Month: July 2026

“You stole all the food in your kingdom?” Trini asked King Dedede.

“Yeah, not gonna lie, I was a feather-brained jerk back then,” answered King Dedede. “When you hang out with Kirby long enough, you learn a better way to do things. Although, gotta say, a lot of mysterious evil forces have a tendency to possess me!” By then, the TARDIS made its arrival sound.

“Did she win?” asked Bandee. Sty checked the computer.

“…That energy signature is moving towards us, so I’d say no!” she said. The TARDIS fully materialized and everyone rushed out.

“Doctor?” asked Jamie.

“King Dedede, raise all defenses!” the Doctor panted.

“Is it anything to do with that energy thing Sty found?” asked King Dedede.

“That ‘energy thing’,” replied the Doctor, “is a Transformer’s Spark! Specifically, it’s Starscream’s Spark! He’s rebuilt his body and-!”

“Starscream?! The Decepticon Second-in-Command?!” yelped King Dedede. He turned to Bandee. “Get every single fighter ready! I ain’t having no Decepticon flying around here! Especially not Starscream!”

“Yes, Sir!” replied Bandee.

“Sire, it’s worse than you know!” interjected Meta Knight. “He’s huge! And I mean huge for a Transformer!”

“Big enough to need us?” asked Jason.

“I’m afraid we cannot defeat him at our size,” replied Meta Knight.

“No, but the Rangers DO have a weapon roughly Starscream’s size!” realized the Doctor. “You lot suit up and summon your Megazord!”

“Got it!” replied Jason. “Guys, IT’S MORPHIN’ TIME!” The Rangers then pulled out their buckles and inserted their coins, then thrust their buckles out in front of them.

“MASTODON!” called Zack.

“PTERODACTYL!” announced Kimberly.

“TRICERATOPS!” shouted Billy.

“SABER-TOOTHED TIGER!” called Trini.

“TYRANNOSAURUS!” finished Jason. Spandex suits and matching helmets then appeared on them, Zack in a black Mastodon-themed suit, Kimberly in a pink pterodactyl one, Billy in a blue triceratops suit, Trini in a yellow Smilodon suit, and Jason in a red Tyrannosaurus Rex suit. The Sailor Senshi blinked.

“…I swear I saw those suits before,” said Sailor Mars.

“Hang on, the Power Rangers are real?!” asked Sailor Moon. “But they’re ripoffs of our Super Sentai teams!”

“Ripoffs?!” protested the Pink Ranger.

“Now now,” called the Doctor, “both Super Sentai and Power Rangers exist. And right now, the place and time to argue about who is better is not here, not now! Not with a Megazord-sized Starscream on his-!” There was a boom and the castle shook! “Correction, a Megazord-sized Starscream is already here!”

---

Starscream cackled as he sent Waddle-Dees outside the castle running in a panic. “Oh, when organics are so small!” he chortled. Just then, the earth shook again, making Starscream wobble. “What the-?! That’s not from my footsteps!” He was right. It came from five robots that rose from beneath the earth. There was a red T-Rex that reminded Starscream of the Dinobot leader, a blue triceratops, a yellow Smilodon, a black mastodon, and a pink pterodactyl. He then briefly saw the Rangers leap up into their respective beasts. The triceratops and the Smilodon then folded their tails back and their feet, then joined at the T-Rex’s legs, making tank treads, then the mastodon turned around and split its body in half so that massive guns linked up with the back of the T-rex while the head of the mastodon made armor that protected the linkages between the T-Rex, the triceratops, and the Smilodon. The pterodactyl then perched itself on the war machine’s back, then it opened fire! Starscream rolled out of the way and laughed. “You know, when you combine, you’re supposed to be a bigger robot!” he cackled. “Not a bigger vehicle!”

“Keep talking and we’ll show you!” replied the Red Ranger from the loudspeaker. “Activating Megazord Battle mode!” The tank treads then pulled the machine up to become legs, the guns folded into themselves to become arms, the pterodactyl folded its wings and became chest armor, and the T-Rex head folded down to reveal a head that had a mouthplate and a pair of curved horns pointing upwards. The completed Megazord then struck a pose. “POWER SWORD!” called the Red Ranger. A giant sword then fell from the sky and buried itself into the earth. The Megazord pulled the sword out and swung it, but Starscream leapt out of the way.

“HAH! A CLUMSY WEAPON FOR PRIMITIVES!” cackled the oversized Decepticon.

“HEY! SCREAMER!” called King Dedede’s voice. The Warp Star then flew straight at Starscream’s face before turning sharply upwards. It was carrying Kirby, Meta Knight, Bandee, and King Dedede! The Warp Star flew all around Starscream like an annoying mosquito! Starscream decided that the best way to deal with a mosquito like the Warp Star and its passengers was to swat it! The Warp Star stayed out of reach. The Rangers then heard the TARDIS arriving. The Doctor, her companions both past and present, and the Sailor Senshi then piled in.

“HEY!” protested the Yellow Ranger. “Kinda cramped in here now!”

“Doctor, what’s going on?!” asked the Red Ranger.

“Power Rangers, you need to let the Sailor Senshi charge up the Megazord’s sword!” replied the Doctor. “With their power augmenting the power of the Morphin Grid, it should be enough to destroy Starscream’s body!”

“How do you know?” asked the Blue Ranger.

“I don’t. I’m hoping,” replied the Doctor. She got to work as the Sailor Senshi charged their magic.

“Hey, Doctor!” called Jamie. “That star of Kirby’s is getting slower!”

“Doctor, you tied the wrong wires together!” Tysar yelped. “You must concentrate!”

“I AM concentrating!” insisted the Doctor.

“Doctor, we have to unleash our power now!” warned Sailor Mercury. The Sailor Senshi WERE looking a little pained.

“Right! NOW!” called the Doctor. The Sailor Senshi channeled their powers into the sword.

“All right! Here we go!” called the Red Ranger.

“Kirby, BACK AWAY!” warned the Doctor over the loudspeaker.

---

“Poyo?” asked Kirby as he looked back. His eyes bugged out and he flew the Warp Star away from the sword!

“That’s it! Run, you-!” taunted Starscream. The sword then sliced through Starscream, the energies of the attack coursing through his body. He then faded to gunmetal gray and exploded! His Spark was flung beyond Popstar’s atmosphere.

---

“YES!” cheered the Doctor.

“We did it!” called the Red Ranger.

“That…was…AWESOME!” cheered Sailor Moon. “Girls, maybe we should get Luna and Artemis to get us a robot!”

“Usagi, you can’t be serious!” protested Sailor Mars. “We don’t need a giant robot!”

“But what if Godzilla attacks us?!” argued Sailor Moon.

“Godzilla’s a piece of fiction,” replied Sailor Mars.

“…Um, actually-,” interjected the Doctor.

“We met the big guy before,” said the Black Ranger. “Rita Repulsa’s doing.”

“WHAT?!” yelped Sailor Mars. “But someone would have noticed! I’d have heard about it!”

“…Did you learn about the Zygon Gambit with the Loch Ness Monster?” asked the Doctor. “Or the Yetis in the London Underground? Or all the Kamen Riders running around? Or the Ultramen? Or about the Dalek Civil War in Shoreditch, London?”

“…What?” asked Sailor Moon. The Doctor rolled her eyes.

“Your species has the most amazing capacity for self-deception matched only for its ingenuity when trying to destroy itself!” she muttered.

---

The Rangers and Sailor Senshi powered down after the fight and everyone returned to Castle Dedede for a huge feast. Usagi felt right at home, sitting next to King Dedede and Kirby and eating as much as they did. Rei just rolled her eyes. “You know, the future Queen of Earth over there,” she said to Kimberly, “is gonna need a big dress size.”

“Hopefully she’ll rule with grace still,” remarked Kimberly.

“Ah, let the lass eat!” protested Jamie. “We all earned it!”

“King Dedede, your chefs should be proud!” praised Zoe. “This is delicious!”

“You should take some home with you!” offered King Dedede. “Even a big guy like me can’t eat it all!”

“That is a remarkable turnaround from your first meeting with Kirby,” said Meta Knight.

“Let’s say I learned how to be a proper king over the years,” replied King Dedede.

---

After the feast, King Dedede had the leftover food packaged up and distributed among his friends. The Doctor then took her companions back to the TARDIS. “Farewell, King Dedede!” she called. “Your rule will be a long one and a prosperous one!”

“You sure you should be telling me my future like that?” asked King Dedede.

“Trust me, I’m securing history by telling you,” replied the Doctor. She then shut the TARDIS door as Kirby called out “POYO!” in a happy farewell. Jason and his friends were in disbelief at the size of the TARDIS interior.

“It really IS bigger on the inside!” said Trini.

“Always has been,” replied the Doctor. “Aha! Angel Grove! All set!”

“All right!” cheered Jason. “Can’t wait to tell Zordon and Alpha about all this!”

“Give them my regards, will you?” asked the Doctor. She then set the switch and the Power Rangers and the food they took vanished. “Now, you girls!” she said to the Sailor Senshi.

“Hey, Doctor,” interjected Minako, “do you know Setsuna personally?”

“Oh yes,” replied the Doctor. “In fact, she was one of the Grouping Victims. Tysar can confirm that one.”

“Ugh, we had to tour my people’s ancestral home world of Skaro,” grumbled Tysar. “All while dealing with a Krynoid!”

“There we are!” called the Doctor once she finished. She then flicked the switch. “Good luck!” she called. The Sailor Senshi waved as they and the food they took vanished.

“I guess it’s us next,” remarked Jamie.

“So it is,” replied the Doctor. “But this time, no memory erasure.”

“Good, because I don’t think I can forgive the Time Lords for that,” said Zoe.

“I still haven’t,” said the Doctor.

“Hey, Doctor…” said Jamie, “do you…well…do you ever check on your friends?”

“Constantly,” answered the Doctor. “Yes, even you two. Nineteen grandchildren? Your five daughters really made the family big!” Jamie beamed with pride.

“Aye, and a joy they all are!” he said. “Come visit when you can! I’d be more than proud!”

“Will do, Jamie McCrimmon! Live your life and live it well!” Jamie waved goodbye as he and his share of the food vanished. “And Zoe, did you really name your son after-?”

“I did!” confirmed Zoe. “It’s funny, I didn’t know it at the time, but all those adventures we had were at the back of my mind throughout my life!”

“No method of mind-wiping is perfect, Zoe. And our friendship is proof of that. Good luck in your third term, Madame President! You’re the perfect leader for Earth!”

“Do come visit!” replied Zoe as she and her last share of food vanished. The Doctor smiled as she recalled all the adventures she had during her second incarnation. She then frowned as she recalled Omega.

“Come along, you two,” she said to Tysar and Sty. “That whole adventure gave him the time he needed to cause another mess!” She set the TARDIS in motion!

---

In the depths of space, Starscream’s Spark floated helplessly. “I’LL BE BACK!” he promised. “EVEN IF IT TAKES A THOUSAND YEARS, I WILL BE REVENGED ON YOU ALL!!!”

The remaining team members were back at Castle Dedede on Mt. Dedede. “So the whole idea behind that Gourmet Race you lot were doing,” said Jamie, “was to eat as much as you can while going as fast as you can?”

“Yeah, it’s been that way since my early years with Kirby,” remarked King Dedede. “And hoo BOY! The guys making antacids make quite a tidy profit!”

“I can imagine,” said Billy Cranston. “That sounds…rough on your stomach.”

“Sire,” said Bandee, “the results of the race came in. Looks like the race was ended early when we all crashed into the TARDIS.”

“Of course,” sighed King Dedede. “All right, Bandee, rip the band-aid off. Say Kirby won.”

“Well, that’s the thing,” said Bandee, “all four of us were the lowest scoring racers. You were last place, Kirby was 15th, Meta Knight was 14th, and I was 13th-.”

“Wait, Kirby lost too?!”

“Yeah, the winner was Rick. He and those clones of his counted as one racer, according to the judges.”

“HOW DO THEY FIGURE THAT?!” protested King Dedede.

“Well, the hive-mind nature of him and the clones,” said Bandee, “made it so that they all could plan more effectively. The judges decided to add up all the totals he and his clones each ate and combine them into one grand total.”

“Okay, I ain’t putting up with this!” snapped King Dedede. “From now on, no more cloning to try and win a Gourmet Race! That’s a Royal Decree!”

“Sounds fair,” remarked Kimberly. As the discussion went on, Sty was working on a computer. Billy looked over.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“The computers on Meta Knight’s ship,” explained Sty, “detected an energy signature at the Doctor’s position. I’m cross-referencing it with the computers in my PAK to see if the Irkens encountered this before.” Just then, the computer beeped. “AHA! There IS a match! Let’s see-!” Her face fell. “…By Tak!”

“That sounds bad,” said Jason.

“My people more than encountered the energy signature…we fought it once!” explained Sty. “Well, at least a faction!”

---

The Doctor and Zoe were a bit surprised. This didn’t look anything like the room they entered on the Gonds’ homeworld when they last took the test. There were Waddle-Dees everywhere and they seemed to be building something. There was scaffolding surrounding the object in a square fashion. The object was roughly 40 to 41 meters tall, at least by the Doctor’s estimates, but it was covered by some cloth. “Well, at least we know why the Krotons weren’t draining the mental energy of those that passed the test anymore,” remarked Zoe.

“That’s a lot of welding tools,” observed Sailor Mercury.

“Something crystalline Krotons shouldn’t need,” said the Doctor. “Whatever that is, it’s not being grown like the Dynatrope was.”

“Then are we really sure it IS the Krotons?” asked Zoe.

“No, no we’re not,” confirmed the Doctor. She then approached the scaffolding and climbed up. She stopped on the middle walkway and reached for the cloth. She grabbed a bit of it, then pulled as hard as she could. The cloth slid off the object and reached the floor. The Doctor looked up and gasped! It was a humanoid robot with jet parts attached to it! The red-orange trim on the otherwise white and blue body as well as the evil-looking purple face on the wings was all she needed to know. “…He scavenged Kroton technology!” she whispered. “He’s alive and he scavenged Kroton technology to get a slave force to rebuild his body!”

“Doctor?” called Zoe.

“We’re all in great danger!” replied the Doctor. “We have to destroy this thing!”

“Ah ah AH!” cackled a nasally voice. “Naughty naughty! You Time Lords should know better than that!” An orb of pulsating light appeared.

“…Rebuilding your body after it was destroyed?” the Doctor asked the orb. “You know that they’re techno-organic these days, right?”

“Now you see why I’m not eager to go back!” replied the orb.

“Doctor, do you know this energy being?” asked Sailor Mercury.

“It’s not an energy being, not really,” replied the Doctor. “…It’s the Spark of a Transformer.”

“A Transformer?” asked Sailor Mercury. “You mean like those toys of robots turning into vehicles that the Americans made out of the Diaclone and Microman lines?”

“TOYS?!” spluttered the orb. “WE ARE MORE THAN MERE TOYS, GIRL!”

“And their war was VERY real,” continued the Doctor. “…Thankfully, it’s past events in this time.”

“Yes, my beloved metal world is a techno-organic wasteland, thanks to those Maximals!” snarled the Spark.

“You mean paradise,” corrected the Doctor.

“So you’re from Cybertron’s Great War?” asked Zoe.

“Indeed,” replied the Spark. “Permit me to introduce myself. …AIR COMMANDER STARSCREAM OF THE DECEPTICON BATTLEFLEET!”

“How did you come to control Kroton technology?” asked the Doctor. “They won’t like that.”

“The Krotons were long dead by the time I discovered their technology, Doctor,” explained Starscream. “It was just enough to figure out the brightest minds, at least among the Waddle-Dees. I have to admit, they can apply the Energon Refining Formula like no one’s business.”

“So you use the Krotons’ learning machines to suss out the brightest Waddle-Dees to build you a new body. But that must take a phenomenal amount of Energon! I mean, look at the size of it! Your original body was only 5 meters! And how do you solve the shifting of limbs, internal mechanics, and armor rearrangement without a Transformation Cog?”

“Who says I don’t have one? BEHOLD!” A mechanical arm carrying a cog-like device then descended from the ceiling and inserted it into the hip. The Waddle-Dees then quickly adjusted everything and closed the opening.

“T-Cog integration complete, Master,” reported a Waddle-Dee. “The cloned T-Cog works well.”

“Excellent!” praised Starscream as his Spark pulsed with pride.

“Starscream, you need to come with me and be returned to your own time!” insisted the Doctor.

“Actually, Doctor, I AM in my own time,” corrected Starscream. “That chronal surge brought me back from Earth’s prehistoric past and put me back here, where and when I belong.”

“I don’t think I understand why you need to build a body in the first place,” said Sailor Mercury. “What happened to the original?”

“Glad you asked,” replied Starscream. “I always like recounting this thrilling tale. Tell me, what time do YOU come from?”

“…From the 1990’s.”

“Ah, so us Decepticons restarted our war with the Autobots a decade before your time! This happens in your future and led to the downfall of the Decepticons, so for me, it’s ancient history. I fell defending my leader, Galvatron, against the most powerful enemy of all; the planet-sized Transformer and Dark God of our pantheon, UNICRON! My original body was destroyed, but, miraculously, my Spark endured! Drifting helplessly through the depths of space, beyond the reach of time itself! It was maddening, seeing the Decepticons lose the Great War and the Autobots claiming Cybertron! Even when both factions evolved into the respective Predacons and Maximals, it still went nowhere! Not even the transwarp aperture the Darksyde opened could bring victory! I followed the ship and the pursuing Axalon and participated in the Beast Wars during Earth’s prehistoric past, but it was all for naught and I was stuck! …At least, until a chronal surge brought me back to this time.”

“That is all a lie!” called a voice with a Hispanic accent! The Doctor, Zoe, and Sailor Mercury turned to see Kirby, Meta Knight, and the rest of the Sailor Senshi in the room!

“Get out of here!” protested the Doctor.

“SECURITY!” shrieked Starscream. “DON’T YOU WADDLE-DEES PRACTICE IT?!”

“My apologies, Doctor,” said Meta Knight, “but we needed to get inside and help you defeat this Decepticon while he lied!”

“Not everything he said was a lie,” replied the Doctor. “Galvatron and Unicron were involved, yes, but here’s the truth; Galvatron was the reconstruction and warping of the original Decepticon leader, Megatron, through Unicron’s efforts. Megatron was tossed out of an airlock by Starscream after being brutally wounded. When he was rebuilt into Galvatron, he returned to Cybertron and shot his treacherous second in command here, turning his body to brittle metal that fell apart.”

“WHETHER HE’S GALVATRON OR MEGATRON, HE WAS STILL A FOOL!” shrieked Starscream. “THE AUTOBOTS WOULD HAVE LOST EONS AGO HAD I BEEN THE ONE CALLING THE SHOTS! CYBERTRON WOULD HAVE REMAINED A METAL WORLD!”

“Master!” called a Waddle-Dee. “We have integrated your royal attachments to your body! They will attach themselves when you assume robot mode and detach and follow you when in alt-mode!”

“Excellent!” praised Starscream. “Begin Spark Integration!” The body’s Spark Chamber opened and Starscream’s Spark flew into it. The chamber closed, then the optics switched on to shine blood-red! A smirk crossed the face as Starscream examined himself. “A perfect fit!” Shoulder armor then attached itself to his shoulders as a gold crown with red gemstones fitted itself onto his head and a cape was attached to his back. The Doctor then addressed the team.

“No arguments now,” she said. “When I tell you to run…”

“We run,” confirmed Zoe. “I see that hasn’t changed.”

“Unfortunately,” sighed the Doctor. Starscream then addressed the Waddle-Dees.

“Thank you all for your dedication and wonderful service. But I am more suited to the exclusive company…of TITANS!” He aimed his new Null Ray at the Waddle-Dees. Sailor Mercury then summoned a harp.

“MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!” she announced. Streams of water then sailed through the air and struck Starscream. Ordinarily, it would have knocked someone over, but for someone of Starscream’s current size…he just blinked as he looked at his now wet foot.

“…You realize that it would take a long time for water to do any damage to me?” he scoffed.

“I don’t know, it served as the perfect distraction,” replied Sailor Mercury.

“Distraction for what?” asked Starscream.

“MOON TIARA ACTION!” called Sailor Moon’s voice. Starscream looked to see Sailor Moon fling her tiara like a frisbee as it turned into a white energy crescent. The attack struck him in his left optic!

“ARGH!” he cried aloud as he covered his optic. He then snarled. “Why you platinum-furred ape! PREPARE FOR OBLIVION!” He then raised his fist!

“RUN!” shouted the Doctor. Everyone dashed for the TARDIS. It took off quickly as the Waddle-Dees ran from the facility. Starscream snarled.

“Running away won’t help you, Doctor!” he promised. His cape, shoulder armor, and crown flew off as he transformed and burst out through the facility’s roof, his garb following close behind. He set a course for Mt. Dedede.

The Doctor finally broke off the hug. “But…but how?!” she asked. “The Time Lords wiped your memories of our adventures!”

“We can’t exactly explain it,” replied Zoe. “One moment, we fell asleep, then the next, we woke up in some strange room in the TARDIS with all our memories restored.”

“And this room had different control panels and all sorts of screens and roundels and-!” continued Jamie.

“The Remembered TARDIS!” gasped the Doctor.

“The what?” asked Jamie.

“It’s how I remember the TARDIS, Jamie,” replied the Doctor. “It was created when UNIT made a Time Window. And it’s powered by memories of past and future adventures. During an adventure where I had to deal with a destroyer, it must have latched onto everyone’s memories, from my past lives to all the companions I traveled with. The added side effect must have been to restore your memories.”

“Well, all the clutter certainly matched the TARDIS,” remarked Jamie.

“You really could have spent some time dusting it when we were travelling with you,” agreed Zoe.

“OI!” protested the Doctor.

“Not much has changed,” remarked Tysar. “There’s still some odds and ends everywhere inside.”

“See here-!” snapped the Doctor. Her sonic screwdriver then beeped. She checked it and blinked. “…Well, that’s a bit odd,” she said.

“What’s wrong?” asked Sty.

“It turns out there was a chronal surge here earlier,” explained the Doctor. “Not sure where it came from and who it plucked. …How about this, let’s introduce ourselves.”

---

Soon, everyone knew everyone else’s names. The Sailor Senshi were Usagi Tsukino as Sailor Moon, Ami Mizuno as Sailor Mercury, Rei Hino as Sailor Mars, Makoto Kino as Sailor Jupiter, and Minako Aino as Sailor Venus. The other teenagers were Jason Lee Scott the original Red Power Ranger, Zack Taylor the original Black Ranger, Kimberly Hart the original Pink Ranger, Billy Cranston the original Blue Ranger, and Trini Kwan the original Yellow Ranger. It was decided that the Rangers would stay with King Dedede, Sty, Jamie, and Bandee while Kirby, the Doctor, Tysar, the Sailor Senshi, Meta Knight, and Zoe would investigate the remaining chronal surge victim. Given the passenger limitations on Kirby’s Warp Star, The Doctor’s team opted for the TARDIS. Naturally, the Sailor Senshi, having never been in a TARDIS before, didn’t initially think they would all fit inside and were astounded by Time Lord Dimensional Engineering! “Impossible!” gasped Sailor Mercury. “The sheer amount of power alone-!”

“Aye,” confirmed Jamie as he and Zoe looked around the TARDIS. “That’s what was going on in our heads when we each first stepped into this bonnie blue place.” He patted the console as if greeting an old friend. The TARDIS beeped appreciatively.

“Even though you’ve redecorated, Doctor,” said Zoe, “it still feels like I’ve come home!” A smile crossed her face.

“Now, Ms. Mizuno,” said the Doctor, “I’d love to give a lecture on how the TARDIS is bigger on the inside, but we’re pressed for time.”

“Good luck, Doctor,” said Jamie as he headed to the doors. “And do try to give the new ones a smooth takeoff, aye?” He then left the TARDIS as the Doctor bridled at that remarked.

“A smooth takeoff?!” she protested as she set the coordinates. “A smooth takeoff?! Infernal cheek!” She pulled the takeoff lever and the TARDIS made its usual noise. Zoe looked around with a smile on her face as memories came flooding to the forefront of her mind.

“This thing’s moving?!” asked Sailor Venus.

“Only a short distance, relatively speaking,” replied the Doctor. “I figured we should at least stay in the current time zone.” The TARDIS then made its usual arrival noise. “And there we are!” She switched on the scanner and got a view of being inside a building. “Right then!” she declared. “Let’s go see!”

---

The group stepped out to see a Waddle Dee standing next to a door. “Hello there!” called the Doctor. “We’re here to help!” The Waddle-Dee was gobsmacked at the whole thing.

“How did you get here?!” he demanded. “This is the Learning Hall! Only authorized students may enter here!”

“Learning Hall?” repeated Zoe. She then looked at the Doctor with a nasty theory. “Doctor, you don’t think-?”

“I’m hoping not, Zoe,” replied the Doctor, correctly guessing Zoe’s theory. Just then, a Waddle-Dee stepped out.

“High Mind Waddle-Dee!” yelped the guard Waddle-Dee.

“High Mind?” asked Zoe. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes, if it IS them,” recalled the Doctor, “then their High Minds should have had their mental energy drained.”

“Doctor, Zoe, do you know who’s behind this?” asked Sailor Jupiter.

“Yes, but something just doesn’t make sense,” replied the Doctor.

“Would they have made this kind of machine?” asked Sailor Mercury as she pointed out a machine with a headset, buttons, and a screen. The Doctor and Zoe’s eyes went wide.

“I’m afraid they would,” remarked the Doctor. “That test machine all but confirms it, doesn’t it, Zoe?”

“The Krotons,” confirmed Zoe. “But how is one of their victims still alive?”

“Maybe something went wrong with their Dynatrope.”

“Three this time?!” The Guard Waddle-Dee said to his compatriot. “We’d have to kidnap them from Mt. Dedede itself!”

“There’s no other way!” replied the High Mind Waddle-Dee. “Our master was most insistent.”

“…Singular,” observed the Doctor. “Maybe it’s just ONE Kroton.”

“It’s still dangerous,” remarked Zoe. “And we may not be able to obtain enough sulfuric acid.”

“Perhaps we don’t need it yet,” mused the Doctor. She then waved her arm to attract the Waddle-Dees’ attention. “Excuse me! Is your master functioning on a Waddle-Dee only High Mind policy?”

“Well, no,” replied the High Mind Waddle-Dee.

“Splendid,” declared the Doctor as she turned to sit at the test machine…only to see Zoe already there! “ZOE!” she protested.

“Don’t argue, Doctor!” retorted Zoe. “I’m too old for that these days!” She pressed the start button and a series of mathematical symbols rotating in two rings appeared on the screen. Zoe then pressed a sequence of buttons and some of the symbols vanished while the others arranged themselves into a formula. Zoe smiled, then pressed the start button again and performed a different formula. This went on for a while until the test was over. She took off the headset and sighed. “…Maybe this is related to the Krotons’ brainwashing,” she said, “but it’s nice to know I’ve still got it!”

“…No, I think we can chalk that up to appropriately-applied pride to your skills, Zoe,” remarked the Doctor.

“That seems really simple,” said Sailor Mercury. “I want to try it.” Zoe’s smile vanished.

“Sailor Mercury, you can’t-!” she protested.

“The Kroton asked for three this time,” reminded the Doctor. “And as she’s the smartest of the Inner Sailor Senshi, Mercury IS needed. Sailor Mercury, good luck. Simply put on the headset and press the start button.” That’s when a gong sounded.

“…Dinnertime,” shuddered Zoe. The Guard Waddle-Dee then headed to a hole in the wall near the door. The hole opened and he was given a tablet.

“What’s going on?” asked Sailor Moon.

“It’s our master,” replied the Guard Waddle-Dee. “There’s a message for me.”

“What does it say?” asked Tysar. The Guard Waddle-Dee then read the message aloud.

“Class 2-2-4-7. Selected: Female. Zo-Dee.”

“Zo-Dee?!” spluttered Zoe. “Haven’t they updated those learning machines to detect whether or not someone is a native of the species they conquered?!”

“Evidently not,” remarked the Doctor.

“DONE!” called Sailor Mercury. A definite smile was on her face. “It’s like they were pleased with how I did!”

“Sailor Mercury, do be careful!” warned Zoe. “That’s how the Krotons brainwash someone.”

“I always knew school was nothing more than brainwashing!” laughed Sailor Moon. “When I become queen, I’m abolishing schools forever!”

“She doesn’t,” the Doctor muttered to Zoe and the rest of the team. She then sat down at the learning machine, then put on the headset and pressed the start button. She then arranged the symbols…but the symbols bounced back into their circles before the formula could be completed. “Oh, good heavens!” she groaned. “There I go, working in square roots again!” As the Doctor worked on the next question, the message gong rang. The Guard Waddle-Dee retrieved the tablet and read it aloud.

“Class 2-2-4-8. Selected: Female. Ami-Dee.”

“They really don’t know that I’m not a Waddle-Dee?” Sailor Mercury asked Zoe.

“That machine’s quite primitive compared to the TARDIS,” replied Zoe.

“GOT IT!” called the Doctor. “It really is funny, how the Krotons are pleased with you when you answer right.”

“Does that mean they’re not as bad as you say?” asked Sailor Venus. That snapped the Doctor out of it!

“No, no, of course, they’re as bad as I say!” she insisted. The gong rang one more time. “And I’m betting I’m the third course,” muttered the Doctor. The Guard Waddle-Dee read the last tablet aloud.

“Class 2-2-4-9. Selected: Female. Doctor-Dee.”

“‘Doctor-Dee’! IDIOTS!” snapped the Doctor. The door then slid upwards. “…Well, are you two ready?” she asked Zoe and Sailor Mercury.

“Do we really-?” asked Tysar.

“I’m afraid Krotons demand complete obedience,” replied Zoe. “If not, they’ll destroy the Waddle-Dees.”

“Zoe’s right,” said the Doctor. “We’ll play along for now.” The three chosen women steeled themselves, then entered the room. The door slid down behind them.

“…It feels wrong,” muttered Tysar.

“Poyo,” said Kirby comfortingly as he put a hand on hers.

On an island-sized city, it seemed quiet for the moment. Then…various hover machines raced down the street. On four of the machines were a giant blue penguin in red and gold robes, a navy-blue ball with hands, feet, a mask, a cape, and a sword, an orange blob with eyes, stubs for hands, feet, a spear, and a blue bandana, and a pink ball with eyes, a mouth, stubs for hands, and feet. These were King Dedede, Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee (Bandee to his friends), and Kirby. “POYOYO!” called Kirby.

“Buzz off, punk!” retorted King Dedede. “I’ve been winning Gourmet Races for years!”

“None of them involved Air Ride Machines!” argued Meta Knight.

“Come on, pick up the pace!” laughed Bandee.

“You watch it, boy,” warned King Dedede before he scooped up a cake and scarfed it down, “or Imma throw you in the dungeon!”

“POYO!” snapped Kirby.

“Should have been faster!” laughed King Dedede. Meta Knight then scooped up a burger. “HEY!”

“Apologies, Sire,” replied Meta Knight, “but I am NOT losing this race!” The racers then turned a corner…and a familiar blue box struck the ground along with some strange machine! The racers were sent spinning and the crowd gasped in shock!

“Oogh! No, Escargoon,” mumbled King Dedede, “you’ve got dust in your brain!” He then shook his head and got a better look at what landed in front of him!

“Poyo?” asked Kirby.

“I’m fine, Kirby!” King Dedede dismissed. “But if that box is what I think it is-!”

“It has the same shape as the Doctor’s TARDIS,” said Meta Knight. “But what would her purpose here be?”

“Maybe that Grouping thing Kirby talked about?” asked Bandee.

“Well, whatever it is,” decided King Dedede, “she’s gonna answer for ending the Gourmet Race like that!” He pounded on the TARDIS door. “HEY! OPEN UP! THAT’S A ROYAL-!” The Doctor poked her head out.

“Could you stop bellowing?” she groaned.

“DOCTOR!” called Kirby happily.

“Wait, huh?” asked King Dedede. “Did you just call her-?” He then blinked. “…Doc, did you do that regenification thing Rassilon pulled last time?”

“…You mispronounced that on purpose,” hissed the Doctor. “But yes.”

“Well, in that case…WHAT’S THE IDEA STOPPING A GOURMET RACE LIKE-?!”

“SIRE!” interrupted Meta Knight and Bandee. King Dedede subsided under Meta Knight’s withering gaze but grumbled all the while.

“…Now, Doctor, what IS your reason for coming here?” asked Meta Knight. The Doctor then spotted the machine.

“That ramshackle TARDIS over there,” she replied. “It’s piloted by a madman from my home and I was in pursuit. HE’S the reason behind the Grouping.”

“So he’s why Kirby vanished a while ago?” asked King Dedede. He then summoned his hammer. “Sounds like I need to clobber that there-!” The ramshackle TARDIS opened its door and out stepped the pilot. He was in green robes with a bronze chest piece and a tall bronze helmet with elongated eye slits and a mouth slit. He looked around as if he were a king. “You make a habit of interrupting important stuff?!” snarled King Dedede as he raised his hammer. The pilot caught the hammer as King Dedede swung it down, then he drove his fist into the penguin’s beak! King Dedede squawked in pain and clutched his beak.

“…That…felt…good!” said the figure in perverted happiness. “Nothing like putting an inferior life-form in their place to settle your hearts!”

“I always found that phrase to be an ugly one,” remarked the Doctor. The pilot whirled around and snarled.

“Doctor!” he hissed.

“That’s him?” asked Tysar when she and Sty stepped out.

“Tysar, Sty, get back in the TARDIS!” hissed the Doctor. “This is between me and him!”

“But is that really him?” asked Sty. “Is that…?”

“…Omega,” confirmed the Doctor. “The Mad God.”

“I will simply be addressed as a god, thank you very much!” retorted Omega.

“No, you’re just proving you’re mad. Why don’t you take off your helmet?”

“True, true, it IS rather hot in here.” Omega took his helmet off and revealed a man with long, cascading, blonde hair.

“…You know, I was rather hoping there was nothing there,” remarked the Doctor. “Omega, you need to stop! Your slipshod TARDIS journey is causing chronal surges to spread throughout time and space!”

“And?” asked Omega carelessly.

“…And, it’s causing damage! If you want to get to Gallifrey-!”

“That’s the point, I DON’T need Gallifrey’s coordinates now, especially not from YOU!” The Doctor blinked in surprise.

“…You don’t need Gallifrey’s coordinates? Why?” she asked.

“There are some things I cannot do, not alone,” replied Omega. “One of them is taking on any armed forces on our home world.”

“…This whole mess is just a method of distraction!” realized Tysar. “You caused a mess that plucked me from New Davius and tossed me into a hellhole of a city just because you wanted Gallifrey distracted! You knew they wouldn’t ignore all the chronal surges!”

“Interesting that someone so…exotic would correctly guess the plan,” remarked Omega.

“By ‘exotic’, you mean primitive!” hissed the Doctor. “A nasty word to use against any person or their culture!”

“How else do you describe the lesser races?”

“I don’t call non-Gallifreyans lesser for a start! Save that idiocy for the Daleks!”

“This is all well and good, Doctor,” dismissed Omega, “but you have a mess to clean up.” He scurried into his ramshackle TARDIS and dematerialized, the take-off noise being horrendous. The Doctor rushed towards his TARDIS, but it had already vanished, then an energy wave knocked everyone off their feet. The group picked each other up, but not everyone got out of it with a clear head.

“Oogh! Someone stop the guitar!” mumbled Meta Knight. “It is Fire Dedede, our hero!” He then shook his head, realizing what he said. “I would never say that!”

“Okay, everyone,” groaned the Doctor, “being near the origin of a chronal surge is painful. Have we all learned that lesson?” She then heard multiple groans…some of them from new voices! “…That was quick,” she muttered. She rushed over to the new people. There were twelve in total, Five of the twelve were Japanese girls in their high school ages and seemed to be in sailor-fuku style outfits! The Doctor blinked. “The original Sailor Senshi?” she muttered. She then examined five more. They were American High-schoolers, three boys and two girls. She then found a strange buckle in one of their pockets! “…The original Power Rangers?” She then checked on two more. They were an old man and an old woman. The woman was in a shimmering green cloak and the man was in traditional Highland dress! The Doctor stumbled as she looked past the wrinkles and gray hair. “…Oh my word,” she said. The old man and old woman groaned and the Doctor eased them up. “Easy. …Easy now.”

“Thank you kindly,” said the old man in a Scots brogue. He looked around and goggled in surprise when he saw the old woman. “I don’t believe it!” The old woman looked back and gasped.

“Jamie!” she said.

“Zoe!” replied the old man. The two hugged like old siblings. “I never-!” stammered Jamie. “I-I mean, I thought, after all that wee bit of story time-!”

“I was afraid of that too!” replied Zoe. She then got a good look at her surroundings. “…It looks like whatever took you from your home took me as well!” By now, those that were conscious were giving the two their full attention, the Doctor amazed that Jamie and Zoe were acting the way they were. By then, the Sailor Senshi groaned. Tysar helped them up.

“It’s all right,” she assured. “We’ll get you home.”

“My head!” grumbled Sailor Moon. Her stomach then growled. “Dang it! And I’m hungry too!”

“Always thinking with your stomach, huh?” muttered Sailor Mars.

“Better that than wearing heels in battle!” snapped Sailor Moon. That’s when the remaining teenagers groaned.

“My head!” complained the young man in red clothing. He and his friends then saw everyone. “HOLY-!”

“All right, is that everyone conscious?” asked the Doctor.

“I think so,” replied Sailor Mercury as she nervously smoothed her blue hair.

“Then it’s time for a little rundown,” decided the Doctor. “There’s a lunatic from my home planet’s history. He was once stuck in a place called the Underverse, but he’s escaped and fully corporeal now. He’s created a ramshackle TARDIS that, every time he takes off, creates these energy waves called chronal surges. They have a tendency to pluck someone from their native point in space-time and put them somewhere else.”

“Poyo,” muttered Kirby as he raised his hand.

“Yes, Kirby can tell you how annoying that is,” continued the Doctor.

“But with this mess going on with a TARDIS,” said Jamie, “won’t the Time Lords pick up on it?”

“…That’s twice now, Jamie,” remarked the Doctor. “You shouldn’t know anything about the Time Lords, not after…well…”

“That business with the War Chief and his War Lord pals?” asked Jamie.

“Oh, we remember, all right,” confirmed Zoe. “…And following that logic, if you know that specific event…”

“Hey, hang on!” said Jamie as he finally saw the TARDIS. “That’s OUR TARDIS! THE TARDIS!” Jamie then gave his full attention to the Doctor. “Does that mean-?! …I mean, the Doctor I traveled with and I met up with someone in a patchwork coat that said HE was the Doctor!”

“What?!” asked Zoe.

“That was before we met you,” explained Jamie. “Those two said that a Time Lord can change their face and personality when they’re about to die.”

“But the memories of our previous life stay intact,” continued the Doctor. “I had forgotten you met my sixth incarnation as well as my second, Jamie McCrimmon. I seem to recall we faced the Androgums and Sontarans in that little adventure.”

“Och, it IS you!” cheered Jamie.

“Doctor!” gasped Zoe.

“It’s great to see you again, Jamie and Zoe Heriot!” replied the Doctor as she pulled them into a hug. The three old friends had happy tears streaming down their faces.