Cover Image: Star and Kid partying with food and drinks as they watch the fireworks!
Part 19: Shooting Stars
Star requested the Cosmic Heroes to wait outside for now. He and Kid entered the ruined palace alone, walking over Raven Beak's corpse. All the inhabitants were drained of their chi, and the palace was completely void of power. They reached a hole that stretched down to the bottom floor and even went up a great distance. They decided to drop down that hole, bending gravity to soften the landing.
"MOM! It's me! Can you hear me?!"
"-ar! Star!"
"Mom!" Star ran in the direction of the muffled voice, walking over piles of mechanical rubble. He reached what seemed to be a dungeon, cluttered with too much rubble to climb through. So, he sucked it all up into his Endless Vortex. The passage was clear and open in an instant. The boys raced up the corridor, sparing glances at the Vilgaxian rebel prisoners until they found the one they were looking for. "Mom…" Star was distraught to see her on the floor of her cell. Her energy-powered constraints had gone out, but her captors barely bothered to treat her injuries.
Star and Kid helped her into a sitting position. "Huff…glad to see… you boys're alright."
Star embraced her in a hug. Nebula was slightly startled by the gesture… but was nonetheless warmed. She hugged him back. "Star… there's something you should know. …Frieza killed me."
"What?!" He jumped back with a start.
"But… the thing is… your father couldn't stop himself from cheating. The effect of Frieza's fatal blow… the explosion that would've killed me… it was delayed."
"D…Delayed?"
"Well, by a significant margin, at least. He warned me that he might do something like this."
"Do you remember what my father once did?" Lord Death asked one Christmas. They watched 2-year-old Star play with his new toy space car. "How he… repeatedly revived you all from death?"
"What of it?"
"I know that what he did was shameful, both as a king and as a Reaper… but with my family, at least-"
"Don't even think about it."
"What?"
"Mortality is precious, Death. I've learned that enough in my childhood. I don't want myself… or even Star to be treated with any special privilege. Wouldn't it be harmful to our souls? Or cause discourse among other souls?"
"I-It's just… a lot of evil sorts might come after you. And I…" A tear dripped as he looked upon Star's innocent playtime. "And you know I…I can't just be in the Mortal World all the time…"
Nebula stifled a giggle. Her husband rarely showed that much tenderness… but deep down, even he was proud to have such a precious child. "Alright, sweetie… if you insist, then at least do it fairly."
"Hm?"
"A person who gets resurrected from death gets their lifespan halved. That's what happened to Mom… and she already had a million years behind her. Your father cheated by erasing that rule on all of us, no matter how many spirits became poisoned because of it. So, at least give me the same burden Mom had. As for Star… well, maybe you should ask his permission when he's old enough."
"…Okay."
"…So… your lifespan is halved?"
"Yep. Which means I'll probably die when I'm 50 years old… give or take."
"So… about nine more years?"
"Yeah."
"…" Star bowed his head and looked away. "It seems like a long time, but it… I…"
"It comes faster than you realize. It did for my mom. I…I'm not even sure how I should feel now. What should I even do in that time… just knowing… I'm gonna-"
Star hugged her again. She felt him shaking… sobbing… "I'm sorry, Mom… I'm sorry… we weren't at the school sooner!"
Kid lowered his goggles to let his own tears flow out. "Star, don't." Nebula rested a hand on his head. "No matter what could've happened, I don't want you to blame yourself. You had a mission to do. You had lives to save. You had evil to stop. The KND can't save everyone all at once, you know that. Villains will always target the people closest to you, I hate that, too. And sometimes, it can't be helped. If I had fought a little bit harder… I could've saved Makava… and Sollyx…"
Star tried to utter something through his sobs… but the words became broken and lost.
"…As a mother… and a teacher… I shouldn't be telling my son and student this. But the only ones you should blame… are the villains who caused these terrible things to happen. Those are the ones… who should face justice. So, Star… what do you want to do now?"
"… … …" Star brought his chin up with a fiery gaze. "Beat… the snot out of… Vilgax and Frieza."
Nebula smiled. He reminded her of a good friend of hers. "Then go."
"Yes, are you quite done, yet?"
The voice startled them. They looked to a particularly small cell… which Azmuth jumped out of. "How long have you been in there?!" Kid asked.
"A couple hours. I hoped you boys would rescue us soon. Now, are we going to stop that emperor or what?" Azmuth approached them. "I want to see that Omnitrix in action."
"Okay, what's your deal?!" Star and Kid stomped up to the puny professor. "You went with Rick and helped repair the Omnitrix because you planned to give it to Kid, is that it?!"
"Well, the Polymorphs sensed goodness in the boy's heart as well. Between gathering the relics and finding the perfect user… I'd be a fool to let this slip."
"And who said I wanted to wield the Omnitrix, anyway?!" Kid asked.
"I don't know. But now that it's in your hand, what do you think? How does it feel… to have all that knowledge and power?"
"…" Kid stared at the watch for a moment. He wasn't sure how to answer… but ever since the Omnitrix landed on him… he felt something special.
"Well, we can figure that out later." Azmuth climbed into Star's sweater and peeped up from the collar. "This feels comfy enough. Let's get moving."
"I hate you." Star said. "Sigh…okay. Mom, I'll signal the others to come in and get you. Just… stay safe for now, okay?"
"I will. …I'm proud of you, Star."
"Thanks."
Star and Kid returned to the hole they fell in from. By sucking up more of the rubble with Endless Vortex, they made plenty of room to build up a Shinespark. The boys shared a firm glance and nodded. Kid climbed on Star's shoulder, holding tight as he built up a Speed Boost. Star stopped beneath the hole and Shinesparked straight up. He smashed through any weak ceilings that remained and burst right through the top of the slanted tower.
Emperor Vilgax gazed upon the city and the clouds of dust that arose. "I must admit… I'm impressed. When faced with the power of a conqueror, you become conquerors yourselves. I can't help but commend such a ruthless band of delinquents. That means you should know…" Vilgax spun. "I will show NO mercy!" He was donned with a blinding armored vest with all his World Hearts fixed inside.
"Tetrax told us you were a hero to your people." Star said. "That you love them. But if you really love them, you shouldn't have gone this far. You must've known it was going to hurt them in the end."
"My people were once the strongest in the galaxy. The Irkens helped us realize that. But ever since our downfall, we were suppressed! We lost billions in money, and we were at constant feud with our neighboring countries. Someone had to stand up for us. Vilgaxia needed a hero! This galaxy… Andromeda… needed a conqueror. I made this galaxy my own! I was going to show the universe that we were still the strongest! I assimilated numerous aliens from outside galaxies, even the mighty Mawkin and the proud Galra. And I knew, with the galaxy's greatest weapon… the Omnitrix… my journey would be complete. The only one standing in my way now… is YOU."
Vilgax threw a finger at Kid. The boy narrowed his eyes and gripped the watch in his other hand. "It was through mere luck and foolish minions that you acquired that Heart AND that device! You can't comprehend the power in your wrist! And if you want a speck of pity from me, you'll surrender them at once. Or I will pry them from your corpse."
Kid stared at the Omnitrix. "Maybe I don't 'comprend' it or whatever… Maybe I didn't even want it in the first place. But… ever since I got it, I felt great. It feels like when we first got those power stones. I always wanted to be a hero… and those stones gave us the chance to be heroes!"
"And with heroism comes power. It's delicious, isn't it? With the power of every alien in the universe, you could be the greatest hero. The most unstoppable being."
Unbeknownst to them, the other Cosmic Heroes were watching through a tiny spy-portal created by Jo. "What's that varmint thinking?" George asked.
"Trying to deliver the old 'come to the dark side' spiel." Jo sighed.
"Power is the secret ingredient of every great recipe." Hamburg said.
"It is?!" Rosa scratched her head.
"But we don't just have power stones!" Kid yelled. "We have Hearts! The Hearts of actual Worlds! The same is true for this watch. There are real aliens inside this thing… Aliens that used to have lives of their own. I can feel it. This isn't about being a stupid hero! This is about life! The universe is filled with life! I saw so many different aliens on this trip! I learned a bunch of things about all the planets I visited! I met so many cool people! Unique beings who, despite their differences, are just the same as us. They all want to be safe and happy… and not be bullied by an ugly jerk like you!"
"Kid…" Star felt so proud of his partner.
"And that's why you are worthy." Azmuth smiled.
"You really raised a good boy, George…" Flo said, folding hands over her heart.
"Aw, me? I didn't teach him none of that. Back in my day, GUN had the exact opposite point o' view."
"YEAH! YOU TELL HIM, KID!" Rosa screamed.
Vilgax and the others flinched, whipping in the spy-portal's direction. Jo gasped and shut it, teeth grit in panic. "Uh…they didn't hear that, did they?"
Vilgax opened his own rift and jumped through. "GUYS, MOVE-!" Star tried to yell down.
The emperor landed in the middle of the Cosmic Heroes. Deciding to go for the first ones in his sight, Vilgax grabbed the heads of Ramona and Carlos Flores. He SLAMMED them into the pavement, knocking them out cold as he ripped the twin Hearts of Mikd'lty from their bodies. "MAMA! PAPA!" Rosa cried.
Hamburg jumped Vilgax's back and tried to crack his neck with his multiple arms. Vilgax fell back through another portal, emerging several yards away and several stories above the ground. He SQUASHED the fry cook flat as a patty, then proceeded to take his World Heart. Rosa gigantified and charged to stomp on the conqueror, but as soon as Vilgax vanished through a rift, the child stopped herself from squishing Hamburg. She tenderly scooped him up in her hands.
Vilgax returned to Star and Kid's level. "At least you were foolish enough to return all those Hearts to me. I'll deal with those vermin AFTER I deal with you!" (Play "Lord Fredrik Battle" from Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze!)
"You asked for it, buddy!" Star and Kid drew weapons. "You're going DOWN!"
Final boss: Vilgax
The emperor harnessed Petropia's Heart and conjured massive shards, shooting them into the air. They would stick around the floor as Vilgax refracted lasers between them. Star grabbed Kid and used Warp Dash to dodge the lasers, waiting for a lull. When the opportunity arrived, Star refracted Space Lightning between the shards and electrified Vilgax. Kid quickly dealt him a H.O.M.E.R. combo before the furious Chimera blew the shards away. Vilgax projected a shard from his wrists and charged at the duo, dodging the swipes of his arms. Kid turned on the Omnitrix and flipped to the Diamondhead selection, transforming into one! "Ah yeah! Who's bad?!"
Kid clashed his own shards with Vilgax's, but the emperor's superior strength knocked Kid off balance. When Vilgax tried to ram his shard through Kid's chest, Star jumped in his wake: he whipped up a Space Block to trap Vilgax's arm! Kid was able to get behind him and strike Vilgax with his own shards. Vilgax pulled away and aggressively spun to bash Kid's head, sending the young hero sliding. His Omnitrix timed out and reverted Kid to normal. Vilgax leapt over to the boy and tried to grab his Heart—a motorcycle came zooming out of a portal.
"I GOT ME A WILD ONE!" Carla exclaimed as the elderly biker roped Vilgax by the neck with a lasso. She zoomed down the side of the palace and sped all around the city, slamming the tyrant into any building she could. Vilgax rasped and rooted himself on his feet, grabbing the rope. With his immense strength, he forced Carla into a halt, but the speedster poured more power from her Heart as her wheels burned through the pavement. However, Vilgax managed to redirect her with his tugging, tricking her into smashing right into a building. From her splattered remains, Vilgax took back the Heart of Kinet. He opened a rift to the tower and zipped through to grab Kid.
Vilgax opened another to escape, but Star was quick to follow them. They landed on one of Kinet's moons. "Think you can catch ME?!" Vilgax raced off at high speed. Star's only option were the Shinespark Shoes, dodging pillars of fire or jumping lines of icicles the emperor cast. Star chased Vilgax up a ramp, flying to the next moon—the emperor suddenly halted, opened a portal above him, and leapt through it. Star did the same and Shinesparked upward, smashing Vilgax against the ground he landed on and freeing Kid. They seemed to be on the palace roof again. The emperor furiously rose upright—"RAAAAAHG!" and grew more furious when a pair of giant, tan hands grasped him.
"I GOT 'IM!" Rosa exclaimed. "TAKE THAT, VILGAX! GRAAAAAAH!" She bashed him against the side of the palace before gnawing him in her teeth.
"YEAH! Atta girl, Rosa!" Kid cheered.
"Rosa, be caref-" Star was too late to say.
"AAAAAAHHH!" Rosa's cry thundered across the capital as Vilgax ignited himself, burning the child's hands and tongue. Rosa tumbled down the side of the slanted palace and dented a crater in the ground. Vilgax leapt onto Rosa's chest and dug an arm through it, ripping out her World Heart. The 40-foot giant shrunk back to her 4-year-old size.
"ROSA!" Kid called, trying to peer down the size of the tower. "What happened down…" But he shirked backward when a mass of great terror arose from beneath the tower.
"GAAAAAXAXAXAXAX!" Vilgax's tentacled visage loomed over them like a Kraken. "I'll burn you like INSECTS!" He channeled Glomour's Heart and shot bright-green Heat Vision from his eyes.
"You know, final bosses usually turn giant in the LAST phase!" Star planted a Warp Space before running from the giant beams, charging the K.A.M.E.H.A.M.E.R.. Star warped them back to the space when the Heat Vision was far enough away, giving the weapon enough time to finish charging. Star fired a Kamehameha straight into Vilgax's irises. "GAAAAAAAAX!" The giant stumbled away from his tower, grabbing a pair of eyedrops to revitalize his vision. The enraged emperor raised his right fist, determined to bring it down upon the boys.
"Not today!" Star aimed his palms and conjured the Endless Vortex. Vilgax's fist was trapped in the twister, spinning his titanic frame like a massive, misshapen fan blade. The giant flew to their left, shrinking to normal size before making impact with the ground. Star shared a grin and high-five with his partner! "Pah!" But Vilgax splorped right behind them. "I'll just have to drown you instead!" He opened another rift and pushed them right into Piscciss. Thankfully, the blowfish arrived to lend Star and Kid a head!
"Wait a minute, Devil Fruit users can't swim!" Star said as Vilgax swam in with them.
"Not unless it's a water-type! And so long as I have the Heart of a water world, it works!" Vilgax used Piscciss' Heart to swim like a fish in the artificial sea.
Vilgax's tentacles lashed at Star with the speed of a starving octopus, but he was able to dodge them and shoot a S.C.H.O.O.L. of piranhas. They chewed his tentacles like sushi, and as the emperor flailed about to shake them off, Kid zapped him with the Z.A.P.B.L.E.R.. Vilgax hissed and swum at Kid with a Torpedo Spin, pushing him deeper into the sea. Amidst the spinning, Kid managed to grab his Omnitrix and find a Ripjaws. Poofing into the Fishman form, Kid sank his jaws into Vilgax's right arm and freed himself. Vilgax swam further away and bellowed sonic waves, similar to the Echo-Echoes. Kid circled the waves as he swam after Vilgax. Once Kid was close, the emperor drew wrist shards: he slashed one across Kid's stomach, but the second was grabbed in Kid's jaws. The Fishman violently tugged and bent it up against the arm. "GAAAAAX!" It was as painful as a real bone being ripped from one's skin.
Vilgax wrapped tentacles around Kid's neck and strangled him, but Star caught up and had another S.C.H.O.O.L. chew on the squid. A rift suddenly opened to suck them into a more gaseous environment: Taujeer. Summoning its Heart's power, he expanded a dense cloud of gas. "There are other ways to choke the life out of you!" Star used the C.L.O.U.D.B.L.U.F.F. to protect himself and Kid, who poofed back into his human form. Vilgax grabbed a pair of swords and charged to carve up the mass of fog. However, it merely split into mirages of the boys, so while he slashed about in confusion, Kid pelted him with the E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E. and Star the S.N.O.B.O.M.B.E.R..
Vilgax warped further away from his foes and mustered Pandora's Heart. He developed the senses of a Na'vi, clearly seeing Star's and Kid's auras through the fog. Coupled with the green Heat Vision, Vilgax tried to snipe them through the gas. He charred Star's shoulder and Kid's hip, but Star had his own solution to this tactic: the N.A.V.S.C.O.P.E.! It granted Star his own Na'vi vision, enough to arrow Vilgax three times in the head. The fog started to infuriate the emperor, so he sucked them all through a rift to Gromflom Prime.
They seemed to be in a wide, cylindrical cave where the fly-like Gromflomites were in nests in the walls. In fact, it seemed like a mating cave. Vilgax grew four extra arms and webbed himself to the ceiling. He shot a network of webs to capture the not-so-innocent insects, swinging them around before hurdling them at the boys. Star could Gravity Shift onto the wall so he could make his way up to Vilgax, eventually joining him on the ceiling. Star used his own trick against him and had the S.P.I.T.R.A.P. yank a swarm of Gromflomites together with Vilgax. The clustered emperor squirmed and plummeted to the ground. Kid shot out three S.M.R.I.N.G.s to squish the mass of bugs in repetition.
Vilgax blew everything off him with a forceful recover and opened a rift. He yanked Kid through, but Star went with them back to the capital. Vilgax tried once more to pry the Polymorph Heart—"GAX!" A laser shot him in the head, giving Kid the edge to goo away. It didn't come from Star, so the emperor searched confused for a bit. He used Na'vi vision and made out Carl's invisible aura. Vilgax used speed to zip over and slam the trucker into a wall. He ripped the Heart from his body, but before he could finish the trucker off, Fry stretched his arms and pulled Carl to safety.
Vilgax faced the boys again and turned invisible. Star and Kid Warp Dashed away as they heard Vilgax chasing them with swords drawn. Kid dropped an I.N.K.S.P.O.N.G.E., splashing color and shape over Vilgax's frame. Star gave him a helping of the E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E. while Kid electrified the ground with the P.O.G.O.S.H.O.C.K., staggering the painted king for a bit. The E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E.'s roulette landed on Grenade Eggs that blew up in Vilgax's face. "I've had enough of your pathetic toys!" Vilgax spread frost across the air and froze the duo. But before he could attempt to shatter them, a certain crystal-bodied warrior tackled the emperor.
"Sorry I'm late to the party."
"TETRAX! At least I'll get to execute you myself, traitor!" Vilgax coated his body with the molten rocks of Halcandra's Heart. Tetrax raised shield shards as Vilgax pummeled him, tiny shards shattering off the Petrosapien. Luckily, the heat from the rock melted Star and Kid free. Star countered Vilgax's technique by shooting Sprinkle S.P.O.R.E.s into the air: not only would the sprinklers dowse the heat, on top of trapping Vilgax in moss, but the bombs destroyed his rock armor. Tetrax dealt him a solid punch to the crown, and as Vilgax reeled back from that, Myaxx jumped him from behind. With legs wrapped around his neck, she swung her frame to twist and choke him. Vilgax grew extra arms to rip Myaxx off and slam her into the ground. It hurt him to have to do that to one of his own.
He heard Tetrax charging to stab him in the back, but Vilgax leapt and smashed him into the pavement. He turned to Star and Kid with a venomous growl. "It's time to call forth the darkness in my heart… or, should I say Zarkon's?" Vilgax turned a shade of purple as a dark aura enveloped him. The boys narrowly dodged his Heat Vision, now laced with purple darkness, and he blasted dark flames as well.
"I hope we get lucky with the E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E. again!" Kid said.
"There should be a Luminoth in the Omnitrix." Azmuth said. "Its trace Light Chi can be channeled to your weapon."
"You take care of that, Kid." Star passed him the E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E.. "I think it's time to use this…" He grabbed the golden hilt Numbuh 20x40 gave him. With a flick of his wrist, a jagged-edged sword appeared in a flash of lightning!
"The Galaxia Sword?!" Vilgax gasped.
"Good, I'm glad you recognize it!" The sword felt right at home in Star's hand, swinging it with ease and carving the dark emperor. Vilgax drew his own swords, replicated with his multiple arms as he slashed with equal speed. Meanwhile, Kid turned into a Luminoth (a species from Zebes) and channeled its light Light Chi into the E.G.G.Z.O.O.I.E., shooting unlimited Light Eggs. Vilgax warped, reappearing above the Luminoth, but Kid dodged before he was slashed. Vilgax's impact with the ground spread a shockwave that knocked Star down, while Kid's form was airborne. Vilgax encased himself in a dark crystal, then cast dark hunks of ice that would ricochet around the street in an effort to freeze the two.
Kid pelted the shielded with Light Eggs, breaking a hole just big enough for the Space Ball. Star compressed into the sphere, maneuvering around the ice pucks as Vilgax lost sight of him. Star was able to roll up the ice and enter the hole, re-expanding behind Vilgax and SLASHING him with the sword. Vilgax violently grabbed Star and smashed him through the crystal, throwing him at Kid and knocking both down. "RAH!" But someone else flew and punched him across the crown: two Papa G's.
"Sorry, big guy! We're just practicing the ol' catapult routine!" Vilgax beheaded and dispersed the clones. Portals would open around Vilgax in repetition as more Georges flew out. He was able to slash some while others laid a clean punch or kick. Vilgax splorped and found George and Jo closer to the palace. However, the war veteran already had tons of clones prepared: one ran at Vilgax and ducked while another pole-vaulted off him, stomping Vilgax in the face. Pairs of clones dashed toward either of Vilgax's legs, toppling the giant, while two more rammed boots into his scalp. The furious Vilgax slashed the clones into nothing before hurdling his sword straight at Jo. She yelped and fell into a portal, while George's clones continued to swarm him with teamwork tactics.
Vilgax used Na'vi vision to trace the aura of the real George, hiding far back behind the clones. "Of course the general hides in the back lines!" Vilgax used speed to plow through the lines and grab George by the neck.
"Welp… looks like it's checkmate for me…ack…"
Jo reached hands from a portal behind Vilgax's head and poured salt in his eyes. He winced from the feeling, but a strong bite to her left wrist taught her a lesson. She withdrew her right hand, and what was left of her left arm, crying in agony. Vilgax proceeded to rip the Heart from George, dispelling his remaining clones. "I'll send that boy of yours where you're going soon enough…" Vilgax tightened his grip around the grandpa. "GYAAAAAAH!" Until a blue laser blasted his arm and dropped George.
"MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!" Tuna Sandwich's eyes flashed red. The fluffy cat, along with a team of Kittentias, were pulling a wagon. Chuck was riding the wagon, armed with a Phazon cannon.
"YOU! You… TRAITOR!"
"Vilgax… no moar… gyeat lyaeder." Chuck uttered. "No hurt… pancaek-makin'… hu'mun."
Star and Kid, who reverted to human form, were barely in time to watch the act. "Star! Aren't those all the kittens we found?"
"Looks like they gave Chuck a ride… I don't think your cat could've pulled him on his own. That could've gotten ugly. Well, Kid, ready?" Star held the Galaxia Sword forward.
"Let's end it, Star." Kid climbed on his back.
"Your pitiful resistance meant NOTHING!" Vilgax aimed his sword down at George. "All who defy my will shall perish! The universe belongs to ME!"
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Star charged with the full speed of his Shinespark, its energy flowing into his sword.
"What?!" Vilgax turned a second too late. "GAAAAAAAAA!" The sword penetrated his Heart-powered armor.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The boys screamed to the fullest of their emotions. Their speed pushed Vilgax across the capital, drawing the eyes of his horrified Chimera citizens, and the ecstatic KND operatives. Vilgax's suit surged with the abundance of energy, forcing him to open rifts that pushed them through Secco, Mars, Pianta Village, Starfall Islands, Birdtown, Fight Hole, Puig, Altea, Sauria, and even breaching Captain Qwark's panic room and pushing the hero with him.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!" Qwark cried, clinging onto his Intergalactic News camera. "I WANT MY MONEY BACK! IT DIDN'T PROTECT ME AT ALL!"
Finally, they came plummeting from a stormy sky toward a valley of Urthic Ore. Qwark was blown elsewhere by the wind, allowing Vilgax to crash spine-first into the soil. "GAAAAAAAAA—guuuh…" (End song.)
Star withdrew the sword as they climbed off Vilgax's body, stepping away and panting. "…WAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHH!" They had to let out one last scream of victory. "Hahahahahaha…" Tired, they leaned on each other and laughed out the rest of their feelings.
"I don't understand what goes through your minds." Azmuth said, rubbing his sore ears(?).
"Hah! You really got him with that one!" Kid said.
"Yeah…" Star looked around. "It looks like we're on Zebes. We're gonna have to rent a ship or something…?! Kid! PARASITES!"
Kid gasped: a swarm of X were wriggling around the sky, descending after spotting the new prey. "Samus didn't have a chance to disinfect this world!" Star formed a Space Block around themselves and Azmuth.
However, the X seemed to have much greater prey in mind: they all converged into Vilgax. "GAAAAAA-!" To the boys' horror, the Chimera squirmed in agony. "Insolent… vermin! Hnnnn!" His eyes turned pale as he vomited black goo. "Damn you… Rick… Sanchez! GAAAAAaaaaaa…"
Once the squirming subsided… Vilgax began to transform. The wheels of an XLR8, additional arms of a Spidermonkey, the Queue of a Na'vi, wings of a BigChill, even the jaw of Zarkon… Vilgax became a horrendous amalgamation as the X drew on the power of each of his Hearts. He had become… Vilg-X. "The universe… belongs… to me…"
The monster raised two arms and BASHED the Space Block. Star struggled to keep it intact. "Quick, boy!" Azmuth jumped on Kid's arm and ripped a capsule out of his back. "Ack! Bring up the Omnitrix!"
Kid brought up the alien selection. Azmuth inserted the capsule in a slot. A new selection appeared, with a thin lower body, muscular torso, and a long head protrusion and similar shoulders. "If my calculations are correct, that alien should resist the parasites. Try it on for size! And Star, we'd better brace ourselves."
Kid had no other options… so, he steeled his nerves and smashed the button! With a tremendous burst of power, Vilg-X was blown several miles away. Star felt himself dramatically blow up into the sky. "…!" He was against the protrusion of a giant shoulder, looking up at an enormous face with Kid's familiar orange goggles.
"Whoa… check me out." Kid studied his incredible physique. He was a red and white titan, overlooking miles of Zebes' surface. "I'm not just big… I'm WAY BIG!"
"You're a To'kustar, to be precise." Kid barely heard Azmuth's voice on his shoulder.
"Haha! You really grew up on me, Kid!" Star laughed.
"Yeah! I'm, like, three times bigger than Rosa!" He was 120 feet tall. "WHOA!" (Play "Escape" from Metroid Dread!)
Vilg-X had enlarged himself to half Kid's size and tackled the titan at high speed. Kid's massive feet scraped long trails against the earth as Vil-X pushed him. Kid raised and balled both fists before slamming them unto the emperor. Free of his hold, Kid swung a punch, but Vilg-X dodged and zoomed across the valley. He took flight while returning to Kid, brimming with Daibazaal's darkness. Kid stopped him dead with his punch, the impact vibrating the atmosphere. Vilg-X flapped up to Kid's eye level and burned Heat Vision, but Kid blocked it with his right hand and, simultaneously, blasted a Cosmic Ray from said hand.
The ray sent Vilg-X flying for miles, but the king just as swiftly returned. Vilg-X froze a massive area of ground, but Kid jumped before the ice could touch his feet. Upon landing, the tremendous shockwave shattered the frosted ground. Vilg-X erected massive, frost-tipped shards from his many arms and impaled them into Kid's hip, but the giant endured the pain and SMASHED Vilg-X's head. He then grabbed the multiple arms and ripped them off with merciless force. The X Parasites flew out to infect Kid, but they quickly disintegrated.
"The To'kustar's veins are charged with cosmic lightning!" Azmuth said. "It won't last much longer! Hurry, boy!"
"RUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH!" Kid pounded and stomped Vilg-X into a gooey pulp. Although the X reformed his amalgamated body, he shrunk into his regular size temporarily. The giant hero was able to grab him firmly in his right hand.
"RELEASE ME! Or suffer the consequences!"
"Oh, I'll release you, all right!" Kid began to wind up his mighty arm, facing the stars. "On the way of an open orbit! HE SHOOTS! HE SCOOOOOORES!"
Vilg-X would learn firsthand the unparalleled throw of a To'kustar. "GAAAAAAAAA…!" The parasite flew far beyond Zebes' atmosphere. "Kuah! Kah—kah—kuh…" Like a comet, he left behind a streak of X Parasites. All of which succumbed to the empty void and popped like water balloons. "Guaaaa…gack-ack-ack…" Parts of his mutated body began to burst with the loss of more X.
Kid's titanic frame burst into red light. He and Star comprehended their position in midair for a moment. "WHOOOooooaaaa…!" As they fell, Kid called his Gravity Disk to soften his descent while Star slowed his with gravitybending. Star landed on his back… and Kid landed on top of him. "Hahahahaha!" Both friends shared a laugh. Instead of moving from this position, they simply relaxed and watched the fireworks.
Eventually, the lack of oxygen took its toll on Vilgax's own body. "GYAAAA…aaa…aaa….!" He swelled with more pain than any mortal could imagine… but, in an instant, it was over. (End song.)
A lovely, colorful star enlightened itself from the rest. And from it, a storm of shooting stars. The colors streaked across the universe, warming the hearts of all who gazed at them… as they planted themselves back into the worlds they came from.
Azmuth, Star, and Kid were agape as Kid's Polymorph Heart rose from his chest. It joined its fellow stars in crossing space. The Omnitrix opened and detached itself from his wrist. "Sigh…at least I got to see it in action just one more time…cough!"
"Are you okay?" Star asked the Galvan.
"That To'kustar sample… was the secret to my longevity. Now that I've removed it, I…I suppose it's time to start acting my age."
"You mean… you're gonna die?" Kid asked. "Then, just take it back."
"No, Kid… the Omnitrix, the knowledge it contains… I leave it all to you. It may not be usable in your human form… but I'm sure you folks have ways around that. Whether you choose to use it or not… is up to you. Just seeing my treasure… live and breathe one more time… that's all I…unn…"
The Galvan softly passed out on the ground. His body greyed… and his soul was at peace. Star and Kid climbed off each other and bowed their heads. Kid then picked the Omnitrix off the ground. A great treasure… full of life… full of history. Kid placed it in his Infi-Cube.
"!" A stream of pink light descended from the sky. It entered Star… and he felt himself flowing with power again. "My spacebending! It's back!"
"Heh, cool! But what about the bending that was already in there?"
"I guess it's even stronger now! Still, I'm… not sure I can warp us all the way back to Vilgaxia. Huh?"
A rift opened beside them. "I guess that's still not fixed, huh?"
"No… this one seems more deliberate." With Star picking up Azmuth's body, they walked through. They were before Vilgax's palace.
"THEY'RE BACK!" Jo exclaimed. The Cosmic Heroes and Kids Next Door gathered around. "YAAAHOOOOOO!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH…!"
"Heh heh…I guess we don't need to say who won." Star laughed.
"Star! Look!" Kid pointed at one of the city TV's. The image was showing the streak of exploding parasites and the shooting stars.
"The news actually caught that?!" The image seemed to be closing up behind them. "Wait…" The boys turned to find-
"HEY, HEY!" the cameraman in question appeared. "That's right! Captain Qwark presents to you… THE NEW JUNIOR HEROES!"
"CAPTAIN QWARK?!" Kid gawked.
"You gotta be kidding me…" Star facepalmed and shook his head.
"Your new heroes will gladly sign autographs from my van, for just 120 bolts a person! AAAAH!" Qwark panicked when the H Parasites flew nearby. "THEY'RE HERE, TOO! GYAAAAAH!" He scurried back into the rift. The H followed him into Zebes before the rift closed.
"Hahaha! I wasn't up for any side gigs, anyway."
Outskirts
The Paladins poured all of their heart into Voltron, striking the Golden Frieza with waves of violet flames. Frieza unleashed a Combustion Storm, but the Purple Lion helped to shield from the embers. Frieza flew through the smoke to Voltron's face, but the defender repelled him with eye lasers. Frieza flew out from the lasers and rammed Voltron's stomach, intending to combust the defender again. At the same time, Voltron clasped him in both flaming hands. The defender brimmed, channeling the last of his power over the overlord.
When the blinding light had subsided, Voltron was divided once more. Frieza let out gasps as he sank to the ground. "Huff…huck…nnnh…!" He looked in frustration as his golden hands devolved into his regular white sheen. "Why?! I was certain I could hold out longer than that!"
"HYAAAAH!" Jason dashed behind Frieza with high speed—with Perry on his shoulders, the Supreme Leader sliced Frieza's right torso with both swords. The furious Frieza kicked forth and flew after the brats. Perry jumped off Jason and slashed his Gilded Sword at the overlord's gut. Frieza thrusted his palm, but Perry deflected the combustion with his Mirror Shield. He backflipped, drew his bow, and sniped an arrow through the smoke, Frieza biting it in his jaw. "Just how long do you think you can keep these childish games up?!"
"We may not be able to beat you Frieza…" Perry said as he sheathed his weapons. He folded arms behind him, closed his eyes, and assumed a peaceful stance. "But not all battles are won with swords and bombs. It's like my great-uncle Billy once said: you can beat me up as much as you want, but eventually… you'll just get tired… and go away."
Boy, this child pissed Frieza off! But he was blinded by a wave of green fire. Christina tore into his tail with her fangs, but released before he could combust her. Frieza spun and aimed his palm at her, but Jason surprised him from behind again, jumped, and kicked Frieza's arm downward. The ground burst beneath his feet, knocking Frieza off balance as dust clouded his vision. Jason pummeled him with Light Fists from multiple directions. When Frieza rose skyward to pinpoint his position, he merely saw a circle of light around where he was based.
Marty shot Frieza with a dark ray that forced Frieza to the ground with gravity. Frieza kicked out to break Jason's running circle, but the captain jumped out himself: he picked up the giant Light Circle he'd built up and threw it into Frieza with great force. The overlord was pushed several miles, but he would kick it off. However, Jason ran to catch the circle before it dispersed completely, throwing it toward Perry, who bounced it with his Mirror Shield. It returned to Frieza with just as great speed, conking him in the skull as he staggered.
"Sector V! Perry! Need some help?!"
The Go-Getters had arrived in the Q-Bus. Pochi and Yuki took the front lines, their Lucky katana clutched firmly. "We're super-pippity ready for action!" Yuki cheered.
"We barely fought any strong enemies, so we got plenty strength to spare!"
Perry, Jason, and Christina closed in on Frieza from the other side. He continued to gasp in exhaust and fury. "FRIEZA!" And his fury would only grow upon seeing Star and Kid Cosmic.
"Huff…huff…where is it?! Where is the Omnitrix?!"
"It's over, Frieza." Star drew the Galaxia. "Vilgax is dead. The war is over. And so are you."
"No…no…NO! I won't… accept this!" Frieza quivered on his knees. "That you brats have pushed me this far… The Omnitrix is MINE! After I was done with that guinea pig, the Omnitrix and all Vilgax's empire would've been MINE! I… am the one, true OVERLORD!"
"It is time to stand down, My Lord."
A dark, hooded figure warped out of nowhere. The kids could vaguely make out a red and black jaw. "S! I don't remember calling you!"
"S?" Pochi gasped.
"Another… Enforcer?" Tattsun asked Sage. She softly nodded. "That means… Frieza's one of them?!"
"You must accept that you lost, My Lord. There are more powerful players approaching. If you stay here any longer… you will die."
"Die?! How dare you underestimate my strength!"
S restrained Frieza with a light, psychic force. "The King orders your return. There is still a project you are needed for, as you already know. In time… you will have your revenge."
The Enforcer expanded a field, beginning to teleport both of them. "DAAAAAAMN YOOOOOOUUU, MAAAAAUUUUUL…!"
They were gone. The kids let their selves at ease. Though it didn't feel like a complete victory… they could tell the danger had passed.
A rift opened. An ethereal woman stepped out. Her face was white and in a sharp heart shape. Her magenta hair was done into a horn shape, she wore a white and soft pink dress, and wielded a white and purple staff. Her Cane of Cercacos had an orb on one end, a gem on the opposite end, and purple light wings around it. "Whoa, who's she?!" Kid asked. "The Queen of Space or something?!"
"Vendra…" They turned to Nebula, supported by Flo.
"Mom!" Rivet rushed to her side.
"Hi, Nebula. Hi, Rivet. I'm sorry I wasn't around sooner. It took everything I had to keep the rifts from going haywire. And worse, those droids kept me locked in. But it looks like things are back to normal. I was able to find Clank, too." The little robot stepped out from behind her.
"Rivet… I'm glad you're alright. Was Ratchet brought here?"
"He was. He's… well, the doctor said he suffered a lot of internal damage. He might not be able to walk again… but I'm just glad he's…"
"It's okay, sweetheart." Vendra patted her daughter's furry head. "Star Winkiebottom… Kid Cosmic… All of you here… Thank you for saving the universe."