighty Palom."

"Let's just get this over with..." Porom said bored. "The faster, the sooner my brother gets to stop bluffing."

"Hush you!" Palom yelled.

Zelda smiled. "I can't believe we defeated the monster."

This was obviously part of the hunter part, and the others reacted quickly.

"Yeah," Ike said. "We defeated it, and we're done."

"Aww, you guys are leaving already?" Palom asked. "I was getting used to have someone at the same level of awesome as myself."

"And me as well!" Popo said excited.

"It would be dangerous for you to go down the mountain," Cecil said. "Since we're going to go down the mountain, maybe you could come with us after I get done with my business here."

Oh, Cecil, if you just were more benevolent, Zelda would have married you.

For some reason, Zelda glared at nobody in particular.

"We wouldn't mind," Zelda said as she stopped glaring. "I think I like to hang ou-I mean, be with this group. Yes! That's it!"

"..." Ike shook his head. "Yeah, we'd like to stick around more."

"Thanks," Cecil said with a nod. "Let's go forward, then."

As they crossed the rather short bridge, something hit Chris's mind.

"(Wait, Scarmiglione had to be defeated 1 time before he would come back from behind and ambush us...)" he thought. "(...But nothing is happening...)"

"..." Tellah stopped after they crossed the bridge. "I sense evil."

"FOOLSSSSSS!" Scarmiglione yelled as he appeared right behind Porom, who immediately turned her to him and ran behind Palom for protection. "You have only made me sssssstronger by killing me! Now, face your deathssssss!"

Ike glared at him. "You're not going to believe us, but we're always reminded about our deaths every day."

"Wow, Ike," Nana began. "You sure learn fast as we do."

"Do I?" Ike asked embarrassed. "I think I'm getting used to this."

"What are you speaking of?" Cecil asked.

"N-nothing important," Ike said.

"SSSSSSHUT UP!" Scarmiglione yelled as he glowed in darkness.

"Be careful!" Tellah warned them. "I sense a stronger power coming from him!"

Final Fantasy IV DS - Dreadful Fight

Scrmiglione's cloak started to rip appart as he grew in size into a hideous brown monster with white eyes, bones getting out from parts where they weren't supposed to come out, decayed skin, and a hideous green hair coming from his new head. The 9 backed away as Scarmiglione roared.

"W-what the heck is that?!" Nana asked.

"I am Sssssscarmiglione," Scarmiglione said. "And I am here to kill you all! Sssssshadow Bugsssss! Come forth and give me sssssstrength!"

"Shadow Bugs?" everyone except Palom and Popo repeated confused. From the cliffs surrounding the mountain, the Shadow Bugs crawled up from the cliffs and reached Scarmiglione's feet before covering him with all of them. Before long, he roared to the air with opened arms as he gained more strength than before.

"YESSSSSS, YESSSSSS, YESSSSSS!" he proclaimed. "ULTIMATE POWER ISSSSSS MINE!!!"

"Aw, god," Porom said bored. "It was a matter of time before I met my first power-hungry monster in my life."

"Don't you DARE change the music now!" Chris yelled angrily at no one in particular.

"His power has risen," Tellah said. "We should be more careful than before now!"

"DIE!" Dark Scarmiglione yelled as he pulled himself back, lowered his arms, and swung them hard on Chris to make him crash with the nearby wall.

"AAAAAAAHHH!!!" Chris screamed in extreme pain before he lost consciouness on the wall and fell down to the ground. "I-I'm so sorry..." he muttere sadly.

"W-what?" Cecil asked bewildered. "No! He took him out with a single strike!"

"Cecil, look out!" Ike yelled as he managed to push the dark knight away from another swing of arms from Dark Scarmiglione.

"WHAT ISSSSSS THE MATTER?!" the archfiend asked with an evil chuckle. "Do you fear my power now?! I'll make your deathssssss come ssssssooner than you expected!"

"I'm sick of zombies..." Zelda trailed off as she concentrated fire magic in her hand. "And I'm disgusted to see your...body above everything else!"

"Try to hit me with fire!" he taunted.

"It'll be my pleasure... (W-wait...what is this?)" Zelda thought confused before she automatically chanted a new spell. "Burn them to greater ashes... Fira!"

Dark Scarmiglione got enveloped in a burst of flames that ran across his back to his head.

Zelda gasped and looked at her hands. "W-what did I just do? Did I learn magic all of a sudden?"

"Chris bought a special ability a while ago!" Kawashima yelled from Chris's pocket. "You might learn spells or other skills while you're in a world like this, but you can use them HERE and not OUTSIDE!"

"What was tht voice just now?" Cecil asked.

"Whoops," Kawashima muttered.

"I...see..." Zelda said with a nod before she smiled a little at her hands. "Fira..."

The magic that hit Dark Scarmiglione made him grunt in pain before looking down at his enemies. "Inssssssolent girl! Get poissssssoned!"

The archfiend opened his arms and a weird scent came from his body's withins, flowing around the air that everyone breathed in by accident. Their bodies began to feel heavy as they turned pale.

Nana coughed. "T-that monster poisoned us..." she said before coughing.

Porom coughed. "F-fear not, I'm going to heal each one of us with Esuna..."

"AH!" Nana quickly pushed Porom away from one of the archfiend's swings in time.

"Ha!" Popo yelled from atop a small hill as he pointed at Dark Scarmiglione. "It's true! Big enemies can't hit smaller enemies!"

"SSSSSSHUT UP!" the archfiend yelled as he made a fist and raised it above the Ice Climber.

"Hey!" Ike suddenly jumped in front of Popo and shielded him with Ragnell as the fist tried to crush both of them. "G-get down, now!"

"Like getting off from this hill?" Popo asked.

"Y-yeah!" Ike struggled. "G-get down!"

"'Kay," Popo said as he simply ducked.

"I-I said DOWN THE HILL!" Ike ordered angrily as the fist made him go down.

"Oh!" Popo jumped off the hill...then he came back.

"GET AWAY FROM HERE!" Ike snapped out.

"Why didn't you say that before?" Popo asked semi-angry. "You made me play around."

"(Get down before I cut down your throat...)" Ike thought as he gritted his teeth. "Would anyone help me here?!"

"Damn!" the archfiend cursed. "This sword is stupidly hard!"

"Are you mocking Ragnell?" Ike asked.

"Help is on the way!" Zelda said as she concentrated her new magic. "Burn them t- Aah!" she yelled after the archfiend shot his tongue at her hand. "G-get your filthy tongue off my hand!" she yelled.

"Damn you," Cecil muttered before he jumped towards Dark Scarmiglione. "Get this!"

"Never!" Dark Scarmiglione yelled as he used his other free hand to block Cecil's attack. "That dark ssssssword won't hurt me, you foolissssssh dark knight!"

"UGH!" Cecil was pushed down along with his sword, and he crashed on the ground before he grunted in pain.

"My turn!" Palom said as he concentrated his magic. "Burn them to gre-"

"You don't know what elsssssse to ssssssay bessssssidessssss that sssssstupid chant, do you?!" Dark Scarmiglione asked.

"Not really." Palom stuck out his tongue.

"DIE!" Dark Scarmiglione yelled as he slammed down his fist on Palom.

When he removed his fist, Palom was shown laying down on the floor before looking up with swirls in his eyes. "Yeah," he said dazzled. "That will teach you my own power, sucka..." he muttered before he fainted.

"Porom!" Tellah yelled to the White Mage. "Do you know how to cast Raise?"

"Y-yes, I do," Porom said.

"Try to resurrect the boy!"

A red toon vein popped out from Chris's head.

"While I try to maintain everyone on their feet!"

"Understood!" Porom said before she ran to Chris and focused her magic. "Come back and walk the earth again... Raise!"

A small angel appeared from the sky and flew around as he reached the fainted body, touched Chris's back, and vanished. The World Traveler started to open his eyes slowly before he pushed himself back from the floor and looked at Porom.

"T-thank you..." he muttered.

"It's my duty to heal you," Porom said. "But it's also my duty to protect anyone else in danger."

"H-how much time has passed ever since that monster attacked me?"

Porom coughed due to the poison. "Oh no, I forgot everyone got poisoned! They will start losing all their health if I don't heal them!"

"W-wait!" Chris stood up and prepared his harp. "I'll cure them instead."

"Can you?"

"I'll do it..." Chris nodded before he started to play his harp. "Soul Etude!" he called out as a blue atmosphere fell on the field and healed everyone instantly. They also were healed from the poison as they turned back to normal.

"H-ha!" Zelda yelled as she sliced the tongue by using her other free hand. Dark Scarmiglione pulled back his tongue and grunted as he was still trying to crush Ike with his other fist.

"(I really had enough of waiting to discover a new attack with Zelda... The Summoner job would be the only option because I haven't used it in a long time and...)" Chris changed to his Summoner job and ran to Zelda. "Zelda! I need to ask you something important!"

"W-what is it?" Zelda asked.

"(I'm going to hate myself for asking her this...) Do you trust me?"

"..." Zelda looked odd at him. "I...yes?"

"...It sounded cheesy, didn't it?" he asked in a low tone.

"...Would you get mad at me for saying...yes?"

"...Actually, no," Chris said as Ike flew back above them and to the nearby wall where he crashed but then jumped out to attack the archfiend. "I like honest people."

"Oh, me too."

"Good," Chris said. "Because I would be embarrassed if I ever asked someone else the same thing. Do you agree with me?"

"I think so," Zelda said with a nod while Tellah got his staff taken by Dark Scarmiglione's tongue. The mage cursed before he went after his weapon. "I don't like liars that much."

"Me too," Chris said. "...(...Am I having a conversation with her during a battle?) They're the worst..."

"..." Zelda scratched her arm a little.

"...This is so awkward, right?"

"I agree..." Zelda said a little bit unsure. "Are we...waiting for our combined attack?"

Chris blushed embarrassed. "Y-yes..."

"Um..." Zelda looked confused. "...Do we really have to wait for it?"

"I guess..." Chris said. "This is how it comes to us; all of a sudden it appears."

"Oh," Zelda said simply. "..."

"..."

Porom went flying above them because of Dark Scarmiglione's tongue.

"..."

"(...)"

"(...)"

"(...)"

"(...)"

"(...Wait, it worked!)" Chris said.

"(This feeling...)" Zelda said. ""(I can sense something within us...)"

"(...)" Chris shifted his eyes. "(Do you have to be dramatic?)"

"(T-this is my first time. What'd you expect?)" she asked. "(But now I feel that power that you have found with the others.)"

"(...)"

"(D-don't look at me like that!)"

"(Fine,)" he said bored. "(Since we're ready to do this, will you start?)"

"(Um, well, okay.)" Zelda said as she and Chris grabbed Chris's staff together. Magic began flowing from below their feet and they focused hard on their combined attack.

It also seemed that Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom glowed in her right hand...

"FEEL MY WRATH!" Dark Scarmiglione yelled as he moved his arms to the left and swung them hard on Ike, Cecil, Nana, and Tellah. The 4 of them went crashing to the wall as they screamed in pain before falling down to the ground, losing their consciousness.

"Oh no," Porom said bewildered. "I-I'm coming to heal you!"

"You won't do ssssssuch a thing!" the archfiend yelled as he approached the White Mage to grab her on his right fist.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Porom screamed in horror. "PALOM! HELP ME!!!"

"Porom? POROM!!!" Palom yelled worried. "Leave my annoying sister alone!"

"That REALLY helps myself!" Porom yelled sarcastically.

"I wonder how doessssss a child's tasssssste like food?" Dark Scarmiglione wondered as he moved the White Mage above his mouth.

"A-AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Porom screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Burn them to greater ashes... Fira!" Palom yelled to make a burst of flames appear on Dark Scarmiglione's head. "Aw, dangit! He's not letting go of Porom!"

"INSSSSSSOLENT!" Dark Scarmiglione yelled before he swung his left arm to Palom.

"...Aw, shi-" Palom got interrupted before he was sent to the wall, losing his consciousness as he fell next to the others.

"..." Porom looked worried before she started to cry. "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"Worry no more!" Popo yelled proudly as he jumped to a small hill. "I, the Great Hero Pop-" He got interrupted by the archfiend's fist crushing him with the hill. When he removed his decayed fist, Popo looked up with swirls in his eyes. "...Will...get my revenge..." he finished before hitting the ground with his face.

"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Dark Scarmiglione laughed evilly as Porom's tears fell inside his mouth. "NOW, LET'SSSSSS TASSSSSSTE THAT FLESSSSSSH OF YOURSSSSSS!!!"

"UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Porom tried and tried, but she was held tightly on Dark Scarmiglione's fist before she felt that the grip was starting to lose its strength on her. That would mean her fall inside the zombie's mouth. "S-SOMEBODY!!!" she cried for help.

"We call upon the devil of hell fire," Zelda and Chris chanted. "Incinerate our enemy, and leave ashes behind to crawl the earth and air both!" both chanted together before the magic flowing from beneath them turned red. "We summon thee... Ifrit!!!"

A mighty roar came from the mountain before the ground in front of both casters started to turn red with magma. It then exploded as a flaming figure jumped out and landed close to them. The 2 looked at the entity covered in flames before the fire vanished, revealing a 2-horned red demon that reached 10 feet tall and looked angrily at Dark Scarmiglione.

"My goodness..." Zelda commented surprised.

"It's...Ifrit..." Chris said.

Ifrit roared in fury before he started to get covered in scorching flames. The aeon jumped back as the flames began to turn him into a huge wheel of fire. Chris and Zelda watched as Ifrit aimed for the archfiend, and then Ifrit himself rammed at full force to the zombie, creating a huge impact of fire that made the archfiend let go of Porom as he screamed in utter pain.

The White Mage made her way to the unconscious group as she watched Ifrit trying to cross Dark Scarmiglione's decayed waist. She was able to hear a huge roar from Ifrit before he penetrated the dark skin of the archfiend and went soaring across the air. Ifrit hit his fists on the ground behind the archfiend to stop himself from falling out of the mountain. The demon of fire roared at the archfiend before flames covered him and made him disappear.

Music stops

"..." Porom blinked in surprise. "...That was a Summon Spirit...it was Ifrit..."

"...No..." Dark Scarmiglione said as he looked at the hole in himself. "T-thissssss issssss...no! NO, NO, NO! E-even with my new power...NO! T-THISSSSSS ISSSSSS NOTHING! I-I CAN'T...NO!"

Chris and Zelda ran to the group (who were starting to wake up) and watched the archfiend grabbing his stomach in pain. The archfiend roared in pain as he glared at them.

"Y-you won't get away with thissssss!" he proclaimed. "Ssssss-ssssssoon, G-Golbez will avenge me!" he yelled. "L-l-live your worthlessssssssssss livessssss assssss much assssss you can from now on!"

They gasped as Dark Scarmiglione's body started to turn into dust.

"I darn you...kid and...meddling girl..." he muttered before he hit the ground with his full body as it became dust.

"...I hope Ifrit made you feel agonizing pain..." Chris muttered angrily.

"W-we did it?" Cecil asked. "Ugh!"

"C-Cecil!" Porom said worried. "P-please, everyone. Let me heal you!"

Zelda sighed in relief. "We were able to defeat that...thing..."

"...I'm happy," Chris said. "Both of us can use combined attacks. Also, I'm glad you like me."

Zelda smiled a little. "Thank you."

New ability learned! Wisdom Call!

Guarantees a successful summon by using both a summoner and the Triforce of Wisdom. Only Ifrit (fire), Shiva (ice), Ramuh (thunder), and Titan (earth) can be summoned. However, summoning the desired aeon might end up calling another at random.

"You..." Cecil said weakly before Porom healed him completely. "You are a summoner?"

"...(I forgot that summoners live in Mist...)" Chris thought. "Y-yes."

"Were you born in Mist?"

"N-no..." Chris said. "I-I was born in another village..."

"What village?"

"In..." Chris looked at Zelda. "Ordon! I-it's a secret village hidden in...t-the Fabul province."

"...I see..." Cecil said.

"Tell me he's not starting to get suspicious about us," Chris whispered.

"Hmm. We should be more clever in what we do around them," Zelda whispered.

"I guess..."

A time passed...

"Looks like we managed to defeat Scarmiglione," Tellah said. "Golbez better be darned for sending us that hideous monster."

"And..." Palom folded his arms as they walked to the altar (that somehow was unharmed since the battle was just a few feet nearby). "We all won!"

Nana frowned. "Don't tell me you and my...Popo have been playing..."

"I'm your Popo?" Popo asked.

"Hush!" Porom and Nana said in unison.

"Would you please calm down?" Ike asked. "..." He looked at the altar. "...What now?"

A cricket passed nearby before it killed him by jumping accidentally off the cliff.

"...I have to say," Tellah said. "This is boring."

"Seconded," Popo said. "Here I thought there was a treasure."

"..." Cecil crossed his arms.

Porom began to sweat. "T-the elder definitely didn't deceive you or anything like that, I swear!"

"I have to admit that putting an altar on the top of the mountain is odd..." Cecil commented as he approached the altar. "However, I feel some kind of energy that is...calling me..."

"Come..."

Everyone gasped. "W-what was that?" Zelda asked.

"It's the voice inside my head!" Palom screamed.

"No! It's mine!" Popo screamed.

Porom proceeded to pull her brother's ponytail to stop him from screaming.

"Come...son..." the voice that rang through the mountain said.

"What?" Cecil asked. "Son?"

Tellah blinked in surprise. "There is some kind of energy drawing us somewhere!"

Just as he said that, everyone got blinded by a shiny light that came from the altar. As soon as they were engulfed in it, they all disappeared from the mountain...

The following scene will be resumed due to more character development...now.

Crystal Room

They appeared inside a room full of mirrors.

"What?" Cecil asked. "Where are we?"

In front them, a mirror reflected their reflections.

"What is that?" Ike asked.

A dark figure that looked like Cecil stepped out from the mirror, and it took out a dark sword.

Cecil nodded and unsheathed his sword.

"Face your true self!" Palom yelled.

"Will you shut it?" Porom asked annoyed. "Cecil! Be careful!"

"We have to help him!"

"No!" Cecil yelled. "This is a battle for me and me alone. Leave this to me."

They fought.

"A true paladin..." the Cecil copycat said. "Will sheath his sword."

Cecil decided not to attack.

"..." Cecil obeyed the figure.

The figure turned into a floating holy sword.

"Take the sword..." the same voice from before said. "A unleash all the darkness within you, and obtain your right to become a paladin of light."

Cecil took the sword (slowly) and his dark armor vanished as he glowed. He seemed to be changing apperance. He now wore a holy armor, a long blue cape, his blond hair became visible as he wore a blue plate in front of his forehead, and he also held the holy sword called Mythgraven.

Zelda blushed.

"Hamana-hamana-hamana," she said quickly.

Chris and Ike shared confused looks.

The twins opened their mouths in surprise.

Tellah remembered his spells.

"I-I remember my spells!" Tellah said.

He also unlocked the seal to Meteor.

"Me...teor..." he muttered. "Meteor! Yes, I have found it at last!"

Porom looked surprised.

"No way!" Palom said. "You're a true Legendary Sage then!"

Cecil walked to them.

"I...have changed..." he said.

"Definitely," Zelda said.

End of resume.

"..." Chris looked confused. "No, this isn't right. Cecil was supposed to grab the sword, turn into a paladin, fight that shadow later, then become a full-fledged paladin afterwards... Not fight the shadow, grab the sword, become a paladin, and leave."

"Oh my," Kawashima said. "You messed up something here."

"What now..." Chris asked bored.

"...Nope, you didn't mess up anything."

"Then why are you saying that?"

"Because...erm...um...something here was changed by somebody..."

And so they left the crystal room...

Summit

And appeared right back in front of the altar.

"What was all that just now?" Ike asked. "We were there, then we reappeared back here?"

"I dunno myself," Palom said. "Boy, that was awesome, don't you think? We were, like, spirited away from this place and taken to another place, where were spirited away again!"

"High five for that!" Popo said excited as both kids did a high five.

"..." Nana looked down. "That...reflection..."

"What is it?" Porom asked.

"When were there..."

Flashback

Crystal Room

Final Fantasy IV DS - The Lunarians

As Cecil and the shadow of himself remained silent due to Cecil listening to the shadow's talk, Nana saw the reflection behind the shadow.

In truth, the reflection worked like some kind of revealer. Everything that was reflected in there would show something like someone's true identity. She looked at everyone reflected in the mirrors.

However, there was Popo, who was grabbing hands with her.

"What?" she muttered. "Why is he..." She looked at her right, but Popo wasn't grabbing her hand. Instead, he was apparently making weird symbols with his hands (and albeit to say, his fingers were inside his fingerless-gloves). "But..." She looked back to the mirror, and both were smiling happily. "I...I don't understand why this is happening..."

She looked worried.

"...Is this...does that mirror reflect..." she wondered. "...Does it reflect how things should be, or does it reflects something else? Everything in this world is related to magic, and I could be right with my guesses..."

She saw both reflections waving at her.

"...What is the true meaning of this?" Nana asked. "Is this some kind of a clue?"

Summit

"Once I saw the reflections, they reflected Popo's attitude when he wasn't like this..." Nana said.

"It reflected how he behaved before?" Porom asked.

"Yes, but do you know why?"

"This is so hard..." Porom said. "I just knew about a place like that just a moment ago. I'm afraid I don't know."

"If that is right," Nana said as she looked at Popo talking with Palom (about socks on hands). "Then maybe I'm closer to find out about his true intentions..."

"...The voice called me his son..." Cecil said.

"Um, Cecil..." Porom looked ashamed. "We, Palom and I...we were..."

"Yes?"

"Everyone!" Tellah called from a few feet away. "We must leave this place and go to Mysidia! We have a deal to settle with Golbez!"

"How did he get farther away from us?" Ike asked.

Nana snapped out from her focus on Popo. "S-should we leave as well? I mean, we finished with that monster, right?"

"Oh, right," Cecil said. "What are you going to do now? You finished with the monster."

"We..." Ike thought for a moment. "...We don't have anywhere else to go."

"If I recall," Cecil began. "We could have ended up dead if it weren't for you all." He looked at Chris. "He is a summoner and I got puzzled about you 5."

Chris blushed embarrassed. "Y-you could say I'm full of surprises..."

"Maybe," Cecil said. "I saw all of you fighting and well...I was wondering if you could tag along with us a little longer."

The 3 older Smashers looked surprised.

"The reason why I wondered this is because of that boost of power that Scarmiglione got out of nowhere," Cecil explained. "Somehow I don't think that kind of power exists in this world."

Chris opened his mouth in shock.

"And I wondered about asking you to join us. Of course, you can leave us if you want, but..."

"W-we would like to!" Zelda suddenly spoke for everyone.

"Are you sure?" Cecil asked.

"Hamana-hamana-hamana."

"?"

"S-she means yes," Ike said as she stepped between them. "A-and as the leader of this group, I'd say yes. Let us join with you."

Cecil smiled and nodded. "Your help won't be misused with me."

"Alright, alright!" Palom said. "Let's go back to Mysidia and report to the elder about the spyi-hmhmhmhhmhhmhm!"

Porom blocked his mouth. "Let's go!" she said with a worried chuckle.

"Hmph," Tellah said as he walked to them. "You youngsters should leave the way back down to me."

"Are you going to carry us down?" Nana asked confused.

"No!" Tellah said. "I'm going to use Teleport to take us all back to the entrance. From there, we're going to start our way back to Mysidia."

"If you're going to use that spell, then we should get closer to you," Cecil said.

"Exactly. Everyone, get closer to me." Tellah started to focus. "Cast our souls to safety... Teleport!"

Everyone got covered by an unknown force before they disappeared out of sight.

Music stops

Overworld

"Kweh!"

"Whoa, awesome!" Palom exclaimed.

Once the 9 got back to the entrance of the mountain, they were met by a band of roaming wild Chocobos that happened to be nearby.

"Chocobos?" Tellah asked. "Yes, I believe there was a forest of them nearby."

"And to our luck," Cecil said. "We can use them to take us back to Mysidia. Monsters don't attack travelers with Chocobos."

"Are you sure we can ride them?" Ike asked. "They're wild, aren't they?"

"All the Chocobos in the world are docile and very friendly," Porom explained. "Besides having soft yellow feathers, they're well trained to be wild."

[DededeCloneChris]

Chris noticed that a Chocobo got closer to him. "Um, hello?" Chris greeted.

"...Kweh!" the Chocobo said happily before it rubbed its beak to Chris.

"...Wait a second...Lenne, is that you?"

"Kweh!" The Chocobo seemed to agree.

"Lenne!" Chris said happily as he hugged her. "Oh, I'm sorry for not calling you for a long while!"

"How do you know that's the same one?" Nana asked.

"Because she responded to her name?" Chris asked sarcastically.

Palom sniffed. "I like this kind of reunions..."

"Napkin?" Popo offered and sniffed, and both took napkins.

"Can we just go back to the village now?" Porom asked. "The Chocobos could run away if we don't hurry!"

The 9 decided to ride the Chocobos to go back to Mysidia. Each time a monster was spotted, it ran away because of them riding the Chocobos.

Ike, however, wondered why Zelda kept saying, "Hamana-hamana-hamana" all the way to Mysidia...

Their work wasn't done yet. Their reward? The Classic Mode's beginning.

"(Soon...)" Nana thought as she rode her own Chocobo. "(Soon I will find out the truth, Popo. There is definitely something weird with that attitude, and I'm going to find that out, once and for...I mean, I will find it very soon...)"

The 9 rode to the horizon, where Mysidia was located...

Preview of the next chapter

"And then I 'hic' decided to have a child with that man over 'hic' the street... Yahoo! We didn't 'hic' care about being men at all! 'Hic'!"

"..." Chris closed his eyes annoyed. "This is WHY I hate drunk people!"

...

"Pursuing A Blind Self. I like the sound of that title." Nana said.

"I liked mine better..." Popo said.

"Oh, you shut up!"

Do you want to save your data?

Yes

Overwrite File?

Yes

Mt. Ordeals
Chris, Lucario, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Pikachu, Pichu, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Red, Squirtle, Ivysaur, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Samus, Kirby, Meta Knight, Link, Zelda, Toon Link, Fox, Falco, Wolf, Captain Falcon, Olimar, Marth, Roy, Ike, Ness, Lucas, Pit, Popo, Nana, Snake, Sonic, Cecil, Palom, Porom, Tellah

[DededeCloneChris]

Chapter 138: Pursuing A Blind Self

Icicle Mountain
Home

Silence...only silence...

Her eyes shook in fear...

The 2 adoptive parents looked down in shame...

His eyes were the same as her...

"..." She frowned. "...So...you're not..."

"...I'm sorry..." she said. "...We're not your..."

"...It was so obvious from the very beginning..." she muttered. "We didn't look like anybody else here, and yet we followed the flow..."

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but that is the whole truth," he said. "It was a very cruel thing, but you 2 had another chance in life th-"

"S-shut up!" she yelled. "What do you really know?! I can't believe any of this!"

"P-please, calm down!" her brother yelled.

"How can I calm down after I heard that truth about us?!" she asked angrily. "They abandoned us, but why? Why?!"

"P-please, dear! Calm down!"

"I don't want to!" she yelled. "I...I'm going to..."

"Nana!"

"I'm going to find out by myself! I can take care of myself just fine!"

"Nana!"

"Y-you can't be serious!" he yelled.

"Watch me!" she yelled back. "I'm going to find about this than they know!"

"Nana!"

"This is the only thing I can do..." she muttered. "...But...you can do it too if you want to help me fin-"

"Nana!"

Mysidia
Village

"Nana!" Porom yelled again. "Nana, come back to your senses!"

"Huh?" Nana shook her head. "W-where are we?"

"Back in Mysidia," Porom said. "We were about to leave, but then we noticed you were still riding your Chocobo."

Nana looked at her Chocobo, who in return tilted its head curiously. "...Hey there..." Nana said depressed.

"You should let go of it," Cecil said. "We let go of ours a moment ago."

"..." Nana nodded and jumped off from the Chocobo. The bird chirped happily before it ran away to the east.

"Don't worry," Palom began. "We'll get you one for your birthday!"

"...Yes..." Nana muttered.

"Well, then. Let's go and meet the elder," Tellah said before he walked into the village with everyone else.

Porom walked to Nana. "I can tell by your face. You were remembering another moment, correct?"

"...You're sharp," Nana said as she forced a smile. "And yes, I was remembering."

"Okay," she said with a nod. "You can tell me all about it after we meet the elder."

"...Yes," she said with a nod as well.

Going through the village wasn't as disastrous as it was before. This time, the villagers looked amazed as they saw Cecil now turned into a paladin, and not as a dark knight.

"No way..." a White Mage muttered. "He was turned into a paladin?"

"This doesn't mean I forgive you!" a Black Mage yelled. "You changed into a paladin, so what?"

Cecil closed his eyes and tried his best to ignore them. "Let's keep walking."

Of course, since Tellah was a legendary sage to Mysidia...

"Is that Sage Tellah?" a different Black Mage asked.

"Oh my, he is!" another one said. "And...he is traveling with the paladin?"

"T-there's no way Tellah would travel with an assassin unless h-"

"You dare question Tellah? He's a very recognized sage in the whole world, idiot!"

"I-I didn't say he was evil, oh no!" he protested. "I-if he's traveling with the paladin, then that would mean we've been foolish to the paladin himself!"

"Say hello to Tellah," Palom began. "Anyone who travels with him surely is good at heart!"

"Bow to great Sage Tellah!" most of the mages of the village yelled before they bowed to Tellah as the group went towards the hall of prayer.

"That's right, worship me!" Palom yelled.

A tomato was thrown to his face from somewhere.

"And me!" Popo said.

2 tomatoes were thrown to him.

Then Palom got hit by another.

"Hmm..." Tellah scratched his forehead. "Boy, have I been this famous?"

"You mean you don't know your own popularity to all mages and scholars?" Porom asked.

"I simply studied to become useful in both teachings," Tellah said. "But I will use this power to kill Golbez!"

"Oh," Chris whispered to the others. "He's very stubborn if you mention Golbez. He's like that for all the remainder of this journey."

"Really..." Ike said. "Tellah, what would you do to Golbez if you were to find him in an alley?"

"Well, I would use Firaga, then Blizzaga, then Thundaga, then Bio, then Quake, then Tornado, then Bio again, then Holy, then Flare, the-

As a special note, Tellah wouldn't go farther after Thundaga since he has only 90 MP, and the 3 first spells he mentioned take 30 MP each, and thus he wouldn't use any other spells...

...Besides, Meteor has 99 MP, and it's impossible for him to use him at this point, and FOR ANOTHER ODD REASON, he CANNOT, I repeat, CANNOT increase it as he gain levels like everyone else does.

"-n Poison, then Bio, and for a finisher, Meteor!"

"...You do know that would take much more than your life, right?" Porom asked worried.

"I know!" Tellah said. "I don't care if I die for it as long as I take Golbez with me!"

"The elder is going to be against that idea of yours!" Porom said. "You don't care?"

"Heck, I will repeat it to him again!"

Hall of Prayer

"You do know that would take much more than your life, right?" the elder asked.

"You people don't understand my pain at all..."

"Stubborn as an old mutt, I see," the elder said before turning to Cecil. "And you managed to change into a paladin of light."

"Yes," Cecil said. "But the voice that told me to take the sword...it called me its son. Why?"

"Really?" the elder asked. "I do not know myself of such happening. Many old folklores roam Mt. Ordeals, but I don't know regardless."

"I see..." Cecil said.

"Oh, that sword!" The elder noticed Cecil's sword. "Let me see it."

"...Sure," said Cecil confused.

The elder looked at the sword's blade. "Oh! This is it. This sword has the legend written on its blade!"

Birthed from womb of Dragon's maw
And borne unto the stars
By light and darkness cast aloft
Are dreamtide oaths resworn
Moon is swathed in ever-light
Ne'er again to know eclipse
Earth, with hallow'd bounty reconciled

"What does it mean?" Cecil asked.

"It means we shoul-" Chris stopped. "I-it means...something...yes..."

"..." The elder shook his head. "This sword itself is the key to a greater discovery."

"The power to conquer the world?" Popo asked.

"No! This sword wasn't meant to do evil!" he yelled. "It was meant to banquish evil, and to be an important key to the ancient Mysidian legend of old. However, that moment is far away from happening."

"Elder," Porom spoke. "Nothing seemed suspicious about Cecil at all."

"What?" Cecil asked.

"I'm sorry," the elder apologized. "I sent both of them to spy on you. We were still worried about your previous actions on Mysidia that we came with this last option."

"We used our super powers to predict your welcome," Palom said.

"In other words," Porom began annoyed. "The elder used his magic to see what the future held for us, and thus he told us about your coming. I hope we didn't make you feel bad."

"No, it's okay," Cecil said. "I should have expected a treatment like that from you. After all, I'm ashamed of my actions."

"Very well," the elder said. "Thank you all for making sure Palom and Porom would return alive. I was relieved once I saw you with them, Tellah."

"They're surely very skilled for their age," Tellah said. "I give them that."

"Aw, please," Palom said as he blushed. "I'm cute, but almighty as we-"

"T-thank you so much, Tellah," Porom interrupted.

"Now, Cecil," the elder began. "You wish to return to Baron, right?"

"Yes," Cecil said. "Might I have a ship for the voyage?"

"No," he said. "You might want to use the Devil's Road."

"Wasn't that route sealed after the attack?" Porom asked.

"What's the Devil's Road?" Ike asked.

"The Devil's Road is an enchanted route that it's connected to Mysidia and Baron. We mainly used that for quick transportation to the continent, but it was sealed after that attack from the Red Wings," she explained.

"We can unlock the seal and let you use it," the elder said. "And you." He pointed at the Smashers. "You can wish to go to your way and leave Cecil and Tellah."

"We actually want to go with Cecil," Ike said. "I think he's good with that, right?"

"Well, you were a lot of help when we were at the mountain," Cecil said. "...But are you completely sure?"

"Sure," Ike said.

"Right," Chris said.

"Absolutely," Nana said.

"Right-o," Popo said.

"Haman-" Zelda got pushed by Ike. "Y-yes," she said.

"Again, thank you," Cecil said. "I grew uncomfortable after fighting Scarmiglione, and you proved yourselves strong against him. I want this journey to be as safe as possible."

"Then you should be on your way," the elder said. "May Mysidia's will go with you all."

The elder saw the group walking away...

But Palom and Porom were going as well.

"Palom, Porom." At the mention of their names, they turned around. "Return to your studies."

"Oh, c'mon, elder," Palom said with folded arms. "We came alive from that mountain of death, didn't we?"

"Doesn't that prove that we are ready to take care of ourselves now?" Porom asked.

"Well..." The elder wondered for a moment. "You certainly came alive, and helped Cecil as well... The thought about sending you with him could be dangerous..."

"Hmmmmmmmmmmm..." Both twins waited for an answer.

"...Very well," he said. "Cecil, Tellah, I'm letting them go with you. Please, take care of them should they get in trouble."

"I'll take full responsibility of them," Tellah said.

"Thank you, my friend."

"Let's go," Cecil said to the others.

Village's Marketplace

Final Fantasy IV DS - Mystic Mysidia

"!!!" The Black Mage of the store noticed Cecil and the others entering. His hand slowly reached for the sing that read "5000 Gil" for a Potion. "...S-Sage Tellah?!" he muttered in surprise as mentioned sage came from the door.

The mage kicked the sign away, and instead, he took one that read "1 Gil" and put it beside the Potions.

"W-welcome!" he greeted. "W-we're having a sale right now, so buy a lot, okay?"

"That's weird," Palom said. "You store owners are so grumpy with the prices. I mean, the paladin armor alone is too expensive."

"Shut up, you little brat," he sneered.

"I-I-" The other Black Mage behind the counter kicked away the expensive price for the armor and replaced it for 1000 Gil. "P-please, go ahead and buy it, Sage Tellah!"

"But I don't wear armor," Tellah said.

"T-then get it for the paladin that killed my brother!" he said happily with a nervous chuckle.

"That sounded so...twisted..." Ike commented. "(Not to mention he said it happily... Was his sister so bad to him?)"

Devil's Road Entrance

After getting a "reasonable" amount of 99 Potions, the group went to the building that had the mentioned road to Baron. Once they entered inside, all they found was a glowing seal with monuments around it.

"Is this the Devil's Road?" Zelda asked. "It's just some kind of warp point to me."

"Oh, that..." Porom trailed off. "To be precise, there's a road that connects to Baron, but it was sealed with magic and turned into a warp point to it. Once we step on the seal, it will take us to Baron. However, the trip is going to take a while because we're so many this time."

"It used to be a normal road before?" Ike asked.

"Yeah," Palom said. "And it will remain like that forever. It's not going to turn back to a road in some years or something like that."

"Let's get on it, then," Cecil said.

"I hope it doesn't have any kind of secondary effects for transporting 9 people..." Chris muttered.

And so, they stepped on it.

The seal glowed brighter, and they were covered in a bubble of light that disappeared in thin air.

Music stops

Devil's Road

"...My goodness..." Zelda commented.

"I didn't know someone could see this by going through the road," Porom said. "But it's too... It's like some sort of good dream."

The group looked amazed as they were traveling inside a bubble through the ocean and to the northeast, where Baron's direction was.

They saw many fishes swimming around, different kinds of jellyfishes, and all sorts of creatures in the ocean. The bubble that they were traveling in protected them from getting drowned, and it was quite spacious as well.

"So this is the world of Final Fantasy..." Chris muttered. "...I knew I loved this universe for some reason."

"Judging by the speed of the bubble," Tellah began. "We're going to reach Baron in some hours."

"Can I pop this up?" Popo asked.

"No!" Cecil suddenly spoke. "Think before doing something."

"It's useless..." Nana muttered as she sat down. "Popo can't even think anymore..."

Porom noticed Nana at the edge of the bubble, watching the fishes going by, and she walked to her and sat down to join her. "Do you think you can tell me more about your past?"

"..." Nana blinked at the fishes. "...Yes..."

"I'll be willing to listen to everything," Porom said. "Take your time."

"Thank you..."

Flashback

Icicle Mountain
Playgrounds

Final Fantasy IV DS - Rydia

"There was something that Popo and I always enjoyed. We always played with all the other Topis and Polar Bears. However, there was a time when we first met them..."

In the flashback, Popo and Nana (at a younger age) were shown walking to a playground made of ice and snow. They spotted all the kids playing around (mainly with snowballs) and both decided to walk to them.

"Heeeeeeey!" Popo called out. "Can we play?"

All the other kids looked at their direction and they instantly got confused looks. "Um...who are you?" a Topi asked.

"Popo and Nana," Nana said. "We're twins and siblings."

"But..." he continued. "Why do you 2 look...so different?"

"Different?" Popo and Nana looked at each other. "What's different?"

"Um..." He played with his hands. "W-well...don't you see? You 2 look very different than anybody here..."

Popo and Nana looked at all the kids, everyone in the whole park looking at their direction. "...Really?" Popo asked. "I don't understand."

"He says," a small (but still taller) Polar Bear began. "That you 2 aren't Topis or Polar Bears like us. What's the point of that?"

"Weird," Popo said. "Dad told us that we weren't going to look different to anybody."

"Thing is, you 2 DO look weird with us," he said. "And why do you want to play with us?"

"Because...we're bored?" Nana asked.

"Oh, no," he continued. "You can't play with us."

"Why?" Popo asked.

"You're very different, that's all I want to say," he said before turning to walk away back to the others.

The twins looked at the Topi, unsure of what he heard. "U-um...sorry..." he said (somewhat disappointed) before running away to the snow.

"I would understand that," Porom said. "You 2 were different for them."

"And yet we were naive," Nana said. "We were very young at that time, and we couldn't tell the difference."

"...Does that mean they don't want to play with us?" Nana asked.

"I guess..." Popo said depressed. "Let's just make a snowman over there. There's a lot of snow."

"However," Nana said with a smile. "Let's just say that being kids at that age was so fun."

The 2 young eskimo kids walked to a huge pile of snow and started to pick small amounts of snow to make a snowball. A time passed, and the first part of the snowman's body was complete.

"Hey," Popo said with a chuckle. "We made this one so big."

In truth, the ball was 3 times their size.

"Heheheh, cool," Nana said. "Let's make it even bigger!"

Popo agreed happily and they started to make the lower part even bigger.

Each time they slammed snow on it, they laughed happily as it became bigger and bigger. Both were blind at the notion of time that the ball grew up to 6 times their size.

"Sweet!" Popo said. "Look at this!"

"Beautiful!" Nana said happily. "Let's make the head now!"

"I can't forget that part," Nana said. "I really, but really had so much fun for a pretty long while and...with Popo...when he was so happy with me. I always felt so happy when Popo laughed with me. I just can't forget that! It's a treasured memory I don't wish to forget!"

"So, was that all?"

"No... It kept going better."

As the 2 worked on their snowman, the same Topi that ran away suddenly appeared and looked amazed at the size of the snowman. "W-wow!" he said. "T-that has to be the biggest snowman in the whole playground!"

"It is?" both Ice Climbers asked as they peered from the top.

"Y-you made this?" the Topi asked.

Popo and Nana looked at each other before looking down at him. "O-of course we did!" Popo said. "We always do this a lot of times, but I think we went too far!"

"You went too far?" he repeated. "But I think this snowman could go through all the days without melting! I-in fact...I think you 2 broke a record with it!"

"We did?"

"Y-yes!"

It seemed that the Topi was forgetting the fact that Popo and Nana looked different.

"Well..." Nana looked at him. "Why don't you help us?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, we could make it EVEN bigger with your help."

"It's like playing!" Popo said. "Why don't you join us?"

"R-really? Can I?" the Topi asked.

"Yes!" both said.

"Y-yay!" he said happily as he hopped. "L-let me go get more snow!"

"We couldn't believe it," Nana said. "We got our first friend because of our hobbies with the snow."

The Topi came back, carrying a lot of snow on his hands before dropping it close. He later went back for more, and he kept going like that until he gathered more snow. Soon, the 3 kids started to make the snowman even bigger than before.

And Nana liked their laughs.

"...Huh?" Popo looked down from the 8 feet snowman. "What do you want?"

The Topi and Nana looked down to find a lot of kids admiring the snowman in complete awe. For their surprise, it seemed that all the kids in the playground were there, as the stuff around the same area was completely abandoned.

"H-hey," the same Polar Bear from before began. "W-we saw you building that big snowman from over there, and we thought it looks...kind of cool...I mean, the size and everything..."

"T-the point is," another Topi (girl) began. "W-we wanna play with it, and make it bigger!"

"Hmm?" Nana tilted her head. "But we thought we looked "different" like you said before..."

"I-I think I was a little bit mean with you," the bear said. "A-appearances...um...is that the word? T-they don't mean anything because you don't look that different from us..."

A silence fell in.

"Oh, screw that! W-we want to play with you!"

Soon, all the kids begged to play with Popo and Nana. Both's eyes shook in surprise as they looked around at all the kids who "rejected" them before wanting to play with them.

"I-I think they think you 2 aren't that different because of the snowman," the Topi from before said. "Is that good?"

Popo and Nana looked at each other. "...Totallly!" they said happily.

"Nobody cared about our appearances," Nana narrated. "We let everyone play with us and the snowman. We played, we laughed, we chuckled, we gathered snow together, we played more and more. We continued for a really long while until the sunset came. I was so happy to see our snowman standing between all of us and the playground. You should have seen it... I could practically see sparkles of light around the snow that made up the snowman itself."

Sunset arrived, and all the kids formed a big circle around the snowman. Everyone had mouths of awe at the man of snow in the middle of the playground.

"...It's awesome..." Popo muttered. "We made art with this..."

"And it looks like it's going to stay there for a long time," Nana said.

"Hey..." The same Polar Bear went to them. "I...I'm sorry for telling you that early...you know?"

"Aw, we don't care anymore," Popo said. "We kinda forgot that part when you first came to the snowman."

"U-um..."

"Look!" Nana said a little bit annoyed. "Just let's be friends and forget all about that! We already proved that being different doesn't matter. We had so much fun together, didn't we?"

"Y-yes, we did."

"So!" Popo spoke up. "Let's be friends, play together tomorrow, go on a field trip, do shennanigans or something, then get profit, then pie!"

"..." Everyone remained silent.

"...Popo," Nana said worried. "That seemed a little bit too stupid, no offense..."

"...Heheh..." the first Topi chuckled. "...Hahahah..."

"Hahahahah..." the bear laughed. "Hahahahaha..."

Popo and Nana noticed all the kids chuckling uncontrollably before they all broke out laughing at Popo's comment. Nana blushed embarrassed and Popo facepalmed with a frown.

"Y-you guys are funny!" the bear said.

"What?" they asked shocked.

"Bingo," Nana said with an amused but bored look. "Popo saved our first meeting."

"T-that joke you made, it was funny!" he said. "Man, I can't believe I was going to ignore you!"

"Yeah!" another Polar Bear said. "I think I can live with it pretty well, you know, being different."

Popo and Nana looked down.

"But don't get depressed!" another Topi said. "You're different, so what? It doesn't matter! We had fun!"

"Y-yes, we did," Nana said as she blushed. "We did have lots of fun, right Popo?"

"Y-yeah!" Popo said embarrassed. "Thank you, you guys!"

"We were so happy....so, but so happy that day."

"Did you bother to ask for their names?" Porom asked.

Nana nodded. "Yes, but don't ask me for my dad's name..."

"And his name is?" Porom teased.

"..."

Home

"Mommy," Nana began. "Why's my dad's name Hipolito?"

At that mention, her dad lowered the (ice) newspaper from the (ice) couch and glared at her. "Honey! I told you not to tell her my name!"

"Hipolito! Hipolito! My dad's name's Hipolito!" Popo teased.

"That's it," Hipolito (the author: "snickers") looked at Popo. "No more TV for you!"

"..." Porom remained silent.

"No comments, please," Nana said a little bit mad. "I have a dad with the weirdest name ever."

"...Sooooooooo...what else happened?"

"I had the best childhood I could ever wish for," Nana said. "Everytime I remember it, I can't help but smile. It was so easy to get friends because many were young and you know it's easy to make friends when you're young."

"True," she said.

"Anyway, years passed, and after our parents gave us our alpinist stuff, we decided to try it out."

Very close to the playground, many kids seemed to be climbing a nearby wall of rocks and snow. They all yelled, laughed, chuckled, and played as they climbed. It was safe to play there because many snow pilled up together below the wall, and if anybody fell, he or she would fall right straight into the snow and be safe.

"Check out our climbing stuff!" Popo yelled as he and Nana made their way there. "Our present from our parents!"

"Sweet!" the first Topi friend they made a long time ago said. "Try it out!"

"Oh," the Polar Bear (same one that they met) began. "Let's make this even better. Let's do races to the top of the wall!"

"Races?" Nana asked.

"Yeah. The wall is like 30 feet tall, and it's easy to climb it. Buuuuuuuuuut..."

"But?" Popo asked.

"But we're going to do this...in teams of 2."

"Teams of 2?" the Topi asked.

"Oh, come on, Tod," Popo said (addressing the Topi). "I think Nana and I are up for it, right Nana?"

"B-but I already said earlier that it could b-" Nana was interrupted.

"About that," Tod began. "Bereck throws snow when you're not looking..."

"What?" Nana glared up at Bereck (the Polar Bear). "I knew those snowballs didn't fall from somewhere, then. So it was you after all!"

Bereck flushed and looked away. "O-of course it wasn't me!"

"Oh, it was you!" Tod yelled. "You always play a lot with us, and I've seen you tossing snowballs when the others aren't looking!"

"You weren't supposed to say th-" Bereck looked worried at Nana. "Uh-oh."

Nana shook with rage. "...You. The wall. Us. Revenge. NOW," Nana said in a threatening voice.

"Y-yes..." Bereck sighed. "I hate you, Tod, I really hate you." he muttered.

"Now, the big difference between us and everyone was that everyone had their stuff before. We kind of got ours late. We were used to climb the wall because we always lend stuff to anyone. Okay, after I stated my revenge upon Bereck and gathering everyone to pick a partner, we prepared ourselves to climb the wall..."

"Okay," Popo began. "At the count of 3, the 5 teams will begin to climb this wall. Are you sure you're ready?"

Many cheered as a response. Many other kids watched from the trees in excitement for the race.

"Then I'll start the countdown!" Bereck offered. "Okay!

Moment of silence.

"3!"

Everyone got confused as the Polar Bear and Tod began to climb the wall.

"Hey! Not fair!" Nana yelled. "Oh, screw that. Popo! Let's go and beat the snot out of that shorts guy!"

Many cheers blared out as the teams began climbing the wall slowly. Every partner made sure that the ice screws were well attached to the wall before going up and putting another ice screw. Bereck and Tod were at an advantage than the others (obviously).

Nana pouted a little. "Okay, you're going down!"

"P-please, don't hate me because I'm with him!" Tod pleaded.

"You continue climbing!" Bereck yelled.

Popo and Nana struggled to do their work faster to pass the 2 (and they felt sorry for Tod being dragged into this).

"Sorry for telling you this, but I'll have to skip it a little bit ahead," Nana said.

The scene got into fast forward.

Then it stopped as Popo and Nana were close to reach the goal like Bereck and Tod were.

"Aw god!" Bereck saw the 2 climbing faster. "They're going faster now! Tod! Hurry!"

Too bad the Topi was out of cold. He was hanging upside-down with the rope tightly hanging him from his leg, and below Bereck as well.

"Tod! What the hell happened to you?!" Bereck asked.

"You...yelling too much...me...getting so nervous..." Tod managed to say. "So...rry..."

Bereck heard the sound of 2 people cheering above the wall. His jaw opened as he looked at Popo and Nana on the top of the wall. "...Dammit!" he cursed, banging his fist on the wall...

And accidentally cracking it a little bit to make him (and Tod) fall all the way down to the snow bed.

"We did it, we did it, we did it, we did it, we did it," Popo and Nana said as they danced together. "You didn't, you didn't, you didn't, you didn't, you didn't."

The kids cheered loudly from down below at their victory. The other teams managed to get to the top and congratulated the climbers for winning the race. They all decided to jump all the way down to the snow bed, and get cheered by everyone else.

Bereck sat up from the hole he made and spat snow out. Nana walked to him. "Sweet, sweet revenge," she said with a small grin and crossed arms.

"Hmmmmmmmm..." Bereck fell down on his back.

"I'm innocent..." said a nearby Tod.

"From that moment, Popo and I started to win a lot of times in the wall races. We always improved everytime we won, because some...well...some exagerated that Popo and I were so fast in climbing."

"And then you got that nickname."

"Ice Climbers," Nana said. "A nickname I don't want to remember anymore..."

End of flashback

Devil's Road

Fishes swam away as the bubble crossed the ocean. Nana looked up to the surface and sighed. "Well, thank you for making me remember all the happy times I had with...him... But after that, things went out of control..."

"Why?" Porom asked.

"Because...I bothered myself to wonder the difference between us and the kids...and that started a lot of bad and heartbreaking events."

"We're going to arrive to Baron shortly," Tellah interrupted both girls.

"...I'm going to tell you more later," Nana said as she stood up with Porom. "I feel I can remember the next part."

"Take your time," Porom said. "I'm not rushing you."

"Thanks again."

"Hmm..." Cecil looked at the ocean. "This was probably near where the ship got attacked by Leviathan... I don't know if anyone survived, though."

"Don't worry," Ike said (as they passed just below a familiar fainted bard floating on the water, going to the west, where Troia was located). "I'm sure they're okay as you."

"..." Tellah looked around. "Strange, I think I sensed Edward's presence for a moment."

Out of all the group, Chris was the one who watched the bard for a moment. However, he decided not to tell anyone so the storyline wouldn't get messed. "I-I think his spirit is following us... May he rest in peace with Anna."

"Amen," Tellah said.

"(Poor guy...)"

And the bubble went to the northeast.

"Hmm..." Chris wondered. "Now that I think about it, I wanted to know how Eblan got attacked, but I guess I won't get to see it. I don't think something stupid happened with Edge there when Rubicante killed their parents."

Eblan
Castle

To the southwest laid the continent where Eblan was located. Around the time the group traveled to Baron through the ocean, a ninja jumped out from the window of the throne room and waved at the king and queen.

"Bye Father! Bye Mother! I"m going for a walk!" Edge yelled happily.

Edward "Edge" Geraldine is the prince of the ancient island kingdom of Eblan. Edge's confidence in his own abilities is complete. He is quick to anger, but his explosive nature is balanced by an overwhelming sense of justice. He also likes to flirt with beautiful women as well.

"That son of ours never changes, doesn't he?" the king of Eblan asked.

"Just like you, dear," her wife said. "Wild and young during your childhood."

"HEEEEEEEEEEEY!" Edge called from the desert. "I'll be back soon! Don't get killed or something like that!" he yelled with a laugh before he ran away.

"...Quite the buffoon as well," the king joked.

"Like you," she said bored.

It was a matter of time before a man cloaked in a red veil appeared behind them. "Good afternoon," he said.

"And who might you be?" the king of Eblan asked.

"Rubicante," the man introduced himself as fire swirled around him. "And this is the last time you'll see Eblan with your own eyes..."

Baron
Town

Final Fantasy IV DS - Welcome to our Town!

A bright red light was seen over the southwestern seas, but it later faded as the 9 walked out from a small building, having crossed the Devil's Road.

"Here we are at last," Cecil said as the citizens walked around the town. "Baron, where Golbez is."

"He should be at the castle, am I right?" Zelda asked.

"Definitely," Cecil said. "And he probably imprisoned some friends of mine as well. I hope they're well."

[DededeCloneChris]

Some nearby citizens seemed to be talking, and they managed to overheard them. "Have you heard?" one asked. "There have been reports that some monsters appear only at night."

"Really?" his friend asked. "Well, I heard some weird ruins appeared to the north, close to the waterfall. They appeared out of nowhere, and some scholars went to investigate it a while ago."

"I'm quite worried about the monsters, though," he said. "They said they looked fearsome and more dangerous than the normal monsters out here. That's not all, they mentioned that those monsters don't attack towns, but they prefer to roam about and...stare at the moon..."

"HEY!" Popo appeared between them. "What're you talking about?"

"Yeah!" Palom joined in. "Spill the beans!"

"Uah!" both yelled before running away in a panic.

"Hmm," Popo hmm'd. "Weirdoes."

"Popo..." Ike looked bored as they walked to him. "That was completely unnecessary..."

"It was?" Palom asked.

"We shouldn't bother with those things," Tellah said. "We have to get to the castle and face off with Golbez."

"I don't think it will be easy," Cecil said. "The guards probably won't let us through by simply asking."

"Then..." Zelda trailed off. "...We have to enter inside by sneaking our way through?"

"It...seems that way..." Cecil said unsure. "However, I heard there was a waterway inside the town that connected with the castle. Actually, the door to it is nearby."

Cecil walked to the west and they followed him. Soon enough, they found a locked door.

"This should be the door," Cecil said as he tried to open it. "But it's locked."

"Why don't we blast it apart?" Palom asked with magic ready.

"No!" Cecil yelled. "We mustn't draw attention! If we destroy it, someone could report this to the guards, and then they would chase us down."

"Aww, you're not funny," Palom said disappointed before Porom whacked his head. "Oww!"

"May I suggest to look around the town?" Porom asked. "We could find something useful if we do that."

"It may be for the best..." Ike said.

"Let's start with the inn," Cecil said. "There's a pub in there, and pubs are always full of vital information about everything in Baron."

"(...Oh no...)" Chris remembered something. "(At this point of the game, Cecil would have to find Yang, but Yang should be at the inn. And then if we do find him there, we would have to fight him because he was brainwashed by Golbez after marooning here...)"

"Let's go to the inn," Cecil said. "The sooner, the better."

Chris gulped as they entered inside the inn...

Inn

"The pub is up ahead," Cecil said, pointing to the stairs beside the counter. "Wish for the best in there."

"(I wish I wasn't here...)" Chris thought worried.

"Chris," Ike began. "You look kind of preocuppied. What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you what's wrong," Chris whispered. "At this part of the game, there should be a friend of Cecil up there that got brainwashed by Golbez, and then he would fight us after defeating some soldiers... If I'm right, then we would have to go through that part as well."

"...I see..." Ike whispered. "But we don't have any choice, do we?"

"No..." Chris cried toon tears. "I don't want to get punched in the face...or kicked..."

"...Let's see what we find before trying to predict a fight."

"Ike, you don't understand!" Chris whispered loudly. "We'll have to fight in the pub very, but very soon! What can't you understand?"

And they walked to the pub...

...And found 3 drunks having a good time.

"..." Chris sweatdropped. "...Oh...OH...OH..."

"What the..." Cecil stepped forward in surprise.

Between the 2 guards, there was a monk of Fabul. This monk was rather muscular (but since everyone was in DS looks, it was hard to tell if he was muscular or not), a small ponytail was hanging from the top of his head, a small yellow mustache underneath his nose, he wore red pants, yellow belt, arabian-looking shoes, and he also had sun tattoos on his shoulders. This monk was Yang

Yang Fang Leiden is the grandmaster of the monks of Fabul. Yang's body and mind alike have been tempered and honed through years of intense training. He was separated with Cecil after Leviathan attacked the ship they were traveling on, and he ended up in Baron, where he was mysteriously changed...

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAw!!!" yelled a drunk Yang. "Tis be it, mah bois! We found golden...gold!!!"

Final Fantasy VI Advance - Johnny C. Bad

"Yang!" Cecil yelled as he ran to him.

The 2 guards (also drunk) turned around and looked at Cecil. "H-hey, ish the traitor of dah Red Wings, Chechil..." he said.

Cecil looked a little bit alarmed.

"Yeah..." the other said as his head twirled around. "Y-you gotta be shtupid to show yer face 'round here, idiot..."

"Totally..." the other guard said. "Let 'hic' here be blood! Let 'hic' here be alcohol!"

"Shex!"

"Women!"

"Money!"

"Drugs!

"Drugged women with...shex and money!"

"Yeehaw!" the 2 yelled excited before they passed out and fell down to the floor.

Cecil didn't even care about whatever they said and sighed in relief.

"Daddy, daddy, what's shex?" Popo asked to Tellah.

"Oh, my, this is so ridiculous..." muttered Tellah in annoyance.

"Chechil!" Yang yelled as he raised a cup. "Hurray for your 'hic' survival, bruddha!"

"Yang..." Cecil looked confused. "First of all, my name is Cecil, and secondl-"

"Ya don't tell me who yer're called 'hic', Betil..." Yang said.

"It's Cecil," Zelda said.

"Tetil?"

"Cecil," Ike said.

"Betty?"

"Cecil!" Porom yelled.

"Yetil?"

"Cecil!" Nana yelled.

"Yutil?"

"CECIL!" Chris yelled. "C-E-C-I-L, Cecil!"

"Aw, please," Yang said as he tilted to the sides. "Ya dunno his real name...'hic'... The name's Captain Bon Voyage...'hic'..."

"Oh my goodness," Porom said worried. "He's way too drunk for his own good... This is so bad, it really is."

"Are you kidding me?" Palom asked. "This is so darn awesome!"

"Drunk people should become presidents!" Popo proclaimed.

"Yeah!" Yang yelled. "Let Yung be president 'hic' or whatever that is..."

"Your name is Yang," Cecil corrected. "And you're the opposite of normal now. Yan-"

"Wanna know what I 'hic' did yeshterday?" Yang asked. "I tell ya all... So then I was 'hic' having an affair..."

He suddenly felt asleep on the chair.

"...Sir Yang, sir?" Porom asked. "Are yo-"

The monk looked up suddenly, and Porom backed away.

"And then I 'hic' decided to have a child with that man over 'hic' the street... Yahoo! We didn't 'hic' care about being men at all! 'Hic'!"

"..." Chris closed his eyes annoyed. "This is WHY I hate drunk people!"

"You tell me," Ike said. "This situation is so...odd and weird..."

"Party time!" Yang proclaimed. "Let's 'hic' have fun all night!"

"I'm surprised," Porom remarked. "He seems to be very drunk from I see on his face. I wonder if the owner of the pub hasn't stopped from giving him more sake."

"S-sir..." the owner of the pub said as he stood up from across the counter. The group noticed that he was badly hurt on his entire body. "D-don't you think you had one too many already?"

"SHUT UP!" Yang yelled as he hiccuped. "Ya're gonna give 'hic' ol' Yang his baby, or ye're gonna respond to my 'hic' FISTS OF FURY!"

"N-no!" the bartender said in fear. "P-please, no more of your fists! H-here you go..." The bartender took a sake and pushed it gently towards the monk before he ducked in fear.

Yang took the sake and dropped all its contents in his mouth, around 70 percent falling off as he tossed it behind his shoulder. "Y-y-y-yeehaw..." he said happy.

"We seriously need to take him out of here," Tellah said. "I can't stand the odor of sake much longer."

"Sorry for asking," Chris began. "But will Esuna heal his drunkness?"

"I'm afraid not," Porom said. "Esuna cures illnesses, and being drunk was cataloged as something natural..."

"How can you call that natural?" Zelda asked.

"Yeah..." Yang said. "Why do ya 'hic' call that...that...?"

"I don't understand human anatomy very well yet," Porom said. "But we really have to take him away from this place..."

"I BEG OF YOU!" the bartender yelled, most of them ignoring him for his dismay.

"Can't we keep him like this?" Palom asked. "I like him this way."

"Yeah, let's do that!" Popo said excited.

The other 7 looked at Yang.

"Wanna go to bed with 'hic' me?" Yang asked. "I have 'hic' a good fun reserved for ya..." He fell down the chair and got knocked out.

Annoyed, the 7 looked at the boys and said in a threatening voice, "NO."

"Just one night with the bed with him!" Popo said. "C'mon!"

"NO!"

"Then..." Zelda looked at Yang. "We may as well put him to bed." She looked at Palom and Popo. "ALONE."

Both groaned out loud.

"..." Ike ducked to inspect the guards. "What do we do with them? Aren't they part of Baron?"

"Yes, they are," Cecil said. "We should take them somewhere close to the castle while they're fainted. They shouldn't remember anything that happened today."

"In that case, we should take the guards out of here (Bartender: Thank you!) and get Yang to bed."

"Good idea," Cecil said. "Let's wait for him to get well before doing something else. We should also rest for the night to wait for him." He looked at Zelda.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?" Zelda asked. "(N-not here if you think what I'm thinking... I-I mean, never!)"

"I thought you could take care of Yang (Yang: 'hic') for the night so he doesn't do anything weird and...out of place."

"W-why me?"

"You don't want to?"

Zelda blushed. "W-well, if you say so..."

Music stops

8 hours later...

The night came in, and the 9 were resting on the beds of the inn. The owner of the same establishment was utterly happy for stopping the guards (and even Yang) from doing a big racket that he let them stay for the night for free.

And also, when we mean 9, we mean everyone but Zelda, who was sitting near Yang's bed.

Also, she looked exhausted.

"H-heeeeeeeeeeeey..." Yang said through his dreams. "I'm a better guy...chick..."

Zelda lowered her head in shame.

"Get undressed..." he muttered. "Let's do merry together..."

She cried toon tears. "(Why did I ever accept this task?)" she thought in shame. "(Zelda, you're stronger than this. You mustn't fall for others that easily...)"

Yang giggled. "Girl, you surely know how to please a man..."

"(Wait a minute...)" Zelda realized something. "(Did Cecil put me in this because he didn't want to do it himself, and because I'm a girl, and Yang would probably get "interested" in him than me during this night? ...The nerve of that man!)" She glared at Cecil, who was sleeping some beds away. "(...)" She blushed embarrassed. "(S-stop thinking he looks cute when he's sleeping!)" she yelled mentally.

Near her, 2 beds were empty...

Town

A lonely figure was sitting close to the fountain of the town. She looked up to the moon and sighed in depression. "Mom... Dad... What are you doing now?" she asked. "I'm doing very well here, and Popo keeps acting like...I don't want to say this to you... As for me, I think I'm doing rather well."

"Talking to your parents?"

Nana turned around and saw Porom walking to her. "Y-yes." She blushed. "B-but not the ones I have, but the ones I should have had..."

"I know the feeling," Porom said as she sat besides her. "I myself go out from time to time to speak to the air, and get to talk to my own parents to tell them about. Good thing I do this at night where nobody would hear me."

"Yes..." Nana said before she looked down. "A good thing, isn't..."

"...Nana, it's fine. You can tell me more."

Nana looked at her worried.

"I suppose the next part is a heartbreaking part for yourself, right?"

"It...is..." Nana said. "...But I have to tell you this so you can understand better..."

Porom patted her back. "You can do this. I'm here to make you feel fine with yourself. If you start crying, I'll try to stop your tears."

"...Thank you..." Nana whispered before she looked up at the moon. "Remember when I mentioned that we didn't care about looking different than anybody else?"

"Yes."

"Well...many days after we were called the Ice Climbers...I discovered something very...horrible..."

Flashback

Icicle Mountain
Home

It was night, and a blizzard raged outside. The igloo where Popo and Nana lived was peaceful for such a climate, and both were quite busy inside.

"Nana!" her mother called out. "Go to the attic and if you can find bed sheets for tonight! It's getting colder and I don't want you 2 to get a cold!"

"Yes!" Nana called from her room as she went upstairs.

"And another thing, Popo," Hipolito said to Popo. "I know you know my name, but if someone asks for my name, you're going to say my name is Hip."

"Hip?" Popo chuckled.

"You try to chuckle one more time, and I'll confiscate your ice slider, young man!"

"So can I put you a belt on?"

"Yeah, you can put me a belt o-HEY!"

Her wife couldn't help but chuckle.

"While they were laughing, I was looking around for mantles because the night was getting really cold. Unfortunately, I didn't find the mantles my mom mentioned, and I kept looking around the attic. I know an igloo should be small, but the igloos around the neighborhood were like normal houses," Nana narrated. "I looked, and looked, but couldn't find what I wanted to find... However, I found something I shouldn't have found..."

"Huh?" Nana wiped some dust from a box and opened it. "What's this?" She put her hand inside and took 2 small mantles. "Too bad, these aren't big enough for us." She began to shake them. "I should clean them a little bit, though..."

As she made wind and dust, 2 notes fell off from within the mantles and landed close to her. The pink Ice Climber stopped shaking the mantles and looked down at the notes.

"What are these, how to clean them?" Nana asked as she took both letters. "Heheh, maybe these are love letters from my parents. They look old and rusty and..."

Silence...

"...To the enthusiastic boy in the blue eskimo, we named him Popo. And to gorgeous girl in the pink eskimo, we named her Nana..." she read. "We can't raise children... We're so poor and ill, and we can't let our children live in the conditions we're in. We can't do anything for them, and we just can't ask someone to raise them because we don't want anyone to think awful things about us..."

"I read everything...everything...and absolutely everything written on the notes..."

"...And..."

"...And I..."

"...What is this?" Nana asked. "Why are these notes here? I mean, what do they mean? They sound like our parents wanted to abandon us from the beginning or something...but we have our parents right here in this home... And suicide ourselves? They're not like that at all. They're not emo or whatever the word means... Unless... Wait a minute..."

"And then, a memory hit me; the same memory I had when we first met the kids."

"Um...who are you?" a Topi asked.

"Popo and Nana," Nana said. "We're twins and siblings."

"But..." he continued. "Why do you 2 look...so different?"

"Different?" Popo and Nana looked at each other. "What's different?"

"Um..." He played with his hands. "W-well...don't you see? You 2 look very different than anybody here..."

Popo and Nana looked at all the kids, everyone in the whole park looking at their direction. "...Really?" Popo asked. "I don't understand."

"He says," a small (but still taller) Polar Bear began. "That you 2 aren't Topis or Polar Bears like us. What's the point of that?"

"Weird," Popo said. "Dad told us that we weren't going to look different to anybody."

"Thing is, you 2 DO look weird with us," he said. "And why do you want to play with us?"

"Because...we're bored?" Nana asked.

"Oh, no," he continued. "You can't play with us."

"Why?" Popo asked.

"You're very different, that's all I want to say," he said before turning to walk away back to the others.

"Different..." Nana repeated. "...Why different?"

"Since I was older, I began to understand more well..."

"...Different from anyone else..." Nana wondered. "...The fact that we don't look like Topis, or Polar Bears, and the fact that we don't have snouts or fur...and the fact that Polar Bears don't wear clothes, and Topis don't wear any underwear...that would mean..."

Nana dropped the notes to the floor.

...But she blushed embarrassed.

"All the Topis in here are naked, and even my own dad is naked as well!" she yelled. "...Oh, wait, fur counts as clothes for them..."

She took back the notes and read them again.

"...Different...from anyone else..." she muttered. "Suicide ourserlves because we're poor and ill...and we can't raise children...and we had to...abandon them..." She wondered more. "Different...abandon...take care of them as they were your own children...as they were your own children..."

Her hands began to shake as the grip on the letters became stronger.

"As they were your own children...because we can't raise them..." Her voice seemed to turn sad. "...Different...you don't look like anyone here...raise them for us...give them all the love they want..." She looked up. "Then if I'm right..."

"And then...I realized it..."

"...OH, DAMMIT!" Nana yelled loudly as she ran back down.

"I became full of complete sadness after I thought again. I became both sad and furious about this. All, no, everything, but every single detail made sense that night. I ran down, stopping on the stairs, trying to forget what I found out, but I just couldn't. I wanted to know more about this. My "parents" should know about this, and if they were...then the notes would mean everything I wanted to find out..."

Hip (real name) saw her daughter stopping down the stairs. "What's wrong, Nana? Did you find a spider? You look weird."

"NO, I DIDN'T!" Nana yelled angrily.

"Now, now, you shouldn't ge this angry," her mother said. "It was just a spi-"

"Shut up, Ophelia!"

"Nana!" Ophelia (her mother's name) said. "Why are you telling me to shut up? I'm your own mother!"

"She shouldn't have said that..."

"You? My mother?" Nana asked. "What kind of lie is that? You're not my mother!"

"W-what?" Ophelia asked in shock. "W-why are you saying that?"

"Nana!" Hip walked to her. "Behave yourself!"

"Shut up, Hipolito!" Nana yelled. "All of you, SHUT UP NOW!!!"

"N-Nana!" Popo called from their room. "Why are you yelling like that?"

"Because these 2 lied to us both!" Nana yelled. "They're not our parents!"

"We are your parents!" Hip yelled. "Nana, please, stop being stresse-" He was interrupted as Nana showed him the notes, right in front of his face.

"See these?!" she asked, tears strolling down her cheeks. "These prove my point in detail!"

"...N-no..." Hip muttered as he shook his head. "N-no..."

"...So it's true?!" Nana asked, demanding her answer.

"W-what is true?" Popo asked as he walked to her.

Nana shoved the notes to his hands and Popo looked worried before looking at the notes. "Now you see?!" she asked before she turned at them. "Why?! Why didn't you tell us this before?!"

"...I..." Popo shook his head in disbelief, and he dropped the notes to the floor by accident.

"Because you were so young back then, and because you wouldn't understand!" Ophelia yelled. "We took you both here so you wouldn't die out there in the snow!"

"B-but..." Nana shook her head a lot of times.

"Nana, hear me!" Ophelia yelled. "Aren't you happy to be alive, and have a home where someones loves you so much as we do?! Tell me that!"

"Honey! Calm down!" Hip yelled.

"I..." Ophelia looked down. "...I'm sorry..."

Popo's jaw dropped a little at her statement. "...Then..."

Nana covered her face to stop the tears from falling off.

Hip looked down in shame.

Ophelia felt horrible from inside her mind.

Silence...only silence...

Nana's eyes shook in fear...

The 2 adoptive parents looked down in shame...

Popo's eyes slowly turned the same as hers...

"..." Nana frowned. "...So...you're not..."

"...I'm sorry..." Ophelia said. "...We're not your..."

"...It was so obvious from the very beginning..." Nana muttered. "We didn't look like anybody else here, and yet we followed the flow..."

"I'm sorry to say this to you, but that is the whole truth," Hip said. "It was a very cruel thing, but you 2 had another chance in life th-"

"S-shut up!" Nana yelled. "What do you really know?! I can't believe any of this!"

"P-please, calm down!" Popo yelled.

"How can I calm down after I heard that truth about us?!" she asked angrily. "They abandoned us, but why? Why?!"

Popo backed away, but he looked down in pure disbelief.

"P-please, dear! Calm down!" Ophelia pleaded.

"I don't want to!" she yelled. "I...I'm going to..." She looked down and clenched her fists. "I'm going to find out by myself! I can take care of myself just fine!"

"W-what?" both of them asked in shock.

"A-are you planning to go out there and try to find your real parents?!" Hip asked. "No! I can't allow you to do that! I would feel ashamed to let my own daught-"

"I'M NOT YOUR DAUGHTER, DAMMIT!" Nana yelled loudly.

Hip gasped and backed away in shame.

"...You make me sick..." Nana snarled. "...You 2 kept this for so long that it kept getting worse and worse until it fell down on all of us. I'm going out to find my parents!"

"Y-you can't be serious!" Popo yelled, breaking his calmness. "Besides, the notes said they...they..."

"...At least I'm going to find their corpses, bury them, then live far away from these 2!"

"Nana, please!" Ophelia pleaded as she tried to stop her tears. "Don't go! Please, don't go! You're the only daughter I've ever had before, and I love you so much as if you were my real daughter!"

"But the point is that I'm not your real daughter!" Nana yelled. "Can't you understand that?! Screw this home! I'm going out right now!"

"Nana! No!" Popo yelled as he grabbed her arm.

"Watch me!" she yelled back. "I'm going to find about this than they know!"

"But... Nana, why?" Popo asked. "Why are you doing all of this?"

"Popo, why are you against me?!" Nana asked as she sobbed. "We're twins! We were born at the same time, and I thought we were close to each other!"

"B-but this is wrong..." Popo sobbed. "I-I don't want to do this... I don't want to do it... I don't want to go out!"

"This is the only thing I can do..." she muttered. "...But...you can do it too if you want to help me find our parents..."

"I-I don't want to find dead people, Nana..."

"Dead people?!"

"Nana!" Popo yelled back. "They're dead! You don't understand?! They're dead!!!"

"THEY'RE NOT DEAD!" Nana yelled through tears. "They're not...THEY'RE NOT DEAD!"

"Nana!" Popo yelled. "Please, you have to understand!"

"NO!!!"

"Popo seemed to be calmer than I was... I was out of control. I was very sad. I was very furious. And above all...I didn't make sense myself of all the ramblings I did..."

"THEY'RE NOT DEAD!!!..."

End of flashback

Baron
Town

Final Fantasy VI - Celes's Theme

The moon's reflection shone on the fountain's water, and Nana sobbed silently through the night. Porom, who has been listening to everything, got a worried look after Nana's face had a sad look through tears.

"I...I was so sad..." Nana sobbed. "I...I didn't know what I was doing... The whole truth was so heartbreaking that I wanted to forget it so badly, but it always haunts me whenever I think about it, just like today..."

"..." Porom looked down. "...You can stop if you want..."

"...I need to go on..." Nana said. "I have to get to the end. Nothing can stop me now. I have to overcome the past..."

"Nana, you look very sad now," Porom said. "You should stop!"

"NO!"

Porom blinked in shock at the sudden yell. The yell even echoed through the town itself, and Nana regretted about it as well.

"...I'm sorry, I have to do it," Nana muttered. "Sorry for yelling, but I want to finish this..."

"..." Porom simply nodded and patted her back.

"...Let's continue," Nana said determined.

Flashback

Icicle Mountain

Nana struggled to go run away and leave the residence as soon as possible, but Popo held her back, and her adoptive parents wanted to do something, but they just couldn't get close to them.

"Nana!" Popo yelled. "Please, don't go and look around for some corpses!"

"Those corpses happen to b-"

"THOSE CORPSES HAPPEN TO BE OUR PARENTS!" Popo yelled before she could so. "But you were right after all!"

"..." Nana suddenly stopped trying to get out. "...What?"

"You were right..." Popo said. "...You were right..."

"..." Nana buried her face on her hands. "Y-you don't understand..."

"Nana...please, turn around," Popo said. "Our parents...they're right here..."

"Popo..." Ophelia muttered.

"..." Nana sobbed loudly and turned to Popo. "What can't you understand, Popo? They're not our parents, and they were never from the beginning." Nana cleared her tears, but more came afterward.

"Nana..." Popo said again. "...The notes you gave me..."

"They're the same notes your parents left when they...abandoned you," Hip said. "And judging by the decayed look, they were trying to write on something because...they were poor."

"And we left them in the mantles that you both were in," Ophelia said, deciding to talk. "But we wanted to tell you this when you were older than today..."

"..." Nana didn't want to look at her.

"I'm sorry..." Ophelia said. "You're still young, but I think we underestimated the situation..."

"...I want to find my parents, regardless," Nana said. "I want to find their corpses, and give them a proper burial...then leave this pl-"

"Nana!" Popo slapped her hard. "Please, stop it!!!"

Hip and Ophelia gasped in shock after Popo slapped his own twin sister. Nana got a shocked look after she got slapped that the kept looking the way her face was slapped at.

Popo's eyes became full of tears. "Nana..."

"What?!" she asked without looking. "Why did you do that for?!"

"So you could listen to me before doing something insane for some people that are not here anymore!"

Nana closed her eyes with some sobs.

"Think before doing, Nana!" Popo yelled. "How long has it been that we came to live here?!"

"12 years..." Nana muttered.

"And the fact that there are always a lot of snowstorms out there could perfectly mean that their bodies have frozen to the point they shattered!" Popo yelled. "Worse yet, since the notes said they suicided themselves by jumping to an abyss, they should have..."

"..." Nana sobbed again. "...Why..."

"I know..." Popo said. "I wanted to go there with you, though..."

"Popo, no!" Ophelia yelled.

"No!" Popo yelled. "But I decided to go against it after I thought!"

"Because...because..." Nana buried her face on her hands again. "They're not alive...any...anymore...aren't they?" she whispered through her hands.

"..." Popo sobbed. "They're not alive anymore...they're not alive..."

"..." She looked at him and cried out loudly. The pink Ice Climber couldn't hold back from crying that she decided to do it sooner. "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?! Why did this happen?! Whyyyyyyyyyyy?!" she trailed off crying.

Hip wiped his tears and walked to them. "They already said their reasons behind your abadonments in their notes."

"They wanted to write more than that," Ophelia added as she took off her sunglasses and wiped her tears. "But they mentioned they were poor, and they wrote the next behind the notes."

Popo sobbed more and more. "Nana...this place...this place is our home because...our parents wished us to be alive..."

"But Popo!" Nana cried.

Popo had enough of Nana's disagreements...and he decided to end it...

"And he ended everything with a sudden hug to calm me down..."

Nana opened her eyes in shock after Popo hugged her tightly. "Popo!"

"Nana..." Popo muttered. "Our parents...they wished us to be happy...because they loved us as our parents here do..."

Hip looked at the notes and picked one of them. He looked at his wife and nodded to her. She nodded back to him and took the note from him. "Take care of them...give them love...give them a home...give them happiness...and most of all...raise them as they were your children..."

"So they could rest in peace," Hip added as he closed his eyes with a frown. "...Popo...Nana..."

Both of them looked at the Topi and the Polar Bear as they sobbed.

"I remember the first word you said when you saw our faces, shortly after we took you both here..." Hip opened his eyes and chuckled a little bit. "The enthusiastic boy in the blue eskimo called me his dad."

"And the gorgeous girl in the pink eskimo called me her mom," Ophelia said with a small smile.

"...Hip...Ophelia..." Nana sobbed. "...No..."

"It's useless," she said. "If they jumped into the abyss, then there's no way they survived because they were driven into madness... If they were different, then you wouldn't be here with us, and you could be there with them. They wanted you to have more opportunities in life that they couldn't give to you at that time."

"...I-I know..." Nana said. "What was I thinking when I wanted to climb down the abyss for no reason? What was I going to do?"

Popo hugged Nana. "Our parents are here, Nana..." Tears began to stroll down as he hugged her strongly. "They are right here..."

"..." Nana slightly pushed Popo away and walked to Hip and Ophelia. "...Dad...Mom..."

"Nana..." both said with smiles through tears.

"...You're...our parents, alright..." she said with a small smile. "I was a fool for wanting to look for dead people... And I ignored all the happy times I had until now because I just couldn't believe it..."

"Popo, Nana," Hip said as Popo walked close to Nana. "You both are our pride and joy. You're living here because you were fortunate."

"I know we're fortunate," Popo said. "But...I'm not sure if Nana can forgive you..."

"Popo..." Nana began. "Before something else happens, tell me...why weren't you thinking like me?"

"Because...I don't care if our parents are dead," Popo said. "I care more...more about...more about..." He looked down. "...I care more about you..."

Nana's eyes widened. "W-what?"

"Nana, don't you understand?" Popo asked. "You're my only living member of the family we came from, aren't you?"

"Y-yes."

"And what could have happened if you were to climb down the abyss by yourself?" he asked as he cleared his tears. "You could have fallen down and never returned, and then you would have gone with...you know..."

"..." Nana looked at him. "...I'm sorry for what I did, Popo... I wasn't even thinking about me, right?"

"...If I say you weren't, will you be mad at me?"

"..." Nana smiled a little. "Please, say it."

"You weren't," Popo said. "You weren't thinking about you."

"..." Nana nodded and closed her eyes. "...Dad...Mom..." she began. "...I want you to be our parents...forever..."

"Are...are you sure?" Ophelia asked.

"I'm so sure..." She opened her eyes and lunged at her to give her a hug. "I'm so sure! I don't want to stop being happy with my family!" she said happily.

"Nana!" she said before she hugged her back. "Thank you, dear, thank you for staying here with us! I'm sure I'm going to be a dear mother to you!"

Popo went to his father and hugged him. "I never doubted my parents were dead. I... We have a new happy family here."

"Those are my boy and girl I love," Hip said, hugging Popo. "You'll never regret this at all."

The 4 hugged together and chuckled heartily throught the snowstorm. With a closer look, Nana seemed to be crying, but she was crying out of happiness.

"Can we make 2 graves for them?" Nana asked, still on the grip of her mother. "I want to give them a proper burial without their bodies."

"Oh, I know!" Popo said. "We could say something like their spirits roam the mountain to protect us!"

"That's a little bit exagerated," Nana said. "...But let's do it anyway."

"Well," Ophelia began as she stopped hugging them. "You 2 better get to bed and rest. It's getting cold, remember?"

"Yes!" Popo and Nana said happily. The 2 of them turned to their rooms and ran away.

Hip smiled. "Phew, they accepted us."

"I couldn't be happier," she said. "Nana was the most hardest person to convince."

"She was so headstrong," he said. "I might back away from the hammer we gave her."

"Oh, honey..." she said with a sigh, then a chuckle.

"The happiness came back. I could hardly believe it. The same night I was about to go furious I got happier at the end..." She let some tears stroll down. "After we rested nice and warm that night, the next day..."

Close to their home, the 4 finished making 2 graves atop a snow hill. Popo and Nana looked at the graves and smiled as the light shone on the snow around.

"Dad, Mom," Popo began. "We're fine today. We finally remembered you after all this time. Silly of us, right?"

"I'm so sorry for being so silly," Nana said. "But I think that's all in the past, right? You gave us another opportunity to live and..."

Nana turned to Hip and Ophelia, and she smiled to them before looking back at the grave of her mother.

"And we have a nice and happy family here," she said with a smile. "Home is where the heart is, right? Well, I found both because...they found me."

"Us," Popo corrected.

"Oh, right," she said with a chuckle. "Don't worry. We're going to be perfectly fine here."

"We'll drop by a loooooooot of times to make you company," Popo said. "Please, watch over us."

"All the time, please," Nana added. "I'll be close to Popo everytime for that matter."

Popo blushed. "N-Nana, that's a little bit going too far."

"You're going to stay close, right?"

"...Of course."

They both looked at the graves that read:

Here lie the spirits of 2 caring
parents who gave their children, Popo and Nana, another
chance in life. May they rest in peace in the cold winds.

"Too bad we didn't get to know their names," Ophelia said.

"Yeah..." Popo said. "...But I bet we're going to find out somehow."

"At least they should be better than Hipolito," Nana said.

"Hey!" Hip yelled.

"It's a joke, dad!" Popo said with a chuckle.

"Hmm." Nana stood up. "Let's go back home."

"It's morning!" Popo said. "Let's go to the playground instead! They said a part of the snowman we made fell off!"

"Oh no," Nana said. "Not the snowman!"

Both of them ran away in a hurry as both of their new parents chuckled heartily. They looked back at the graves.

"I'll be a good father," Hip said.

"And I'll be a good mother," Ophelia said.

"You 2 leave them to us," Hip said. "However, can I punish them for saying my name?"

Her wife frowned and walked away to the igloo.

"Can I?" he asked. "Please? Just a little hit on the butt!" he yelled before running away.

End of flashback

[DededeCloneChris]

Baron
Town

Nana smiled and wiped out her tears with her right arm. "And then, everything was happy again."

"It is, right?" Porom asked. "Are you still happy?"

"...Now that I think about it..." Nana said. "...Porom, tomorrow we're going to find out."

"Find out about what?"

"This helped you to understand both of us better," she said. "But still...this is all about Popo and his sudden change in attitude. There's something odd in him, and I must, I MUST find out if he's really dumb or not."

"And you're going to find out everything tomorrow?"

"Only if you help me," Nana said as she grabbed Porom's hands. "Please, Porom, help me. I want to have my happy times with Popo again, but first, I have to see if he is what I think he really is."

"I can see that," Porom said with a smile. "You're really determined this time, aren't you?"

"Yes," Nana said with a smile. "Tomorrow, Popo will be discovered. If we're going into battle, I'll try to stay close to him and ask him everything. Something should trigger his real self..." She looked up to the moon. "And I will find out..."

"You have my full support," Porom said. "But there's something I forgot to ask."

"What?"

"Well, you told me you and him were climbing that insane mountain, but you never got to finish that story."

"Well..." Nana looked away. "...Can I tell that tomorrow?"

"Yes," Porom said. "It's getting pretty late now, and we should rest before doing our next move."

Nana got off from the fountain and Porom did the same. "Thank you," Nana said. "Let's go back and rest."

"Just stay away from Sir Yang," Porom said. "I doubt he's normal now."

Nana chuckled and walked away to the inn.

Music stops

However, Porom remained behind and looked down. She closed her eyes and frowned. "I sense an evil wind this night..." she muttered. "That wind is going to do something horrible tomorrow... I hope nothing bad happens to you, Nana..." she said.

The White Mage made her way back to the inn and got inside...

Over the wall that surrounded the town, some nocturnal monsters roamed the fields silently...

The next morning at the inn...

Inn

The group decided to have a talk with Yang, who seemed to be under a hangover. But the monk was able to sit down and apologize for his actions.

"My apologies," Yang said as he stood down and gave them a polite bow. "I didn't know what was wrong with me yesterday."

"Dude, you sure were so drunk like a cow," Palom said.

"Hush now!" Porom yelled.

"Yang, it's good to have to back and alive," Cecil said. "But how did you end up here?"

"After the ship was attacked by Leviathan, the waves of the sea pushed me all the way to Baron, and some guards surely found me and took me hostage... To be honest, everything was a blur. I didn't know what I was doing, and before I knew it, I found you all here in the inn."

"They probably put you under a spell," Tellah said. "I sensed magic in you when we found you. But...let's say those guards made you drink sake, and it made the spell inneffective."

"Sake saving people...come on..." Chris muttered annoyed.

"Did you see if Rydia or Edward survived?" Cecil asked.

"Rydia was...swallowed by Leviathan," Yang said ashamed. "After I dove for her, I saw the monster swallowing her whole, and it lashed its tail at me and knocked me out in an instant. As for Edward...I don't know."

"I see..." Tellah said. "Poor child..."

"...Who are you?" Yang asked.

"Oh, he is Tellah. I met him when I first departed from Kaipo with Rydia," Cecil said. "And along the way, I made new comrades."

"Nice to meet you," said an annoyed Zelda. "My name is Zelda."

She was probably annoyed for the guarding time she did on him.

"My name is Ike," Ike said.

"Chris," Chris said simply.

"Salutations," Porom said politely. "My name is Porom."

"Huh. No introductions for me..." Palom folded his arms.

"That brat you see that can't mind his mouth is my twin brother Palom."

"And I'm Nana," Nana said. "Same situation with my twin brother Popo."

"Alcohol!" Popo responded.

"See?"

Yang sweatdropped. "I see...nice to meet you all."

"Well, now that we're all reunited," Cecil said. "We have to think for a way to enter the castle."

"Oh, that," Yang said. "Those guards gave me this."

The monk took a key out and Cecil looked at it.

"That's... That's Baron Key!" Cecil said. "This key can open any door in Baron, and it can also open the way to the waterway!"

"Good!" Tellah said. "The waterway connects to the castle. We can sneak our way in and see if Golbez is there!"

"Glad to hear that," Ike said. "Shall we get going?"

"And now," Cecil said. "We could intercept the king inside. He's the one who accepted Golbez, but I must confront him once and for all."

"(The king...)" Chris thought. "(Soon enough, he'll find out that the king inside isn't really...)"

"Well," Yang began. "May I rejoin you? I want to apologize by lending you my help."

"Please do." Cecil nodded.

"Thank you."

Yang temporarily joined your team!

Town

The group of 10 walked towards the door that leaded to the waterway. However, Cecil decided to use the key on the locked shop. Inside, they found the owners...

After finding out that the owners didn't look shocked for being locked in inside the shops (which Chris considered extremely stupid) and buying some new weapons, the group walked back to the door that leaded to the waterway and Cecil opened it with the Baron Key.

"There," Cecil said. "The door is open."

"Yeah!" Palom said. "Let's go in and kick some butt! Better yet, I'll burn some butt!"

"Can I freeze them?" Popo asked.

"Yeah!" Palom said excited before the 2 ran inside.

"Soon..." Nana muttered. "Popo will be exposed... I'm going to do this today..."

"We shouldn't let them go in by themselves," Yang said. "Let us go."

And so, the remaining 8 walked inside...

Ancient Waterway
Entrance

Final Fantasy IV DS - Into the Darkness

The first floor looked very normal. It was just a plain small room with a hidden chest with 1000 Gil that Chris found. It was implied that he remembered the way very well, but Cecil didn't see the secret passage to the chest at all.

They moved down, where the twin boys were.

B4

"My," Tellah began as they rejoined the 2. "This place is so damp and...dark."

Truth to be told, there was barely light inside the waterway.

"Let me use magic to illuminate the way." The sage made his right hand glow red.

Zelda did the same action.

Palom joined in and made the top of his staff glow red.

Porom did the same with her rod, but with a white glow instead.

Chris (who backed away and changed to his Black Mage job) made his right hand glow.

Unfortunately, somebody noticed this.

"When did you change clothes so fast?" Yang asked.

"I-I was wearing these this morning," Chris said.

"Wait, you can use black magic as well?" Palom asked.

Chris whimpered in his mind.

"...Awesome!"

"You're a bard that knows black magic? ...Impressive, should I say," Tellah remarked.

"(I guess not many of them didn't see me when Zelda and I summoned Ifrit... Good, they shouldn't know more.) I happened to study a little bit of black magic when I was practicing with my harp (and I'm so going to church again...)"

"For being a bard that can use black magic and summon magic, you're impressive," Porom said.

Chris cursed in his mind. He forgot that Porom was the only one standing when they summoned Ifrit.

"Yes, you did summon an aeon, didn't you?" Cecil asked.

And he also forgot that Cecil knew as well.

"A-and I think I wanted to know more so I put effort in studying summon magic as well... T-too bad I lack courage..." Chris said. "Heheheh. If I had more courage, I could be really dangerous, right?"

"Maybe, or maybe not," Ike said with a chuckle. "Well, shall we get going now?"

Popo took out a lighter.

The 5 from the same universe stared at the lighter.

"What is that?" Tellah asked.

"P-Popo!" Nana whispered angrily.

"Hey, I wanna have my own light resource," Popo said happily.

Zelda took the lighter and tossed it away. She sighed in relief. "Please, forget what you just saw. It's nothing important."

"But what was that weird device?" Yang asked.

"It's a thing people use to smoke weed in secret," Popo said.

The Smashers' mouth opened in shock.

"What?" Cecil asked.

"J-just forget what he just said!" Nana yelled in embarrassment. "(Popo, if I can find out about you, I'm going to hit you SO hard for this.)"

[The Seventh]

ROFLMAO.  Popo, what's with you!?

"It's what people use to smoke weed"

God.  I laughed a good moment there.

[HTA!]

Good lord...
Looks nice from what I've read.

I actually had a semi-popular fan-fic about the smash universe back on Oldsider. :O

Wish I could find it.

[DededeCloneChris]

Whoops. I forgot to put this here. It was already finished, but NSFCD got suddenly under repairs, and I could put this up. However, I saved it on a document (and published it in fanfiction.net).

Enjoy. :P

---------------------------------------------------------

Several sweatdrops jumped out from Chris's head and he moved forward. "What are you waiting for? W-we have to move on or else..."

Idea.

"Or Golbez will do something bad!"

"He's right!" Tellah said determined. "Let's find that bastard and pummel him to his death!"

The old man ran away, passing Chris.

"You had to say Golbez's name, right?" Cecil asked.

"I-I want to do this quick," Chris said. "Don't you?"

"Unfortunately I have to agree with you this time."

"Let us make haste through the darkness," Yang suggested. "I have some things to say to Golbez."

The group began to walk forward.

"By having some things with him, do you mean fight?" Zelda asked.

"No," Yang said. "I want to know the reasons behind all this madness around the world. Only violence is needed if he attacks us first."

"Yes," Cecil said. "He must have some reasons, and I want to hear them as well."

"That's the gentle way to do things, and how they should be," Porom said.

"And I'll burn him, freeze him, and then zap him," Palom began to talk. "Popo will go wild and bang the heck out of his head."

"Then freezing time comes again!" Popo said, swinging his hammer wildly.

"By the way, Popo..." Nana narrowed her eyes. "You haven't been acting strange all this time, right?"

"I'm me and myself," Popo said. "You're me and myself."

"...Of course," Nana said with some nods. "Now, can I ask you some questions?"

"As long as there is loot, go ahead!" Popo said happily.

"Well...here I go..." Nana muttered.

Zelda moved her dress up and shuddered at the water. "Why do we have to cross the water?"

B3

"It's a waterway for some reason," Cecil joked as the group reached the next floor.

Zelda shuddered again as they walked to the water. The temperature of the water wasn't fresh or hot, but cold instead. "If we find monsters in here, I'd hate to fight above water. I don't want to get this dress wet."

"You should have known you would hunt monsters in all places," Cecil said. "But why wear a dress? It doesn't make sense."

The 4 sane Smashers widened their eyes.

"And if I recall, hunters should always have things ready for everything. They should have supplies. And I thought there was an age limit to be one. You have 2 kids with you as well."

Ike sweated. "W-well, you could say we're a special kind of hunters..."

"Yes," Cecil agreed.

"Hmm, hunters, you say?" Yang said. "I've seen many hunters who happen to come to Fabul from time to time."

Chris didn't even know about this at all. As far as his memory could tell, there were absolutely NO monster hunters in this world from where he played it.

But it seemed that living the game gave new perspectives...

Cruel, CRUEL perspectives...

"And you would stand out from all of them," Yang continued. "Come to think of it... I happen to know some rules they use."

Ike wished to kill a protagonist for once. However, he shook the thought away.

"W-what kind of rules are those?" Chris asked sweating.

"The rules of traveling," Yang said. "Everyone knows those very well."

"A-and of course we do know those as well!" Zelda said, feeling the coldness of the water rising up to her knees.

"Really? Can you remind me?"

This felt like they were interrogated in some kind of moving room, except they were moving slowly through the water, talking and talking, and trying to find good answers.

"T-those rules are..." Zelda said.

Someone pulled her dress from behind.

The princess looked behind and saw Palom with a note. He smiled at her and motioned to pick the note.

At first, she got confused, but she took the note and looked at it.

Surprise, there were some rules in there. For her luck, neither Cecil, Yang, or Tellah were looking at her way.

"Get supplies ready for anything, always wear the proper equipment to navigate through the roughest of terrains, and always consider the type of monsters you're going to hunt," Zelda said.

"Hmm, it seemed that I was wrong about you," Yang said. "Those are exactly the rules I wanted to remember."

The 4 sighed in relief, and Zelda looked at Palom. "Thank you for helping us, but, why did you do that?" she whispered.

"You could say Porom and I know a lot," Palom said with wink.

"..." Zelda nodded and looked forward. She felt weird for a moment...

"Well, you are hunters," Cecil said. "Sorry for doubting about you."

"You see now?" Ike asked. "Why would we lie to you?"

"(I want to kill myself, I want to kill myself, I want to kill myself,)" the 4 thought in shame.

"(Phew, we got through their questions...)" Nana thought in relief. "Now, I should continue with what I wanted to do... Popo."

"Yep, my adored sister?" Popo asked.

"I..." Nana suddenly crashed behind Tellah's back and she fell on the water. "H-hey! Don't stop walking!"

Music stops

"Shh..." Tellah said. "We need to be quiet..."

All of them stopped before reaching the next floor and looked at him. "Why?" Yang asked. "...Wait..."

"Don't you hear something moving?" Tellah asked. "I can hear something through the water...the same water we just walked through..."

A shot of something moving inside the water was shown...

"Something moving?" Zelda asked. "Like what?"

"Now that you mention it," Cecil said. "This waterway used to have dangerous monsters, like fishes that could absorb thunders, and living clams that could bite through iron."

The shot was shown again. It seemed to be getting closer to them...

"But above all those monsters," Cecil said. "There were the Gigas Gators."

"Gigas Gators?" Ike asked.

"Those monsters are big crocodiles that can bite someone's leg off if they came close. Besides that, they're fast on the ground, and they hide in the water very well."

The same shot found their legs...

"...So there are like crocodiles in the very place we're walking?" Porom asked.

"And we could be at their mercy?" Nana asked.

"And we could be either 4 or 5 star dinner for them?" Popo asked.

"And Porom would be a 6?" Palom asked.

"Hush!" Porom yelled before she pulled Palom's hair hardly.

"OWW!" Palom cried in pain. "Knock it off!"

"Quiet!" Tellah yelled.

The shot got closer to them...

"...I suggest to run faster and out of here..."

It was getting closer...

"Be as fast as you can..."

Closer...

"Attack when you have the time..."

Closer...

"And reach Baron Castle and hide in there..."

Closer.

Yang looked at a shadow. "BEHIND US!"

Final Fantasy IV DS - Battle Theme A

All the twins turned around before several huge figures jumped out of the water and opened their jaws menacingly. The twins (except Popo) yelled loudly before Cecil, Ike, and Yang stepped forward and slashed them (Yang using his fists with claws).

The figured revealed to be big Gigas Gators that were pushed back to the water. However, they came back on the surface and swam after them.

"...YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!!!" Chris yelled.

"M-my goodness!" Porom yelled. "There are so many of them!"

The group found at least 30 Gigas Gators, one beside another, going after them.

"There shouldn't be this many!" Cecil yelled as they backed away.

"If you remember, the monsters in the whole world have become more hostile these recent days," Yang said. "And this isn't good. We have to run to the castle!"

"T-this way!" Nana yelled. "There's the next floor!"

"Run for it!" Cecil yelled. "They can reach us if they make it to the ground!"

The group turned back to the next place and they ran above the water before reaching the ground, where they started to run even faster. The Gigas Gators reached the ground in some seconds, and they quickly chased after them.

B2

"Hey!" Popo yelled. "The pets are coming to us!"

"How can you call those crocodiles your pets?!" Porom asked as she ran ahead.

"Because they wanna kiss us!" Popo said. "Look at the way they move their mouths!"

Or jaws. The crocodiles opened and closed their jaws like there was no tomorrow. For being aquatic monsters, they moved rather fast on the ground since they were catching up with all of them.

"Shock them to greater paralysis... Thundara!" Tellah cast several thunders that crashed down on the front monsters, but they seemed to resist the attack, and the old man gasped and continued to run. "They're not weak against lightning!"

"Then let me use cold!" Palom yelled as he ran. "Freeze them to greater cold... Blizzara!"

Many of the Gigas Gators were covered in thick ice before it shattered. The group noticed a lot of cries of pain from them, but they never ceased in chasing them.

"Gotcha!" Palom said. "They're weak to ice!"

"That doesn't make any sense considering ice being close to water!" Chris yelled.

Nothing made sense as long as fantasy was there.

"Hey, you!" some guards from Baron yelled from across the next floor. "Halt!"

"I thought this place didn't have guards!" Zelda yelled. "Move!"

"No! a guard yelled. "Halt in the name of Baron!"

Yang ran ahead and grabbed both men by their collars. "And let us through in the name of Fabul!"

The monk tossed the guards to the crocodiles, where they jumped after them and...

This scene wasn't going to look good to anyone.

"..." Nana and Porom looked shocked at each other after the crocodiles managed to eat the guards alive and by mere seconds. "...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" they yelled loudly.

"Those are thirsty for blood or what?" Palom asked.

"My benevolences, but this had to be done for greater good..." Yang said.

The group ran to him and he joined them again. "Apologize after we get out of this place," Cecil said. "We don't want to be their food, do we?"

B1

Light, the sweetest gift of nature shone from the right.

"Light!" Palom yelled. "The sweetest gift of nature is beyond those stairs!"

Chris looked behind. "And crocodiles, nature's worst carnivores want us!"

"Hurry!" Cecil yelled. "We can make it if we keep moving!"

The group ran to the stairs, but the crocodiles came faster and tried to reach them as soon as possible.

"Aw, crap!" Palom cursed.

"Those guards surely made them more hungry for us!" Zelda yelled. "We have to do something!"

"Like what?" Tellah asked. "We can't kill them all in time!"

Zelda looked around as they ran upwards. "...I know! Let's make a cave in!"

"Good!" Porom said. "We could make a cave in once we reach the exit!"

"Palom, the kid, use lightning magic to blast the rocks close to the exit," Tellah said. "Get your chants ready! We're going to turn around, blasts the rocks above the exit, and run to back to save ourselves!"

"My name is Chris!" Chris yelled.

"We're reaching the exit!" Yang yelled. "And...NOW!"

"Shock them to greater paralysis..." Palom and Tellah chanted.

"Shock to paralyze them all..." Chris chanted.

The 2 mages looked at him.

"What? It was the fastest chant for Thunder!" Chris yelled.

"Turn!" Tellah yelled as the 3 turned around and aimed their magic at the ceiling. "Thundara!" he and Palom yelled.

"Thunder!" Chris cast.

The 3 magic attacks of lightning met together at the same place, and they created a big blast that took the rocks from above down quickly. The 3 mages ran back to the exit with the others before the rocks could crush them. The Gigas Gators tried to run faster to pass to the other side, but it was futile.

The rocks fell on them, and they opened their jaws in pain. Dust flew out from the waterway as the group ran back outside, where the day was...

Music stops

Baron Castle

The group stopped running and they looked at the blocked waterway. There was no way to go back now as the rocks blocked the way to the cave.

"...We did it...barely..." Zelda panted. "And here I am, running with a dress..."

"I told you to get something different," Cecil said.

"Oh, please..." she muttered.

Final Fantasy IV DS - The Kingdom of Baron

Ike panted heavily before he found a way of water. "We did it. We reached the castle."

Nana looked around. "Finally! No more crocodiles..."

"..." There was something Chris couldn't understand...

The path of water that they were going to use was just beside the plain to the overworld. They should have come from the town, sneak behind the castle, and jump straight to the water.

"...Screw it," Chris muttered. "Logic isn't welcomed here."

"Let...an old man...get his energies...back..." Tellah said as he panted heavily. His pants were longer and louder than anyone in the group.

"Golbez," Ike said.

"Let's go!" Tellah said, suddenly regaining his energies out of the blue as he walked back to the water.

Many of them looked at each other and frowned at Tellah's reaction. They decided to follow him to wherever the water leaded.

"Aw, no..." Zelda said as she entered the body of water. "I can't pull my dress up enough to walk in the water."

"Wait, if you can't do that because the water is higher here..." Ike looked behind him. "Popo! Nana!"

The group turned around, and the twins seemed to be just the top of their heads getting out of the water.

Not only that, but bubbles were coming out from all directions around the heads.

Ike quickly went to them and picked Nana. "About darn time you noticed!" she yelled angrily before she spat water to his face.

Chris went to pick Popo. "Popo! A-are you okay?"

"I was walking to the light..." Popo said dreamily.

Zelda had to push her dress down and pick Porom. "You know, I feel kind of inferior when sizes are involved," Porom said worried.

Palom, however, seemed to be swimming. "Ha-ha, you guys can't swim like I do."

"Palom, there's no way I'm going to do the dog swim..."

"Sucks for you, then," Palom said as he hummed and swam forward.

Cecil, being the one focused on the castle, walked through the water and found a way in. "I found the way to the castle," Cecil said. "Let's go in and find Golbez. I hope nobody got hurt."

A decided Tellah walked past Cecil before the others walked back to safe floor (with Zelda drying her dress). Cecil moved forward and opened the door to the throne room.

1F

Once they made it inside, there was no soul roaming the solitary main entrance. This struck weird to Cecil, who had seen the guards from where they got inside, standing outside the gate.

"I don't like the looks of this," Cecil said.

"I know what you mean," Yang said. "I expected this place to have guards from the inside, but nobody is patrolling the castle."

"Yeah," Ike said. "This could be trap, don't you think?"

"I hope not," Zelda said. "But something bad is going to happen..."

"Well, let's go to their trap!" Tellah said. "Golbez will feel my wrath once I see him again!"

"Tellah, I know you hate Golbez with all your soul," Porom said. "But we have to be careful. We're in enemy's territory."

As they were talking, Nana walked close to Popo and looked at him bored. "Popo..." she trailed off. "So, do you have any kind of weird attitude today?"

"I drank milk past the expiration date," Popo said. "How about you?"

Nana tried her best to not puke. "F-fine here..." she said, grossed out. "Anyway, I want to get to the point now."

"The point where treasure is?"

"No," Nana said.

This was it. Nana could do this by herself. The moment to discover Popo was now, and she had to reach the point today, and now.

"Popo," Nana began. "I want you to be sincere and honest with me." She paused for a moment and gulped. "...D-"

"Lord Cecil!"

Her eyes moved up in rage as Popo smiled at the incoming guard from the eastern part of the castle. This guard wore a red suit, golden helmet, golden shoulder pads, blue gloves, and the usual a guard could wear. Cecil quickly recognized the guard and ran to him. "Baigan!" Cecil said. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Lord Cecil," Baigan said. "I was able to escape from the people that were imprisoned here."

Captain Baigan is the head officer of the guards of Baron. Nothing much about him is told (meaning he is not important).

"Wait, you're not with Golbez?"

"Why would I lend my trust to someone as despicable as Golbez?" Baigan asked.

Palom and Porom stared at him with some interest.

"My trust is to the nation of Baron, and Baron alone." Baigan nodded. "That man, Golbez, has been doing a lot of mockery around the castle, and he needs to be stopped. Do you agree with me, Lord Cecil?"

Chris looked worried. He would have been a future teller of the game if he could tell them the events that were going to happen just now.

"Well, I am looking for a way to persuade Your Majesty from discuss things with Golbez," Baigan said. "Can I lend you my aid?"

"Thank you," Cecil said with a nod. "Your help will be appreciated."

Captain Baigan temporarily joined your team!

"Well, well," Yang said. "This is truly beneficial to our plans."

"I'm sorry if the Red Wings assaulted your nation," Baigan said. "This was all Golbez's doing as you may know. Come, the throne room is this way."

"Golbez shall pay for everything..." Tellah muttered.

Ike rolled his eyes at the mutter, and they slowly walked to the throne room...

However, Palom and Porom walked past them and looked at Baigan.

"What is it?" Baigan asked.

"The air here stinks very bad," Palom said.

"There's a monster here," Porom said. "We know that because we can feel the air monsters emanate out from their bodies."

"Monsters?!" Baigan asked shocked as he looked around. "Where?!"

"Oh, please, sir," Palom said. "You can't fool us."

"Yes, he's right," Porom said. "Considering you're a monster yourself."

The 8 looked at Baigan, but Cecil was the one who looked shocked. "Baigan...so are you with Golbez after all?" Cecil asked.

"...Heheheheheh..." Baigan chuckled as he looked down. He looked at them and backed away to the throne room. "You don't understand well, do you?"

"What?" Yang asked.

"Golbez will bring peace to everyone!" Baigan proclaimed. "Just like he did with me. He gave me power to be strong!"

His entire body began to glow with the power of the Shadow Bugs, and the Smashers gasped.

"The Shadow Bugs!" Ike yelled.

"Look out!" Tellah yelled. "He's no longer human!"

Final Fantasy IV DS - Battle Theme B

"Mwahahahahahaha!" Baigan yelled. "Fools! Behold my true power!"

They watched as Baigan's body began to grow in size, and his skin turned purple. His head broke out from the helmet and he now wore a purple cap above his head. His face turned like a lizard, his hands instantly turned into snakes that were moving on their own, his armor broke down and it was replaced by poor thief's clothing. The group backed away as Baigan turned himself into a monster with snake hands and insane movements at the sides.

"I'm Baigan," Baigan said. "The most powerful captain of the guards of Baron!!!"

Everyone got closer to each other and glared at the monster before them. "Damn this..." Cecil muttered as he unsheathed Mythgraven. "We don't have any choice but to kill him!"

"I knew this was a trap!" Tellah yelled. "That monster needs to be disappeared from here!"

"A-aw god, he looks way more disgusting now..." Chris commented, disgusted at Dark Baigan's appearance.

"Snake as hands? Ugh..." Zelda frowned. "I'm going to have that image..."

"We're monster hunters, remember?" Ike asked (trying to sound convincing). "It's going to be our first prey of today!"

"You're right," Nana said. "And I'll whack the heck out of him for interrupting something important."

"Get ready," Yang warned them. "This could have been me if I was still under his control!"

"Let's do this!" Palom said.

"Yeah!" Popo said happily.

"Just a little more..." Porom said. "...I hope that premonition doesn't happen..."

The 10 prepared to fight against the captain of the guards of Baron...

Captain Baigan left your team.

"Was that really necessary to point out?" Chris asked, out of the section.

Yes. I'm not going to waste space for him. That title was going to be there...WAS going to.

TO BE CONTINUED...

.............................................................

"Twins of Tomorrow. Nana..." Porom trailed off, before she walked away and sobbed silently...

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Baron Castle
Chris, Lucario, Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Pikachu, Pichu, Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Red, Squirtle, Ivysaur, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Samus, Kirby, Meta Knight, Link, Zelda, Toon Link, Fox, Falco, Wolf, Captain Falcon, Olimar, Marth, Roy, Ike, Ness, Lucas, Pit, Popo, Nana, Snake, Sonic, Cecil, Palom, Porom, Tellah, Yang