A few hours had passed since Panila had met up with everyone, and as the digital moon began to rise, so to did the festival begin. Everyone from every corner of the Underbelly began pouring into the centre of Desires to witness the yearly celebration.
Panila was stood backstage, mumbling to herself about how this could all go. That was until she saw both Cheshire and Ami approach. "Ah... You two have arrived. And how may I ask, are you two doing?"
Cheshire let out an electronic laugh as he tapped behind one of his cat ears. "THE RABBIZ IS STILL SUFFERIGNZ! THOUGH SIZTER STILL DOESN'T RECOGNIZE ME..." He sighed, tapping his sub-mind heart, reassuring himself. "I HAD HIMZ MOVED TO DETAINMENT, UNDERZ YOUR SUPER VISION!"
Panila let out a light chuckle, enjoying Cheshire's bizarre personality even in the looming eclipse. She turned to Ami with a slight smile. "And you, dear?"
"Oh... I'm d-d-doing w-well... D-D-Don't w-worry." She nervously smiled, her stutter sounding worse then usual. Panila gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure you will do great."
Ami felt weird hearing her boss actually reassure her, it felt nice.
The three walked on stage, Panila bowing as she stood in front of a podium.
"My dear, loyal people. Thank you for coming. As I'm sure you have all heard about the loss of both Eido, Tophi and Wendy as Leaders... It does break my heart to know what happened to them, but we shall be finding their replacements in due time. But despite the loss, we have our newest Leader here to speak for us. Give it up for Miss Newstarr." Panila clapped, motioning Ami to speak.
Ami nodded and made her way to the podium with a nervous smile, trying not to let people's judgement affect her. Just as she was about to speak, the large screen recording the live feed was interrupted with Biz's logo.
Avis, Vinea, Fox and Rat, who were standing in the audience had completely forgotten to tell Biz about the change of Plan. Rat rushed off to call Biz, as Avis tried to call Senshi to stop the video from playing, but it was too late.
A video of Ami sitting seemingly alone played as she seemed to be speaking to someone. "Ugh... W-W-Why hasn't ###### called me back? S-S-Stupid b-b-b.... I-I-I swear, it's all those m-m-monsters' fault t-t-that she moved here. T-T-They all play the sympathy c-c-card for being d-down here...
A-And the other leaders! What about t-them! Eido c-c-can't keep her mouth s-shut, Tophi and W-Wendy are always joking a-about eating me, C-Cheshire is j-just w-w-weird, and P-Panila? S-She tries a-a-acting b-b-better then us w-when s-she's j-just a d-d-demon in human clothing! A-A-And what's w-w-with her world's g-g-greatest Mom m-mug? S-She doesn't e-even h-have kids!"
The feed cut out before more could be said, everyone in the crowd was buzzing about what Ami had said, people throwing things at her and booing her. She began quickly apologising, trying her best to calm everyone down. "I-I-I'm s-s-sorry!" She repeated over and over again, only to fall on deaf ears.
Everyone went deathly quiet as the sound of chains was heard clanking loudly, it was the Underbelly's truest signal to be silent. Ami turned to Panila for some sort of comfort, only to be met with one of her piercing eyes. "You dare say that about me or my people?"
Rat quickly rushed on stage, trying to pull Panila away from Ami, who looked like she was ready to breakdown into tears. Apex rushed on stage to help move Panila away, who was shouting every insult she could think up, all without swearing mind you.
Ami was barely holding it together, trying her best not to cry, playing with her hair comfortingly as she began muttering to her angel. Avis and Vinea quickly darted off, motioning to Fox to get Biz as they went to help Rat.
People were now getting into an uproar, making it difficult for Avis and Vinea to get up on stage. Someone managed to grab Avis's jacket off her, and as she began getting into a fist fight with the guy who took it, they threw it at Ami.
This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Ami looked at the jacket on the ground in front of her. She began to sob into the mic, covering her face like a scared child, muttering into the mic for everyone to hear. "######... I w-wanna leave..."
Suddenly, as if on cue, the entire Domain's lights went out as the digital moon became a singular eye in a gaping void. "And so... You called for your sister to return home... And here I am, Ami." A feminine voice rung out as the large screen turned on, a lanky, broken figure with inky black hair appeared on screen with a massive grin.
Everyone froze in fear. Even Panila looked up in horror. "We... We failed..."
The figure began banging against the screen, actually making it crack. "Sister.... Sister... SISTER... I'M HOME..."
It was only a matter of time before whatever was behind the screen broke free. And whatever it was, scared Panila enough for her to yell; "EVERYONE EVACUATE THE AREA NOW!"
Ami was still crying, clutching Avis's jacket as she stared at the mass panic and fear of the crowd. Avis tried to call Senshi, but was only met with the same hollow, void like voice. "I'm Home..."
Biz, who had been watching from the comfort of one of her many apartments, was informed by Fox on what was happening, quickly rushing and grabbing a flare gun. She fired it into the air, sending a message to all of her mercenaries to help with the evacuation.
Mementis and Moria, who had always visited The Memorial to joke about themselves, saw the panic and rushed to help everyone they could, not stopping for a second.
As everyone was fleeing, Avis and Vinea had gotten on stage, rushing to Rat and Panila who, along with every Decaynine they could find, were trying to stop the screen from breaking. Rat glanced at the two and slapping herself on the head. "Get me Mollia's Sword, NOW!" She yelled. The two looked between themselves and realised Fox had it
Panila let out a piercing screech and summoned as many chains as she could, holding the screen in place as she couldn't trap it inside due to how strong whatever was trying to break through was. "Get the sword!" She yelled, holding the chains in place with everyone else. Vinea used his vines to try and help reinforce the screen, but it was clear they were running out of time.
Avis quickly flew off into the air, searching in desperation for Fox, before spotting the flare. She quickly flew down, not bothering to explain, just saying; "Fox. Sword. NOW!" He didn't even hesitate, pulling the sword out of his briefcase and handing it to Avis.
She hurriedly made her way back, tossing the sword to Rat. "Thanks... now all I need is the sub-mind!" Just as Rat reached Ami and was about to snatch the heart, the screen finally gave way.
An inky black substance oozed out, cackling and glitching wildly. Everyone jumped back in surprise, as Panila felt sick to her stomach. The few Decaynines caught in the glitchy mass were dragged inside, left only as bizarre objects resembling collectable items.
A hand emerged from the ink, it resembled a human's. It was when it finally pulled itself free that Ami turned to look at who it was. It wore a black leather jacket with a yellow stripe around the torso, its hair in brown bob cut that covers her right side in a messy way. It stared at the ground before looking towards Ami.
She let out a horrified scream as she saw that it had no face, only a black void with a piercing Red eye in the centre. It took its first few steps, stumbling slightly. "It has been so long since I've been able to walk... Now, O Sister Mine, where are you? shall we play like old times?"
Ami looked scared trying to run away, but it raised one hand up, binding her in place. "Y-Y-Y-You're not my s-s-sister! Y-You're not Avette!" She yelled out, only for the creature to laugh as everyone backed off.
"OF COURSE YOU'RE NOT MY SISTER, DEAR... WHERE IS PANDÆMONIUM?" It said as it turned to Panila, it's eye turning into a grin before turning back to Ami with a hungry look
"Don't let Limbo get Ami!" Panila yelled as she summoned her chains to launch Avis, Ami and Vinea off the stage. Limbo laughed, grabbing Panila by the throat and submerging her in the glitching mass. Limbo reached her hand inside and pulled out a playing card with Panila as the Queen of hearts.
Rat looked at the sword before sighing defeatedly, tossing the sword over to Avis. "Hey Bird Brain, don't fuck this up, ya hear?" She laughed as she pulled out her Rat Stick, preparing to hold off Limbo for as long as she could.
The three began running for their lives, hearing the sound of a bat being broken in half. They ducked into an alley before being greeted by a familiar face. "Sup." Tika said with a smirk, motioning them into a sewer drain.