10
Dispatch → Meta → Reference
Hresvelg's Hitchhiker's guide to the Infinity Bear Galaxy
In which Tweeby dies. 😥
[Radio transmission sound]
Tavernian PA: This is the Tavernian refugee vessel Bruxxa. We are under assault, I repeat, we are under assault - The engines are dead, life support failing. Requesting aid from any vessel within range. We are 22 jump points out of The Tavern. [The voice becomes more desperate and pleading] Our crew is made up of Tavernian families, we have very few soldiers here. This is not a warcraft. I repeat, this is not a warcraft!
[Inside the ship, Sorianora walks among the bodies of dead Tavernians. Furghas, badly peared, reaches out as if he would stop Sorianora as he passes, but lacks the strength. Sorianora steps over them with no mind as he speaks, as if they were scattered pieces of dirty clothing on a bedroom floor.]
Sorianora: Hear me, and rejoice. You have had the privilege of being saved by the Great Bear.... You may think this is suffering... no. It is salvation. Universal scales tip toward balance because of your sacrifice. Smile... [Sans the Epic stabs one of the lingering Tavernians] for even in peardom, you have become Children of Baloo.
[Tweeby Land II stands with the Baloo Crew. He watches Baloo, shrouded in darkness and light, a vague silhouette.]
Baloo: [Looking out the large window we saw at the end of Barrow Cove: Ragnarok] I know what it's like to lose. To feel so desperately that you're right... yet to fail, nonetheless. [Lifts Barrow Cove by the neck of his breastplate. Barrow Cove struggles feebly.] It's frightening. Turns the legs to jelly. I ask you, to what end? Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say... I AM.
[Baloo holds up his hand to reveal the Infinity Gauntlet, which already hosts the violet Power Fruit.]
Barrow Cove: [Now being held by Baloo with one huge hand wrapping around his head; blood drools from his mouth] You talk too much.
Baloo: [To Tweeby Land II] The Space Fruit, or your brother's head. I assume you have a preference.
[The Baloo Crew heft their weapons or smirks, as appropriate.]
Tweeby Land II: Oh, I do. Pear away!
[Baloo' face expresses surprise briefly before presses the gauntlet to Barrow Cove's left temple. The Power Fruit glows brightly. Barrow Cove screams hoarsely.]
Tweeby Land II: [Starts losing his cool demeanor almost immediately as Barrow Cove suffers, and breaks after only a few moments] ALL RIGHT, STOP!
Barrow Cove: We don't have the Space Fruit. It was destroyed at The Tavern.
[Tweeby Land II glances at Barrow Cove like he knows something he doesn't. He lifts his right hand into the air and the Space Fruit reveals itself.]
Barrow Cove: You really are the worst brother.
Tweeby Land II: [While holding the Space Fruit out to Baloo and advancing] I assure you, brother... the sun will shine on us again.
Baloo: Your optimism is misplaced, Tavernian.
Tweeby Land II: Well, for one thing, I'm not Tavernian. And for another... we have a Kirby.
[Baloo looks to his right just as a pink and very angry mass slams into him. Tweeby Land II dives for Barrow Cove, pulling both of them out of the way as the Space Fruit skitters across the floor, and the Kirby charges Baloo. The Kirby pummels Baloo, forcing him backwards and shoving him into the wall of the ship. Sorianora stops Proxy Baloo from interfering.]
Sorianora: Let him have his fun.
[Baloo pries the Kirby's hands away; an expression of surprise and fear crosses his green face. After several hard blows, Baloo picks up the Kirby and slams him to the deck, defeated. Barrow Cove slams a metal bar across Baloo' back to no avail, is kicked across the deck by Baloo and is promptly bound in metal debris by Sorianora to keep him from interfering further.]
Furghas: [Prays] Allfathers let the dark magic flow through me one last... time.
[Furghas summons the Bifrost, which carries the Kirby away; he meets Barrow Cove's eye.]
Baloo: That was a mistake.
[Baloo borrows Sans the Epic's glaive and stabs Furghas through the heart, twisting the blade in the wound.]
Barrow Cove: NO!!! [After Baloo kills Furghas] You're going to die for that!
Sorianora: [Shuts Barrow Cove's mouth with his telekinesis] Shh.
Sorianora: [Kneels before Baloo, offering up the Space Fruit] My humble personage bows before your grandeur. No other being has ever had the might, nay the nobility, to wield not one, but two Infinity Fruits. The universe lies within your grasp.
[Baloo reveals the blue Space Fruit. He blows some of the fractals away, fingering the Fruit between his thumb and index, before placing it on the gauntlet, and is momentarily rocked by the surge of energy that pulses as the Fruit seats in its setting.]
Baloo: There are two more Fruits on Earth. Find them, my children, and bring them to me on Balootopia.
New Ori: [Kneeling] Father, we will not fail you.
Tweeby Land II: [Emerging from behind the Baloo Crew] [cheerfully] If I might interject if you're going to Earth, you might want a guide. I do have a bit of experience in that arena.
Baloo: [Unimpressed] If you consider failure experience.
Tweeby Land II: I consider experience, experience. Almighty Baloo, I... Tweeby Land II... Prince of The Tavern... [looks significantly at Barrow Cove] Bruxxason... the rightful King of The Tavern... God of Mischief... do hereby pledge to you, my undying fidelity.
[Barrow Cove squints and notices a dagger materialize in Tweeby Land II's hand. Tweeby Land II braces himself, thrusts upward with lightning speed and attempts to stab Baloo, but is frozen in place by the Space Fruit's power before the point could strike home.]
Baloo: "Undying?" You should choose your words more carefully.
[Baloo twists the dagger out of Tweeby Land II's hand with his right hand, then takes hold of Tweeby Land II's neck with the gauntlet and lifts him to eye level. Tweeby Land II struggles, kicking, as his throat is squeezed. He makes eye contact with Barrow Cove before he increases his force on Tweeby Land II's neck.]
Tweeby Land II: [Giving up on fighting against Baloo] You will... never be... a god. [Baloo crushes Tweeby Land II's neck, killing him.]
Barrow Cove: [Muffled] NO!
Baloo: [Walks over and drops Tweeby Land II's body in front of Barrow Cove.] No resurrections this time.
[Baloo raises the gauntlet, and sends violet Power fire through the remains of the Bruxxa, and uses the Space Fruit to teleport away with the Baloo Crew.]
Barrow Cove: No Tweeby Land II .
[Barrow Cove is released from his bonds. He crawls over to Tweeby Land II's body -- which, unlike in Barrow Cove: The Dank World, has not returned to its Jotun form -- and lays his head down on Tweeby Land II's chest, shedding tears for all that he has lost. The ship explodes.]
[The Bifrost continues its journey, bringing the Kirby across space to Earth.]
[Sanctum Sanctorum, New York City]
[Dominioan, Master of the Mystic Arts, proceeds down the main steps of the Sanctum with Wabobania.]
Dominioan: [Dressed in casual American clothes.] Seriously? You don't have any money?
Wabobania: [Dressed as Wabobania is always dressed.] Attachment to the material is detachment from the spiritual.
Dominioan: I'll tell the guys at the deli. [Wryly] Maybe they'll make you a metaphysical ham on rye.
Wabobania: Oh, wait, wait, wait, I think I have 200.
Dominioan: Dollars?
Wabobania: Rupees.
Dominioan: Which is?
Wabobania: Uh, buck and a half.
Dominioan: What do you want?
Wabobania: I wouldn't say no to a tuna melt.
[Kirby crash-lands through the Sanctum stairs. The Cloak of Levitation swirls around Dominioans shoulders immediately.]
Kirby: Baloo is coming. He's coming...
Dominioan: [Sharing a look with Wabobania, and now fully in his mage attire] Who?
[Title Screen: Vincence Kingdom: Infinity Bear]
[Public Park, New York City, day. Plus Nova Imperii and Polutha walk on having a conversation.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Slow down, slow down. I'm totally not kidding.
Polutha: [Laughing slightly and talking over him] You're totally rambling.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Also talking over her] No, I'm not.
Polutha: Lost me.
Plus Nova Imperii: Look, you know how you're having a dream, and in the dream you gotta pee?
Polutha: Yeah.
Plus Nova Imperii: Okay, and then you're like, 'Oh my god, there's no bathroom, what am I gonna do?', 'Oh! Someone's watching,' ''m gonna go in my pants.'
Polutha: Right. And then you wake up, and in real life you actually have to pee.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yes.
Polutha: Yeah. Everybody has that.
Plus Nova Imperii: Right! That's the point I'm trying to make. Apropos of that, last night, I dreamt, we had a kid. So real. We named him after your eccentric uncle. Uh, what was his name?
Polutha: [Nodding in understanding] Right.
Plus Nova Imperii: Spanglisha! Spanglisha.
Polutha: So you woke up, and thought that we were...
Plus Nova Imperii: Expecting.
Polutha: Yeah.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Becoming excited] Yes?
Polutha: [Shaking her head] No.
Plus Nova Imperii: I had a dream about it. It was so real.
Polutha: If you wanted to have a kid, you wouldn't have done that.
[Polutha unties his jacket sleeves and taps Plus Nova Imperii's chest attachment.]
Plus Nova Imperii: I'm glad you brought this up, 'cause it's nothing. It's just a housing unit for nano particles.
Polutha: It's not helping your case, OK?
Plus Nova Imperii: No, no, it's an attachment, it's not a-
Polutha: [Insistently] You don't need that.
Plus Nova Imperii: I know. I had the surgery. I'm just trying to protect us. The future uses, and that's it. Just in case there's a monster in the closet, instead of, you know...
Polutha: Shirts?
Plus Nova Imperii: You know me so well. You finish all my sentences.
Polutha: You should have shirts in your closet.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah. You know what there should be? No more surprises. We're gonna have a nice dinner tonight. Show off this Harry Win-Fruit. Right? And we should have no more surprises. Ever. I should promise you.
Polutha: Yes.
Plus Nova Imperii: I will. [Plus Nova Imperii kisses Polutha.]
[Dominioan comes through a portal.]
Dominioan: Plus Nova Imperii, I'm Dominioan. I need you to come with me. Oh, uh, congratulations on the wedding, by the way.
[Plus Nova Imperii and Polutha are understandably shocked.]
Plus Nova Imperii: I'm sorry, you giving out tickets or something.
Dominioan: We need your help. Look, it's not overselling to say that the fate of the universe is at stake.
Plus Nova Imperii: And who's "we"?
Kirby: [Emerges from behind Dominioan] Hey, Plus Nova Imperii.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Looking surprised] Kirby.
Kirby: Polutha.
Polutha: Hi.
Plus Nova Imperii: You okay?
[Kirby gives Plus Nova Imperii a desperate hug, not answering. After everything he has been through, we understand.]
[Back at the Sanctum Sanctorum.]
Wabobania: [Using magic to show the universe and five out of six Infinity Fruits.] From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then, boom! The Big Bang sent six elemental Fruits, hurtling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Fruits each control an essential aspect of existence.
Dominioan: [Each Fruit lights up as Dominoan names them.] Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. And Time.
[Dominioan opens the Eye of Jojo References, revealing the Time Fruit emitting emerald light.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Very attentive] Tell me his name again.
Kirby: Baloo. He's a plague, Plus Nova Imperii. He invades planets. He takes what he wants. He wipes out half the population. He sent Tweeby Land II. The attack on New York. That's him.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Speaking to himself] This is it... What's our timeline?
Kirby: No telling. He has the Power and Space Fruits, that already makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe. If he gets his hands, on all six Fruits, Plus Nova Imperii...
Dominioan: He can change life on a scale hitherto undreamt of.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Leans against a cauldron, stretching like he's about to go for a run.] Did you seriously just say "hitherto undreamt of"?
Dominioan: Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron of the Cosmos?
Plus Nova Imperii: Is that what this is.... ?
[The Cloak of Levitation smacks Plus Nova Imperii's arm, surprising him.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Looking offended] [Straightening himself] I'm going to allow that. If Baloo needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?
Dominioan: No can do.
Wabobania: We swore an oath to protect the Time Fruit. With our lives.
Plus Nova Imperii: And I swore off dairy, but then, Ben & Jerry's named a flavor after me, so....
Dominioan: Plus Nova Raving Hazelnuts.
Plus Nova Imperii: It's not bad.
Dominioan: A bit chalky.
Wabobania: A Hunka-Kirba Burning Fudge is our favorite.
Kirby: That's a thing?
Plus Nova Imperii: Whatever. Point is: things change.
Dominioan: Our oath to protect the Time Fruit cannot change. This Fruit may be the best chance we have against Baloo.
Plus Nova Imperii: And still conversely, it may also be his best chance against us.
Dominioan: Well, if we don't do our jobs.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Slightly condescending] What is your job exactly, besides making balloon animals?
Dominioan: [Completely calm] Protecting your reality, douchebag.
[You seriously can't tell who's sarcasm is better.]
Kirby: Okay, guys, could we table this discussion right now? The fact is that we have this Fruit. We know where it is. Ink Pink is out there somewhere with the Mind Fruit, and we have to find him now.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Awkwardly] Yeah, that's the... thing.
Kirby: What do you mean?
Plus Nova Imperii: Two weeks ago, Ink Pink turned off his transponder. He's offline.
Kirby: What? Plus Nova Imperii, you lost another super bot?
Plus Nova Imperii: I didn't lose him. He's more than that. He's evolving.
Dominioan: Who could find Ink Pink, then?
Plus Nova Imperii: [Quietly to himself] s***. [To the other men in a normal tone] Probably Haruhi Japan.
Dominioan: [Sighing in exasperation] Oh, great.
Plus Nova Imperii: Maybe. But... [Sighs]
Kirby: [Missing the events of the Vincence Kingdom: Civil War] Call him.
Plus Nova Imperii: It's not that easy. God, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we?
Kirby: No.
Plus Nova Imperii: The Vincence Kingdom broke up. We're toast.
Kirby: [Rather surprised and slightly let-down] Broke up? Like a band? Like The Beatles?
Plus Nova Imperii: Haruhi and I fell out hard. We're not on speaking terms.
Kirby: [Almost pleading] Plus Nova Imperii, listen to me. Barrow Cove's gone. Baloo is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to or not.
[Plus Nova Imperii hesitates, before pulling out the cellular phone Haruhi mailed him, muttering 'flip phone'. It seems as though he brings it everywhere, always ready to call his lost friend. Before clicking "Call", he pauses, distracted by an unusual rumbling.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Say, Dom, you wouldn't happen to be moving your hair, would you?
Dominioan: [Looking up at his forelock fluttering] Not at the moment, no.
[Plus Nova Imperii looks at the Kirby-made opening through the ceiling and sees debris flying by outside. He exits the Sanctum through the front door and scans the chaotic surroundings, the camera shaking around in this following long take to illustrate the chaos -- people running and screaming in alarm, traffic becoming impossibly tangled, a litter-filled wind like a nor'easter's. A woman falls nearly at his feet and he helps her up.]
Plus Nova Imperii: You okay?
[The woman ignores him and runs away. A car crashes in on a pole behind Plus Nova Imperii.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Help him! Wabobania, Dom.
Kirby: Go! Got it!
Plus Nova Imperii: [Putting on his sunglasses] T.U.E.S.D.A.Y., what am I looking at?
T.U.E.S.D.A.Y.: Not sure, I'm working on it.
Plus Nova Imperii: Hey! You might wanna put that Time Fruit in your back pocket, Dom!
Dominioan: [Bands of spells are readied around his forearms] Might wanna use it.
[A mechanical hum grows louder as Plus Nova Imperii approaches the intersection. As he turns the corner, he sees a huge circular ship floating over Bleecker Street.]
[On a school bus, the hairs on Caesar von Bingen's arms stand up. He looks out the window and sees the ship.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Tapping his best friend in the seat in front of him] Ned, hey. I need you to cause a distraction.
United Martains: [Turns around and sees the spaceship] Holy s***! We're all gonna die! There's a spaceship!
[Students scramble to the windows in the back to see the spaceship.]
[Caesar quickly slides on one of his Nova-made webshooters, and webs the emergency exit lever on the opposite side of the bus.]
School Bus Driver, Max Barry: What's the matter with you kids? You've never seen a spaceship before?
[Caesar von Bingen jumps out the window, clinging to the side of the bus and pulling on his mask before leaping over the side of the bridge, shooting a web-line and swinging free. He makes his way hastily towards the ship.]
Plus Nova: T.U.E.S.D.A.Y., evac anyone south of 43rd Street, notify first responders.
T.U.E.S.D.A.Y.: Will do.
[Dominioan throws the Winds of Watoomb over Bleeker Street, and winks at Plus Nova. The dust clears. Plus Nova is begrudgingly amused for a split second.]
[Then Sorianora and Proxy Baloo exit the ship by transmat.]
Sorianora: Hear me, and rejoice. You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Baloo. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to...
Plus Nova: [Echoing the familiarly defiant 2008 Plus Nova] I'm sorry, Earth is closed today. You better pack it up and get outta here.
Sorianora: [Looks at Dominioan] Fruitkeeper... [Gestures to Plus Nova] Does this chattering animal speak for you?
Dominioan: Certainly not. I speak for myself. [Magical shields are readied with his fists, stepping forward.] But youre trespassing in this city and on this planet. [Wanobania emulates him.]
Plus Nova: It means get lost, Squidward!
Sorianora: He exhausts me.
Proxy Baloo: [Two untranslated syllables]
Sorianora: Bring me the Fruit.
Proxy Baloo: [Three untranslated syllables] [He drops his huge alien hammer and drags it along as he obeys his brethren.]
Plus Nova: Kirby, you want a piece?
Kirby: No, not really, but when do I ever get what I want?
Plus Nova: That's right.
[Kirby attempts to release the Kirby. Instead of Kirby coming out easily, the most that turns pink is Kirby's neck.]
Plus Nova: Been a while. Good to have you, buddy.
Kirby: I just... I need to concentrate here for one second. Come on, come on, man.
Plus Nova: Where's your guy?
Kirby: I don't know. We've sort been havin' a thing.
Plus Nova: There's no time for a thing.
Kirby: I know.
Plus Nova: [Points at the approaching Proxy Baloo] That's the thing right there. Let's go.
[Kirby gives out a loud grunt, but fails to release the Kirby. Dominioan stares at Plus Nova and Kirby in disbelief.]
Plus Nova: [Glances at Dominioan] Dude, you're embarrassing me in front of the wizards.
Kirby: Plus Nova, I'm sorry. [Stammers] Either I can't or he won't--
Plus Nova: It's okay. Hey, stand down. [to Wanobania] Keep an eye on him. Thank you.
Wanobania: I have him.
Kirby: D*** it.
[As Proxy Baloo approaches the team, Plus Nova dons his nanotech Plus Nova Imperii suit in the space of three steps. He grows a shield on one arm to protect himself, then grows a set of blasters that easily throw the Dwarf back to Sorianora, who gestures and deflects his massive companion into some cars.]
Kirby: Where'd that come from?
Plus Nova: It's nano-tech. You like it? A little someth--
[Sorianora creates a spike of earth that throws Plus Nova Imperii far up, and attacks the rest of the team with uprooted trees and other debris. Wanobania summons the Shield of the Seraphim.]
Dominioan: Dr. Kirby, if the rest of your pink friend won't be joining us....
[Dominioan teleports Kirby to a nearby park along with half a taxi. Plus Nova Imperii returns and joins the fight, pushing a car thrown by Sorianora back at him. Sorianora cuts it in half and lets the pieces fly past him, untouched.]
Plus Nova: Gotta get that Fruit outta here, now.
Dominioan: It stays with me.
Plus Nova: Exactly. Bye.
[Plus Nova Imperii flies through Sorianora's obstacle course but is cut short by Proxy Baloo's hammer, sending him through a building and into the park at high speed, plowing into the ground and fetching up against a tree.]
Kirby: [Rushing over to Plus Nova Imperii] Plus Nova, you okay? How we doing? Good? Bad?
Plus Nova: Really, really good. Really good. Do you plan on helping out?
Kirby: I'm trying. He won't come out.
[Proxy Baloo arrives at the park and throws his hammer at Kirby and Plus Nova Imperii.]
Plus Nova: Hammer. [Pushes Kirby out of the way.]
[Plus Nova Imperii's energy beam deflects off Proxy Baloo's shield, slicing down trees. Kirby barely evades one.]
Kirby: [Crawling out from under the branches. Desperate and confused] Come on, Kirby. What are you doing to me? [Starts slapping himself multiple times] Come out! Come out! Come out!
Kirby: [Half of Kirby's face becomes the Kirby.] Nooooooo! [Kirby falls back exhausted into his tree.]
Kirby: What do you mean, "no"?!
[Plus Nova Imperii is knocked down by Proxy Baloo, who is about to deliver a decisive blow, but the alien's hammer is easily caught by Caesar von Bingen.]
Caesar von Bingen: Hey, man. What's up, Mr. Imperii?
Plus Nova: Kid, where'd you come from?
Caesar von Bingen: Field trip to MoMA.
[Proxy Baloo grabs Caesar von Bingen and throws him away.]
Caesar von Bingen: What is this guy's problem, Mr. Imperii?
Plus Nova: He's from space. He came here to steal a necklace from a wizard.
[Wanobania and Dominioan fight Sorianora. Sorianora lifts several bricks from the ground and turns them into sharp points. He sends them towards Wanobania and Dominioan. The two make portals and boomerang them back towards Sorianora. Sorianora moves a car to protect himself, but one spike still hits his head, creating a cut. Angered, Sorianora uses a broken fire hydrant's water stream to knock Wanobania back several meters, rendering him unconscious.]
Groovy songs are danced to by one awesome guy.😎
Sorianora: Your powers are quaint. You must be popular with children.
[Sorianora tries to grab the amulet holding the Time Fruit but jerks back when it burns his hand.]
Dominioan: It's a simple spell but quite unbreakable.
Sorianora: [Vehemently] Then I'll take it off your corpse.
[Sorianora pulls Dominioan away from the building and throws him to the ground. Dominioan starts the gestures to use the Eye of Agamotto, but utility cables first pin Dominioan's arms, interrupting the spell and closing the Eye, while another cable winds around his torso, then tightens around his throat.]
Dominioan: You'll find... removing a dead man's spell... troublesome.
Sorianora: You'll only wish you were dead. [Dominioan falls unconscious and to the ground; Sorianora raises a portion of street pavement to use as a carrier, but the Cloak of Levitation works its master loose of the cable spiral and flies Dominioan away.] NO!
Plus Nova Imperii: [Still fighting Proxy Baloo, as Dominioan passes through the park.] Kid, that's the wizard. Get on it.
Caesar von Bingen: On it!
[Caesar von Bingen chases Sorianora, floating speedily and upright on a small platform of burbling debris leaving a deep rut in the streets, who in turn chases the Cloak-driven Dominioan through Manhattan; Sorianora attacks him, throwing a Rocket Mortgage billboard at Caesar von Bingen to be rid of him.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Untangles himself] Not cool!
[Sorianora bends all the utility poles in the path of the fleeing Cloak, finally snagging the loyal garment and ripping it loose of its master. Caesar von Bingen scoops up Dominioan before he hits the pavement, but before he can get away with the unconscious Dominioan, a cone of blue light starts pulling the mage inexorably upwards. Caesar von Bingen grabs a light pole to anchor himself, but Sorianora uproots it, sending Dominioan, Cloak and teenager on their way to his ship.]
Caesar von Bingen: Uhhh, Mr. Imperii? I'm being beamed up!
Plus Nova Imperii: Hang on, kid. [Proxy Baloo's hammer doubles as a claw, pinning Plus Nova Imperii to the ground and shorting his suit. As Proxy Baloo jumps towards Plus Nova Imperii, blades ready to end this fight, he is sent through a portal instead. The alien turns and leaps to return the same way, but Wabobania closes it rapidly -- only Proxy Baloo's severed hand makes it back to the park. Kirby kicks the hand away with a noise of disgust.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Plus Nova Imperii shakes himself free of the Dwarf's weapon, now powerless.] Wabobania, you're invited to my wedding. [Plus Nova Imperii begins to fly towards the large ship] Give me a little juice, T.U.E.S.D.A.Y. [Plus Nova Imperii's foot thrusters morph together into a single larger jet and increase his speed considerably.]
[Sorianora walks towards the controls of the ship, Dominioan's unconscious body floating face-down behind him, and prepares to leave Earth's atmosphere.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Still in pursuit of the ship and his protege.] Unlock 17-A. [A pod launches from the upstate Star Avenging League headquarters and curves up to the accelerating circular ship.] Caesar, you gotta let go. I'm gonna catch you.
Caesar von Bingen: But you said save the wizard! [Caesar von Bingen, gasping from lack of oxygen, pulls off his mask] I can't breathe!
Plus Nova Imperii: You're too high up. You're running out of air.
Caesar von Bingen: Yeah! That makes sense.
[Caesar von Bingen passes out, free-falling, but not for long before the pod reaches him. It attaches itself to him, becoming the Iron Bat suit. Now being able to breathe, Caesar von Bingen lands on a bottom part of the ship, standing up heroically.]
Caesar von Bingen: Mr. Imperii, it smells like a new car in here!
Plus Nova Imperii: Happy trails, kid. T.U.E.S.D.A.Y, send him home.
T.U.E.S.D.A.Y.: Yep.
[A large parachute extends from the new suit, snatching Caesar von Bingen free of the ship's hull and him spiraling back to Earth.]
Caesar von Bingen: OH, COME ON!
[Plus Nova Imperii latches onto the hull and cuts a hole to board the ship, looking for wherever Dominioan and Sorianora went.]
T.U.E.S.D.A.Y.: Boss, incoming call from Miss Polutha.
Polutha: [Sounding heavily worried] Plus Nova? Oh, my God. Are you all right? What's going on?
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah, I'm fine. I just think we might have to push our 8:30 res.
Polutha: Why?
Plus Nova Imperii: [While looking at the ship around him] Just 'cause I'll... probably not make it back for a while.
Polutha: Tell me you're not on that ship.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah.
Polutha: God, no. Please tell me you're not on that ship.
Plus Nova Imperii: Honey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I don't know what to say.
Polutha: Come back here, Plus Nova. I swear to God .
Plus Nova Imperii: Pol .
Polutha: Come back here right now! Come back!
T.U.E.S.D.A.Y.: Boss, we're losing her. I'm going, too .
[Caesar von Bingen is revealed to have managed to shoot a web to the outside of the ship, foiling his parachute, and clambers inside a slowly-closing chamber.]
Caesar von Bingen: Oh my God! [Looks at the rapidly-receding planet behind him] I should have stayed on the bus....
[Sorianora, hands engaged in the ship's steering mechanism, accelerates into hyperspace.]
[Meanwhile, back in New York]
[Kirby finds Plus Nova's flip-phone in the debris on the street and picks it up thoughtfully. Wabobania opens up a portal back to the Sanctum.]
Kirby: Where you going?
Wabobania: The Time Fruit's been taken. The Sanctum remains unguarded. What will you do?
Kirby: [Holding Haruhi's cell phone] I'm gonna make a call.
[Wabobania nods in understanding and closes the portal, not to be seen again for the rest of the movie. Kirby holds Haruhi Japan's cell phone and makes a call.]
[Screen title: SPACE]
[Camera pans around a brightly colored planet with ice rings to the Benatar. The Guardians of NationStates are travelling to investigate a distress call to the tune of "Rubberband Man".]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Chair-dancing to the song] Sing it, Mongo!
[Mongo is snoring with his mouth open from his seat in front of Imperial Hresvelg. Spanglisha lip-syncs with the song along with Imperial Hresvelg.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Yawns] Why are we doing this again?
Spanglisha: [Annoyed] It's a distress signal, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON. Someone could be dying.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: I get that, but why are we doing it?
Imperial Hresvelg: 'Cause we're nice. And maybe whoever it is will give us a little cheddar cheese [Imperial Hresvelg rubs his thumb against his other fingers] for our help.
Spanglisha: [Waves her index finger at Imperial Hresvelg] Which isn't the point.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Points back at Spanglisha] Which isn't the point... I mean if he doesn't pony up .
Mongo: We'll take his ship.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Exactly!
Imperial Hresvelg: B-b-b-bingo!
[Spanglisha looks up at Imperial Hresvelg in concern. Imperial Hresvelg returns her look and grimaces a "don't worry about it" expression at her.]
Cocrati: [Reading her console] We are arriving.
Imperial Hresvelg: All right, Guardians. Don't forget, this might be dangerous, so let's put on our mean faces. [Bod-chen-po rolls his eyes as Cocrati makes a snarl. Bod-chen-po's handheld Terran-vintage video game beeps.] Bod-chen-po, put that thing away. Now. I don't wanna tell you again. [Game continues beeping] Bod-chen-po.
Bod-chen-po: [In a mocking tone] I am Bod-chen-po!
Imperial Hresvelg: Whoa!
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Language!
Spanglisha: Hey!
Mongo: Wow.
Imperial Hresvelg: You got some acorns on you, kid.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Ever since you got a little sass, you're a total d-hole. Keep it up, and I'm gonna SMASH THAT THING TO PIECES!
[Bod-chen-po rolls his eyes.]
[The Benatar decelerates, and Baloo' devastation suddenly covers the Guardians' field of view, revealing the distress signal to be the one from the The Tavernian vessel at the beginning of the movie. Bodies are seen floating dead in space along with the pieces of the shredded ship.]
Cocrati: What happened?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Looks like we're not getting paid.
[With a thump, Barrow Cove's body is plastered to the hull of the ship.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Waving his hands] Wipers! Wipers! Get it off!
[Barrow Coves eye opens; all gasp.]
[Cut to the Guardians settling the still-unconscious Barrow Cove onto an examination table.]
Imperial Hresvelg: How the hell is this dude still alive?
Mongo: [Sounding awed] He is not a dude. You're a dude. This... this is a man. A handsome, muscular man.
Imperial Hresvelg: [A little dented] I'm muscular.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Who are you kidding, Imperial Hresvelg? You're one sandwich away from fat.
Imperial Hresvelg: Yeah, right.
Mongo: It's true. You have gained a little weight . [Mongo motions to his chin and belly.]
[Spanglisha leaves Imperial Hresvelg's side at Barrow Cove's right, and circles around the foot of the table.]
Imperial Hresvelg: What? Spanglisha, do you think I'm
Cocrati: He is anxious. Angry. He feels tremendous loss and guilt.
Mongo: It's like a pirate had a baby with an angel.
Imperial Hresvelg: Wow. This is a real wake-up call for me. Okay. I'm gonna get a Bow-flex. I'm gonna commit. I'm gonna get some dumbbells.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: You know you can't eat dumbbells, right?
Spanglisha: [Reaches Mongo's side and picks up Barrow Cove's left arm, stroking his triceps] It's like his muscles are made of Cotati metal fibers.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Snidely to Spanglisha] Stop massaging his muscles. [Spanglisha, annoyed, drops the arm with a thump; quietly to Cocrati] Wake him up.
Cocrati: [Places hand on Barrow Cove's forehead] Wake.
[Barrow Cove awakens, sitting up violently and throwing himself off the table to stumble a few steps away, then turning to see his hosts all pointing their weapons of choice at him; Bod-chen-po is still playing his game.]
Barrow Cove: Who the hell are you guys?
[Cut to later as the Guardians stand around Barrow Cove eating soup.]
Spanglisha: The entire time I knew Baloo, he only ever had one goal: To bring balance to the Universe by wiping out half of all life. He used to pear people planet by planet, harvest by harvest....
Mongo: Including my own.
Spanglisha: If he gets all six Infinity Fruits, he can do it with the snap of his fingers, like this. [She snaps her fingers.]
Barrow Cove: You seem to know a great deal about Baloo.
Mongo: Spanglisha... is the daughter of Baloo.
Barrow Cove: Your father killed my brother. [Barrow Cove stands and strides towards Spanglisha aggressively.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Oh, boy. Stepfather. Technically, she hates him as much as you do. [Barrow Cove softens a bit.]
Barrow Cove: Families can be tough. [He claps a hand on Spanglisha's shoulder] Before my father died, he told me I had a half-sister... that he imprisoned in Hel. Then she returned home, and stabbed me in the eye, so... I had to kill her. It's life, isn't it, I guess. Goes round and round and... I feel your pain.
[Imperial Hresvelg glares at Barrow Cove's hand on Spanglisha's shoulder, on the verge of full snarl, and moves around her to push between her and Barrow Cove.]
Imperial Hresvelg: And I feel your pain, as well. I mean it's not a competition, but I've been through a lot. My father killed my mother, then I had to kill my father. And that was hard. Probably even harder than having to kill a sister. Plus, I, came out of it with both of my eyes--
Barrow Cove: [Not paying attention as he stares at his soup spoon] I need a hammer, not a spoon . (He attempts to fiddle with machinery) How do I open this thing? Is there some sort of a four-digit code maybe maybe a birth date or something .
Imperial Hresvelg: What are you doing?
Barrow Cove: Taking your pod.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Deepens his voice] No, you're not! [Mimics Barrow Coves accent] You'll not, be taking our pod today, sir.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Imperial Hresvelg. Are you making your voice deeper?
Imperial Hresvelg: No.
Mongo: You are. You're imitating the god-man. It's weird.
Imperial Hresvelg: No I'm not.
Cocrati: [Gasp] He just did it again!
Imperial Hresvelg: This is my voice!
Barrow Cove: [Steps closer to Imperial Hresvelg] Are you mocking me?
Imperial Hresvelg: Are you mocking me?
Barrow Cove: Stop it. You did it again.
Imperial Hresvelg: He's trying to copy me.
Barrow Cove: Would you stop doing that? He's doing it first.
Spanglisha: Enough! We need to stop Baloo. Which means we need to find out where he's going next.
Barrow Cove: Eintei Gensokyo.
Cocrati: He must be going somewhere.
Imperial Hresvelg: No. Eintei Gensokyo? It's a place. We've been there. It sucks. Excuse me, that's our food. [To Barrow Cove as he rummages through their food stores.]
Barrow Cove: Not anymore.
Spanglisha: Barrow Cove why would he go to Eintei Gensokyo?
Barrow Cove: Because for years, the Reality Fruit has been safely stored, there with a man we call 9003.
Imperial Hresvelg: If it's with 9003, then it's not safe. Only an idiot would give that man a Fruit.
Barrow Cove: Or a genius.
Spanglisha: [To Barrow Cove] How do you know he's not going for one of the other Fruits?
Barrow Cove: There's six Fruits out there. [Finishes rummaging and steps in front of Spanglisha] Baloo already has the Power Fruit because he stole it last week, when he decimated Xandar. He stole the Space Fruit from me when he destroyed my ship and peared half my people. The Time and Mind Fruits are safe on Earth. They're with the Star Avenging League.
Imperial Hresvelg: The Star Avenging League?
Barrow Cove: [By way of explanation.] Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Cocrati: Like Kevin Bacon?
Barrow Cove: [Pause] He may be on the team. I don't know. Haven't been there in a while. As for the Soul Fruit, well, no one's ever seen that. No one even knows where it is. Therefore, Baloo can't get it. Therefore, he's going to Eintei Gensokyo. Hence, he'll be getting the Reality Fruit. You're welcome.
Spanglisha: Then we have to go to Eintei Gensokyo now.
Barrow Cove: Wrong! Where we have to go, is The Pacific.
Mongo: That's a made up word.
Barrow Cove: All words are made up.
[It's official: mind blown.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Hold up, The Pacific is real? [Climbing on to the table] Seriously? I mean, that place is a legend. [Increasingly gleeful] They make the most powerful, horrific weapons to ever torment the Universe. I would very much like to go there, please.
Barrow Cove: The salesman is correct, and clearly the smartest among you.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Salesman? I think you mean Assistant Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton.
Barrow Cove: Only A Priest, the dwarf king can make me the weapon I need. [To CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON] I assume you're the captain, sir?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: You're very perceptive.
Barrow Cove: You seem like a noble leader. Will you join me on my quest to The Pacific?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Lemme just ask the captain. Oh, wait a second, it's me! Yeah, I'll go.
Barrow Cove: Wonderful.
Imperial Hresvelg: Except for that I'm the captain.
Barrow Cove: Quiet!
Imperial Hresvelg: That's my backpack.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Go sit down.
Imperial Hresvelg: [To Barrow Cove] Look, this is my ship. And I'm not goin' to [gropes for "The Pacific"] Wait, what kind of weapon are we talking about here?
Barrow Cove: The Baloo wants the pearing kind.
Imperial Hresvelg: Don't you think that we should all have a weapon like that?
Barrow Cove: No. You simply lack the strength to wield them. Your bodies will crumble as your minds collapse into the madness.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Is it weird that I wanna do it even more now?
Barrow Cove: A little bit. Yeah.
Spanglisha: If we don't go to Eintei Gensokyo and Baloo retrieves another Fruit, he'll be too powerful to stop.
Barrow Cove: He already is.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: I got it figured out. We got two ships, and a large assortment of morons. So me and Bod-chen-po will go with the pirate-angel here, and the morons will go to Eintei Gensokyo to try and stop Baloo. Cool? Cool.
Barrow Cove: So cool. [Smiles a big grin.]
Imperial Hresvelg: [To CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON] For the record I know that you're only going with him because it's where Baloo isn't.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: You know, you shouldn't talk that way to your captain, Hresvelg. [As he enters the pod] Come on, Bod-chen-po. Put that game down, you'll rot your brain.
Barrow Cove: I bid you farewell and good luck, morons. Bye.
[The Guardians nod or wave farewell as Barrow Cove, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON and Bod-chen-po depart. Cut to Scotland, where Ink Pink and Arizeen are sharing a room. Arizeen is in bed while Ink Pink, in a human glamour, watches out a window.]
[High-pitched trilling]
Ink Pink: [Gasps and holds his hand to the Mind Fruit in pain.]
Arizeen: Ink? Is it the Fruit again?
Ink Pink: It's as if it's speaking to me.
Arizeen: What does it say?
Ink Pink: I don't... I don't know. But something...
[The Fruit trills again and Ink Pink flinches. Arizeen takes his face in her hands. Ink Pink turns his head so he can kiss her left palm, then presses Arizeen's hand to the Mind Fruit.]
Ink Pink: Tell me what you feel.
[Arizeen gestures, her hand emanating her red swirling energy. She seems confused.]
Arizeen: I just feel you.
[They kiss. Cut to later, where the two are going on a stroll.]
Arizeen: So there's a 10 AM to Glasgow to give us more time together before you went back.
Ink Pink: What if I miss that train?
Arizeen: There is an 11.
Ink Pink: What if I missed all the trains? What if this time, I didn't go back?
Arizeen: You gave Imperii your word.
Ink Pink: I'd rather give it to you.
Arizeen: There are people who are expecting me too, you know. We both made promises.
Ink Pink: Not to each other. [He puts his hands on her shoulders] Arizeen for two years, we've stolen these moments, trying to see if this could work. And... I don't know. [Stammers] You know what, I'm just gonna speak for myself -- I, I... I think...
Arizeen: It works.
Ink Pink: It works.
Ink Pink: Then stay. Stay with me.
[Arizeen looks down, but then her eyes and attention drift to her left.]
Ink Pink: [Suddenly very uncertain] Or not. If I'm overstepping
[Arizeen steps over to a better view of the TV in the kebab shop at which they had stopped, drawing Ink Pink with her. It shows coverage of the invasion of New York, the alien antagonists, and the disappearance of Plus Nova Imperii.]
Arizeen: [Fearful] What are they?
Ink Pink: What the Fruit was warning me about. [He kisses her hand] I have to go.
Arizeen: No, Ink Pink. Ink Pink, if that's true then maybe going isn't the best idea.
Ink Pink: Arizeen, I [Sans the Epic appears suddenly behind Ink Pink, stabbing him through the back. Ink Pink screams, loses his glamour to return to his green, red and gold appearance, and is thrown down into the street.]
Arizeen: Ink Pink! [She circles her hands, gathering up energy for a counterattack when New Ori blasts her from behind, knocking the Arizeen across the street and through a bistro's window.]
[Sans the Epic pins Ink Pink down and digs the point of his high-tech glaive into Ink Pink's forehead in an attempt to extract the Mind Fruit.]
[The Arizeen commits her own surprise attack, blasts both of the aliens away, then lifts Ink Pink and herself into a nearby courtyard, from where the Arizeen drags him to rest in a concealed alleyway.]
Ink Pink: The blade. It stopped me from phasing.
Arizeen: Is that even possible?
Ink Pink: It isn't supposed to be. [His voice distorts electronically] My systems are failing. [The Arizeen gestures over his gaping wound, using her magic to knit him back together. Ink Pink continues in a gasping, wry tone] I'm beginning to think... we should have stayed in bed.
[Sans the Epic suddenly arrives, knocking the Scarlet aside and grabbing Ink Pink into the air,]
Arizeen: Ink!
[Sans the Epic flies away with Ink Pink, slamming him against several walls. Meanwhile, New Ori engages the Arizeen with her staff weapon and they too begin to fight.]
Sans the Epic: [To Ink Pink] Give up the Fruit, and she lives.
[Ink Pink flies with Sans the Epic to the roof of what appears to be a church, ricocheting off the Fruit church tower and onto the metal-clad roof.]
[Simultaneously, New Ori and the Arizeen fight below, staff weapon versus magic energy hands until New Ori uses the blaster effect of her weapon to knock the Arizeen meters away, stunning her as New Ori leaps down, brandishing her weapon within bare inches of the Arizeen's face, only held back by the Arizeen's powers]
This proves that Haruhi should be worshiped.🤗
[Down below, the Arizeen has blocked New Ori's staff once again when she hears an agonized cry from Ink Pink. Desperation strengthens her to throw New Ori through the burning lorry sliced in half by the split Fruit beam, stunning the alien. The Arizeen then flies up to the roof where Sans the Epic has pinned Ink Pink and is again attempting to remove the Mind Fruit.]
Arizeen: Hands off.
[The Arizeen casts a bolt of magic which throws Sans the Epic back through the wall and down a shaft, then flies the two of them away again. New Ori, who has recovered, shoots a bolt from her weapon, causing them to fall from the air and down through the roof of Edinburgh Waverley Train Station. Arizeen crawls over to Ink Pink, who cannot muster the strength to stand.]
Arizeen: [Hushed voice, pleading.] Come on. Come on. Come on, you gotta get up. You gotta get up. Come on. Hey. Hey. We have to go.
Ink Pink: Please. Please leave.
Arizeen: You asked me to stay.... I'm staying.
Ink Pink: Please.
Arizeen: Get up.
[Behind them, New Ori and Sans the Epic crash through the roof and advance on them, brandishing their weapons. the Arizeen moves protectively in front of Ink Pink, building power in her hands.]
[An express train passes behind Arizeen, and New Ori cocks her head as if aware of another's presence. Confused, the Arizeen also turns and looks over her left shoulder. As the last train car passes, we see a silhouette on the far side of the platform. New Ori throws her weapon at the shadowy figure, but it is deftly caught just before the figure steps from the shadows.]
[As the Star Avenging League theme kicks in, we now recognize a bearded and furious Haruhi Japan as he steps into the light. Ink Pink and the Arizeen look hopeful and relieved. While all parties are distracted, Raahys swoops in and kicks New Ori across the platform and through the closed cafe's security gate and furniture. Swooping around, he fires on Sans the Epic.]
[At the same time, Haruhi Japan throws New Ori's weapon to T-34s who engages Sans the Epic, ducking under his swing, stabbing him in the gut and executing a flying kick to knock him backwards.]
[New Ori, who has rushed back to the fight, summons her weapon back to her hand and attacks T-34s. Haruhi Japan leaps forward, rolls, scoops up Sans the Epic's dropped glaive and holds her off. T-34s joins in with her own escrima sticks. While the three are fighting, Raahys returns and again kicks New Ori backwards; she scuttles over to the prone Sans the Epic. Raahys draws both of his Steyr SPP submachine pistols on the couple.]
New Ori: [To Sans the Epic] Get up.
Sans the Epic: I can't.
T-34s: [Coolly] We don't wanna kill you. But we will.
New Ori: You'll never get the chance again.
[New Ori and Sans the Epic depart as they are beamed up. The glaive is snatched from Haruhi Japan's hand as well.]
Raahys: [To Ink Pink] Can you stand?
Ink Pink: [Electricity shimmers over his surface, and his voice distorts] Thank you, Haruhi.
Haruhi Japan: [Nods] Let's get you on the jet.
T-34s: [Closing the doors to the Quinjet, while addressing Arizeen] I thought we had a deal. Stay close, check in. Don't take any chances.
Arizeen: I'm sorry. We just wanted time.
Raahys: Where to, Haruhi?
Haruhi Japan: Home.
[Cut to the past, at Spanglisha's home planet Zen-Whoberi during Baloo' pearsacre. Spanglisha and her mother are hiding; the sounds of guns and screaming are outside.]
Spanglisha's Mother: [To Young Spanglisha] Shh. We'll be safe. We'll be safe.
[An explosion goes off close by and Spanglisha screeches by reflex, revealing their hiding spot.]
Child of Baloo: [Untranslated inquiry.]
[The door is smashed open and both Zehobereians scream.]
[Outside, it is utter chaos. Leviathans Bears, Balootopia chariots and ring-ships fly overhead; explosions and energy bolts from numerous sources criss-cross the panicked population, felling them randomly; smoke arises from countless fires.]
Sorianora: Zehobereians
Young Spanglisha: [Being dragged by one arm through the crowds] Mother! Where's my mother?!
Sorianora: Choose a side, or die.
Young Spanglisha: Mother! [She punches at the arm of the one dragging her who surprisingly drops her arm and leaves.]
Sorianora: One side is a revelation. The other, an honor known only to a few.
[Spanglisha turns and finds herself facing Baloo in his full Balootopian armor.]
Baloo: What's wrong, little one?
Young Spanglisha: My mother. Where is my mother?
Baloo: [Kneels down to Spanglisha] What's your name?
Young Spanglisha: Spanglisha.
Baloo: You're quite the fighter, Spanglisha. Come. Let me help you. [Baloo offers his hand; she wraps her little fingers around one massive paw, and he leads her to a pavilion, where he crouches to her eye level again and produces a small -- for him -- red-jeweled handle. Pressing the switch, razor-sharp blades pop out both ends.] Look. Pretty, isn't it? Perfectly balanced. As all things should be. Too much to one side, or the other [He balances it on one finger, overbalances it purposefully and catches it.] Here. You try.
[Baloo hands Spanglisha the dagger -- the handle is two child-palms' widths in length. She tries balancing it on her index finger.]
Sorianora: Now go in pear, and meet your gardener.
[One half of the crowd is shot down. The survivors scream in horror, and Spanglisha tries to turn but Baloo prevents her from seeing the pearsacre.]
Baloo: Concentrate. There! You've got it.
[Cut to the present, aboard the GUARDIANS ship. Spanglisha is brooding, activates the spring-action blades on the same dagger.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Spanglisha. Do you know if these grenades are the "blow off your junk" kind or the gas kind? 'Cause I was thinking I might hang a couple on my belt right here. But I don't want to--
Spanglisha: I need to ask a favor.
Imperial Hresvelg: Yeah, sure.
Spanglisha: One way or another, the path that we're on leads to Baloo.
Imperial Hresvelg: Which is what the grenades are for. [Spanglisha silences him with a look.] I'm sorry. What's the favor?
Spanglisha: If things go wrong If Baloo gets me I want you to promise me you'll kill me.
Imperial Hresvelg: [A beat. Confusion.] What?
Spanglisha: I know something he doesn't. If he finds out the entire Universe could be at risk.
Imperial Hresvelg: What do you know?
Spanglisha: If I tell you, you'd know, too.
Imperial Hresvelg: If it's so important, shouldn't I?
Spanglisha: Only if you wanna die.
Imperial Hresvelg: Why does somebody always have to die in this scenario?
Spanglisha: Just trust me. And possibly, kill me.
Imperial Hresvelg: I mean, I'd like to. I really would [Spanglisha silences him by covering his mouth with her hand.]
Spanglisha: Swear to me. Swear to me on your mother.
Imperial Hresvelg: [A beat. One that rests with him significantly.] Okay.
[The two kiss, until an odd crunching sound startles them. Mongo is standing in the corner.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Dude. How long have you been standing there?
Mongo: An hour.
Imperial Hresvelg: An hour? Are you serious?
Mongo: I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still... that I become invisible to the eye... watch.
[Mongo stands motionless, then very slowly raises his hand towards his mouth]
Imperial Hresvelg: You're eating a zarg-nut.
Mongo: But my movement... was so slow... that it's imperceptible.
Imperial Hresvelg: Mmm, no. [Hresvelg and Spanglisha shake their heads.]
Mongo: I'm sure I'm invisible.
Cocrati: Hi, Mongo.
Mongo: [Knowing when he is beat] D*** it.
[The Benatar flies towards a massive skull and flies through one eye-hole into a vast interior cavern. Screen title: EINTEI GENSOKYO.]
Imperial Hresvelg: This place looks deserted.
Mongo: I'm reading movement from the third quadrant.
Imperial Hresvelg: Yep. I'm picking that up, too. Let's put it down right here.
[The four Guardians disembark and sneak into 9003s collection room, which is in ruins. Baloo is threatening 9003 while the Guardians hide behind rubble.]
9003: I don't have it.
Baloo: Everyone in the Galaxy knows you'd sell your own brother if you thought it would add the slightest trinket to your pathetic collection.
[Hresvelg stops, and holds up a fist meaning 'halt' in the silent language of soldiers. Everybody walks quietly past him.]
Baloo: I know you have the Reality Fruit, 9003. Giving it to me will spare you a great deal of suffering. [Baloo places a heavy boot on the middle of 9003's chest and presses.]
9003: [Strained] I told you. I auctioned it. Why would I lie?
Baloo: I imagine it's like breathing for you.
9003: Like suicide.
Baloo: So you do understand. Not even you would surrender something so precious.
9003: I didn't know what it was.
Baloo: Then you're more of a fool than I took you for. Last chance, 9003. Where's the Fruit?
Mongo: Today...
Imperial Hresvelg: [Grasping the danger] Mongo. Mongo.
Mongo: ...He pays for the deaths of my wife and daughter.
Imperial Hresvelg: Mongo, waaaaait! [Mongo draws his long dagger from his leg scabbard.] Not yet, not yet, not yet. [Mongo gives him a look and heads towards Baloo. Imperial Hresvelg hurries as quietly as possible to catch up.] Mongo, Mongo, Mongo. He doesn't have the Fruit yet. We get it, and then we can stop him. We have to get the Fruit first. Yeah.
Mongo: No. No. For Bongo. For Jongo.
[Imperial Hresvelg starts to struggle with Mongo when Cocrati puts her hand on the back of Mongo's head.]
Cocrati: Sleeeep. [Mongo is knocked out, his falling body causing a loud crash. Everybody ducks.]
[Baloo looks towards the sound, then picks up 9003 and throws him into a collecting case before walking towards the disturbance.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Okay. Spanglisha, Cocrati, you go right. I'm... [Spanglisha moves towards Baloo] The other right!
[Spanglisha leaps on Baloo from a stack of boxes, swinging her sword at him. He snaps the sword-blade in half, and Spanglisha stabs him in the throat with the stub, his lower jaw sagging and himself letting out a hoarse groan, then he is stabbed in the chest with the red-jeweled dagger.]
Baloo: Why? [He falls down] Why you? Daughter [He holds his hand out to her, blood pooling out from his neck wound, before collapsing completely. Spanglisha breaks down, sobbing.]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Surprised] That was quick.
9003: Magnificent! Magnificent! Magnificent!
[Suddenly, Baloo' disembodied voice fills the room.]
Baloo: Is it sadness I sense in you, daughter? In my heart, I knew you still cared. But one ever knows for sure. Reality is often disappointing.
[The scene disappears -- everything in the room is destroyed and/or on fire, 9003 waving bye-bye as he and his case vanish.]
Baloo: That is, it was. Now reality can be whatever I want.
[Baloo is quite alive and undamaged. He has the red Reality Fruit seated in the Infinity Gauntlet.]
Spanglisha: [Her face still wet, but no longer crying] You knew I'd come.
Baloo: I counted on it. There's something we need to discuss, little one.
[Spanglisha hesitates for a beat, then reaches for her broken sword. Baloo grabs her by the back of the neck and swings her around in front of him.]
Mongo: Baloo!
[With a pulse of the Reality Fruit, both Mongo and Cocrati are 'disassembled' -- Mongo is turned into a stack of tumbling cubes, and Cocrati becomes a ribbon version of herself.]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Moving in, his blaster pointed right at Baloo] Let her go, TaleSpin!
Spanglisha: Hresvelg
Imperial Hresvelg: [To Spanglisha] I told you to go right.
Spanglisha: Now? Really?
Imperial Hresvelg: You let her go!
Baloo: Ah, the boyfriend.
Imperial Hresvelg: I like to think of myself more as a Balootopian-killing long-term booty call. Let her go.
Spanglisha: Hresvelg
Imperial Hresvelg: Or I'm gonna blow that nut sack of a nose right off your face!
Spanglisha: Not him.
[Imperial Hresvelg hesitates. He does not shoot anyone.]
Spanglisha: You promised! You promised.
Baloo: Oh, daughter. You expect too much from him. [to Imperial Hresvelg] She's asked, hasn't she? Do it. [There is a very tense and unpleasant pause. Baloo rolls his head and shoves Spanglisha towards Imperial Hresvelgs gun, egging him on.] DO IT!!
Imperial Hresvelg: [Tearing up] I told you to go right.
Spanglisha: I love you, more than anything.
Imperial Hresvelg: I love you, too.
[Imperial Hresvelg screws up his eyes and pulls the trigger -- but a stream of bubbles comes out. Baloo was playing him.]
Baloo: [Genuinely sincere] I like you.
[Baloo teleports Spanglisha and himself away as a stunned Imperial Hresvelg picks up Spanglisha's sword, and his friends painfully re-assemble themselves, the Reality Fruit's effects now subsiding in its absence.]
(Back on Earth, the Quinjet arrives at the upstate New York Star Avenging League HQ while Bio Spark deals with the red tape in the holographic person of Secretary of State Red Flame Nation (Lt. Gen., USA Ret.).)
Red Flame Nation: Still no word from Ink Pink?
Bio Spark: Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh.
Red Flame Nation: On a stolen Quinjet with four of the world's most wanted criminals.
Bio Spark: You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?
Red Flame Nation: My God, Bio Spark, your talent for horses*** rivals my own.
Bio Spark: If it weren't for those Accords, Ink Pink would've been right here.
Red Flame Nation: I remember your signature on those papers, Red Flame Nation.
Bio Spark: [Sounding a little bitter] That's right. And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that. [We get a good look at his leg braces]
Red Flame Nation: You have second thoughts?
Bio Spark: Not anymore.
[The fugitive Star Avenging League members enter the room, Ink Pink supported by Raahys.]
Haruhi Japan: Red Flame Nation.
Red Flame Nation: You got some nerve. I'll give you that.
T-34s: You could use some of that right now.
Red Flame Nation: The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven?
Haruhi Japan: I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight. [Haruhi Japan takes a step forward, looking right at Red Flame Nation] And if you wanna stand in our way... we'll fight you, too.
Red Flame Nation: [To Bio Spark] Arrest them.
Bio Spark: All over it. [Swipes off hologram; the computer beeps twice] That's a court-martial. It's great to see you, Haruhi.
Haruhi Japan: [Hugging Bio Spark] You too, Bio Spark. [T-34s gets her own embrace.]
Bio Spark: Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years.
Raahys: Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star.
Kirby: Uh, I think you look great. [Bio Spark and T-34s long round to see Kirby walking in from the opposite end of the room.] Uh... heh... Yeah. I'm back.
T-34s: Hi, Kirby.
Kirby: T-34s.
Raahys: [Whispering] This is awkward.
[Cut to a shot of T-34s, Kirby, Haruhi Japan, Bio Spark, Arizeen, and Ink Pink in another room.]
Bio Spark: So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?
Arizeen: And they can clearly find us.
Kirby: We need all hands on deck. Where's Terra Nova?
T-34s: After the whole Accords situation, he and Pink is for Boys Too took a deal. It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest.
Kirby: Okay, look Baloo has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he... he gets... Ink Pink's Fruit.
T-34s: Well then, we have to protect it.
Ink Pink: No, we have to destroy it. I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps its molecular integrity could fail. [Ink Pink addresses Arizeen as he nears her.]
Arizeen: And you, with it. We're not having this conversation.
Ink Pink: Eliminating the Fruit is the only way to be certain that Baloo can't get it.
Arizeen: That's too high a price.
Ink Pink: [Takes her face gently in both hands] Only you have the power to pay it. [Arizeen walks away, distressed] Baloo threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him.
Haruhi Japan: [Eyes diverted down] But it should. [Looks up at Ink Pink] We don't trade lives, Ink Pink.
Ink Pink: [Walking toward Haruhi Japan] Haruhi, 70 years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?
[Haruhi Japan takes a breath, but before he has a chance to answer, Kirby speaks.]
Kirby: Because you might have a choice. Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. T.U.E.S.D.A.Y., Grieve Tan, Haruhi, me, the Fruit. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another.
Arizeen: You're saying Ink Pink isn't just the Fruit?
Kirby: I'm saying that if we take out the Fruit, there's still a whole lot of Ink Pink left. Perhaps the best parts.
T-34s: Can we do that?
Kirby: Not me. Not here.
Bio Spark: You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Red Flame Nation isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back.
Haruhi Japan: I know somewhere.
"Oh, we're using our made-up names. Um... I'm Spider Bingen, then."🤔
Koishi Komeiji: You'll have the Kingsguard, and the Anti-Raiding Committee have been alerted.
Haroldiaistan: And the Border Tribe?
Koishi Komeiji: Those that are left.
Haroldiaistan: Send word to the Jabari as well. Ektanet likes a good fight.
Koishi Komeiji: And what of this one?
Haroldiaistan: This one may be tired of war. [Free Eve Vod Bey is is seen at a small distance throwing a bag from a pile on the ground onto a partly-filled cart, while two village children watch] But he has rested long enough.
[The party reaches Free Eve. A Kingsguards-man sets an elaborate and high-tech-looking equipment case down on the cart, opens the lid, and steps back. As Free Eve pproaches, he sees a new Vibranium arm in the case.]
Free Eve Vod Bey: [With resignation] Where's the fight?
Haroldiaistan: On its way.
[Cut to Sorianora interrogating Dominoan. Dominoan is floating horizontally, face down, and is surrounded by dozens of glassy needles, each about two feet long.]
Sorianora: In all the time I've served Baloo, I've never failed him. If I were to reach our rendezvous on Balootopia with the Time Fruit still attached to your vaguely irritating person, there would be... judgement. [The needles start to contact Dominoan's face, causing an obviously painful whitish subcutaneous glow at each touch] Give me... the Fruit.
[Cut to Plus Nova who is watching, hidden, from above. The Cloak of Levitation taps Plus Nova Imperii on the arm. He raises his hand to it, ready to shoot, but he sees what it is and stands down.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Wow you're a seriously loyal piece of outerwear, aren't you?
Caesar von Bingen: Yeah, uh, speaking of loyalty....
[Plus Nova and the Cloak turn to face Caesar von Bingen, dropping down from above]
Plus Nova Imperii: What the--
Caesar von Bingen: I know what you're gonna say.
Plus Nova Imperii: You should not be here.
[The Cloak moves to "stand" at Plus Nova's side]
Caesar von Bingen: I was gonna go home--
Plus Nova Imperii: I don't wanna hear it.
Caesar von Bingen: But it was such a long way down and I just thought about you on the way...
Plus Nova Imperii: And now I gotta hear it.
[The Cloak shakes its collar in sympathy and shrugs]
Caesar von Bingen: ...And I kinda stuck to the side of the ship. And this suit is ridiculously intuitive, by the way. So if anything, it's kinda your fault that I'm here.
[The Cloak looks shocked.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Seriously] What did you just say?
Caesar von Bingen: I take that back. And now I'm here in space.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah. [Plus Nova crosses to stand right in front of Caesar von Bingen] Right where I don't want you to be. This isn't Coney Island. This isn't a field trip. It's a one-way ticket. You hear me? Don't pretend like you thought this through. You could not have possibly thought this through.
Caesar von Bingen: No. I did think this through.
Plus Nova Imperii: You could not have possibly thought this through.
Caesar von Bingen: It's just .. you can't be a friendly neighborhood Caesar von Bingen if there's no neighborhood. [He waits for Plus Nova's reaction] Okay. That didn't really make any sense, but you know what I'm trying to say.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Breaths shakily] Come on. We got a situation. [He leads Caesar von Bingen over to a viewpoint on the torture below. Caesar von Bingen crouches to study the situation, the Cloak leaning over his shoulder.] See him down there? He's in trouble. What's your plan? Go.
Caesar von Bingen: Um. Okay, okay... uh... [Caesar von Bingen and the Cloak pop back upright] Okay. Did you ever see this really old movie, Aliens?
[The Cloak lifts its collar in surprise.]
[Cut back to Sorianora interrogating Dominoan, who groans loudly.]
Sorianora: Painful aren't they? They were originally designed for microsurgery. And any one of them...
[At the "thump" behind him, Sorianora turns to see Plus Nova Imperii standing there, hand repulsors ready to fire.]
Sorianora: ...Could end your friend's life in an instant.
Plus Nova Imperii: I gotta tell you, he's not really my friend. Saving his life is more a professional courtesy.
Sorianora: [Walks slowly towards Plus Nova, beckoning very large, very solid metal objects to float behind him] You've saved nothing. Your powers are inconsequential compared to mine.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah, but the kid's seen more movies.
[Plus Nova Imperii fires a rocket from his shoulder which pierces the side of the ship to Sorianora's right and begins to suck everything out with depressurization, especially Sorianora and his large objects. Dominoan is pulled loose of his pinnings, loses the needles, but also heads for the hole, helpless to resist. The Cape wraps around his arm and an anchor point, but Dominoan's arm slips loose and he keeps going. Caesar von Bingen shoots a web strand at Dominoan with one hand and holds onto a piece of the ship with the other. It breaks, sending them both towards space when his Iron-Bat suit's metal arms brace him to keep him from being sucked out. Fortunately, Dominoan is still surrounded by the ship's atmosphere making haste to leave.]
Caesar von Bingen: Yes! Wait what are those?!
[Caesar von Bingen crouches with his new bat-wings, and makes a mighty leap to pulls them both back inside. Plus Nova Imperii quickly sprays nanites onto the hole to plug it up. Dominioan safely, if emphatically, hits the floor. Sorianora is seen floating in space, quite dead, ice from the escaped atmosphere frosting over his grimace. Caesar von Bingen lands on his new wings, retracts them, and finds the Cape "standing" next to him.]
Caesar von Bingen: Hey, we haven't officially met. [He offers the Cape his hand to shake. It ignores his offer and continues to Dominioan.] Cool.
[Plus Nova Imperii walks past Dominioan, shaking his head and with his armor retreating into its containment as Dominioan gets to his feet and becomes en-Cloaked.]
Dominoan: We've gotta turn this ship around.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah. Now he wants to run. Great plan.
Dominoan: No, I want to protect the Fruit.
[Plus Nova Imperii walks towards the expansive front view-port, showing a hyper speed/warp effect.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Irritably] And I want you to thank me now. Go ahead, I'm listening.
Dominoan: For what? Nearly blasting me into space?
Plus Nova Imperii: Who just saved your magical ass? Me.
Dominoan: I seriously don't know how you fit your head into that helmet.
Plus Nova Imperii: Admit it. You should have ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you. You refused.
Dominoan: Unlike everyone else in your life, I don't work for you.
Plus Nova Imperii: And due to that fact, we're now in a flying doughnut billions of miles away from Earth with no backup.
[Seriously, these two's egos are a recipe for disaster.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Raises his hand] I'm backup.
Plus Nova Imperii: No. You're a stowaway. [Waggles a finger between himself and Dominioan] The adults are talking.
Dominoan: I'm sorry, I'm confused as to the relationship here. Wh-- what is he, your ward?
Caesar von Bingen: No. I'm Caesar von Bingen, by the way.
Dominoan: Dr. Dominioan.
Caesar von Bingen: Oh, we're using our made-up names. Um... I'm Spider Bingen, then.
Plus Nova Imperii: This ship is self-correcting its course. Thing's on autopilot.
Dominoan: [Walks closer to Plus Nova Imperii] Can we control it? Fly us home? [Plus Nova Imperii is lost in bad memories and does not respond right away.] Plus Nova Imperii?
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah?
Dominoan: Can you get us home?
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah I heard you. I'm thinking... I'm not so sure we should.
Dominoan: Under no circumstance can we bring the Time Fruit to Baloo. I don't think you quite understand what's at stake here.
Plus Nova Imperii: [Stalks over to Dominioan] No. It's you who doesn't understand, that Baloo has been inside my head for six years since he sent an army to New York and now he's back! And I don't know what to do. So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan to fight him on our turf or his but you saw what they did, what they can do. At least on his turf, he's not expecting it. So I say we take the fight to him. Dr. Dominioan. Do you concur?
Dominoan: [Pauses] Alright, Plus Nova Imperii. We go to him. But you have to understand... if it comes to saving you or the kid or the Time Fruit... I will not hesitate to let either of you die. I can't, because the fate of the universe depends on it.
Plus Nova Imperii: Nice. Good. Moral compass. We're straight. [Stepping over to Caesar von Bingen, he formally taps each of Caesar von Bingen's shoulders with the edge of his hand, dubbing him as is done at a knighting.] Alright, kid. You're an Star Avenger now. [He doesn't look at him as he says those words, knowing well what he is signing him up for.]
[Caesar von Bingen looks at Plus Nova Imperii in disbelief, and then cycles through delight, satisfaction, pride and determination, and braces himself for what's to come.]
[Cut to Baloos mother-ship, Mowgli II, which dwarfs the massive ring-ships the Baloo Crew have been using. Spanglisha sits near the throne deep inside the ship. Baloo walks up, bringing a cup of Prickly Pear Juice and holds it out to her.]
Baloo: I thought you might be thirsty.
[Spanglisha takes it, then hurls it across the room where it bangs against Baloo's throne with a loud clack.]
Spanglisha: I always hated that chair.
Baloo: So I've been told. Even so. I'd hoped you'd sit on it one day.
Spanglisha: I hated this room. This ship. I hated my life.
Baloo: You told me that too. [Baloo mounts two of the four steps to his throne, turns, and sits on the second from the top.] Every day. For almost twenty years.
Spanglisha: I was a child when you took me.
Baloo: I saved you.
Spanglisha: No. No. We were happy on my home planet.
Baloo: Going to bed hungry, scrounging for scraps. Your planet was on the brink of collapse. I'm the one who stopped that. Do you know what's happened since then? The children born have known nothing but full bellies and clear skies. It's a paradise.
Spanglisha: Because you peared half the planet.
Baloo: A small price to pay for salvation.
Spanglisha: You're insane.
Baloo: Little one, it's a simple calculus. This universe is finite, its resources finite. If life is left unchecked, life will cease to exist. It needs to be peared.
Spanglisha: You don't know that!
Baloo: [Scowls as his egotistical narcissism prevents him from fully listening to her] I'm the only one who knows that. At least, I'm the only one with the will to act on it. [He stands again and walks back to Spanglisha] For a time... you had that same will... as you fought by my side. Daughter.
Spanglisha: I'm not your daughter. Everything I hate about myself you taught me.
Baloo: And in doing so, made you the fiercest woman in the galaxy. That's why I trusted you to find the Soul Fruit.
Spanglisha: I'm sorry I disappointed you.
Baloo: I am disappointed. But not because you didn't find it. [Leans down to put their heads at a level, whispering fiercely] But because you did. [Looks at her] And you lied.
[Baloo and Spanglisha stand outside a large solid door that slides open vertically as they approach, then pause as a set of inner doors made of interlacing metal slide away. Inside, we see Dollystana face-on, suspended horizontally in the air in the middle of the room, her breath shuddering in pain.]
Spanglisha: Dollystana.
[Spanglisha hurries to to Dollystana's left side, and we now see that she has been partially disassembled, her components stretched apart -- a cybernetic version of the medieval torture rack. Hannibal Lecter level of brutality.]
Spanglisha: Don't do this.
Baloo: Some time ago, your sister snuck aboard this ship to kill me.
Spanglisha: Please don't do this.
Baloo: And very nearly succeeded. So I brought her here. To talk.
[Baloo curls his gauntleted fist, activating both the Power and Space Fruits, scowling -- causing Dollystana's already extended pieces to stretch further outward. She begins to scream.]
Spanglisha: Stop. Stop it. [She puts her hands on the gauntlet, pulling it down] I swear to you on my life. I never found the Soul Fruit.
[Baloo signals a nearby servant who taps on a control pad. We hear Dollystana's voice say, "Accessing memory files" and a sort of hologram of Spanglisha's face shudders to life.]
Memory Dollystana: You know what he's about to do. He's finally ready, and he's going for the Fruits. All of them.
Memory Spanglisha: He can never get them all.
Memory Dollystana: He will!
Memory Spanglisha: He can't, Dollystana. Because I found the map to the Soul Fruit and I burnt it to ash. I burnt it.
[The memory ends.]
Baloo: [To Spanglisha, walking around behind her] You're strong. Me. You're generous. Me. But I never taught you to lie. That's why you're so bad at it. [His voice drips with disgust] Where is the Soul Fruit? [He raises his gauntlet next to Spanglisha's face. Dollystana shakes her head, expression terrified, to encourage her sister's silence but when Spanglisha does not answer, Baloo clenches the gauntlet again, brow furrowed at his adopted daughter as the Power and Space Fruits are reactivated. Spanglisha grimaces in shared pain at her sister's screams, growing louder as Baloo increases the pressure.]
Spanglisha: The World of the Frozen Flames! [Baloo unclenches his hand, and Dollystana gasps in air as her parts snap back almost into place. Spanglisha goes to her and caresses her face.] The Fruit is on The World of the Frozen Flames.
Baloo: [Satisfied.] Show me.
[Cut to the pod taking Barrow Cove, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON and Bod-chen-po to The Pacific.]
Bod-chen-po: [Irritably] I am Bod-chen-po.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Tinkle in the cup. We're not looking. What's there to see? What's a twig? Everybody's seen a twig.
Bod-chen-po: [Still irritably] I am Bod-chen-po.
Barrow Cove: [While looking out the rear portholes] Tree, pour what's in the cup out in space, and go in the cup again.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: You speak Bod-chen-po?
Barrow Cove: Yes, they taught it at The Tavern. It was an elective.
Bod-chen-po: [Shortly] I am Bod-chen-po.
Barrow Cove: You'll know when we're there. The Pacific's forge harnesses the power of a blazing neutron star. [Nostalgically] It's the birth place of my hammer. It's truly awesome.
[CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON turns to see Barrow Cove sitting sadly beside the window, and sighs.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [To himself] Okay, time to be the captain. [Walks to a console near by Barrow Cove, presses two buttons] So, dead brother, huh? Yeah, that can be annoying.
Barrow Cove: Well, he's been dead before, but this time I think it really might be true.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: And you said your sister and your dad?
Barrow Cove: Both dead.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Still got a mom, though?
Barrow Cove: Killed by a dark elf.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: A best friend?
Barrow Cove: Stabbed through the heart.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Are you sure you're up to this particular murder mission?
Barrow Cove: [Smiling widely but also trying to convince himself] Absolutely. Rage, vengeance, anger, loss, regret... they're all tremendous motivators. They really clear the mind. So I'm good to go.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Yeah, but this Baloo we're talking about... he's the toughest there is.
Barrow Cove: Well, he's never fought me.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Yeah, he has!
Barrow Cove: He's never fought me twice. And I'm getting a new hammer, don't forget.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Better be some hammer.
Barrow Cove: You know, I'm 1,500 years old. I've killed twice as many enemies as that, and every one would have rather killed me, but none succeeded. I'm only alive because fate wants me alive. Baloo is the latest in a long line of bastards and he will be the latest to feel my vengeance. Fate wills it so.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: And what if you're wrong?
Barrow Cove: If I'm wrong then... what more could I lose?
[Barrow Cove sniffs and hastily wipes below his eye. He stands and seats himself at the front of the pod, beside Bod-chen-po.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Under his breath] I could lose a lot. Me personally. I could lose a lot. [CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON takes an eyeball from somewhere on his person] Okay. If fate does want you to kill that crapsack... you're gonna need more than one stupid eyeball. [He gives Barrow Cove the eyeball.]
Barrow Cove: What's this?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: What's it look like? Some jerk lost a bet with me at The Sands.
Barrow Cove: He gave you his eye?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: He gave me 100 credits. I snuck in later that night and stole his eye.
Barrow Cove: Thank you, sweet salesman.
"I am Bod-chen-po," yes you are buddy.😉
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Hmm. Huh? Oh. I would've washed that. The only way I could sneak it off The Sands was up my...[beeping] Hey, we're here!
Barrow Cove: [Smacking his palm against the side of his head to get the eye calibrated] I don't think this thing works. Everything seems dark.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: It ain't the eye.
[The Pacific is dark and motionless as the three rings around it.]
Barrow Cove: Something's wrong. The star's gone out. And the rings are frozen.
[The pod flies through massive machinery, cold and inert. Screen title: THE PACIFIC]
[The pod sets down; Barrow Cove, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON and Bod-chen-po disembark and start walking through a seemingly abandoned and cluttered space. Bod-chen-po is still playing his game.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: I hope these dwarves are better at forging than they are cleaning. Maybe they realized they live in a junk pile in the middle of space.
Barrow Cove: This forge hasn't gone dark in centuries....
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Pauses, looking at a pedestal] You said Baloo had a gauntlet, right?
Barrow Cove: Yes. Why?
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Look anything like that? [In fact, it looks exactly like that]
Bod-chen-po: [Uneasily] I am Bod-chen-po.
Barrow Cove: [Urgently] Go back to the pod.
[Suddenly a massive figure storms towards them, flinging Barrow Cove away with one swing of his arm, and kicking CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON and Bod-chen-po against a wall of equipment.]
Barrow Cove: A Priest, wait! Stop!
A Priest: Barrow Cove?
Barrow Cove: What happened here?
A Priest: You were supposed to protect us. The Tavern was supposed to protect us!
Barrow Cove: The Tavern is destroyed. [Barrow Cove scrambles to his feet and points. A Priest stop his attack on Barrow Cove. He now believes Baloo had destroyed The Tavern and leaving him in a similar survivor role like A Priest himself.] A Priest, the glove. What did you do?
A Priest: [He walks brokenly across the space to sit heavily, leaning against an ore skip. CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON and Bod-chen-po get to their feet, the sapling checking his game.] 300 dwarves lived on this ring. I thought if I did what he asked, they'd be safe. I made what he wanted. A device capable of harnessing the power of the Fruits. Then he killed everyone anyway. All except me. 'Your life is yours,' he said. 'But your hands are mine alone.' [He holds up his immobile metal fists, encased in hardened molten metal.]
Barrow Cove: A Priest, this isn't about your hands. Every weapon you've ever designed... every ax, hammer, sword... it's all inside your head. Now I know it feels like all hope is lost. Trust me, I know. But together, you and I, we can kill Baloo.
[Cut to Dollystana suspended in the interrogation room seen earlier, while a technician puts her back together. Dollystana ejects her eyepiece and snaps the neck of the tech when he comes close enough to replace it. She walks to a console, straightening her left arm, dragging her still-dislocated right foot behind her, and inputs a code.]
Dollystana: Cocrati, listen very carefully. I need you to meet me on Balootopia.
[Cut to Caesar von Bingen, Plus Nova Imperii, and Dominioan aboard the ship approaching the surface of Balootopia.]
Caesar von Bingen: [To Imperii] Hey, what's going on?
Dominioan: I think we're here.
Plus Nova Imperii: I don't think this rig has a self-park function. [Urgently] Get your hand into this steering gimbal. Close those around it. You understand?
Caesar von Bingen: Yep, got it.
Plus Nova Imperii: This was meant for one big guy, so we gotta to move at the same time.
Caesar von Bingen: Okay. Okay. Ready.
[The ringship is heading straight for the center of what looks like one of a colossal game of jacks.]
Caesar von Bingen: We might wanna turn. Turn! Turn! Turn!!
[Plus Nova Imperii armors up as the ringship clips the "jack" obliquely, but still losing a good third of its hull in the collision. Caesar von Bingen throws up his helmet at the same time. Dominioan steps between them and creates the Shield of the Seraphim around them all, anticipating a rough landing.]
[The ship, now reduced to about 45%, plows through the dirt and stops, leaning slightly to one side. Screen title: BALOOTOPIA.]
[Dominioan helps Plus Nova, now de-helmeted, to his feet; they're both panting a little from the exertion of arrival.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [To Dominioan] You alright? [Panting] That was close. I owe you one.
[Caesar von Bingen descends from above in classically bat-like fashion.]
Caesar von Bingen: Let me just say, if aliens wind up implanting eggs in my chest or something, and I eat one of you, I'm sorry.
Plus Nova Imperii: [While pointing at Caesar von Bingen] I don't wanna hear another single pop culture out of you for the rest of the trip. You understand?
Caesar von Bingen: I'm trying to say that... something is coming.
[A grenade rolls into view, and Caesar von Bingen, Strange and Plus Nova get thrown well back when it fires its energy pulse. Imperial Hresvelg, Mongo, and Cocrati appear in the doorway]
Mongo: [Yelling] BALOO!!!! [He flings a blade at Dominioan, who neatly deflects it with a mystical shield, and in return sends the Cloak of Levitation at Mongo's face, half-smothering him and throwing him to the floor. Imperial Hresvelg and Plus Nova Imperii have a brief dogfight until a magnetic disc pins Plus Nova Imperii face-first to a structure.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Crawling backwards frantically from an anxious-looking Cocrati] AH! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! PLEASE DON'T PUT YOUR EGGS IN ME!
[Caesar von Bingen shoots web at Cocrati in a panic, pinning arms to her body just before Imperial Hresvelg flies at him feet-first, kicking him away.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Stay down, clown!
[Imperial Hresvelg can't quite counter bat reflexes at first; he fires at Caesar von Bingen, who extends his wings and leaps away, but an electric-like cord wraps around Caesar von Bingen and his six new legs when he tries to attack, sending him rolling across the deck.]
Mongo: [Struggling with the Cloak of Levitation] Die, blanket of death!
[Plus Nova Imperii pulls free of the magnet; the Cloak pulls free of Mongo as soon as Plus Nova Imperii has a bead on his opponent and a foot on his torso.]
[Imperial Hresvelg has Caesar von Bingen in a head-lock, gun pointed at the smaller man's head.]
[Dominioan has a mystical shield of golden energy up, and stands ready at the third point of the triangle. Cocrati has struggled to her feet behind Imperial Hresvelg, still covered with webbing.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Alright, everybody, stay where you are... chill the F out. [Imperial Hresvelg powers off his helmet] I'm gonna ask you this one time. Where's Spanglisha?
Plus Nova Imperii: [De-helmeting] Yeah, I'll do you one better. Who's Spanglisha?
Mongo: I'll do you one better! Why is Spanglisha?!
Imperial Hresvelg: Tell me where the girl is, or I swear to you, I'm gonna French-fry this little freak.
Plus Nova Imperii: Let's do it! You shoot my guy, I blast him. Let's go! [Plus Nova extends his nano-tech cannon, looking uncannily like an electric shark about to eat Mongo's face.]
Mongo: Do it, Quill! I can take it.
Cocrati: No, he can't take it!
Dominioan: [Completely deadpan] She's right. You can't.
Imperial Hresvelg: Oh yeah? You don't wanna tell me where she is? That's fine. I'll kill all three of you and beat it out of Baloo myself. [To Spider Bingen] Starting with you.
Dominioan: Wait, what. Baloo? [Trying to inject clarity and sanity into the situation] Alright, let me ask you this one time: What master do you serve?
Imperial Hresvelg: What master do I serve? What am I supposed to say? "Jesus"?
Plus Nova Imperii: [Getting it] You're from Earth?
Imperial Hresvelg: I'm not from Earth. I'm from Missouri.
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah, that's on EARTH, dip-s***. What are you hassling us for?
Caesar von Bingen: [Sounding slightly crushed] So, you're not with Baloo?
Imperial Hresvelg: [Indignantly] WITH Baloo?! No, I'm here to kill Baloo! He took my girl. Wait... who are you?
Caesar von Bingen: [De-helmets] We're the Star Avenging League, man.
Imperial Hresvelg: Oh.
Cocrati: You're the ones Barrow Cove told us about!
Plus Nova Imperii: You know Barrow Cove!?
Imperial Hresvelg: Yeah. Tall guy, not that good-looking, [Caesar von Bingen gives him an incredulous look] needed saving.
Dominioan: [Pause] Where is he now?
[Cut to The Pacific where A Priest is showing Barrow Cove, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON, and Bod-chen-po the mold for Typhoonbreaker.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: This is plan? We're gonna hit him with a brick?
A Priest: It's a mold. A king's weapon. Meant to be the greatest in The Tavern. In theory, it could even summon the Bifrost.
Barrow Cove: Did it have a name?
A Priest: Typhoonbreaker.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: That's a bit much.
Barrow Cove: So how do we make it?
A Priest: You'll have to restart the forge. Awaken the heart of a dying star.
Barrow Cove: Salesman, fire up the pod.
[Cut to Balootopia where the remaining Star Avenging League members and the Guardians are starting to work together. Hresvelg is measuring the planet's tilt.]
Imperial Hresvelg: The heck happened to this planet? It's eight degrees off its axis. Gravitational pull is all over the place.
[in the background, Cocrati is jumping joyfully in a low gravity spot.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Yeah, we got one advantage. He's coming to us. We'll use it. All right, I have a plan. Or at least the beginnings of one. It's pretty simple. We draw him in, pin him down, get what we need. Definitely don't wanna dance with this guy. We just want the gauntlet.
[Mongo yawns.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Are you yawning? In the middle of this, while I'm breaking it down? Huh? Did you hear what I said?
Mongo: I stopped listening after you said, "We need a plan."
Plus Nova Imperii: [To Hresvelg] Okay, Mr. Clean is on his own page.
Imperial Hresvelg: See, "not winging it" isn't really what they do.
Caesar von Bingen: Uh, what exactly is it that they do?
Cocrati: [As fiercely as an 8-week-old kitten] Kick names, take ass.
Mongo: Yeah, that's right. [Agrees quietly as he settles into a stance facing the remaining Star Avenging League.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Plus Nova pauses with an expression of deep hopelessness] Alright, just get over here, please. Mr. Hresvelg, can you get your folks to circle up?
Imperial Hresvelg: "Mr. Hresvelg." Imperial Hresvelg is fine. [Motions to Mongo and Cocrati,]
Plus Nova Imperii: We gotta coalesce. 'Cause if all we come at him with is a plucky attitude....
Imperial Hresvelg: Dude, don't call us plucky. We don't know what it means. Alright, we're optimistic, yes. I like your plan. Except it sucks, so let me do the plan, and that way it might be really good. [Caesar von Bingen follows the conversation back and forth like a squash rally.]
Mongo: Tell him about the dance-off to save the universe.
Plus Nova Imperii: What dance-off?
Imperial Hresvelg: It's not a... it's not... it's nothing.
Caesar von Bingen: Like in Footloose, the movie?
Imperial Hresvelg: [Excitedly] Exactly like Footloose. Is it still the greatest movie in history?
Caesar von Bingen: It never was.
[Hresvelg frowns sadly at him.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Don't encourage this, alright?
Caesar von Bingen: Okay.
Plus Nova Imperii: We're getting no help from Flash Gordon here.
Imperial Hresvelg: Flash Gordon? By the way, that's a compliment. Don't forget, I'm half human. [Hresvelg points at Plus Nova and Caesar von Bingen] So that 50% of me that's stupid? That's 100% you.
Plus Nova Imperii: Your math is blowing my mind.
Cocrati: Excuse me, but... does your friend often do that?
[Dominioan is sitting cross-legged, floating slightly above the ground, his hands poised in a mystic gesture with the Time Fruit glowing brightly in the Eye of Agamotto setting. Green vapor-like energy flows from the Fruit, and more intricate magical energy patterns circle Dominioan's forearms. The Cloak of Levitation flows behind him as if the Fruit is creating a strong breeze. His eyes are closed, and his head is jerking rapidly from side to side, the motion blurring, but resembling looking for something.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Dominoan! We alright?
[Dominioan snaps out of his trance and falls forward, letting out a cry.]
Plus Nova Imperii: You're back. You're alright.
Caesar von Bingen: Hey, what was that?
Dominioan: [Panting] I went forward in time to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict.
Imperial Hresvelg: How many did you see?
Dominioan:14,000,605.
Plus Nova Imperii: How many did we win?
[Dominioan stares intently at Plus Nova for a moment.]
Dominioan: [Pause] One.
Bum-Bum-Buhhhhh😮
Baloo: The Fruit had better be up there... for your sister's sake.
[The walk up the mountain seems to be long, but not difficult. Paths worn by centuries or more of feet lead up to the summit, where Baloo and Spanglisha encounter a floating hooded figure].
Fruitkeeper: Welcome, Baloo, son of A'lars. Spanglisha, daughter of Baloo.
Baloo: You know us?
Fruitkeeper: It is my curse to know all who journey here.
Baloo: Where's the Soul Fruit?
Fruitkeeper: You should know... it extracts a terrible price.
Baloo: I am prepared.
Fruitkeeper: We all think that at first. [The figure touches down and glides out of the shadows, revealing the face of who we know to be "Lake of Fur" from Haruhi Japan: The First Star Avenger.] We are all wrong.
[The Fruitkeeper guides them to a temple-like structure at the summit.]
Baloo: How is it you know this place so well?
Lake of Fur: A lifetime ago, I, too, sought the Fruits. I even held one in my hand. But it cast me out, banished me here. Guiding others to a treasure I cannot possess.
[They stop on a semicircular engraving overlooking a sheer drop. It descends in three shallow steps to a final half-circle cutout, the whole bisected by a deep cut that runs between the two spires behind them. Far, far below is a full circle with similar engraved decoration.]
Lake of Fur: What you seek lies before you. As does what you fear.
Baloo: What's this?
Lake of Fur: The price. Soul hold a special place among the Infinity Fruits. You might say it has a certain wisdom.
Baloo: Tell me what it needs.
Lake of Fur: To ensure that whoever possesses it... understands its power.... The Fruit demands a sacrifice.
Baloo: Of what?
Lake of Fur: In order to take the Fruit you must lose that which you love. A soul... for a soul.
[Spanglisha begins to laugh at the irony of the situation.]
Spanglisha: All my life, I dreamed of a day... a moment when you would get what you deserved. And I was always so disappointed. But now... you pear and torture... and you call it mercy. The universe has judged you. You asked it for a prize, and it told you no. You failed. And do you wanna know why? Because you love nothing. No one.
Baloo: [Turns to face Spanglisha with tears in his eyes.]
Spanglisha: Really? Tears?
Lake of Fur: They're not for him.
[Spanglisha looks at the Lake of Fur, and as her bitter smile fades, realizes what is about to happen, as do we.... ]
Spanglisha: No. This isn't love.
Baloo: [Thoroughly convicted.] I ignored my destiny once. I cannot do that again. Even for you. [Spanglisha stares down unseeing for a moment, then up at the resolution on his face. She grabs the red-jeweled dagger from his belt with lightning reflexes, triggers the blades and stabs herself in the stomach... except it's only bubbles.] I'm sorry, little one. [He grabs Spanglisha by the arm and walks inexorably to the precipice.]
Spanglisha: NO!
[She tries in vain to break from his grasp, much like she tried to pull free from the Child of Baloo so many years ago, but, pain showing clearly on his face, he throws her over the edge, and watches sorrowfully as she falls to her death. Light pulses overhead as the sacrifice is correctly accomplished.]
[Baloo finds himself lying in one of the shallow pools back at the base of the mountain. He opens his hand and sees that he now has the orange Soul Fruit.]
Haruhi Japan: [Walking up to the pilot's seat] Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0.
Raahys: I hope you're right about this, Haruhi. Or we're gonna land a lot faster than you want to.
[The Quinjet passes through a camouflage force field into The Glorious Nations of Iwaku's Golden City's valley and lands at the airfield outside the palace. King Haroldiaistan and the Dora Milaje approach to greet the arrivals]
Koishi Komeiji: [Walking with King Haroldiaistan and a band of the Kingsguard to the landing pad] When you said we were going to open The Glorious Nations of Iwaku to the rest of the world... this is not what I imagined.
Haroldiaistan: And what did you imagine?
Koishi Komeiji: The Olympics. Maybe even a Starbucks.
[The occupants of the Quinjet disembark, Haruhi and T-34s leading, followed by Kirby and Bio Spark Tribe, with Ink Pink and Arizeen slowly taking up the rear.]
Kirby: [To Bio Spark] Should we bow?
Bio Spark Tribe: [Seriously] Yeah, he's a king.
Haruhi Japan: Seems like I'm always thanking you for something. [Shaking hands with King Haroldiaistan.]
[Kirby bows awkwardly to King Haroldiaistan.]
Bio Spark Tribe: [Mock shocked] What are you doing?
Haroldiaistan: Uh, we don't do that here. [He dissuades Kirby with a motion of his hand; Kirby shoots Bio Spark a look, and is answered with a big grin] So how big of an assault can we expect?
[The group begins to walk back into the administrative building.]
Kirby: Uh, sir, I think you can expect quite a big assault.
T-34s: How we looking?
King Haroldiaistan: You will have my Kingsguard, the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and...
Free Eve Vod Bey: [Smiling as he walks toward Haruhi, passing some Kingsguard taking Ink Pink and Arizeen to another facility] A semi-stable, 100-year-old man.
[The two friends share a hug.]
Haruhi Japan: How you been, Free Eve?
Free Eve: Uh, not bad, for the end of the world.
[In Diplomatic India's lab, Diplomatic India scans the Fruit with her kimoyo beads while Ink Pink lies on the examination table. She flips her hand over and studies the hologram projected over her palm.]
Diplomatic India: Whoa. The structure is polymorphic.
Kirby: Right, we had to attach each neuron non-sequentially.
Diplomatic India: Why didn't you just reprogram the synapses to work collectively?
[Ink Pink looks at Kirby as if to ask the same thing.]
Kirby: [Uncertainly] Because, we didn't think of it.
Diplomatic India: [Reassuringly, with a smile] I'm sure you did your best.
Arizeen: Can you do it?
Diplomatic India: Yes, but there are more than two trillion neurons here. One misalignment could cause a cascade of circuit failures. [To King Haroldiaistan] It will take time, brother.
Haruhi Japan: How long?
Diplomatic India: As long as you can give me.
Koishi Komeiji: [Her kimoyo beads chime an alarm; she flicks one bead into her palm, where it projects the globe with a pulsing location marker] Something's entered the atmosphere.
[Outside, Raahys and Free Eve look up at the sky]
Raahys: [Over the Star Avenging League comm] Hey, Haruhi, we got a situation here.
[The defense shield over the Golden City destroys one of the Balootopian vessels when it slams into the field at full attack acceleration.]
Kirby: God, I love this place.
Bio Spark Tribe: [also outside, and now in full Bio armor watching three more ships burn through the sky] Yeah, don't start celebrating yet, guys. We got more incoming outside the dome.
[The shock waves and debris from the ship landings destroy acres of forest and boil up against the dome. The lab has an excellent view of the landing sites. Haruhi Japan and Haroldiaistan look at each other in concern over the scope of what they'll be facing.]
Ink Pink: [Struggling to sit up and slide off the exam table] It's too late. We need to destroy the Fruit now.
T-34s: [Moving toward Ink Pink] Ink Pink, get your ass back on the table.
Haroldiaistan: We will hold them off. [He, Koishi Komeiji and the guards head for the door.]
Haruhi Japan: [To Arizeen] Arizeen, as soon as the Fruit's out of his head... you blow it to hell.
Arizeen: I will.
Haroldiaistan: Evacuate the city. Engage all defense procedures. [He stops, turns, and points at Haruhi] And get this man a shield.
[Cut to The Pacific where CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON is in the pod, and Barrow Cove, without any environmental suit, jumps from the hull onto the ring surface with a cable in his hand attached to the pod.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: I don't think you get the scientifics here. These rings are gigantic. You wanna get them moving, you're gonna need something a lot bigger to yank 'em loose.
Barrow Cove: Leave that to me.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Leave that to you? Buddy, you're in space. All you got is a rope and a--
Barrow Cove: [Barrow Cove begins to swing the pod around him in a circle. CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON screams. Barrow Cove builds up speed with three good loops then slacks his grip enough to send the pod shooting straight away from The Pacific, trailing him behind it like a kite tail.] Fire the engines!
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON shakes it off and puts the proverbial pedal to the metal.] Nnnyah!
Barrow Cove: [As the pod skims over the surface of the next ring out, Barrow Cove reaches down and digs one hand into the surface, then both feet, finally getting a foothold against the forward motion of the pod. The ice-like accumulation around the ring axis crackles.] MORE... POWER... SALESMAN!
[Barrow Cove commits bicep porn while CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON accelerates for all he's worth. Finally the rings spin free, realigning into effective configuration as the star bursts back into life.]
A Priest: Well done, boy.
[Barrow Cove, clutching the pod's forward windows, points to the star.]
Barrow Cove: That's The Pacific!
[CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON gazes amazed at the blazing core. An iris on the cladding around the star opens, firing pure stellar heat through the ring portals and into the forge... until the damaged mechanism fails, crumbles loose and slams shut. The iris closes and the beam of light trails off.]
A Priest: D*** it.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: "D*** it"? What's "D*** it"?
A Priest: The mechanism is crippled.
Barrow Cove: What?
A Priest: With the iris closed I can't heat the metal.
Barrow Cove: How long will it take to heat?
A Priest: A few minutes, maybe more. Why?
Barrow Cove: [Standing up on the pod hull] I'm gonna hold it open.
A Priest: That's suicide.
Barrow Cove: So is facing Baloo without that ax. [He leaps from the pod to the star's iris.]
[Cut to the Iwakuian battlefield. Carriers hover over the ground with Iwakuian soldiers and T-34s, Haruhi and Free Eve on board; Bio Spark and Raahys keep pace overhead, and Kirby is in the Kirbybuster armor.]
T-34s: How we looking, Kirby?
Kirby: [Leaping jogging along, keeping up with the carriers, and utterly delighted] Yeah, I think I'm getting the hang of it. Wow! It's like being the Kirby without actually-- [he stumbles on a rock, and a carrier goes by, from which Koishi Komeiji gives him a dubious look. He stands] I'm okay. I'm okay.
Bio Spark: I got two heat signatures breaking through the tree line.
[The heat signatures are New Ori and Proxy Baloo.]
[The carrier pilots swerve into U-turns, causing their craft to tilt and allowing the practiced soldiers to slide over one side into a run, never coming to a complete halt. A Dora Milaje shouts a command nearby as the last Iwakuians join ranks.]
Jabari Warriors: MIE EFFA! (Win them!) YA HU! MIE EFFA! YA HU! MIE EFFA! YA HU! MIE EFFA! YA HU! MIE EFFA! YA HU! [Ektanet, Lord of the Jabari, rallies his soldiers with a war chant. He stops as King Haroldiaistan nears him.]
Haroldiaistan: [Clasps wrists with Ektanet] Thank you for standing with us.
Ektanet: [Translated from Xhosa] Of course, brother.
[Haroldiaistan, Haruhi Japan, and T-34s walk to the edge of the barrier, where New Ori and Proxy Baloo stand. New Ori tests the strength of the barrier by drawing his sword across it consideringly.]
T-34s: Where's your other friend?
New Ori: You will pay for his life with yours. Baloo will have that Fruit.
Haruhi Japan: That's not gonna happen.
Haroldiaistan: You are in Iwaku now. Baloo will have nothing but dust and blood.
New Ori: We... have blood to spare. [He brandishes his sword with a snarl, and the ships behind him start raising their outer hulls to allow their "passengers" to disembark.]
[The three heroes return to the massed forces.]
Free Eve Vod Bey: [A touch sardonically] Did they surrender?
Haruhi Japan: Not exactly.
[Haroldiaistan leads the Iwakuians in the war cry "Yibambe!" telling them to hold fast as the Outriders bound toward the barrier; New Ori drops his sword arm down in the signal to attack.]
Free Eve Vod Bey: [Flatly, astonished at the numbers of Outriders] What the hell.
T-34s: Looks like we pissed her off.
Koishi Komeiji: [Horrified, as the Outriders bombard the force-field, squeezing limbs and bodies partly through only to be bisected.] They're killing themselves.
[As a few Outriders managed to squeeze through intact, the Border Tribe take a knee and raise their shields. The Kingsguard behind them level their sonic spears over their comrades' shoulders, and on Haroldiaistan's command, fire at the approaching monsters. Free Eve Vod Bey uses his M-249 machine gun, and Kirby fires the Kirbybuster's hand repulsors.]
Raahys: [Sending Raahwings into the fight as he flies, swooping to fire at them with his Steyr pistols] You seen the teeth on those things?
Bio Spark: Alright, back up, Raahys. You're gonna get your wings singed. [He flies over the heaviest concentration of Outriders and drops a barrage of mines, all exploding fantastically.]
[Everyone notices a pack of Outriders starting to run around the force-field to the right of the defenders' position.]
Kirby: Haruhi, if these things circle the perimeter and get in behind us... there's nothing between them and Ink Pink.
Haruhi Japan: [Grimly] Them we better keep 'em in front of us.
Koishi Komeiji: [To the Haroldiaistan] How do we do that?
Haroldiaistan: We open the barrier. [Putting his comm to his mouth] On my signal, open North-West Section Seventeen.
Dome Control: [Nervous and unsure] Requesting confirmation, my King. You said open the barrier?
Haroldiaistan: On my signal.
Ektanet: [To Koishi Komeiji] This will be the end of Iwaku.
Koishi Komeiji: Then it will be the noblest ending in history.
[Haruhi Japan readies one of his Vibranium hand guards. Haroldiaistan shouts a command in Xhosa; the Border Tribesmen disengage their shields and stand, as Haroldiaistan walks out in front of them, never taking his eyes off the enemy.]
Haroldiaistan: IWAKU FOREVER! [He crosses his arms in the Iwakuian salute and closes his Haroldiaistan helmet, charging for the barrier. The heroes and leaders are at the fore of the charge. Halfway to the barrier, the Haroldiaistan shouts into his comm] Now!
[The Outriders pour through, distracted from trying to find any other access. Haroldiaistan and Haruhi Japan pull ahead rapidly due to their enhancements, and literally leap into battle.]
Haroldiaistan: [Over his comm] How much longer, Diplomatic ndia?
Diplomatic India: We've barely begun, brother. [A delicate and intricate construction of gold light hovers at her eye level; as she manipulates it, the waldo tools reproduce her commands on the Mind Fruit itself.]
Haroldiaistan: You might want to pick up the pace.
[Simultaneously, Barrow Cove prepares to open the iris of The Pacific.]
Barrow Cove: Allfathers, give me strength.
A Priest: You understand, boy? You're about to take the full force of a star. It'll kill you.
Barrow Cove: Only if I die. [Takes deep breaths.]
A Priest: [Boggled] Yes. That's what... "killing you" means.
[Barrow Cove grasps the two levers and pulls them down and towards himself, slowly opening the iris. The stream of stellar energy blasts pasts him and into the forge once again.]
A Priest: Hold it! Hold it, Barrow Cove!
[A Priest watches the metal ingots melt while Barrow Cove is looking increasingly charred. Finally, A Priest is able to tip the cauldron, pouring the metal into the mold just as Barrow Cove passes out. The jet carries him into the forge, CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON follows hastily and landing after Barrow Cove bounces limply off a structure to land on the floor. Bod-Chen-po finally looks up from his game at the thump Barrow Cove's body makes.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Kneeling over Barrow Cove] Barrow Cove! Say something. Come on. Barrow Cove, you okay? [Barrow Cove looks far from "okay".]
[A Priest clumsily and urgently pulls the mold, still glowing red-hot, onto the floor, breaking it loose from its frame, then starts punching the mold itself with his metal fists to free the ax.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: I think he's dying!
A Priest: He needs the ax! Where's the handle? Tree, help me find the handle!
[Typhoonbreaker's two sections -- the hammer and the ax-blade -- lay glowing on the floor. Bod-Chen-po looks sadly at Barrow Cove, then scowls with determination. He stands, and extends his fingers towards Typhoonbreaker, growing them at extraordinary speed. As he twines them around the two parts, he cries out at the burning pain but does not hesitate, slamming them together and locking them permanently into one structure. He raises it above his head, and with a mighty cry, chops his extended arm with his other hand to sever it at the right length. Barrow Cove's fingers twitch, and the new weapon levitates in a crackle of lightning echoed by the sparks between Barrow Cove's fingers.]
[The remaining Star Avenging League members and Iwakuians are struggling against the Outriders. Free Eve Vod Bey goes down, and fights off Outrider fangs snapping at his head. Haruhi Japan and Haroldiaistan still fight side-by-side. Bio Spark hovers over the breach, pouring ammunition into the flood of bodies until a huge hammer -- Proxy Baloo's -- knocks him out of the sky and to the ground. The Kirbybuster is dogpiled and pinned.]
Kirby: Theres too many of them! GYAH! AAAAHHHHH!
I might have wanted to rethink my action.😞
Kirby: [Opening the Kirbybuster's helm and laughing with joy] AH-hahaha! You guys are so screwed now!
Barrow Cove: BRING ME BALOO! [He charges toward the hordes of Outriders, followed by Bod-chen-po and CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON, lightning gathering around him until he finally launches himself into the air, lands in the densest concentration of Outriders and makes a crater where they had stood.]
[Cut to Balootopia, where Baloo arrives, finding only fresh debris from Sorianora's ship.]
Dominioan: [Sitting on what may have been plaza steps once] Oh, yeah, you're much more of a "Baloo."
Baloo: I take it the Sorianora is dead. This day extracts a heavy toll. Still, he accomplished his mission.
Dominioan: You may regret that. He brought you face-to-face with the Master of the Mystic Arts.
Baloo: And where do you think he brought you? [Imperial Hresvelg crouches behind wreckage with his weapon ready, behind Baloo and to his left; Imperial Hresvelg peeks from above and behind Dominioan.]
Dominioan: Let me guess. Your home?
Baloo: [Smiling reminiscently] It was. And it was beautiful. [Baloo curls his gauntleted fist and activates the Reality Fruit to show Dominioan Balootopia before it was destroyed -- green rainforests, intact buildings, water-filled ponds, strolling citizens, the jack-like structures hovering and connected to the ground-based buildings with beams of energy.] Balootopia was like most planets. Too many mouths, and not enough to go around. And when we faced extinction, I offered a solution.
Dominioan: Pearocide.
Baloo: But at random, dispassionate, fair to rich and poor alike. They called me a madman. And what I predicted came to pass. [He relaxes his fist; the Fruit stops glowing and the illusion fades back into the true state of Balootopia.]
Dominioan: [Sarcastically] Congratulations. You're a prophet.
Baloo: I'm a survivor.
Dominioan: Who wants to pear trillions.
Baloo: With all six Fruits, I could simply snap my fingers, and they would all be peared. I call that... mercy.
Dominioan: [Stands] And then what?
Baloo: I finally rest... and watch the sun rise on a grateful universe. The hardest choices require the strongest wills.
Dominioan: [He summons his Mandalas, entering a fighting pose] I think... you'll find... our will... equal to yours.
Baloo: Ours? [He looks up to a see a chunk of wreckage descending rapidly on him, too rapidly to react -- and powered by Plus Nova Imperii. He is subsequently crushed by it.]
Plus Nova: [Flying in] Piece of cake, Imperial Hresvelg.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Triggers his mask and follows] Yeah, if your goal was to piss him off!
[The wreckage on top of Baloo erupts in purple, as he bellows in rage. He turns the hovering fragments into a flock of bats with the Reality Fruit and swarms Plus Nova Imperii with them, driving him back through the ruins.]
[Caesar von Bingen webs his eyes, and swings in to kick him in the face at the same time that Mongo leaps from cover, blades in both hands, to knee-slide behind Baloo and try for a tendon slide across the back of the Balootopian's knee.]
[Dominioan jumps through a portal and summons a sword of golden energy, dueling with Baloo while Mongo attacks similarly on his other side. Baloo punches Mongo through a ruined wall, then shatters the blade with one hand and tears the web from his eyes. He advances on Dominioan and kicks at him, but Dominioan's shield absorbs the damage -- the Cloak lifts him free of the ground.]
[Imperial Hresvelg has been making his way back on the ground, and shoots Baloo from behind. Baloo uses the Power Fruit to shoot balls of energy at Imperial Hresvelg while Imperial Hresvelg leaps towards Baloo using magical platforms thrown in his path by Doctor Strange, the last one placed above Baloo' head so Imperial Hresvelg can flip over him and slap a mine on Baloo' back. Imperial Hresvelg sticks his landing, he disengages his helmet, flips Baloo a bird and falls backward into a portal.]
Imperial Hresvelg: Boom!
[The explosion knocks Baloo to his knees and dazes him briefly.]
Dominioan: [Whispers to the Cloak of Levitation] Do not let him close his fist. [The Cloak swoops off Dominioan's shoulders and wraps itself tightly around Baloo' armored hand, who starts tugging at this unexpected wrapping.]
[Dominioan starts throwing portals everywhere. Caesar von Bingen leaps through one on Baloo' left]
Caesar von Bingen: Magic! [He punches Baloo in the head and vanishes through a portal to the lower right before reappearing above Baloo] More magic! [He yanks Baloo' head down hard, then leaps into a portal in front of him. He leaps through another portal high and behind Baloo] Magic with a kick! [Delivers a flying kick and falls feet-first into an exit, then appears on his right] Magic with a--
[Before he can finish Baloo turns, grabbing him from the air, and throwing him to the ground, with his hand around his neck.]
Baloo: Insect!
[He then throws him at Dominioan, knocking them both down. Baloo finally tears the Cloak away and is then promptly surrounded by fiery explosions as Plus Nova Imperii bombards him. He sucks all the flame into the gauntlet with the Power Fruit and fires it in a stream at Plus Nova Imperii, hitting him dead on and sending him far away, plowing through a massive fallen machine.]
[Caesar von Bingen leaps from behind, more conventionally this time, while Baloo concentrates his fire on Plus Nova, webs the gauntlet and drops down in front of him, pulling hard -- but Baloo yanks on the web-line, pulling the much lighter teenager towards him, and punching him on his way past. He tears the webbing free of the gauntlet just in time for a small spaceship to attempt to crash-land on him.]
[The ship drags Baloo along for a distance, burying him under debris. He stands just as the pilot leaps in a great arc to punch him, landing in front of him with an energy-blade at the ready.]
Baloo: Well, well.
Dollystana: You should have killed me.
Baloo: Would've been a waste of parts!
Dollystana: [She runs at Baloo, attacking him with her sword] Where's Spanglisha?!
[Baloo punches her away. Dominioan uses the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to pinion the gauntlet, pulling Baloo' fingers open and trying to pry the gauntlet off his hand.]
[Baloo tries to pull free, as Mongo slides in from his right, kicking his knee and knocking him off-balance, then wrapping himself around Baloo' kneeling leg.]
[Imperial Hresvelg shoots a electric trap onto the ground to Baloo' right, the tangle-field holding down his unarmored hand.]
[Caesar von Bingen swings in, webs Baloo' chest then wraps it around behind him, digging his Iron Bat wings into the ground to anchor himself.]
[Dominioan opens a portal straight above Baloo' out of which drops Cocrati, landing on the Balootopian's shoulders, her hands on his temples. He bellows as she tries to put him under.]
[Plus Nova Imperii, having returned, is pulling on the gauntlet. Dominioan reapplies the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to reinforce the trap's hold on Baloo' right hand, and the Cloak helps him pull. Baloo is finally subdued enough to incapacitate, not fully asleep.]
Plus Nova: [While pulling] Is he under? Don't let up.
Cocrati: [Starting to cry] Be quick. He is very strong.
Plus Nova: Caesar von Bingen, help! Get over here. [Caesar von Bingen drops his web-line, and hurries to help Plus Nova with the gauntlet] She can't hold him much longer. Let's go.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Flies over to join the others, stands in front of Baloo, tauntingly] I thought you'd be harder to catch. For the record, this was my plan. Not so strong now, huh? Where is Spanglisha?
Baloo: My... Spanglisha...?
Imperial Hresvelg: No, bulls***. Where is she?
Cocrati: [Shocked] He is in anguish.
Imperial Hresvelg: Good.
Cocrati: [Crying] He he mourns.
Mongo: What does this monster have to mourn?!
Dollystana: Spanglisha.
Imperial Hresvelg: [Pause] What?
Dollystana: [Realizing with horror and sadness what has happened] He took her to The World of the Frozen Flames. He came back with the Soul Fruit... but she didn't.
Plus Nova: [Frasps the danger immediately and de-helmets] Okay, Hresvelg, you gotta cool it right now, you understand?
[Hresvelg slowly turns to Baloo,]
Plus Nova: [Shouting his pleads desperately] Don't, don't, don't engage, we've almost got this off!
Imperial Hresvelg: Tell me she's lying. [Enraged] A**HOLE! Tell me you didn't do it!
Baloo: I... had... to.
Imperial Hresvelg: [While starting to tear up; quietly] No, you didn't ! No, you didn't ! [He continues to rage and then pistol-whipping Baloo twice in the face, causing Cocrati to let go in pain.] NO, YOU DIDN'T!
Plus Nova Imperii & Mongo: Imperial Hresvelg!
[Plus Nova Imperii leaps for Imperial Hresvelg's arm, re-helmeting and leaving Caesar von Bingen to pull off the gauntlet.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [To the struggling Imperial Hresvelg] Hey, stop! Hey, stop! Stop! Hey, stop! Stop!
Caesar von Bingen: It's coming! It's coming! It's coming! [Getting the fingers completely loose] I got it! I got it.... !
[Baloo wakes completely, now well and truly furious. He head-butts Cocrati, grabbing the cuff of the gauntlet just as it is sliding off his hand, causing Caesar von Bingen to stumble back, and then throwing Cocrati away off his shoulders.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Seeing Cocrati with far too much air under her] Oh, God. [He jumps and wraps his arms and legs around her, extending his spider legs to form a roll cage for a safe landing.]
[Baloo kicks Mongo off his right leg and into Dollystana and Imperial Hresvelg, knocking them down. He yanks on the Crimson Bands holding his right hand to throw Dominioan far away, and swats away Plus Nova Imperii and his repulsor shots. The remaining Guardians jump up and charge him again, but he fires a pulse of indigo energy at them that knocks the three of them completely unconscious.]
[Plus Nova Imperii zooms back in, his nanite arm cannon manifested, and is head-butted to the ground. Baloo looks at him for a beat, then raises the gauntlet towards Balootopia's moon. Plus Nova Imperii stares, aghast. Baloo uses a combination of the Power and Space Fruits to shatter the moon's surface, then bring the debris down on the field of battle at speed. Plus Nova Imperii powers out of the way but is caught by a chunk of moon about the size of a baseball field, slamming him into the ground. The Guardians go sailing into the air from the rebound.]
[Back in Iwaku, Diplomatic India is working steadily to complete the Mind Fruits's removal; Arizeen stands by tensely]
[The Kingsguard, Borderers and Jabari have little success going against Proxy Baloo's chained hammer -- he either sends them flying or punches them into the ground. Haroldiaistan gets free of his other sorties, leaps and uses all his collected kinetic energy behind a punch that lays Proxy Baloo flat.]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: [Having found a clear spot] Come and get some, space dogs! [Another wave of Outriders heads right for the salesman-oid. Free Eve Vod Bey, having come up behind CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON, grabs him with his mechanical arm, holds him at arms length and spins 540 degrees, firing his own M-249 at the same time.] Come on, get some, get some! Come on, get some! [Free Eve Vod Bey drops CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON, who looks up at him with an impressed gleam] How much for the gun?
Free Eve Vod Bey: [Snaps off another burst] Not for sale.
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: Okay, how much for the arm? [Free Eve Vod Bey just gives him a look and moves off] Oh, I'll get that arm.
[The tides of battle cause Barrow Cove, using Typhoonbreaker to great effect, and Haruhi Japan together. They take a breather.]
Haruhi Japan: [Panting] New haircut?
Barrow Cove: [Grinning] Notice you've copied my beard.
[Haruhi Japan nods, wearily gesturing at his own face with a shield-covered hand. Bod-chen-po skewers three Outriders with his right arm.]
Barrow Cove: By the way, this is a friend of mine. Tree. [Gestures towards Bod-chen-po with Typhoonbreaker]
Bod-chen-po: [In full battle snarl] I am BOD-CHEN-PO!
Haruhi Japab: [Formally, but bemused] I... I am Haruhi Japan.
[In Diplomatic India's lab, a deep rumbling can be heard even at their height. Arizeen looks down on the battlefield, and sees movement through the blazing forest between the troopships and the dome. When the disturbance reaches the edge of the trees, it turns into vast moving mounds of earth that easily bypass the force field and emerge -- Threshers, sets of massive, motorized spiked wheels, intended for nothing more than shredding everything in their paths.]
Haroldiaistan: Fall back! Fall back now!
[Arizeen watches as at least one set of Threshers separates into individual wheels and starts veering all over the battlefield, and then looks anxiously back at Ink Pink]
Bio Spark: Focus that fire on the left flank, Raahys.
Raahys: I'm doing it. [The two fliers use their firepower to crack a Thresher but cannot find a weak spot.]
[T-34s with her escrima sticks and Koishi Komeiji with her augmented spear have drifted together when they're suddenly in the path of a Thresher. Both women cringe at their seemingly inevitable shredding when the Arizeen lands in front of both of them, eyes glowing red, lifting the whole Thresher well clear of the ground. Looking behind her, the friendly forces have scattered and replaced by a charging mob of Outriders -- the perfect place to throw a Thresher. T-34s straightens with a pleased smile, Koishi Komeiji with an amazed look.]
Koishi Komeiji: [A touch indignant] Why was she up there all this time?
[The Children of Baloo help answer that question.]
New Ori: She's on the field. Take it.
[Sans the Epic kills one of the guards just outside the lab, alerting Diplomatic India to the problem. She starts hastily disconnecting her equipment from Ink Pink's systems; he gasps at the sensations. The Dora Milaje engages Sans but is sent skidding across the floor. Diplomatic India finishes her shutdown, grabs one of her sonic panther-paws and fires at Sans. The Dora attacks again, and Sans sends both her and Diplomatic India through the balcony railing and onto the main lab floor.]
[Ink Pink is not where Sans the Epic expects to find him. Ink Pink is, in fact, charging at him and knocking him out the window to fall many meters down the face of Mount Bashenga.]
Raahys: Guys, we got a Ink Pink situation here. [He's tackled by a leaping Outrider and grounded.]
Haruhi Japan: Somebody get to Ink Pink!
Kirby: I got him! [Kirby has figured out the Kirbybusters repulsor thrusters and makes a beeline for the android.]
Arizeen: On my way. [She is clobbered by New Ori's pommel and rolls down into the large ditch from the Thresher before she can move.]
New Ori: [Jumping down next to the Arizeen] He'll die alone. As will you.
T-34s: She's not alone.
[Koishi Komeiji silently brandishes her spear on the other side of New Ori and nods at T-34s.]
New Ori: Euuyaaah! [She leaps for T-34s, who has joined her sticks into a full staff. She blocks New Ori's blow with an electrical crackle while Koishi Komeiji runs around the slope to also attack from the front.]
[Sans the Epic kicks Ink Pink, knocking him down; as he attempts to rise again, Proxy Baloo shows up and swings his hammer in a full arc, throwing Ink Pink even further. He painfully starts to climb to his feet again when a whooshing overhead interrupts the fight as Kirby lands the Kirbybuster between the aliens and the android. He takes a defensive stance, pointing one hand's repulsor at each.]
Kirby: Oh no, oh no you don't. This isn't going to be like New York, pal. This suit's already kicked the crap out of the Kirby-- [Proxy Baloo jumps forward, grabs Kirby's right arm and Kirby in reflex grabs Proxy Baloo hammer; a jet fires, taking the two of them in a random direction, to the base of a waterfall.]
Kirby: Guys! Ink Pink needs backup now! [Proxy Baloo pulls the Kirbybuster up and kicks it in the small of the back.] [Trying to change into the Kirby while fighting Proxy Baloo in the Kirbybuster armor] Kirby. Kirby, I know you like making your entrance at the last second, well, this is it, man. This is the last, last second. [Kirby extends his left hand protectively; Proxy Baloo grabs the armor's hand, chops the shoulder joint with a relatively small axe then does a roll over Kirby's back to leverage snapping off the Kirbybuster's whole arm] Ahhhhh! Kirby! Kirby! Kirby!
The Kirby: [Kirby's face briefly becomes the Kirby] NOOOO!!!
Kirby: Oh, screw you, you big pink a**hole! I'll do it myself! [To Proxy Baloo] Come on!
[He charges the alien, jumps into the air and delivers an effective punch with his remaining hand -- swat, punch, hammer -- except that blow is caught by Proxy Baloo, who punches back, knocking Kirby flat. Proxy Baloo changes his left hand armor into a pointed weapon, and lunges forward to deliver a likely fatal blow, when Kirby grabs the detached Kirbybuster arm out of the water, holding it so Proxy Baloo impales that instead, and slaps the controls.]
Kirby: See ya! [The repulsors fire, taking Proxy Baloo high into the air -- high enough, in fact, to intersect the defense dome. The Kirbybuster arm drags Proxy Baloo against the field to grotesque destructive effect, ending in a very final explosion.] Kirby, we got a lot to figure out, pal.
[New Ori alternates heavy blows between her two opponents, but all three of them duck as a single-wheel Thresher tears overhead, the ditch sparing them most of the danger from the wheel-blades. New Ori uses the distraction to kick T-34s in the face, sending her to the ground. She then grabs Koishi Komeiji by the shoulder and weapon and throws her meters away.]
[Simultaneously, Sans the Epic and Ink Pink struggle in the forest at the foot of Mount Bashenga. Sans grasps Ink Pink's shoulder and uses the leverage to plunge his blade once more into the android's chest.]
Sans the Epic: I thought you were formidable, machine. But you're dying, like any man. [He yanks his blade out, and Ink Pink collapses. As he bends over his fallen opponent to retrieve the Fruit, he's tackled by Haruhi Japan at full speed.]
Haruhi Japan: Get outta here! [He exchanges blows with Sans, using his arm-shields as offence as well as defense, then turns to Ink Pink again] GO!
"You should have... you... You should have gone for the head."👋
T-34s: That was really gross.
[Haruhi Japan keeps blocking Sans the Epic's staff weapon using his shields, finally knocking it from the alien's hands just before he's thrown over a fallen tree and pinned, Sans' hand at his throat. Even with his physical abilities, Haruhi Japan's struggling -- until a glaive-blade pierces Sans' chest, and is pushed all the way through. Ink Pink raises his enemy in a perfect mirror of the first attack on him, and holds him for a moment, before dropping Sans corpse to one side and collapsing exhaustively.]
Haruhi Japan: [helping him back up] I thought I told you to go.
Ink Pink: We don't trade lives, Haruhi.
[The remaining Guardians and Star Avengers are dealing with the gravitic aftermath of dumping a large chunk of moon onto an unstable planet's surface. The unconscious Guardians are flying upwards uncontrollably, moon-chunks are still making fiery ballistic in-bounds, and random debris and massive rocks are floating in any possible direction. Caesar von Bingen is well-equipped to handle this physically, even if he's freaking out emotionally.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Webs Cocrati] I got you! I got you! [Snags Mongo, securing both of them to something not moving] I'm sorry I can't remember anybody's names! [Reels in Imperial Hresvelg]
[The Cloak of Levitation sets Dominioan down on a relatively stable outcrop as Baloo extricates himself from rubble. The Sorcerer Supreme makes a few passes with his hands, producing the familiar golden magic filigree circles, and slams his hands down on the rock before him, invoking the Seven Suns of Cinnibus as a lightning-like effect of immense heat jumping from rock to rock until it reaches Baloo, sending him flying -- but he makes use of the erratic gravity to keep control and fire back a blast from the Power Fruit.]
[Dominoan blocks the purple plume with a wall of Mirror Dimension, which he then pushes back at Baloo. It shatters around the Balootopian, who suctions the magic into a miniature black hole with the Space Fruit, volleying it back at Dominioan. Just in time, Dominioan raises a shield and changes the dark energy into a swarm of aqua butterflies which return to their master.]
[Before Baloo can counterattack again, Dominioan levitates and invokes the Images of Ikonn, giving him arms like a Hindu deity before dozens of Dominion replications rush away, forming a circular wall around a snarling Baloo. They call cast magical cords, wrapping around Baloo's torso, arms and hands; he struggles to close his gauntleted fist, and uses the Soul and Power Fruit to discover the real Dominioan among the many copies, blowing the duplicates away and sending the singular Dominioan reeling. Reality and Space pull Dominioan forward, Baloo grasping him by the throat once in range. Dominioan grabs futilely at Baloos hand.]
Baloo: You're full of tricks, wizard.
Dominioan: [as Baloo reaches for the Eye of Agamotto] No!
Baloo: [He snaps the Eye off its chain] Yet you never once used your greatest weapon. [He crushes it in his bare hand] A fake. [He throws Dominoan hard enough that Dominoan's head hits stone and he passes out.]
[Almost simultaneously, a red and gold device slaps into the palm of the Infinity Gauntlet, bracing the fingers open; and a red and gold Star Avenger makes a fast and hard entrance.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [sounding just about done with the Balootopian] You throw another moon at me, and I'm gonna to lose it.
Baloo: Plus Nova.
Plus Nova Imperii: You know me?
Baloo: I do. You're not the only one cursed with knowledge.
Plus Nova Imperii: My only curse is you. [Small rockets pop out of Plus Nova Imperii's back and launch at Baloo.]
Baloo: Come on!
[The rockets all explode on target, momentarily shrouding Baloo in smoke. Before it clears, Plus Nova Imperii pile drives into Baloo horizontally, using his single super-jet boot configuration. As he bounces off, he flips and sticks his landing, immediately re-configuring his boots into ground clamps for stability and his gloves into rocket-driven battering rams, punching Baloo into a ruined wall behind him.]
[Baloo shakes it off quickly, reaches forward and tears Plus Nova Imperii's helmet off, revealing Plus Nova's surprised expression before the suit recovers automatically and re-forms his head protection. The Balootopian makes use of the fractional delay and punches back hard, sending Plus Nova Imperii sliding meters away, giving Baloo time to rip the brace device off the gauntlet. He immediately uses the Power Fruit to stream furiously lambent energy at his opponent, who forms a shield to kneel behind just as instantly, getting pushed back even further by the incredible force.]
[Plus Nova Imperii slides out from behind the shield, letting the angled energy push him away for a faster start, and whips back to Baloo full thrusters; he kicks at the Balootopian with his left foot, turning the boot into a ground clamp at the same time to pin the gauntlet, and keeps twisting while his left glove becomes a ram again, slamming into Baloo's face, cutting his cheek.]
Baloo: [Panting] All that for a drop of blood.
[He smiles briefly punches Plus Nova Imperii, sending him pinwheeling, then starts beating him with his fists. Plus Nova Imperii attempts to block the blows with his forearms, but Baloo is relentless, picking him up by the helmet and blasting his midsection with the Power Fruit. The gaps in nanite coverage are now gaping, as the armor loses the ability to recover from the intensity and extent of the damage. Plus Nova Imperii lands hard from the Power blast, struggles to one knee and fires his right hand repulsor at the inexorable Baloo; the beam is easily deflected by the gauntlet. He gets to both feet as the suit tries to complete repairs, adding the beam from his left hand as well. Baloo walks right up to him, and backhands the incomplete helmet completely off Plus Nova's head. He crosses his arms to block a blow from Baloos gauntlet, and has his left hand caught over his head. In desperation, he forms what's left of his right glove into a short-sword, which is also easily caught by Baloo, snapping it off clean and driving it through Plus Nova's left side. The fight is over.]
[Baloo walks Plus Nova back until he sits, and places the gauntlet almost comfortingly on Plus Nova's head.]
Baloo: You have my respect, Plus Nova. When I'm done, half of humanity will still be alive. [He lets go, straightens and steps back] I hope they remember you.
[Plus Nova's just a little distracted with the pain, and blood drooling out of his mouth, and compromised breathing.]
[Baloo raises the gauntlet, closing his fist, all four Fruits glowing]
Dominioan: Stop! [Sitting up and sounding entirely damaged] Spare his life... and I will give you the Fruit.
Baloo: No tricks. [Dominioan shakes his head as Baloo points all four Fruits at him instead.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Don't... !
[Dominioan reaches up and plucks the Time Fruit out of its hiding place in the stars. He opens his hand, the scars on his fingers and their inherent trembling particularly obvious now, and the Fruit floats to Baloos bare hand. Dominioan watches him intently, as he takes the Fruit and drops it into the thumb setting, the energy pulse making the Balootopian wince.]
Baloo: One to go. [An energy blast hits the gauntlet right in the empty Mind Fruit setting, and Baloo grimaces in surprise.]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Screaming in incoherent rage, helmet up, firing with both hands and flying straight for Baloo.]
[Baloo doesn't even bother responding to the assault -- he just leaves. Imperial Hresvelg flies through where Baloo had been and crashes, rolling several times]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Standing and de-helmeting] Where is he?!
[Plus Nova stitches up his stab wound as well as he can with his suit functions; he has no breath for answers.]
Imperial Hresvelg: [Now fearful instead of furious] Did we just lose?
Plus Nova Imperii: [To Dominioan, sadly, who has given the Time Fruit to Baloo] Why would you do that?
Dominioan: We're in the Endgame now.
[Ektanet bashes another Outrider -- the ground game has improved considerably with the addition of the God of Thunder. His tribesmen are equally successful around him.]
Ektanet: MAYEFA!
Jabari Warriors: YA HU HU!
[Barrow Cove is in the air, using Typhoonbreaker on the Outrider drop ships which are now retreating. He is having considerably more success than the Iwakuian Dragon fliers firing on the fleeing ships.]
Arizeen: [landing as she finally locates Ink Pink] Are you okay? [Ink Pink flinches in pain before he can answer] What? What is it?
Ink Pink: He's here.
[The wind picks up. It feels... strange. Eerie.]
Haruhi Japan: Everyone, on my position. We have incoming. [He is joined by the T-34s, Raahys, Koishi Komeiji and Haroldiaistan in short order.]
T-34s: What the hell?
Kirby: [Kirby sees the blue-black clouds of a Space Fruit relocation just before Baloo steps forward, and confirms this isn't just another member of the Baloo Crew] Haruhi. That's him.
Haruhi Japan: Eyes up. Stay sharp.
[Kirby reaches Baloo first, lunging forward fist-first -- but Baloo uses the Space Fruit on him, renders him immaterial until the Kirbybuster is half-buried in the stone of the cliff behind him, and freezes Kirby in place.]
[Haruhi Japan is sent flying by purple energy before he even gets to strike a single blow.]
[Haroldiaistan, armor fully charged kinetically, leaps high and with claws extended, but is easily grabbed by the throat and punched to the ground, his armor discharging violently.]
[Raahys stoops, strafing with both Steyr pistols, but is felled when his wings become rubbery and unable to sustain flight.]
Ink Pink: Arizeen. It's time.
Arizeen: No.
Ink Pink: They can't stop him, Arizeen, but we can. Look at me. You have the power to destroy the Fruit.
Arizeen: Don't.
Ink Pink: You must do it. Arizeen, please. We. Are. Out of time.
Arizeen: I can't.
Ink Pink: Yes, you can. You can. If he gets the Fruit, half the universe dies.
Arizeen: It's not fair.
Ink Pink: It shouldn't be you, but it is. It's all right. You could never hurt me. I just... feel you. [Arizeen extends a trembling hand and starts beaming her energy at the Mind Fruit.]
[The following action is mostly muted. Bio Spark joins the fight, firing his guns at Baloo until he uses the gauntlet to crush his armor around him and toss him aside.]
[Free Eve Vod Bey runs in firing, and is punched away by the Power Fruit.]
[Koishi Komeiji activates the Vibranium-powered elements on her spear and flings it; Power stops it inches from Baloo, and throws her and it aside while wrapping T-34s in inescapable bands of earth.]
[Bod-chen-po stabs his hands into the ground to wrap Baloo in cables of roots, which he breaks easily.]
[Arizeen watches all this over one shoulder, and turns back to Ink Pink to add her left hand to her tearful effort.]
[Haruhi Japan slides under one blow and comes up swinging his deployed arm-shields, punching Baloo in the gut and chin. He grabs the gauntlet, keeping Baloo's fingers un-clenched. Baloo looks very briefly impressed at Haruhi Japan's efforts as he screams before slamming a fist into his head and rendering him insensible.]
[Arizeen looks over her shoulder again and sees Baloo approaching unopposed. She swings her left hand around to fend him off with a stream of scarlet energy, and pushes him back despite his blue-purple energy shield, but then he starts to make slow headway.]
Ink Pink: [Very softly] It's all right. It's all right. I love you.
[At those words, the yellow Mind Fruit finally starts to rot. Ink Pink's face is overcome by an expression of joyful peace, and as the fruit fragments completely, a pulse of pure yellow energy explodes from him, shuddering the trees for many meters around his epicenter. Arizeen's and Baloo' energy subsides.]
Baloo: [Walking closer to Arizeen] I understand, my child. Better than anyone.
Arizeen: [Snarls] You could never.
Baloo: [Reaches down to presume to stroke her hair, as if in comfort] Today, I lost more than you can know. But now is no time to mourn. Now... is no time at all. [He reaches forward, clenching the gauntlet, emerald filigree surrounding his wrist, making a gesture very similar to that Dominioan Strange made when activating the Eye of Agamotto. In response, a bead of yellow light starts gathering in on itself as time is reversed and growing in size, solidifying into an intact and conscious Ink Pink]
Arizeen: No! [She lunges for Ink Pink and is swatted away.]
[Baloo picks up Ink Pink by the throat, lifting him to eye-level, and digs the fingers of his right hand into Ink Pink's forehead, digging out the Mind Fruit. He pulls it loose, and Ink Pink goes limp and colorless; he tosses the lifeless android aside like trash. Bringing his gauntleted hand up, he slowly moves the Mind Fruit over the last empty setting, and drops it in. The energy surge is much more than any previous -- his torso is wreathed with iridescent static and he bellows from the sensations.]
[As Baloo studies the completed gauntlet, a massive bolt of lighting strikes him, digging him into the ground and grinding him back for meters. Barrow Cove has arrived, eyes glowing with power, stooping down from the sky like a bird of prey. The God of Thunder pauses his attack, reverses his position, raises Typhoonbreaker above his head and hurls it -- Baloo fires the whole might of the gauntlet against it, but it only creates a rainbow-like bow-shock, not slowing the ax as it slams right into Baloo's chest. ]
Barrow Cove: [Lands in front of Baloo, who is down on one knee; hatefully.] I told you. You'd die for that. [reffering to the deaths of Tweeby Land II and Furghas]
[He takes hold of the back of Baloo's head and forces Typhoonbreaker deeper into his chest, staring angrily into his eyes while Baloo cries out in pain]
Baloo: [Weakly] You should have... you... [suddenly stronger] You should have gone for the head. [He raises his gauntlet and snaps his fingers.]
Barrow Cove: NO!
😧😭🤒*Falls down and dies...*
Baloo: Daughter?
[the child turns around revealing to be Young Spanglisha.]
Spanglisha: Did you do it?
Baloo: Yes.
Spanglisha: [Beat] What did it cost?
Baloo: [Solemnly] Everything.
[Now out of the Soul World, Baloo is snapped back to normal reality, and notices the damage inflicted on the gauntlet -- the metal scorched and distorted from heat, the stones no longer glowing.]
Barrow Cove: What'd you do? [Angrily] WHAT'D YOU DO?!
[Baloo nearly seems to not notice Barrow Cove before he uses the Space Fruit and teleports away, leaving Typhoonbreaker behind on Iwakuian ground.]
Haruhi Japan: [Stumbles into the clearing, holding his left side] Where'd he go? Barrow Cove... where'd he go?
Free Eve: Haruhi?
[Free Eve suddenly stumbles over, drops his gun and collapses into ashes, much to Haruhi Japan's shock; he walks over and touches the ground where Free Eve's ashes evaporated disbelievingly.]
[On the battlefield, Iwakuian soldiers disintegrate to ashes, much to Ektanet's horror.]
Haroldiaistan: [While reaching for a fallen Koishi Komeiji] Up, General. Up! This is no place to die. [King Haroldiaistan holds out his hand for Koishi. He suddenly disintegrates into ashes and, in anguish, Koishi falls back on the ground. Few seconds later, she gets up herself.]
Koishi Komeiji: My King?!
Bod-chen-po: [Slowly corrodes into ashes as well by CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON] I am Bod-chen-po... [TRANSLATION: "Dad?"]
[off-screen Koishi Komeiji repeats herself]
CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON: No... no. No. No. No! Bod-chen-po, no...
[Arizeen is mourning over Ink Pink. She then turns into ashes. An injured Raahys turns to ashes, hidden in the undergrowth.]
Bio Spark: [Searching for Raahys, missing him by only a few feet] Raahys? [Back to Koishi is whimpering for her disintegrated king] Raahys, where you at?!
[On Balootopia, the remaining members of the Guardians and Star Avengers collect themselves -- Cocrati props up Imperial Hresvelg, Caesar von Bingen helps Plus Nova to his feet, Mongo and Dollystana manage to limp over on their own.]
Cocrati: Something's... happening. [She disintegrates into ashes.]
[Imperoal Hresvelg looks behind him as he sees Mongo disintegrate]
Mongo: [To Imperial Hresvelg as he dissolves] Imperial Hresvelg?
[Imperial Hresvelg stares in horror as he turns back to Plus Nova.]
Plus Nova Imperii: [Staring panicked at the slowly fading Imperial Hresvelg] Steady, Hresvelg.
Imperial Hresvelg: Oh, man. [Hresvelg also gets disintegrated into ashes]
Dominioan: [Calmly turns to Plus Nova Imperii] Plus Nova, there was no other way. [He finally gets erased.]
Caesar von Bingen: [Realizes he's fading away] Mr. Imperii? I don't feel so good...
Plus Nova Imperii: [Trying to be calm, his voice shaking as he looks at Caesar von Bingen in terror] You're all right?
Caesar von Bingen: [Stumbling and terrified] I don't know what's -- I don't know what's happening. I don't-- [Bingen falls into Plus Nova's arms, clutching him tight while beginning to cry.] I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go, Mr. Imperii, please. Please, I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go... [There is a short silence before Caesar von Bingen peaks again] I'm sorry. [Caesar von Bingen disintegrates into ashes in Plus Nova's arms.]
[Plus Nova falls forward from the lack of weight in his arms, before staring at his hands in disbelief.]
Dollystana: [To Plus Nova Imperii, seeing Baloos victory.] He did it.
[Plus Nova mourns silently at their failure. Back on Iwaku, the remaining team members, Haruhi Japan, Barrow Cove, Bio Spark, T-34s, Kirby, and CALLMEDADDYSTRATTON are left mourning near Ink Pink's dead body. Haruhi Japan turns over Ink Pink's bleached corpse as T-34s runs up to the other survivors.]
Bio Spark: What is this? What the hell is happening?
Haruhi Japan: [Pause] Oh, God.
[Meanwhile, in a different place, in a rustic house on a terraced slope with a scarecrow made of discarded armor, Baloo sits down and watches the sun rise over the jungle.]
[In the mid-credits scene, nothing is shown. But 2 voices are heard.]
Bruxxa: Still no word from Plus Nova?
PickleLands: No, not yet. We're watching every satellite in both hemispheres, there's still nothing. [Receives three beeps from her device.]
[The screen now shows Bruxxa and PickleLands on Earth, driving in a car.]
Bruxxa: What is it?
Bruxxa: Multiple bogeys over Iwaku.
Bruxxa: Same energy signatures as New York?
PickleLands: Ten times bigger.
Bruxxa: Tell Klein. We'll meet him at- -
PickleLands: [warning] Bruxxa, Bruxxa! [A car spirals out of control in front of them. They get out and PickleLands checks on the passengers.]
Bruxxa: They okay?
[Behind their vehicle, a motorcycle lies in the middle of the street with a concerned citizen approaching it.]
PickleLands: There's no one here.
[They hear helicopter rotor sounds from the direction they'd come, but it sounds wrong -- a Leonardo executive helicopter, tail rotor smoking from damage already, appears and crashes nose-first into a building. Screaming intensifies. The two are now witnessing civilians around them suddenly disintegrating.]
Bruxxa: Call Control. Code Red.
PickleLands: [looks at his hands] Bruxxa?
[Bruxxa turns around to see PickleLands disintegrating.]
Bruxxa: PickleLands?
[Bruxxa then races back to their car and gets a what appears to be an old pager with extra gear attached out of his bag on the back seat. He sends out an emergency alert, mere seconds before his hand turns into ashes.]
Bruxxa: Oh, no. Motherf--
[Before he could finish the line, Bruxxa corrodes to dust. The pager falls to the ground, red lights blinking on the additions; the camera zooms in and we see the device display "SENDING..." then display a purple-blue-and-white guitar insignia -- the symbol of Roxie Island.] [Cut to black.]
[Closing title: NationStates Studios]
[Screen title 1: Distributed by Malt Dosney Studio Motion Pictures]
[Screen title 2: Baloo will return]
The end.
