Training. It was something the heroes did on rare occasions or when having new members. This was just a big fight they needed to be at their absolute best for. They needed to prepare. They needed to be ready.

Red Guard watched them all, since he was trained as much as he could be. He was also working on a backup plan in case their current one failed. Their current plan?

The Three Stars would use their strength to defeat Darcy like The Prophecy said they would, while the other heroes would handle the other villains. Red Guard would handle Belos. But Red Guard did have a feeling he'd need his backup plan much sooner rather than later.

He looked at his Paliisman, petting him. "I have you with me all the way to the end, right bud?"

Rascal chirped, nuzzling Red Guard's cheek.

Red Guard smiled, nuzzling back before turning his feathered friend into his staff again and walking out of the camp to see the heroes, six people he made shockingly fast friends with training.

Luz was sparring with Anne. Hunter was sparring with Sasha. And last but not least in the slightest, Marcy was sparring with Vee.

Luz spun around her staff, sending out multiple blasts of light. Anne quickly summoned a sword and shield, slashing or blocking all of the attacks. She then blocked a flying kick from Luz, who landed and then swept Anne right off her feet, but in mid fall, Anne flew up into the air and swung her sword twice, sending out two blue energy bursts. Luz smirked and spun around her staff again, deflecting it. She then lifted pieces of the ground into pillars, using them to try and hit Anne, who slashed at all of them. Luz then grabbed Anne's leg with a fine and shot out a vortex of fire at her. Anne smirked, blocking the fire with her shield and slashing herself free all at the same time.

The Red Guard smiled at that, nodding. "When you're with a team, you obviously have to work together. A warrior by themselves is strong, but a team? Pretty much invincible."

Sasha smashed her hammer into the ground, creating a shockwave that flew towards Hunter. Hunter quickly slammed his staff down, creating a forcefield that blocked the shockwave. He then dispersed the forcefield and lunged at Sasha, clashing his staff against her hammer. Sasha smirked and then flew up, slamming her hammer down again only for Hunter to dodge. Sasha then quickly turned her warhammer into a pair of dual swords, with Hunter doing the same. The two then clashed, golden and pink blades clashing together and sparks flying. Hunter then flipped over Sasha and took a swing, but Sasha blocked his attack by throwing her arms and swords behind her back. She then spun around, repeatedly swinging her blades in unison with Hunter.

Red Guard nodded, putting his staff behind his back. "Be totally in sync with each other, as if you're all in one mind. Get into each other's heads."

Vee took a deep breath before shapeshifting into her Basilisk form and wrapping her tail around Marcy's leg. Marcy reached into her bag and threw down a smoke bomb, causing Vee to shapeshift back into her hero form and let go. Marcy then flew into the air, firing three arrows at Vee. Vee spun around her staff, deflecting all three of them and then lunged at Marcy by flying up to her and blasting at her with blue energy. Marcy created her own shield, blocking the blast. That's when she threw her shield like a disc, with Vee barely able to dodge it. She blasted again, but this time waved her staff to send out a small ray of fire. Marcy yelped and dodged successfully. She smirked before sniffing the air and looking to the side to see her cape was on fire...again.

Marcy and Vee yelped, flying down. Vee then rushed over and quickly let out a water spell to put out the fire. Marcy sighed in relief.

Red Guard then stepped over to the two. "And last but not least, trust in each other. Every team is built on trust, especially a superhero team. Each of your lives are put in your friend's hands, so, it wouldn't hurt to trust them with it. Like trust falls just to the extreme."

Luz, Anne, Sasha, and Hunter all flew over. The Red Guard chuckled and took a seat. "I think that's enough for today! You're all doing great!"

Sasha laughed. "You gotta teach me how to do that forcefield thing, Hunt!"

Hunter laughed triumphantly. "Get a magical staff and we'll talk. And how heavy is that hammer?"

"Not heavy at all." Sasha said, summoning her hammer and giving it to Hunter. "Go on."

Hunter hummed and took the hammer...only to drop it due to how heavy it was. "L-Liar..."

Sasha laughed. "Okay, okay, that was me. I made it heavier on purpose." She giggled.

Hunter playfully rolled his eyes and then lifted the hammer finally. "Hardy har har."

Anne then looked at Luz. "I gotta admit, Luz! I once thought you were really cool whenever I saw ya on TV, and then? You turned out to be even cooler!"

Luz smiled, her heart melting. "Awwww! You're cool, Anne! I mean, you're the reincarnation of two people! I'm just me...how does that feel by the way?"

"Really weird." Anne said with a blink. "Like learning I was the reincarnation of the woman I grave robbed was freaky and relieving at the same time, so add that I'm the reincarnation of a goddess too...kinda blows your mind. When I first learned, I didn't even have time to process it." She laughed.

Luz laughed with her before looking at Marcy. "So...uhh...you did save your girlfriend from The Core?"

Anne noticed a look in her face before her eyes softened. "Did...The Core take someone from you...?"

"...m-my fiance and my adopted son. She put them into a coma." Luz breathed.

Anne placed a hand on Luz's. "Hey. I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I know better than anyone how that feels. And I promise, we'll save them both."

Luz smiled. "Thanks, Anne."

Anne smiled and nodded. "But as for your question? Best day of my life to see her face again...I...I gotta be honest, I still have nightmares about it. I act strong for Marcy, because she has it worse than I do."

"Heh, I know how that feels...I actually kinda died." Luz said.

Anne's eyes widened. "Hold up, what?!"

"Yeah! Got stabbed! And I literally remember nothing else until I woke up!"

Anne's eyes were still wide and she suddenly hugged Luz, petting her head. "There, there...there, there..."

Luz blinked before hugging back.

Vee then looked at Marcy, tilting her head at her horns. "S-So, ummm, do you mind if I ask a personal question?"

Marcy smiled. "Go right ahead!"

"H-How did you get those horns...?" Vee asked, tilting her head.

Marcy's smile faded, but only a little. She rubbed one of them. "Well, they were a side effect of The Core's possession. I...I don't really like them as much as I should. I mean, they're fascinating! But..."

"They're a reminder of what happened to you?" Vee wondered.

Marcy nodded. "Precisely...but a neat little perk is that they actually help me relax!"

"They do?" Vee asked.

Marcy nodded before taking one of Vee's hands and having it rub one of her horns. She purred as a response.

Vee gasped. "Awwwww! You can purr too?"

Marcy's eyes widened. "Huh?"

Vee seemed a bit shy before she pulled down her hood to reveal her Basilisk ears. "W-Well, I dunno if I've said this before, but I'm not a human or a witch. I'm a Basilisk."

Marcy gasped and began to squeal. "You're adorable! And those cute little ears!" She then began petting Vee's ears. "So cute!"

Vee couldn't help herself and let out a purr as well. "T-That tickles!"

Marcy giggled. "Sorry!"

Anne and Luz watched this, and Anne's heart melted. "This is so cute...I can't take it!"

Meanwhile...

Darcy shifted around, sitting down on a makeshift throne and holding her head, taking off her helmet. "T...They continue to fight back..."

She growled, noticing the Green Gem on her helmet begin to crack, showing Anne and Marcy were fighting off the Hivemind. Or at least, HER Anne and Marcy. She needed something to keep them down inside. Because she herself wouldn't be able to handle this for very long.

But then, someone stepped inside. It was Belos. "You seem troubled."

Darcy cackled to herself. "You only notice now, Belos?"

"I noticed you were holding back since the beginning." Belos said, stepping forward.

Darcy smirked a bit, almost expecting him to try and kill her. But she knew he wouldn't be able too...to be fair, she probably wouldn't be able to kill him easily either. "My timeline's Anne and Marcy are in my hivemind, fighting back. The more The Green Gem cracks, it means Marcy is closer to freeing herself."

"And what happens if they do break out?"

"Anne's mind will likely either stay in this or return to her timeline. But, however? Marcy will regain complete control of her body and I will be in a much weaker state, forever bound to this armor. And if the armor is destroyed? As am I." Darcy explained.

Belos hummed. "It sounds like you need something to keep them in place...or someone."

Darcy raised one of her eyes. "Go on."

Belos then took off his mask, revealing his both normal and ROTTING face. He then stepped closer. "Allow me into your hivemind."

Darcy's eyes widened before she smirked. "How do I know you're not going to aid them...?"

"The Titan has been destroyed." Belos said. "This is a future where I don't win and neither do you. We must play smarter...with our minds and powers combined?"

"We'll be invincible." Darcy said with a wider smirk before she stood from her throne. Her hand had a small orange flame engulf from her palm. "It's a deal."

Belos' hand engulfed in a red flame and he shook her head. "Good."