You've briefly been introduced to them in the previous arc… but NOW it's time to officially meet Sector W7! They're composed of child characters from One Piece, plus one OC! ;) This story is also the first of thenext saga, called Eve of Apocalypse!
Chimney, Dreamer of Trains
Bathhouse Factory
Mechanical pumps were the only thing heard in these vast, hollow halls. The only beings that roamed the halls of this base were robotic ducks, armed with bathing supplies. Kids were tied within the center of this factory, trapped in bathtubs as mechanical arms forcibly bathed them. Mrs. Dirt watched this from her control station, a wicked smile on her crinkly face. "YOU kids should've thought TWICE before refusing to take your daily baths! You'll be scrubbed so clean you'll NEVER get dirty again!"
Hidden from her vision, behind one of the tubs' legs, a very small girl, only 3 inches tall, had her back pressed against the leg. She had grass-green hair cut short, an orange shirt, aqua-blue vest, an orange patterned skirt with dark-green stripes, long orange socks, and blue Mary-Janes. She looked at her wristwatch communicator and spoke, "This is Numbuh 76.2, I'm close to the control room. Going in."
Spy of Sector W7, a Lilliputian
AEINCHA
A shadowed girl, with a wide grin on her silhouette, spoke, "Oi, Aisa-chan. How many are there?"
"Gyom-gyoooom." her bunny companion said.
A girl in a brown, raggedy dress, angel wings, a white hat, and bare feet, closed her eyes as visions of robotic ducks and bathing children appeared in her mind. "There's 30 Duckbots. …Oh, make that 29. One of them shorted out. And there's 40 children."
Mantra Specialist of Sector W7, a Shandian Nimbi
AISA
"Can we take 'em?" another girl asked.
"Yah… we can!" The leader declared with a smirk. Immediately, the Duckbots jumped with a start when three garbage cans shot up, and the three girls wore them as separate pieces of armor. "Sector W7! THRASH 'EEEEMM!" Numbuh W473R, Chimney declared.
"Gyoooom!" her rabbit, Gonbe, followed.
Chimney ran first, swiftly jumping around and bonking all the robo-ducks with her trashcan armor. Five ducks were charging at Aisa, but she held up a rope, tied around a big, dark-green pumpkin, and swung the iron-hard pumpkin around as it bashed all the Duckbots away.
Numbuh 777; Apis, the team's Animal Telepath, a girl in a mustard-yellow dress and pointed, white hat, closed her eyes and spoke to the rats within the walls. The rodents came pouring out, climbing up and entering the openings on the Duckbots to chew them out from the inside.
The three girls ran forward as Chimney spoke into her wristwatch, "Oi, April-chan! Are you in position?"
Somewhere else in the base, in another bathing room, Numbuh 7-Strokes stood in the room's doorway, looking at the trapped kids with an expressionless frown. "I'm here." she spoke with no emotion. "I can't free these kids with the water still running."
Artist of Sector W7, a German human
APRIL GOLDENWEEK
"Don't worry! We're going to shut it off!" Chimney assured. ("Gyooom!")
They turned down several more halls as Chimney jumped and kicked all the robotic ducks. "These things aren't the best defense, huh?" Apis asked.
"Mrs. Dirt's in the room down on the right!" Aisa spoke.
"Let's KICK HER ASS!" Chimney yelled determinedly.
"Gy-o-o-o-o-om!" Gonbe looked frantic at what she said.
"Uhh… don't tell Granny Kokoro I said that."
The three (plus one) soon reached the metal door as Chimney kicked it open, and the girls rolled in. "OKAY, Dirt O bāchan! Time for you to-" Chimney was blasted with a hose and pushed away.
"YOU Kids Next Door brats aren't getting the dirt on me!" the old woman declared, armed with a shower hose and a belt of soap bars. Her grey hair was done in curls and a purple robe covered her portly frame. "But I think a FEW of you could use a scrub. YOU, young lady!" she pointed at Aisa, who flinched. "Those feet of yours must be FIIILthy! HAVE a SLIP!" She hurled a soap bar at Aisa's feet, making the Nimbi slip and fall on her face. Apis tried to leap at her, but Mrs. Dirt blasted her away with a shower blast.
"Ouch-ouch-ouch-ooouuuch!" Apis shook frantically, her skin burning.
"AYAAAAAAAHHHH!" Chimney shook around even more.
"Gy-u-u-u-u-uh!" Gonbe was afraid to attack the bath-themed villain.
"Awww, what's wrong, Little Bunny? It's just a shower. If your kind had more of these, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE FLEES!"
"Gyooooo!" Gonbe shielded his eyes from the incoming boiling spray. But when Mrs. Dirt tried to fire, nothing came out.
The robed woman looked at her shower confusedly. "HUUUH?!"
"Hey, guys, I did iiiit!" Mrs. Dirt turned around, her eyes widening at the tiny girl that stuck out from a slot on her control panel. "I disabled their water flow from inside!"
Aisa spoke in her communicator, "Now's your chance, April!"
In the alternate room, April Goldenweek began to paint blue paint marks on each of the tied-up kids. The children felt incredible strength as they broke free of their bonds, their faces bright with confidence
"Aaaaahhh-AAH!" Chimney ran forth and kicked Mrs. Dirt against the controls. She turned the woman over, holding her fist back. "And FYI: bunnies don't get flees!" Chimney's fist was the last Mrs. Dirt saw before she blacked out. "Also, Gonbe's a cat!"
"Not really, but sure." Apis shrugged.
They all gathered outside of the mid-ocean base where Aaron and Rhilliane Doblemitz guided Mrs. Dirt onto the S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P.. Meanwhile, the imprisoned kids were speaking to Sector W7. "Thanks for the save." a boy said. "My hands were getting so soapy, I couldn't hold a game controller again!"
"It's all in a day's work!" Apis said brightly.
Aeincha was seated on Apis's shoulder when a whiff fell in her tiny nose. "Ewwww!" she pinched it shut. "You kids stink!"
They all blushed. "Uwuh, take a bath when you get home! At least it ain't against your will!" Chimney stated. ("Gyom-gyom." Gonbe agreed.)
"Anyway, we'll be happy to take you home on our R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N.!" Apis smiled.
"Cool! Thanks, Sector W7!"
Downtown Water 7
After bringing the kids home, the girls and rabbit had returned to the island town of Water 7. It was a big, bustling town, built around an enormous water fountain. There were no roads, only canals, and people got around on horse-like fish called Yagara. Sector W7's treehouse was built atop the gigantic fountain.
"WOOHOOOO!" Chimney cheered, raising fists in the air. The Sector W7 Leader wore her usual orange-and-red-striped dress with a yellowish-white, open blouse over it. She wore brown sandals with red straps, and had her large blond hair in frizzy pigtails that stuck up diagonally. As always, she sported her huge grin of bright white teeth. "That Dirty Baasan didn't stand a chance! We BLEW her bath salt!" ("Gyom-gyooom!")
Leader and Pilot of Sector W7, a 1/4th mermaid
CHIMNEY
"Oi, why they giving me the introduction now?" she asked.
"Still didn't give mine." Apis said.
Animal Telepath of Sector W7, an Arceist
APIS
Gonbe looked at the camera with annoyance. "Gyoooom…"
Pet of Sector W7, a cat—I mean, rabbit
GONBE
"Gyom, gyom!" he nodded.
"Now let's celebrate with ice cream!" Chimney declared.
The five kids and rabbit approached an ice cream stand and ordered their favorite flavors. Chimney got vanilla, Apis got blurpleberry, Aisa got chocolate, April got cherry, and Gonbe got carrot. Chimney also bought a strawberry one, and as they sat at a table, Chimney set the strawberry on the table for Aeincha. "And Aeincha gets an EXTRA big one!" she grinned. "We won the mission thanks to you!" ("Gyom-gyom!")
The Lilliputian laughed sheepishly. "Oh, come on, guys. You could've done it without me. I mean, April's the one who freed the kids."
The 12-year-old girl quietly licked her ice cream as she painted on a canvas. "I was just doing my job." she said simply. April had a doll-like appearance, with blushed cheeks, and her dark-red hair tied in braided pigtails. She wore a wide pink hat, a dark blue T-shirt with the word "Golden" written in orange, a sky-blue overshirt with a cloud pattern on it, a maroon-colored skirt, and blue-striped stockings covering her legs. She also had big, red shoes with white soles and stripes. Being the oldest of the team, she seemed to stand out the most.
"Since that crazy business with the Viridi War, these everyday villains are a walk in the park to us." Aisa said. "The REAL villains are people like Viridi, not your everyday dentist or lunch lady. Don't you think?"
"It's true." Chimney frowned (but still grinned). "These Akuyaku-sans are jokes. Why is it the Kids Next Door evolved but they don't?"
"Maybe if you all were as big as me, it'd be more of a challenge!" Aeincha beamed. The kids (except April) exchanged laughter.
An alarm went off in Chimney's phone. "Oi, I have to go now." she said, standing up. "Granny Kokoro-san wants me to help load coal on Puffing Tom."
"Are you delivering to Santa Claus?" Apis grinned.
"Hahahaha! See you later, Sector-chans!" Chimney waved as she walked away, followed by her pet rabbit. ("Gyooooom!")
Puffing Tom Station Blue
Chimney trudged into the train's boiler room, her skinny arms hauling an enormous sack of coal, as big as a bed as she only inched a little at a time. "GYUH!" she finally stopped to catch her breath, sitting with her back against the sack. Eventually, she stood up and began to toss coal into the boiler with a shovel. This lasted for several minutes until she stopped. "Oiii… that's more exercise than the missions."
"Gyoooom…" Gonbe panted as well.
Chimney shot him a glare. "You didn't even help, don't give me that crud." ("Gyom…" Gonbe was ashamed.)
The girl then entered the engineering room, looking at the empty seat. Her eyes wide as always, Chimney jumped in the seat, viewing the wide expanse of the endless sea, and the underwater tracks that stretched across. She gripped the train's lever and screamed with excitement, "Attention all passengers, this is your captain Chimney speaking, we'll be departing Water Seven in 3 minutes, please fasten your safety belts as we head for Kamabakka at ELEVENTY KAJILLION MILES PER HOUR!"
"Gyooooooooooom!"
"Chimney-"
"GAAAAH!" Both kid/rabbit fell out of the seat. Chimney jumped to her feet, seeing her old, chubby grandmother in the doorway with a wide smile similar to Chimney's.
"Chimneeeyy… you weren't driving unauthorized, were you?" She had a drink of rum.
"Ohhhh Granny Kokoro-san! I wasn't really driving it!" Chimney yelled with her hands up. "I was checking the ignition thingymawhatsit!"
"Nyah, ha ha ha ha ha ha." She had another drink. "Okey-dokey, Chimney." The old woman approached the windshield and stood by her granddaughter as they stared at the sea. "So, Chimney… how are things with you and your friends?"
"We're doing just fine, Kokoro-san!" Chimney grinned. ("Gyom-gyom!")
"I heard you kids got in a war recently."
"Yah, but we beat 'em bad! That Viridi furīku-san's factory didn't stand a chance against our R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N.!"
"That is a pretty impressive train, Chimney. And you built that all by yourself?"
"Yeah, yeah, I did! Don't you remember, Kokoro-san?"
In fact, Kokoro did remember. Chimney's been into trains as long as she can remember. …She can't remember too far, but it was enough.
Chimney lay on her belly, her feet in the air as she wore a bright smile. The 2-year-old girl was happily drawing in her sketchbook while Kokoro sat at her control panel, guzzling rum. "Chimney? What are you drawing?"
"I dwawing a twain, Kokoro-san! I gonna make it myself, and I gonna dwive it!"
The woman approached her ecstatic grandchild and peered down. It was a silly, little kid's drawing of a train, choppily scribbled with gray coloring. "What are those things on its sides?"
"The, they'rewockets! I'm named it Wocket-twain! Is gonna fly, and dwop people anywhere!"
"Nyah, haha hahaaa! You've been drinking too much soda, Chimney. Trains don't fly."
Chimney jumped to her feet with a frantic, furious look. "Yeah it does, Kokoro O bāchan! I gonna make it fly ALL through the sky!"
"Neeeee hahahahaha! Only someone drunk with too much soda would say that! After all, I was drunk enough to pilot a Sea Train."
The drunken woman led her granddaughter beside the windshield, where they stared into the bright, open sea. "Chimney… there's no limit for how far your imagination can stretch. If a great man can make a train that drives along the sea… someone just as crazy can make a train that drives in the sky. Chimney… I want you to make a train like that. Set your dreams high… and make a train like no other."
Chimney's wide, vibrant face filled with even more wonders.
And even today, her face looked no different. "Granny Kokoro… I'm gonna build the bestest, most epicest train in the whole universe! It'll fly in the sky! And go underwater! It can BREAK through anything! And it's indestructible! YEAH!" She stood upon the control panel with a determined grin, raising a fist. "And I'm gonna PILOT that train! I'll make it go super-ultra fast and I can take anyone anywhere! EVEN to the other side of the UNIVERSE!"
"GyyyOOOOOoooommmmm!" Gonbe declared.
"Naaah ha ha! I knew I shouldn't have given you that much soda as a baby. Anyway… we need to deliver the rest of this coal. How would you like to drive the first stretch, Chimney?"
"AWESOOOOME!" Chimney eagerly hopped down and onto the seat. The excited 9-year-old started to fiddle around as the train started up. The Puffing Tom sped along the track in minutes, set on its straightforward path along the ocean tracks. "By the way, Kokoro-san. Why did you move here from Oceana again?"
"Oh, Chimney. Do you ever get tired of this?" ("Gyoooooom…")
Aeincha, the Lilliputian Who Was Equal
Sector W7 Treehouse
The sun was rising over Water 7, and its morning rays sparkled off the enormous fountain. Aeincha was up early, dressed in warm white pajamas as she tiredly trudged down the halls of their base, rubbing her eyes. At her size, it took a lot longer to get down the halls of the treehouse, but she still managed to make it to the kitchen. The tiny girl gripped and climbed one of the cabinet doors and made it onto the counter. From there, she looked at the top of the fridge and took out a grappling hook, launching it to the top. She held tight and climbed her way up, then threw her grappling hook to open one of the upper cabinets. She threw the hook to the cabinet's ledge and climbed inside.
There, she found a cereal box of Rainbow Munchies that was three stories high. She threw her hook to pull the box over, and a bunch of the colorful pieces poured out. She picked up one and munched away. That was all she needed. She then jumped her way down, and once on the floor, she stared up at the towering refrigerator, as high as a skyscraper. The massive door was shut tight, and was very heavy to the tiny Lilliputian. She would struggle greatly trying to pry it open. By then, she would be too tired to get what was inside.
"AEIN!" Aeincha screamed. A terminal on the fridge's door beeped and accepted the passcode. It immediately came open on its own. She smiled brightly and began to climb her way up the fridge's many platforms. She reached the glass of milk that was twice her size, with a bendy straw sticking up. She jumped and gripped the edge of the milk glass, climbing up to reach the straw. She opened her mouth very wide to fit the entire end of the straw inside. She inhaled with all the strength in her little lungs, and the milk slowly rose up. It was able to reach and enter her mouth, and Aeincha felt her head swell, closing her mouth tight as some milk spilled out. She fell on her back on the fridge's shelf; the huge swell of milk forced down her tiny throat and into her tummy. "Hoooo…" She sighed in relief.
She jumped out of the fridge and yelled, "CLOSE." The door snapped shut. "Ahhh… well, that's my daily exercise!" she beamed. She began to walk to the couch to watch some T.V. when she felt some light quaking. She looked right, seeing her leader, Numbuh W473R Chimney, bare feet, raggedy clothes, and eyes shut with tiredness. Aein sported a smile. "Hi, Chimneyyy!"
"Hey… Aeincha." She spoke very groggily, but her wide grin still showed. "You need help getting breakfast?"
"I got it by myself!" she grinned.
"Oh… yaaaaawwwn. You could've asked me for help."
Aeincha looked curious. "Chimney… your hair."
Indeed Chimney's pigtailed hair was unraveled, revealing her hair as extremely disheveled and unkempt, so big and puffy that it was almost as big as her. "Ahhh… I took off my braids last night. I don't have a comb."
"Ha ha ha ha! I'll braid it for you! Lie down!"
Chimney lay back on the couch with her head hanging over the right armrest. Aeincha lifted a giant comb with both arms, using all the strength in her tiny arms to pull the right half of Chimney's hair over to its side. Once finished, she dropped to the floor and tossed her grappling hook up over the combed-down hair. Still holding one end, she climbed up the hook's end, and began to wrap the rope around the thick, strong hair. Once it was scrunched enough, Aeincha grabbed a group of bands and walked to the end of Chimney's pigtail. She struggled to pull the bands around the huge hair and pull them back to their proper spot. She repeated this with the other bands until Chimney's right pigtail was puffy like it should be. She proceeded to repeat this entire process with her left pigtail.
When Aeincha finished, Chimney still had her eyes closed, her mouth hung open in tiredness. As Aeincha stood on her face, she sported a humorous smile. Chimney's mouth was so big and wide, she was always worried about falling inside. Chimney could swallow her whole. Of course she wouldn't do that.
Aeincha hopped over the giant mouth and approached her friend's feet. Chimney's toenails looked very dirty, and Aeincha could pick up the smell. "Your toes can use some work, too!" she smiled. Aeincha went to grab a file, still having to lift with both arms as she began to smoothen Chimney's toenails. She also got a can of nail paint, carefully painting her friend's toenails a shiny red. Afterward, she stared at her reflection in the shiny, red nail, giving another smile. "Good as new!"
Apis, Aisa, and April were up shortly after, rubbing tired eyes as they walked in. "Hey, what's going on?" Apis asked.
"Oh… Aeinchan's just fixing my hair." Chimney said tiredly.
"Do you guys want a pedicure, too?" Aein asked.
"Sure!" The girls (minus April) grinned.
Apis, Aisa, and April all sat on the couch as Aeincha began work on all three. She washed Aisa's messy red hair, scrubbed the bottoms of her dirty feet, painted Apis's fingers white, brushed her hair, wrapped April's pigtails, and patted her dolly face with powder. "Hm hm hm!" Apis laughed. "You're really good, Aeincha!"
"Thanks!" the girl beamed, starting to paint April's nails blue. "I've been thinking of going to beauty school when I get bigger."
"Oh?" The girls looked baffled.
"Um… older." She corrected.
Apis looked a little concerned. "Um… that's great, Aeincha. But don't you think you're a little… small?"
"Hm?" Aeincha looked up. "Well, I was never too small for our missions."
"I know… but, I mean, you being your size, it might be hard to fix so many big peoples' hair or nails, and you might get tired."
"Well, that's why I practice with you guys!" Aein smiled. "So, I'm ready for it!"
"But-"
"Besides, at my size, it's easier to see the messy marks, so I can get every single detail! From the tiniest unkempt strand of hair to a single grain of dirt beneath your nails, I can make every inch of you look pretty!"
"You could be good at art, too, in that case." April said simply.
"Aaaahh! Aeincha'll do just fine, on'nanoko-chans!" Chimney assured, making Gonbe roll over for a carrot. "If Aeinchan wasn't tiny, she wouldn't be special. She'd be just like any other boring on'nanoko-chan."
"Gyom-gyom." Gonbe nodded, successfully earning his carrot.
"Hm-hm-hm! Thanks, Chimney!" Aein grinned.
Chimney looked confusedly as Gonbe ate his carrot. "I still don't see why a cat likes a carrot." ("Gyom." Gonbe shrugged.)
Suddenly, the treehouse flashed red as alarms blared, and the tiny Lilliputian fell over in shock, her tiny ears taking the impact the worst. "Oiii! What does Cheren-chan want?" Chimney whined, running to the T.V.. Larry MayHence's face appeared onscreen.
"This is Moonbase calling Sector W7. There is a KND shipment of candy under attack by Candy Pirates close to your sector. You are ordered to fly out and stop them ASANow."
"Oi, give us a little warning when you're gonna go all blare like that!" Chimney shouted angrily. ("Gyom-gyom!")
The transmission ended as Chimney faced her team with a serious look. "Let's GO, Sector-chans!" The other girls got off the couch, and Apis carried Aeincha as they followed Chimney.
Middle of the ocean; candy shipment
The R.O.C.K.E.T.-T.R.A.I.N. came speeding toward a pirate ship and 4x4-tech ship. The ship had candy decorations and a Jolly Roger of a skull with big lips, surrounded by candies. Chimney set the train on autopilot as the five operatives + rabbit leaped out and landed perfectly on the KND ship's deck, with Aeincha hanging onto Apis's shoulder. "Oi, kaizoku-sans! Better step away from the candy or else!" Chimney threatened as they all glared. ("Gyom, gyom!")
"Oi, is this wot the Kids Next Door have for backup?" one of the candy-crazed pirates asked. "I's just four wee tykes and a rabbit!"
"HEY!" Chimney screamed. "Gonbe's a cat, and you mean FIVE wee tykes!"
"Wot? Five?…" The pirates looked down, and finally spotted the Lilliputian on Apis's shoulder. "Ohhh, look a' that, lads! It's an even WEE-ER tyke! This'll be easy!"
"Says you!" Aein yelled, leaping off her friend's shoulder and dashing to bite the pirate's leg.
"Yooo-owch!" Chimney then leapt to kick the pirate in the face, flinging Aeincha off as Gonbe jumped up and caught her. Aisa pulled out an Impact Dial (a palm-sized conch shell) and aimed at some incoming pirates, pressing the button to blast a series of rapid gumballs as if it were a G.U.M.Z.O.O.K.A.. April dodged as some pirates tried to whack her with candycane swords, slipping behind and painting pink symbols on their backs. The pirates began to feel weak, falling to their knees in depression.
Apis looked up and saw a flock of seagulls overhead. Using her telepathic abilities, she called the birds down, and they began to swarm and peck the faces of the pirates. Aeincha was surrounded by a group of towering pirates, but kept a confident look as she ran and jumped, avoiding their sword-swings and stomps. She then ran and leapt onto Gonbe's back, riding the rabbit horseback style as she made Gonbe pounce and kick off the pirates' faces.
Chimney knocked the leader of the bunch down and grabbed his shirt collar, readying her fist. "Send our message to Stickybeard-san!"
"We don't WORK for Stickybeard-" Chimney punched and knocked him out.
"Ohhh… B-Boss…" one of the fallen pirates groaned.
The battle was watched by a large figure from the other ship. Suddenly, a very fat pirate, with black hair, a big mouth, and exposed belly took a mighty leap and quaked the KND's ship upon landing. "Arrrr, what's the rest of you lot doing, ahhhh?" he asked with sort of a lazy, out-of-breath tone.
"Oi, who the heck are you, Fat-san?" Chimney questioned. ("Gyom, gyom?")
"I be Commander Fat Jack, ahhhh, and Ah think you little munchkins needs a wee tutorial." He took another mighty leap, creating a shockwave that knocked the children over. Aeincha was the first to recover, feeling the quakes strongest as Fat Jack stomped her way. Chimney ran forth with an aerial kick, her foot coming in contact with the pirate's big belly only to bounce her way. Aisa aimed her Dial and launched a barrage of gumballs, but they had no effect on the squishy belly as Fat Jack leapt in attempt to smash her. Aisa ran away just in time. April ran to try and paint something on his belly, but Fat Jack released a "BUUUURRRP" of dark green gas that swallowed April's face. The 12-year-old coughed and was punched away by the pudgy pirate.
Gonbe ran forth, carrying Aeincha on his back as the rabbit leapt and bit his buckteeth through the pirate's belly. Aeincha began climbing the squishy substance, going to Fat Jack's face and tossing her grappling hook to his eye. "NNN!" The pirate smacked her off, then grabbed and threw Gonbe away. Aeincha landed on her front, trying to recover, but the enormous pirate stomped forward and squished her tiny legs beneath his boot, and her tiny bones cracked like sticks.
"OOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!" Aeincha's never felt more pain in her life.
"AEEEIINCHAAAAAN!" Chimney screamed, mouth wider than ever.
"Hnn-hnn-hnn." A wicked grin appeared on the commander's face. "Sorry. I's means to squish the rest of you." He lightly raised his boot over the rest of Aein's body.
"AAAAHH!" Chimney leapt forward, full of rage, and kicked the pirate dead in the nose, knocking him backward slightly.
"Oi, Boss, we got the load, so let's go!" a pirate yelled from the ship.
"Arrrr, this be the end you'll hear from me for now, ahhhh." And the pirate mightily leapt to his ship, making it shake. Sector W7 only watched as they sailed with the candy.
Aeincha lay on the deck as her four towering friends stood around and looked down with saddened eyes. "Aeinchan?" Chimney said, still grinning even though she was sad, as she bent down and scooped her friend in her hands. Aeincha's legs were squished flat, and blood dripped. She was unconscious as the friends exchanged worried looks (though April looked the same as always).
Moonbase Hospital
Aeincha was lain on a hospital bed as doctors tried to fix the tiny girl's legs, having to use magnifying glasses to do so. They also invited Melody Jackson and Haruka to help. Melody helped to ease the pain with Water Healing, and Haruka stuck her fingernails into Aeincha for a Healing Sting. Since Aein was so small, a regular dose of Haruka's poison was more than enough for effective results. The rest of Sector W7 stood by the entrance as Chimney clutched a doctor's coat. "Oiii, Numbuh Medical-Jargon-chaaaan! Is Aeincha-chan gonna be okay? Is she gonna live the rest of her life like York-san?!"
"Gyom-gyom!"
The doctor pulled Chimney's hands off and said, "Your friend will be fine. Thanks to these two, we were able to treat her legs just in time and she'll be on her feet again in a couple days. Just give her bones time to heal up."
The doctors proceeded to wrap Aeincha's legs in bandages. "Well, I guess I have tonight's headline." Melody said.
Haruka spared her a glare before lightly picking up Aeincha in both hands and setting her in a tiny wheelchair. "Here you go, Aeinchan!" she said positively. Haruka knew about Aeincha's dream of being a cosmetologist, even though she was so small, and Haruka could relate to that. Haruka wanted to go in the medical field and use her poisonbending to treat people. Although if it wasn't for Lee, she wouldn't have decided this.
Haruka carried the tiny child and carefully placed her in Chimney's hands. "There you go. Just let her rest up!"
The three girls and rabbit (not April) smiled at their sleeping friend, feeling extremely thankful.
Sector W7 Treehouse
"Mmmmm…" The sun was setting over Water 7 as Aeincha began to awaken. When her tiny eyes opened, she found the enormous, smiling faces of Chimney, Aisa, and Apis looming over her (and April's frowning face).
"Oi, Aeinchan's awaaaaake!" Chimney drawled. ("Gyoooom!")
Aeincha sat up and found herself on the living room's couch. She felt a numbness in her legs, and found they were wrapped in bandages. "The doctors said your legs would be fine after a few days." Apis explained. "That was a close call though!"
"We'll file the mission report about this Fat-san later." Chimney said. "But le's watch some TEEEVEEE!" ("Gyoooom!")
"Chimneeeeyy!" Aisa yelled. "Aeincha probably wants some peace and quiet! You feeling okay?" she asked her friend.
"Hm hm! I'm fine!" she said with a light smile. She looked away and frowned. "Actually… I've been thinking."
"Mmmm?" Chimney moaned as the girls looked curious.
"Well… I almost died today. I could've been killed. And, well, I haven't really been the most helpful in fights. Maybe…Maybe I shouldn't go into cosmetology."
Needless to say, the girls were surprised (even April, though she didn't show it).
"I mean, not like this. Maybe I could do things better if I was bigger. I'd be able to fight better on missions and you guys don't have to waste time carrying me around."
"But… Aeinchan. You're our tiny spy." Chimney said. "How you gonna be spy if you're not tiny?" ("Gyom-gyom!")
"I'll just spy the normal way! I'm already agile enough!"
"But who's gonna help fix our train?" Chimney questioned.
"We could always train hamsters. …Do we still use those?"
"No no no!" Chimney shook her head furiously. "We can't be Sector W7 without our Tiny Spy! YOU'RE STAYING tiny!"
"Why not?!" Aeincha yelled. "You guys always insist on helping me get breakfast! And you didn't even think I could GO into cosmo! Me getting bigger would change everything for the better!"
"But… it just wouldn't be the same if you were bigger." Apis said. "I mean, it's just…"
"Well, I know I'll be bigger than my parents and everyone else… but, it would just be hard to fit in in this world. It's like how our KND earpieces help operatives understand each other, because they translate our different languages. If I'm bigger, you guys won't have to worry about me."
"NUH-uh!" Chimney shook. "As your leader, I ORDER you to stay tiny!"
"You can't order me to do that!"
"Can too! I'm BIGGER than you!"
"CHIMNEY!" Apis and Aisa shouted.
"You wouldn't be ANY good to us if you were bigger!"
"What?!" Aein screamed, suddenly hurt.
"The reason you're cool is BECAUSE you're tiny! It's what makes you special and THAT'S why we're Sector W7!"
"Whaddyou mean? How can I be any different if I'm not tiny? Except being less of a burden!"
"We never thought of you as a burden." Apis told her.
"Yeah. You're actually pretty fun." Aisa said.
"I don't care. Lilliputians don't have that Kateenian pride. We were supposed to stay hidden from the world to begin with. And maybe this is why. If I stay part of this sector, I need to get bigger."
"If you get bigger, you ain't gonna be IN this sector!" Chimney shouted, becoming more angry while her face grinned. "I'm kicking you OUT if you do that, Chan!"
"Why would you?!"
"Because you'd be going against your LEADER! I won't accept you if you're any bigger than my face!"
"Gnnnn!" Aeincha was getting more angry. "Why can't you just understand?!"
"Why can't YOU?! The ocean's always been blue, but it's never changed! Trains are powered by coal, why should that change?! YOU'VE always been tiny! And you're NOT GONNA CHANGE!"
"YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!"
"Are you not listening?! BAKA-CHAAAAN!" ("Gyooooom!")
Apis got between them and touched fingers to both their mouths. "Both of you stop! You two are best friends! You shouldn't fight like this!"
"She is not sounding like my best nakama now!" Chimney shouted.
"Well, I'M getting tired of your big mouth!" Aein shouted.
"Uuuugh!" Apis groaned. "Sigh… I think we all need a while to calm down. Aeincha… I'll take you to your room." She lightly gripped the tiny child and carried her away.
"Fiiine! Baka on'nanoko-chan!" Chimney yelled.
"Gyoooooom!" Gonbe was still furious.
Aeincha's Room
Apis set her friend on her giant (regular sized) bed and pulled the covers up over her. "You needed to rest, anyway." she said.
Aein lied back on her huge, thick pillow and sighed.
"I'm sure Chimney didn't mean what she said. She's just… I mean, we're all so used to you being small… it's hard to see you as otherwise."
"Well, if she isn't worried about my safety!" Aein yelled.
"It was just one mission, Aein. Everyone gets in accidents like these. Even Fybi, remember? You don't have to change your life."
"Why is the whole thing such a big deal, anyway?"
"Hmmm… to be honest, I'm not sure. Maybe Chimney just really admires you. I remember how happy she was when we first met you."
"Hmmm…"
"Anyway… whatever decision you make, I'll go with it. But… you should still think about it." Apis left Aeincha in her room in the dark.
Aeincha rolled to her side and tried to clear her mind. This whole event put a lot of memories through her head. When they first came here from Lilliput, she didn't have friends for a while.
Aeincha was 2 years old when her family sailed from the Bermuda Triangle on their toy-sized boat, made of whatever scraps they could find. The whole journey, Aeincha's head rested in the window, staring wonderfully at the vast, endless sea. She wanted to reach out and touch the huge waves, but was far too short. And if she got in, she wouldn't be able to swim.
They landed at an old scrap yard on the coast of Water 7 and settled into a gap within the wall, having enough space to set up a bed, kitchen supplies, anything they needed. "Welcome to your new home, Aein!" her father smiled.
"How come we moved again?"
"The economy in Lilliput is running down. That's why we're taking the simpler life as Borrowers. We'll acquire only what we need and be able to survive."
Aein couldn't help but stare at the thousands-foot tall fountain in the distance, and the huge, bustling town built around it. "Can we make new friends here?" she asked excitedly.
"No." Aeincha frowned as her father led her away. "Humans capture our people for servitude. Or if not that, they'll force us to pay rent or work for the right to live here. Borrowers need to stay hidden."
Aeincha entered the entrance gap of her new house, head down in sadness. She heard someone walking, turning around as she spotted a human girl, about her age, with pigtails, sandals, and a wide grin on her face, walking with a little blue rabbit. The human girl had a huge mouth. Huge enough to swallow Aein whole. Do all humans have a mouth like that? Is that what they're for?
Aeincha stepped a bit closer as the girl dove into a pile of rubble, only her bottom half sticking out as she shuffled around. She came out, holding an old train lever. "Aaaahh! This should work!"
"Gyooom!" the rabbit agreed, and they walked away. Aeincha remained hidden as she watched them leave.
Aeincha lived on Water 7 for 2 years. She found out the girl's name was Chimney, and she had a friend named Apis. Whenever her parents were out borrowing, Aeincha would sneak out and look for these two. They usually hung around the scrap yard. Every time they came, Aeincha would hide and watch them play. The two had lots of fun together. Aeincha wished she could join in that fun. She didn't have any friends to play with since she moved, and she wanted to play with them. But she felt what her parents said might be true. They were so big compared to her. She wouldn't fit in right with them. They wouldn't accept her. But they looked so nice. And Aein really wanted to play with them.
"Oi, Apis-chan! Are all our crates loaded?" 4-year-old Chimney asked, pretending to drive a small train made of stone and scrap.
"Our crates are just fine!" Apis smiled.
"Greeeaat! Let's haul these doggies to Candy Land nooooww!" ("Gyom-gyoooom!")
Aeincha watched again as the two pretended to pilot the train. Every time she watched them, it made her hurt that she couldn't have fun with them, too. Aeincha finally wanted to do something about it. She couldn't stand seeing them have fun and not have fun herself. She wanted to take a chance and be friends with them. But she was still afraid they would say 'no.' With a deep breath, Aeincha summoned the courage to walk out and approach them.
"Gyuh-oh!" Chimney exclaimed. "The wheels' malfunctioniiiinng! We're getting BUMP-py-y-y-y-y-y-y!"
"WhoooOOOaa-oooOOOOaaa-oooOOOOAAAA!" Apis wobbled around on one leg.
"Um… EXCUSE MEEE."
The girls immediately ceased playing, looking for the source of this voice.
"OVER here."
Chimney and Apis looked down and finally spotted the voice's owner. Chimney hopped over the wall of their train, her bare feet landing flat on the ground, and approached the small girl, bending over as she stared questioningly.
Aeincha felt so nervous. This was the first time a normal human's noticed her, and it was her first time being so close to one. She had no idea how they would react. She was afraid they wouldn't accept her. She struggled to bring up the words… but she did. "Um… I was wondering… can I play with you guys?"
There was no answer right away. Chimney and Apis remained silent, looking at each other questioningly. Aeincha already felt she knew their answer. Her head faced down, disappointment and sadness on her face. She knew she wouldn't be accepted. She was far too small. She could never fit in with them. It would never work out. She felt stupid for even trying. Because of her size, they would never accept her like-
"Okay! Sure!"
Aeincha's head shot up in surprise. She couldn't believe her ears. Suddenly, she was lifted lightly in Chimney's hands, the pigtailed girl running around and back onto her pretend-train. Chimney set Aein down by her feet, under the fake controls. Aeincha remained confused as Chimney returned to "driving" her "train." "EAAAHHNN! The tracks are ending!" Chimney screamed. "We're gonna drown! Apis! Activate the brakes!"
Apis pretended to pull on a lever. "It's no use! The brakes are broken!"
"Gyaaah! Quick! Repair-person! Hurry and fix the braaaakes!"
"Huuurryyyyy!" Apis wobbled as the train "sped faster."
"Gyooo-o-o-o-o-o-o!"
Aeincha shook back to reality. Apparently, she was the repair-person. "R-Right!" she turned and bent down before the wall, pretending to crawl through a tiny opening and repair broken wires. "…Ahhh, here's the problem! Someone left chocolate in here."
"Daaah… that was me." Chimney admitted.
"Okay! The brakes are fixed!" Aein announced.
"Apis! Hit the brakes!"
Apis nodded seriously, pulling as hard as she could on the fake lever. Chimney shook from the imaginary force as the "train" was slowly screeching to a "stop." "NYUUAAAHH!" Chimney was blown back by the force, knocking Apis over. Aeincha held tight to the floor to avoid blowing back as well.
The "train" was mere "inches" from the broken "ledge," but it "stopped" just in time. Chimney and Apis recovered, shaking their heads and smiling brightly at their "success." As Aein opened her eyes, she was grabbed in Chimney's hands as the hyper girl raised her in the air. "WE DID IIIIT!"
"YAAAAaaaay!" Apis raised her arms in victory.
"Gyooooooom!" Gonbe was just as excited.
A bright, excited smile appeared on Aein's face. As Chimney kept her sky-high, she stretched her arms and legs in victory. "Yaaaaay!"
That was the day she first met Apis and Chimney. The first time she spoke to normal humans. They were so big. She was nearly 2 inches tall. But they accepted her as if she was as tall as them. They didn't seem to take notice in her size at all. All they saw was just a new potential friend who wanted to play with them. …In fact:
"Oiii! That was FUUUN!" Chimney cheered as the three gathered off of the pretend-train.
"GYoOOOOoom!" Gonbe followed.
"I thought we were gonna CRASH for a minute!"
"Good thing we had our trusty repairwoman!" Apis beamed, smiling down at Aeincha. "Ooh?…" A look of realization appeared. "I'm sorry! I don't think we got your name!"
"Yeeaaah! What is it?" Chimney grinned. ("Gyoooom!")
"I'm Aeincha!" Aein smiled.
"Hi, Aeincha!" Apis greeted. "I'm Apis! This is Chimney, and her cat, Gonbe!"
"Uh… cat?" Aein looked questioningly. "It… looks like a rabbit."
"Nnn…rabbit?" Chimney was confused. ("Gyoooom…")
Aein laughed, "Ha ha ha! Anyway… it's nice to meet you all!"
"So, are you new here?" Apis asked.
"Well, kind of. My family moved here from Lilliput. It's an island of little people, like me. My parents say there's a lot of us around the world. But we mostly stay hidden from regular humans."
"Nnn? Little people?" Chimney kept her excited grin as she and Gonbe looked closer at Aeincha. There was something different about her. Something Chimney hadn't noticed before. But she couldn't put her finger on what. She stared harder and harder at the green-haired girl. And Aeincha smiled back. …Finally, it dawned on her. "AAAAHH!" Chimney screamed in utter panic, and Gonbe mimicked. "Y-Y-You're… TIIINYYYY!"
"Gyom-GYOOOOM!…"
Apis and Aein stared disbelieved, anime-sweatdrops appearing on them. "Chiiimneeey! Of COURSE she's tiny!" Apis pointed out. "She's nearly ANT-size! She's no bigger than your pinky-toe!"
"Aaaah! You KNEW?!" Chimney took Apis's dress, looking furious. "Why didn't you tell me?! Look at her! She's so tiny! I could've stepped on her with my feet! How could you, Apiiis!" Aein giggled happily at their antics.
"Ah ha ha!" Apis laughed. "But I thought you knew! I mean, why else would you make her a repairman?"
"It's just a JOB no one had, yet! We needed one, and SHE came along! NO ONE told me she was TINY-"
"AAAAHHH!" Aeincha screamed, shivering with utter fright.
"What? What is it?" Apis asked as they looked down at her in surprise.
"Y-You guys are…" Aein shivered, pointing at them fearfully, "GIAAANNNTS!"
"AAAAAAAH!" This news took Chimney by great surprise. "I'M GIAAANNT!"
"Gyooooom!" Gonbe was equally surprised.
"APIS!" she took her friend by the shirt again, "WE'RE GIANTS! We might STEP on people! AAAAH!" Chimney looked down frantically, stomping her feet about aimlessly. "KOKORO-SAAAN! Are you THEEERRE? I THINK I STEPPED ON YOOOOUU! AAAAAHHH!…" Chimney began to run around the field uncontrollably. She stopped when she collided with a wall, and fell flat on her back, alongside Gonbe. Seagulls began to flap over their faces, as Apis and Aeincha burst into laughter.
That memory brought a smile to Aeincha. She never understood Chimney sometimes. Whether she was genuine about her realization or not.
Aeincha knocked on the door to her house one day as her parents answered, looking worried. "Oh, Aeinchan!" her mother gasped, bending over. "Where were you?"
"'Hoy, Misses Aeinchan!" a voice said from above.
The parents looked up, and- "AAAAAHHH!"
Two human girls, one with a huge, wide grin, and one with a thick mustard-yellow dress, towered over them. Aein's father stepped back in fright while her mother quivered. "Mom, these are my friends!" Aeincha smiled. "Chimney and Apis! Oh, and Gonbe!"
"Gyooooom!" The blue rabbit opened his mouth wide, startling the parents more.
"It's okay! They're nice! They're really fun and they took me around the city!"
"Are…Are you… sure…" her father stuttered.
"Calm down, Dad! Tomorrow, they wanna take us to try Grandpa Banban's super salty meat!"
"It's so SAAALTYYYYYYY!" Chimney screamed. ("Gyooooooom!")
Chimney really scared her parents. They were more comfortable around Apis. They've both been really great friends since then, but Chimney especially. She remembers when they went to Arctic Training, and met Aisa.
Sometime after they entered Arctic Training, they met with a barefoot girl with a brown, dirty dress and wings. "Hi there!" she greeted back. "Who are you guys?"
"I'm Chimney-chan! This is Apis, and Aeinchan!" the grinning girl introduced.
The winged girl looked more closely at the shivering, tiny girl on Apis's shoulder. "Ohhh! I thought you were a parrot!"
"Mmmmm!" Aein shot her a playful grumpy look.
"I'm Aisa! I'm a Nimbi!"
"Nnn? A Nimbi?" Chimney questioned. ("Gyom-gyom?")
"You know! A sky person!"
"But why are you here?"
"LINE UP, troops!" the Drill Sergeant thundered, and all cadets lined up in a straight row, standing straight. Aeincha hopped off Apis's shoulder and did the same. "It's your first day of training." He spoke as he slowly paced and studied his cadets. "When you graduate from here, you'll hopefully be full-fledged troops, good at combat, spying, or whatever field befits your…" He noticed an empty spot in the line up, looking down and spotting a very tiny girl. "What the?! Who the heck is this?!"
"M-My name's Aeincha." She spoke with a frown. "I'm from Lilliput."
"You can't be in the Kids Next Door like that! Adults will waste you in centiseconds!"
"Heeeeyy!" Chimney shouted. "Who says she can't be in here?"
"I do." He stated. "She wouldn't last in the big field. I'm taking her to transport and having her sent ho-"
"NAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Chimney furiously tackled the older boy, shaking him by his shirt collar. "AEINCHA'S STAYING HERE! SHE'S STAYIN' SMALL AND KICKIN' YOUR TUSHIIIIIIEEEEEE!"
"Ack-ack-ack!" he choked. "Okay okay, fine!" He pushed Chimney off. "See how long she lasts!" he yelled, standing and brushing himself. "Don't whine to me if she gets stomped!"
"YAAAAAAAHHH!"
Aeincha was able to use her tiny size to her advantage. She easily dodged the training robots' shots and crawled into their circuitry to disable them. When her team battled other teams, she was able to best the opponents by sneaking up and tickling them from under their clothing, getting them distracted so the others could run and attack.
In the end, she was allowed in the KND, Sector W7, as Numbuh 76.2. Chimney raised her high as they all cheered in victory.
About a year as a team, a girl named April joined, because her team had been decommissioned. But for the next 2 years, Aeincha had fun with her new friends.
Aisa held her little friend and ran around the treehouse, and Aeincha screamed as she felt like she was flying like an airplane. She was then seated on Gonbe's back, holding on tight and riding him like a horsie. Later, Aeincha sat on the lap of Apis's dress as the religious girl held her copy of the sacred texts open in front of them, reading a page. April was later bent over, looking closely at Aeincha's feet as she carefully painted her toenails different colors. Chimney was then eating popcorn, and when she got a kernel stuck in her teeth, she held Aeincha inside her gaping mouth so she could get it out.
Finally, all five friends and rabbit were riding down one of Water 7's many waterslides, from the top of the fountain, zooming at high speeds toward the ocean. April was in the back, the only one not cheering, Apis in front of her, then Aisa, then Gonbe, then Chimney, with Aeincha seated on her lap. They zoomed straight into the ocean with a great splash. Unfortunately, Chimney was the only one who could swim, but they came out okay.
She had so much fun with her new friends, and her small size made it better. It really wouldn't be the same if she was bigger. Her friendships were practically founded because of her smallness. She wouldn't wanna change that. And Chimney didn't want that to change either. She decided…
Later
After an hour passed, the W7 team came into Aeincha's room. "Oi, Aeincha-chan…" Chimney spoke first. "About what I said in there… I'm sorry-"
"Don't worry, Chimney." She stopped her. "I've been thinking… maybe I overreacted. It was only one mission. And my legs'll be fine in a few days. If I wasn't small… maybe I wouldn't be any good."
"Oiii, I didn't mean that!" Chimney shouted. ("Gyom-gyom!") "I-"
"Hm hm hm! Don't worry, Chimney, I know what you meant! I mean… this is why we're Sector W7! We all have something that makes us different! You're a half-mermaid, Aisa's a Nimbi, April's three years older than us, Apis is an Arceist, Gonbe's a weird cat-"
"Gyom."
"-…and I'm really tiny!" she smiled brightly. "I don't really care if I'm too weak to fight now. You guys accepted me even though I was small. I can't get rid of what made me different. …I'm staying tiny!"
"That's our Aeincha-chan!" Chimney cheered as she raised her friend high.
"Aaaaahhh easy, Chimneeeyy!"
"And if we ever see that fatty again, we'll pop him like a balloon!"
"I've got a new idea for a picture now…" April said.
Somewhere on the sea
The pirate ship sailed into the sunset as Fat Jack munched and chewed on a big, red lollipop when his phone rang. He answered, "Hello? Oi, Captain."
"Did you obtain the sweets?"
"Yeah, Mama, ahhhhh, I got 'em right here. Ah'm bringin' 'em in."
"Was there any trouble?"
"No, Mah, it was jus' some pesky kids."
"Hmmm… interesting. Well, as long as they get to me shortly. You did well, sweetie."
"Mmmm, thanksh, Mah. Ah'll see you in a bit." He hung up and proceeded to eat his lollipop.
Aisa, the Nimbi Who Could Fly
Sector W7 Treehouse
Another peaceful morning over Water 7. It had been 3 days since Aeincha's injury, and the Lilliputian's legs were healed. Already, she was trudging down the hall in her pajamas, rubbing her tired eyes on her long journey to the kitchen, to begin her morning exercise. When she arrived at the living room, she caught notice of a familiar, white-capped barefoot girl sitting on the balcony, on her knees. Aeincha quietly approached her friend Aisa, who stared dreamily at the white, puffy clouds in the heavens.
Aeincha sat down beside her friend's left foot and spoke, "Hey, Aisa!"
Aisa flinched lightly and looked down behind her left. "Oh, hey, Aeincha. Didn't hear you come in!" she smiled.
"Tee hee hee! So, whatcha staring at?"
"Oh… just the clouds." Aisa said, staring back up at the sky. "Aeincha… ever wondered what it looks like above the clouds?"
"Well, I wouldn't know. I'm not the one with wings!" she beamed.
Aisa looked at her with a frown.
"Oh…" Aein frowned, "That's right… you can't-"
"Yeah." Aisa looked away. "I don't really get it either. My mom said that our tribe can't fly, even though we're Nimbi. We're supposed to have ancestry in the sky. So, why can't I fly? I've always wanted to see what it was like above the clouds…"
"Well, you don't need wings to fly, Aisa. The Kids Next Door has plenty of jetpacks. And we fly on our train every other day."
"It doesn't work that way, Aeincha!" Aisa looked at her with furrowed eyes. "Ever wonder why airplanes or helicopters could never see Skypia? The only way to find Skypia is to use wings or take the natural entrances.."
Aeincha stood up and gave a smile. "Well, let's try to make you fly! Come on, I'll help you!"
"Don't you think I tried?" Aisa asked, standing up.
"It doesn't hurt to try some more. Come on!" she ran off excitedly, and Aisa rolled her eyes.
…
"Aaaaannnnd GO!" Aisa began to dash hurriedly around the couch, not stopping for a second as she tried to gain speed. Her feet quickly became sore, but she needed as much momentum as possible. "Aaaannnnd FLY!"
Aisa turned, ran toward, and jumped off the couch, frantically flapping her arms in midair. "OOF!" In the end, she plopped to the floor on her front. Aeincha approached her giant face with a sheepish smile.
"Heheh, heheh. Ooookay. Maybe you don't need a running jump."
Later, they were in Aisa's room, and Aeincha sat on her nightstand, her head moving up-and-down as her Nimbi friend bounced and bounced on her bed. Since running speed wouldn't get wind under her wings, they decided to try jumping. Aisa seemed to get slightly higher, as Aeincha yelled, "Okay! NOW you can try it!"
With a few more jumps, Aisa took a mighty leap forward. "OOF!" She plopped down on the floor with a thud. Aeincha grinned sheepishly at Aisa's dizzy face.
They decided to try a more gentler approach as Aisa was bent over on all fours while a box-fan was blowing forcefully against her, forcing Aisa to squint. Aeincha could see her wings blowing slightly, and she suspected her friend would have liftoff. "Maybe just a BIT more…" Aeincha turned the fan's setting from "High" to "Supah Crazy." The fan blasted wind with incredible force, and she was forcibly pushed backward, going out the window and plopping onto the balcony below.
This gave Aein an idea, and Aisa was now backed against the living room wall, upside-down as the top of her head touched the floor. The blood was rushing to the uncomfortable Aisa's head, and in time she would be lightheaded, so maybe that would enable her to fly. After a while, she got up, and was feeling quite dizzy. Aeincha stood on the floor and watched her friend with excitement, hoping she may fly. But as Aisa wobbled her way, she turned and dizzily fell back, crushing Aeincha under her rear. She was too dizzy to feel her friend's squirming.
Later…
"My head hurts…" Aisa said.
"Let's go to the bathroom, I'll wash your hair." Aeincha offered, hopping off the couch.
They adjourned to the bathroom as Aisa sat in a chair, backed to the sink as she bent her head back into it. Her cap was off, so her hair was under the faucet as Aeincha turned the hot water on. She climbed onto the soap bottle and jumped on the lid to squirt the substance into the sink. Afterwards, she got down, gathered some soap in her tiny hands, and began to scrub Aisa's scalp as hard as she could. It helped to relieve the pain on Aisa's head, even though she could barely feel Aein's scrubbing. "Siiiigh." Aisa breathed. "Maybe my wings were never cut out for flying."
"Maybe you're an earthbender!" Aeincha beamed. "That's why you like being barefoot!"
"I tried earthbending already. That didn't work either."
After Aisa's hair was washed, Aeincha was seated on her shoulder as Aisa walked through the living room. "Maybe your wings are just stiff!" The Lilliputian figured. "Bend over, I'll try to flap them!" Looking unsure, Aisa bent over, and Aein got on her back as she gripped her left wing. The tiny girl tried to haul her wing up and down, but it was surprisingly heavy. At one point, Aeincha tried to forcefully tug on it, and-
"AHHH!" Aisa screamed, quickly standing back straight as Aeincha flung off.
Aeincha got up and rubbed her head. "Okay… you can still feel your wings."
"Siiigh. Maybe it just isn't in Shandian blood. But thanks for trying to help, Aeincha."
"You're welcome." Aein frowned, standing and brushing off. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."
"It's okay." Aisa smiled as she picked her friend up. "Why don't we grab a bite at Grandpa Banban's?" She set the Lilliputian on her shoulder and approached the balcony.
As they were about to walk down the balcony stairs, a chilly wind suddenly came by and blew past their hair, and Aeincha had to hang tight to Aisa's dress. A bright smiled appeared on Aein's face. "That's it!"
"Hm?" Aisa looked curious.
"Maybe the reason you haven't flown is because you never bonded with your natural element!"
"Hmmm… well, now that you mention it."
"Come on: let's try ONE last time!" she gestured Aisa to head back up, and she did so.
The Shandian Nimbi now stood before the balcony's railing, eyes closed and her arms spread out as the peaceful winds chilled her skin. "Aeincha… I don't know. I mean, it's too dangerous to jump-"
"Quit worrying." She cut her off, seated on the railing with a smile. "And you're not gonna jump. Just clear your head of worries, get adjusted to the air, and when you feel the motion in your wings, that's when you fly." Of course, Aeincha just based all this from how she thought elements work.
Aisa just stood there. The wind continued to blow her hair and dress. It was a good feeling, hearing only the sounds of wind and the streaming of the massive fountain's water. Their treehouse was stationed directly on top the fountain, and the view of the expansive city was marvelous. Hundreds of miles above the ground.
Aeincha nodded, feeling that her friend was getting it. In only a few moments, she would be off her feet. However, another forceful wind suddenly came by. "Whoooa-oo-oo!" The Lilliputian lost her balance on the railing. Aisa shot her eyes open wide. "Aaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
"AEINCHA!" Aisa's friend went falling over the balcony to the hundred-mile drop. The Nimbi immediately jumped off, arms stretched directly downward. "UNGH!" She successfully gripped her falling friend, but she herself was about to come in contact with the ground. Aisa held her friend close and shut her eyes tight. The drop seemed inevitable.
But just before she fell past the buildings' roofs, she felt a sudden brush of air, and she continued to fall. Aisa squinted her eyes open, but was surprised when there wasn't ground up ahead. Instead, the ocean's great horizon was drawing closer. She looked down, seeing the town underneath, and looked back, seeing the great fountain draw further from beyond her feet. She faced ahead again, and a wide smile grew on her face. "Hahaha-HYEAAAAHH!"
As she stretched her arms, still holding Aeincha in her left, the Lilliputian opened her eyes as well. Powerful winds brushed their hair as she saw the city passing by from below. She turned around, seeing Aisa's whole body, from her head to her feet, touch nothing. Aeincha stretched her arms, and she felt the sensation, too. "WAAAHOOOO!"
Aisa set Aeincha on her back, and the Lilliputian held tight as her Nimbi friend soared excitedly around the air. She did a few spins as she soared down just above the rooftops, then back to the sky. They both looked back, seeing the water town draw farther and farther away. They faced ahead again, and the puffy clouds were drawing closer. In seconds, the two were above the clouds, and both their minds were filled with excitement and wonder.
Aisa's smile couldn't be more wide, and her eyes never more joy. It was incredible. "I…I can't believe I'm flying!"
"Seeee? You can do ANYthing you set your mind to!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Aisa flew down and blew through some clouds, getting herself and Aeincha wet. "I don't understand… how did it happen?"
"I don't know!" Aein said, holding both arms straight out. The tiny child had never felt this much excitement. "Maybe it just happens when you're in danger! …WAAAAHEEEEEEYYYY!" Aisa did a few more twirls through clouds, but her little friend stayed on her back.
"But this… I'm flying!" Aisa couldn't find the words. "It's just!… so… great!… It's the most wonderful feeling in the world!"
"Well, where you gonna fly TO?"
"I…I dunno!" Aisa began to look worried. "If I land… what if I can't fly again?"
"Don't show fear!" Aeincha cheered. "Just keep flying!"
"Says the girl who's relying on me not to drop her!"
The two continued to fly for several more minutes. The only sounds were that of the wind blowing against their faces.
"If you can only see Skypia if you have wings, shouldn't we be seeing it?" Aeincha asked.
"I dunno. Most clouds in the sky are just plain Island Cloud. There could only be so much in the White Sea."
Eventually, the Nimbi child soared to a random cloud, taking a soft land on her feet. She wiggled her toes on the soft, white substance and bounced a little. She's never felt anything more soft. Feeling clouds under her feet was much more relaxing than earth, or any other solid substance.
She proceeded to walk forward, Aeincha seated on her shoulder as they looked around with wonder. Almost every direction was pure white with cloud, except the bright blue sky above them with the sun lighting up the sea of clouds. They never imagined being up this high; not counting in their ships. Aisa was afraid of stepping into an opening and plummeting both of them to the great sea below.
"Oh?… What's this?" Aisa perked when they found an opening inside a small mount of the cloud. They exchanged curious looks, and Aeincha jumped off her friend's shoulder to go in first. Aisa crouched down and crawled after her, watching as her friend jumped down a series of small footholds. They entered a dark cave inside the Island Cloud, and Aisa watched her little friend run toward a set of ruins. Aisa stepped next to her as both girls looked around marvelously. They didn't expect this to be inside any Island Cloud.
"It's… old ruins." Aeincha spoke. The stone carvings were ancient and withered, depicting images of a Native American-like race, with wings. There were also writings below the images, in a strange language. Aeincha approached the symbols and studied them closely. "Is it… Skypian?"
"It's Ancient Skypian…" Aisa studied as she stepped forward and squatted down to study the markings. "But I… can't read it." It was too bad, thought Aisa to herself. These images looked so familiar. They seem… like her. …Aisa flinched, suddenly feeling a nearby presence. Her attention directed to the entrance. "Someone's coming!"
"Oh?" Aisa snatched her friend in both hands and went to hide behind a ruin. Aisa sat with her back against the monument, clutching a hand over Aeincha's tiny mouth while squeezing her own lips shut. A figure was climbing down the entrance, walking across the soft cloud floor in only sandals. In their right hand, they were clutching some kind of rod. The cave was still too dark to see the figure clearly, but it was a girl, a Nimbi. The girl stopped before the monument and began to stare at the images. Aisa and Aeincha carefully turned around to peek behind. They recognized the girl.
"Hey… it's Jesbi! Supreme Skypian Leader!" Aisa whispered.
Hearing a sound, Jesbi looked to her right. "Prithee, what hath been spying on me?"
The girls flinched slightly, so Aisa put Aeincha on her shoulder as she walked out. "Sorry…" she said. "I was just… flying by and-"
"I am aware." She cut off. "Mere moments ago, I felt a voice in my mind. It doth instruct me to come hither. Pray tell… dost thou know the story behind yon carvings?"
The three looked at the images again. "Uhhh…"
"These be the ancient Nimbi race called the Shandians. They were a race whom were bound to the earth, rather than clouds. 'Twas fair Shandia in their time. Alas, the humans doth come and banish fair Shandians from the land. 'Twere forced to find a way and make a home in the sky."
"I don't remember that part of the history books." Aeincha said.
"History is oft written by those who instruct it. But when the Shandians moved to the sky, they were shunned by the Nimbis of the air, too. So, they were ordered by yon king to live in Skypia's outlands. Soon, matters settled below on the earth. Some Shandians chose to remain below, while others in the sky. They mated with various peoples. Some Shandian descendants take the form of humans, while others hold Nimbi wings. But 'tis a shame, really. To be hated by thine own kind. I, myself, am part Shandian. I do not know wherefore such past hatred for other beings hath sparked. Mayhaps the same humans who reject yonder gods. Things are not entirely different now, but 'tis better. Thou art lucky to have friends like thine." Aisa and Aeincha exchanged sheepish grins.
"So… is that why I couldn't fly?" Aisa asked. "But how did I fly now?"
"It is said that the blessing of Goddess Palutena enables the power of flight in Nimbi. In ancient tales, Shandians art otherwise flightless. Yet, even the goddess's powers bear limits. That may also be wherefore I was signaled to find thee. Mayhaps a message from yon goddess herself."
"Then… can you help us?" Aisa asked. "I wouldn't wanna risk Aeincha's life again."
"I shalt supply you. Let us leave hither." The Nimbi leader walked out first, and Aisa followed.
They climbed out of the cave, and Jesbi handed Aisa a pair of conch-shells with holes like shoes. "These art Jet Dials." Aisa slipped the shells on her feet. "They wilt function like fair jetshoes and allow thee to fly without wings. 'Tis not as satisfactory as unleashing yon true Nimbi spirit, but rather than yon land-dweller jetshoe, it leaves a trail of cloud, not smoke."
Aisa tapped the buttons inside with her toes, making the shoes thrust her forward a little. "Well… they'll come in handy. Thanks, Jesbi."
"My welcome to thee." And with that, Aisa soared away using her new rocket shoes, leaving a trail of clouds as Aeincha held onto her shoulder. Jesbi watched until they were behind the clouds and flew away.
Sector W7 Treehouse
Aisa came in for a calm landing on the balcony, then pulled her Jet Dials off as she walked in. "They're not so bad. Pretty fun." Aisa said.
"It isn't the same as flying normally, is it?" Aeincha said.
"No… nothing will be the same as that. Oh well… at least these Jet Dials will be helpful. Come on, let's go see what everyone else is up to!"
She took a few steps forward through the living room when the rest of Sector W7 ran in. "Oi, there you are!" Chimney yelled. "Where the heck were you on'nanoko-chans?" ("Gyom, gyom!")
"Hm hm hm!" Aeincha smiled. "We were just out!"
"You can say we had our heads in the clouds!" Aisa beamed.
"Oi, head in the clouds? Wha'does that mean?" Chimney asked.
"Oh, Chimney! Don't act so paranoid!" Apis grinned.
"Who wants to go down to Grandpa Banban's?" Aeincha asked eagerly.
"YAAAAEEEEHH!" the girls (except April) cheered ecstatically and scampered down the treehouse.
Apis, Child of Arceus
"In the beginning, there was darkness… then, God Arceus said, 'Man, I can't see a thing in here!' So, He created Goddess Palutena, who blessed our world with light switches. Alas, the light grew too bright. It hurt everyone's eyes. So, He created Goddess Medusa to turn the lights off. And yet, people feared the darkness, temporary though it was. So, Goddess Cresselia was created to brighten our nights with moons."
Apis's face was shining as she read the book to the classroom of toddlers. The room was decorated with religious imagery, such as golden rings with prongs or angel paintings. Apis' friends were in the back of the room behind the younger children, smiling supportively. Well, except, aside from April's common frown, but Chimney's bored expression.
"Ugh, why'd we agree to listen to this story? Apis reads us this stuff every other Sunday!"
"Well, she was never asked to read for a preschool before." Aisa replied. "She's teaching a whole new generation about the creation of the universe! Show a little support."
"Yeah, well my grandma used to live under the Sea God, but she never preaches about him."
"But Arceus had trouble with making the shapes and sizes of His world." Apis continued. "He wasn't good at geometry, you see? So, He created Deoxys, who knew the perfect shapes and sizes for everything and everyone! Even Aeincha there!"
The Lilliputian in question was being huggled by an orange-haired girl like a doll. "Hey, it's my turn!" a brown-haired boy whined, reaching a hand over.
BAM! The door burst open from the impact of a foot kicking it open. A tan-skinned man in a black government suit marched in, wearing a hat over his pale-blonde and a scar across his right eye. Two men in similar outfits and sunshades were behind him. "Alright, kids, class dismissed. Get out!"
"W-What?" Apis stuttered.
"Sir, what's the meaning of this?!" asked the classroom's female teacher, a nun with black hair and blue eyes.
The man, whose name-tag read Corgi, held up a paper. "By order of World Leader Jennifer Bush, the teaching of Arceism is banned in this area. This school is being foreclosed."
"You can't be serious!"
"Yeah!" Apis shouted. "How can you ban Arceism?! It's how we thank the gods for their-"
"SHUT IT!" Apis flinched at Corgi's shout. "According to Lady Jenny, those gods don't belong in this world. Understand? And don't let us catch you reading this junk elsewhere either!" Corgi snatched the book from her hands.
"OI!" Chimney shouted. "Don't talk to my bestie like that!" ("Gyom!")
"Just go home, kids." the teacher said. "Don't get involved in this."
"But Miss Aquaria-!" Apis protested.
"Apis, just take your friends and go home. Please."
"…" Apis bit her lip before turning and stomping out the door. Her friends followed in sympathy; Chimney collected Aeincha from the one girl, but shot a glare at the government man.
Apis's house
"It just can't be legal!" Apis shouted to her grandfather. He had a spiky grey beard and a similar tunic to Apis' dress, except more brownish with green rims and diamond patterns. "They can't just shut down religion, can they?!"
"I'm so sorry, Apis." Grandpa Bokuden patted her head. "But lately, this has been happening all over the world. Why, even 20 years ago, the government was adamant in shutting down Arceism in America. It's why your parents and I were run out and moved here. But I guess even Water 7 is no safe haven…"
"But why, Grandpa?!" Tears welled in Apis' eyes.
"I don't know. Perhaps it was because of what happened 20 years ago…"
"But that wasn't Arceus' fault, was it?! The Negatar turned Him evil! But He's better now! He…"
"Or it could be about the whole Viridi thing that just happened." April reasoned.
"It reminds me of how GUN tried to persecute benders and non-humans." Aisa said. "Except this isn't really GUN's agenda now, is it? Who did those guys work for?"
"You kids probably haven't been taught this…" Bokuden began, "but while Earth is divided into many nations with their own governments, there's a certain group that oversees and manages them. GUN themselves are under their payroll. In the past, they strictly regulated any space travel either to or from our world. And when GUN proposed banning or regulating benders on Earth about 40 years ago, this group supported that cause."
"Are you serious?" Chimney asked. "I feel like the KND would've known all about a group like this!"
"Well, I couldn't answer that question. I was never an operative." Bokuden said. "And I don't really know enough about this 'World Government' to understand their decisions. Still, it's clear they greatly detest Arceism."
"WELL, THEIR JERKS!" Apis stomped. "We need to do something about this!"
"You know we can't just go up against governments, Apis." April said. "It's one of the KND's general rules. We don't get involved with wars, politics, or anything to do with adult governments. Besides, we just got through our own war."
"True." Aeincha frowned. "But what if those government guys were imprisoning kids and forcing them to learn… whatever anti-Arceist stuff they have? The KND should have to do something about that."
"I have an idea." Apis steeled her resolve. "We'll get REAL gods to teach them a lesson!"
"W-What?" Aisa asked.
"Yeah! Don't some of the operatives have the Firstborn living with them? We'll get them to scare some sense into those goons! Quick, let's go to Moonbase!"
"YA-HA!" Chimney cheered in support. "There's some preaching I can get behind!" ("Gyo-hom!" Gonbe lent his support.)
The others could only exchange concerned glances as they followed the two out of the house.
Moonbase
"So, with all that said," Apis recapped to Supreme Leader Cheren, "I was wondering if you could introduce us to Azelf. And maybe call Sector V up, because Dillon has Midna, right?"
"…" Cheren blinked. "Uhhh…look, I don't think I can support this plan."
"What?!"
"First, Azelf doesn't live with my family, and I don't know where she is. Second, this doesn't really feel like a matter the KND deal with. Like, whether or not the government closes down a school or something."
"What if they were closing down a toy store or candy store?! Is that all we should care about?!"
"Uh…" He wouldn't deny that a couple of his sectors did have missions like that earlier in the year, where they had to recover any toy or sweet they could. "Look, all I'm saying is, if kids aren't in danger and no one is being seriously threatened… If this is a government and political decision, then getting involved will create a mess of problems for the KND. I don't want that kind of problem right now."
"DON'T you care about your operatives' happiness?!" Chimney banged Cheren's desk. ("Gyoooooom!" So did Gonbe.)
"I'm sorry… Apis… but I don't really know what to do about this. And I'd advise you to seriously think before you do anything either."
"Hmph…" Apis turned and left the office. "Alright, time for my next plan." She firmly dropped down on her knees, shut eyes tight, and clamped her hands together. "I'll pray to the gods to come down and teach those jerks what's what! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!"
"Are you… praying or using the bathroom?" Aisa cringed.
"Ooooo, a holy toilet." April said. "There's a drawing idea."
"Please don't." Aeincha drooped. "But hey, maybe you could organize a protest! Isn't Index from Sector SA also an Arceist? And there's probably more we can find!"
Chimney walked over and sat on her knees beside her friend. "Look, Apis-chan… I'm probably gonna regret saying this, but… why don't we gather a bunch of operatives and… see if they wanna hear you read from the Holy Book? Maybe that'll make ya feel better."
"Hmm…" Apis stopped praying and faced her friend with a heartfelt smile. "I guess…"
"Actually, I just got another idea." April said.
"Oh yeah?" Aisa asked.
"Yeah. Perhaps we can gather some operatives for some arts and crafts…"
"Huh?!" Chimney asked. "That has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh, you'll see, Chimney…"
Water 7 Church of Arceus
"That's right, get those rings and ponies outta here." Corgi instructed the movers. "All we wanna see here are t's and beards. Good thing I'm not part of the re-education crew 'cause they're gonna have their work cut out for 'em. And make sure you-"
"HERETICS! How DARE you discard our teachings and our existence!"
The bellowing voice nearly stunned the officials to their bones. "What?!" Corgi stormed outside. "HUH?!"
Before his eyes were a blue, quadruped entity with a blue and white body, and a biped with a white and pink body: Dialga and Palkia, Gods of time and Space. …Or rather papier-mâché creations of them, which Aisa and Chimney were operating from inside. Thankfully, the hypno-paint April coated the "gods" with provided convincing, intimidating auras.
"What the hell is this bullcrap?!" Corgi asked.
"We've come answering the prayers of our dear children." Aisa replied, using a voice modifier. Behind the gods, Apis, Aranea Fulbright, Haruka, and other Arceist kids were praying. "We've tolerated your ilk shutting down our churches for too long, but your ignorance toward our existence and the feelings of these children has pushed our holy LIMITS!"
"YEAH!" Palkia's voice bellowed. "So, we're gonna teach you a lesson, Government-sans! Gyom, gyom!"
A Kyogre balloon flew overhead; Eric Horvitz was pedaling the top of it, while Melody used her waterbending to make a great wave flow beneath the balloon. The wave washed over the government workers. A papier-mâché green snake—Sky God Rayquaza controlled by Fybi Fulbright inside—stirred up a whirlwind to chill the soaked officers. Sector RZ were piloting their own Cresselia, hanging a huge bouncy ball painted like the moon. It gave off a bright glow as they dropped the moon and squished the men flat.
"Now leave these grounds and never return!" Aisialga commanded. "Or else you will feel the toll of the ages upon you!"
Secretly, Miyuki Crystal, shrouded by April's cloak paint, focused her timebending over the officers and began to age them. "Ahhh?! AAAAAHH!" Corgi panicked as wrinkles formed on his hands. "MEN, RETREAT! AAAAHH!" The workers fled Water 7, never to return.
Once they were beyond eyesight, the operatives climbed out of their contraptions. "Haha!" Apis beamed. "Man, your paint made 'em look so convincing, April!"
"I aim to impress."
"Hoo," Haruka huffed, "as far as group projects go, that was fun!"
"They doth flee to the hills, didst they not?" Fybi remarked.
"Totally!" Aisa raised a hand, to which her fellow Nimbi high-fived.
"Still, I hope they don't come back, anyway." Aeincha frowned. "Whoever sent them might just send more guys."
"We'll cross that bridge when it comes." Apis said. "And I guess this crazy stunt isn't gonna make the school reopen right away. Still… whoever these government people are, I hope they'll have a little more respect for our wonderful creators!"
Somewhere high above…
"WHAT?! What do you mean the gods scared them away?!" an immature woman with curly hair screamed.
"This is the report we received. What shall we do, Lady Bush?"
"UUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH." was the most sophisticated response befitting one of her position, it seemed. "Well, whatever. The 'gods' wanna play dirty like that, we'll teach them a lesson before long."