"We aren't here to raid your home..." Peni said, walking a little closer to Tetsu.
"Liar! That girl said that you are raiders!" Tetsu yelled, as she pointed at Maruchi.
"Well, yes, it could seem that way, but we won't take anything without your permission." Peni said, trying to compromise with Tetsu.
"Hmm..." Tetsu mumbled, as she made a thinking pose.
"But... Peni." Tenshi whispered. "We need the Skull, we can't leave without it." Tenshi continued, whispering.
"I know, but she must own it, we'll pay her something then." Peni whispered, back to Tenshi.
"Hmm... It depends on what you're lookin' for." Tetsu said, still feeling a little suspicious.
"We're looking for something called the Pink Diamond Skull." Peni said, roughly explaining why they're here
"Oh, that's in the chest on the left side on the third floor up." Tetsu said, while she counted the floors up.
'floor up?' Peni thought, questioning herself what Tetsu said. Peni looked up to see multiple floors of the exact same design, the only difference was the small, grass and moss filled area they all stood in. "Oh wow." Peni said, as she looked up.
"Amazing, isn't it? Master and I built it our selves!" Tetsu said, looking proudly as she said it.
"Yeah, but it needs some care to it, don't you think?" Peni asked, trying to make friendly conversation.
"I do, I do!" Tetsu shouted. "But Master said to wait for him, not to clean..." Tetsu explained.
"I see..." Peni said, feeling unsure of what exactly she should have said.
"Look, we just need the Skull and we'll we out of your hair." Maruchi said, looking a little annoyed.
"I-I can't give anything away!" Tetsu yelled. "Master reppep and I worked really hard stealing this stuff!" Tetsu said, sounding worried.
"What if we pay you?" Peni asked, not feeling very confident about the idea though.
Tetsu bolted over to Peni and grabbed both her hands. "Really?" Tetsu asked, sounding excited.
"Uh... Uh, yeah." Peni said, surprised about the burst of energy Tetsu had.
"How much money?" Tetsu asked, while jumping up and down.
"Uhm... How much do you want?" Peni asked, not realizing the consequences that might cause.
"Oh, I dunno... A lot! Lots of lots of money!" Tetsu shouted, as she let go of Peni's hands.
"Well... I think I can get you 'lots of lots of money'." Peni said, with a short pause. "But that's gonna cost more than just the Skull." Peni continued.
"Huh? Why?" Tetsu said, sounding worried that she might not have what Peni wants.
"Well, if you go to the store to buy an apple, you'd want a good and fair price, right?" Peni said, walking in a circle. "You wouldn't want one apple for a dollar, but if you buy a second apple that would cost ten dollars, would you?" Peni asked, trying to manipulate Tetsu.
"No, that's stupid!" Tetsu shouted, looking upset.
"Exactly. So we only ask for a fair reward for what we pay." Peni said, as she stood still.
"Well, what is it that you want besides the Skull?" Tetsu asked, hoping she has it.
"We're gathering more of our kind, specifically female peppers. But if you come with us, and prove yourself useful, then we'll pay you." Peni said, vaguely explaining the situation.
"What are you gathering our kind for?" Tetsu asked, making sure it isn't for an evil cause.
"We're trying to save someone, someone you might want to meet." Maruchi said, walking up to Tetsu and Peni.
"I want to meet them?" Tetsu asked, curious of why Maruchi would say that.
"Yes, I think you would. I have reason to believe this guy, his name is pepper, has met reppep and might even know where he is." Maruchi said, trying to get Tetsu to join them however she can.
"I've never heard of this pepper guy... But if there's a chance I get to know where Master is, then I can't say no." Tetsu said, as she walked up the stairs and to the right.
"Yes!" Maruchi said, feeling happy it worked.
"Yay! I'm so glad we did it." Tenshi said, as she hugged Peni. Peni hugged Tenshi back and smiled.
"So, are we just gonna ignore the invisible wall I ran into?" Kumetsu asked, looking confused.
"Yep." Maruchi said, as she waited for Tetsu.
"You guys said the Pink Skull, right? Not the Blue Skull?" Tetsu yelled down, asking to make sure she remembers correctly.
'There's multiple?' Tenshi asked herself, feeling like these Skulls might be more than they seem.
"Yes, just the Pink one." Peni said, confirming to Tetsu which one they needed.
Tetsu jumped down from the cobblestone railing. "Alright, here you go." Tetsu said, holding the Pink Diamond Skull out to Peni.
"Thank you, but I thought you said it was on the left side." Peni said, thinking Tetsu lied.
"Yeah, it was. Left and right is decided by looking down the stairs, so left is that way." Tetsu said, with a pause, as she pointed to everyone's right. "And right is that way." Tetsu continued, pointing to everyone's left.
"I see, I guess that makes sense." Peni said, as she began to look at the Skull she now held.
"Alright, we can leave now, right?" Maruchi asked, wanting to get this over with.
"Yeah, let's go." Peni said, as she turned around and walked out of the room full of chests, followed by Tenshi, Kumetsu, Tetsu, and Maruchi.
"So, what exactly do you need the Skull for anyway?" Tetsu asked, as they all came out of the cave.
"Well, we're supposed to deliver it to-" Peni began to explain, but was cut off by something not too far away.
"Run!" A scream sounded out, being heard by the group.
"What was that?" Tenshi asked, as she got closer to Peni.
"Run for your lives!" The scream sounded out again.
"Up there!" Tetsu said, as she pointed up the hill closer to the cave entrance. A girl with blue hair could be seen running from a horde of people.
"Oh shit!" Maruchi shouted, sounding worried.
"What?" Tenshi said, quickly.
"We gotta run!" Maruchi said, as she began to run.
"H-Huh?" Tenshi asked, not understanding what's going on.
"Come on." Peni said, as she grabbed Tenshi's hand and began to run, following Maruchi.
"Hahaha! Yay! Fun!" Kumetsu exclaimed, smiling as they run. Tetsu stayed quiet and ran with everyone.
"Run! Before the monsters get you!" The girl shouted again.
"I think she's a female pepper, the blue hair makes it kinda obvious." Peni said, wondering if anyone knows how to get to the girl without whatever's chasing her to kill any of them.
"I-I might be able to fly over to her..." Tenshi said, trying to be brave.
"That'd be a big help, Tenshi." Peni said, hoping Tenshi does it.
"Then... I'll try my best!" Tenshi said, as she let go of Peni's hand and flew away.
'Okay, I'll try and... pick her up without getting hurt.' Tenshi thought, as she flew above the girl. 'But what are those things? For people they look pretty injured... And their skin...' Tenshi thought, feeling curious. 'Now isn't the time, Tenshi! Do this for Peni, she's counting on you!' Tenshi thought, trying to give herself confidence.
Tenshi flew close to the girl, trying to keep the girl's speed. "G-Grab my hand." Tenshi said, as she held her hand out.
"Oh..." The girl said, softly, looking surprised.
"Hurry!" Tenshi shouted, getting impatient.
"Oh, okay." The girl said, as she grabbed Tenshi's hand.
Tenshi lifted the girl up, and carried her as she tried to fly. "Mmmnnn... It's so hard to fly with two people..." Tenshi said, struggling to fly.
"W-Wait! Don't fall!" The girl said, becoming worried.
"I'll just... p-push myself!" Tenshi said, as she started pushing herself to fly, trying to give herself more strength than she's ever had to use.
"Don't hurt yourself..." The girl said, feeling bad for Tenshi.
"Aaahhhh... uuugghhh!" Tenshi said, as she sped up, flying ahead of the horde of strange people.
"Almost there, Angel girl." The girl said, as Tenshi grew closer to the others.
"C-Can you land if I drop you?" Tenshi said, struggling to stay a steady speed.
"Yes, I think so." The girl said, ready to try and run as soon as Tenshi lets go.
"Okay." Tenshi said, as she let go of the girl, and the girl began to run, keeping up with the others.
"Tenshi!" Peni yelled, as she watched Tenshi slam into the ground and roll into a bunch of trees and rocks.
"Peni, we don't have time!" Maruchi yelled as she watched Peni turn to run for Tenshi. Tetsu decided to follow Peni. "What? Where are you going?!" Maruchi yelled, not understanding why Tetsu ran after Tenshi and Peni.
"Just keep running!" The unknown girl said, sounding worried.
"Tenshi..." Peni said, as she crouched down to help Tenshi get out if the grass and leaves.
"P-Peni... Look o-out!" Tenshi mumbled, trying to warn Peni, as a bunch of the strange people approached the two. Peni hugged Tenshi as a way to try and protect her, but a thud was heard by Peni and Tenshi, when they turned to look, they saw a bunch of the strange people pushed together, as if there was a wall there that couldn't be seen.
"Come on! Hurry!" Tetsu yelled, as she looked at the two.
"Thanks." Peni said, as she picked up Tenshi and began to run. "Are you okay, Tenshi?" Peni asked, though her face didn't look worried.
"I-I think... I broke a couple bones..." Tenshi said, with tears in her eyes.
"You'll be okay, I promise." Peni said, as she continued running, and Tetsu caught up to them.
"Come on! Into the castle!" Maruchi yelled, as she held the door open, waiting for the three. Tetsu, Peni, and Tenshi all ran up the stairs, running as fast as they could, while Peni carried Tenshi. They made it into the castle, and at the same moment, Maruchi slammed the door shut.
"Kumetsu, a little help?" Maruchi said, trying to lock the door with a big plank of wood.
"Yes, sir!" Kumetsu said, as she helped Maruchi pick up the plank of wood.
"Tenshi..." Peni said, looking at Tenshi, feeling sorry, though it didn't show on her face.
"You risked your life for me, thank you." The unknown girl said, feeling grateful.
"I'm an Angel, I'm supposed to protect whoever I can..." Tenshi said, making an excuse for her kind act.
"No, that was very kind of you, Tenshi. You did very good." Peni said, praising Tenshi.
Tenshi blushed and smiled. "I'd smile a lot more... if I wasn't in so much pain..." Tenshi said, as Peni looked at Tenshi, she saw her arms all scraped and bleeding, her right wing looked destroyed, and her right leg seemed at least sprained, but was likely broken.
"So, you wanna explain what the hell that was?" Maruchi said, as she walked over to the unknown girl.
"I'm not exactly sure myself..." The girl said, feeling bad she can't explain anything.
"Why don't we start off with names?" Peni asked, as she gave an idea. "I'm Peni, this is Tenshi, Maruchi, Kumetsu, and Tetsu. You are?" Peni asked, as she introduced everyone.
"I think... my name is K-Kuream." Kuream said, struggling to think.
"You think?" Maruchi said, becoming confused and annoyed. "How do you not know your name?" Maruchi asked, curious of what she'll say to that.
"Well, I just kinda broke out of the ground and that's where my life began, but if I think about my name, Kuream is what comes to mind." Kuream said, explaining what she can.
"Hold on, what happened after you 'broke out of the ground'?" Maruchi asked, feeling like this sounds fishy.
"After I dug myself up, suddenly a bunch if arms came out of the ground, I heard a lot of groaning and it scared me, so I ran." Kuream said, as she paced around to think. Her skin was green, it almost looked decayed and dead, her eyes glew yellow, her shirt was a darker green than her skin, and under her shirt was a fishnet shirt. Her hair was mostly blue, but on both sides was red hanging from infront of her ears.
"And how long ago was this?" Maruchi asked, thinking it's suspicious but not really having any reason to deny it.
"About... fourty minutes to an hour ago." Kuream said, feeling like she's causing trouble.
"Okay, whatever." Maruchi said, walking a little bit away from everyone.
"What's wrong?" Kuream asked, feeling like Maruchi might be mad at her somehow.
"It's nothing, I just don't care anymore." Maruchi said, shaking her head.
"So, anyone know what those thingies were?" Kumetsu asked, as she peeked up over the chair that Tenshi was laying in.
"They were Zombies." Maruchi said, turning around to look at everyone. "The undead." Maruchi continued.
"Zombies are real?" Tenshi asked, in disbelief.
"I'm pretty sure one of you three called me a Zombie at one point... But yes, they're real." Maruchi said, feeling confused that Tenshi didn't question it back then.
"Wait, yeah. Aren't you a Zombie?" Tenshi asked, thinking it doesn't make sense for Maruchi to be anything else.
"I'm not. I am a creation by... Boris, anything he makes is labeled a Mistake. He gave me life..." Maruchi said, beginning to look at the ground. "And I took his..." Maruchi said, under her breathe. "But this girl, Kuream is a Zombie." Maruchi said, looking at Kuream.
"I-I'm a... Zombie?" Kuream said, looking surprised.
"Yes, a special kind, one with sentience, it's pretty rare." Maruchi said, trying to make Kuream not worry.
"O-Oh..." Kuream said, trying to accept this information. "I'm not gonna... eat you guys, right?" Kuream said, feeling worried.
"I suppose you could, but Zombies can kinda eat anything, so I think you'll be fine." Maruchi said, walking back over to everyone.
"How do Zombies even work?" Tenshi asked, feeling confused.
"I don't exactly know, I'm not a scientist, but it's something about the soil here on Halloween." Maruchi said, explaining what she knows.
"Oh..." Tenshi said, realizing she shouldn't think Maruchi knows everything about this place.
"And what are you?" Maruchi said, looking at Tetsu.
"I'm an Arachne, a half human, half spider hybrid." Tetsu said, as she sat in a chair, holding her knees together.
"That explains the thick spider webs..." Maruchi said, realizing the webs were hers. "Wait, ew, those came from inside you!" Maruchi said, feeling grossed out.
"I'll go talk to King Samuel, see if we can make a deal for him to heal Tenshi, or something." Peni said, as she stood up.
"We don't have time..." Tenshi said, feeling like she's a burden.
"I don't care, you're more important to me than this mission." Peni said, as she walked away.
Peni opened the throne room doors. "Ah, you're back." King Samuel said, sitting alone in his throne.
"One of my friends were injured quite bad, is there anything I can do for you to heal her?" Peni asked, getting to the point.
"I see you don't beat around the bush..." King Samuel said. "Before that, do you have the Pink Diamond Skull?" King Samuel asked, making sure they achieved their goal.
"Here." Peni said, as she opened the Phantom's portal, pulled out the Skull, and brought it to King Samuel.
"Hmm... This is it, indeed. Good work." King Samuel said, observing the Skull.
"So?" Peni asked, feeling impatient.
"The Flame of Forever, I've heard it's in an abandoned house behind the castle." King Samuel said, as he sat the Skull in his lap.
"Will that be payment for her treatment?" Peni asked, making sure they get their end.
"Indeed, I'll begin treatment right away, she'll be ready when you return." King Samuel said, signaling a servant to take the Skull. "But, if you fail to retrieve it then don't bother returning, she'll be my personal servant and you'll be killed on the spot." King Samuel continued, sounding serious.
"Fine, just heal her, please." Peni said, as she turned and left the throne room.
"Come on." Peni said, as she walked to the door of the castle.
"What happened?" Maruchi asked, running up to Peni and grabbing her shoulder.
"We have to find the Flame of Forever. Now let's go." Peni said, seemingly annoyed, though her face didn't say it.
"Alright." Maruchi said, as she let go of Peni's shoulder.
Peni walked over to Tenshi. "We'll be back, okay? You'll be better soon, I promise." Peni said, as she gave Tenshi a light hug. Tenshi nodded.
"What about the Zombies?" Kuream asked, wondering if they're still out there.
"Right." Peni said, realizing they're still a thing. "Hold onto my stuff, Tenshi." Peni said, as she dumped her stuff from the Phantom's portal onto the chair next to Tenshi.
"Uh... I'll try." Tenshi said, as she tried to look and see what was all there.
"I'll have Phantom deal with the Zombies." Peni said, as she opened the door to see a horde of Zombies waiting.