The Orb Warriors now arrived in the next fairy tale world.
The planet was surrounded by serene lakes, golden fields, and peaceful villages, yet something felt off.
As they stepped outside, they found themselves near a quiet pond.
And there-standing by the water-was a small, lonely duckling.
The Ugly Duckling.
It turned to look at them, its large, sad eyes filled with self-doubt.
Unlike their previous battles, there was no immediate fight.
Instead, the warriors found themselves talking with the duckling.
It was hesitant at first but eventually opened up.
Ugly Duckling: "I don't belong anywhere... I'm not like the others."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "So what? Who cares what they think?"
The duckling looked down. "I... care."
Heidi sighed, crossing her arms. "Then prove them wrong. Find your own place."
The duckling flinched at her sharp words, and Mike nudged her. "Hey, ease up."
She huffed. "What? I'm telling the truth."
Despite her tone, something in her expression softened-as if she related to the duckling more than she wanted to admit.
Jim and Naomi watched in silence.
Jim (whispering to Naomi): "They don't realize it, do they?"
Naomi (nodding): "They're projecting their own feelings onto the duckling."
Suddenly-
CRACK!
The ground trembled as a massive, shadowy creature emerged from the lake.
Jim's aura sensor detected it as Alucard's monster.
It didn't attack directly-instead, it manipulated the story, making the duckling's transformation impossible.
The duckling's wings became weaker, its reflection distorted, and the other ducks outright disappeared, making it feel completely alone.
Mike and Heidi instinctively jumped to action as they transformed.
Mike used frost magic to freeze it's movements as Heidi miraculously at the same time used her Meat Cleaver to slash it hard making it bleed.
Jim(surprised): "Wait! They are already coordinating when the battle didn't even start?"
Naomi(with a faint smile): "It's actually a good sign."
_ _ _
Throughout the battle, Mike and Heidi found themselves coordinating perfectly.
They weren't just working together-
They were depending on each other.
At one point, the monster unleashed a massive wave of darkness, trying to separate them.
Mike grabbed Heidi's hand, pulling her close.
Mike: "Not letting you go."
For a brief second, she held on tightly.
Then, realizing what she was doing, she let go quickly, acting as if it meant nothing.
Heidi (avoiding eye contact): "Tch. Don't get sentimental."
Mike laughed it off, but deep inside-
They both felt it.
A growing fear.
A fear of losing each other.
They had spent so much time together-fighting, arguing, and growing.
What if one day it all ended?
What if they were forced apart?
Neither wanted to admit it.
So they suppressed it.
For now.
While, Naomi, using her tablet's scanner, found a solution.
Naomi: "The duckling's transformation isn't gone-it's just being blocked. If we restore its confidence, the curse will break!"
Jim nodded. "That means we have to make it believe in itself again."
Mike and Heidi turned to the duckling.
Mike knelt down beside it. "You already have the strength. You just don't see it yet."
Heidi hesitated but then gently placed a hand on its head.
Heidi: "Don't be afraid to change."
The duckling looked at them, the look of confidence, encouragement and resolve-
And for the first time-
It found something different in their eyes, that there was still hope.
It started to cling to that little hope.
Then—
As it gained confidence little by little, a brilliant light engulfed it-
And when the glow faded-
A majestic swan stood in its place.
The story was back on track.
Alucard's monster, now weakened, had no choice but to retreat.
_ _ _
Back on the ship, the group was resting after the long battle.
Mike and Heidi sat in their usual spots, but something felt different.
They weren't bickering.
They weren't teasing.
Just... thinking.
Both of them had felt something during the battle.
Something they weren't ready to admit.
They didn't want to be separated.
They relied on each other too much now.
Mike leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "You ever think about what happens when this journey ends?"
Heidi glanced at him but quickly looked away. "No. That's a stupid thing to think about."
Mike smirked. "Yeah... I guess."
Silence.
Jim and Naomi watched from a distance.
Jim: "They don't even realize they're wishing for the same thing."
Naomi (softly smiling): "Let them figure it out on their own."
As their ship soared toward the next world, two things were clear-
The fairy tale war wasn't over yet.
And Mike and Heidi's feelings-
Were only growing stronger.
Even if they refused to admit it.
The Next Day....
The next fairy tale world was breathtaking-a kingdom filled with tall towers, lush forests, and golden sunsets.
This was the Rapunzel Planet, where the famous story was unfolding.
Mike, Heidi, Jim, and Naomi arrived in a small village near the kingdom, blending in as travelers.
They followed the classic tale-Rapunzel trapped in the tower, longing for freedom, and the prince discovering her and sneaking in to visit her.
Watching them interact, Mike and Heidi couldn't help but feel... something.
Mike scoffed. "So, she's locked in a tower her whole life, and some dude just climbs in and sweeps her off her feet?"
Heidi smirked. "Sounds like something you'd try, considering how you flirt with every girl you meet."
Mike grinned. "Jealous?"
Heidi immediately rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Tch. Not in the slightest."
Jim and Naomi, standing nearby, exchanged knowing glances.
Jim: "They're learning, even if they won't admit it."
Naomi (smirking): "At this rate, they'll be the last ones to realize it themselves."
Just as Rapunzel and the prince were about to confess their love,
BOOM!
The sky darkened as a massive beast descended from the clouds.
It was Draven's monster detected according to Jim's aura sensor.
It was a grotesque, winged creature that could control vines and hair-like tendrils, twisting them into deadly whips and restraints.
Rapunzel's long hair became the monster's weapon, trapping both her and the prince in its grasp.
Mike and Heidi immediately jumped into battle as they transformed.
Mike used Flames from his Wand while Heidi followed up with her reckless frying pan smash but it was almost of no use as Heidi was knocked out by the tendrils falling on Mike.
Mike (annoyed): "Oomf! Not again? You are choking me."
Heidi (frustrated): "As if I wanted to!"
Naomi had hands on her head. "There we go again."
But before Jim was about to comment, he noticed Mike and Heidi standing back up giving each other a knowing nod.
Jim smiled.
Then—
Mike used his Wand to use Gravity magic limiting the monster's movements as Heidi took that chance to heat up her fork, channeling her strength to burn past the tendrils.
But, the tendrils regenerated within a short period of time as the monster broke free of the Gravity spell.
But they didn't stop there.
Mike used Lightning magic to paralyze and electrocute it while Heidi launched her knives at high speed hitting it's chest hard enough for it to growl, making it shake it's tendrils randomly.
Like that, they continued their attacks with natural sync for minutes with the monster's tendrils continuously growing back every time.
Gradually as the battle intensified, they were slowly getting overwhelmed at every turn not able to keep up with the monster.
Even their coordination wasn't enough this time.
But as they fought, they kept hearing Rapunzel and the prince's words.
Even while trapped, they refused to give up on each other.
Rapunzel: "I trust you! I know we can break free together!"
The prince: "I will never abandon you!"
Their unwavering bond fueled their strength, and together, they were slowly breaking free from the monster.
Mike and Heidi, hearing this, felt something stir within them.
For a brief moment-
Their attacks synchronized perfectly.
Mike's lightning magic and Heidi's fork attacks flowed together seamlessly, pushing the monster back.
Heidi, breathing heavily, looked at Mike. "We... actually fought well just now."
Mike grinned. "Maybe we should listen to the lovebirds more often."
Heidi turned away, flustered. "Tch. Don't get used to it."
But deep inside-
They both felt something new.
Something they weren't ready to admit.
_ _ _
As the battle continued with boosted confidence, Mike and Heidi slowly realized that their usual attacks wouldn't be enough.
Naomi, observing the battle, suddenly shouted .
"Listen, you two! Your power increases when you trust each other. If you want to win, fight together-not just side by side!"
Mike and Heidi exchanged a look.
Then, without hesitation-
Heidi spun her forks rapidly, generating a tornado of silver energy, while Mike infused it with golden flames.
Together, they hurled the blazing whirlwind at the monster, tearing through its tendrils and wings.
The monster shrieked, trying to regenerate-
But Mike keeping his distance, summoned a large amount of wide vines(using nature magic) piercing its chest,
While Heidi struck its weak point with a piercing, high-speed fork attack.
With one final roar-
The monster exploded into light, completely vanquished.
Mike and Heidi landed, panting.
Naomi smirked. "So, you finally fought as one. Took you long enough."
Jim laughed. "I'd call that a first step."
Rapunzel and the prince, now free, embraced each other, their love finally realized.
Mike and Heidi watched silently.
Jim, smirking, leaned toward Naomi. "Think they learned anything?"
Naomi chuckled. "Oh, they learned. They just won't admit it."