As Kono and the others arrive at the lush, green location, they begin to survey their surroundings.
Himitsu: (Mouth agape) These trees are enormous! I can barely see the sky.
Zodiac: Can you close your mouth? Your breath stinks.
Gram bursts into laughter.
Himitsu: Gram, shut up! It's not even that funny!
Daru shakes his head.
Daru: What a great way to start a mission… (Whispers) Idiots.
Himitsu: Anyway, what is the objective for this mission?
Kono: Well, this is a question mark mission, so I have no idea.
Just then, they receive a notification on their watches, which vibrate and display the mission details, though some words are obscured.
Zodiac: We received the mission details, but some words are missing.
Daru: Hmm… That's odd.
Gram: Yeah, what the hell is this!?
Himitsu: (Looking at his watch with a confused expression) So it doesn't just tell time.
Daru: (Holding his head) This is going to be a long mission.
Himitsu: I can't make out what it's trying to say. Do you have any idea, Kono?
Kono scans the available words, attempting to piece them together.
Kono: All I see is "Go to—"
Suddenly, she notices Himitsu shaking and pointing behind her, and she begins to hear heavy breathing.
Himitsu: (Pointing, trembling) K-K-K-Kono!
Kono: What is it, Himitsu?
Gram: (Yelling) RUNNNNN!
Kono: Huh!?
Confused by the shouts of Gram and Himitsu, the scene shifts to a backstory of three Zatarian brothers as children—Solaris, Wish, and Shakiro (13 years old)—training with their father, Heroma, on Zataria. Heroma, wielding a sword, effortlessly dodges all the attacks from the three boys. Solaris attacks with his bare fists, Wish uses dual wooden blades, and Shakiro wields a light spear he created with his powers. Despite their efforts, Heroma remains largely unchallenged.
Heroma: Come on! And I call you my sons!? Land a hit already!
Wish: He's mine!
Wish charges toward Heroma, who stands still.
Shakiro: No, WISH!
As Wish reaches Heroma, he launches an attack, but Heroma drops his sword, grabs Wish's blades with his hands, spins him around, and kicks him into a tree, causing him to fall to the ground.
Solaris: Wish! No, not on my watch!
Solaris begins to run at Heroma.
Shakiro: No, Solaris, we have to work together, or we won't beat him!
Solaris: I can beat him!
Heroma: (Smiling) THEN COME TRY!
As Solaris approached Heroma, he stomped the ground, causing Solaris to trip. Just as he was about to fall, Heroma delivered an uppercut to Solaris's chin, sending him flying and landing on top of Wish.
Wish: Oww!
Heroma: (Laughing) AHHH! Now it's just you and me! (Looking at Shakiro)
Shakiro clenched his teeth, glancing at his injured brothers on the ground, who lay still.
Shakiro: I will not let you hurt my brothers!
Heroma: And what are you going to do about it?
Shakiro charged at Heroma.
Heroma: Again? Running at me? That strategy hasn't worked the past two times.
Shakiro got close to Heroma but jumped over him, landing behind him.
Heroma: What the— Is that it? Your plan was to jump over me?
Shakiro ran at him again, swinging, but Heroma dodged each attack. As Shakiro swung, Heroma noticed he was getting faster. Heroma jumped out of the way but realized he couldn't find his sword.
Heroma: (To himself) Where is my sword?
Shakiro: Looking for something?
Heroma: What?
Shakiro: Look up.
Confused, Heroma looked up and saw a black figure approaching.
Heroma: (To himself) What is that?
As the figure neared, Heroma recognized it as his wooden sword. But when he looked back at Shakiro, he found him right in his face, ready to attack.
Heroma: What the—
Heroma had only a moment to react as the wooden stick was about to hit him. He activated his ability, causing his hair to turn bright orange and a massive aura to envelop him. The force blew Shakiro and the sword away, sending Shakiro crashing onto his brothers while the sword landed behind Heroma. Shakiro quickly got up.
Shakiro: DAD! YOU SAID NO POWERS!
Wish and Solaris stood up beside Shakiro.
Wish: YEAH! You said no powers.
Solaris: You cheated!
Heroma laughed.
Shakiro: I would have won if he hadn't used his powers.
Heroma: (Laughs) I love you kids; oh man! That was amusing.
Shakiro glanced at his brothers.
Shakiro: Sorry, guys, I guess we're not getting ice cream.
Wish & Solaris: Damnit!
Wish: (Crying loudly) I WANTED ICE CREAM.
Solaris: (Crying) I WANTED IT MORE!
Wish and Solaris stopped crying and exchanged serious expressions.
Solaris: I want ice cream more!
Wish: No, I want it more!
Solaris: NO, I DO!
Wish: NO, I DO!
Solaris and Wish go back and forth arguing with each other.
Heroma: Oh, shut up already! Jeez, you're giving me a headache.
Wish and Solaris exchanged glances, then looked away, crossing their arms.
Wish: I wanted it more.
Solaris: I did.
Shakiro: Man, you guys are something. But since I lasted the longest against Dad, I guess I win by saying I wanted it more.
Wish: WHAT!?
Solaris: (crying) That's not fair!
Heroma: Okay, okay, I'll take you to get ice cream. Gosh, you guys are annoying.
Shakiro, Wish, and Solaris: Really!? You'll take us for ice cream?
Heroma: Yes, as long as you stay quiet.
Shakiro: Okay, I'll be the first to be quiet. (Covers his mouth.)
Solaris: No, I will be quiet first! (Covers his mouth.)
Wish: No, I will! (Covers his mouth.)
Wish: (mumbling) I did it first.
Solaris: (mumbling) No, I did!
Shakiro: (mumbling) No, I literally did it before all of you.
Heroma: Oh my!
Solaris: (mumbling) No!
Shakiro: (mumbling) Yes!
Wish: (mumbling) You both lose; I win!
Solaris: (mumbling) No!
Wish: (mumbling) Yes!
As the boys argued and Heroma tugged at his hair, Onegi approached from behind and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around, Onegi was wearing a bright, warm smile.
Onegi: How are my boys?
Heroma: Well… take a look. (He gestures.)
Onegi glances in the direction Heroma indicated and sees the boys still arguing.
Onegi: Oh my! (She laughs.)
Heroma: (muttering to himself) Here it comes.
Heroma covers his ears as Onegi steps closer to the boys. As she does, her hair begins to turn beige, and her eyes change as well. Then, Onegi lets out a powerful yell.
Onegi: BOYS!!!
Her shout sends the boys tumbling back, hitting a tree. They immediately cease arguing and scramble to their feet, realizing their mother is very displeased. Shakiro, Solaris, and Wish tremble as Heroma removes his hands from his ears.
Heroma: Covering my ears didn't even help.
Onegi's hair and eyes return to normal.
Onegi: Thank you. Now, tell me, what are you boys fighting about?
The three brothers rush to their mother, jumping up and down and speaking simultaneously.
Onegi: One at a time, boys.
Solaris: Oh, okay! So, Wish and I were playing bad guy versus good guy. I was the good guy, and Wish was the bad guy, and—
Wish: Yeah, I was the bad guy, and I was really beating the crap out of him—
Solaris: No, you weren't! I was winning! You're such a liar!
Shakiro: Oh! And I was the narrator, and I can confirm that Wish was winning.
Solaris: WOW! SO YOU'RE LYING NOW!
Heroma approaches Onegi and places his arm around her as they share a smile.
Onegi: (Looking at the boys) I love them so much; just look at them.
As Heroma observes, the boys are shouting at each other.
Wish: NOOO!!
Onegi: Boys!
Solaris: Oh right, sorry. So basically, we were fighting, and I WAS WINNING! Then Dad came and asked us if we wanted ice cream, and—
Shakiro: We said yes, but then he said we needed to train first, and we didn't want to because he hurts us when he trains us.
Onegi glances at Heroma.
Onegi: Oh yeah? He hurts you?
Heroma: No, I don't!
Wish: YES HE DOES!!
Onegi: I'll deal with you later.
Heroma: Dammit! Thanks, guys!
Wish: (Smiling) You're welcome.
Heroma shoots an irritated glare at Wish, causing him to flinch.
Solaris: So, after we said no, he said, "Okay, here's the deal: if one of you can land a hit on me, we'll go get ice cream right away, no powers."
Shakiro: So we agreed! We started training, but...
Onegi: Of course, there's a but.
Shakiro: While we were training to land a hit on him, he dodged too fast, and we couldn't hit him. Then we st—
Wish: We began attacking him one by one, and he kicked and punched us into that tree over there (points). But then Shakiro was the last one left standing, like he was against the whole world. He grabbed Dad's sword and threw it into the air while Dad was looking for it on the ground—
Solaris: Dad looked up and saw a black figure approaching. As it got closer, he realized it was his sword.
Onegi: Oh… the distraction?
Heroma: Yeah, it was pretty clever.
Solaris: When the sword came down, Shakiro was right in Dad's face, and Dad panicked about what to do.
Shakiro: Yeah, and then he used his powers—he CHEATED!!!
Heroma: I didn't cheat.
Shakiro, Wish, Solaris: YES YOU DID!!
Heroma: No, you all misheard me. I stated that if you manage to land a hit on me using your powers, we will go get ice cream immediately.
Wish: NU UH!!!
Ongei: Okay, let me get this straight. Your dad asked you, "Do you want ice cream?" You said yes, but then you said no because you didn't want to get hurt. Then he said if you can land a hit on him, you'll go right awa—
Heroma: With powers, you must land a hit on me with powers.
Ongei: So, you agreed to fight him, and Wish and Solaris lost. Only Shakiro remained. He threw your father's sword into the sky and attempted to hit him, but your father used his powers and cheated?
Solaris, Wish, Shakiro: YES!! WAIT, NO!!
Ongei begins to laugh, joined by Heroma.
Heroma: Okay, I think that was enough talking.
Ongei: Agreed. NOW, WHO WANTS ICE CREAM!!
Wish: I DO!!
Solaris: NO, I DO!!
Shakiro: NO, I DO!!
Heroma: I'm going to lose my mind.
Ongei laughs as she calms the boys down, and they head out for ice cream. The city is bright and colorful. Upon arriving at the ice cream shop, the children race around, covering their faces with candy and ice cream while the store clerk tries to restore order. Ongei and Heroma laugh as they place their orders, while the children rush out of the store, shouting with ice cream in their hands and smeared on their faces. Heroma and Ongei exit holding hands, enjoying their ice cream, and begin walking up a hill as the kids race ahead. Wish drops his ice cream, prompting Solaris and Shakiro to laugh at him. In retaliation, Wish slaps Shakiro's ice cream off his cone, eliciting more laughter from Solaris and himself. Shakiro then seizes Solaris's ice cream and shoves it into his face, causing everyone to erupt in laughter. As time passes, they reach the top of the hill where Heroma and Ongei sit together, gazing at the moon while the boys play nearby.
Ongei: The moon is truly beautiful.
Heroma: The moon is as lovely as your smile and your eyes.
Ongei: How many women have you said that to before me?
Heroma: What? You are the first one.
Ongei: Mhmm…
Heroma: I am serious. What I mean to convey is that I love you with all my soul.
Ongei: Your soul? Why not your heart?
Heroma: Because I can say I love you with my heart and die, or I can say I love you with my mind and lose my memory, but with my soul, it will always be yours.
Ongei starts to laugh.
Heroma: What!? You're laughing? I was trying to be romantic.
Ongei: No, no, I'm laughing because you have ice cream on your ear.
Heroma: What?
Heroma touches his ear, realizing he has ice cream on it.
Heroma: How did that happen?
Ongei: (Laughing) I'm not sure; probably the boys. But Heroma—(grabs his face and turns it to her)—I love you too, and I love you with my soul as well.
Heroma and Ongei share a kiss as the boys watch, making exaggerated faces of disgust.
Solaris & Wish: Eww!!
Shakiro: Get a room.
Heroma and Ongei turn to see the boys standing nearby, and they both laugh.
Heroma: COME HERE!
Heroma hugs all three boys tightly.
Wish, Solaris, Shakiro: Dad, stop!
Ongei joins the embrace.
Heroma: I love you, boys.
Wish, Solaris, Shakiro: We love you too, Dad and Mom.
Solaris: Can you let me go now?
Heroma: No, just a little longer.
As Heroma and Ongei hug the boys, time passes, and they eventually head back to the house to settle the boys to sleep in the same room. Ongei and Heroma observe them from outside.
Ongei: Aww, look at them sleeping so peacefully.
Heroma: Yes, they are so adorable and quiet when they're not arguing.
Ongei: Well, dear, they're children, and they are boys; there is bound to be a lot of arguing.
Heroma: Yeah, I know, but it's nice to see them so peaceful.
Heroma and Ongei proceed to their room to prepare for bed and lie down.
Ongei: Heroma?
Heroma: Yes?
Ongei: Do you still need to leave tomorrow?
Heroma: Yes, I have to meet with Draxs.
Ongei: I don't like him; he gives me a bad vibe.
Heroma: What? Dear, we've known him our entire lives.
Ongei: I'm just saying he's always up to no good, and you always have to clean up after him.
Heroma: He's not that bad, dear.
Ongei: I think he is.
Ongei turns to her side and begins to fall asleep.
Heroma: He's a good person at heart; he means no harm to our world or our children.
As he said that, Heroma hears Ongei fast asleep.
Heroma: Oh… (laughs) You are such a kid. Well, have a good night, dear.
Ongei: (Half asleep) Goodnight.
As morning breaks, Shakiro awakens and rises from bed, glancing at his snoring brothers.
Shakiro: Disgusting.
He walks to the bathroom to freshen up. Once he is finished, he heads downstairs and finds his mother, Ongei, preparing breakfast. She turns around upon noticing him.
Ongei: Oh, you're up already?
Shakiro: Yeah, I got enough sleep.
Ongei: Well, that's good.
Shakiro looks around and glances out the window.
Shakiro: Mom, where's Dad?
Ongei: Oh right, I forgot to mention. Your dad will be away for 20 days.
Shakiro: 20 DAYS?! THAT'S LIKE A MILLION DAYS!
Ongei laughs.
Ongei: It's not a million days; he'll return in 20 days.
Shakiro: How long is 20 days?
Ongei: It's 20 days, Shakiro.
Shakiro: Okay, how many hours or minutes is that?
Ongei shakes her head and laughs.
Ongei: Come here and sit down to eat.
Shakiro makes a face but complies. As he does, Ongei approaches with a pan and serves quavis eggs. Shakiro's eyes widen at the sight of the enormous eggs.
Shakiro: Wow! MOM! What's this?
Ongei: They're quavis eggs.
Shakiro: What are quavis eggs?
Ongei: Quavis eggs come from a bird unique to Zataria. It's a large bird with dragon-like wings, known as a "Quavis Bird."
Shakiro: (Eyes wide) Wow!
At that moment, Wish and Solaris come downstairs and notice the food on the table.
Wish: Whoa!!
Solaris: THE EGG IS HUGE!
Shakiro: Yeah, it's a quavis egg from a Quavis.
Wish & Solaris: WOW!!
Ongei laughs.
Solaris: Man, I'm so hungry.
Ongei: Well, eat before your food gets cold.
Wish: I'll eat my food before Solaris does.
Solaris: No, you won't.
Shakiro: Yeah! No, you won't, because I'll eat it before all of you.
Wish & Solaris: NOOO!!!
Ongei: Oh boy.