Castle Hell
Kyla York was lain to rest in a guestroom of the castle. While Maria was looking over the woman, Sandman and Alucard met with Death the Kid in his office. "I'll be happy to watch after your mother, Numbuh 2030… but on another matter, Balder was asking about you earlier. He believes you are trying to collect the Lost Voices against his orders."
"Balder is basing that assumption on a Nightmare. I don't have any of the Lost Voices."
"I see… Well, let's talk about this rescue mission. How did you find out Dracula had your mother in the first place?"
"I can explain that." Alucard replied. "I had received the invitation to the ball from my father. Though I initially declined, I told my landlady, Maria about it and mentioned Kyla York, who was written on the letter. She was pen-pals with one of your operatives, also named Maria, and as she had recently gotten a new teammate named Nolan York, she naturally decided to write to her about this Kyla. As convenient as it was, there was a connection."
"Very well… but how did Dracula end up finding your mom in the first place?"
"He had underworld connections, so he probably paid one of the spirits to go up and kidnap her." Nolan answered. "And since he was in prison with Brain, he probably told her about Kyla. Whatever the reason, I just want her to stay out of his hands."
"Alright, then." Kid shrugged. "Still, even if you were lying about the Voices… I don't even know. The entire situation feels more hopeless by the second. Just be sure to stay out of trouble."
Nolan nodded, walking out of the office with Alucard. They returned to the guestroom to get Maria. "Look, York-san. She seems to be waking up."
Mrs. York groaned slightly and sat herself up. She looked up at the two men standing over her… and was immediately alarmed by Alucard. "AH!" She slapped him. "I will NOT marry you!"
"Mom, he's not Dracula." Nolan informed. "This is Alucard, Dracula's estranged son."
"Oh…oh, Nolan!" She got up and hugged her grown-up son. "It was so awful! I was kidnapped by a man who looked just like you, and suddenly, this mask was forced on my face, and…"
"It's alright, Mom. You can stay here until we have Dracula behind bars again."
"I was being controlled against my will… but I was still somewhat conscious. For a moment, I danced with this man dressed like a skeleton… and he asked me to 'speak' to this purple orb with a song note inside it. He asked me to express my 'love' for Dracula… of course, that was a load of rubbish, too, but I was forced to say it regardless. After a while, he said, 'That should please the spirit,' and he left…"
Nolan thought to himself for a minute. "…I'm sorry you had to go through all that, Mom. Dracula and his accomplices only targeted you to get to me."
"Well, so long as I can rely on my son to rescue me, I don't mind one bit." Kyla smiled. "Well… maybe a little bit. Honestly, Nolan, you really mustn't make-"
"-make so many enemies, yeah." Nolan nodded. "I'll see you later, Mom. These enemies won't bust themselves."
"Hmhm, of course, dear."
The team returned to the carriage as Maria drove them across a valley. "Skull Face made her express her false love to the Voice, in order to please a spirit." Nolan recapped to the others.
"Hmm…wasn't it called the Voice of Unwanted Feelings?" Snake asked. "And her 'feelings' for Dracula were unwanted…"
"I see." Joker followed. "Perhaps each of the Voices needs some sort of trigger. Perhaps a spirit inhabits each of them that need to be awakened."
"When the Lingering Regrets came to life," Maria inputted, "was that the spirit of the Voice, uuu?"
"And I'm thinking the trigger for these spirits are to speak to them." Snake inferred. "That seems to be the running theme here. Nolan's mom had to speak unwanted feelings… and maybe the Lingering Regrets came to life because… Did we ever speak about our regrets?"
"Hmmm…" The best Nolan could think of was not being honest with Snake at first, keeping his intention to open the tower to himself. "There's a chance Ocelot could've done something to it. Does he have any regrets?"
"A lot, I would hope."
"Either way, let's make a plan to search for the last Voice. Maria says it's called the Voice of Stolen Truth."
They heard a jingling, ringing sound. The source was from Joker's phone as he reached to grab it. "Oh, it's from the guys. They've returned to Spirit World."
"Better call Emily while we're at it." Nolan figured.
Gates of Heaven
Leic and Dimentia collapsed on the ground after their hasty return. The young angel gasped for breath as his skin morphed back into a normal, peach color. "Hu-!" he gasped in embarrassment, covering his private parts with his wings since he was still without a robe. "Phew, that was a really intense moment… Haha, we barely got outta there, Dimentia!"
"Now that we have a moment," she spoke with two voices, "I should finally introduce myself. My name is Plex, the one Dimentia's been speaking to."
"The… Imaginary Friend? Ohhhhh!" His eyes widened in realization. "Now I get it! You're a split personality!"
"Once again, inaccurate. At any rate… I would like to thank you for the help you've given Dimentia. We apologize for dragging you into our conflict with the Daemonis, but you needn't trouble yourself, anymore. I'm going to come there in person with another partner of mine, and we'll subdue both Varcrutis and Sylistys."
"But I wanna help, too." Leic stood up, covering his rear with one wing and his front with the other. "Plus, we can't just go look for them when we're so exhausted. There's a nice bath in the First Church, it'll freshen you right up!"
"I think we're going to bring Dimentia home for now, she can rest up in safety and comfort, then we'll come back with more reinforcements."
"But we're so close to beating them! We can do it!"
"I appreciate the sentiment, young man, but right now, we need more than just a ragtag group to deal with them. Especially since now we have to prove ourselves-"
"Prove?" Dimentia blinked, suddenly speaking in her normal voice. "Plex, I know that most of the KND can't stop them right now, but they can't all be busy, just look at Leic and the others from Mechanos."
"You know what I meant." The monotone voice quickly interjected.
"No I don't, what was that earlier about 'proving ourselves'?" Dimentia spoke more firmly. "I was fine with tracking down Sylistys because I thought we were just doing our jobs, but not all of those places really needed us, did they?"
"Perhaps not, but wouldn't letting this slide-?"
"I know what Balder said, but he only said so because we all thought no one else was available, but that's obviously not true."
"That's…!"
"Even more so, Plex, I'm not sure bringing backup would even be helping. I think that woman doesn't think us capable of protecting ourselves… and more Phoenios help is gonna prove that point of hers."
"You can't mean to face them again. It's not like a little bath is going to suddenly make you stronger."
"That's for me to decide, Plex. Besides, Var is probably afraid of backup arriving, so they're going to be recovering their stamina as well. We have time to do the same. For now, you're not to send any backup or come here yourself. Let the sweet angel boy guide us to the church. Supreme Leader's orders."
"S…Supreme Leader?"
"Hehehe!" Dimentia grinned. "The former GKND leader can't just leave a naked boy all alone! Some habits don't go away~"
"I…I…I really don't understand you sometimes. Sigh…fine. There must be something brewing in that head of yours. Alright… lead the way, Leic."
The angel smiled and took Dimentia's hand, leading the grown-up(s) along innocently. "For a split personality, you sound like a protective boyfriend, Mr. Plex!"
"Don't be silly…"
"Anyway, you'll love the church's bathroom. There's all kinds of soaps and bubbles and it's fun to watch them float around. Mr. Landers really loves it, too!" This comment made Dimentia's face cringe. "Heehee, he always makes sure I'm perfectly clean!" She cringed more. "He checks for tiny bits of dirt in my hair," cringe, "and my toes," cringe, "and makes sure every inch of me is shiny and squeaky!"
". . . . . . . . . . Leic, does the Spirit World have child services?"
"Whaddya mean?"
"I just think… we may need to call them sometime…"
Underworld
Varcrutis and Sylistys located a Dark Spring in one of the caverns of the hideout. The Daemonis relaxed in it while Sy helped herself to a stash of elemental spirits. "Hmmm…still can't sense if any of them have arrived." Var said to herself. "Then again, if we're using this place to interfere with their sensors, it obviously wouldn't work in reverse. We may need to do some proper scouting before this mission. There are basically five targets we're after, guarded by a ton of KND brats. Defeating them won't be a problem, but we still need to do it swiftly. Still, the Phoenios shouldn't know we're targeting Etheria, yet, so maybe we can drop you off on another planet, at a place with tons of bones. You could set up a nice little diversion while Eggman and I handle the tricky part."
"So, that woman and I… we're a 'Positive' and a 'Negative.'"
"That's what you used to be, but not anymore. If you ate her or killed her or something, you would still be alive. Then again, the Coincidence Factor works in unexpected ways beyond just mortal lifespans, so who even knows. Still, you should be fine."
"It occurs to me, Master… you are determined to take whatever you can from this universe, from materials to new servants. If I was taken from this universe to be made into a powerful weapon, it sounds like I'm a valuable commodity."
"…" Var narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"I was only thinking, it'd be awful if anything bad happened to me. So, if I'm in danger, it'd be your job to protect me."
"Hyou're asking me to protect you?" Var cracked a smirk, her brow twitching. "I'm not your shield. A weapon who can't fight for herself to her last breath is no good weapon at all."
"Even if I'm not strong, I'm still valuable. While you're struggling to take useful materials from this place, I'm the best and only weapon your superiors managed to acquire. You should appreciate all that I am and ensure that I remain yours."
"Are you trying to blackmail me or something?" Var climbed out of the spring, marching up to Sy in a strict, imposing fashion. "Just trying to make yourself feel self-important? Don't even think of trying to order us around. If it weren't for the 'powers that be,' I'd make this whole universe my servant."
"Everyone except that robot girl."
Var's head throbbed; she snatched Sy up by the collar. "Don't test me, Sylistys. It's true, you are an important weapon, but slowly and surely, we'll get more, and you'd best show your loyalty if you hope to stick around."
"…Fine." Sy replied with a simple, toneless demeanor. "You know, it's strange…" She calmly picked Var's hand off her and walked away. "Even though I don't know a thing about this world… I feel something. The word 'End' keeps popping up in my mind. And when I connect it with this world… I feel the strange desire… to 'end' it. Like I want to destroy everything."
"Nothing wrong with that." Var smiled and shrugged. "Just leave some things for us to collect."
"End…end…end… What about you, Var? Does that word mean anything to you, in this place?"
Var put a finger to her chin. "It… does make me think of something. In fact… it's the perfect place where you can find a lot of bones. Perhaps that place should be your diversion. It's called…"
KND Moonbase
Haru Okumura lay on a hospital bed as Haruka Dimalanta stuck a syringe into her neck and withdrew a slight bit of blood. She dipped the blood under a microscope and zoomed in. She could make out a strange cell with a purple, morphing shape. "It didn't show up on the X-ray at all. With the way it glows, maybe it is some kind of spirit."
"Oh, dear." Haru sighed. "That could only mean Skull Face found my real body and implanted it. I hope I . . . . !!" She began flailing her arms, trying to shout, but nothing came out.
Haruka gasped. "There must still be some in there. Maybe they're designed to react if someone tries to interfere with them. Don't worry, we'll fix this. But I wonder… if I could get Kirie to help somehow. She's able to communicate with spirits. Well, usually Rainbow Monkey spirits, but it's a start."
Haru wrote on a notepad, I'm sorry to trouble you so.
"It's no trouble at all! Besides, we're really glad you came to tell us all this. We were starting to wonder why a lot of adults were losing their voices…"
"D'OOOOOOOOOHHHH…" There was a sudden, startling bellow from outside.
On the bridge, Ryuji was laying on the floor with his gut dented. "Dammit… the power of the Pirate King… is incomparable!"
"Hee hee hee hee!" Sheila Frantic planted her foot on him in victory. "You got a passionate spirit, but ya've yet to fire your first cannon!"
"Ryuji, how many times do I have to tell you to behave yourself?!" Makoto shouted, standing with Cheren.
"It's okay, we like a good, friendly brawl." Cheren replied. "Still, picking a fight with Sheila is unwise to everyone here."
"Just what we need, another boy trying to own the top spot." Karin remarked.
"I wouldn't have let him share with me, anyway~" Jinta smirked.
"Keep dreaming, boyo." Karin cocked her head at him, smirking.
"This is rather symbolic." April Goldenweek said, painting an image of the historical Captain Kidd falling before a pirate named Shanks from the same era.
"Do you suppose she is a reincarnation?" Yusuke asked, painting an image of Sheila standing under a larger Shanks, pirate ships and flames to the sides, while the main subjects were against the sun.
"Maybe. …That's an incredible painting."
"I could say the same about yours. From whom did you learn to paint?"
"Myself. I kind of grew up a natural."
"Most outstanding." Yusuke smiled.
"Anyway," Cheren said to Makoto, "we'll be sure to contact you when Haruka figures something out. Although… since you're not Spirit KND, I feel the need to ask for details about you."
"Let's just say we're the same as KND operatives, just from a vigilante perspective. We may be small-time, but we believe in a brighter future."
"Sounds trustworthy enough to me!" Cheren grinned. "But is this your whole group?"
"We have four other members, but that's all I'll say."
"Boom!" Futaba cheered, sitting with Carol at a computer station. "That's how you hack President Mom's robo-porn website!"
"I gotta say, you have a real knack for this…" Carol replied simply.
"Ohhh, Ann-chan, I could just curl up and take a nap in this hair!" Aeincha cheered, wrapping herself in one of Ann's pigtails like a cocoon. Only the face of the little Lilliputian stuck out. "You're the kind of girl who would look cute in any outfit!"
"Aww, thanks, Aeinchan!" Ann beamed.
"I coincide with her deduction." Vweeb said, having made a hammock in Ann's other pigtail. "This hair flows perfectly with your outgoing personality, your short shorts and tank-top show that you aren't afraid to express who you are, and the trimness of your legs and abdomen display a very healthy lifestyle."
"WHERE THE HECK DID YOU COME FROM?!" Her eyes popped out in surprise.
"I'm a professional ladies' man. I got a good feeling about each of you newcomers, so I did my analysis and formed a thesis on each of you."
"Nwuuuuh…" Ann's face fell.
"What's the thesis for me?" Futaba asked earnestly.
Underworld
"So, things are going well up there." Nolan smiled after Joker recapped the phone call. "That's good. Anyway, I called Emily, and she said that they have important news about Maria's family. They're going to come down here and meet us by the Coast of Fallen Angels."
The Coast of Fallen Angels was an extensive beach of white sand, on which the Sanzu River brushed. Giant crosses were stationed around the water, and giant angels with dark wings were strapped on them. There was an enormous island in the distance; in actuality, it appeared to be a gigantic, white head fallen sideways and smirking. A moon loomed over the beach and had a red strip across it.
Despite the rather eerie and foreboding nature of this beach, there were a few demons casually chilling here. Maria drove her carriage far away from them. They saw a ghost descending from the sky, carrying a bulky butler. Emily and Gohda landed on the beach, and the butler's expression appeared frantic as he ran up to Nolan's group.
"York-san, this is really awful. The Ushiromiyas… th-they were kidnapped! They were kidnapped by Skull Face!!"
"What?! He found our treehouse?!" Nolan outbursted.
"Gohda took me to all the places the family liked to visit." Emily explained. "We couldn't find them, so we decided to return to the treehouse to see if they might've been hiding. Luckily, the Angels seemed to be absent, so we went to Maria's hidden room… and it was only then that Gohda found a note tucked under a stuffed doll."
"Here it is." Gohda handed a paper to Nolan.
This is a curious room you had hidden in here, Sandman, but nothing remains hidden through Valentine's resources. I don't know who these little people are, but we have captured them. If you wish to see them alive, steal the Lost Voice from the Labyrinth of Deceit in the Ghost Zone, and bring it to me.
The note was marked with a skull. "It's just like with your mother." Joker noticed. "Valentine created a clone of you to find your treehouse. Man, his ability is annoying."
"Your mother… Mr. York?" inquired Gohda.
"We have to save them!" Maria shouted. "We have to save Maria's family, uu-uuu!"
"So, he's pulling the same stunt he did with Haru." Nolan said. "Well, we were going to search for the Voice, anyway."
"Hold on, Sandman." Snake said. "Why does Skull Face need you to steal the Voice for him, anyway? He had no problem stealing two of them."
"Except at one point," Joker intervened, "he needed Morgana's ability to reach one of the Voices because of how it was hidden. Perhaps this is a similar scenario?"
"I actually know about the Labyrinth of Deceit." Emily mentioned. "It's a dungeon in the Acropolis of Athens, an island that was Medusa's territory. Thanatos and Pandora lived there, too; in fact, Pandora herself designed the dungeon."
"A dungeon made by the Goddess of Chaos? No wonder he would be afraid to go in there."
"But you succeeded in stealing the other Voices just the same." Gohda replied. "Even if he took two of them back, perhaps that is why he is trying to use your skill, York-san."
"We can't do this." Snake stated. "He still has the other three, we can't risk him getting the last one."
"But what about Maria's family?!" the child cried.
"If we just leave it be, Skull Face will grow impatient and find the Voice himself." Nolan said. "We'll retrieve it… and we'll find Maria's family afterwards."
"Are you sure, York-san?"
"Absolutely."
Snake released a sigh. "Fine. Then where is this Labyrinth of Deceit place?"
"I have no idea. I've never been to the Ghost Zone. I don't even know how to get there from here. …?" All eyes fell to Emily.
"M-ME?!" The woman jumped.
"You just said you knew about it. And you're the biggest ghost fanatic I know. Surely, you must know every corner of the Ghost Zone by now."
"Y-Yeah, I know where the island is, but I've never gone into Pandora's labyrinth. And even then, I don't wanna be involved in this mission!"
"Please, Emily-chan." Gohda begged with hands folded. "This is not just about the Voices, but Maria-chan's family. Surely, you can at least guide us to the labyrinth?"
"Ugh…fine. And you know what, I may as well stay to help you fight through it. For all I know, my family is being threatened, too. I'm reaching a point where I just wanna… SOCK Skull Face in his stupid face!"
"That's what I like to hear." Nolan smiled. "Skull Face and his lackeys may be strong, but they'll be nothing when both the KND and Divine Angels come after them. Once they see how desperate the situation is, the Angels will have to let us help them."
"It's only desperate because we've been constantly baited into his traps." Snake reminded.
"Are you going to help us or not, Snake?"
"I'm not just coming to help, I'm coming to make sure nothing goes wrong." Snake looked Nolan in the eye with gritted teeth. "Got that?"
"…" Nolan was unsure what Snake was implying, yet it almost seemed the soldier didn't trust him for some reason. "Nothing will go wrong."
"Ahem…well then." Gohda coughed. "Shall we go?"
First Church
A fluffy blanket of bubbles covered the great, round basin that served as Dimentia and Leic's bath. The pool was round, but divided by a line through the middle with the main fountain in the center (the bath was shaped like a Pokéball). There were knobs around the fountain to turn on soap, creating all kinds of colorful, flavorful bubbles. Leic, adorned in a coat of bubbles, blew some into the air. As the bubbles floated about, little beady-eyed spirits took shape in them, dancing around before the bubbles would pop.
"I feel my woes fading already." Dimentia sighed in bliss. "And I still don't sense Sy or Var doing anything. Next time we see them, we'll definitely win."
"I still don't understand why you won't allow us to come help you." Plex stated. "Sylistys may be a technical denizen of this world, but Var has overstepped her boundaries, and she's way out of your league."
"And what would it matter if I allowed you to stop her? She's probably used to that by now. It wouldn't teach her anything."
"Since when was this a matter of 'teaching' her something?"
"Since the attack on the Noah."
"Dimentia, you're basing this off a simple grudge. You can't just seek revenge for the sake of simple satisfact-"
"Leic, use a chi-block attack on this part of my brain." Dimentia pointed.
"What?!" Plex yelped.
"Okay!" And with that, the angel performed a quick, gentle, and precise punch to her head!
Mini Plex poofed away. Dimentia released another sigh and relaxed in the pool. "Overprotective boyfriends really are annoying…"
"Hahahaha!" Leic laughed and swam around her. "Hey, Dimentia, I was wondering… can I see your wings again?"
"Sure! Just don't pluck any feathers off." Dimentia's shining pink wings grew from her back.
"They're so pretty!" Leic happily brushed his hands around the wings. "They have such a fragrant chi! It feels a lot different from the other angels."
"These are the wings of a Phoenios. It's pretty common over there."
"Could I come to meet them someday?"
"I'm not sure if they'd allow you…"
"Why not? I won't touch anything, I promise."
"Hehehe! In that case, I'll ask them!"
Once Leic was done feeling the wings, she hid them again. "I'm about ready to get out now. What about you, Leic?"
"Yeah. I'll go first!"
One after the other, the two left the pool. Leic found himself a new white robe and Dimentia donned her uniform. The chi-block wore off as Plex poofed back into being. "Dimentia, please don't do that again!"
"Then let a girl clear her mind now and then." The two began to exit the bathhouse. "Now, let's start searching for-"
"MISS WINKIEBOTTOM?!" They jumped at the sudden bellow just after exiting the house. To their dismay, they turned to face Lord Balder. "What are you DOING?! Not only are you slacking off on your mission, but you're using our bathhouse without permission?!"
"Leic invited me here! I was really exhausted after fighting the Daemonis, so I needed to recovery my energy."
"Then go back to your masters and use THEIR bathhouse."
"I can't just leave, the Daemonis are still active. But you'll be happy to know I stopped them from hurting anybody."
"'Them'? Are you telling me there are more Daemonis? Oh, I knew your being here was going to attract more. You really are incapable of stopping them, aren't you?"
"She's done a heck of a lot more than YOU have to stop them!" Plex shouted.
"Look, I am going to stop them. Just let me think of a plan."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're letting them into our universe on purpose."
"Why would we EVER do THAT?!" asked Plex.
"Why would I just let them come here?! I don't want them ruining my home!" Dimentia passed the message.
"It's because you want glory, simple as that. No different from your days as GKND's leader, no different than those phoenixes you now serve!"
"For the last time, I… Wait…" Dimentia processed the last part of that sentence. "It…it's not just me you have a problem with, is it? Do you have something against the Phoenios?"
"Ever since His Lordship, God Arceus returned to us, they've been rather frequent visitors. Some of them would visit every year during the anniversary of our Lord's return, on which we hold a tea party for the gods. Now, when I was first admitted as an Angel, I learned of them from the other gods, how they once visited our world and befriended Arceus. At the time, I didn't think much of them… but it was only after they started visiting did I truly see how arrogant they are."
"Arrogant?!" Plex argued. "Look who's talking! I oughta come down there and knock you down a peg!"
"What do you mean they're arrogant?" Dimentia asked.
"They have no respect for the gods or their ideologies. They think their selves as 'higher than the omniverse' and believe they deserve everything! Some of them wanted to be involved in Galactic Council meetings, even though gods are not allowed to involve their selves in matters between mortals."
"They only wanted to study!" Plex argued.
"They probably just wanted to study!"
"No, they want worshippers." Balder stated. "They want our people to turn away from the gods who created their world and join their side! Just as they did to you. They tainted you with their power, regardless of the gods' permission, and they would probably do the same to others."
"That's balderdash!" Plex yelled.
"That's balderdash!" Dimentia repeated.
. . . . . . . . .
It took a moment for them both to realize that was a pun. Embarrassed, Plex cleared his throat and said, "We do not just make people Inviere on a whim! Dimentia's transformation was completely unplanned!"
"My transformation was an accident. They don't just do this to people whenever they want."
"You're rather silent between your responses." Balder noticed. "Are you trying to remember what your masters ordered you to say?"
"I-I just need to think! Look, everything you're saying is wrong. They don't want worshippers, and if nothing else, they probably just want to be appreciated for their work. It doesn't mean that they don't respect the gods."
"Hardly! During one of the dinners, one of the Phoenios named a bunch of different god-killing weapons from various universes, saying they wouldn't stand a chance!"
"Excuse them for sharing a bit of knowledge!" Plex argued, but Dimentia couldn't carry the message before Balder spoke again.
"And another one boasted that the elemental styles of our universe were inferior to theirs."
"Perhaps you could learn some new techniques!" yelled Plex.
"And you know, Miss Winkiebottom, one of the gods' most sacred beliefs is that mortals are the true power of the universe. It is the gods' job to give mortals hope and to let them settle their own conflicts. Even if a god must defend their self, the mortal must always be the stronger power. Lord Kyogre explained this philosophy to the Phoenios… and one of those birds had the gall to call him PITIFUL!"
"THAT is a complete LIE!" Plex bellowed.
"That…that doesn't sound right." Dimentia replied. "They wouldn't say something like that, they…"
"They have you wrapped by their leash, by the sound of it. You were always disrespectful to the gods, Dimentia, and your phoenix friends are no different!"
"YEAH?!" Plex was fuming in anger. "Well, if your gods hate the Daemonis so much, why don't they fight them their selves instead of making US do the work?! It's not like they're gonna do anything because obviously it's OUR job! And it's not like the Daemonis are outside their legal zone! If your gods would just be a little more assertive, then bad things like Skull Face or Davy Jones would never freakin' happen! AND YOU'RE AS LAZY AS THEY ARE!"
Plex panted to catch his breath. …There was an eerie silence in the air. Did he say too much for Dimentia to carry in one response? When he looked up at his partner… he was met with Dimentia's cold stare. As if… an aura of supreme authority had just come over her. "D…Dimentia?"
"Miss Winkiebottom?" inquired Balder.
"…You're right." The words escaped her mouth in a whisper.
"Beg pardon?"
Dimentia faced the Divine Angel. "You're right… I didn't respect the gods. Not back then. But that all changed, 24 years ago. And that's why… that Phoenios had no right to say that."
"D-Dimentia!" Plex panicked. "It's not true! He's completely misunderstanding!"
"As a matter of fact, Balder…" Dimentia folded her arms, "I don't think they have any respect for us. While I was with them, some of them doubted the KND's abilities. Some thought they couldn't beat The Thirteen. Some thought they had to manage the Hoopa situation. They even thought the KND couldn't handle Queen Sherbet after she possessed Sweetopia. Hell, the only reason I made that Vistium weapon was 'cause some of them were panicky and I wanted to shut them up. They thought they needed to help the KND, but in reality, they just wanted to mooch off their victory. You're absolutely right, Balder."
"No he's not! Dimentia, why…" Plex felt his little heart cracking. "Why are you… telling him these lies?"
"Even after my daughter's spectacular performance against Thanos, some of them think it to be inferior spacebending. My own daughter, how insulting."
"That never happened!"
"Heck, my own partner didn't even have faith in me to not break the rules or to handle this mission! He lodged a part of his conscience in my brain just to 'help' me, and he thought Leic wouldn't have been helpful in the slightest."
"B-But…but…" Plex felt there was no way to stop her at this point.
"They're probably so used to defending people from the Daemonis and saving universes they deem 'weak' that they forgot how to have faith. They could learn a lesson or two from the KND's ideals of equality. You know that there are actually some Daemonis hybrids in their ranks? And they're not evil, either, but some Phoenios have a hard time accepting that."
"Miss Winkiebottom…" Balder was flabbergasted by this dramatic change.
"But honestly, Balder, your faith in the KND is no different." Dimentia sighed. "You banned them from the Skull Face mission. Just because the KND started out with me, it doesn't mean…"
"You misunderstand… Miss Winkiebottom." Balder bowed his head. "Just as the gods believe in the power of mortals… so, too, do I believe in them, and the KND alike. They are truly marvelous heroes, for the many years that I've observed them, even under your corrupt leadership. They were capable of anything. And that is why, after the Spirit KND was created… that I began to fear for myself. I feared for my… usefulness… I feared their power…"
"…" Dimentia smiled and approached him. "I don't know if those things the Phoenios said are true… but they aren't all like that. Some of them do respect our gods and acknowledge our power. But it's clear that both Phoenios and Daemonis alike still have a lot to learn."
"Yes…" Balder looked up at her. "Perhaps they do…"
"Until then… we both still have missions to complete. I'll leave you to yours." Dimentia walked past him, calmly leaving the church. Leic jogged after her, sparing a look to his superior. "Oh, and, you should call child services, I don't think Mr. Landers has been treating Leic very well."
As they marched down the church stairs, Mini Plex somberly floated near his partner. "Dimentia… why would you tell him all that? Why would… you make us look bad?"
Dimentia passed him a bright smile. "Well, I wasn't getting anywhere doing what you told me. You may not think his accusations were true… but maybe it is true in his perspective. In his view, the Phoenios were insulting our home… and frankly, I wouldn't stand that either."
"But, I… we would never. You couldn't possibly think that's true."
"I know that's not the case, because I've been with you guys long enough to understand your rules and everything. I was just trying to get out of that loop and it's faster to give him a good shock rather than do what he'd expect us to do, which would be arguing until Secco freezes over." Dimentia nodded to herself at her brilliant thinking. "But there is something I need to discuss with you, because I get the feeling that this whole thing isn't about following the Phoenios' rules. Plex, I get the feeling that you've been more invested in this than even I am. What did you mean when you said that we needed to 'prove ourselves'?"
"I only meant that we needed to uphold our end of the job and responsibly carry out our duties without flaw so that others wouldn't harbor doubts against us."
"Don't lie to me, Plex, I can feel it through the bond. You're really agitated by this so much that you're bending the rules. You! Of all people!"
"Ngh! I was just trying to stand up for our side as you should have been!"
"No, you're the one that's close to ruining everything while I'm the one putting out your fires! Just what the hell is wrong with you?!"
"…You know what? Fine. If I'm so bothersome to you, then you can fix this without me." Mini Plex then disappeared from her view.
After taking a minute to calm down, Dimentia sighed while taking a seat on the ground with her arms on her knees. "Umm…Dimentia? Are you going to be alright?" Leic asked as he approached her with a hand placed delicately on her shoulder.
"I was just trying to see what was bothering Plex so much. It's just not like him to take the spotlight so strongly like he did, I guess I was still riled up with Balder that I ended up taking things too far." Dimentia spoke somberly as she placed a hand on her face.
"So, what're we gonna do?"
Closing her eyes for a bit, Dimentia searched her mind, but couldn't find who she was looking for. She then opened her eyes determinedly. "I want you to knock me out."
"Uh, Dimentia, I know you're upset, but getting beat up is never the answer!" Leic waved his hands frantically.
"No, I mean just put me to sleep." Dimentia quickly reassured him. "I can't get Plex right now because he's too far for me to reach, but if I'm unconscious, then I might be able to find him!"
"Oh…okay!" Leic beamed as he then gave the Inviere a tap on the head, striking her at the precise spot. Dimentia immediately passed out on the floor. "Huurrrr!" The little angel struggled to lift the grown woman, hauling her off to a side room before anyone else came along.
Dimentia's mind
The colors swirled around her as she fell through her various mental landscapes, recounting all the memories of her mortal life and after life. Some of the larger ones she had known quite well, such as her time in her 20-year home on Star Haven, the Moonbase with which she had spent her days hanging out with her friends, and the expansive landscapes of the Phoenios homeworld. The other smaller ones were more fleeting and obscure, either due to a distinct dislike of them or a bare remembrance of their details. Further and further she flew past them, feeling with her bond for any sign of Plex, hoping he could've stayed in some deep landscape rather than fleeing her mind entirely.
Then she felt it, a small and faint heartbeat. She latched onto it like a lost sailor to the faint illumination of a lighthouse. She traced the feeling until she saw one of the larger landscapes, this one from Phaera Plinam.
She landed on the lightly-dewed soft grass, the night sky glistening with stars and celestial bodies like diamonds against silken black velvet. Dimentia looked around with recognition as she knew this spot, one of the few places that held so vividly in her heart.
It was the spot where she had brought Plex as a way to break him from his strict working routine, just outside the buildings of the Court of Mind in the larger lawns. A place of solitude mainly due to the lack of denizens for the Court in comparison to the others, a quiet place for stargazing and more than one nightly cuddle sessions.
Dimentia walked slowly across the field, their bond growing stronger and in that potency she felt more: a lingering sadness that reflected regret and loneliness. It was then that she stumbled upon Plex, only this time in his full body frame instead of the smaller version.
"I guess I should be glad that you aren't hiding behind a stack of paperwork." Dimentia chuckled lightly.
"Well, this part of me isn't." Plex responded still facing away from her.
The female Phoenios sat down beside him. "Plex, I'm sorry I got mad at you, but please tell me what's wrong? You may as well be an ice sculpture from how cold your end was, and I know it's not your usual kind of frostiness."
"…"
"I know this isn't really about the Phoenios, is it? The way you were acting towards Balder seemed more personal than that, I was even worried you'd take me over and start pummeling him right then and there."
"Actually, you're not that far off. That thing with Balder… I was really angry about what he said about us. How he made us sound like some unwanted rat on his doorstep, and how he'd threatened you so badly." Plex turned to her as he moved his legs to a folded position underneath him. His face still didn't meet hers, but rather towards the ground. "It just… reminded of back when everyone didn't want me around, even though they never voiced it." His hands then curled in his lap. "I guess hearing it out loud, albeit just the tone rather than the direction, just pulled me back into trying to… prove him wrong. Just shove it in that stuffy face of his."
"Oh, Plex… " Dimentia sighed softly, placing her hands on his cheeks to lift him up gently. "I get where you're coming from, I really do, but going Gung-Ho and scrapping up all the rewards isn't going to be any better. Neither is having your nose up high where your brains should be and being prissy about who can handle what, in all your attempts to 'prove' yourself better than Balder, you're just about as thickheaded as he is." She then released her hands before flicking his forehead.
"Urk! …Sigh, I suppose I still haven't really opened up as much as I thought I did, especially if something like this was all it took to bring me down again. That's your ice sculpture for you, rigid and dense." Plex said as he rubbed the red spot forming on his head.
"Well, that's why you'll always have me to warm you up!" Dimentia exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
"Hmm, thank you." Plex said softly as he hugged her back. "So, do you… know how I can fix this?"
They both let go as Dimentia leaned back in thought. "Well, leaving Sy and Var aside, I think what you really need is a way to build up friendships first. I doubt Balder would be ready to do it, but we can always start with Cheren since he'll always have his hand open. If you're willing to take it."
"Will he really? I got the impression that he wasn't that fond of me back on the Noah."
"That's because you were the one with your chest-puffing attitude and being so blunt with your explanations." Dimentia puffed her own cheeks as she stuck out her tongue and poked the tip of her mate's nose. "Just apologize and he'll come around. He's forgiven a lot worse; just ask Sugar or Andrew."
"Heh, it's your universe, so you definitely know best. Alright, I'll do it, but only after we settle things with those unwanted guests." Plex and Dimentia stood up as they held hands. "So, lead the way, Oh Great Supreme Leader."
First Church
Dimentia opened her eyes, rising up into a sitting position as she looked about the room she was in. She then noticed that Leic was standing close to a door, the latter turning his head to see her looking at him.
"Oh good, you're awake!" Leic rushed over to her. "I was so worried you'd end up sleeping forever."
"Huh? How long was I out?"
"Well, just only half an hour, but it really felt like a long time! Especially since we almost got found with so many people passing by."
"Aww, I'm sorry I made you worry so much. Listen, once all this is over, maybe I could get you some hot chocolate to make up for it?" Dimentia smiled while rubbing his hair.
"Hehe, OK. But even so, it wasn't that much trouble, 'cause we're friends!"
"Right we are, all three of us!"
"You mean you made up with your other self?" Leic asked, happy that Dimentia managed to find who she wanted.
"Yep, and I think it's time for you and I to properly meet." Mini Plex appeared before cupping his hands over Leic's eyes. "No more of this 'Mr. Personality,' 'Imaginary Friend,' or what have you." The mini Phoenios then flew in front of Leic.
"Huu! So that's who you've been talking with, Dimentia? He's so small like a doll!" The angel boy grabbed both of Mini Plex's hands and swung him around.
"AAHH! Release me immediately! I can only spare so much energy doing this with two people!"
"Whoops, sorry." Leic let go as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. Plex drifted for a bit before hiding behind a chuckling Dimentia.
"Ha…Okay you two, we don't have much time so make up now." Dimentia pulled her mate from behind her and brought him closer to Leic.
"Mmm, I'm Plexiodorite Aviluxus and Dimentia's mate." Plex introduced himself promptly.
"I'm Leic Spirithive, Spirit KND operative and proud member of Nega-Sector $!" The smiling boy reached out and shook Plex's hand gleefully, the latter swinging widely before he was released from Leic's grip.
"Ermh! Now that we've all gotten to know each other, what's the plan, Dimentia?" Plex readjusted himself.
"Well, I was actually thinking of that talk from earlier… it actually gave me a pretty good idea." A smirk found its way on her features. "Yeah… it would actually be perfect. We just need to set it up properly."
…
Inside the church, Balder merely stared at his left hand. "But that wasn't the only thing I feared…"
Ghost Zone
Beyond the Coast of Fallen Angels, and beyond the fallen head island that served as its landmark, there was a cluster of swirling clouds with a green center. A road crossed the sea from the left point of the coast, on which Maria's carriage could drive. Emily flew ahead of them, shooting down Hollows that tried to impede their progress. "So, that's why you wanted to meet at the coast." Nolan said. "An entrance to the Ghost Zone was nearby."
"Yes." Gohda replied. "We would have had to come here to find the last Voice, anyway. But how dreadful that Skull Face thought to use us first."
"Still, since the family was missing during the time the Angels were searching the treehouse, then Skull Face would've had to kidnap them at least after our battle with Ocelot. It was only then they should've learned we were trying to oppose his plan. And at the same time, he was plotting the situation with Haru and my mother."
"Y-Yes, but didn't you say Valentine had made a clone of Skull Face as well?" Gohda asked in a mild, nervous manner. "Perhaps that is how he is managing so many operations, right?"
"But it's still unusual why he's making me steal the Stolen Truth Voice in particular."
"Y-York-san, you're going to get a headache from so much thinking. Here, feast on this Soothing Cinnamon Egg." Gohda held out a plate with an egg that glittered with the sweet substance. "You'll never guess what's inside~"
Nolan took a bite of the egg. Already, he felt some of the worries leave his heart. "Mmm…weird combo, delicious outcome."
The road would slope up, leading directly into the swirling clouds. The bright green swirl took the form of a portal, and they would be engulfed in its light.
The Ghost Zone was an expanse of black and dark-green. There were a countless number of islands of varied landscapes or buildings, as well as floating doors that led into ghosts' invisible "houses." The dizzying, bizarre sights of this world would surely have anyone lost, but Emily guided them without hesitation, confusion, or halting. No doubt she knew the Ghost Zone like the back of her hand.
They were nearing a mountain-like island with several large, white, Greek-like temples built around it. "That's the Acropolis of Athens." Emily informed.
"That's where the Voice is hidden?" Snake asked. "Why aren't there any Divine Angels guarding the place?"
"Perhaps they are inside." Gohda assumed. "You must be careful, York-san."
"Maria has a bad feeling about this place. Uuuu…"
"It is alright, Young Miss. Here, I've made you your favorite tea." Gohda stepped out of the dollhouse and handed Maria the drink.
The child took a sip of the tea. "Thanks, Gohda-san. Maria feels…yaaaaawn, soft now."
The others exited the dollhouse, letting their selves float in the realm's space. "I remember where the labyrinth's entrance is from my first time exploring this place." Emily said. "Beyond that, it's gonna be a lot of aimless wandering, so better pack your snacks."
"Alright, team." Nolan affirmed. "Let's head in."
The spirits flew toward the island. Alucard spared a glance to Gohda and Maria before following them.
"Yaaaawwn…Maria is a little sleepy…"
"You've lasted very long, helping Nolan in his mission, Maria-chan." Gohda smiled, holding the child in a comforting embrace. "Would you like to go inside and take a small nap? Allow Gohda to park the carriage somewhere safe. I will awake you once they have returned."
"Yaaaawn…thank you, Gohda-san… Maria hopes…Maria hopes that…" her voice grew softer and quieter. Unable to will herself to stay away, she warped herself into the dollhouse.
"…" With a somber frown, Gohda calmly took the reins of the rocking horse and steered it away. So, Skull Face already has the other Voices. It would have been ideal if York-san found them all, but it is clear that is not to be. My only option now is to bargain with him. If Skull Face is to collect all the Voices, then he is the only one I can rely on. I will let him have the Stolen Truth… but I will beg him that Maria-chan does not see it. The Truth I have stolen from her…