Sanctuary of Unwanted Feelings
Deep in the Underworld, there was a great temple built within a vast trench, shaped like a split, broken heart. A horde of Angels were blasted from the temple. A giant Paradiso was thrown. Bayonetta zoomed up the hill from the temple on her slender legs. A purple orb with a music note was tucked under her right arm. "You'll break a lady's heart if you keep me waiting, darlings~. Can't you run faster?"
"Stop where you stand, heathen!" Bayonetta halted when Ash Landers landed in her way, drawing a fencing sword. "Take your filthy hands off the Voice."
Bayonetta twirled around, and when she faced him, the orb was now under her dress, against her belly. "You wouldn't hurt a pregnant woman with glasses, would you~?"
Ash grit his teeth. "FILTHY!!" His sword projected an aura that, when swung, resembled soap scrubbing across the air. He lunged at Bayonetta, who dodged the soapy blade and clashed one of her own against it. Her blade suddenly became shiny and sparkly clean, causing Ash's sword to slip cleanly down it and nearly strike the witch. She dropped the sword to dodge back, then conjured a giant Demon Arm of Dark Chi. It punched the punier Angel, but Ash blocked it with his sword, an explosion of bubbles jutting out as the Dark Chi morphed into suds.
Bayonetta ran around and tried to shoot him, but her bullets cut through a cloud of suds. "My Zanpakutō, Angela, can scrub anything to beautiful cleanliness, including tainted souls. Using large doses of it cleanses my soul as well," the suds cleared, revealing Ash in a feminine form, "and changes my gender."
Bayonetta's brows twitched at the strange side-effect. "Well, I respect your lifestyle, darling, but it might be difficult to explain to our child."
Bayonetta dodged Angela's retaliation and kicked her away. She looked to her discarded sword and saw its 'cleanliness' had worn off, so she reclaimed it. "But it looks like nothing stays clean forever."
"Yes… no matter how much I try to cleanse tainted souls, cleanse this filthy world, filth is doomed to dirty them again!" She aggressively scrubbed against the ground, flying around Bayonetta to surround her with a slippery field. "When a road is paved with new blacktop, it'll decay and crumble again after enough use. Mortal children born with sweet souls will become rotten over time!" The rapid scrubbing turned Angela back into a man. "Cleanliness is a dream we can never reach. Everything is doomed to be filthy, filthy, filthy!"
"On second thought, you're just not my type." Bayonetta grew butterfly wings to fly over the polished ground.
She saw the ground below cracking, and soon after, a large figure erupted out: it was Amalthus, donned in a bulky white armor with blue energy tentacles emitting from his back. "Thousand Tentacles!" Amalthus whipped the tentacles up at Bayonetta, but the witch used Witch Time, slowing the tentacles as she skied down one. Once at Amalthus, she set time back to normal and landed a kick to his face, jumping off to the ground. "Domination!" Amalthus whipped her with a tentacle, her butterfly wings disappearing. "Sacred ARROW!" He willed energy arrows to rain from above, but she was unable to slow time down as some arrows pierced her.
Bayonetta dodged Amalthus' tentacle attacks, but when Ash flew from behind, she sent a dark dragon to attack the smaller Angel. "It's pointless to face me!" Amalthus declared, trapping Bayonetta's limbs. "My Zanpakutō, Blade Eater, allows me to take the energy of other Zanpakutō by impaling myself with them. My loyal soldiers have given me their power! In Arceus's name, I will-"
"Isn't it annoying that everyone has to announce and explain their abilities? Why couldn't we just stick to basic element bending?"
"How dare you interrupt me!"
"I don't even want to ask why you went with the tentacle theme."
Bayonetta STAMPED Amalthus with a giant Dark Leg, pushing him off, followed by an uppercut with a Dark Arm. Amalthus was blown into the air, curving upside-down on the incline. "AAH?!" The hole he had burrowed from appeared in his vision. "Not agaaaaaaiiiiiiinnn…!" His voice echoed ever further into the hole of his very width.
"You can help him, can't you?" Bayonetta asked Angela, dodging beams of soap bubbles. "Be a dear and do that, I'm quite late to a party. Witch Time!" She slowed time once more and fled from Angela. She called Hollows to attack her, but Angela used her power to turn the dark spirits into Paradisos.
"Fleeing again, Witch?" Angela glared. "You only run because you fear the light of Justice!"
Castlevania
Bayonetta's heels clacked and echoed against the patterned floor of the ballroom. Hundreds of masked guests in fancy costumes watched as she approached the host, the Lost Voice in hand. The host was clothed in a black cape that was red underneath, an open coat with the same colors, a white neckerchief over a shirt with blazing rims, and a white wig of many curls around his sharp, pale face. "Count Dracula… I have brought your wedding gift."
The Vampire Lord held open his palm. Bayonetta lightly set the Voice in the clutch of his clawed fingers. He raised it and turned as he spoke poetically. "The Voice of Unwanted Feelings… the remnants of a tribe cursed vith heartbreak. Love gone unrequited. A testament to all I had lost. But now to be reborn anew as we are joined in matrimony."
Dracula presented the Voice to a woman in a velvet, decorative coat and a mask with sad, yet joyous eyes. The brown-haired woman said nothing, but put a hand to her heart as if to ask, 'For me?' She took the Voice in both hands and held it close. The foreign song emitting from the orb sounded rather somber.
"I gladly welcome Ms. Bayonetta to my domain!" Dracula announced. "Ve hope you enjoy the festivities! Let us dance in celebration of both our union, and our alliance vith The Skulls!"
The party was rather colorful and extravagant with all kinds of costumed couples joining hands and twirling. "'Guess I'd better dress up myself." Bayonetta decided. "Shall I go for Samus or Peach?"
Dracula danced with his betrothed for a while before passing her over to another man dressed like a skeleton in a purple king's cape. "The moment I knew who you were, I knew you would be the perfect wife for our potential friend, Dracula." Skull Face told her. "How convenient that Sandman has crossed both him and myself. He's proving to be very useful… and you'll be useful, too."
The tiny ball of light flew onto the Voice. "Now, do me a favor and speak to it…"
Maria's dollhouse
"That doesn't make any goddamn sense!" Nolan thundered at Gohda. "The Voice of Regrets just grew a body, took the other one, and ran away?!"
"I-It's true, York-san!" Gohda replied in panic. "I was only cleaning, the Voices were sitting still in their bags, and then it happened all of the sudden!"
"It's not 'THE' sudden, it's 'A' sudden, and it STILL doesn't make sense! Maria, did your book say anything about the Voices being able to do that?!"
"Maria only read a little bit." replied the mage from outside the house, driving the carriage with a regretful expression. "She doesn't remember anything like that, uuuu…"
"Maybe it's some kind of defense mechanism." Snake inputted. "If a Voice is removed from its sanctuary, it comes to life and tries to find its way back. And it'll take one of the other Voices if they're stolen, too?"
"Even if that's true, how can it warp back to Darkrai's dream?" Nolan argued. "Heck, what if the Voice of Regrets was just a fake? We did find it in Ocelot's possession after all, it could've been a big trap to take one of the others!"
"You're not wrong… That could explain why Valentine decided to leave the scene."
Joker and Haru sat at the living room couch, watching TV. "They're still talking about the Pirate War?" Haru asked.
"Well, it was a pretty big event." Joker figured. "But still, you'd think…"
The TV displayed a meeting taking place on Coruscant.
Galactic Council
"Why should it matter if the remaining Emperors have become more peaceable?" questioned Angella, the representative of Etheria. She was a humanoid woman with soft pinkish skin, hair, clothing, and a silver cape. "I, for one, at least demand reparations from the Boogey Pirates, for their constant invasions of the Boiling Isles."
"Aren't the Boiling Isles unaligned with your kingdom?" asked the High President of Osiris. "Much like the poorly-managed Crimson Wastes. It's no wonder the pirates like to visit such chaotic areas."
"The only ones who frequent the Crimson Wastes are YOUR people! Honestly, what makes you think it's a vacation site?"
"I agree with Queen Angella." President Linkyn of Kateenia gave his input. "Some of my people visited Gerudo Town on Hyrule during the pirates' invasion. And some of them were swept up by that Skaios fellow during his invasion of the desert. I demand payment from both!"
"Wait just a moment!" yelled Boa Hancock, Empress of Amazonia. "Gerudo Town only allows women! What would your people be…?"
"Th-They were female Kateenians!" Linkyn flushed. "Don't just accuse us of something like that!"
"Even if they seem mellowed out for now," began Zaádéa, the Queen of Glomour, "that's no guarantee that the Four Emperors changed their ways. They could decide to strike again at any time."
"There are still some Kremling groups in hiding on Mobius." followed Cheadle, Chancellor of Mobius. "Considering their allegiance to King Bowser and other dangerous warlords, I'm afraid of retaliation on their part. My planet is still in a state of disrepair due to what happened."
"Are you saying we should send all the resources to you?" Jacques Schnee asked. "How selfish. The Four Emperors have harmed many worlds, you know."
"I wasn't being selfish!" Cheadle yelled in rage. "Excuse me if I'm worried for my peoples' safety, after all our homes were destroyed! We're struggling to provide provisions for them enough as it is!"
"Should we inform all the pet stores then? How is anyone going to feed their dogs?"
"Why don't you pansies just BUST the Emperors and make them cough up?!" shouted Mom, the President of MomCorp. "I ain't paying for their damage!"
"You know, we Legoans are expert craftsmen." Lord Business mentioned with a chuckle. "We would be happy to assist in rebuilding your-"
"ARE YOU TRYING TO ONE-UP ME?!" Mom pushed a button on her platform, which triggered a robot arm to rise from Business's platform and slap him. "Your plastic toys are garbage! My robots can outbuild your Legos like beavers on steroids!"
"That's an interesting analogy, but I accept your challenge, Carol." Business teased.
"Listen, why don't we all take a moment to settle down?" asked King Mickey. "It's true that we should keep an eye on the Emperors, but we mustn't forget to enjoy the little things in life. For instance, cooking!" The mouse threw on a chef's hat. "The Cooking Festival will take place in a month, am I correct? I say it's the perfect way to ease the hearts of the universe-hoho!"
"Well, the Cooking Fest is the responsibility of the Gourmet Hunter's Association." Chancellor Phyronix replied. "Still, I think you're right, King Mickey. The recipes cooked at the festival are later served to the poor and needy, and I'm certain a lot of people could use some uplifting meals after the war!"
"Let me say that I agree!" Gruntilda proclaimed. "I'm already prepared for the festivitie…s! I've prepared mountains of ingredients, good, to be cooked and served at the festival of food!"
"My, that's awfully kind of you, Grunty!" Mickey cheered. "Mind if I have a sample or two?"
"If you desire, little mouse. My foods are sure to rock the house!"
Dollhouse
"You know," Joker said, "Sandman said that Skull Face caused his friends to go mute with his parasites. But if he's been sending them around for a while, why wouldn't it be a point of discussion? Just how many other people have been going mute?"
"Maybe Skull Face has to activate them himself." Nolan overheard. "And he's only choosing a minimum amount of victims so no one realizes what's happening. But anyone can go mute at any time."
"This is really awful." Haru sighed somberly. "I know that some people already have the inability to speak, but even I can imagine how hard it would be to live with that. If I couldn't raise my voice and speak my mind as I pleased…"
"This is why Sandman wants to find the Lost Voices." Joker replied.
"Hm?" Snake looked to Nolan. "So… you are planning to open the tower."
"Sigh…yes." Sandman admitted. "In the event we can't force Skull Face to cooperate… Babel may be our only hope. If the peoples' voices can't come back after killing the parasites, maybe Babel can bring them back."
"I have a bad feeling about this, Nolan… Are you sure there's not a reason the Angels wanna keep it closed?"
"They're just afraid of Skull Face! That's why we have to detain him as soon as possible! If only they would freakin' understand…!"
Snake glared at him for a moment, but released a sigh. "Something strange is going on here… but now that I'm a part of this, I have to do my part to bring Skull Face to justice. As for you kids… you don't need to be roped up in this any longer."
"Actually, I would like to stay and lend whatever support I can." Joker replied. "I won't be able to rest knowing such a heinous operation is going on."
"I would like to stay and help, too." Haru replied.
"Actually, Noir, you should return home for a while with the others, before too many people grow concerned. Perhaps you could study the situation at home. See if anybody else is losing their voice."
"Actually, if you're going back to the Mortal World, I have a favor to ask." Nolan said. "Try to get in contact with the Kids Next Door. Tell them what you know about the parasites without mentioning me; it's illegal for me to contact living people that I knew. Maybe they can find a way to track these spirit parasites and do something. In fact, there's a chance Skull Face implanted one in you."
"Oh…oh, my." Haru gasped. "Well… then I'd best get home. And it may not help your discretion to have our whole large group travel with you. …Still, living in a dollhouse like this feels adorably pleasant." She smiled. "I hope we get to visit again sometime." With that, she left the dollhouse to go rejoin the other thieves.
Nolan received a call on his communicator and answered. "Nolan, it's Emily. Where are you right now?"
"I'm, uh… kind of out at the moment."
"W-What does that mean?! Nolan, the Divine Angels are searching the treehouse! I was lucky enough to be away when I came back and saw them!"
"They're at Sector WITCH?! Crap, I knew they would be onto me before long!"
"Oh, no!" Maria gasped. "Maria's family is still at the treehouse! W-What if they get taken prisoner?! We have to save them, uu-uu!"
"Maria-chan, your room should be hidden with the spell you cast." Gohda tried to console her. "So long as they stay in there, they'll be fine."
"What if they went for a walk?! Emily-chan, go see what they're doing! See if Maria's family is okay, uuuu!"
"I, um…I'd rather not…"
"Emily, you're a Halfa, so if anything, they would ban you from Spirit World if they suspect you." Nolan said. "Just go to them and ask what they're doing. And… just explain you don't know what we're doing, and try not to mention Maria."
"But I DON'T know what you're doing! Ugh…having you in my team is a real pain, Nolan."
Sector WITCH
"Hey! Excuse meeeeee!" Emily called to the Angels as she flew to the treehouse. "Hey, what're you guys doing in our tree-" the Angels raised spears at her, "house?" she raised her arms up.
Emily was escorted into the treehouse garden. The statues of their friends were still in place, but Maria was nowhere in sight. If Emily remembered correctly, Maria's room becomes magically hidden if unwanted intruders are in the treehouse.
But to Emily's concern, Lord Balder was there to greet her. "Mrs. Dickson, correct? Would you mind explaining what this is?"
He stepped aside, revealing Nolan York… or rather, a hunched-over imitation of Nolan, with sharp teeth and a maniacal smirk. "Nya ha ha ha. Darkrai'll never know what hit him, it's gonna be mine, wee hee hee!"
"I…I literally have no idea." Emily replied honestly, not expecting such a creature at all.
"My Angels found this… thing within Darkrai's dreamscape, trying to steal the Lost Voice. And what a coincidence that the Voice would wind up stolen. Mr. York has defied my orders, and as a member of his sector, I hold you responsible! I demand to know where he is!"
"I don't know where he is! …I-In fact, I've been trying to call him the past few days, but he hasn't answered!"
"And what was the last conversation you had with him?"
"W-We were talking about… how to stop Skull Face's parasites." As Emily talked, one of the garden butterflies landed on her shoulder. "I mean, we know you said you would handle him, but we couldn't help but be worried. Our friends are in danger, both living and dead! Why can't you let the KND work with you? You should know that we're perfectly capable of fighting crooks like Skull Face."
"As a matter of fact, I do. The feats of you Kids Next Door are incredible, even despite that you originated from that Zathurian. But there are certain things you are better off not learning. Certain things you do not understand and are not responsible for. And the matter with the Tower of Babel is one of them."
"I wish you would just tell me so I understand why!"
"It is not your business to know! Now, back to our first topic, you're saying you have no idea where Nolan is, and you are supposedly unaffiliated with his little 'operation'?"
"No, I'm not. Frankly, I wouldn't wanna get in trouble with you guys, anyway. I'm still technically alive, you know."
"Yes, managing Halfas into our system is quite annoying. But I'd much rather you than…" Balder shook his head for a moment. "In any case, I don't entirely believe your words, but they seem to hold mostly true. I had better not catch you involving yourself with Mr. York unless you intend to turn him in."
"As you command, Your Holy Baldiness~" Emily gave a bow.
Balder scoffed at the remark. "Balder!" He turned to Sherbet, who had just flown in alongside Ciel. "Ash Landers reports that Bayonetta stole the Voice of-"
"Hush!" Balder ordered, gesturing at Emily. "You can leave now, Mrs. Dickson. Be on your way."
"Um…of course." Emily flew away, the butterfly on her shoulder fluttering in confusion for a second.
"Um, anyway…the Angels tried to pursue the witch, but she seemed to be headed directly to Dracula's castle."
"Do you mean Dracula has a hand in Skull Face's plot?!" Balder asked as the butterfly began to fly away. "Then his escape from prison was no coincidence… There is one way we may yet breach that stronghold. Send a search out for…"
The butterfly blissfully flew away from the treehouse, fluttering the great distance to Maria. The innocent creature landed on Maria's shoulder and made a little jingle. The witch recapped the discussion to her team.
"Another Voice was taken to Dracula's castle?" Nolan asked.
"Dracula?" Joker asked. "The vampire legend?"
"He's very much real. Joker, do you remember the Halloween of 2031? The incident where everyone was turned into their costumes? Dracula was behind that."
"I do remember that… Heh, I didn't expect that to come up now of all times."
"Emily-chan, did you check on Maria's family?" Maria called.
"I have to get far away and turn intangible, so I can fly to your room. Honestly, you guys are putting too much on me."
"Uuuu…" Maria put aside her concern and turned to the dollhouse. "Maria knows about Dracula, York-san. He was considered one of the favorite Nightmares of Darkrai I. He was built his own castle in the Uunderworld called Castlevania."
"Did you seriously just say 'Uunderworld'?" Snake asked. "Look, kid, what the heck is with the 'uuu' business? It was already annoying, but mispronouncing words just ain't cool!"
"Keep going, Maria." Nolan requested.
Maria smiled graciously at her friend. "Even though Dracula is an Uunderworld Prisoner, that castle, gifted to him by a god, would always serve as his special home. When a god grants a spirit a special privilege like that, it cannot be revoked. It's like 'tenure' for spirits, uuu. Even Davy Jones was given a special privilege by Kyogre, to help guide the souls that were lost at sea. Jones continues that duty even in his special cell in the Uunderworld."
"And Kyogre didn't revoke that privilege because he can't, or because he still has a soft spot for Jones?"
"Maria doesn't know. But Castlevania is a fortress that cannot be entered without Dracula's permission, just like how a vampire can't enter someone's home without permission. If Dracula is working for Skull Face, then his castle is a perfect place to hide the Lost Voices."
"So, we couldn't even sneak our way in?" Joker asked.
"Not if we are uninvited. …But Maria may know someway we can enter. Have you ever heard of the Belmont Family? While the Nightmare Wars were taking place, the Belmonts hunted and fought all kinds of monsters that were sent to attack Earth. They fought with Dracula numerous times."
"So did Batman, if I recall." Nolan said. "I'm guessing that took place on Superbia." Even though that world didn't 'exist' at the time… man, that's confusing.
"So, we need to ask the help of the Belmonts?" Snake assumed. "Where do they live?"
"Maria actually met one of the Belmonts once." She smiled brightly. "In fact, Maria just mentioned her."
"You did?"
"Maria, I found your room." Emily called. "It doesn't seem like your family is inside their mansion. But it doesn't seem like anybody broke in either."
"Maria's family is missing?! Did they all decide to go for a walk? Emily, you need to find them and tell them not to come back, I don't want them to be captured!"
"Maria-chan, wait!" Gohda spoke up, resizing outside the dollhouse. "Tell Emily to meet up with me, I'll help her search for the family. You and your friends should focus on the mission."
"Are you sure, Gohda-san? If you go, we can't eat your amazing food, uu-uu."
"I know… it is regrettable, but I must consider the safety of all the Ushiromiyas. You can leave this to me, Maria-chan. Put your faith in Gohda!"
"Mmm…" Maria cracked a small, grateful smile. "Okay. Maria-chan wishes Gohda-san luck." And she raised her scepter and gently tapped him. "Uu!"
"Ha ha! …" Gohda turned to be on his way. …The butler frowned and bit his lip in a nervous manner.
"I guess we'll leave Emily to that." Nolan figured. "So, where are we headed, Maria?"
Gates of Heaven
Dimentia had returned to searching for Sylistys' signature. She felt a tad more at ease with Leic's butterflies covering and fluttering around her. "Do you like butterflies, Dimentia?"
"I guess they're pretty, but I never really thought about them that much. You must collect them for a hobby, I bet."
"Yeah, I do! I like it when they fly around my room. Sometimes, they tickle me when I'm laying in bed~"
"Doesn't that make it hard to sleep?"
"No, I still sleep. But my dreams are filled with tickles!"
Dimentia giggled at that. Plex felt the need to remind her not to be distracted, but thought it might be pointless all the same. "Miss Winkiebottom?"
They turned as an Angel had just flown in from the gate. "Mr. Landers!" Leic beamed. "Dimentia, this is my mentor! He's the one who gave me my status."
"And what would you be doing with my student?" Ash asked.
"Um…Leic is helping me with my mission. He asked to help, so I allowed him."
"I don't think Lord Balder would approve of that. Fighting the Daemonis should be the responsibility of the Phoenios, not a sweet young angel as Leic."
"But Mr. Landers, I fight evil spirits all the time." Leic replied with a cute frown, twisting his foot on the grass. "And I haven't been a burden, have I?"
"Of course not, you've been very helpful." Dimentia assured.
"Leic, the Daemonis are outsiders and are thus the responsibility of outsiders. You are burdened enough with both spiritual and mortal enemies, so do not let these invaders trouble you."
"W-Wait a second." Dimentia stood to full height. "You're right that the Daemonis should be the Phoenios' responsibility, but isn't the protection of this universe the KND's responsibility? Didn't the KND just fight some of the most dangerous outsiders of all time?"
"Are you saying you intend to push your responsibility onto the KND?"
"I'm saying that the KND are strong and capable of defending this universe from invaders. Even Tanzy needed my help back then. I didn't want to trouble anyone else with this mission, but since Leic came to me, I felt like… maybe it was Fate at work. …And besides, Sylistys doesn't feel all that strong. She keeps running away from us, so we're bound to stop her once we have her cornered."
"Hmm…I'm not saying you're wrong in that regard. It's just… souls like Leic's are very rare." Ash approached the child and knelt to his level. "His heart is so clean… so precious… that I fear the effects that war and dark spirits could have on him, let alone those outsider demons…" He gently patted Leic's hair, stroked his cheek, and pinched the soft skin under his chin.
"Tehehe!" Leic giggled from the affection. Dimentia merely looked at this with an uncomfortable expression.
Ash stood to face Dimentia again. "In any case… it's not that I disapprove of you, but it's mostly for Balder's sake. He would feel the same way about one of our children helping you."
"I feel terrible for what I did to him."
"I'm sure you do, but it isn't just you he has a problem with. Lord Balder-"
"Dimentia!" Plex shouted. "Do you feel that?!"
Dimentia flinched to attention and began focusing. She gasped with surprise and terror. It can't be! Along with Sylistys, I feel… another one?! And this aura… it feels just like…
"Is there a problem?" Ash asked.
Dimentia cleared her throat, "Ahem. We just found her. Leic, can you Descend us down to Mechanos?"
"Uh-huh!" Leic climbed onto her shoulders once more as they warped.
"Hmm…are you quite certain they aren't that strong?" Ash wondered.
Underworld underground, some time ago…
Sylistys had returned to her hideout, a deep, dark cavern in the Underworld. She lifted a large rock and uncovered a secret stash of bottles, containing elemental spirits. She opened two containing a Fire and Earth Spirit, proceeding to drink. They weren't as sustaining as full benders, but were enough to suffice.
"Not really what I'd choose for a secret bunker."
Sylistys gasped with a start at the seductive voice. She turned as a woman stepped out from the shadow of the corner. She had posh black hair with bright blue highlights underneath, dark-blue horns, and a black shirt with gold buttons and rims. Sylistys didn't know who she was exactly, but she knew she was a Daemonis. "Did my masters send you?"
"I came of my own accord. Call me Varcrutis." She approached the bonebender and stroked her hair with a sharp, black-gloved finger. "My, what happened to your eye? Did Dimentia do that? She should be visiting too, shouldn't she? Did she give you too much trouble?"
"…" Sylistys hesitated to respond. The first time, she chose to retreat because of the group of strong kids who were about to arrive alongside her. But the second time… she wouldn't want to admit the truth behind her wounded eye. "She's a little stronger than I imagined her to be. I feared if I used too much power, then others would be able to track my signature and make things more difficult."
"But that's exactly why we made you. We may have tweaked your aura, but you're still a denizen of this universe. That's why you're in the right to raise some havoc on this place. Besides, it's not like these gods would do anything to stop you." Varcrutis turned away, frowning and glaring. "That Dialga… he really pisses me off. During the heat of that space battle with Skaios, I decided to pop open the tiniest rift in space and sneak in. There were probably so many distortions that I thought no one would notice. Despite that, it seems the gods were still alerted to my arrival… and you know what he said to me?"
Varcrutis quietly peeped out from behind a rock on the Avatar Realms. While a chaotic battle took place in the distance, she tip-toed like a cartoon spy, a conniving grin on her features.
"Hello there!"
"AAH!" Var was totally blindsided when Dialga exploded out of time.
"I can see that you're a visitor! Not only that, you seem to fall under the 'Deities or High-Ranking Spirits' category, which also includes demons."
"I-I wasn't doing anything wrong!" Var spoke with a bubbly smile, morphing her body to a chibi state. "I was just out for a walk, la la la~"
"…" Dialga stared at her for a moment. "That's all good, then! However, I am inclined to lay a few ground rules." At that instant, a bulky blue book labeled 'Laws of the Universe' crashed before her. "You are forbidden from interfering with mortal affairs, including business meetings, political gatherings, quests, and even presenting yourself in public areas is not recommended without the proper permission from either gods or mortals who request you. Naturally, attacking denizens of this universe is strictly forbidden, but you have a right to defend yourself from any who attack you. Many of these rules generally apply to us as well. I'll trust you to read the others, but so long as you follow them, feel free to have a good time!"
Varcrutis grit her teeth in confusion: the God of Time felt a bit more lax than she imagined. "You do know who I am, right? You really expect me to follow these rules?!"
"But of course I know you, Miss Depraritas. And maybe I know what you're going to do. Regardless, it won't be my duty to stop you. Enjoy yourself!" And he vanished through another time warp.
"That cocky bastard, acting like I'm not a threat." Varcrutis raised a finger to Sylistys' throat, glaring directly in her eye. Her teeth bore the sharpness of an orca's. "He KNOWS I woulda trashed the Noah! I woulda had those brats, if not for Golden Child swinging his Master Pencil around the place! Not to mention there was a freakin' Inviere on the boat, you know who I mean!"
"Sounds like some pretty rotten luck."
"I tell ya, The Thirteen were probably our one good chance to reap this universe for all it has, but now that the gods are in charge again, it'll be a miracle if we can get anything out of this place. Luckily, I think we have a place to start." Varcrutis whipped out a business card between her fingers from her collar.
Sylistys took the card. "Eggman Empire?" There was a logo resembling a round, grinning face with a spiked mustache.
"Yep! My first choice was Giovanni, since he was affiliated with The Thirteen, but he was busy with other matters, so he redirected me to Eggman. Apparently, the dude's a specialist at catching and harnessing ancient creatures, so we could come to an agreement. Maybe I'll trade him some weapons, knock a few heads for him, and he'll give me some juicy goods in return. It's a place to start, right? Heck, he might even have a nice snack for you. Whaddya say we go together?" She put an arm around the bonebender.
"Do you need me to protect you from Dimentia?"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Varcrutis smacked Sy's back. "Dimentia couldn't take me if she tried! I'm just worried if she'll contact backup… Looks like we'll have to be quick about this interview. On the bright side, Mechanos has a mostly robotic population, not what you'd call 'mortal,' right?"
"Would a population like that have actual organic bones?"
"Ohhhhh, shoot." Var face-palmed. "You're not a metalbender, are you? Heh, 'guess Pyronem was right to prepare this for you." She withdrew a small marble.
Spirit World; a flower field
"Hm hm hmm, hm hmmm~" A girl hummed a merry song as she picked a handful of flowers. She wove them into a crown and placed them on the head of an innocent green dragon. "Here, Seiryuu. You love yellow flowers, don't you?"
"Roar, ruuuu." The dragon moaned with a smile.
"Hahaha! Now each of you have crowns!" she announced with a bubbly smile. A small white tiger, a blue turtle, and a vermillion bird each had their own crowns.
The girl wore a long, flowing pink dress, red boots underneath, and a red bow on her wavy golden hair. Her blue eyes were wide and expressive.
Sandman and co. were following Maria across the pleasant flower field. There appeared to be a house in the distance, and they noticed the girl after crossing a hill. "There she is!" Maria pointed, racing across the flowers. "Mariaaaaa! Maria, it's me!"
The girl heard the distant call and turned. She recognized the crowned witch. "Mariaaaaa!" The 12-year-old ran to meet the younger child in a hug.
Maria's teammates caught up as they both faced the men. "York-san and friends, this is Maria's friend, Maria Renard! She's a relative of the Belmonts!"
"We'll just call you Renard to avoid confusion." Nolan decided.
"Gosh, Maria. Why did you bring these scary people to my house?"
"Renard, do you remember when you told me about Dracula and Castlevania?"
"Of course I do."
"Dracula took something important from Maria's friends. We need a way to get into his castle, but we don't think Dracula will invite us."
"Hmm…it's quite funny that you came to me about this. Because an invitation came to me just this morning."
"Don't tell me it was from Dracula!" Nolan exclaimed.
"But it was. Oh, but it wasn't for me!" She waved hands in defense. "Heheh, Dracula would never invite me to his castle! The invitation… was for Alucard. Would you like to meet him?"
"Sure… Don't see why not." Snake shrugged.
Renard led them to a small building across the field, a stairwell that led underground. At the bottom, she knocked on a stone door. "Alucard? There are guests here to see you."
"And who might they be?" a voice spoke from within.
"They seem like nice people, even if they look scary. But that's just like you!"
"Hmph… very well then."
Renard opened the door to a rather dim room with an antique rug and furniture. A man was lain in a coffin, wearing black attire with gold rims, and a cape that was silver underneath. He had pale skin, whitish-blond hair, and sharp gold eyes. "Alucard, don't nap in your heavy clothes! You won't get comfortable!"
"Renard, who is this man?" Nolan asked.
"This is Alucard, Dracula's first son."
"S-Son?!"
"Not a fan of my father, I take it?" Alucard rose up from the coffin. "He's made his share of enemies. Including Abraham Lincoln at one point. What do you expect from a man who targets any woman that wears black?"
"When I was alive, he targeted my wife once, so no, I'm not a fan."
"Dracula tried to take your wife?" Joker asked.
"Yeah, but I put him back to rest."
"Thank goodness, because I wasn't looking forward to another sibling." Alucard remarked, stepping off the coffin. "I'm sure they were invited to this party as well." He picked up an envelope from the table. "The umpteenth-hundredth bride of Count Dracula. I wonder how Mavis is doing with the hotel? Last I heard, she was trying to compete with King Boo for the greatest hotel."
"The Fairy Princess?"
"No, silly, that Mavis existed before Dracula!" Maria corrected.
"Whatever, this is just a wiki editor's nightmare at this point."
"Alucard, these men want to get into Castlevania." Renard explained. "As Dracula's son, you have the power to invite them in. And you have an invitation anyway, so he'll be expecting you."
"I've grown quite tired of Father's parties. All of his would-be wives have been thrown aside and this 'Kyla' will soon meet the same fate."
"But Alucard-"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Nolan suddenly bellowed.
Alucard cocked a brow at his outburst. "…My father's betrothed, Kyla York, will end up like-"
The Sandman SNATCHED the invitation and looked it over. You are invited to witness the union of Count Dracula and Kyla York was the line he was especially glued to.
". . . How did Dracula… get his filthy hands on MY MOTHER?!"
Alucard narrowed his eyes. "It seems I will have to reconsider. Well then… shall we get dressed for the party?"
"Damn right we will."
"Oh, dear… I hope they allow children." Renard shifted sheepishly. "If they don't, I guess I'll have to act my age." And with that, she grew to become an 18-year-old woman in a green dress. "But only a little bit." She spoke in a mature voice.
"WAIT, HOW OLD ARE YOU?!" The others' eyes popped out from the sudden change.
"Ahem, at any rate… we'll be counting on you." Nolan said to Alucard.
"You have my word." Alucard swiftly drew a thin, clean sword. "So long as I have yours."
…
"-aaaaaaAAAAHH!"
Amalthus crashed through the ceiling of an underground cavern. "Huff…that's it…" The priest pushed himself up, brushing the dust off. "I'm issuing a decree to have every hole in both Spirit and Underworld filled!"
He hadn't noticed Varcrutis and Sylistys behind him. Before he could discover their hideout, Var crouched, stretched an arm, and pulled open a rift from below Amalthus. "WAAAH!" The man fell in. "AAAAAAAAHHHH…!"
Var released as the hole snapped shut. "Well, we better get going!" she said to Sy with a grin.