A blur of darkness floats through the infinite nothingness.

"What…"

The thing attempts to remember what it once was. What it once had.

"I… I…"

The fragment of anger drifts through eternity, unable to see anything but blackness. It floats through nowhere, trying to remember its path.

"I…"

The sliver of dark power feels a pain in its memories.

"War… death…"

The memories of a battle greater than any other drift in and out of thought.

"Death… only death…"

The mind drifts through the countless deaths it has endured. Battles and wounds that nothing should have to bear. Scars that carve deep into the soul and send pain throughout the drifting mind.

"Death… death…"

The mind continues drifting, seemingly lost forever. But then it hears something. A cry of pain from another. A plea of sadness and remorse.

"Who…"

The mind follows the voice, wandering through the chasm of infinite blackness. The source of the cries drives deep into the mind, goading it into following.

"Who… I know…"

The mind fights against its own pain and sorrow. It hears the other cry, following and knowing it needs to help.

"Who… she… Who is she?…"

The voice continues to move through the darkness. But it finds a small sliver of light to follow. A path to the source of the one in pain.

"She… Mabel… Mabel…"

The power knows that name and as it continues on its path, it finds others following the same voice. Slivers of dark power continuing to move.

"Mabel… Zelestra… my… my sister… my love…"

The dark strands of energy begin to rejoin as they drift forward, and the light continues to grow in strength.

"Mabel… my queen… I… I am…"

The light begins to glow brighter than the blackness, sending the infinite darkness fleeing back.

"I… am… Thamiezel… I am… the dragon…"

The void fades as the single light separates into threads of energy, zooming past like countless shooting stars.

"I am Thamiezel… and I will not be destroyed by a broken machine!"

The darkness recombines as the threads of light shorten into the familiar twinkle of the stars.

Thamiezel awakens from his nightmare. His eyes dart around in an attempt to place his location. Above him he sees clouds of ash and a great chasm of fire erupting into the sky. He looks forward and sees only blackness. His eyes focus and he realizes he is staring at his fortress. He attempts to stand, but his legs and arms are too weak to move. He lies helpless beneath his dark tower as he realizes that the only sound is coming from the fires of the Earth and his own breath. The Earth has been abandoned. He remains on the ground, exhausted from his battle with the mind of the hundred slayer. Thamiezel can only watch the dead world as the hours pass. He attempts to stand a second time. He manages to flip his body over. His arms weakly move up and shake before he collapses again. Thamiezel lies amidst the ash covered world as he breathes deeply. He coughs on the ash as it enters his lungs.

"What… what happened?..."

He hears another sound in the empty wasteland. The sound of rocks flying through the air and landing on the ground. One rock lands on Thamiezel's head, and the dark king grumbles in annoyance.

"What? How can anyone be here?"

Thamiezel attempts to stand and challenge the source of his aggravation, but he merely falls again.

"You… what are you doing here?" the voice asks. The entity walks forward, and Thamiezel stares up to meet the red eyes of a goblin.

"I… I… what has happened?"

"What?"

"The armies… the powers."

"They left. All of them… the forces of the Esylios invaded. Led by some mad angels. Everyone left. Although they abandoned me… who are you?"

"What happened to her? Zelestra?"

"The queen? She began the evacuation. Boarded one of the ships and fled off world."

"She would not abandon her love."

"I… I was there. Our forces were retreating. My ship was already in the air. Hers was waiting. She tried to wait for her king. But he was not there. He… the rumor was his body had burned. That he had been poisoned by the angels some time before. That was… that was some time ago. My ship was damaged and I fell out. They would not risk their own demise, so they left me."

"My… my powers."

Thamiezel lies weakly on the ground as the goblin walks over to him. Thamiezel attempts to stand again with the aid of the hunched goblin. Thamiezel rises to his feet, but after a few steps his legs give out. The broken king falls to his knees.

"You… how is a human still here?"

"I am not human. I am…"

Thamiezel looks at his hands. Blood and ash cover his body, and he coughs weakly.

"I… I lost everything." he mutters weakly. He begins crying as the goblin sits down with him.

"Well, I did too."

"How… do you still live?"

"There's some life left deep in the caverns. Grass and plant. Us goblins are not easily beaten by starvation… but it will probably kill me soon, anyways."

"Then it seems we die together."

"To the glory of death."

Thamiezel chuckles weakly with his goblin companion. They sit in place, watching the blackened sky and the great pit of fire. Thamiezel chokes on the clouds of ash as he begins shivering.

"It's… so cold."

"Yes. You will probably die before me. I am sorry, for I will likely eat your corpse."

"I would not hold it against you."

Thamiezel looks towards the sky. His vampiric gaze fails him; he cannot pierce the clouds and see the stars. The shivering man and the small but sturdy goblin watch the sky for several minutes.

"Can… can you stand yet?"

"I… will try."

Thamiezel steps onto his feet. With the help of his lone friend, Thamiezel begins moving. He walks slowly with his goblin companion across the dead landscape. He stumbles on the uneven ground and falls, gashing his right arm on a jagged rock. The goblin helps him back up and they continue walking. Thamiezel holds his arm in pain.

"Well… you will probably die of infection now, human."

"Unless the cold reaches me first."

"True, true."

Thamiezel laughs, amused at his failure. He had gambled everything and lost. He walks for awhile with the goblin before falling again, gasping for breath. He stands once more and follows the goblin down into the depths of the world, finding his sight failing him.

"It's dark."

"For you, yes. But I will guide you."

"You will not betray me?"

"That would be pointless. We're both going to die. Might as well have some company."

Thamiezel allows the goblin to guide him down into the caves. Thamiezel sees a small sliver of light reach into the depths of the cavern from a tiny hole. It is not enough to see anything within the cave, except for what lies directly beneath. Thamiezel sees that moss and plants have grown down in the deep caverns. Thamiezel trips over something. As he stands back up, he picks up the object that he stumbled over. He realizes that he's holding a bone.

"What did this belong to?"

"Those… there were some survivors. We tried to group together… find a way to escape or survive. But we all began dying, one by one. We ate the dead… guess I'm the lucky one."

"Or unlucky, depending on one's viewpoint."

"That is true, random human."

Thamiezel sits close to the small source of light. He looks out, shuddering in cold and pain. He rests with the goblin warrior, eating scraps of plants and moss in a pitiful attempt to avoid starvation. The cold begins to pierce deep into his bone. The goblin leaves the fallen king temporarily.

"Where are you going?"

"Find something warm."

Thamiezel sits, shivering, as the goblin fiddles and throws things about within the great darkness. Thamiezel hears the goblin return. The creature hands over some twenty different pieces of cloth, recovered from destroyed ships and dead goblins. Thamiezel takes the items and wraps himself within the warm and reeking fabric. He sits before the small light as his body begins to warm up. He sees his human skin, bereft of any power, and begins weeping. The goblin sits with his sad companion. Tears fall from his eyes too, remembering what he has lost. The goblin holds onto Thamiezel for support and comfort. As Thamiezel's tears dry, he turns to his goblin.

"What… what is your name?"

"My name… Samael, the Fire Forger."

"That sounds made up… you are lying." Thamiezel says with a smirk.

"What's your name?"

"… Pine Tree."

The goblin laughs to himself.

"Well then, it seems we are both liars."

"Then let us enjoy the end of our days, Samael the Fire Forger."

Thamiezel sits within the caverns with the goblin for several days. The two friends survive on the small plant life near the limited light. Thamiezel crawls along the floor once he can no longer find food close to the light. He scratches his arm as the infection starts to grow.

"As far as personal hells go, I'd say this is fair." Thamiezel says as he grabs a speck of plant and swallows it.

"Why do you say that?"

"No… no reason."

"Well, I think I've found some random fungus over here."

Thamiezel crawls towards the goblin's voice. Thamiezel bumps into the creature. The two starving companions sit together as they eat the fungus together.

"So Pine Tree. What were you before you fell out of the sky?"

"Can't remember."

"That's sad. I was a servant of the throne. I helped build weapons and ships for the defense of the planet."

"Esylions. They were the invaders, right?"

"Yes. They weren't too powerful when we first went to war with them. But the angels helped make them into a threat. Crazy bastards tore the planet up. Well, more so than it already was."

"It seems that mad dog in charge ruined everything."

"Yes. I don't blame him, though. He was just trying to do something for his sweetheart."

Thamiezel chuckles weakly before he begins coughing again.

"You don't blame him for ruining everything?"

"Well, he did do a lot of harm. But he helped my people survive. I suppose that must count for something."

"I suppose so, too."

"I am sorry for whatever happened to you, Pine Tree."

"Thank you."

The fallen vampire crawls back towards the light once the fungi are gone. Thamiezel's human body starts to deteriorate as the days pass by. Thamiezel's arm becomes infected and begins rotting away. His muscles and flesh fade until there is only a thin layer of skin covering his bones. He coughs and vomits, unable to hold his food, and his mind begins to wane as well. His hair begins to fall out in clumps. He shakes and stares unfocused and deliriously.

"How… how long?" Thamiezel asks.

"How long since what?"

"…evacuation."

"The days… I cannot tell. But I feel it in my heart. It has been a long time."

"And now… now I die."

"What were you? Before you ended up here?"

"I… it does not matter."

"Well, whatever… I am bored… but at least I have company a little longer. Do you know any stories?"

Thamiezel laughs at the odd request. The goblin, however, is very serious. He inches closer, hoping that his companion can find some old story or legend to tell the goblin before the man succumbs to death.

"I… I have one…"

The goblin sits next to Thamiezel, waiting expectantly for the story.

"It is… a tale of the twins. Chained since the beginning… weaved their path through the world, together. They searched for the world's secrets and battled monsters... There was one spirit… above all the others. A great… pyramid with an eye… gazing out into the cosmos. A powerful demon… attempting to regain his power. The twins stood… imprisoned the demon. The circle was made. The spell was spoken. The demon's power faded… So it cursed them… it… it attacked one… heart of one… he stood, yet he saw his body... He thought he was dead… but he was not… nor alive."

"What was he?"

"A… dream demon… lost everything… he saw all… all he loved die… they all died… and he was alone… invisible... so he… he promised… to move the heavens… to regain those… the ones he lost…"

The goblin sits, thinking over the story that he has heard.

"Where… where have you heard this tale?"

"… it is my own… I have lost everything. Mabel… my Mabel. I… and now I have nothing…"

Thamiezel begins to cry. He sits beneath the world he destroyed, waiting for his end. He feels the cold hands of death inch closer by the minute. Yet his thoughts are only concerned with who he has lost. He focuses on the pain and sorrow in his heart. The loss for the one he promised to protect. The one who could be chained within Paradise, powerless against her bonds. He concentrates on her. Her joy, her smile, her dark, flowing hair and her beautiful pale skin. He feels his anger return. Anger at himself for gambling everything. Anger for the powers who abandoned him to madness. He feels his heated rage that had driven him for so long return.

"Mabel… my queen… my master… my love… I… will not lose you again…"

Thamiezel's face begins to burn. He wipes his cheeks, trying to clear the pain. He looks at his tears. They begin to burn through his hand, dripping down onto the cavern floor. He stares at the infection in his arm. He focuses his mind and anger on the necrotic tissue. The wounds begin to heal from his determination and wrathful drive. He focuses all of his hate on his broken, mangled skeletal body. His skin begins to pulse with the beating of his blackened heart. His weakened arms begin to regrow. The thin layer of skin covering his ribs returns in full and his scraggly hair begins to grow back, revealing the brown bangs of his youth. He stands and wobbles before his feet find their balance. He feels his old strength begin to return with every passing second.

"What… what are you?" the goblin asks. Thamiezel looks upwards at the stone ceiling. He concentrates his thoughts, piercing through the dark caverns and beyond. His mind's eye passes through the poisonous fumes and looks upon the night sky. He grins madly as he begins to feel the might of the Order passing through his veins again. But then he begins to feel an even greater strength. The power he had attempted to corrupt now flows through his veins.

"I… am Thamiezel."

"You… you died."

"I have died several times. It never stopped me before. My body… my flesh… I feel it… the might of the hundred slayer."

"What?"

"An old myth. I thought nothing of it at first. Slaying a hundred warriors is something I am already quite capable of. But the myths were mistranslated. They were not slayers of warriors, but of worlds. Star systems. Can you imagine it? A soldier capable of slicing through a hundred planets and stars with a simple swing of his weapon. Removing a galaxy within a week or even a day. An army of millions of machinations, each one with powers that dwarf even mine?"

"What… what in the name of the Orudrum could need such power?"

"You don't want to know… I will simply say that there was a great war. A war of which the simple memories of were enough to shatter my mind and body."

Thamiezel laughs as he feels the great power course through his body and soul. He restores his clothing, wearing a long, dark tuxedo with a white shirt and a bowtie. He creates a top hat that floats above his head and summons a cane with a vampiric gargoyle head on top. Thamiezel grabs his goblin friend and begins the long walk back outside. He no longer needs the aid of the goblin to see in the darkness. His vampiric gaze allows him to see everything. The two come out of the depths of the ruined Earth and look up. They begin to hear a crackling in the air. Thamiezel looks up to see a large piece of the tower begin to slide off. Without the power of the planet's rulers and the care of the goblins, the tower has begun to crumble. The goblin screams in terror as Thamiezel grabs him, teleporting across the wasteland. Thamiezel and the goblin appear hundreds of miles away from the fortress. The goblin continues screaming before realizing that they are no longer below the decaying tower. Thamiezel laughs at his friend's terror as the mountain sized chunk of iron and steel crashes into the ground hundreds of miles away.

"You are funny, Samael. But we have to go… we have to leave this dead land."

"Are there any other survivors?"

"I don't know."

Thamiezel looks out with his mind, seeking signs of life on the ruined planet. He finds nothing.

"There is nothing left. Let us leave the Earth to its end."

He looks out towards the universe, searching for any sign of his remaining empire.

"Do you have any family?" Thamiezel asks.

"I had a companion… a beautiful vampire. She escaped on a ship."

"Which direction was the ship going?"

"What?"

"The direction of the ship. Try to keep up, my friend. I know where all my worlds are. The direction of the ship will tell me where they may have fled to."

The goblin tries to remember which way the ship had taken off to. He points to an area in the sky.

"So… we have… seven worlds to search."

"Thank you, my master."

"What is her name?"

"Arella."

Thamiezel's heart pauses at the name. The name of the vampire who was still a child before Thamiezel began his searching.

"How… how old is she?" Thamiezel asks.

"She was forty years old."

"Forty… I have been dead for thirty two years. Now then… it seems we must both find the ones we love."

Thamiezel's mind takes him and his companion across the vast emptiness of space. He finds a small world that has been taken over by his horde of creatures. Thamiezel strengthens his heart for his sister, hoping that fate has not allowed her to be discovered. Thamiezel brings his companion onto the world. The world is farther from its star than Earth, perfect for the creatures that dislike the light of the suns.

Thamiezel walks towards the edge of the great forest of the terraformed planet. Great metal towers pierce the clouds of the world, built by the hands of the Thamiezel's servants. Thamiezel falls to his knees and grabs his head as it throbs in pain.

"Thamiezel, what is wrong?"

"I… I hear their thoughts. I feel their hearts… their pain… their worry… I see them."

Thamiezel is overwhelmed by the thoughts of everyone within the city. He feels their losses, their joy, and their anger. The tide of emotions is too much. He holds his head in agony and tries to suppress the thoughts of everyone around him. He grabs his friend and quickly vanishes deep into the alien forest far from the city. In the woodland, the only thoughts surrounding him are animals. Simple thoughts and far less numerous than the greater city. Thamiezel rests on the ground with his goblin ally.

"Their thoughts… I can hear them all."

"Who?"

"This whole planet… my power… is far greater than before… I can feel it in my heart. I could easily burn this world and have enough power to remove this galaxy… so much power… this will help me destroy the angels."

"How many are there?"

"There were four… and now I am greater than a hundred of them. A thousand."

"Perhaps we should go."

"Yes… yes, I must learn to take control of my powers. To use them properly."

Thamiezel takes his goblin back to the outer walls of the city. He attempts to focus his power, blocking out all voices from his mind. He concentrates on removing all distractions and feelings from his consciousness.

"They… are silenced."

He stands back up and marches forward. A small group of vampires dwells at the outer ring of the city. Thamiezel's goblin companion spots a six legged creature raised as livestock. He runs over to the animal, a little larger than a rabbit, and begins devouring it hungrily. The vampires attempt to drive off the hungry goblin with threats and by hitting him with sticks, but he is far too hungry to be pushed away. Thamiezel walks up to the goblin's attackers.

"Tell your friend to stop!" one of the vampires says.

"I'm sorry. We haven't eaten in a very long time."

"Well then, you'd better pay us back."

"I will when I can… I must ask, when was the Earth attacked?"

The people begin to laugh at his obliviousness.

"How… how the heck can't you know?"

"Come on. Pretend I am an utter idiot who stumbled out of the woods just now and has no recollection due to a coma."

"Thamiezel has fallen. His queen is in hiding. And the angels are searching the worlds. Anyone who stands against them is killed."

"… how long since the fall of Earth?"

"You really are an idiot. It has been one year."

"Well… wait, do you mean years of this world?"

"Of course. Which planet's cycle do you think we are using?"

"It doesn't matter. I am simply a traveling minstrel, and this is my patsy. Come along patsy!"

"You owe us for that meal."

"Oh, right… uh… hold on a second."

Thamiezel grabs the goblin and teleports away, leaving the shouting and confused vampires behind. The strange companions emerge from the shadows of an alley. Thamiezel begins reaching out, trying to gain control of his new powers. But the confusion and fury of emotions from the minds retakes him. He grabs his head in pain before blocking out the other thoughts again.

"For now, let's keep low. I do not desire to reveal myself yet."

"Why not?"

"Because I need to protect Zelestra above all others… she would risk herself if she knew I was here. And the angels would attempt to take her from me. I will not risk that, no matter how small the chance. I have come too close to losing her. I will find her."

"There are many worlds to search. I hope we are not too late."

"We are not."

"But the angels have halted their assault. They may have slain your queen."

"No… no, they don't desire her death. They want her to return to them. When I told you I had moved the Heavens for the one I loved? I did not entirely lie. I had one of my friends in the other world travel there."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then they may have taken her."

"Maybe. But I believe that the angels are simply waiting. Waiting for my sister to reveal herself. But she is not foolish enough to challenge them in open battle. Not even if all our worlds were set aflame."

Thamiezel continues walking with his goblin friend. The two travel down a road covered in streetlights, giving the street the appearance of the stars.

"The night is so beautiful, is it not?" asks the resurrected king.

"It is, my master."

"… judging by the answer given by those vampires back there… it has been at least one year in Earth's time, with maybe several more months, since Earth has been attacked…"

The goblin looks down in worry.

"We… I hope that Arella hasn't been killed."

"I don't believe so. These angels… they are powerful, and the Esylions are driven by hatred for those who dwell in the night. But the angels' master, Abraham, he is a soldier, not a butcher. He will not come against us in open war. He will simply wait for the opportune moment, even if it takes hundreds of years."

The goblin sighs, relieved by Thamiezel's words. Thamiezel walks past an open window. He looks in to see a peculiar sight. Werewolves, vampires, goblins, and various shadowy spirits sit in what appears to be a tavern. A screen displays the current events that are occurring in the empire. Thamiezel walks in, desiring to meet with the different species.

"How will this help?" the goblin asks.

"It may or may not. But I want to see what is happening."

Thamiezel walks to the bar and sits down between two vampires.

"Well then, it's been some time since I have had a drink." Thamiezel says. Samuel sits with a group of its own kind, who order food for the starved goblin.

"Who might you be?" the bartender asks, a blue demon with bat wings coming from his head.

"Dee."

"That's it? Dee?"

"Mother wasn't very creative."

"I see that. So, which type of blood or bodily fluid would you prefer?"

"Let's see. What's free?"

"Pig blood."

"Very well."

"So, what brings you here?"

"Nothing much. Simply travelling with my friend… You're from Inferno, correct?"

"Yes."

"When did you leave?"

"About six hundred years ago. Once the human race started losing ground, it became a lot easier for us to rise up there. Now the galaxy's filled with our kind."

"Humans. Silly species, weren't they?"

"You're the one to talk. Looks like you were one at a time."

"Don't remind me."

Thamiezel and the bartender laugh together. Thamiezel receives his drink and begins sipping the blood.

"So then, what are you doing here? I've never met you or your smelly friend before."

"We're looking for someone. He and his lover were separated in the evacuation of the Earth."

"A lot of people were scattered then. Most have moved into the other cities by now."

"So… is there any information about what has happened?"

"There may be information at the great tower."

"Thank you."

Thamiezel finishes his drink and goes to find his goblin friend.

"Come along, Sam."

Thamiezel and Samael walk out of the bar. Thamiezel considers his options as they walk down the street. He could attempt to find the information he needs from the large tower in the center of the city. But he needs to learn to use his new powers. He begins to reopen his mind. He allows the thoughts of the planet to wash over him, enveloping his senses. He holds his head in pain as he tries to focus, clearing away the thoughts that do not involve pain and loss. He clears through the mad wave of emotions as he searches through the inhabitants of the city. His gaze pierces through buildings, flesh, and soul.

"This… this is fun. Snooping on everyone at the same time… no wonder he enjoys it."

"Who?"

"Nobody, no one."

Thamiezel continues his searching, focusing on every mind. But he does not find what he is looking for. He turns his gaze upwards, staring out into the heavens. He stares towards the minds of the other worlds for a sign. The thoughts are weak and far away, so Thamiezel grabs his companion and travels with him to another world. Thamiezel searches through the minds of the different worlds for a sign of Arella or his sister. He finally discovers the thoughts of the goblin's companion. Arella sits weeping in her twilit home in one of the many towering monoliths on the planet Seloris.

"Let's go, my friend."

Thamiezel grabs his goblin friend and teleports again. The two find themselves before an iron doorway.

"What is this?"

"Arella's home."

Before the goblin can yell or knock, Thamiezel smashes his own face against the entrance. He continues smacking his skull into the iron door, giggling deliriously. The door opens and the vampire Arella glares with rage.

"Who are you?"

"I… am unbalanced."

Thamiezel falls down lifelessly, allowing Arella to see behind him. She sees the hunched over goblin that she fell in love with. She begins crying tears of blood as she steps over Thamiezel's body, crushing his back with her heels. She grabs the goblin into a hug and brings him inside. Thamiezel stands and walks in.

"My little Georgey!" Arella says.

Thamiezel hears the real name of the goblin and laughs to himself.

"Georgey… ha! I remember you!"

"You insult my lover's name?! And who are you?!"

"My name? I have had many names… I believe my favorite is still Thamiezel, although the first will always hold a special place in my organ cluster."

Arella blinks in surprise as the apparent dead ruler reveals himself.

"Thamiezel… he was destroyed by the angels."

"It is him. He survived. He found me and brought me here."

Arella walks over and embraces Thamiezel. He pats her awkwardly on the back before stepping away.

"Arella. We meet again. You were just a little vampire with little kid fangs last we met."

"How? You… you were destroyed."

"My mind shattered like glass into infinite pieces across the void, and I have returned because not even that could stop me."

"I… I'm glad you're back."

"Thank you. Well then, I'd best be off."

"Where are you going?"

"To finish this little game. To destroy the angels who would dare violate the treaty between Paradise and Inferno!"

"With all due respect… haven't you violated the treaty too?"

Thamiezel begins laughing through his teeth, knowing that he has not technically violated the treaty. He vanishes from the room in an instant. Arella and Georgey look around for their vanished king. He reappears outside the great tower and begins walking through the streets of the moonlit world.

"Now then… how to reach Mabel."

Thamiezel's mind extends past the heavens, searching his many worlds. He travels through them, crossing forests and cities, realms of volcanic ash and cold, dark, and frozen lands. But as the days go by, he finds no mention or whisper of her. He knows that his most trusted forces can block others from seeing into their mind, and he knows that his sister has the same strength. He realizes that she keeps only her most powerful, trusted servants knowledgeable.

"She is a smart one."

Thamiezel attempts to search out and focus his mind on penetrating the defenses of others, but he is still too weak to gaze into the hidden thoughts. Thamiezel looks up towards the heavens, seeing the countless stars and worlds his sister could be hiding upon.

"Well then… only several quintillion other planets to search… it shouldn't be too hard."

He teleports to one of the more inhabited worlds. Hundreds of cities now dwell upon the surface, each built with a dark tower in the center in the shape of Thamiezel's old stronghold. He walks down the street before coming across several vampiric spirits.

"Hello, where is Zelestra?"

"No one knows."

"Oh dear. Well, I guess I'll keep looking."

Thamiezel wastes his hours mentioning Zelestra to the various creatures that occupy the world. He asks any around if they have information about the queen. But he knows that it is hopeless. Instead he desires to draw out one who would defend the queen's location. Within several hours he is approached by three great vampires. The three together could have nearly matched him before he found his new power. He feigns a battle with the vampires, barely using any of his strength while dueling with them. He is cast down by the vampiric forces and held in place by several weapons that glow with dark energy.

"I… just wanted to know where Zelestra was."

The creatures crush and throw about their hidden king, seemingly weakening him. The mangled form of their ruler is taken away by the vampires. They drag him to the center of the citadel, past the questioning gazes of onlookers. He is brought deep down into the lower pits, away from all other eyes. He is bound with powerful chains of fire; the chains have arcane symbols ingrained into them to give them power over the prisoner.

"Please… this is entirely unnecessary."

The vampires move aside, allowing a weaker vampire to enter the room.

"And you are?" Thamiezel asks.

"Grand Inquisitor Castor. Before I begin, I would ask you why you are searching for our queen."

"Because I am lonely and she is pretty."

The inquisitor sighs in aggravation as he prepares the instruments of torture. The vampires stand guard as the interrogator begins to use the weapons deadliest to the vampires against Thamiezel. The captured king first has a blessed cross glowing with angelic fire brought to his chest. The weapon burns into his skin, searing deep into his flesh and muscles. Thamiezel groans in apparent agony, but his smile has not faltered.

"I've had worse."

The interrogator then finds several jagged necklaces with starlight power embedded within diamonds. He holds them with gloves to avoid hurting his own body.

"Ooh, sparkly."

The necklace is lifted onto Thamiezel's neck. The light begins to burn his skin as the end of the necklace is pulled back, choking Thamiezel. He mumbles in pain as he is choked and strangled by the powerful tool. But his deranged smile remains unchanged.

"You will tell us why you are looking for her."

"I hear her husband is dead and I'm single."

The torture begins to become far more brutal. The vampires take turns beating Thamiezel to the ground. They kick and mutilate his body and pull back his fingers. They rip out his nails and several of his fangs.

"Come now. I've had worse from my mother."

Thamiezel has his eyes pierced with silver blades that sear into his mind and body. His body is dropped into vats of Heavenly water until his skin has completely seared off. The torture causes Thamiezel to scream and sob in agony, but after it ends he returns to smiling psychotically. He seems to enjoy suffering the horrid pain. The torturer has gone from asking Thamiezel, to shouting commands at him, to all but pleading with him to speak so the inquisitor no longer has to bear the screams and sounds of agony.

"Tell us! Just tell us and we'll stop!" the inquisitor bellows as the vampire guards watch in horror.

"I already told you. I want to know where Zelestra is. You are a bit thick, aren't you?"

Thamiezel simply laughs with mad chattering teeth, exposed to the air as his lips have been burned off. He simply continues grinning as his body falls apart and decays over the course of several hours. His pale skin has been flayed off, revealing the dark, murky muscles beneath. His left arm and right leg dangle by a thread. And yet he still smiles at his capturers. The powerful vampires are broken by the resilience of their prisoner. They shift away in fear of their seemingly unbreakable captive.

"I told you… I simply desire to speak with Zelestra."

The vampires leave their broken victim down below. The one that had tortured him backs away in horror.

"What the hell are you?"

The eyeless husk of Thamiezel moves his head towards the male vampire, who cries tears of blood at what he has done. Thamiezel breathes deep of the air. Despite all skin missing from his body and his lips having been torn off he still manages to appear smiling.

"I am he who is unseen. Get it? Because my eyes are completely fucked."

The torturer backs away in disgust at what he has done. He turns and barfs onto the floor as he shakes in sadness and fear.

"You… you know how to tickle a guy, don't you? I look forward to meeting you again."

The torturer squirms away, leaving Thamiezel alone. As his body lies decrepit and broken, his mind travels through the fortress. He follows the vampiric guards down the darkened tunnels and through the deep caverns. The vampires finally come to the lowest pit. They enter a doorway and come before an altar. The vampires light candles in ceremony around statues of two great gargoyles, each crowned with iron thorns impaled in their skull. A shroud of red mist lies before the altar. The vampires begin their summoning. A dark shadow with flowing black hair and piercing red eyes appears before the vampires.

"My Lady." they say with a bow.

"Why have you summoned me?" Zelestra asks in a voice filled with hate. He sees her. She has changed. Her voice is seeded with hate and sorrow. The same pain that bore into his own soul over the course of hundreds of years until he became the vampire Thamiezel, filled with vengeance and madness in his heart. He sees through the mists of the veil to the world his sister hides on. He gazes through the thoughts and minds of others on that world, attempting to discern their location. He hears them call their world Cul-Cerberon. Thamiezel laughs in his thoughts, knowing the name of that world and its location in the cosmos.

"There is a prisoner here… he was searching for you."

"And this is reason to risk my location? I should eviscerate you all…"

"He will not break… his body is broken, yet his mind is intact. I do not know what he is, but he appears to be one of our kind."

Zelestra gazes curiously through the veil.

"I will take a message from him."

"Yes, my lady."

But by the time the guards return, Thamiezel's body lies dead in chains. The great mind of Thamiezel has abandoned the broken and mangled form, flying past stars and worlds to the location of his sister. He hears the thoughts of others as he moves through the cosmos, ready to be reunited with his love.

But he stops in front of a world, curious as to the great presence that he feels there. He listens to the planet, seemingly abandoned of all life. Thamiezel lands on the barren world. It is a great desert and any life that may have lived there has long since turned to dust. Yet the great voice still speaks, whispering in a dreamlike state. Thamiezel begins walking through the wastelands. He hunts for many hours for the eerie, calming whisper. The voice sooths the fury in his heart, but it is simply a powerful spell attempting to take hold of his mind. The voice seems to echo from every location, whispering in old languages and drifting through worlds. It is one mind, yet its presence is greater than all those upon a planet teeming with life.

"What in the name of me is this?" Thamiezel says aloud. He floats across the planet, searching like an easily distracted pet. Thamiezel eventually finds where the voice is strongest. He comes upon a range of mountains. The mountain range stands taller than any upon the dead Earth, and the ring of mountains seems to weave around in a great circle, enveloping a dried, cracked land that stretches into the horizon. The dead area could easily encircle the entirety of one of Earth's continents. Thamiezel's mind is nearly overwhelmed by the voice. He feels a painful throbbing in his mind as he searches the area. He gazes downward, looking through the ground to see if the great mind is buried within, yet he finds nothing but rock and a dead planet's core.

Thamiezel restores his human body. He sits down and crosses his legs, listening to the dreaming entity. Thamiezel allows the voice to enter his mind. He listens for hours as the other presence speaks of ancient worlds, long since destroyed or forgotten. The voice whispers of old species. Some Thamiezel recognizes from long forgotten worlds, of which the only remnant is old texts and whispers in legend. Others have evolved and mutated over the ages, surviving into the modern times. The only remnant of their old glory is mentioned in myth. Thamiezel sees the memories of the first vampires. Monstrous beings that could devour entire worlds by simply being near them. Entities fueled by endless hunger. They were fleshy lumps filled with hundreds of eyes and sensory organs and covered in razor sharp tentacles and fang filled elephant-like trunks. He sees that their raw power was too much for them. If they had halted their endless search to devour life they would lose their powers and become shapeless, dread spirits unable to harm anything. They were powerful, yet flawed creations. The voice then speaks of the old powers that dwelled before Paradise and Inferno. The Children of the First were the voice's enemies. Thamiezel listens as the dreams turn into nightmares at the thoughts of the creature's master.

The voice had served a great evil. A great spirit of madness that had once desired to control all other minds as a supreme king. As it came to realized it could not fully subvert the wills of others, even if it were to devour all souls in the cosmos, its mind turned towards darker paths. It desired to ruin all things and tear creation down to the roots. To reverse the process that began infinity, ensuring that nothing existed. It tormented its own servants as greatly as its enemies. It desired to shatter their minds with torture and pain, and then continue smashing against their sanity until nothing was left. It was a great insanity that had torn and broken pieces of its own soul to create endless soldiers to fuel its need to destroy all things, and thus its own spirit and power withered and faded until it was far too weak to harm others. It became a shapeless wound in the cosmos that was only allowed to rule because its servants still feared its cruelty. The great evil is nameless, yet Thamiezel feels the darkness with the mere knowledge of it. The First Evil, from before all other monsters.

Thamiezel awakens from his trance. He stands up and attempts to awaken the creature.

"Hello! Wake up! Wake up! It's time for school!"

Thamiezel's prodding and screaming seems to fall on deaf ears. But as he begins to leave, a great tremor shakes the ground. The dreaming thoughts cease and the mind Thamiezel had listened to has sealed itself to the dark lord's prodding. Thamiezel falls as the ground breaks apart and crumbles beneath the surface of the planet.

"Oh dear, he's definitely not a morning person."

Thamiezel sees the mountains quake and rise up. The entire world shakes as the great creature awakens from its slumber. Thamiezel comes to realize that the mountains were the jagged spine of an ancient and gigantic monster. He sees the lizard-like head of the beast as it awakens with a cacophony of sound. The monster roars, sending Thamiezel to the ground and rupturing his ears. The sound shakes the entire planet as the dragon rises. Its feet are greater than Thamiezel's tower, capable of crushing entire nations beneath them. With the flapping of its wings, the beast sends thousands of hurricanes and tremors across the planet. Its mouth appears as a gigantic volcano, spewing fire and ash and dripping magma. Thamiezel squeals in delight as the creature's head circles around, blocking out the light of the star as it zooms overhead. The creature looks around for the voice that had disturbed him.

"I am right here." Thamiezel says.

The dragon's head slithers back around, rumbling and cracking with the sound of moving stone and metal. The creature turns and stares at the pest before it. The beast opens its great jaws as a powerful voice whispers in Thamiezel's ears. The dragon speaks in an ancient tongue that Thamiezel has only heard of in the memories of the great celestial machine.

"Little creature. Who are you?" the great dragon asks.

"I am a traveler. And I heard your calling. You… are one of them. The first dragons. The world slayers. The sun eaters. A living volcano, spewing fire across entire worlds."

"And what does a simple traveler want with one such as I?"

"I need to make an entrance."

"What?"

"I am a performer, and like any great performer, I need to top my last show. I think this one will knock them dead."

"And… how does this concern me?"

The dragon's voice has gone from prideful taunting to confused and questioning. A lowly creature, apparently no more powerful than a parasite, has woken the dragon up for simple amusement.

"I need you, my big fun boy. You are quite beautiful. Not that I'd want to, you know, make love to you. Even if I did, the size difference is astronomical and probably wouldn't be fun for any of us."

"You… are mad."

Thamiezel laughs insanely as he floats up into the air. He comes to a stop before the creature's eyes.

"You've just noticed."

"What do you want with me?"

"You have slept for so long. The universe has been busy since you were last awake. Would you care to travel with me? To see how the cosmos have changed? I can offer you many things, my beautiful friend."

The dragon's body begins to turn bright. The sounds of metal and rock scraping and screeching together echo throughout the dead world. Thamiezel returns to the surface of the planet as the beast reforms into a smaller dragon. It walks towards Thamiezel, now of equal height to him.

"I accept."

"Good… I am glad."

Thamiezel extends a hand underneath the dragon's jaw, enjoying the feel of the living rock.

"You are… amazing."

"Your flattery is not unwelcome, but you have promised me many sights."

"Yes. But first… I would like you to return to your great size. I have a planet that will enjoy watching you appear. And a sister who is waiting for me."

Zelestra walks as a specter of twilight through the woods of the world she hides upon. She whispers in ancient Enochian to the creatures that dwell within the forest, singing to them in the world of twilight. She sings sadly, dwelling on the prisoner who had given her hope before dying. The man she thought might be her brother had fallen dead and his body had been reduced to a mangled, warped form before she could see it. Zelestra shifts away from the woods and back to her forces on the other edge of the world. It is many hours later as the far away sun moves through the sky.

"Noon. It is noon." she says to one of the trusted goblins.

"My lady. I am sorry your brother was not found."

Zelestra turns and smiles warmly at the being and embraces him. The creature tenses up, wondering if she will kill it, but instead she kisses him on the head.

"Thank you." Zelestra replies.

"You are kind, my lady."

Zelestra and her companion walk through the tower together.

"Thirty two years …" Zelestra says sadly. The goblin continues walking with her, looking up into her sad eyes.

"He… he'll be back… he must be." Zelestra mutters. She comes into a small room she uses as her throne. She sits and gazes at the stars, wondering what had happened to her brother all those years ago.

"He… he said he would be back… and then his power burned."

One of Zelestra's companions comes into the small room.

"Felicia." Zelestra says.

"Yes my lady?"

"Nothing… just, wondering."

"He will be back. From what you have said, he's survived worse than whatever fate has befallen him."

Zelestra smiles warmly at the reassurance.

"Thank you. And where is Arella?"

"She was at Zelestra Planet Six last we spoke."

"Or Seloris."

"Yes. Your brother loved you. Many promises are made to name stars after loved ones. He's mad enough to make due."

"Yes, he was… he was… simply Thamiezel."

The queen smiles weakly before moving away. Zelestra leaves the tower and walks amongst her people. Her form changes from the known appearance of the queen into a lowly, hunched shade. She walks among her soldiers and followers, listening to their voices and worries.

"I pray to the Lords of Twilight that we will not be abandoned." a vampire says as it sips a glass of blood.

"Those damned angels murdered our king. They consider the insane, ravenous Esylions to be worth more than us."

"That is the ways of Paradise. A false god leading an army of hypocrites and idiots."

"They would discard the mighty vampires for a species that would destroy itself if not for the angels aiding them."

Zelestra continues her searching. She comes upon another pair. A goblin walking hand in hand with a beautiful, raven-haired vampire. Zelestra walks forward to meet them.

"And who might you be?" Arella asks.

"Nobody that matters."

Arella walks up and embraces Zelestra.

"You matter."

"Thank you."

Zelestra begins weeping again and the other vampire offers her a shoulder in friendship.

"Come now. Let's go to my home."

Zelestra travels with the pair of lovers down the walkways, glistening with starlight and the lights from buildings.

"You know… before I was changed… I never realized how beautiful the night is." Zelestra says.

"It is beautiful. There is so much detail and color. Few who dwell in the light can see it."

"I hope one day our worlds will be one."

"That is a long time away…"

The three walk down the streets of the city and come to a large building. Arella invites her guest into the home. The hidden queen sees several pictures of the goblin and his vampire companion. Zelestra smiles, knowing that even though the Earth had been laid to waste, that there was still something that remained; the desire to remember loved ones. Zelestra sits down upon a cushion as Arella goes towards another room. Zelestra smirks as she sees Arella open a refrigerator.

"What is so amusing?" Georgey asks as Arella returns with glasses of blood.

"I remember the vampire myths of old from when I was human. They were considered monsters and evil beings. But I always find reminders that we're just the same underneath."

"So… you knew the humans before the war? What were they like?"

"Angry, vicious, hateful… but there was hope for them… hope they could become better… but Thamiezel ruined that hope."

"I would not speak poorly of our master… we don't know which hall or shadow he might emerge from." Georgey says, as if he's afraid Thamiezel could be watching.

"I know… he offered so much to others, but he took so much away."

"But why?"

"I don't know. I've never met him before." Zelestra says with a knowing smirk. Arella is the one to respond.

"I met the king before. My mother has a higher rank than others in the kingdom. She had us in the tower for my birthday. Many felt hope as they looked upon it, knowing it was the seat of the one who had saved them many times before. Others wept for what it had replaced. The green of the woods and countless lives lost. But I believe it was his grief that drove him. When I saw him, he was broken. But when he looked upon his queen it was like his soul returned. His smile. It was warm and friendly, not the face of a monster."

"There are those we lose and our hearts ache for a while. And there are those we lose and nothing can numb the pain… Can you imagine it? Trapped, powerless and immortal, as all you love succumb to old age and death… it would drive anyone insane."

I know… when I lost Georgey here… I felt empty. I could not bear the pain… like someone ripped my soul in two."

"How did you find him again?"

The vampire and her goblin lover shift their gaze in fear, not willing to incur the anger of their master by breaking their vow of silence.

"He found me. He managed to scavenge a ship together with his brilliant mind. He traveled across worlds in search of me… it seems fate was kind that day."

"And you knew she lived here?" Zelestra asks the goblin.

"I didn't. I searched the worlds and found her on Seloris. Or Zelestra Planet Six."

"Why have you moved?"

"We desired a new world. A renewal, away from the sorrows of the past."

Zelestra smiles warmly at their reasoning.

"It is rather silly, isn't it?" Arella says.

"No… I think it's nice."

Zelestra takes a sip of blood. She looks out through the window at the far away star in the sky. And as she does, she notices something. A dragon-like silhouette appears before the sun. Yet it does not move its wings for flight. It simply appears motionless.

"What is that?" Arella asks.

"I don't know."

Arella opens the window and flies out with Zelestra. The two vampires stare at the dragon. While the wings do not appear to move, the dragon seems to be coming further into view.

"Is that a dragon?"

"It… I must go."

Zelestra flees as a shadow towards the citadel. She reforms with her goblin and dragon soldiers and finds, to her horror, that the silhouette appears unchanged, save for coming closer to their world.

"What in the name of the Orudrum is that?" a goblin says.

"Prepare the defenses." Zelestra orders.

The alarm is sounded. The armies of the undead are assembled. The dragons and vampires and werewolves combine their forces. But their morale shatters with the oncoming monster. The great shape of the dragon begins to blacken all the light from the stars. The ground shakes and the people flee in terror. The monster covers the entirety of the night sky as it continues to come closer.

"What is this… what the hell is this?" Zelestra says.

The great creature slows its descent and flies past the city, sending shockwaves and great winds across the planet as it moves overhead. The creature soars back into the sky before glowing bright red. The sounds of scraping metal and screeching steel echo through the world as the people prepare for their demise. The dragon returns to the world, yet it is now far smaller. The great dragon flies back towards the citadel, coming straight for Zelestra. She sees a hollow light in its eyes, piercing into her mind. She stands strong as the dragon, still thousands of feet tall, lands at the outskirts of the city. The great beast tramples forests and creatures as it approaches. Zelestra and her army move against the creature, preparing to fight to the death. They charge through the air at the great beast. The dragon moves its wings, sending the army crashing into the ground. They can only watch in terror as the dragon moves closer. Zelestra stands, meeting the creature's eyes. The entity's mouth seems to crack and move into a smile as it leans its head down, bowing before Zelestra. She watches curiously as a tall figure walks to the edge of the dragon's back, glaring into the eyes of the lower creatures with a haunting gaze. She stares down her opponent, unafraid of the end. But what happens next completely confuses and baffles the entire army. The dark figure at the top steps down the dragon's spine and begins gliding down its neck, apparently using the dragon as a slide. The figure speeds down to the bottom and flies upward, spinning in the air. Zelestra listens closely as the strange enemy flips and twirls past her forces.

"Weeeeee!"

The dark figure continues flying, spinning and twisting like a mad performance artist. He falls through the air towards several buildings and lands unceremoniously in a pile of garbage. The sounds of clanging metal and glass breaking echo through the air. The great dragon changes shape again, becoming only slightly larger than a man. Yet the army's attention is not on the dragon. They are staring, dumbfounded, at the insane jester that lies broken and twitching in the pile of garbage. Zelestra approaches with her army. Her rage and will to fight have been defused. She approaches the broken figure. His limbs are bent and broken and his fingers are warped. Glass is sticking out of his arms and a pole is impaled through his leg. He giggles and wheezes in pain as a top hat and broken cane lie beside him.

"I… need to work on the landing."

Zelestra runs up, recognizing her brother's voice. She digs him out of the trash as he stares unfocused and dazed at the sky.

"Such pretty colors."

"My… brother."

Thamiezel's deranged grin is replaced by a warm smile. Zelestra slaps him painfully. His neck snaps backwards and he giggles in pain. Zelestra begins crying as her brother repairs his broken spine. He wraps his sister in his arms, embracing her for the first time in thirty two years. Zelestra weeps into her brother's shoulder.

"Dipper… my Dipper."

"Now, now. Those names are for us alone to know."

She moves away and stares worriedly at him.

"Where were you?"

"I was… delayed. Many things have happened to my mind. We have much to discuss. Much to talk about. So many interesting things to tell you."

The great dragon approaches, watching in amusement at his strange companion. Zelestra turns to see the dragon, which was once large enough to blot out all light, bow before her. She bows in return before the two move up and look at each other.

"So you are his sister."

"And you are?"

"Nameless for many years I once was. But your brother has taken to calling me… Waddles."

Zelestra stifles a laugh as her brother removes the glass and metal from his body.

"My brother. Let's go to the tower. And your new friend can come along as well."

The twins and the dragon walk towards the tower. Thamiezel hears his name begin to spread through the city, whispered by some as a sign of hope, and in hushed tones and curses by those who fear his madness. Thamiezel approaches one of the guards outside the citadel.

"What is it, my master?"

"Spread the word… I want all corners of the galaxy and beyond to know of my return. Wherever it may go, I want my name heard. The angels will know of my return… and have someone bring us meat."

"Meat?"

"Yes… Various meats. And other foods. And drinks. And spices. Lots of tasty spices."

The goblin guard goes to retrieve his master's strange request. Thamiezel smirks in amusement as he hears the thoughts of the guard.

"That wonderful lunatic is back. I missed him."

Thamiezel and his sister soar up the tower like a shadow as the dragon flies to the very top. They come to the large balcony and Zelestra's hidden throne. The twins sit with their new ally as several vampires and other monsters run in. They carry a large table and several chairs for the twins to sit on. Thamiezel sits with his sister and the dragon. She looks at the great creature with wonder and awe. Her eyes are like a happy puppy as she watches the strange dragon made of stone and metal move around.

"Your sister seems amused by me."

"Yes. She has a fondness for other creatures. A left over of our human past."

"If you are as old as you say, how do you know English?" Zelestra asks.

"I did not at first… but your brother has a very peculiar power. He gave me this knowledge. The languages of your worlds… so many tongues and words. There were not these many before I had slept."

"Were there any like us? Humans?"

"Humans… there were some in the past who appeared as you. Creatures who walked on two legs."

"What were they like?"

"Most were no taller than you. They were not that strong on their own. But they proved to be easily malleable."

"How rude."

"So, since the beginning of time, greater powers have used us as puppets. It seems some things never change." Thamiezel says.

"There is little I know of the old world… tell me, who were these powers?" Zelestra asks.

"There was once a council of the first divine. They called themselves the Children of the First. They were said to be the first entities to be born in the universe, perhaps before. They wanted to raise their younger siblings and give them the beauty of the gods and command over the stars. They desired to teach the new children to use their weakness as strength. But there were others who desired control over the newcomers. They came from an old world. A realm ruled by the whims of an insane god. My people have the curse of forever calling him our creator."

Thamiezel remembers hearing the whispers of the old world from the dragon's sleep. He wonders if the Children may be the creators of Paradise and the other king the founder of Inferno.

"No… They would not be the same powers… The Children of the First desired to rise up our ancestors, not control them blindly. And the powers of Inferno are more interested in pleasure than utter ruin."

"But enough about realms long since disappeared. Who are these new powers? Inferno and Paradise?"

Thamiezel looks at the dragon and begins to speak of the new empires.

"Paradise is known to be ruled by one supreme ruler. His loyal dogs believe him to be the infinite creator of our existence. But he dare not step off his throne. For if his servants see he must exert the smallest effort it will reveal the façade of his power. Inferno is not so much ruled as it is inhabited. Some flock to the greater demons for protection, but there is no true master. There is simply indulging in any sin if you can get away with it. An eternal party where the vice has gotten far out of hand. It may have been founded by remnants from that First Hell."

"So, before you went into your slumber, what happened?" Zelestra asks.

"There… there was a war. And I would not partake in its madness any longer."

"Smart move." Thamiezel replies.

"Tell me, Waddles the Second, what was this war?" Zelestra asks.

"I…" the dragon loses the will to speak. He would not dare bring back the memories of the chaos he had lived through.

"You don't need to speak, my friend… I have seen the memories of that war. A war that should never have needed to be fought."

Zelestra turns towards her brother as he looks into the eyes of the great dragon with sympathy. Sympathy he never gave to anyone but her. She allows the topic to drop, not wishing to further hurt the dragon.

Thamiezel watches as a host of servants enter their chambers, bringing a large feast for their masters. Yet Thamiezel declines the food at first, allowing the dragon to take its choice. The beast tastes the delicacies for the first time, savoring the strange and new flavors.

"Ooh, Vulsarian blood!" Zelestra says as her favorite drink is presented to her. The dragon samples the blood, slurping in with its volcanic tongue. And then it devours the mug, enjoying the taste of glass far more than the fluids. Several large piles of meat are presented to the dragon. It devours the different animals, savoring the taste and texture. Thamiezel watches as his sister and the dragon eat. He lifts up a leg, raw and covered in blood, and begins eating.

"I always enjoy this particular animal." Thamiezel says.

"Me too, my brother. Although I prefer it cooked… with a side of barbeque sauce."

"Barbeque sauce? I would like to try some." the dragon says in a curious voice.

Thamiezel has a goblin bring up a container of sauces and toppings for the dragon to taste. The creature slowly tastes each one until it is satisfied.

"This world has many flavors. I find this one to be the most delicious." Waddles says as he lifts up a scrap of bone.

"Pork. Everyone still loves it. A shame, since pigs are such intelligent beasts." Zelestra says.

"There are fates worse than death."

"Indeed." Thamiezel responds.

After the dragon feeds, he takes his leave and goes to wander the city.

"Remember. No eating the smarter creatures. My sister and I can't be ruling a kingdom if our servants get devoured."

"I would not dream of it."

Thamiezel smirks as his new companion leaves the tower to travel amongst the strange world. Zelestra meets her brother's gaze. He turns to her, smiling warmly as he kisses her. He tastes her delicate lips and slides his tongue into her mouth. She pulls closer, filled with heat and desire. But her brother pushes her away. She grumbles in frustration before realizing that her servants are still in the room, watching.

"Leave." Zelestra demands. The servants begin shuffling out of the room, leaving the twin vampires alone.

"My sister."

Thamiezel brings Zelestra into his arms, caressing her as tears of joy fill his eyes.

"What happened? You… you burned."

Thamiezel parts with his sister, preparing to tell her what had driven him mad and broken his spirit into a hundred pieces.

"I… I found it. The hundred slayer."

"You… you did?"

"Yes. The strange machine was buried beneath the moon like we thought. It was… beautiful. Serene. I walked through mazes where gravity switched in seconds. I followed the corridors of the creature's metal body until I came to its core. I attempted to consume it. I began devouring its power and energy. So much power… but it was… alive. The machine had memories. A soul. And I had not safeguarded my mind... the memories. So many memories. They washed over me. They drowned me."

Zelestra weeps as she listens to her brother's words.

"You… mentioned a war."

"Yes… the second great war of creation. The machine spoke with its creator… it mentioned the first war. Taking thousands or perhaps even millions of years. Small skirmishes throughout the young cosmos… but this… was a war of malice and hate… it did not last as long… but it was far more… ruinous."

"What do you mean?"

"The first war was for the sake of new life… The Children of the First wanted to free the new life from the bonds of the ruler of the First Hell. But this war was for the sake of their hate and wrath… they saw the insanity of their brethren and desired to end him. Can you imagine it? Millions upon millions of soldiers, the weakest capable of destroying planets with no effort, upon the plains of Infinity. They used their powerful magic to drag the entirety of the dark kingdom from its own dimension and force it upon the plains of their own realm. They decided that no matter the cost or the victor, this would be the end. What had come to pass in those days was insanity. I felt what the machine felt. A million deaths and wounds on its soul. Destroyed, only to be revived and thrown back into the war. Smashed with weapons and powers designed not simply to destroy, but to cause pain in the depths of your mind and soul. So much pain. A battle where the very fabric of the universe was ruined and broken. A war where the greatest powers in creation fought endlessly side by side with their armies until the day of ruin."

Zelestra embraces her brother, nearly suffocating him as she holds tightly. She whimpers in sadness as she chokes on sobs.

"I love you… never do that again."

"No promises." he replies with a laugh. He lifts her head up, gazing into her eyes.

"You… how did you return?"

"Well… it seems my single-mindedness has finally brought me luck… your voice… I could hear your voice and I followed. I fought past the madness and reformed my body and power. A thousand pieces of my soul, coming back together because they heard your call."

"But your powers. Can we defeat Abraham now?"

"More… so much more. I can hear the people of this world now. Every voice and thought and feeling. I can gaze past the stars and see other galaxies. I can see things I never could before. And I can destroy. I could erase this world with little effort. I can do the same to all worlds and stars. Within several days I can ensure our galaxy does not exist. Would you care to share in my power? I can give you the gift with none of the, you know, mind shattering lunacy."

Zelestra laughs with her lover as he turns her around. He faces the pair towards a star. His mind zooms forward, and his presence allows Zelestra to see through his eyes. The pair's minds come to a halt before the dead Earth, looking at the old tower where they once lived. Jagged peaks and walls of iron fall upon the dead landscape and smash into pieces. Thamiezel turns with his lover towards one of their new worlds. Their eyes fall upon one of the many skyscrapers built up, zooming through the steel. Thamiezel stares into an empty room, wondering where his new friends are.

"What are we looking for?"

"There was a goblin… and Arella. You remember?"

"Arella… She is here."

"Really?"

"Yes. She came to this world to start a new life. It seems fate wants us to stay together."

"Well then, we will have to meet with them again."

Thamiezel turns towards his queen, meeting her crimson eyes.

"…I don't know if I will always be able to protect you." Thamiezel whispers.

"Then give me this power."

Thamiezel brings Zelestra into a kiss. He allows half of his power to pass through to his sister, keeping the dark memories in his own mind. Zelestra feels her brother's power become hers as he deepens their kiss.

The kiss becomes more and more heated. Zelestra grabs her brother and flies towards the wall, slamming him into it. She glares into his eyes with hunger as she feels the rush of power. Great wings of fire emerge from her back and she envelops her brother within. She kisses down his neck as she blocks out all the thoughts of others. Thamiezel's and Zelestra's clothing disappears as they continue their animalistic love. Zelestra sinks her teeth into her brother's neck. Thamiezel feels his energy drain and moans in pleasure. Zelestra moves back and allows Thamiezel to bite into her skin, drinking her blood. She kisses his head as she shivers in joy, enjoying the sensation of giving her power to another. Zelestra positions herself and Thamiezel enters her vagina.

He feels her ravenous heat as she grabs his hair and forces his face to hers, kissing him. He grabs her back and slides his hands down, cupping her buttocks in his hands. Thamiezel and Zelestra float towards the ceiling, smashing violently into the top of the tower. A powerful quake shakes the building as Thamiezel thrusts in, eliciting a yelp of pleasure from his queen. Zelestra squeezes her brother between her legs as he continues thrusting into her. Her wings begin to glow brighter as she moves with her brother's rhythm. She squeals and moans with delight as her brother continues his ferocious pumping. Zelestra bites down into his shoulder as she grinds and jolts against Thamiezel. Their bodies become hot and their eyes burn with lust and love.

Zelestra flies with her brother and crashes down into the table, sending a tremor through the city as Thamiezel continues to thrust in deep and fast. He licks the beads of sweat from his sister's forehead like a mad dog. Zelestra opens her mouth and her tongue hangs out in blissful pleasure. Thamiezel sticks his tongue out and meets with hers. The twins' serpentine tongues flick and dance together in the open air, tasting and savoring each other's textures. Zelestra grabs ahold of her brother's back and digs her nails in as she flies forwards, crashing violently into the ceiling of the tower. The twins continue to lick and play with each other as Thamiezel's hand reaches for his sister's breast. He flicks her nipples and fondles her breasts as she forces her tongue down his throat.

The twins begin to lose control of their powers as they near the peak of their ecstasy. Great winds and flashes of crimson energy come from the tower as the twins moan and grunt loudly, unashamed of any hearing them.

Zelestra tilts back her head, releasing a flash of white light as she orgasms and screams.

"Oh fuck!"

Thamiezel forces in the rest of his energy as he growls. He sinks his teeth into Zelestra's shoulder as he finishes pounding in. They fall to the floor of the tower and close their eyes, panting and coughing in exhaustion.

"That… was wonderful, my sister."

"I… I have greatly missed your touch."

The twins lie naked upon the broken table as they steady their breathing.

"You know… we could easily repair our lungs and vocal cords… and not need to lay here breathing and panting like dogs." Thamiezel says.

"Then why… have you not done it?"

"… it's one of my favorite parts… the afterglow."

"Mine… mine too… a wonderful feeling."

Zelestra moves towards her brother's face and smiles. She holds his face to hers, greedily kissing and slurping out of his mouth with her tongue. The twins feel a gust of cold air.

"What on… not Earth?" Thamiezel says. He turns away from his sister and begins laughing. Zelestra turns her eyes away and realizes the twins vaporized the top of the tower with their lovemaking.

"Oh… oh dear. I hope the staff was not waiting by the doors." Zelestra says worriedly, nibbling on her fingernails, embarrassed by their instinctual love.

"Let me see… no, they are all accounted for. Although their comments are amusing."

"What are they saying?"

"Let me see… 'Yep, he's back.' 'Hopefully the cleanup isn't too bad.' 'The noise. I wouldn't be surprised if Paradise and Inferno heard that.' 'By the Orudrum, they'll hear it across the stars.'"

Zelestra laughs as her brother reveals the thoughts of their servants and the other people who dwell on their planet. The twins lie in the ruins of their tower, staring into the night sky. The great dragon Waddles approaches the tower and lands.

"Hello again, Waddles the Second." Zelestra says.

"I thought you would want to know that there is a warship approaching. It is not of your servants' designs."

Thamiezel and Zelestra reform their clothing as they watch the warship come into view above the city.

"Let's see… Esylions? Rude." Thamiezel says.

"They have been hunting me since the overthrow of Earth. I see their minds. They want to drag me back to the angels."

"And now they know where we are… perhaps they simply followed the rumor of my return… but I think that was far too quickly. I believe we have a traitor in our midst."

The ship hovers above the city. Thamiezel looks up as a white light beams down to the tower. A small enclave of Esylions descends to the roof. Their bodies are covered entirely in diamond-like armor, revealing no trace of their reptilian skin. Thamiezel stands, smiling, as he awaits his opponents.

"Now then, what does one such as you want with little ol' me?" Thamiezel asks the tallest warrior.

"Your presence is revealed. You will come with us."

"Ooh, are we having a party?"

The warrior grabs Thamiezel and burns the demonic ruler's body. He tosses the burnt body aside, thinking the rumor of Thamiezel to be a con. The alien warrior approaches the queen, who glares at him with malice and hate. Even though she knows her brother hasn't been killed, watching his body suffer brings her wrath to the surface.

"Your presence is revealed. You will come with us."

"And who has revealed me?" Zelestra asks with a thundering voice.

"Come with us."

"You will obey. Reveal to me the one who has betrayed my trust!"

Her voice topples the alien warriors. They stare as the queen approaches them. She glares deep into their minds and looks through their thoughts. They attempt to resist her, but her great power bears down as a mountain upon their will to fight. Their limbs fall lifelessly as their minds are rifled for information. Zelestra does not find what she needs, so her powerful mind leaves the aliens' thoughts. They shiver back to life, as if they had fainted and jerked back from a terrible nightmare. The burnt body of Thamiezel stands and walks with his queen. The aliens stare in horror as the mangled corpse moves as if he was not harmed in the slightest by the Esylion's power.

"What are you?" the Esylion asks with horror in its voice.

"I am Thamiezel."

"He is dead. He burned!"

"I did. And I have returned greater than before."

Thamiezel grins as the aliens begin to realize that Thamiezel has truly returned.

"Come now, Waddles. We need to find who told them." Thamiezel says while ignoring the Esylions.

"Where do we start?"

"I believe their home planet will be a good place to begin."

"Esylios. What do they taste like?"

"Bad. Their souls are too pure, their minds are boring and stiff… oh, you meant their flesh. I find it kind of stale."

The dragon, desiring to taste the new flesh, begins devouring the Esylion warriors. The arrogant and proud species attempts to fight back, but they are easily consumed by the great dragon. He inhales deeply as he faces the warship above.

"Ooh, this is gonna be good." Thamiezel says. He creates a cigar with his powers and puts it near the dragon's mouth.

The dragon exhales, bathing the sky in fire. Thamiezel watches the ship explode and turn to ash, which then rains down on the city. Thamiezel takes the cigar and puts it to his lips, inhaling deeply. He breathes out through his nostrils and destroys the cigar with his thoughts.

"Oh no. You burnt the food." Thamiezel says sarcastically while absorbing the souls of the Esylions.

"Food? I thought you said you disliked their taste."

"Oh, I do. It was a joke."

"Oh. That is funny."

"Thank you, Waddles. So, did you enjoy their taste?"

"It was… too clean. They were completely flavorless."

"They are obsessed with cleansing all sense from the body, which probably includes texture and any taste for their skin. A very dull species, as I said before."

"Then let's show them fire." Zelestra says gleefully.

Thamiezel steps onto the great dragon's back. He offers a hand to his sister and pulls her onto the beast's back.

"Come now. You always wanted to ride Waddles."

"Who was Waddles the First?" the dragon asks.

"He was my pig friend." Zelestra responds.

"You are very strange."

"You don't know the half of it." Thamiezel says. His sister elbows him playfully as the three are enveloped by an orb of fire. The group disappears from sight and reappears above the planet Esylios.

"Now then, while it would be fun to simply incinerate the planet, I want to keep our true power a secret. The last thing I need is for the angels to flee."

"Why does it matter?" the dragon asks.

"Because my sister has lost others she loves to the chains of Paradise. I want the angels to think they have the advantage. To walk willingly into our web with our family."

"And yet you allowed me to reveal myself?"

"It is all part of the plan. Make it seem as if I was in hiding, cowering with my sister away from the mighty angels. And then a slightly larger than normal dragon shows itself. People exaggerate size. Rumors extend beyond the truth. The angels know this… I want them to think you are my trump card. I want them to believe that the arrogant Thamiezel has found an obese dragon and revealed himself after healing. I want them to come against me again."

"… you're lying. You didn't plan this far ahead." Zelestra says with a grin.

"Yep. I actually have no idea what I'm doing. I probably should have kept Waddles hidden, but whatever."

The three deranged friends laugh together as they approach the planet. Thamiezel and Zelestra cloak themselves in the appearance of the Esylions while the dragon lands in the forests away from the largest city.

"Well then, I'll leave you to taste test this planet's creatures. We'll meet back in an hour. Earth time." Thamiezel says to Waddles.

"And how long is that?"

"I'll… hmm. There needs to be a universal time measurement system. How about when this planet's sun has set and it is night."

"Goodbye Waddles. Try not to attract too much attention." Zelestra says. She kisses the dragon on the nose before the twins vanish. As the twins leave, the dragon begins searching for prey. He finds a small rabbit-like creature digging a hole with its paws.

"Now then… what do you taste like?"

Thamiezel and Zelestra walk unseen amongst the great city. They stay close as they observe the fanatical culture. They mock the aliens for their obsessive devotion to Paradise.

"Do these idiots remind you of anything, Dipper?"

"Humanity. The same self-hatred. The same façade of devotion and virtue. It is quite amusing to watch them."

They reach out with their minds for mention of their names, but they find nothing.

"Where do we begin to search, brother?"

"I would suspect the great church. We should split up to look for clues."

"That has never ended in anything good happening."

"Fine, we'll stick together." Thamiezel thinks while gazing at the large, towering cathedral dedicated to Paradise's worship.

Thamiezel and his sister travel shapelessly through the world. They move towards the grand cathedral and look past the countless worshipers who pray there. The twins float through the building, listening closely to the thoughts of others. The twin spirits move down the halls away from the worshipers and towards the inner chambers. They come upon ceremonial guards who stand motionless. The twins move past them into the splendid halls of the Esylions' highest authority. The millennia old ruler of the church walks through. The twins follow him up a staircase towards the very top of the church. They watch as he walks into a room filled with his advisors and several guards. The highest members of the church sit around a circular table.

"Wait."

"What is it my brother?"

"A circle of power lies around this room. A way to call Paradise itself. The gates of Paradise might reveal our powers."

The twins instead possess the guards who stand outside the doorway. They easily take control, hiding within the bodies of the Esylions.

"We should seal our minds until we have left this place, my brother."

"Yes."

The twins, possessing the guards, step inside the room. Thamiezel and Zelestra remain silent in their thoughts as they wait for the meeting to begin. The high priest stands and begins the prayer to summon the angels. Thamiezel and Zelestra watch as a beam of heavenly light appears to come down from above. A staircase extends from the light, and Abraham and Alice walk down accompanied by Alice's two sons.

"Let the will of our king bless you." Abraham says to the priest, who bows before the angel. The rest of the council stand and bow, followed by the guards. Thamiezel and Zelestra manipulate their puppets into bowing before the angels.

"You may stand."

The Esylion council stands back before the guards rise up.

"Let the one hundredth and forty second union of the church and Heaven begin." Abraham says. Alice Pines walks towards the doors. She leaves the room with her sons, uninterested in the obsessive rituals of the high council.

"We have… received word that a cleansing ship had gone to retrieve the enslaved one." one of the council members says.

"I told you to wait. Now you have exposed us to them."

"It was not my order. They left of their own accord."

"Arrogant fools."

"Our location is secure. Nothing can reach us here. And the dark servants are too weak to know of our ally."

"Call him."

The high council begins the call to summon their hidden ally. They place a black orb in the center of the room. They begin the spell to summon the betrayer. Thamiezel and Zelestra can see a familiar shape approaching as a shadow. They watch as the high council and the guards begin to fall into a deep slumber. The twins see the image of a pyramid begins shooting jolts of electricity around the room, and the appearance of their old enemy returns. They enter the dreamscape as the images of their possessed puppets, listening in on the conversation.

"Hey, how's it going guys!" Bill Cipher says to the council and angel.

"Hold back your tongue, blasphemer!" the high priest says.

"Yeah, yeah. So Abe, what's been happening since our last chat?"

"The Esylion warriors were foolish enough to go forth without my aid."

"Not too bright."

"Do you know what has happened to them?"

"Shooting Star probably had them for dinner. And by that I mean she ate their faces."

"So they are dead."

"Yep. No doubt about it. Rumor is our pal is back too. They grow up so fast, don't they? I remember when he was just a wee squirt."

Bill summons an image of Thamiezel when he was still Dipper Pines. Bill parades the duplicate around on puppet strings as entertainment, but the unamused angel disperses the image.

"So how about you hold up your end of the bargain? Give me back my full power and I'll leave you fun fellows alone."

"Silence, demon. If you desire to be forgiven, you will help us defeat them."

"Fine, fine. But you'd better pay me back with interest, kid."

"When Mabel is returned to her husband, you will be restored."

"'Returned?' Man, you guys are funny. Anyways, if there's nothing else, I'd like to leave. There's a bitchin' new show by Shakespeare and his demon sidekick I don't want to miss."

"Very well. You will search their world Cul-Cerberon. If they have fled, then you will rediscover them. You may leave."

Abraham himself is the one to break apart the mindscape, waking the council and guards up. Thamiezel and Zelestra awaken within their puppets.

"So… Mabel will most likely flee that world. But Bill should be able to find her again. Bring your soldiers under control. And you two. Summon Alice Pines." Abraham says. He points to the possessed guards. The twins give a bow before walking out of the room. The guards walk down the hall and away from the high council.

"So, my brother, shall we go?"

"Not yet. We have all the time in the world. So let's go find Alice."

"And where to begin?"

"Somewhere in the church. Then I don't know."

"So is this part of your plan, brother, or are you just doing things for no reason again?"

"No reason yet. Maybe we'll find one along the way."

The twins walk towards a large hall filled with chairs and tables, finding the only entities to be their descendants. Thamiezel and Zelestra walk over to the table.

"Already?" Alice says in a bored voice.

"Are you not satisfied with Paradise?" Thamiezel asks.

"I would not speak ill of them."

"It seems rather empty, though." Zelestra says. Alice turns towards the guards with a questioning gaze.

"It is not wise to speak ill of the divine and their priests… but I question their choices. Making deals with that thing." Thamiezel says.

Alice clenches her fists in anger, trusting her emotions in the presence of the two guards.

"He's a monster. Cares only for himself."

"He does not have much power, though." Zelestra says.

"He doesn't… but he's to blame for this bullshit."

"But that is the cursed Thamiezel." Thamiezel says.

"Tham… Dipper, whatever he calls himself… I hated him for a long time. Killed me and my kids. Burned the planet down… but I remember what he lost… I remembered he lost everything. He's a mad dog that needs to be put down, I won't argue with that. But Bill Cipher is the one who made him that way. I'd like to get my hands on that stupid triangle."

"You believe Paradise will return Bill Cipher's powers?"

"If they do or don't, I don't care. I hate that little psycho."

"And what of Thamiezel's sister?" Zelestra asks. The twins snicker in their thoughts, acting like immature children.

"Her?... no idea. She's… different. Abraham says she's manipulated by her brother. That he's warped her mind with spells and promises… but I don't think so… I think she knows exactly what her brother has done and simply doesn't care."

"I wouldn't say that she doesn't care… I believe she wants to stop suffering. To help others. And watching how mad her brother had become. Seeing him succumb to darkness. I believe her standing by him is the only way she knows how to help him. To try and salvage what's left of his spirit." Alice's son replies.

"I doubt there's anything left to salvage, Jeff."

"Why did Paradise not help him?" Thamiezel says.

"Huh?"

"They could have stopped all of this chaos. He was simply a lost soul before he changed. But they left him. Allowed his mind to erode until he only wished to harm others."

"Paradise… they…"

Alice loses herself in thought. She has often questioned the decisions of her realm. The seeds of doubt had already developed before the meeting.

"What I don't understand is who helped him?" Jeff says.

"What do you mean?" Zelestra asks.

"He was a mere dream demon. But then he had a physical form and great power. Something must have aided him."

"I don't know. Perhaps a demon of Inferno gave him his powers."

"Maybe, but maybe not." Alice says.

"Why do you say that?" Thamiezel asks.

"Inferno… I've heard a bit about them. They're crazy. They probably want to destroy our world. But they aren't dumb enough to do it with a war. By breaking the treaty. They want to just suffocate us. Slowly convince everyone in Heaven that it's all shit and they leave. Then God is left unprotected. A war would probably destroy both sides…"

"But what better way than sending a prophet of sorts? Allow Thamiezel to bring others under the rule of Inferno."

"… before he changed, he helped me on this issue we were having. Gravity Falls, my home city, was being attacked. Vampires, werewolves, and spirits were rising up. And the more we fought, the worse it became. Like an undead version of the ten plagues."

"Ten plagues?" Thamiezel says.

"This story. God punishes a nation for keeping his children as slaves with plagues that get worse and worse. It was like that. Just more and more powerful undead creatures. But they didn't even know why they were showing up. Like something was drawing them to one place and they didn't even realize it."

"What does this have to do with Thamiezel?"

"There was this book or journal. Someone gave it to Thamiezel before the creatures rose up. And after he went to throw the book away, the creatures stopped showing up. Except I don't think he threw away the book. I think he made a deal with whoever wanted it."

"Perhaps. But I doubt that there is some unseen force controlling everything. Most likely a powerful demon was stirring and didn't want Heaven to know he was breaking the treaty. There are many demon princes and no true king. Perhaps one of them was trying to gain an advantage over another."

Thamiezel wants to turn Alice's gaze away from the truth. He knows how dangerous his master can be. He can even feel the eye of Dracul searching the world they dwell upon, as if he knows someone might be close to the truth.

"I really have to learn how he does that." Thamiezel thinks.

"Well, we should be going. Keep this to yourselves. Don't want your religion finding out." Alice says.

"We know. We keep our doubts to ourselves and trust in the Lord above, even though his servants may yet falter."

Alice rolls her eyes, letting Thamiezel know that she does not even trust Yaltabaoth. The twins wait until Alice and her sons are already walking away before they begin following her. The twins implant false memories within the puppets, leaving with no trace of their presence.

"So my brother, what now? This hasn't taken as long as we had thought."

"Well then, we could simply watch these hilarious mongoloids shamble about while cursing their imperfection in their thoughts."

"We've already done that. Come now, let's find Waddles. Maybe he's ready to come back."

The twins leave the mighty cathedral and return to the forest. Waddles lies sleeping in the middle of a giant crater. The woods around him have been incinerated, leaving a dead wasteland. Thamiezel and Zelestra approach the ruined land with amused smiles.

"Hello again." Thamiezel says. Waddles eyes dart open, and the great dragon awakes.

"What did you do?" Zelestra asks.

"There was a small creature. It kept hiding in these holes in the ground and sticking its head back up. Almost like it was taunting me. So I burned everything and went to sleep."

"Well then, we should be going. There are some issues we must attend to."

Thamiezel creates a sphere of fire around the three and takes them back to Cul-Cerberon. Thamiezel and Zelestra part with their dragon and return to the tower. They enter a chamber hidden deep below and fortified with powerful magic, preventing their thoughts from being easily heard by others.

"We should find another location. Don't want to make it too easy for little Bill." Thamiezel says.

"But then we would leave this world undefended. The angels might come and massacre them."

"But Abraham is expecting us to leave, so he will leave this world alone. He has a mission and he's sticking to it. He holds the creatures of the night to lesser stature, but he is not a butcher. He won't come against this world. And if the Esylions come again, then Waddles can destroy them. The main question is how Bill managed to find you."

"I believe I know. There was a prisoner held some time ago."

"No, that was me."

"What?" Zelestra asks, laughing at her brother.

"Yeah, I had no idea where you were and I wasn't going to waste my time searching the entire universe, so I just started asking around until someone found me."

"You… you let them torture you… until your body was broken."

"It felt… tingly." Thamiezel says. He wiggles his fingers at the memories of the sharp pain that tore through his body. Zelestra smirks at her brother's masochistic strangeness.

"Which means Bill found me another way… Perhaps he has simply been looking all this time."

"That could be… when he found out the angels were searching for you, he decided to make a deal with them. He could not be easily detected when we were weaker."

"So it's settled. Pack your bags, we're moving."

"I have no bags to speak of."

The twin demons laugh together as they return to Waddles, who is currently busy being mesmerized by a television.

"This… is a beautiful device."

"It is, isn't it?" Zelestra says.

"My friend, Waddles. We are going off world. Feigning a retreat. We are leaving you here to help guard the planet. If Esylios invades, I want you to help defend Cul-Cerberon. Unless it's absolutely necessary, I would like you to keep your true power in check. I want them focused on finding my sister, not on the ancient unstoppable dragon."

"As you wish."

Thamiezel and Zelestra return to their shapeless presence. They fly past several planets before landing within the citadel of one of their worlds. They wait within the deepest chambers for Bill Cipher's return. Thamiezel's dark grin fades into a small frown. He allows the façade of his evil to fade in the presence of his sister.

"Mabel… do you believe my soul is… broken?"

"…cracked, but not shattered."

Zelestra approaches her brother from behind. She wraps him in her arms, holding her hands over his heart.

"Dipper… my Dipper. I will stand with you. I will stand with you no matter what comes against us. I will not lose you again… I love you."

"I love you too, Mabel. I love you."

"If we are to wait… then let's sleep. Perhaps in our dreams you might find peace."

Thamiezel creates hundreds of tendrils that cover the room and hold the twins away from the hard ground. Thamiezel and Zelestra fall asleep, waiting for their enemy to begin his search. Their minds drift into shared dreams, wandering the infinite dreamscape and living through happier times. Days they lived in peace and days they might have had if Thamiezel had not been robbed of his humanity. Within their dreams, they are happy. Yet Thamiezel keeps his mind aware of the real world. Keeps his thoughts focused on hiding the twins, but not so greatly that Bill Cipher will lose track of them. The twins slumber for many days, drifting through their dreams.

At Cul-Cerberon, Waddles begins the defense of the planet. The armies of Esylios, desiring to end the presence of the creatures they consider filthy and sinful, have begun an assault on the planet against the wishes of the angels. Waddles flies alongside the descendant species of dragons, covering the sky in fire and ruin with the aid of goblin warships. And far below, a lone specter searches for the twins. He finds that they have fled from the planet, so he begins drifting towards the other worlds that the empire of Thamiezel has conquered. He wanders as a harmless spirit past guards and spells, far too weak to be considered a threat by any of them.

Within the dreamscape, Thamiezel and Zelestra wander the old town of Gravity Falls. They dwell within the peace of their dreams, taking in the familiar landscape. Thamiezel sits with his sister outside the Mystery Shack, watching various memories play before the twins. Thamiezel enjoys watching his twelve year old self help his great uncle in the Mystery Shack while Wendy sits at the counter, humming in boredom. Zelestra watches her children play together in one scene and watching her son's wedding in another. She drifts to her days with Greg, her husband.

"Greg… I wonder if he has forgotten me."

"If his love is as devout as yours, he will not allow Paradise to bind his memory."

"I hope… I hope so."

"Do you… do you still love him?"

"Of course."

"But are you still in love with him?"

"I… will not lie. I have desired his presence again. To feel the warmth of his skin. To hold him in an embrace."

"… You shall be with him again."

"And you trust me to remain devoted to you?"

"Devotion is for the realm of light. I trust you to hold us both in your hearts. If you desire to love another as you love me, I will stand with him as an equal."

Zelestra smiles warmly as she cups her brother's face. Within the Mystery Shack, the young Dipper is trying to lift a heavy box up onto a shelf to impress Wendy. His small, weak arms drop the heavy box, spilling its contents out onto the floor. Thamiezel watches as his great uncle begins to laugh. Thamiezel smirks at his younger, naïve self as he laughs along, trying to play it up as a joke with Wendy. She herself begins laughing along, but something is wrong with the memory. Dipper, Stan, and Wendy all begin laughing with the same robotic, stilted laugh. All the memories around them begin to be infected with the same insanity. Greg and Zelestra's children begin laughing psychotically. But their faces have distorted in pain, as if they're on the verge of screaming and crying in agony. Thamiezel and Zelestra watch as the memories' eyes begin burning and melting. The liquid blood from the eyes begins travelling down the laughing bodies and towards an area before the twin vampires. The bodies fall lifelessly as their laughing ceases, but the laughter of the twins' old enemy begins to take its place. The blood turns bright gold as it reforms before the twins into the shape of a triangle. The dream world explodes into a greyed out version of the Mystery Shack, and Bill Cipher floats before the twins.

"Hi Guys! Did you miss me?!"

Thamiezel begins clapping, amused at the dream dweller before him.

"It has been too long… and it has not been long enough." Thamiezel says. Zelestra, however, is not willing to play games. She destroys the dreamscape and places the three in a white void.

"I… will show you the true meaning of torment." Zelestra says. Bill Cipher sticks his hands up in surrender.

"Hold on! Hold on! I actually didn't plan on, you know, driving your bro kookoo banana pants! I just wanted to knock him down, break the circle sucking away my power, then beat him within an inch of his life while making you watch!"

Zelestra prepares to devour the dream devil and drag him into the realm of Dracul. But her brother stops her, smirking in amusement at his ancient enemy.

"Bill Cipher. You found us again. You win a prize."

"Ooh, I like prizes! What is it?"

"A head that's always screaming."

Thamiezel creates a disembodied head, screaming in agony, and tosses it to Bill.

"Hey! I already gave you this! It's not a prize! It's a gift return! And this is my routine! I'm going to SUE!"

Bill Cipher's eye turns bright red as he finishes speaking. He creates a mock court room, filled with a jury of laughing Dipper sock puppets. The judge is a sock puppet of the twins' great uncle, and Thamiezel and Zelestra sit on the left side of the courtroom while Bill Cipher floats above the plaintiff's podium.

"How does the jury find the defendant?" the sock puppet Stan asks.

"Guilty!" the Dippers scream in unison.

"I demand an appeal! Bill Cipher is a monster! A deranged animal who stole my life and sanity! And he smells like butts!"

"That may be, but you are a plagiarist. The worst form of crime and sin." the sock puppet of Stan says.

"Then I protest! A hunger strike!"

Thamiezel's physical form withers away, seemingly starving to death in protest.

"There… that'll show 'em." Thamiezel says weakly.

"ENOUGH!" Zelestra shouts, obliterating the dream world yet again. Thamiezel and Bill hover in the infinite whiteness, giggling like deranged children. Thamiezel floats over to Bill Cipher, still smiling psychotically.

"You know Bill… I was ready to destroy you…" the demon king says. His form becomes darker and menacing as he continues to speak.

"I was ready to consume you and subject you to horrors that not even your mind could withstand. To put you through the same memories of war that destroyed me! To make you feel the cacophony of the greatest battle in the cosmos! Which the mere knowledge of is capable of shattering one's mind into thousands of pieces!"

Thamiezel's form grows as black as night as he towers above Bill Cipher, with his voice sounding as a fury of thunder. But Thamiezel returns to his human form and grabs Bill in a one-armed hug.

"But then we had our little chat… and Bill, I forgive you."

"Gee, thanks. And what's this about a battle?"

"Care to have a gander?" Thamiezel asks, opening his mind and allowing Bill to see the beginning of the war. Bill Cipher's form explodes into piles of golden rectangles, clattering together before reforming.

"Ow… just. Just ow! How the hell did you survive that?!"

"Very carefully."

"I see that. Honestly, that's impressive. Not even yanking your chain. That's… that's something. But enough about the past… I'm here because I want a small… favor of sorts."

"You are already working with the angels." Zelestra says.

"Wait, how?"

Zelestra and Thamiezel morph into the shapes of the Esylion guards before returning to their original forms.

"Ah, I thought those fellows were acting a bit stiff. Well, more than usual for those weirdos. But anyways, you were found, yes. And the Esylions knew where you were. And that was me. But, and this is a big but here."

Thamiezel begins laughing. Bill Cipher realizes what he said and begins to join Thamiezel in giggling.

"Ah, butts aside, the angels were going to go after you themselves after that meeting ended. They. would. have. won. But then a certain Esylion commander, sleeping peacefully, was visited by a vision! A vision from God himself, telling the little warrior that he is tasked with finding the queen and bringing her back! Him and only him! Plus, you know, an elite force of his own choosing."

"So, you planned to stab them in the back from the start." Thamiezel says. His sister remains as a dark shade, ready to destroy Bill at a moment's notice.

"Yep! I mean, you can trust a demon to fuck with you. But you can never trust an angel. You can never tell if they're being honest or just stupid."

"And why should we trust you?" Zelestra asks.

"You don't have to. You can just go kill those angel jerks by yourselves. I see you've gotten a huge power boost. But I think you'll want my help."

"I would never have your help."

"Don't be so sure about that!" Bill says in a sing-song voice. His golden body changes into the memory of Zelestra's family together, playing with their mother. Zelestra glares at Bill. If he had a mouth, he would be smiling now.

"So, what do you desire in return?" Thamiezel asks.

"It's quite simple. I just want my old powers back. You know, portal opening, mind controlling, planetary level reality distorting. The whole shebang! In return, I get those dopey angels to get your family out of that boring place and bring them all here!"

"And what will you do with your powers if they are returned to you?"

"Don't know. Any vacant planets I can have?"

"None. But you can have Esylios."

"Eck, Yuck! Why would I want those 'no fun allowed' jerks?"

"Same reason you wanted humanity. After all, what is the point of having a theme park without the staff? Just imagine it. Bill Cipher Land. Come one, come all, to the greatest show in this world and the next. The theme park where you are likely to die, and then be back next Tuesday because of how much fun you had."

"Hmm… okay! Deal!"

Thamiezel and Bill Cipher shake hands. The Faustian devils seal their bargain before Bill Cipher leaves.

"Remember kids! Reality doesn't exist! You're both trapped in a coma! Invest in stocks and bonds! Byyyyyyeee!"

Thamiezel and Zelestra awake from their dream. They watch as the presence of Bill Cipher leaves them.

"Do you think we can trust him, my brother?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. If he betrays us, he still has no concept of our true power. Nothing he does can harm us, Mabel."

"Then where shall we wait?"

"We must prepare our forces. This world will be our stronghold against the angels. A seemingly last, desperate stand against them."

"Then let us burn some angels!" Zelestra shouts with manic glee.

Zelestra and Thamiezel prepare the final stage of their plan. They begin fortifying the planet against the angels. They call powerful vampires to stand guard with them as they build up their fortress with arcane magic and powerful shields. The twins wait for Bill Cipher to summon the angels again.

Several days later, Alice Pines and Abraham return to the Esylion council chambers. They begin the preparations to summon Bill Cipher. They call out for the name of the demon, summoning him to their world. The council falls into a deep dream-like spell as Bill Cipher returns to them.

"Hey, it's a bit early for our weekly meeting, isn't it?"

"Demon, have you discovered the location yet?"

"I was going to tell your space priest here in his bed again. What's the change?"

"An Esylion spirit has escaped the wrath of Zelestra. He said his master received a vision commanding him to attack."

"So what? You're the guys who work in mysterious ways. I mean, how can you blame a guy if he confuses mental illness with a genuine visit from the big guy upstairs? You're the ones who should be medicating your soldiers."

"Our species is cleansed of sin. We do not need your vices." the head of the church says.

"Yeah. Keep thinking that, space pope. Anyways, they're hiding on Zelestra Planet Nine."

"What?" one of the guards says in confusion.

"Apparently he renamed a bunch of his planets after his sis. Ain't that adorable?"

"You will be coming with us for the assault." Abraham says.

"Assault? That is probably… going to backfire."

"Why?"

"Thamiezel is back. For realsies. Kind of got a power boost too. You won't be able to kill him head on."

"Then a spell of binding will be used against him."

"Alright. But still, you're gonna have a hard time getting his sister back if you try and screw with him."

"What do you mean?" one of the priests asks.

"Well, it's just her brain is all 'Ooh, my Dipping Stick! Ooh, my bro-bro!' I think if you don't want any… collateral damage, you're gonna need to break that hold on her wee brain."

"Then she will be returned to Paradise and freed."

"That's probably not a brilliant idea. You've seen how she is. If she thinks her bro-friend is in trouble, she's liable to just up and follow him down to Hell. And Heaven knows how hard it'll be to get her back then."

"So… you believe only her family will save her mind?"

"Probably. I mean, I don't know how her crazy brain is gonna work. She's still human deep down. But you can try. Just a whole slew of otherworldly visitors. Like A Christmas Carol where the ghosts are all family members. So, you know, annoying and terrifying."

"And why are you willing to help us so much?"

"BECAUSE HE STOLE WHAT'S MINE!"

Bill screams as he towers above the dreamscape, glowing dark red. The dream world thunders and quakes as it falls apart. Bill then returns to his normal form and coughs slightly.

"Sorry. Got a bit of a temper problem ever since that jerk Pine Tree screwed me over."

"Then let's finish this meeting."

"Okay, sure. Just give me back my powers."

"Not yet. You will travel with us to the planet. Once Mabel is safely taken back, you will be restored."

"You love to tease a guy, don't you Abe? Fine, I'd like a body please. Just, you know, a puppet to possess."

"You shall have one given to you."

"Who's the sucker?"

"An unclean guard. She has been harboring sinful thoughts. She is to be punished for her insolence." one of the council says.

"Alrighty then!"

The dream world crumbles away. The angelic forces awaken and begin the preparations to assault Thamiezel's stronghold. They send the high priests away as Bill's host body is dragged in. The pitiful guard has been flayed and beaten for her sin, and dark markings have been engraved upon her head to force her mind open for Bill to possess. The guard shakes and convulses as Bill Cipher takes control. The body leans up and begins to walk around, giggling maniacally. Alice Pines watches in anger and disbelief, knowing that this mad demon was their ally.

"Wow. Nice and scaly! Like some reptile thingy! And freshly pealed, too! How did you know that this was my favorite feeling?!"

"Enough." Abraham says. The two angels begin to open the gateway to Paradise.

"Alice, you must go and bring a host of angels. They will be needed to help bind the vampire's power."

"Yeah. And bring your mom and dad too. And your kids. It'll be fun times for the whole family."

"Bill Cipher, fuck off." Alice says before leaving. Bill Cipher laughs in amusement as she ascends to Heaven.

"Wow, she's a real dame, that one. Not that I'd like to, you know, violate her with many tentacles."

"Your perversion knows no bounds." Abraham says in an insulting tone.

"Aw, gee. Thanks. I love you too."

Abraham and Bill Cipher begin assembling the Esylion forces. The angels and their allies assemble the entirety of the planet's offensive armies. Millions prepare to attack the vampiric twins. Far away, Zelestra and Thamiezel wait on the planet for their plan to come to fruition. They sit within their throne room, waiting for the angelic forces.

"So, my brother, tick tock."

"Goes the clock. Forever and ever… I wonder what the old spirits thinks. Those spirits who are billions of years old. If they are affected by the passing of the ages or if they simply become numb to time."

"I don't know. The dragon seems to be rather cheerful, even though his brethren are all gone."

"True, but he has slept for many years… I wonder what the others believe."

"… there are many who we have lost. Some to death, and others to a parting of ways."

"Parting… if we are to be infinite, then that means we are likely to part one day."

"… but there are constants in this universe, my dear brother. There has always been light. And there will always be darkness. Order and chaos. Perhaps there are those who are the same. People who never part. Constants together."

"…maybe… maybe we are."

"I would think so. After all, you invaded Paradise to bring me back and reformed your mind from a horror I doubt Bill Cipher could withstand… I believe you are my constant, brother. You and creatures named Waddles."

"It… is time. They are approaching."

Thousands of Esylion ships, shining in the sky like stars, begin appearing above their world. The vampire's armies take to the sky to meet with their enemies. Thamiezel and Zelestra move as a dark cloud to join in the battle. Zelestra takes on the form of a fallen angelic being with hardened, scaled skin. Thamiezel moves as a great vampire bat, cleaving his way through hundreds of enemies with his claws. He assaults one of the Esylion ships and begins dragging it down towards the planet. The burning ship levels hundreds of trees as it comes slamming into the ground. Thamiezel tears into the ship and begins killing the Esylion soldiers before they can mobilize.

The warships of Esylios begin appearing all around the planet, preventing anything from fleeing. Each part of the fleet is commanded by a powerful angel, brought forth to battle the vampires should they try to flee.

"This will be a glorious battle. These filth will be destroyed." an angel says triumphantly. The dark queen hovers before the ship and smashes her hand through the glass, grabbing the angel and crushing him.

"Destroyed? You will not harm this kingdom. You will not defy the will of Thamiezel."

The angel begins glowing brightly, shattering the hand that holds him. Zelestra cries in anger and pain before fleeing. She flies to the underside of the ship and begins ripping it open. She tears in from the bottom, killing countless Esylions and destroying the ship's core. The damaged ship begins falling towards the city. The creatures that live below have begun to flee deep underground to try to escape the battle above. Zelestra sees several stragglers and goes to protect them. She stands between the escaping creatures and the damaged ship. The great warship crashes into the ground and begins sliding towards the queen, destroying hundreds of buildings as it moves forward. Zelestra grabs the front of the ship and forces it to a stop. The angel and his soldiers move out to assault the hidden queen. Her demonic form lashes with her other hand towards the angel, but he simply unleashes a wave of light with his holy blade, carving Zelestra's arm in two. The queen is joined by several hundred dragons directed towards the ship by Thamiezel. The angel attempts to fight off the force, but he finds himself overwhelmed by the dragon's fire. The angelic form melts under the weight of flame and dark magic, and the angel's spirit attempts to flee. Zelestra devours the broken spirit, adding its power to her own.

"Burn them. Destroy them. Rip them apart. This world will not fall to these worthless creatures." Thamiezel shouts. The hectic battle continues as the dark host battles with all their might. And from within the dark tower, Thamiezel and Zelestra sit as they command their avatars into battle.

"My brother, how long will this battle go on?"

"Our commanders have orders to fight and retreat. They will not risk everything knowing that the battle is not the goal."

"Yes, but you do love to fight."

"I know. But today, I will hold back my indulgence. We have more important matters."

The angelic forces begin landing on the surface of the planet as the demonic horde pulls back. The armies of Thamiezel appear to be shattered, and the surviving demons flee underground. Alice and Abraham walk out of one of the ships with their mad ally, who giggles while watching the aftermath of the battle. Alice caries an orb of heavenly light. The orb is a gateway to her bloodline's place in Paradise, and will allow them to be brought before Zelestra.

"My master, the demons are fleeing. Thamiezel and Zelestra have not appeared." an angel says to Abraham.

"Then uproot their caverns. When you find their hidden location, you will bring us there."

"Well, last I checked they were somewhere below that big tower over there. I'd check there first." Bill says.

Abraham and his forces begin to march towards the dark tower in the center of the city. The Esylion forces approach from all sides, preparing to destroy the tower and reveal the siblings. The twins sit within the throne room at the top of the tower. Thamiezel waits for the Esylions to enter the fortress. Many Esylions and their angelic commanders go down into the depths. Thousands enter the darkened caves, searching for the dark lord. Abraham keeps his angelic gaze upon the lower tower and the deep caverns, searching for any disturbances. He gazes upon strange spells and markings in Tartarian, a spell seemingly designed to conceal any within.

"Wow. Can't believe they haven't been found yet." Bill Cipher says.

"Do you think they fled, Abraham?" Alice asks.

"No… no, I would have sensed their shadows… but... I cannot see anything… the tower is empty below."

Abraham turns his gaze towards the top of the tower. He focuses his sight, penetrating the dark barriers and protective spells. And he finds the twins waiting. He turns his gaze back towards the caverns and focuses towards the minds of his forces. He suddenly realizes that the spells and rituals in the caverns below are not there to protect anyone within, but to destroy them.

"Get your forces out of there! Retreat now!" Abraham orders. It is too late. The dark runes and spells crack open. Deep below the caverns, a great fire erupts in the tunnels. The fire swerves and crashes into the angels and their forces, bathing them in dark fire. The demon of flame takes the angels for its own and drags them down to its own part of Hell, ready to devour their souls and become more powerful. The entity erases the army and the dark portal that summoned it disappears.

Abraham and Alice burn bright with anger. They take their remaining soldiers and begin to march up the tower.

Thamiezel and Zelestra sit upon their throne, waiting for the angelic warriors that have come to destroy the demon. Thamiezel grins as Abraham and Alice enter the empty fortress with their demonic ally. They march up the tower, ready to end the reign of the vampiric ruler. Twenty angels, each as powerful as Abraham and Alice, walk alongside their commander.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Thamiezel says.

"Your days are over." Abraham says.

"You think I will let you destroy me? You think I will let you take my sister again?!"

"You stole her from her family. You destroyed her purity and violated her love with her husband."

Thamiezel charges in blind anger. The angelic forces combine their might, ripping apart Thamiezel's dark form and forcing him back to his throne. Zelestra stands and prepares to aid her brother.

One of the angels steps forward, approaching the throne with several armed soldiers. Thamiezel recognizes the angel before him. He laughs through pained wheezing, apparently damaged by the angels.

"You… Alice… such a silly name for an angel. Michael, Lucifer, Gabriel, and Alice. Sounds boring, doesn't it? Much better suited for my realm."

Alice ignores Thamiezel's demeaning offer as she takes the orb out. She whispers a command in the language of the angels, and the orb of light begins glowing brighter. The orb's view flies through the fields of Paradise, past the ethereal angels and towards the bloodline of the Pines. Thamiezel and his sister watch as her family begins appearing in the room like ghosts. Her parents, her grandfather, her children, their children, and all her descendants going down to Alice's mother.

The twins' parents approach the throne. Their mother stands, crying, as she sees her daughter apparently chained and manipulated. Thamiezel attempts to strike them, but the angels again throw back the demon. They keep him to his throne while Zelestra approaches her family, seemingly overcome by her memories.

"Mother."

"Mabel. You have to come back. Get away from that monster."

"Monster… do you not recognize him?"

"…what?"

"Show her who he truly is." Zelestra demands. She returns to her throne and sits by her brother, who has been reduced to a weakened shadow with glowing red eyes.

"I… Mabel, he's a demon. He doesn't care."

"Mabel, come back." the twins' father pleads. Another shade steps up. The twins' grandfather stands before Mabel, trying to convince her to step off the throne.

"Mabel, please. You have to come back."

"Tell me… Stanley Pines… what is the name of my son?"

"Stanford."

"And where is Stanford Pines?" Thamiezel asks. The question confuses the twins' grandfather. Yet he seems to lose himself in thought as his lips tremble in sadness. Their grandfather is on the verge of remembering his lost memories before the veil of Paradise returns with Abraham's aid.

"You will not bring pain to them." one of the other angels says. Thamiezel laughs as his body is restored, revealing his increased strength. He turns towards the angels and begins to speak, insulting their existence.

"Do not insult me with your façade of piety. Look upon this wretched claim of virtue. The angels would steal the memories of their slaves while abandoning others to decay and the realm of Inferno. An act of cowardice from a broken throne. Their authority is false, their god a half-witted liar, and their promises as empty as their love."

Thamiezel's words are not simply directed at the spirits. He is speaking directly to Alice, goading her into throwing down her allegiance to Heaven. Another spirit approaches, attempting to convince Zelestra to abandon her brother. Zelestra recognizes her husband's form as he approaches her throne. She looks down, feeling her heart ache for her family.

"Mabel, please… come home."

"Greg..." she says with a whisper.

"Mabel… do you remember? Stan and Bella need you."

"Mom, please come back." Bella says.

"We love you… I love you." Greg says.

"Aw, such a happy reunion!" Bill says.

"And who are you?" Thamiezel asks.

"Come on, kid. You know me! It's your ol' pal, Bill Cipher!" Bill says with a twinkle in his eye.

"Bill… you maggot."

Far away, the angels have finished creating the portals. The thresholds that will cut apart and seal away Thamiezel's power.

Zelestra stands and walks down the steps of her throne. Even with her crimson, burning eyes her kindness shows through. She walks forward and kisses Greg, holding his face to hers. The forces of Paradise prepare to take her back to their realm before she returns to the throne, forcing the angels back with her power. She looks down at Greg with a stern gaze.

"What?" Greg whispers.

"Stand by me." Zelestra whispers.

"What… you have to come back."

"You would have me chained? My powers burned out of me as my mind forgets all those I have lost?"

"Mabel… don't."

Thamiezel grows angered as he drifts off his throne and approaches Greg as a dark shade. Thamiezel fades into a cloud of smoke as he moves towards his prey.

"You claim you feel love for my sister? What is the value of your heart?"

The angels prepare to attack the undefended king before his sister moves forward, combining into a shadow with her brother that moves around Greg.

"Greg, I love you. Come now, stand with me again."

"Listen to her. You claim to love her, and you shall have your love returned. We shall stand by her, together."

"I love you, Greg. I always have and I always will. Please."

"Enough!" Abraham shouts. He forces the vampires back with a wave of light.

"You will not corrupt him with your poisonous words."

"Poison?" Thamiezel says, laughing at his opponent.

"I am the dragon, Thamiezel. I am a butcher. A monster. A demon. But I am not a liar. Do not insult me with comparisons to lesser demons."

"Hey! I take offense to that!" Bill shouts.

"You are all the same. Mad dogs, screaming in the dark." Abraham mutters.

"You seem to think you know me."

"I've killed Dracula before, and I shall again. You are the same as him. Monsters who threw away your humanity because you couldn't bear the weight of a human life."

Thamiezel's laughter begins growing. He all but screams as he cackles madly with his voice sending quakes through the dark tower. The world shakes and trembles with the insanity of its ruler before it dies down, reduced to pitiful giggling on the verge of tears.

"You… you think I threw away my humanity?... Tell me, lesser angels, did your master Abraham tell you what I am? My humanity was stolen from me. I was cursed. Forced to become nothing more than a mind floating amidst the living forever. Neither a soul nor a creature of flesh. I was imprisoned. And as those I loved died one by one, I asked. I prayed. I begged. I wanted death. I wanted it so much. But I couldn't die. I lost everything."

Thamiezel changes his shape into the dark form he had as the dream demon. His eyes are yellow with black slits and his ears are long and pointed. Thamiezel begins walking towards Abraham as he continues to speak. Abraham allows Thamiezel to approach, trying to draw out the minutes so that he can take command of the portals and unleash their power.

"And after I had nothing, this world still demanded I give more. I was not given the gift of death, nor the peace of sleep, or even all the vices of the universe. I! Had! Nothing! Do you know how old I was when everything was taken from me?!"

Thamiezel's body changes again. The angels stare in horror as Thamiezel reverts to the body he had when he was last human. A small boy in a red shirt with a black sleeveless jacket stands before the angels, sobbing weakly as blood drips from his eyes.

"Why? Why did you do nothing?" the twelve year-old asks.

"Sheesh, kid. You have some issues." Bill says. His puppet has begun to rot and fall apart from blood loss. Abraham walks forward and kneels on one leg, seemingly sympathetic.

"Please…" Thamiezel wails. Abraham is ready. The spell that once bound Bill Cipher has been recreated by the angels. Abraham takes out his holy blade as burning chains encircle Thamiezel, binding the demon and preventing him from changing form. His great power has begun to seep away from him, draining out of the tower and into the portals around the planet. Thamiezel screams in pain, driving his enemy's minds into despair. They cannot stand the sight and sound of the young boy's cries of agony. His power drains into the portals, leaving the broken boy crying and yelling. Abraham pierces the blackened heart of Earth's destroyer, ending the cries of pain. The vampiric lord coughs up blood, falling to the floor. Zelestra begins crying at the sight of her brother's dead body. Her tears and sobs pierce through the minds of the angels, sending the lower beings past the point of hopelessness. The spell of Zelestra is meant to force them to feel her pain. To utterly break their will to fight. Alice drops the orb in despair as she falls down, a great sadness eroding her mind. All of the angels fall to the floor in sorrow, grabbing and tearing at their heads to try and keep away the sadness. Abraham is the only one unaffected. He steels his heart as he approaches the throne. But the tears of Earth's queen begin to burn through the stone floor. Her voice becomes the sound of thunder as the floor begins to shake.

"You… should not have done that." Zelestra says with a low growl.

"Mabel?" Greg says with a fearful voice.

"I am Zelestra. I am the Lady in Starlight. I am not yours to constrain. And you foolish angels will regret challenging our power."

Zelestra's voice burns with hate, but she remains on her throne, seemingly broken by her brother's demise. Abraham prepares to capture the weaker vampire.

"Alice, retrieve the orb."

Alice stands up as her angelic light returns, attempting to summon the strength to fight against the sorrow forced upon her mind. She shakes her head, banishing the thoughts of sadness. She turns around to find the lone, bleeding Esylion holding the orb in his hand, tossing it up and down like a ball.

"Now then. Funny thing about this orb. A mini dimensional gateway to Paradise. I think you need this. You need this?"

"Hand it over." Abraham demands.

"You want this."

"Hand it over!"

"Give me my powers and you get it back."

Alice walks towards the mad demon, preparing to torture the lowly spirit.

"Give it back or I'll kill you."

"You're not going to give me back my powers, are you?"

"You can escape with your mind intact, or you can hand it over." Abraham says.

"Wow. Not even going to give me some bullshit excuse, like, 'Ooh, the power was in your heart all along!' or 'You are forgiven. That is all we promised!'"

The two angels approach Bill as he stands by the balcony, tossing the orb up and down over the edge of the tower.

"Kill me? You won't kill me, I'll kill me!"

Bill hurls his puppet off the tower as he holds the orb. Abraham flies after the body and grabs it, taking Bill and the orb back up to the tower. He throws the possessed body at Alice's feet. He leaves Bill to be destroyed by Alice as he holds the orb. He looks through, ready to reopen the gateway to Paradise. But something is wrong. The image of Heaven fades and the portal begins to be corrupted by a dark cloud. A strange spell in the room begins playing a song.

"What the hell is this?" Alice asks.

"It's Bee Gees Stayin' Alive, you uncultured swine." Bill says. Alice looks down at the puppet as he giggles deviously.

"You know… I had a feeling you guys wouldn't keep up your end of the bargain… that's why… I'm not here to finish my deal with you."

Abraham turns towards Bill as he abandons the puppet and flies towards the throne, hovering with Zelestra. The shadow on the orb vanishes to reveal where it is now connected. The orb does not reveal the fields of Paradise, but instead passes through a dark realm filled with billions upon billions of souls amidst a crimson, murky horizon.

"What have you done?!" Abraham shouts. Bill Cipher laughs maniacally. Bolts of electricity begin shooting through the tower and circling into Bill Cipher's spirit.

"It's funny how dumb you are! See, I'm not the kind of guy to hold a grudge. And neither is my pal, Pine Tree. So those funny little portals of yours? Now they're giving me an energy boost! Like coffee, but for ancient mind pyramids!"

Abraham and the angels watch in horror as Bill Cipher's powers return. He takes on the form of a large, golden pyramid. The pyramid hovers in place, laughing triumphantly. The orb begins to burn Abraham's hand. He clenches his wrist while trying to wrestle back control of the gate. Great storms of fire and light appear in the image as a demonic entity growls with anger. The image of the orb becomes engulfed in fire. A great void opens within the flame, appearing as an eye. It glares at Abraham as the angel attempts to let go of the orb, but the corrupted object is frozen to his hand.

"He… is here." Zelestra says. A dark voice whispers throughout the room in ancient tongues as the eye looks upon the angelic spirit.

"I told you… you should not have harmed my brother." Zelestra says with an angered growl as a deep laugh echoes throughout the room. Abraham takes a blade of heavenly light and cuts his own arm off. The angels watch in horror as their commander flees from the balcony, abandoning them. A shroud of crimson mist shoots forth from the ground and covers the tower in a tornado of blood. The remaining angels are cut off from their escape. Thamiezel's voice begins speaking to the remaining warriors.

"Do you want to know, my friends, exactly what is coming? You are far out of time. …now, nothing you do can harm me. And even if I was destroyed, you cannot stop him. He is coming for all of you. Heaven, Hell. You shall all burn."

"Show yourself!" Alice shouts.

Thamiezel reappears in the room and approaches the remaining angels as the music ceases. The angelic force prepares to fight as Zelestra's family moves to the edge of the balcony. A great tremor shakes the tower as great, fiery wings emerge from Thamiezel's back. The wings grow until they encircle the remaining angels, while Thamiezel's body becomes a great shadow. He marches forward, appearing as a star with an infinite darkness in the center. Glowing yellow pupils are all that remains of Thamiezel's original body, sitting in the center of the black abyss.

"Greg, Alice, since we are to be living together, let's discuss our… hobbies, our interests… and a few of our favorite things."

The angelic horde charges, preparing to battle to the death as Thamiezel begins humming A Few of my Favorite Things. Bill Cipher joins in, creating a white flute that begins playing itself. Thamiezel begins to sing his dark desires.

"Billions of faces all carved up with knives.

Seeing tenfold more all burning alive.

Hearing my slaves giving praise and singing.

These are a few of my favorite things."

Thamiezel is pierced in the heart by a blade of light. The weapon that he once fled in fear from is now powerless to harm him. The blade rots and falls off as black tendrils shoot out from the void. A great maw splits apart in the shadow beneath the eyes of Thamiezel, appearing like a mouth. The angels are impaled upon the tendrils as the blinding white maw opens wide, allowing Thamiezel to consume the angels. Others manage to dodge out of the way of the initial onslaught and attempt to strike the tentacles, but the dark appendages simply reform, unharmed by the angels as Thamiezel continues to sing.

"Ruling forever with my cherished sister.

Paradise silenced with nary a whisper.

Burning angels and tearing out their wings.

These are a few of my favorite things."

Thamiezel's vines encircle the angelic beings, binding them and suffocating them in darkness. They scream in pain and terror as the tendrils dig through their angelic skin and beginning ripping off their wings. Angelic light and blood spill from the wounds as their wings are gouged out and thrown to the floor.

"Heaven above shall fall into darkness.

Inferno below will crumble to madness.

Both of them felled before my great king.

These, my friends, are my favorite things."

Thamiezel's tendrils shoot out by the hundreds as they begin covering the room in shadows. Alice creates a shield of light around the two remaining angels and Zelestra's family, protecting them from the all-consuming blackness.

"The Lord will answer our prayers! He will not abandon us to this evil!"

"Don't lose faith. This mindless demon will be conquered by Heaven's glory."

"Why is Mabel helping it?!" the twins' father shouts.

"You don't get it." Alice Pines says. The other angels turn towards her as she begins to realize the futility of fighting back.

"He's not of Hell. He's found something else. Dracula… He calls himself Thamiezel Dracula. These monsters are not bred from the pits of Hell. They come from something else, greater than Inferno. There is no hope fighting this."

Her protective barrier fades and she surrenders to Thamiezel. The torrent of shadow dissipates as Thamiezel approaches. The last two angelic warriors charge, but Thamiezel effortlessly crushes them into crimson mist with his mind. Thamiezel returns to his vampire form.

The orb rises from Abraham's blackened, burnt arm as the eye of fire continues staring at Alice. It knows that she has finally discovered the meaning of Dracula. Thamiezel steps back and looks into the orb, staring into the eye of his master.

"The father, the son, and the jerky spirit." Thamiezel says in amusement.

"Am… am I the father? I'm confused." Bill Cipher says.

"No, no. I am the son, you are the spirit… and my master is the father."

The orb floats through the air as the great eye bears down on Alice's mind. Her children attempt to attack the corrupted orb, but the mere specter of Dracul is powerful enough to break their will to fight. They fall to the ground lifelessly.

"What are you?" Alice asks in fear.

"I am Dracul. I am the Order of the Dragon. And you know my purpose. You cannot be allowed to leave my realm."

Alice stares in horror at the dark eye as Thamiezel walks over and looks at her.

"Don't worry, it isn't so bad, although that may be my Stockholm Syndrome speaking. And Zelestra will give it a bit more zest and life once we've conquered Heaven and Hell."

Alice stares at Thamiezel, confused, angry, and shocked.

"Why?"

"Why what? Why ally with an ancient unstoppable god who could free me from my pain? Or why help Bill Cipher, the demon who caused said pain?"

Thamiezel seems to abandon his malice and insanity in favor of a pleasant and kind friend.

"I mean, I thought those boys above told you about the power of forgiveness. And who better to forgive than Bill here?"

"Yeah, what he said." Bill replies. Zelestra silences the demon's voice with her power. She may have been allied with him, but she did not need to listen to him at the moment. The Eye of Dracul turns towards its servant.

"Hello again." Thamiezel says.

"You summoned me when a portal to Paradise was near."

"Because I knew you would cut it off. Prevent anyone from using it. I needed that gateway sealed, so I wouldn't lose these fun spirits floating about."

"Who are these spirits?"

"Zelestra's family. It worked. We won."

"Your power. It is far greater than I last saw."

"I found something. The hundred slayer, it was called. A machine built by your friends from the beginning."

Dracul looks into the memories of Thamiezel, unaffected by the insanity of the war.

"Did you fight in that great battle?" Thamiezel asks.

"I declined. If you desire to keep these spirits with you, then so be it."

Dracul vanishes from the orb, allowing the tainted sphere to fall and shatter on the ground. Alice stands in front of Zelestra's family.

"So, welcome to the Order, Alice. We'll have lots of fun together. Oh, and Zelestra? Could you hand over Bill for a second?"

Zelestra allows the talkative demon to hover over to Thamiezel.

"If you want to have fun, there's some stragglers outside. Oh, and I wouldn't reveal Dracul to anyone. He'll know instantly and he isn't the kind of guy you want to piss off. No sense of humor."

"I see that. I'll catch you later. Sorry about the whole 'driving you batshit' thing." Bill says before leaving the tower. Zelestra stands from her throne and walks towards her family. She meets their gaze as they stand, frightened of the dark rulers.

"Alice Pines… the last of my bloodline. You know the errors of Heaven. How they discard those they claim to care for. Serve with us, not as one of Inferno, but as a servant of the Order."

"You saw that thing. He's insane."

"He just needs a visit from three ghosts to give him Christmas cheer." Thamiezel says.

"He… is our best hope. That is the truth." Zelestra says.

"I… no. I'm done fighting."

"Very well. But you will not be allowed to leave."

"I know. I know… Thamiezel… where is my husband?"

"Oh… I don't believe I ate him…"

"He… he isn't in Heaven… I thought you…"

Alice feels a dark vengeance fill her heart.

"They lied… they let Inferno take him."

"Then… will you join with us? To take them back? The ones who have been left in the Nine Hells?" Thamiezel asks.

"…yes."

"Excellent. Welcome to the Order of Dracul."

Thamiezel lets out a sliver of his dark power. The power shoots forth into Alice, changing her form. She becomes an entity of light and shadow, with her angelic powers combining with the darkness of the vampires.

Zelestra and Thamiezel walk past Alice as she looks over her transformed body. With their power, the twins return their family to their human forms and restore their memories.

"Come now. Won't you thank your dear uncle Dipper?"

"What… what have you done?" Greg asks.

"We gave you back your humanity with none of the defects. None of this sickness and health. Simply health! Come now. I thought you said you loved my sister? Do you truly despise her if she holds another in her heart?"

"Stay away from me."

Thamiezel rolls his eyes as his parents walk up.

"What… Dipper?" his mother says. She sees her son, clad in a tuxedo and eyes burning with monstrous evil, and begins crying.

"It has been far too long, mother." Thamiezel says with a smirk. The twins' father steps up as he begins to realize that Dipper Pines is the dark king Thamiezel. The one who took Mabel from Heaven and made her into the vampire Zelestra. The one who lay with her in thralls of lust and love.

"You… what have you done to her?" he says with a disgusted gaze.

"Nothing she did not allow." Thamiezel says as his eyes glare towards his father, sending the human back in fear. Zelestra approaches her husband and children.

"Greg." she says. She walks over and cups his face, bringing him close.

"I love you, Greg. I still do."

Her husband backs away in disgust and shame.

"Greg… don't you love me?"

"Your… your brother."

Zelestra turns her gaze away in shame at the rejection. Tears pour from her eyes as her husband backs further away, looking at her with disgust and judgment as he realizes she was not manipulated by her brother, but willingly walked into his embrace and slept with him. A dark growl echoes throughout the room as Thamiezel steps towards Greg.

"My dear sister has offered her heart to you and I together, but whereas I accepted it gratefully and knowing I must stand with another, you have thrown it aside. Tell me, what tiny vows did you make to my sister?"

Thamiezel's eyes burn red with anger as he continues to speak.

"You promised that your love would be one, constrained to each other and no one else. I would love her as one of many, knowing she is greater than all the souls who she favors. You claimed you would serve your tiny god together. I would have that blind idiot thrown into the infinite void and the spheres of Heaven cast down, kneeling before my queen. But what is your love worth? Nothing. Worm. Maggot."

Thamiezel's smiles cruelly as he continues to insult Greg, who backs away in fear of the dark king.

"Coward I name you. An insignificant, selfish shambling pile of garbage. Cursed with losing everything by his own hand."

"Enough, brother." Zelestra says as her husband falls to the floor, cringing away from Thamiezel.

Thamiezel's voice goes silent as he returns to the shadows. Alice sits on the balcony, looking out into the damaged world with her children.

Zelestra walks towards her family and lifts her hand to her daughter's face. She smiles at her children as she drags them into an embrace.

"Mom?" Bella says.

"It's me. I have you again." Zelestra says happily.

"Your brother." Stan mutters. Zelestra lets go of her children and looks into Stan's eyes.

"He… he is more than my brother… I love him as I love Greg… it is not a normal love, but it is mine… do you really hate me for my choice?"

Stan looks at her and goes silent, not knowing how to react. He backs away in fear at his mother's madness. Zelestra sighs in sadness as she approaches her grandfather. He sobs weakly as he remembers his own twin.

"Where's my brother? And my wife?" he asks.

"They are part of Inferno. But we will not abandon them to that fate. That is my promise to you." Zelestra says. She kisses him on the forehead in reassurance of her vow. Bill Cipher reappears before the tower. The pyramid is now far larger than the entire top of the building, stretching out for hundreds of feet. His eye stares through the balcony at the family.

"I hate to interrupt this touching reunion, but Abe seems to have brought backup."

Thamiezel watches as the Esylion survivors converge on the tower with the aid of the remaining angels. Thamiezel rolls his eyes in disinterest.

"Boring."

Thamiezel looks up to the sky to call out with his mind.

"What are you doing?" Bill asks.

"Calling Waddles."

"What?" the twins' mother says.

"No. The other Waddles. Waddles the Second."

Zelestra's family and Bill look at Thamiezel in confusion as the ships begin their assault on the tower. Bill shrinks in size and moves in to avoid the angels' attacks.

"Wasn't Waddles, like, a goat or something?" Bill says.

"A pig. I wonder where animal spirits go. I guess we'll have to go invade Pig Heaven next."

The twins' and their family watch as a dragon silhouette appears to come from the moon.

"Ah, there he is." Zelestra says.

"A dragon? Not too impressive." Bill says. But his eye bulges wide in shock as the image of the dragon continues growing. It is blocking out the light of the stars and the moon by the time it reaches the planet.

The dragon flies through the air, destroying the enemy ships with its body and sending many others crashing into the ground with a torrent of wind. Alice watches in horror as her angelic allies emerge in a feeble attempt to battle the unstoppable dragon. Thamiezel and Zelestra float with Bill Cipher as they watch the destruction and mayhem. With their family returned, Zelestra leans into her brother's side. Yet her smile is bittersweet, knowing her family does not share their love for her anymore. Greg rocks against a pillar, driven to despair by his loss. The three great demons Thamiezel, Zelestra, and Bill ignore the terrified family in favor of focusing on the battle.

"Bill Cipher. I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Thamiezel says. He shakes Bill's hand as Waddles slaughters the angels above the planet.