Serena and BJ emerged from the sewer into bright, chaotic light. The world stretched before them like a fever dream. Floating platforms hovered over an endless void, spinning lazily in every direction. Some rotated clockwise, others counter-clockwise, some tilted so sharply it made the horizon look upside-down. "Great," Serena muttered, shading her eyes. "Just... floating platforms in the void. Totally normal. No danger at all."
BJ leaned against a jagged edge of rock, smirking like he owned the place. "Relax, Serena. It's just another puzzle. A puzzle with gravity... and style. And me. Always me."
"Ugh, your self-confidence is terrifying," Serena groaned, gripping Raymond's recovered chest plate in one hand, the doll and locket in the other.
Their eyes tracked a particularly precarious platform, spinning rapidly above them. And atop it... a figure posed dramatically, one knee bent, a golden cape fluttering, and a glimmering, cocky smile on his face. He held something metallic and gleaming in one hand.
"That... that's Raymond's arm!" Serena shouted, pointing. "And... who the hell is that?"
The prince straightened, raising the arm like a trophy. "Behold! The magnificent Vainglory, savior of worlds, master of upside-down platforms, and rightful owner of whatever I see fit! Including... that adorable little arm!"
Serena groaned. "You are so extra."
BJ's sensors, well, whatever remained of them flickered weakly before shutting down entirely. With a dramatic puff of steam, his mechanical enhancements powered down. His human-like grin returned, arms crossed. "Ah... much better. None of that 'safety first' robotic nonsense. Just me... and the douche-factor. Let's get that arm back, shall we?"
"BJ... please don't make this worse," Serena muttered, already calculating the physics nightmare they were dealing with.
Vainglory twirled on the spinning platform, balancing effortlessly. "Try and take it! I dare you! My platform rotates with elegance and grace, and I... am perfection itself!"
The first jump Serena made onto a slightly less wobbly platform ended with her slipping sideways, arms flailing, the doll nearly falling into the void. BJ smirked and jumped effortlessly, landing in a perfect superhero pose, one boot sticking to a rotating edge, arms crossed like he owned gravity.
"Seriously, your confidence is infuriating," Serena muttered. She watched as Vainglory held the arm aloft, spinning upside down as if gravity bent itself just for him. "Okay... okay... think... if we can time the platforms—"
BJ rolled his eyes, pointing at a particularly slow-rotating platform near Vainglory. "Timing, shmiming. Watch and learn, princess. It's called style."
He leapt, arms out, flipping in midair like he'd done this a thousand times. Serena groaned but followed, landing with a dramatic splat that sent slime residue from her previous world flying in all directions. Vainglory gasped in exaggerated horror.
"You dare land on my platform?! Blasphemy!" he shouted, clutching Raymond's arm tighter.
Serena rolled her eyes, brushing herself off. "Yeah, and you're going down, Vainglory. Hand. Over. The. Arm."
The floating platforms rotated faster, tilting, spinning, and occasionally flipping completely upside down. Serena and BJ navigated them with sticky, slime-slicked boots and desperate grabs, while Vainglory posed dramatically at every angle, grinning like a cartoon villain who thought he'd already won. "Ah! But I am untouchable!" Vainglory cried, spinning his cape and twirling the arm. "You cannot defeat me! I am... magnificent!"
BJ snorted. "Yeah, yeah... you're shiny and annoying. Big whoop. I'm getting that arm, princess."
Serena shot him a glare. "Oh no, you are not taking this as a solo mission!"
The chase began: dizzying flips, platform tilts, near-misses over a bottomless void, and Serena screaming as she tried to avoid plunging into nothingness. BJ leaned back, arms crossed, gliding across platforms effortlessly, while Vainglory did his best over-the-top villain poses, almost like he thought it was a fashion show. Serena and BJ had finally spotted the loophole, a narrow sequence of platforms that, if timed perfectly, would let them corner Vainglory and grab Raymond's arm. BJ smirked, hands on his hips, looking effortlessly confident, while Serena calculated her jumps with the precision of someone who had survived slime monsters, collapsing sewers, and fire-hose acrobatics. "Okay... here goes nothing," Serena muttered, taking a running leap toward a platform tilted at a brutal angle. For a split second, everything seemed to slow: the void below yawned like a hungry mouth, the spinning platforms twisted dizzyingly, and Vainglory grinned, still holding the arm aloft.
Then, catastrophe struck. One of the rotating platforms beneath her tilted too sharply. Serena felt herself slide, flailing wildly. Her boots caught on a slick patch of slime from a previous world, and with a wet squelch, she was launched into the air—headfirst. "AHHHH!" she screamed as she tumbled... and landed awkwardly upside down, dangling by her legs from the edge of a spinning platform. Her arms flailed like a windmill, the doll and chest plate almost slipping from her grip.
Vainglory threw his head back and laughed, an obnoxious, echoing cackle that filled the void. "HA! Look at you! The mighty, fearless hero, dangling like a... a... upside-down pudding! Pathetic!"
Serena gritted her teeth, swinging back and forth. "I AM NOT PUDDING! I AM NOT PUDDING!" she shouted, but the words only came out muffled, upside-down and somewhat garbled by the pressure in her stomach.
BJ, floating with perfect balance on a nearby platform, shook his head, clearly amused. "Oh, Serena... you're... spectacular. Absolutely spectacular."
"BJ! HELP ME!" she cried, flailing toward him.
Vainglory twirled on his platform, holding Raymond's arm like a gleaming trophy. "No need! This is my moment! Look at her squirm! She's... she's... comedic perfection!"
Serena groaned. "Oh, perfect! That's exactly what I needed, more humiliation on top of floating-platform hell!"
BJ finally rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically. "Fine... fine. If we're going to do this, we do it my way. Hang tight." He leapt across the spinning void, flipping elegantly onto Serena's platform with an exaggerated superhero flourish, grabbing her by the waist and trying to stabilize her swinging.
Serena's legs kicked wildly. "Careful! Careful! My hair's stuck in the slime, oh gods, it's everywhere!"
Vainglory laughed again, spinning upside down himself now, mocking her every move. "See? Even dangling, you are... utterly ridiculous! You can't take me!"
Serena muttered under her breath, glaring at him upside down. "Oh, just you wait... I'll find a way... you vainglorious little—" But before she could finish, the platform tilted again, sending her swinging like a pendulum, the void below yawning ever closer. BJ tightened his grip, and together they prepared for the next move, one wrong jump could send Serena, the doll, or even Raymond's chest plate plunging into nothingness.

Serena swung upside down, her slime-covered hair dangling like green spaghetti, while BJ held her steady on the rotating platform. Vainglory still posed dramatically across the spinning void, clutching Raymond's arm with that insufferable grin. Then Serena's sharp eyes caught something unusual on a nearby platform: a small, glowing totem, carved with intricate symbols. "BJ... look!" she shouted, pointing. "That totem, it must control the platform rotation! We can... we can turn this against him!"
BJ's grin returned, that confident, dashing smirk. "Finally, something I can work with. Watch and learn, Serena. Step one: distraction." Before Serena could protest, a soft flutter reached their ears. A tiny, winged cat swooped in from above, wings beating like delicate fans. It landed on the edge of their platform with a graceful purr, tail curling in the air. Its eyes sparkled like gems, and the little creature gave a gentle chirp. Serena froze for a moment, completely distracted. "Oh my god... it's... it's a flying kitty!"
BJ chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, adorable. But can it help us push Vainglory off balance? Maybe?"
The winged cat chirped again, as if approving their plan, or maybe just pleased to be part of the chaos. Serena reached out cautiously, and the cat nuzzled her hand. The slime on her fingers stuck slightly to its fur, but it didn't mind at all, purring with tiny gusts of wind from its wings. Vainglory noticed immediately, his grin faltering. "What... what is THAT?!" he demanded, pointing at the tiny feline hovering near Serena. "A... a... flying cat?! Ridiculous!"
Serena couldn't help but grin, dangling upside down. "Ridiculous, yes, but useful, too. Look at that totem, BJ! If we can get it, we can rotate the platforms and—"
BJ leapt to the totem with style, catapulting himself across the spinning void and grabbing it with one hand. With a dramatic twist of his wrist, the platform beneath Vainglory began to rotate erratically, tilting in ways that made the self-absorbed prince stumble, his cape flailing and golden hair swinging comically. The winged cat darted around Vainglory's head, distracting him further with tiny meows and swoops. Serena laughed, finally righting herself as the platform shifted beneath her feet. Vainglory's ridiculous poses grew less elegant, and the arm of Raymond slipped slightly in his grip. BJ flexed, smirking. "Step two: style and precision. Step three: reclaim what's ours."
With the platforms under their control and Vainglory off-balance, Serena stepped carefully, grabbed Raymond's arm, and yanked it free. Vainglory squealed dramatically, flailing upside down as the arm slipped from his hands. Serena hugged the recovered fragment to her chest, laughing with relief. The winged cat purred approvingly, curling against her shoulder. BJ struck a triumphant pose, hands on hips, grin bigger than ever. Vainglory collapsed onto the rotating platform with a dramatic groan, defeated, but still very much alive. "This... this is... unacceptable!" he yelled, flailing at them with one hand while trying to salvage his dignity.
Serena just shook her head, looking at BJ and the adorable winged cat. "Ugh... I swear... I'll never get used to this... multiverse nonsense."
BJ laughed, tapping the chest plate against his hand. "Speak for yourself. I'm loving every second."

Serena and BJ stepped into Upside Town, a surreal world where everything defied logic. The streets twisted upside down and sideways, with teacups floating serenely above cobblestone roads, steam curling impossibly from their rims. Tablecloths hung from the air, plates spun in gentle orbits, and tea kettles poured endlessly into floating cups without ever emptying. It was both enchanting and mildly nausea-inducing. "Okay... this is officially the weirdest multiverse stop yet," Serena muttered, gingerly placing a foot on a street that curved up into the sky. Her slime-streaked boots squeaked against the strangely sticky cobblestones.
BJ, as usual, leaned back casually, hands behind his head, looking like he owned every absurd inch of the floating tea party. "Relax. It's all physics-defying nonsense. Totally in my comfort zone. You'll get used to it... maybe."
"Maybe?! BJ, I nearly fell into a cup of floating Earl Grey back there!" Serena growled, swiping at a floating spoon that threatened to collide with her face.
As they navigated the topsy-turvy streets, Vainglory appeared on a platform above them, draped in his signature golden cape. He twirled dramatically, holding Raymond's chest plate in one hand and preening as usual. "Ah! My favorite guests in my little upside-down wonderland. Care for tea?"
Serena scowled, arms crossed. "No thanks, Vainglory. We're here for the puzzle pieces, not your ridiculous tea party theatrics."
Vainglory laughed, flipping upside down with gravity-defying elegance. "Ridiculous? I'll have you know, this is art! A masterwork of elegance, logic, and style!"
A sudden glint caught Serena's eye, a small totem, perched atop an inverted lamppost, glowing faintly in the surreal light. Its carvings matched the ones she'd seen in the previous platform world. "BJ... there!" she hissed, pointing. "That's another totem! If we pull it... it could adjust the platforms—or, whatever Vainglory's upside-down world operates on."
BJ tilted his head, clearly intrigued, though still exuding confidence. "Hm. Strategic maneuver. Step one: distraction. Step two: style. Step three: grab and pull. Ready when you are."
Serena inched toward the lamppost, ignoring floating teacups that threatened to spill and spillers of endlessly refilling tea. "Why does everything here have to pour constantly?!" she muttered, grabbing the tottering post and wrapping her slime-coated fingers around the glowing totem.
Vainglory's eyes narrowed as he floated closer, swirling on a tea saucer like a villainous ballerina. "Hmm... What's that you've found? Fascinating..." His grin grew, curiosity sparkling even in his vainglorious arrogance. "Perhaps... Perhaps this is the key to my final puzzle! Very well, you clever little intruders—show me your skills."
Serena's heart thumped. Pulling the totem required perfect timing: she had to coordinate with the chaotic rotation of the floating tables, the constant refill of tea cups, and Vainglory's hovering platform antics. One wrong move, and she could topple into the void, or worse, ruin a perfectly good cup of imaginary chamomile. "Ready... steady... pull!" Serena yanked the totem.
Immediately, the floating tables, teacups, and platforms responded. The upside-down streets shifted, tilting at new angles. Floating trays spun faster, teapots arched through the air, and Vainglory's dramatic pirouettes became slightly unbalanced.
Vainglory gasped, eyes widening in a mixture of intrigue and admiration. "Ah... impressive! You... you actually understood the mechanics. How curious... How delightful! Very well, Serena and her companion, your cleverness shall be tested. The final puzzle... begins now!"
Serena wiped sweat (and slime) from her brow, exhaling. BJ cracked his knuckles, looking smug. "Bring it on, golden prince of ridiculousness. We've dealt with slime, flying cats, and upside-down chaos. Platforms? Child's play."
Vainglory's grin widened, floating above them as the inverted tea party spun faster, plates twirling like miniature UFOs, and teacups swirled dangerously close to the edge of the void. "Then prepare yourselves... for the ultimate challenge! And may the finest, though perhaps least sticky, prevail!"
Serena adjusted her grip on Raymond's pieces, staring at the tottering platforms and swirling teacups. "Alright... let's do this. No more nonsense. Time to solve your final puzzle, Vainglory."
BJ smirked. "Finally... a real fight."

The upside-down tea party world had descended into chaos. Platforms whirled like tops, spinning at dizzying angles, teacups flew past like tiny cannonballs, and floating saucers wobbled precariously above endless voids. Vainglory hovered dramatically on his own spinning platform, golden cape flaring, chest puffed with pride. Raymond's remaining pieces were within reach, but only if Serena could outsmart the prince's final challenge. "Welcome... to my ultimate test!" Vainglory boomed, voice echoing off the floating lampposts. "A quiz! Only the cleverest, most stylish, and most sticky-determined shall succeed. Fail, and plunge into the void of eternal embarrassment!"
BJ groaned. "Of course it's a quiz. Why do I even bother...?" He flexed his arms, clearly ready for action regardless. "Step one: survive. Step two: sass. Step three: genius. Let's do this."
Serena steadied herself on a platform spinning at an alarming 45-degree tilt. Her slime-streaked hair whipped in every direction, the doll and chest plate clutched tightly to her chest. "Alright, alright... quiz time. Focus. Focus!"
Vainglory's first question rang out dramatically: "What is the most essential component of multiverse survival?"
Serena didn't hesitate. "Brains. And maybe sticky gloves." She braced herself as the platform wobbled violently, teacups colliding above her.
"Correct... but style is also essential!" Vainglory twirled, flipping upside down. A plate narrowly missed her head, and she ducked just in time. "Next! Which of these is NOT a threat to floating tea party integrity?"
Three giant, floating teacups hovered before her, each spinning erratically. One had green slime leaking, one had flaming tea, and the last... was a perfectly ordinary cup. Serena lunged, dodging flaming liquid and slime-slicked surfaces, and tapped the ordinary cup. "Yes! Nailed it!" BJ cheered, leaping across platforms with perfect ease, flipping a teacup out of the way as he moved. "You're doing great. Step four: awesome victory pose optional, but recommended."
Vainglory raised a dramatically curled eyebrow. "Optional? Ha! Impossible! Very well, final question: Pull the last totem, but only if your timing and grip are flawless. Fail, and the void welcomes you!"
Serena's heart pounded. She spotted the glowing totem perched atop the tallest spinning lamppost, tilted at a terrifying angle. Platforms whirled faster than ever, some upside down, some sideways, some tilted like a funhouse mirror. Her arms trembled, slime dripping from her hands onto the platform. "This is it..." she muttered. "I have to... I have to..."
Vainglory cackled from above, spinning in mock triumph. "Go on... fail! You will never master the last totem!"
Serena ran along a slanted platform, dodging teacups and pirouetting saucers. One last jump brought her to the lamppost. Her hands wrapped around the glowing totem. It pulsed under her fingers, humming with energy. The platform tilted... and she dangled precariously upside down. A teacup nearly splashed her head. Her slime-covered boots slipped, but she held tight. BJ shouted from his own platform, offering encouragement and a perfectly timed shove to stabilize her. "NOW!" he yelled.
Serena clenched the totem with all her might, pulling with every ounce of strength she had. The spinning platforms shuddered and twisted violently. Vainglory yelped as his own platform tilted unexpectedly. Plates spun out of orbit, teacups tumbled, and a floating kettle splashed harmlessly, but dramatically, into the void. With a final, victorious tug, Serena yanked the totem free. A wave of energy pulsed across the upside-down town, halting the spinning platforms just enough to bring balance. Vainglory's eyes widened. For once, he was speechless. BJ grinned, clapping Serena on the back. "Step five: victory achieved. Magnificent timing. And yes... maximum style."
Serena sagged with relief, holding the last totem triumphantly. The winged cat from the previous world swooped in, chirping happily and wrapping its tiny wings around her shoulders. The platforms slowed, floating teacups settling gently into place, as if the world itself was applauding. Vainglory floated there, spinning slightly in stunned disbelief. "Impossible... You... you have... mastered my final puzzle... How...?"
Serena wiped slime from her brow, smiling through exhaustion. "Easy. Timing, teamwork... and not giving up. Even if your quiz is ridiculous."
BJ smirked, nudging Vainglory's platform with one foot. "And maybe a little bit of style."
Vainglory groaned dramatically, arms flailing as the last totem pulsed brightly. Serena held it high, knowing that with this, the next piece of Raymond, or at least, the control to retrieve it, was finally within their grasp.

The chaos of Upside Town had finally settled. Platforms floated gently in place, teacups orbited lazily, and the glowing last totem rested securely in Serena's hands. Vainglory hovered on his own platform, spinning slowly, his golden cape brushing the upside-down streets like a painter's flourish. For the first time, he didn't look like a villain or a vainglorious prince, just... tired. The tiny winged cat perched on his shoulder, purring softly. Vainglory bent down, scratching behind its ears. "There... there you go, little one. Safe. Order restored. Peace returned... thanks to them."
He turned to Serena and BJ, arms outstretched in a rare, almost regal gesture. "You... you have my final regards. Truly. Without your cleverness, your tenacity... perhaps this world would still spin in chaos."
Serena blinked, still clutching the last totem. "Uh... thanks, I guess? Even if you're totally over-the-top, Vainglory."
BJ smirked, brushing slime from his shoulder. "Yeah. Appreciate the compliment. Though your dramatics are still... overwhelming."
Vainglory chuckled softly, a genuine, almost humble sound. "Perhaps... Perhaps so. But the world is safer now. Thanks to you both... and... thank you for caring for my little friend." He gestured to the winged cat, who chirped and nuzzled Serena's shoulder. The cat purred loudly, flapping its wings as if to echo Vainglory's sentiment. Serena laughed, scratching behind its ears. BJ reached over to tap the cat gently, eliciting a tiny, approving hiss.
Vainglory straightened, golden hair shimmering in the upside-down light. "Farewell, champions. May your travels continue with courage, and may you... restore all that was scattered."
Serena smiled, finally feeling a moment of calm after all the spinning platforms, slime, and chaos. "We will. And next time, maybe try less dramatic theatrics, yeah?"
Vainglory laughed, a melodramatic, echoing sound. "No promises."
With that, he and his winged companion floated to a higher platform, slowly drifting out of sight. Serena and BJ watched for a moment, then turned to each other. "Order restored," BJ said, crossing his arms with that classic smug grin. "Totems secured. Raymond's pieces... closer than ever. Feeling good."
Serena nodded, looking at the last glowing totem in her hand. "Yeah... we did it. One step closer. One step closer to bringing him all back." The winged cat chirped one last time, flapped its tiny wings, and perched on Serena's shoulder as they prepared to leave Upside Town. Platforms gently rotated beneath their feet, teacups floated peacefully, and for the first time in days, the multiverse felt a little less chaotic, and a little more like home. Together, they stepped forward, ready for whatever absurd, sticky, upside-down adventure awaited them next.