Everyone finds themselves in a rather normal-looking forest, with extremely tall trees. There were roots that came out of the ground here and there, those roots were pretty large, and there wasn't much grass around, only dirt and stones. "Well, anyone have a clue where we are?" Maruchi asked, as she looked around the area.
"No clue..." Tenshi said, blaming herself for the group always being lost.
"Tenshi." Peni said, as she walked up to Tenshi.
"Y-Yes?" Tenshi asked, feeling surprised by Peni suddenly coming over to her.
"Stop blaming yourself." Peni said, as she grabbed Tenshi's hands. "No one here blames you, it's because of you that we're even getting anywhere." Peni continued, as she tried to make it clear to Tenshi.
"She's right." Maruchi said, as she walked over to join the conversation. "I'm sorry if I've caused you to feel this way, all of us are. But I think everyone, including you, is extremely frustrated and in need of a break." Maruchi said, as she finished by patting Tenshi's head.
"Maruchi..." Tenshi said, feeling overwhelmed with joy.
"We're all in this together, because we're all friends." Peni said, with a small smile.
"I think sooome of us might be just a biiiiit more than friends... hehe!" Kumetsu said with a chuckle, as she looked back and forth at Peni and Tenshi.
"N-No! It isn't like that!" Tenshi shouted, as she let go of Peni's hands, feeling embarrassed.
"Ooooh?" Kumetsu asked, not believing Tenshi.
"Would it be a problem if we were?" Peni asked, as she looked at Tenshi who still had an embarrassed expression.
"Uh... w-well..." Tenshi stuttered, trying to figure out what to say.
"It's okay." Peni said, as she turned around. "Just take some to think about it." Peni said, as she began to walk in a seemingly random direction.
"Huh?" Tenshi asked, as everyone else began to follow Peni. "W-Wait!" Tenshi said, as she rushed to catch up.
The group continues walking throughout the forest, it's only been about twenty minutes since they've arrived and the moon has begun the rise on this planet. "So..." Maruchi said quietly, as she walked next to Peni. "About Tenshi..." Maruchi said, as she tried to figure out how she should piece together her sentence.
"What about her?" Peni asked, feeling curious about what Maruchi is gonna say.
"Well... you seemed like you didn't mind the... idea that Kumetsu was talking about earlier." Maruchi said, hoping that she explained her thoughts enough.
"Hmm..." Peni mumbled. "I'm definitely not against it." Peni said, as she seemed to give it little thought.
"Have you thought about it before?" Maruchi asked, wondering if that's why she didn't need to think very long.
"Yes, I have." Peni said, confirming Maruchi's thought.
"It's just..." Maruchi said, struggling to speak. "I never thought two female peppers could fall in love, y'know?" Maruchi asked, wondering if she's strange for thinking that way.
"I've never put any thought to it before either, I don't know what would happen." Peni said, as she looked back at Tenshi who's chatting with Porcelain.
"Do you... like her?" Maruchi asked, feeling like she might be getting too personal.
"She's adorable, she's innocent, she cares about everyone no matter what, she's sweet..." Peni said, as she took a moment to think. "I'd say that I do." Peni said, as she came to a conclusion.
"Then... why not be with her? You two... kissed right?" Maruchi asked, trying to understand Peni.
"She wanted to know what it was, she'd only heard Gods talk about it while she worked, I guess." Peni said, explaining what Tenshi told her. "So I showed her..." Peni said, as she thought back to the kiss that her and Tenshi shared.
"She seems to not know very much about our species..." Maruchi said, as she began to wonder why.
"Well, she did work under Zeus, who is known to dislike our kind, for whatever reason." Peni said, explaining why she thinks Tenshi is ignorant of their species.
"Yeah... he probably didn't let her learn, tried to use her." Maruchi said, thinking out loud and feeling bad for Tenshi.
"Most likely." Peni said, as they continued walking. "That's why I've only teased Tenshi so far." Peni said, changing the subject back slightly.
"What do you mean?" Maruchi asked, wondering what Peni is referring to.
"Because Tenshi hasn't experienced anything like this before." Peni said, beginning to answer Maruchi's question. "Unlike you, myself, and most others, she wasn't born with the knowledge of who they are." Peni said, beginning to wonder how exactly Tenshi's past was.
"I knew the moment I opened my eyes..." Maruchi said, agreeing with Peni. "I thought to myself, 'I am a pepper.' Didn't you?" Maruchi asked.
"No, I didn't realize for a long time." Peni said, thinking back to her realization. "But when I'd found out, I wanted nothing more than to find another of our kind... and be loved by them." Peni said, as she squeezed a fist.
"As soon as I saw Boris... I felt happy, confused, but happy. He aaked only very few things of me..." Maruchi said, as she began to tear up thinking about Boris. "He was kind at first... But when he hurt that poor girl... and hurt me..." Maruchi said, as tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"You don't need to say anymore." Peni said, ending Maruchi's sentence. "For some reason, most of the male peppers end up hurting the ones they love." Peni said, as she stopped and held Maruchi's shoulder.
"What happened?" C-Ku asked, as she felt worried about Maruchi.
"I think we should call it a night somewhere." Peni said, as she looked at Maruchi. "I think Maruchi needs a break." Peni continued.
"Maruchi?" Tenshi asked, as she ran over to Maruchi.
Maruchi smiled at Tenshi as she wiped away her own tears. "I'm okay, no need to worry." Maruchi said, taking a moment to really think about a lot of things.
"Are you sure?" Tenshi asked, feeling worried even though Maruchi told her not to.
"It's just something that... you couldn't understand." Maruchi said, as she walked away from Tenshi.
"O-Oh..." Tenshi said, feeling bad for Maruchi.
"Don't worry yourself, Tenshi." Peni said, as she walked closer to Tenshi. "Just someone she loved that ended up hurting her." Peni vaguely explained.
"Maruchi!" Tenshi shouted, as she ran to Maruchi and hugged her from behind.
'I already told her... she doesn't understand...' Maruchi thought, as she waited for Tenshi to let go.
"I do understand! Maybe not exactly..." Tenshi said, explaining that Maruchi was wrong. "Zeus was like a father to me... he taught me everything I know... and was extremely kind..." Tenshi said, finding it difficult to continue.
"And he threw you away..." Maruchi said, finishing Tenshi's sentence.
"He did..." Tenshi said, as she began to cry as she hugged Maruchi.
"You're right..." Maruchi sniffled. "That isn't exactly the same..." Maruchi continued.
"Yeah..." Tenshi said quietly, feeling like it was a failed attempt.
"But we've both had someone we care about hurt us." Maruchi said, as she turned around and hugged Tenshi.
"Maruchi..." Tenshi said, as they hugged each other, and both began to cry.
"Thank you." Maruchi said, as she felt grateful to have met someone like Tenshi.
"I think a lot of us here were hurt." Peni said, as she looked at everyone besides Tenshi and Maruchi. "And I'm sure that you've all wondered, 'Why should we save this male pepper? After all, he'll just hurt more female peppers.' am I right?" Peni asked, as Maruchi and Tenshi stopped hugging and wiped their tears.
"I've asked myself that..." Kuream said, feeling slightly guilty.
"Mmmm..." Tetsu mumbled, feeling the same.
"It's okay that you felt that way." Peni said, looking at everyone including Maruchi and Tenshi. "I know some of you haven't met him, but he's different." Peni said, as she began to explain.
"It's true!" Maruchi said, as she walked over to stand beside Peni. "I've met him too, but I just couldn't believe it at the time." Maruchi continued.
"Believe... what...?" Hiraki asked, feeling worried, confused, and unsure.
"I couldn't believe that I actually felt safe, he gives off a feeling of care, one that lets you know that when he's around, you will be protected." Maruchi explained, as she began to regret not joining pepper.
"I was hurt too..." Kumetsu said, as she walked slightly forward. "When I'd talk to this girl, Utsu, Godita would get angry... and reppep would too." Kumetsu explained.
"Who are these people?" Kuream asked, feeling confused and curious.
"Utsu is a female pepper, she's very scared... I'd try to calm her. Godita was my male pepper... until pepper killed him. and reppep was the man who used poor Utsu for... horrible things..." Kumetsu explained, as she began to remind herself of things she'd rather forget.
"Poor Utsu..." Tenshi said, feeling worried for Utsu. "I hope she's okay..." Tenshi continued.
"She is." Maruchi said, sounding sure. "I saw pepper take her to King Samuel, to leave Halloween." Maruchi continued, hoping to ease Tenshi's worry.
"And this is why we must help him." Peni said, bringing back her original topic. "He's the only one who's care doesn't cause agony." Peni said, as she hoped for everyone to be fully on board now.
"Can we really be sure...?" Porcelain asked, sounding like she doesn't trust this. "They can be very good... at lying..." Porcelain continued, looking at Peni through her long bangs.
"I've... felt it too..." Hiraki said, quietly. "He's different... the look in hos eyes... the sound of his voice... they're all calming and caring..." Hiraki continued.
"Well... If so many have faith in him..." Porcelain said, as she walked over to Peni. "Then I will too." Porcelain said, as she made up her mind to help them.
Tenshi and Peni sat together under a root on a hill, it was open enough for everyone to stand in if they wanted, the others layed down, not far from each other, under the root and dirt opening.
"The stars are so pretty..." Tenshi said, as she looked through the trees.
"Indeed." Peni said, as the two sat together.
"Come on, you two." Maruchi said, as she sat up. "We should all get some rest." Maruchi continued.
"Yeah." Peni said, as her and Tenshi stood up. And as they did, a twig snapping was heard from not far away.
"What was that...?" Tenshi asked, quietly.
"Dunno..." Maruchi said, as the three listened for anything else.
'It could be anything, we don't know where we are.' Peni thought, as she couldn't tell what made the noise. "I'll go figure it out." Peni said, as she got up and began walking away.
"I'll come with you." Tenshi said, as she quickly stood up.
"No, you need to stay here while everyone else is asleep." Peni said, as she turned around to face Tenshi.
"No need." Maruchi said, as she sat up. "I'll do it." Maruchi continued, as she stood up.
"But you're tired." Peni said, wanting Maruchi to get rest.
"It isn't the first time I've been up all night, besides, Tenshi's better off with you." Maruchi said, as she tried to wake herself up.
"What does that mean?" Tenshi asked, quietly.
"Alright, fine." Peni said, as she realized they didn't have time to argue. "Come on, Tenshi." Peni said, as she began walking away.
"Uh, coming!" Tenshi shouted, as she ran to catch up with Peni.
Peni and Tenshi walk through the forest, Tenshi stayed close to Peni since she didn't know where Peni was going. "It went this way." Peni said, as she pointed to their left.
"Isn't that the way we came from?" Tenshi asked.
"Yes, it is." Peni responded. "But that's probably why it knew about us." Peni continued, as she began to walk that direction.
"What do you think it was..." Tenshi asked, scared that it might be some big animal.
"I don't know." Peni said, as she kept walking.
"I wonder-" Tenshi began to speak, as Peni cut her off.
"Shhh!" Peni shushed Tenshi, Tenshi immediately went quiet.
'What's going on?' Tenshi questioned to herself. Peni stared in one direction. 'What's she looking at?' Tenshi asked herself, as she tried to see whatever Peni was seeing.
"There's people..." Peni whispered, informing Tenshi about why she shushed her.
"People?" Tenshi quietly asked, feeling confused.
"I can't see very well from here, we need to get closer." Peni said, as she slowly and quietly walked forward. Tenshi said nothing as she slowly followed Peni.
'This is... nerve-wracking...' Tenshi thought, as her heartbeat began to rise. 'What if they see us...?' Tenshi asked herself, feeling worried.
Peni grabbed Tenshi's hand. 'I can sense how scared Tenshi is... Why can I sense that?' Peni asked herself, feeling confused.
'Peni...' Tenshi thought, as she looked at Peni. Tenshi's heartbeat began to slow down slightly, as she grew a little more calm thanks to Peni. As the two grew closer to the people they could see, they noticed that there was an entire camp site set up. "What is this?" Tenshi asked quietly, feeling confused.
"It's some camp site, or maybe people live here." Peni said quietly, as she looked around at the tents and burnt out fire pit. "But that person I saw, they're gone." Peni said quietly, as she looked in the same spot as she did before.
"Where'd they go? In one of the tents?" Tenshi asked quietly, wondering if Peni knows.
"I'd assume, but we should keep our guard up." Peni said quietly, as she walked closer into the camp site.
"Should we go any closer...?" Tenshi quietly asked, feeling like going in might beva bad idea.
"Maybe not, but I'm curious about something..." Peni said quietly, as she kept moving in. 'I can feel... another pepper...' Peni thought, as she felt too curious to turn away.
'We're gonna get caught...' Tenshi thought, feeling like she has to do something. Peni walked around a tent, along with Tenshi who still had a hold of Peni's hand. Peni peaked into one of the tents, it was dark but sue could make out the silhouette of a woman and a child sleeping.
'Doesn't seem strange...' Peni thought, as she closed the tent, and began walking in more.
"Peni... we should really leave..." Tenshi said quietly, as she tried to get Peni to listen.
"I don't want to." Peni quietly responded, declining Tenshi's wish.
"Peni... I'm scared, please..." Tenshi quietly said, as Peni realized that she can feel Tenshi shaking.
Peni turned around, let go of Tenshi's hand, and hugged Tenshi. "You go back to everyone, I'll be back when I'm done investing." Peni said quietly, as she tightly hugged Tenshi. "If I'm not back my sun rise, continue without me." Tenshi quietly continued.
"Peni...?" Tenshi asked, feeling confused. "You'll definitely come back, right?" Tenshi asked, feeling worried.
"Of course..." Peni said, trying to get Tenshi to not worry.
"Then... okay..." Tenshi said, as she left Peni's hug, and began walking away.
'If I do make it out of here, I'll need to make it up to Tenshi for lying to her.' Peni thought, as she watched Tenshi walk away. 'She has such care for nature, she unconsciously goes around any plants or insects as much as she can...' Peni continued thinking, smiling as she continued to watched Tenshi leave. As Peni couldn't see Tenshi anymore, Peni continued searching for the strange feeling she had. 'I know I feel one near me... but where?' Peni asked herself, thinking as hard as she could. Peni began to breathe heavily, and her eyes grew a little wider as she felt a presence behind her. 'There's someone right behind me.' Peni thought, as she slowly turned around. Peni's fear went away instantly, as she saw it was only Tenshi. "Tenshi...?" Peni quietly asked, feeling confused about why she came back.
"Sorry..." Tenshi quietly said, as she looked up and down at Peni. "I thought that... I didn't wanna leave you alone..." Tenshi quietly continued, as Peni looked at Tenshi a bit oddly.
"Tenshi, are you okay?" Peni quietly asked, feeling like something happened.
"Huh?" Tenshi quietly asked, looking confused.
"It's just, your voice seems a little different." Peni quietly said, wondering if Tenshi fell and hurt her throat or something happened.
"O-Oh, well..." Tenshi quietly said, as her face had a hint of worry. "Remember when we were holding hands...?" Tenshi continued, quietly.
"Yes, it only a moment ago." Peni quietly said, wondering where Tenshi's going with this.
"Um... You see, I got a bit embarrassed and stuff... y'know...?" Tenshi quietly asked, as she looked into Peni's eyes, as if for confirmation. "So, um... don't do that again..." Tenshi continued, quietly, telling Peni to not hold her hand.
'Oh... What?' Peni thought, feeling extremely confused. 'I thought that Tenshi would've liked that...' Peni thought, beginning to question if Tenshi ever liked anything they did.
"But um... What are we looking for?" Tenshi quietly asked, as she tilted her head to the left slightly.
"Uh... I had a strange feeling is all, I wanted to confirm it..." Peni quietly said, as she clearly seemed like her mind was somewhere else. 'I like Tenshi... But does she like me? From what she just said... I doubt it...' Peni thought, feeling worried and scared.
"Are you alright?" Tenshi quietly asked, with a look of concern.
"Yeah, I just had a thought..." Peni said quietly, as she looked up at Tenshi. "We should go back to everyone else." Tenshi quietly continued, as she began to walk past Tenshi, and back into the woods.
"What? Why?" Tenshi quietly asked, as she kept up with Peni's fast walking.
"Because, it's dangerous here." Peni quickly and quietly said, as her mind still thought bad things. 'I knew she wouldn't like it if I went too fast... but we've held hands before... I don't understand...' Peni thought, feeling so extremely confused, as she tried to understand what she did wrong.
"If you say so..." Tenshi said, as she went along with what Peni chose.
"Can I ask you something?" Peni asked, as she stopped walking.
"Sure." Tenshi said, as she felt confused about why Peni stopped.
"Do you... dislike me?" Peni asked, as she felt like she asked the wrong question.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Tenshi asked, giving a bit of a vague response.
"But... you said for me not to hold your hand..." Peni said, as turned and faced Tenshi, as Peni's eyee began to water slightly.
"Yeah... I said that..." Tenshi said, slowly.
"But... I thought you were liking me back." Peni said, as a tear fell down her face. "I mean... we even kissed..." Peni continued, as she looked at Tenshi, waiting for a response.
Tenshi looked at Peni with wide eyes and a confused face. "Uhhh..." Tenshi uttered, sounding confused.
"Did it mean nothing?" Peni asked, as she wiped her face.
"It meant... something..." Tenshi said, as she seemed surprised and confused, almost as if she has no memory of those events.
"Don't you remember? It wasn't even yesterday!" Peni shouted, growing upset at Tenshi. "I went so slow with everything, I wanted to go at your pace since you don't have any experience..." Peni explained, as she looked at Tenshi's confused face.
"Look... I don't-" Tenshi said, as Peni cut her off.
"Give me your hands!" Peni shouted, as she grabbed Tenshi's hands. "See? You... feel-" Peni said, as she cut herself off. 'These hands...' Peni thought, as she looked at Tenshi with a confused face.
"What happened?" Tenshi asked, as she blushed slightly.
"Your hands..." Peni said, slowly. "They're cold." Peni continued, as she looked down at their hands.
"Oh... sorry." Tenshi said, as she pulled her hands away.
"Tenshi's hands are always warm." Peni said, as she looked angerly at Tenshi.
"Uh oh..." Tenshi said, as she noticed Peni's anger.
"You aren't Tenshi, are you?" Peni asked, as she got ready for whatever Tenshi might do.
"Of course I am..." Tenshi said, as she slowly began to back away.
Peni grabbed Tenshi's arm. "Prove to me that you're Tenshi!" Peni shouted, feeling worried that she might be wrong. "Or... Or I'll cut your arm off!" Peni shouted, as she hoped that Tenshi could prove she's real.
"You know it's me!" Tenshi shouted, seemingly scared.
"You haven't said my name once since you came back!" Peni shouted, as she began to cry a little again. "What's my name, Tenshi?!" Peni asked, as she looked at Tenshi.
"Oh, come on..." Tenshi said, as she struggled to release her arm.
"Say my name! Please, Tenshi!" Peni shouted, hoping that it's really Tenshi. "Don't do this to me..." Peni begged, hoping that this is the real Tenshi, and that Tenshi isn't hurt somewhere or dead.
"I can't! Okay?!" Tenshi shouted. "I didn't expect all this love drama when I stole the Angel's look!" Tenshi's impostor shouted, as she began to cry.
"So you're not Tenshi?" Peni asked, feeling scared to hear that she's correct.
"I'm not Tenshi." Tenshi's impostor said, confirming that she isn't Tenshi. "Please don't hurt me..." Tenshi's impostor begged.
"That part depends on what you did with Tenshi!" Peni yelled, as she pulled the impostor's arm behind her own back and brought it up with the intention to torture.
"She's fine! She's fine! I promise!" The impostor cried out, feeling scared to be hurt.
"Where is she?" Peni asked, as she let go of the impostor.
"She's here." The impostor said, as she pulled an unconscious Tenshi out of thin air.
"Tenshi!" Peni shouted, as she took Tenshi from the impostor. "I'm sorry, I should've listened to you..." Peni said, as she held Tenshi close to her.
"I only wanted to know why you were snooping around our camp... I didn't mean for all of this..." The impostor said, feeling a bit guilty.
"Who are you?" Peni asked, wanting to know the impostor's name.
The impostor's look slowly reverted to her normal look, she had green skin, her eyes were pink, and her hair was blue with a pink strip on the right side of her bangs. Her clothes weren't anything special, they looked like old tribal clothes. "My name is Gofkuji." Gofkuji said, as she felt a bit awkward.
"You're the person I felt..." Peni said, as she looked up at Gofkuji.
"Huh?" Gofkuji asked, feeling confused.
"We're both female peppers, I felt your presence in the camp." Peni explained, as she wiped tears out of her eyes again.
"Oh, I see." Gofkuji said, as she felt slightly confused.
"I'll forgive you for almost breaking my heart, if you help us." Peni said, as she stood up and carried Tenshi.
"But... my tribe..." Gofkuji said, trying to get Peni to reason with her.
"I don't care, help me or you'll regret it." Peni said, as she threatened Gofkuji.
"Fine..." Gofkuji said, as she accepted Peni's forgiveness quest.
"Alright, come on." Peni said, as she began to walk back to the others, with Tenshi in her arms and Gofkuji right behind her. 'We have all ten now, we should do this as soon as Tenshi wakes up.' Peni thought, as she looked at Tenshi's face.