Nextgen Kids: Legend of the Nine Newborn

A Tale of Ice and Fire, Part 1

Just gonna put this out, I don't expect this to be as good as AINCRAD. This story will be essentially similar to World Rings, following the theme of friends on a trip around the universe... but this story will be unique in the sense that we're focusing on two Newborn instead of one. And the two protagonists and quests in question will have notably different tones, but otherwise, I'm not planning to get too elaborate with the events. Like, I had such a good streak during AINCRAD and had the ideas clear in my head, but so far, I don't quite have that with this story, so it's better to just take it easy going into it.

And just as well, this story heavily ties to plot elements from Zelda: Araea's Mask, along with other bits of continuity and characters from preceding stories.

Chapter 1: A Rainbow Mage and a Dark Sage

Secco; Ancient Wastelands

Being the second-closest planet to Galaxia's sun, Secco wasn't a popular place for a leisurely hike or a drive. Only the most sturdy of explorers could tolerate the desert heat. Unless of course you were a band of teens and a preteen out on a trip.

"Ugh, it's sooooo hot." Maria moaned, melting in the floor of the dune buggy. The 10-year-old Mushroomian wore a blue desert robe with a yellow keffiyeh. "Oliver, gimme another sip of Chilly Elixir."

"It should still be in effect for you, Maria." replied Oliver Orson. The almost-14-year-old had light-brown hair and blue eyes. He was thin and short for his age, wearing a yellow shirt and blue trousers that had straps going over the shoulders. He wore blue and white sneakers with light-red socks.

"Well, I need another sip." Kiki Yamaka sighed. She was about Oliver's age, a skinny dark-brown-haired witch with an old-timey blue dress, orange slip-on shoes, and a large red hair ribbon. She used her magic wand to make her broomstick levitate and flap wind over her sweaty form. "I'm about to melt in my own sweat."

"Alright then." Oliver pulled out an icy-blue potion in a bottle. Kiki took it and had a small sip.

"Ahhh...it would sure be nice to ride in a cool, air-conditioned ship."

"Well, nothing wrong with adapting to fresh desert air!" Romeo Conbolt grinned, folding his hands at the back of his purple hair. At 16 years, he was the oldest of his friends and bore a more muscular physique. His abs were visible through his dark-red, sleeveless robe, tied by a white sash. He wore green pants and brown boots, along with an orange scarf. He sat in the shotgun seat of the buggy.

"Yeah, says the firebender." remarked Philip Blakely, the buggy's driver. Like Oliver, he was fairly ordinary-looking, 15 years old with sandy-blonde hair, blue eyes with glasses, wearing a red polo shirt with blue, belted trousers and black sneakers. "I mean, I don't mind a good drive, but we'd get there a lot faster if we rest in a Vanish Box and let Wendy carry us."

"The KND guidelines say that we should enjoy the journey and embrace nature in-between mission objectives. That includes building tolerance to harsh environments, and gaining battle experience by fighting monsters and desert robbers. Otherwise, if we're not in a hurry, there's no harm in taking the scenic route."

"Like these Tusken Raiders will give us any more experience than the Pirate War." Kiki remarked, referring to the rogue desert dwellers that had tried to assault them, only to be left upturned or bewitched in the sand. "...Uh-oh, another sandstorm's coming."

A great cloud of sand came blowing from the left. Thankfully, their leader, Wendy Marvell, came rushing back. "Sky Dragon's WAVE!" With a great brush of her arms, the sand blew away from her team. Wendy was 15 years old, defined by her deep blue hair, which was currently in a ponytail. She wore a sky-blue, wrapped top, a dark-blue skirt with gold strings hanging from the edges, and firm sky-blue sandals sandals. Thin and sturdy, Wendy was probably the fastest runner in the KND, for her airbending came with speed that matched Sonic's. This was on top of being a talented mage.