13.1
It was a relatively peaceful night inside the Geese Tower, the most prominent skyscraper in South Town, which served as the base of operations for the Howard Connection.
On the surface, the Howard Connection was a powerful protection agency, created by entrepreneur Geese Howard, which strived to help the people of South Town. But its well-meaning portrayal in the media was mainly a front to deter investigators from the kingpin's connections with the mafia. Since Geese's crime syndicate businesses often overlap with Howard Connection, and most of Geese Howard's underlings posed as employed by the company as personal security; making Geese Tower one of the best protected buildings in the whole country.
To stir trouble near the premises of such place was to invite death itself; no one crazy or stupid enough to even try to do so…
Well….there was just One.
[-x-x-]
Inside the main Lobby, two crooks dressed as security guards were amicably talking with each other utterly unaware of what was about to happen.
"Then what?" asked one of the crooks prompting the other to continue his story.
"So I says to Mabel, I says-"
BOOOOOOM!
The tale was cut entirely off by a sudden explosion that decimated a wall and the insides of the place.
"Da f****?!" the two guards then ran towards the newly formed hole in the wall and saw two silhouettes behind the dust and debris that had form.
"Stop right there!" they pulled out their guns and took aim, prepared to shot when thay had a clearer view.
POOMB!
But that moment didn't come, instead one of the guards had his brain blown off by the sudden impact of a bullet against his skull.
"What?!" the other didn't have a single second to even process the death of his partner before a machete came flying through the air and inbreeded itself on his skull making it explode as if it were a watermelon.
"Nice shot!"
"Thanks, nice throw there!"
The assailants complimented each other before continue their way in.
[-x-x-]
On the very top of the Geese Tower, the man whom the building was named after was very angry.
"Who?! Who dares attack my building?!" the man slammed his fist on expensive looking desk with a furious expression on his face.
"S-Sir! We d-don't know yet b-but…" one of his many underlings tried to explain but he was terrified by the man's ire.
"Then get out there and find out!" Geese ordered once again. "And bring me their heads in a platter!" Though he was usually a very collected man that kept his cool under the most intense of pressures, this attack on his building made Geese uncharacteristically angry. He took it not only as an attack against him but also a stain on his reputation. "Bring me their heads so I can crush their skulls myself!" No one, and I mean, NO ONE, dared do this to GEESE HOWARD!
"Y-Yes sir!" the underling saluted before bolting out of the boss' office to carry out his orders.
"Damn!" Geese growled under his breath. This sudden attack couldn't come at a worse time. He had recently announced the King of Fighters tournament, he already had the media's attention on him, if they were to launch an investigation for this 'probable' attempt against his life, they could get wind of some of his more 'seedy' activities, and it was always a pain in the ass making those nosy investigative reporters 'disappear'.
"When I find out who's behind this, I'll make them all pay!" Geese slammed his fist on top of his desk one more time in anger before something unexpected happened.
KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The doors to his office exploded open filling the entire place with smoke.
"What the…?!" There was no way! There was no way the assailants were already on TOP floor where his office was.
As the smoke slowly cleared away, the two mysterious assailants made their way in.
"Who?!" Geese couldn't believe his eyes, in front of him where were no other than a strangely dressed ginger girl and a white haired maid. "Who the **** are you?" Geese rose from his seat to show his imposing frame.
"We warned you!" The ginger girl holding a baseball bat covered in nails replied with an angry tone. "We warned you not to F*ck wit' DA GIRLZ!"
"Girls?! What girls?!" Geese demanded before he thought of something else. "No, you don't have to tell me who sent you kids here…I'll enjoy beating the answer out of you." The crime boss grinned as he cracked his neck and knuckles to prepare himself for a fight. He didn't care if his opponents where little girls who should be on bed by now, if you messed with Geese Howard, he was going to mess you back.
"You grimy ass motherf*cker. You thought you could stop us didn't you." The girl with the bat growled as she spited on the expensive carpet of Geese's office. "Why yo hatin'? You mad cause our D*cks is bigger or what?"
"What did you say?" Geese shout as he chopped his sturdy desk in half with one single strike to emphasize his strength. "Why don't you come here and say it again?"
"Because of you, the sales of our newly release game went unnoticed by everyone!" The ginger girl said without a hint of fear on her voice, as if the previous display of power was nothing for her. "You know that after the initial week of release, the chances of a game recovering its production money are almost none!"
"Game?!" Geese repeated back confused.
"You and your stupid ass King of Fighters Tournament! You taken away the interest of our potential costumers! Now we take your life, you b*tch!"
"All of this…" Geese replied solemnly with a cold look on his eyes. "You attack my building, kill my men and ruin my office….for a f*cking VIDEOGAME?!" he then stomped his foot on the floor making it crack. "DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"
"A dead man, that's what you are," the girl responded with a smirk before looking at something behind him. "Isn't that right Marie?"
'Wait! Where's the other one?' Geese thought before he felt a cold sensation on his chest. Looking down, he found a curved edge sticking out of him. 'I didn't see her move.' The mob boss turned his head around to find the other assailant, the white haired maid, who had just stabbed him with a scythe of all things.
"Here take this!" the girl who didn't moved pulled out several flyers and threw them in the floor in front of him, before the girl who stabbed him, Marie, let him fall into the floor. "Any publicity is good publicity, I'm sure that whoever finds your corpse will be interested on acquiring our game."
The girl then turned to look at her accomplice and said. "Come on Marie, let's go." To which the maid only response was a nod in accordance.
As the two left his office, leaving him to slowly bleed out to death, Geese couldn't help but look at the pamphlet near his face which read the title of the game in big letters.
"S-SKU-UUU-LL…GI-IIIRLSSSS….." he gurgled before dying.
[-x-x-]
Half an hour later, after committing cold blooded murder, Marie turned to her friend with a worried look. "Patricia…"
"Yes, Marie?" Peacock asked as she was serving herself and Marie a congratulatory drink.
"I'm getting worried…" Marie confessed. "I grow concerned with the way you are acting…"
"You mean, committing a terrorist act by bombing a tall skyscraper in the middle of a heavily populated town, killed a bunch of mafia goons dressed as law abiding security guards and finally murder a multimillionaire entrepreneur with a flimsy excuse of wanting to promote a fighting game?" Peacock resumed her actions on the current Loop in a nutshell.
"No, no, no, all of that its fine." Marie said shaking her side to side. "I meant the 'Gangsta' talk… I think it's kinda offensive to appropriate the linguo of a group of the people who identify with that culture." Especially since Peacock was the exact opposite of what that kind of culture represented, being a white red headed girl.
"I guess it was out of line…" Peacock admitted with a small frown. "Okay, I promise I won't act like a wigger unless the loop demands it."
"That's all I ever wanted." Marie smiled as she gave Peacock a small hug of appreciation.
13.2
"You know…I always dreaded coming to Japan…" Marie confessed as she walked down the street with Peacock by her side.
"Why so?"
"Too many closet Otaku with either Loli fetish or French maids fetish…" The skullgirl couldn't help but to roll her eyes every time they both passed next to a stored that sells goods with Anime characters plastered all over.
"And since you are combination of the two…" Peacock left the sentence hanging, "I can see why you were hesitant to visit the place."
"Yes, but this Loop has made the experience all more pleasant, don't you think?" Marie turned to her friend showing a small smile.
"Yes, I like this Loop too…Oh look! Look! There is another one…" Peacock pointed excitedly as a young Japanese teen walked towards them. "Here I go!" the cyborg girl took out a baseball bat with several nails protruding out from her empty left eye socket. "Don't try this at home kids!" she said to nobody before she swung the weapon and 'nailed' one of the teens, directly to the skull. "Crap! The bat is stuck!"
Marie watched as Peacock tried to dislodge the weapon out of the skull of guy, with no results. "Just pull out another one…" Marie suggested only to be refuted by her friend.
"Nah huh! This one was one of a kind!" Indeed it was, the bat was signed by none other than Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Why would a pitcher sign a bat it's anyone's guess, but that was what made it special.
"Hm…" Marie just groaned, not really getting Peacock's eccentricities despite all the time they spent together. But the maid's momentary annoyance was instantly forgotten when she saw large group of people walking towards them. "Patricia! Here comes a crowd!"
"Huh?" Peacock turned away from her latest target and looked towards Marie had pointed. "Oh! That's a large one!" it was a crowd around probably fifty or so people. "Want me to take care of them? Or do you want your turn now?"
"I'll take my turn if it isn't a bother…" Marie said calmly before she snapped her fingers. "And I know exactly which weapon to use." Searching through her own collection inside her subspace pocket, Marie finally pulled out her weapon of choice.
"Father Alexander Anderson from the Vatican Section XIII, The Iscariot Organization; it's been a while." Marie greeted as the imposing figure of Anderson appeared in front of her. "I'm sure you are excited to do battle against the "abominations of god" that plague this place." The maid then pointed towards the nearing crowd of people. "Now go do your job! And make the Vatican proud!" And with that, the secret weapon of the Vatican, now Marie's, turned and ran towards the crowd with blessed bayonets on each hand and began hacking away.
"Anderson? Wow…"Peacock whistled in honest surprise "You really aren't afraid of pulling your punches, Marie!" she said as she watched the Regenerator tear apart limbs like they were wet tissue paper. "But, why do you talk to him? You know he is a soulless corpse, right?"
"I don't know…" the Skullgirl shrugged. "I just… like to pretend…"
"Like they were dolls?"
"Something like that." although she wouldn't say that her army of corpses and skeletons inside her subspace pocket were mere toys. But saying they are tools sounded wrong too. "Action figures, perhaps." Unique and rare actions figures with somewhat sentimental value, except these ones do not just stay inside their boxes all day to never see the light of day. "I do value each and every soldier that joins my ever growing army…well except those in the "meat shield" reserve."
"Look at that, you are a total hoarder." Peacock joked much to Marie's disagreement.
"I'm not a hoarder!" Marie then crossed her arms defensively. "And I wouldn't talk if I were you, Miss biggest Annie's Memorabilia Collector in the Multiverse." Really, how many taped copies of the same episode do anyone needs anyway?
"Hey!" Now it was Peacock's turn to cross her arms offended. Fortunately it didn't last long. "Fine! We are both just avid collectors. I buy toys, movies, and games; and you collect corpses."
"Now that's better!" Marie agreed with a big nod, happy that they could reach an agreement.
Then the two of them fell into silence, which was broken only after a few seconds by Peacock.
"It got quiet out of the sudden."
"Yes, why is tha…?" The maid didn't finish her current sentence before she realized what was wrong. "Where's Anderson?!" Looking towards where he was last seen was just a pile of dismembered corpses and nothing else. "He's gone!"
"Crap!" Even Peacock knew the severity of the situation. "He must have not gone too far!"
"Hope not, with the order I gave him he might kill everything that stands before him." Knowing his rampant anti-Ecumenism, he would find Buddhists and Shintoists ''Abominations of God'' too. "I should probably summon him back…" As Marie was about to do that, she was quickly interrupted by Peacock.
"Where's the fun of that? Let's spice up our vacation Loop with a "search-party" party!" The cyborg girl proposed. "Besides, most of Japan's population is already dead because of the Zombie outbreak; I doubt he will find any survivors."
"Yes, but how is a party going to solve anything?" Marie asked failing to see the logic in Patricia's plan.
"Duh! These Zombies are attracted by sound!" The redhead stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "If we party hard enough, we will attract all the zombies still 'living' in this whole prefecture! And where the Zombies are at, Anderson will follow."
"You know…That plan is crazy and stupid enough that it will definitely work just to spite common sense." Marie said with a defeated sigh. "Ok, let's do it!"
"Yea-yeah! P-Cock and Bloody M in the house, yo!"
"Patricia…Gangsta Talk…" Marie said warningly.
"Ok, fine! I'll stop!"
[-x-x-]
Meanwhile someplace else…
"Kid, are you alright?" the Theon known as Samson asked his host who was walking down the streets, thankfully devoid of Zombies for the moment. "I only ask because you usually play the hero; and walking away from your group of survivors is not very hero-ish if you ask me."
"I know…" Filia said fuming as she stomp each step she made hoping to attract any zombies for her to kill. "But they are SO frustrating! And their so called comic relief antics are irritating!" It reminded her of Eiken.
"What about the pinky promise you made with that Takeshi guy?" Samson asked. It wasn't like he was complaining because if they had stayed with the group he would have to keep himself hidden which was a pain in the ass. No, he was just curious.
"Screw that guy!" Filia answered uncharacteristically angry. "I may look like Rei Miyamoto, but I am not her!" So any obligations or promises Rei did before Filia awoke were null. "Besides, you and I can kill the entire Zombie population without any problems!" Not to mention her blue hedgehog super speed, her mutant ability over magnetism, her dual Metal infused Life-Fibers dual swords, and her AT-Field that she got when she was a giant Angel; she had plenty of resources to survive and save the world from the outbreak.
"Huh, sure…" Fighting hoards of Zombies wasn't all that impressive since they did that every once in a while when Marie wasn't awake and attacked New Meridian with her undead army. "Hey kid…do you hear that?"
"What?" Filia asked, snapping out of her irritated mood. "Yes…it sounds like…music?" That was odd, why would music be playing? Someone must have left a radio on or something. "Let's go investigate." She proposed slightly more animated, because she was sure she would find some Zombies to kill since they were all attracted by sound.
"It's getting louder." Samson said after they walked down an entire block. "We are getting near!"
"Over there!" Filia pinpointed where the sound was originating from thanks to her enhanced sense of hearing. "Let's go Samson! Be prepared to fight like there's no tomorrow!"
"Hell yeah!"
Filia ran towards the music only to find a ludicrous scene. "What the…?"
She had miscalculated, the origin of the music was still very far away but she was thankful for that. Because there was a gathering of over a thousand Zombies, all trying to get towards a makeshift stage where several gigantic loudspeakers stacked all over the place with Peacock and Marie in the middle.
"What are those two doing?" Samson asked not been able to believe his eyes.
"I have no idea…" Filia answered, she too perplexed by the scene. "And what are they playing…?" now that they were near enough, they could finally make out the lyrics of Peacock's song.
Whoo hoo ohh Yeah!
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon
This is tuna with bacon (all the time!)
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon
This is tuna with bacon (all the time!)
Not even once did Peacock stopped bobbing her head outside of the catchy rhythm of the song, despite its ridiculous lyrics. Heck, even Marie wasn't disturbed at all by them if her enthusiasm when providing back-up vocals was any indication.
This is tuuuuuuuuna with bacon
(This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon)
This is tuuuuuna with bacon, this is tuuuuna for you and me!
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon
This is tuna with bacon (all the time!)
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon
This is tuna with bacon (all the time!)
Also neither girl was paying attention to the immense hoard of zombies surrounding them. If fact, they didn't need to since a tall and creeping looking priest was running among the crowd cutting and severing everything on his way with a cackling face of pure joy.
Whoo hoo ohh Yeah!
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon (all the time!)
Whoo hoo ohh Yeah!
This is tuna with bacon, this is tuna with bacon
Filia and Samson stood there watching perplexed for a while before Filia broke out of her stupor. "I guess those two have it covered around here. We better move to the next prefecture and start chasing Zombies there."
"I suppose you are right…" the hair parasite agreed before adding one little thing. "But before that, let's eat something."
"Yes…let's do that." Filia agreed, although she wasn't going to admit that she started to carve for some tuna sandwiches…with just a little bit of bacon on them.
13.3
"Valkenhayn?"
"Yes? Milady?"
"Do you know where we currently are?" The head of the Alucard vampire clan, Rachel Alucard, asked to her faithful butler.
"My apologies, but I'm afraid I do not know the answer." The tall silver haired butler bowed to his master. "But I have noticed the absence of both of your familiars: Nago and Gii." Something that never happened before,
"Hn. There goes my seat and footrest." Rachel said not really all that concerned, just slightly annoyed. "So it is safe to say something far stranger than us being 'lost' is currently afoul."
"Indeed." Valkenhayn agreed with another bow. "Shall I go and ask the locals and investigate, milady?"
"Hn. I think I will accompy you." The blond vampire decided.
"Milady?"
"This place is quite refreshingly new." Something that was quite rare thanks to all the Loops she had gone thru. "I believe I shall enjoy the sights this 'city' has to offer by 'walking' around."
"But, Milady…" he tried to object but Rachel was having none of it.
"Hush! I don't want to hear it." She silenced him. "I made up my mind and I want to explore this place." After so much of the same, she would even put up with 'walking' like a plebeian just to look at something new. "Now, Shall we go and see the sights?"
"Yes, as you wish, Milady."
[-x-x-]
Walking through the city, which soon found out was called New Meridian, a place that neither of them had ever heard of before, both Rachel and Valkenhayn realized they were no longer in the world known. The sights, the sounds, the people, they were a little 'alien' to them. Not to mention the fact that there was no trace of the Novus Orbis Librarium to be found.
"Quite the predicament we found ourselves in." Valkenhayn commented, while trying to think of an explanation why they were in this strange world.
"Indeed." Rachel said in her usual monotone, but inside she too was confused about this development. "Do we find ourselves in another planet? Are we on different timeline? Did we jump a dimension or two? Quite frankly I'm without answer."
"What should we do, milady?"
"The only thing we can do is to find more information about this place." The vampire said as a matter of fact, "Once we do that, we can try and find a way back home." But they had to be careful, since they didn't know if the 'time loops' were still into play or if there were any sorts of danger out there like Terumi. "But first, let's find someplace that serves tea, I am slightly parched and I want to try the local flavors of this New Meridian."
"As you wish."
As they walked around in search for a tea shop, both Master and servant came upon a store with several Televisions on display. Usually Rachel would've ignores such things in favor of getting her tea, but on the screens they were showing an special announcement.
"I am Rachel Wong, reporting from the studio in our nation's capitol Canopolis." Said the reporter on the screen. "Our top story today, there have been numerous reports of Skullgirl sightings in New Meridian, leading the Canopy Military to rise the Skullgirl Alert Level to 'Mauve'. New Meridian citizens are advised to stay indoors, remain vigilant and report anything suspicious."
"Skullgirl?" Rachel repeated back intrigued. What was a Skullgirl and why her sightings would cause the Military of this Nation to worry?
"Mauve Alert?" Besides her, Valkenhayn was more perplexed by the choice this place had for their color coded alarm levels.
"This newest incarnation of the Skullgirl has yet to be identified but our sources within the NMPD say her victims seemed to be connected with the prestigious Medici Family." The report continued while showing the picture of a man with a subtitle below reading Lorenzo Medici. "Lorenzo Medici, the most prominent of this powerful clan, has withdrawn from the public spotlight and is believed to have gone into hiding." Then the picture changed and instead of Lorenzo, it showed a different portrait, probably and artist representation."Having just observed the seventh anniversary of the defeat of the previous Skullgirl, our kingdom's own Queen Nancy (Trinity Bless her soul), the appearance of a new Skullgirl is a chilling development."
"So, this Skullgirl seemed to be not just a recurring threat but also not just a single individual." Rachel commented now more intrigued by the report.
"While expected, the core of our nation is once again shaken as normalcy seemed to be returning. But we will not be defeated, and stand strong against this new enemy." The reported stated with determination while a flag, red background with two black vertical stripes with stars on the sides and a black umbrella inside a white circle in the middle, showed besides her. "Even as this new threat has emerged, we can sleep easy tonight knowing that the Black Egrets lead by our own Princess Parasoul are here to protect us."The TV changed once again to show another picture, this time of a red headed lady followed behind by what looked like soldiers with full armor. "In these uncertain times, it's good to know we can all rely on the strength and leadership of our Canopy Royal Family. Good day and Goddesspeed."
"Hn. Even in this world, the leaders still rely in propaganda to make themselves look greater and far more important than what they truly are." Rachel remarked thinking back at the NOL and their actions. "Nevertheless, this report has given us quite a piece of information." Though it also brought up more questions in need of answers. "Valkenhayn!"
"Yes Milady?" The butler bowed waiting for his instructions.
"We need to know more about the Skullgirls, please retrieve information about them immediately." She commanded decisively.
"What about us finding a way to return home?" Valkenhayn asked.
"If the Skullgirl is as dangerous a threat like the special report painted her out to be, Information regarding them is far more urgent." Rachel stated focusing on what could be a new enemy. "Now go, and find me that information, meanwhile I'll look for my tea."
"I'll do as you say, Milady." And with a final bow, the butler disappeared within a black hole signaling the use of his teleportation ability. "I'll be back soon."
[-x-x-]
Half an hour later, Rachel was sitting in a local pastry shop that also served tea. Although places like this would usually be beneath her, the Vampire was insistent on trying and tasting the 'local' flavors of New Meridian.
While she enjoyed her tea made from a herb that she never heard before, Rachel was also enjoying a small piece of strawberry cake. It wasn't Mil crêpe, but it was satisfactory enough.
"I wonder what is taking Valkenhayn so long." He would usually complete his errands in a more timely manner. Suddenly a black hole appeared next to her alongside Valkenhayn. "Ha, Valkenhayn. I was wondering what was taking you so long, I was about to get impatient."
"Please excuse my lateness, Milady." Valkenhayn apologized, "I was having trouble getting precise information about the Skullgirl. But I managed to find this." The butler then took out a colorful book and presented it to his master.
"Valkenhayn."
"Yes, Milady?"
"This is a children's story book." Rachel pointed out looking at her butler expectantly waiting for a satisfactory answer that could explain this.
"Indeed. As I said, I was having trouble locating exact information since most people don't like to bring up Skullgirls in formal conversation." Valkenhayn explained. "So I decided to look for books about the topic."
"And this was the best you could come up with?"Rachel was frankly surprised by the quality of his findings. Usually he was better than this.
"I also found this history book." He said as the pulled out a THICK and quite heavy book. "It elaborates more and talks about great length about the Skullgirls and their impact through history, but I figured that a more concise and light read would be appropriate, especially since the most important aspects of the Skullgirls are also detailed in the story book."
"Well…I suppose I can skim the Storybook first, since you bothered yourself with it." That and also the other book look far more boring.
"Do you want me to read it for you?" Valkenhayn asked earnestly.
"Hush. I'm no child. I am capable of reading it for myself." Besides, it was more embarrassing having a storybook read to her than reading it on her own. "Let's see…"
[-x-]
"The Legend of the SkullHeart."
'A long, long time ago, before anyone can remember, a powerful mystical artifact appeared upon this world. Because of its gloomy appearance it was called the SkullHeart.
No one knows why but the SkullHeart has strange and unknown powers and can grant the wish of any girl or woman that wish upon it. Only girls and women can get their wish granted. And the wish can be anything their heart desires.
But nothing that good comes without a price. If the woman who wishes upon the heart doesn't have a pure heart herself, then the SkullHeart will transform the woman into a monster called the SkullGirl.
The Skullgirl is a monster of destruction that preys upon anything and anyone around them.
Luckily there had been many Heroes who had battled the Skullgirl and had restored peace to the world by destroying the SkullHeart.
But the Skullheart is not easily defeated, since every time it is destroyed, after seven years it would reappeared on the world once more, waiting for another woman to make a wish. Waiting to make another Skullgirl.'
[-x-]
"That was…an interesting read." Rachel said as she close the book. "A little amateurish, but informative nonetheless." Although it didn't mentioned what sort of abilities and powers the Skullgirl possessed, but that was to be expected from a children's book.
"The history book goes in more detail stating that one of the powers of the Skullgirl is to give life to the dead to create an undead army under her complete control." Valkenhayn informed having read the book beforehand.
"Well, I guess it is clear what we have to do, isn't it Valkenhayn?" Rachel said with a knowing tone. "Valkenhayn, we are going to hunt this Skullgirl down and get ourselves a wish."
"Yes, Milady."The butler bowed in acknowledgement. "But aren't you worried about the curse of the Heart?"
"Nonsense! My heart is pure enough." The blond vampire affirmed. There was no way it could transform her into a Skullgirl. "Besides, this could be our only chance to get back to our world." That is if the Heart was as powerful as the book claimed it to be. "There is nothing that can stop me from getting my wish."
[-x-x-]
Meanwhile inside the Grand Cathedral, a blond nun was kneeling near the altar all alone with her hands in from of her in the sign of a prayer.
"Yes, Masters! Your will shall be done." The nun said before finishing her prayer and standing up. "Come and meet your fate, Rachel Alucard."
"My, what a charming little church." Rachel Alucard said as she laid eye upon the Grand Cathedral of the Trinity, one of the most impressive size and well-kept buildings in all of the Canopy Kingdom. Of course, the blond Vampire was the only one that could dismiss such great architectural design as a 'charming little church.' "It is slightly ironic that a monstrous being of destruction would hid underneath a Temple of God." Then again the Black Beast resides within Ragna.
"Indeed. Although I think these people revere a Trinity of Goddesses instead of one singular god." Valkenhayn clarified to his master. It would do no good if by accident the master would commit a faux pas because he failed to mention this detail.
"Trio of Goddesses? Just them?" Rachel asked slightly surprised while Valkenhayn nodded in affirmation. "So a religion based on Matriarchal beliefs, I don't know if to call that progressive or really archaic." Though an interesting bit of trivia; Rachel had no more time to lose just standing outside the cathedral. "Come Valkenhayn, let us enter this place and aquire what we came looking for."
"Yes, Milady." Valkenhayn bowed before walking towards the entrance of the temple and opened the door for his master. "Do watch your step inside, Madam Rachel."
"Thank you kindly." The blond vampire said as she stepped inside the Church. "My! What an impressive decor."
The inside of the Grand Cathedral resembled a traditional Catholic church, with white marble walls, large stained glass windows and ornate frescoes. But the most eye catching thing of it all besides the giant stained glass windows depicting what Rachel assume were the Three Goddesses, was the imposing large statue that dwarf them all. If the vampire had to guess, she would say that the statue, which showed the Three Goddesses in one single body representing the unity of the Trinity, was around 15 to 20 times the size of a regular sized man.
"Certainly, it is quite striking." Valkenhayn agreed as he too admired the décor of the cathedral. It was something he definitely had never seen before.
"The awe-inspiring glory of the Trinity is indeed a privilege sight to behold." A voice that resounded all over the empty walls of the church said startling the two of them. "And those who worship the Holy Trinity will be blessed in this life and the other." The voice said as the owner revealed itself to them, in the form of a blue habit wearing young nun. "Welcome to the House of the Trinity."
"Greetings Sister." Valkenhayn greeted with a respectful bow, "Sorry for coming this late, I hope we aren't intruding."
"For all of those who seek the forgiveness and compassion of the Trinity, the doors of this Cathedral are always opened." The nun informed them politely. "Especially if those people are expected guests."
"Expected Guests…?" Rachel repeated back intrigued by the sister's words. "Are you saying you were waiting for us?"
"Correct." The nun nodded. "I have been waiting for your arrival, Rachel Alucard." Then the nun opened her eyes revealing an unnatural red void inside of them. "You are a possessor of an incredibly strong soul; you are a perfect candidate…"
"Perfect candidate? Candidate for what exactly?" Really now, she really hated when people spoke in riddles instead of straight answers. And no, the irony of that statement didn't escape her either.
"The Skullgirl is waiting for you…down below…" The inhuman nun pointed towards a large door behind the main altar. "If you really are worth it then taking the Heart for yourself should be easy…"
"You'll find that I far surpass any of your measly expectations. I shall claim the heart and have my wish granted." And there was nothing that could stop her from getting what she wanted. "Valkenhayn! Let's go and find the Skullgirl."
"Sorry, but I'm afraid your pet shall remain up here." The nun forbid sternly. "You may proceed alone."
"You shall excuse me, sister. But I don't play by anyone's rules if I could help it." Rachel declared un-amused. "Valkenhayn, please take care of the sister for me."
"As you wish, Milady." The butler bowed before turning to the nun. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to deal with you." He wasn't exactly looking forward to beating up a Nun, but he had to comply with his masters orders.
"No need to apologize, we are both faithful servants and must abide to our Masters' desires." The nun said as she stood too relaxed for an imminent confrontation.
"Good to see we are on the same page." Valkenhayn said as she assumed his battle stance. "Now prepare yourself, because you are about to fight a monster."
"To fight is futile. Aeon has foretold my victory…" The nun replied without concern, "While there is still time…Repent, for your death is nigh..."
And with the wheel of fate turning, two souls are fiercely entangled ready to unleash their fury. Both Monsters; One a man, who lives only to fulfill his master's wishes; the other, a woman veiled in mystery who if the devotion for her masters is power, then no one is stronger.
The Time of Retribution is Now! Time to Decide the Destiny!
Valekenhyn rushed forward faster than the human eye could follow and powerful roundhouse kick, with his leg and feet transformed into that of a wolf's paw and claw, showing part of his true nature as a lycanthrope. "Fall before me!" he shout as his feet made impact."What?!" Despite the speed and strength behind his attack, it was all for naught for his opponent had caught his blow before it could make any damage. But what surprised the butler the most was the hand that caught his attack. "Is that…?"
"Useless…" The nun commented with her hand holding the failed attack also transformed into a wolf's paw and claw. "Now Begone!" With even greater same speed and strength, the nun returned the exact same kick to the butler, which sent him careening back down the marble floor.
"What…?!" Valekenhyn was completely confused by it all. How was it possible for this nun to be able to replicate his exact same attack he used against her? "How did you…?"
"Soon you'll see why I am called Double!" The nun said as she seemingly transformed into an exact copy of Valekenhyn. "Confess your sins." Said the Doppelganger with the exact same voice, tone and intonation Valekenhyn used when saying the exact same line. When fighting Terumi.
'Not only she is an exact copy, she knows things only I should've known.' Valekenhyn thought alarmed as he stood up. 'Her ability is far beyond just mere copying.' And that made Double extremely dangerous if she were to copy his master's abilities. "Madame Rachel, I'm afraid this opponent is far stronger than I initially believed." He said apologetically while brusing himself up from any dirst that may have cling to him, "This fight might take a while so I humbly ask you to please carry on to the path towards the Skullgirl without me." He indicated not showing any sign of worry so that he wouldn't alarm his master.
"Very well, I shall proceed." Rachel answered knowing what Valekenhyn was trying to do. "I'll fight the Skullgirl, but if you don't come down before I'm finished with her, I'll…I'll think of a severe punishment for your lateness."
"Do not worry yourself with me, Milady." He said reassuringly. "I'll be there on time and with a cup of master's favorite tea ready for the celebration of your victory."
"Don't make me wait, Valekenhyn." And with that Rachel walked away and towards the door that lead to where the Skullgirl was waiting.
After she was finally gone, Valekenhyn turned towards his copy and sneered. "Best I do what Milady says. And finish you off!" he said causing his copy to smirk
"Are you prepared…to confront a monster?" Double/Valekenhyn said as it ready himself for another go.
[-x-x-]
"My, what a dreadful place." Rachel commented as she made her way down the stairs and into the catacombs below the church were body after decayed body were sorted in communal graves. When the vampire finally reached the last step she found herself looking at a lonely figure emanating some sort of spectral light that illuminated the surroundings. "So you are the so-called Skullgirl."Rachel said sounding unimpressed. "Frankly I am quite underwhelmed. I was expecting something…different." Rachel wasn't all impressed by the small white haired girl dressed as a maid. "You don't look like a being of destruction the stories foretold."
"Indeed, I am the Skullgirl" The maid responded with a very cold tone. "So tell me child. What are you doing here?"
"Child?" Rachel repeated slightly offended more so for the condescending tone the Skullgirl had use than for the name itself. "I'll have you know that I am not mere child. I am Rachel Alucard, head of the Alucard Vampire Clan."
"Forgive my presumptions, Madam Alucard." The Skullgirl bowed in an apologetic manner. "If I had known I was talking to an Elderly Woman I would've been more respectful."
"Elderly!? Why you…"The vampire said getting irritated. "You are but a dusty maid and a child, nothing else."
"Madam Alucard! It is unbecoming of a woman your age to be throwing petty insults like a youngling." Marie reprimanded like any good maid would do to a misbehaving master. "Please try to act your age."
"Silence you." Rachel answered really ticked off, almost as if she was dealing with that pain in the neck Terumi. "I'm a noble and you are the help, so why don't you make yourself useful and give me the Heart."
"Rachel Alucard…"The little humor that had been in the Skullgirl's voice before, had instantly vanished making her sound much more detached. "I cannot and will not hand over the Heart to you or anyone else." She said solemnly. "Besides, even if you manage to wrestle it away from me, are you ready to gamble your life for a wish?"
"The heart is the only way for us to get the answers we need." Rachel explained. "And unlike you, I will not succumb to the curse of the SkullHeart, for my Heart is pure enough."
"…"The maid remained silent, almost as if she was reluctantly digesting the words the vampire just said if the expression on her face was any indication. "Bloody…Marie…"
"What was that?"
"My name is Marie Korbel, The Skullgirl known as the Bloody Marie!" Marie introduced herself with a bit of hostility in her voice. "If you want the Heart so badly, you better be prepared to fight for it. Get ready for you have awakened me and my anger."
"I am not afraid of you." Rachel rightfully declared without hesitation.
"Come Rachel Alucard and face the power of a Skullgirl!"
The Gorilla Fate is yearning!
Rebel 1
ACTION!
Inside the Grand Cathedral of the Trinity, a battle was raging on between the Lycanthrope Buttler Valkenhayn and the Trinity's Avatar Double. Double having assumed the form of Valkenhayn, she was privy of all of his attacks, techniques and powers and used them far more effortlessly than the butler ever could. For example the use of his Drive, Wehrwolf.
Valkenhayn had the ability to effortless transform into his wolf form in different degrees. But to fully transform and battle in his complete wolf form requires great effort and concentration on his part, especially at his age. But for the Doppelganger, the use of his signature Drive was easy. It reminded Valkenhayn of himself in his prime. It made him quite jealous.
Because of the huge advantage his copy had over him, Valkenhayn was having trouble even keeping up with her/him/it. Every punch and kick he launched, she dodged or counter perfectly. She read him like an open book and probably knew him better than he knew himself. It was a irritating to say the least.
Even so Valkenhayn, had gave his word to his Master and he was going to fulfill his duty as the ever reliable butler of the Alucard family. Once more, Valkenhayn tried to outmaneuver Double by trying to go beyond the limits of his own body and tried to move faster than he had ever move before, but like always Double managed to duplicate and even surpass him in speed and sent him to the ground with another well placed strike.
"Why, were did that initial energy go?" DoubleValkenhayn taunted as s/he looked down at the downed form of the original butler. "Is this the limit of your devotion to your master?" it mocked him using his voice, his tone, his body language, his own face, that angered the Lycanthrope Butler.
"Shut your insolent mouth, monster!" Valkenhayn growled in anger as he struggled to stand up. "I'm not finished yet. As long as I draw breath I shall continue to fight for Milady."
"Hm. Humans are the real monsters." DV said without remorse or hesitation. "That is why…" but then s/he turned silent and reassumed the form of the nun. "…" and put her hands in the form of a prayer.
Valkenhayn had no idea what was going on, but he didn't complain. He needed time to catch his breath. After a few seconds of silence, Double turned her attention back to him. "It's seems my masters grow tired of this match."
"What?"
"They said that a 'mirror match' is interesting at first, but losses its appeal very quickly." Or at very least at this current power levels. "That is why they ask of me to turn into a different form, to kill you."
"Then come! Whatever the form you take doesn't matter to me." Valkenhayn said, but deep down he was slightly relieved he didn't have to fight himself, but on the other hand the next form she'll assume could be far stronger.
"I am an instrument of my masters' will, they words are my law." Double said as she began to transform into another individual.
Double now was a thin man of relative advanced age, probably around 50 to 60 years old with a long black hair styled on a ponytail. The man was dressed in butler attire alongside a monocle on the left eye which was grey.
"Hello there," Double greeted with a British accent. "My name is Walter C. Dornez, butler and ex-vampire hunter for the Hellsing Organization." 'Walter' introduced himself. "I answer the door, I clean up the estate, and I take out the trash. And I also kill individuals of…mythical persuasion."
[-x-x-]
Deep in the catacombs another battle was taking place.
Rachel Alucard moving gracefully as if it was an elaborate dance, dodged and destroyed all the skeleton minions Marie was sending her way.
"Is this all you are capable of? Just standing there waiting while your skeletons do all the work for you?" Rachel taunted as she destroyed the last standing skeleton. "Disappointing."
"I'll say! I was expecting you to defeat them, but to take so long…I'm the one who's disappointed, Rachel Alucard."
"Well, now that they are all gone, it is just you and I." The vampire said confident that the odds were on her favor.
"Oh! But those were just the first wave!" Marie said, "Now is time for the second!" Marie then lifted her arms causing more undead to rise from the ground. "Go!" she commanded and her squadron of new undead warriors obeyed without question.
"More of the same?" Rachel said bored. "I don't have time to waste with these annoyances…" Then a magic circle appeared around her signifying the charging of her attack, "Begone!" she shout and a powerful blast of energy was released and directed at the new wave of undead warriors. Seeing the incoming projectile, one of the undead stepped forward and put his arms in front of him creating a light barrier that absorbed Rachel's magic blast. "How?"
"The power of the Skullgirl is to recruit the dead into her own arsenal and use them as she see fit. That includes the dead own powers and techniques." Marie explained in a cold monotone voice. "In this case, this magic-user from the Chess Kingdom I found dead in No Man's Land is still as powerful as he was when alive. And he is not the only one." She said referring to the others on the squadron.
"So? They aren't as useless as I thought…" Now Rachel could see why the Skullgirl was so terrifying; been able to make dead warriors fight for her with all of their strength intact. "Even so, they are just mere annoyances, and nothing else."
"You'll see they are more than capable of keeping up with you."
[-x-x-]
Back on the Cathedral, Valkenhayn was having problems trying to evade Double's new form Walter, let alone attack. 'Those damned wires!' From his gloves, DoubleWalter used micro-filament wires that he could use with extreme precision to slice anything he caught with them. Like his arm.
"This reminds me of the time, Alucard and I stormed an enemy base in Poland back in World War 2." Walter said reminiscent. "That time I also encounter a werewolf who also had regenerative abilities." He said while looking at Valkenhayn arm already growing back. "But unlike the Captain, you I can cut you easily." Double used his wires to try and slice Valkenhayn into several small pieces, but the werewolf butler managed to move out on the way just in the nick of time.
'He almost got me with that one.' Valkenhayn thought alarmed. 'At this rate, I don't think I'll be able to last much longer.' Not to mention, the constant use of his regenerative abilities was taking its toll on him. 'Madame Rachel…I'm afraid I won't be there on time with your celebratory tea.'
[-x-x-]
Down on the Catacombs, Rachel was faring better than Valkenhayn, but that didn't mean she had the advantage in the battle. The vampire had to deal with fighting against several undead warriors, all of which fought in different ways. But the most difficult of them all were a group of nurses that attacked in perfect tandem with each other.
There were four of them. The black haired dreary-looking one that attacked with pointy syringes filth with god-knows-what; the bond haired with the horns who attacked with an extending IV polearm; the red headed big chested-one that attacked by launching and infinite supply of scalpels as if they were kunai; and the brunet gigantic one that used bodybags of all things in very strange and creative ways. Not only were they armed, these nurses move at incredible speed and with great agility to match too. They reminded Rachel of Bang Shishigami and his ninja from Ikaruga.
"Enough!" Rachel proclaim as she unleashed the power of her Drive Silpheed, granted her the complete control over the element of wind, thus summoning a power blast of wind that send all of her opponents flying off. "Skullgirl, I grow tired of this, it is time I finish this!" Rachel then summoned several rods that soon filled the catacombs. "Sword of Iris!" She called out and conjured up several bolts of lightning in a thunderous display, destroying everything. Including the floor they were standing on, which caved in.
After the electricity dissipated, Rachel, using her Drive to keep herself afloat over the lack of floor, looked around for the Skullgirl. "Where is she?" She wondered out-loud. When she found no trace of her, she looked down into the dark abyss that had formed beneath her. "She must have fallen." And the Heart alongside her. "I guess this means I am going down the rabbit hole." Who knows what could be down there? But if she wanted the heart and her wish, she would have to descend. With the help of Silpheed Rachel made her descent slowly and gracefully as possible. As she went farther and farther into the depths of the dark abyss, the vampire started feeling this strange sensation of been observed. But not by an enemy, but by this sort of otherworldly 'presence' that made her skin stand to end.
'Why am I feeling like this?' It had been so long since she felt this kind of cold sensation. 'It's almost as if I'm getting scared…' Which sounded quite ridiculous on her head, but the further she descended into the darkness the stronger the feeling got. 'W-what is going on?' and soon she got her answer.
The darkness that permeated the place soon gave up to light as she finally reached the bottom. As the vampire finally took her surroundings, the feeling of coldness instantly turned into sickness.
"Where am I?" She asked with repulsion and fear creeping in her voice.
The underground area below the catacombs of the Grand Cathedral of the Trinity was a barren underground wasteland that extended far beyond Rachel eyes could see, but the sheer size of the place wasn't what upset her. It was what this place was made of.
Flesh. The entirety of the place, including the floor she was standing on, was covered and red bloody flesh; red bloody BREATHING flesh.
Unable to stop looking, Rachel also noticed the place was filled with teeth and eyes scattered all around without any rhyme or reason, and with all sorts of inconsistent sizes. And they eyes…the eyes blinked and followed her movement. They…they were staring right at her.
Then, then Rachel started hearing something. It started slow and quiet, but soon it became more prominent and resounding. The sound of a beating Heart. That's when she noticed the large pulsating veins that went all around the place, and the sound of something pulsing through them.
A heart pumping blood. Blood that was stagnated and formed and entire sea on the horizon. Then there were the murmurs. Although she couldn't understand one bit, she knew that those voices were human and they were talking about her.
'Th-this place is alive…!' Rachel thought trembling more terrified than she had ever felt in her long life. Had she not been so scared of the floor, she would've collapsed on it by now.
"You came all the way here." Marie said as she looked at the trembling blond vampire. "Do you like it?"
"W-w-what…?" Rachel barely stammered out, were voice trembling so much and her stomach so sick for her to be able to for complete sentences.
"I do not know what exactly this place is." Marie said as she looked at the horrifying surroundings. "But judging by the columns, statues, and other broken debris in this place seem to imply that an old civilization used to live in here."
'Live here?!' Rachel thought disgusted. 'What could possibly thrive in such place?'
"Although I do know what this place is called: Gehenna." Marie said nonchalantly before giving a small chuckle. "Although someone I know calls it this world's Fetus of God."
"F-Fetus…?" Rachel repeated feeling even more sick.
"But I highly doubt this is the womb of the Holy Mother." Marie shrugged away such notions. "I like to think of this place as a little piece of Hell on the Earth. A fitting place for your demise."
"You…just what is wrong with this world?" Rachel demanded losing her refined persona. "Answer me!"
Marie just stared at her ignoring her question. "Rachel Alucard, here in this cursed land you'll find damnation, but my hand or your very own." Then the maid summoned her trademark weapon, a demonic vacuum cleaner. "Come, and let us end this fight once and for all."
[-x-x-]
Back on the surface, Valkenhayn was finally cornered by his opponent.
"It seems that this fight has come to an end." Walter said as he trapped the Werewolf butler into his web of strings. "I must say that you provided excellent entertainment for my Masters," he commended with an ironic tone. "But know it is time for you to die. Any last words?"
"Milady…I failed…" Valkenhayn barely managed to say. "Please, get the Heart and save yourself…"
"Your faith and loyalty towards your Master is admirable…you really are the pinnacle of your profession." DoubleWalter commended again but this time without any sense of irony or insult. "Now I'll give you the highest honor! Dying serving your Master!" as he was about to pull the strings and slice of Valkenhayn into several small pieces of bloody meat, a third voice cut in.
"Make way for Peacock!" the voiced shout from up above.
DoubleWalter look up and saw a large Moai statue coming directly at him. Moving as fast as he could he, liberated Valkenhayn from his wires and used them to slice off the giant statue that was about to crush him. Unfortunately for Double, falling right behind the now destroyed pieces of the Moai was another big object.
"Rōdorōrāda!"Someone shout as a steamroller crashed on top of Double. But that wasn't all, on top of the heavy machinery a small bluish green bird wearing a dress and a hat screeched in a loud manner. "WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
Then the bird proceeded to peck the steamroller while shouting. "Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda!" and with a mighty final peck, the streamroller exploded in a fire blaze.
"Now that's what I call steamrolling the competition!" Peacock laughed as she appeared right besides Valkenhayn while smoking a cigar. "Hey, how you holding up, gramps?"
"Who…?" The butler asked as he struggled to get back on his feet.
"The name's Peacock, Jeeves!" Peacock introduced herself. "But you may call me Sir Peacock!"
Valkenhayn would've said something to refute this, but he was far too injured to protest. "Milady…I got to get to her…the skullgirl…"
"Woah!Woah! Hold on there, Jarvis." Peacock interrupted him. "Are you saying there's someone else in here? And that she's fighting the Skullgirl?"
"Exactly…I got to assist her." Valkenhayn said regaining his breath and slowing letting his injuries sustained in battle slowly heal. "If the Skullgirl is as powerful as this creature was, then milady is probably in trouble."
"'Was' is kind of a strong word…"Peacock said looking at where the steamroller had exploded. "When the Trinity wants her to be, Double is frickin' vicious, and impossible to kill."
"So you are saying…"
"Double still lives." Peacock revealed dramatically. "And depending on what her mission is…we might have to keep on fighting her."
"You speak wise words, Project Peacock." Double said as she reformed into her grotesque form of disjointed body parts, guts and faces of the damned. "As a tool for my Masters, I am as strong as I need to be. No more, no less."
"No sh*t, you are usually very inconsequential in the majority of the loops…"Peacock pointed out as she dropped her cigar into the carpet and squashed it with her sole. "So for you to be this powerful, means the hot incestuous bisexual god sisters Aeon and Venus are planning something."
"The Trinity works in mysterious ways, and you could never even begin to comprehend their plans for this world." Double said ignoring Peacocks insults to her beloved gods.
"I could care less what those two want to accomplish. I'm just glad I get to beat your sorry ass, if you even have one, you freaking bubblegum glob." Peacock said confidently as she cracked her knuckles and her neck in preparation for a fight. "Come on, I'll beat you up so hard your religion is going to start making sense to you!"
"As amusing as it might be to kill you, today is not that day. My Masters are satisfied with my work, and there is no further need for me to do anything else." Double said this as she started to 'melt' into the floor and slowly dissolve. "We'll see each other another time, Peacock!" and soon she was gone leaving just Peacock and Valkenhayn alone.
"Looks like you missed out, Nigel." Peacock said turning to the butler. "This could've been one of the most badass battles your eyes would've ever seen."
"A true shame…" Valkenhayn said ironically as he stood up taller, now that he had more time to rest and recover. "I assume there is quite a large history behind all of this and I'll not intrude"
"No questions asked? You are my kind of guy, Niles."
"Although there is ONE thing I hope you don't mind clarifying." He asked politely as the reliable butler he was. "You mentioned something about 'loops'…"
"Look Alfred, that is a long-ass conversation that I don't like answering, and if you have a buddy with you here, that means I have to tell it twice if I say something now. So could you just wait until we get this toots of yours?" Really, Peacock wasn't looking forward for that conversation.
"True. Let's get to Madame Rachel as soon as possible. And help her with the Skullgirl!"
"Um..Geoffrey, about the Skullgirl…"
[-x-x-]
Down below in Gehenna, which was a synonym for Hell. Two young-looking girls were locked in deep battle.
Rachel was fighting against Marie on a one-on-one battle. The skullgirl refusing to summon more minions and instead opted for direct combat, using her demonic Vacuum Cleaner as a weapon. Rachel would've laugh at it if it weren't for Marie using it as a very effective and deadly weapon.
No matter what the vampire tried, the Skullgirl countered effectively. If Rachel tried to fight long range casting spells, Marie would use her vacuum to blow and shoot 'Dust Bunnies' at her interrupting her casts. Trying to place her lighting rods was also useless since Marie would turn on her vacuum and suck anything, no matter the size, into it. And fighting close range using her summoned swords was difficult because Marie would then turn the Vacuum's nozzle into a blade and use it as a scythe.
Marie was a versatile fighter now matter how Rachel tried to approach the situation.
"See how weak you are, Rachel Alucard!" Marie mocked as they cross blades. "Your efforts to wrestle the heart away from me are futile! The Skull Heart power is mine to wield and my burden to bear."
"Nonsense! I'll get that Heart and I'll get my wish!"
"So sure you can defeat me?" Marie taunted again as she wind her scythe and send Rachel flying backwards when she block the strike. "Know your place."
"I know my place!" Rachel shot back. "Know yours, you dusty maid." She then activated her Drive Silpheed to summon a powerful wind blast towards Marie.
"Here's a surprise!" Marie said as she used her demonic vacuum to suck the entire blast into itself, "Time to dust up!" she quipped before she returned the blast back to the vampire.
"AH!" Rachel shout in pain as her own attack blast her away and sent her into a fleshy ground. "Kuh!" the vampire grunted as she struggled to get up. "You…"
"Me? What?" Marie asked as she instantly appeared behind her and put the edge of the Scythe up to Rachel's neck. "Don't resist, Rachel Alucard."
"You…when did you…" Rachel tried to say put was quickly ignored and interrupted by Marie.
"You had your change to escape, Rachel Alucard. But instead you decided to chase after me and fell directly into the depths of hell itself, and for what? A wish? Your own selfifh ambition brought you upon your own demise."
"You may call me selfish, but I'm not the one who transformed into the Skullgirl for not having a pure heart." Rachel countered making Marie annoyed.
"How presumptuous…" Marie pointed out. "That arrogance and pride of yours would've easily transform you into a Skullgirl."
"My Heart is pure enough." Rachel defended. "And even if that weren't the case, and I ended up cursing myself, I would've never succumbed into a being of destruction and chaos like you did. I'm far above that." She had endured thousands upon thousands of years and never caved in upon her own vampiric desires. The power of the SkullHeart would be next to nothing compared to that.
"Silence!" Marie ordered as she brought the scythe closer to Rachel's neck, but said nothing to put down the vampire's argument. "I see that you are blind to the errors of your ways, but I am not without mercy. Either you die or you serve me and my just cause."
"Hmp. Preposterous! I would never bow down to someone such as you." Rachel answered earning the edge of the scythe to press even further into her neck drawing blood.
"You will be a unique addition to my army. Be my general, or dirt to sweep up." Marie said once more.
"I prefer to die than lower myself to serve a dusty maid." Rachel answered without an ounce of fear.
"Very well, I shall put an end to your miserable life, vampire." Marie said coldly. "But before, I'll kill you I wish to know something, Rachel Alucard."
"What is it?" The vampire asked defiantly.
"By any chance are you related to the vampire known as the Crimson F*cker?"
"The what?!" Rachel asked scandalized.
"No? Well, I'm sure with a name like yours you'll get to know him pretty soon. The universe has that twisted sort of humor." Marie said with a small smile as she retired the scythe from Rachel's neck. "Also, welcome to the Loops Rachel Alucard."
"Wait, what is going on?" the blond vampire asked completely confused by this completely 180° turn in attitude. "And did you just said Loops?"
"Sorry, for being a little rough Ms. Alucard. I was just playing a prank with you, since you are new to the Loops." Marie said apologetically. "But don't worry, I'll explain everything as soon as Patricia comes here."
"Look down below!" a voice said as a TV came crashing to the ground. Then it suddenly turned on by itself despite not being plugged at all, and from inside the screen Peacock stepped out followed by Valkenhayn. "Marie! Guess what? I got myself a man-servant!" Peacock said enthusiastically as she pointed out to the butler behind her, "This is my man Godfrey."
"For the last time, Ms. Peacock, I am not your servant." Valkenhayn said clearly annoyed.
"Hey!Hay! I saved your life Cadbury! In some cultures that means you got to serve me for the rest of your life or until you save my life." Peacock explained. "Now, bring me some Scotch on the rocks, Camo pajama pants, Predator 3D on Bluray and some Lube, cause I'm having a party tonight. Now hurry up Woodhouse, chop, chop!"
"Perfect timing! Rachel Alucard, I would like you to meet, Patricia Watson, the first known looper of this world." Marie introduced her friend.
"Yo! Name's Patricia but you shall call me Peacock. By the way, do you have any relation with the CrimsonF*cker?"
"Sadly no." Marie answered for Rachel. "But I'm sure she'll meet him sooner rather than later. But now that we are all here, let us get away from this disgusting place and discuss the current state of the Multiverse over a cup of tea." Then she gave a sideway glance at Peacock. "Or some scotch."
"You tell 'em, Marie!" Peacock shouted in approval. "Come on we can travel through the TV."
"Valkenhayn…"
"Yes, Milady?"
"I think I lost track of what is going on."
"You are not the only one Madam Rachel."
[-x-x-]
Meanwhile on a parallel dimension/universe adjoined to the world of the Skullgirl, two figures were watching the whole thing amusedly.
"Well, that was fun while it lasted." Venus said as she finished the last of her popcorn. "Did you get what you wanted?" She turned to her sister Aeon who was squishing and squeezing her new red vampire bat 'plushie' and fumbled with the new black cat umbrella.
"Oh, I got more than these souvenirs. I also got these." Aeon said as she took out some extravagant pink colored glasses.
"Are those…?"
"The spectacles of Eros!" Aeon said giddying like a little girl. "You know how much fun we can have with these?" Then with a wave of her hand she produced even more spectacles. "Especially when I get these one-use-only unreproducible copies to our fellow Eldritch Deities?"
"We can get Crack-ship Harem Loop footage from across all the Multiverse!" Venus said excited at the prospect. "But why just one-use-only?"
"Because we don't want others making copies or use them so many times they get them banned forever, it would ruin the fun!" Aeon explained.
"Ah, I see!" Venus nodded in understanding. "So! Shall we test one of them with our world?"
"You know it! And I have the perfect candidate! But we will have to wait after Rachel Alucard returns to her Loop."
"She's proven to be immune to them and she might ruin our fun." Venus deduced earning a nod from her sister. "By the way, did you notice that Beowulf isn't in this loop?"
"Huh? That's strange." The goddess of time really hadn't noticed at all. "He probably ended up on another Loop."
[-x-x-]
Meanwhile in Ronin-Gai, a small town inside 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi, two fierce warriors were locked in a fierce battle.
"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!" The crowd of several color coded ninja chanted as they watched both fighters gulp down large amounts of beer. "CHUG! CHUG! YEAH!"
"It's a tie!" Announced the official judge.
"You know Bang, you are one crazy SOB, but you are my kind of SOB!" Beowulf said at his newest eternal rival as he offered his fist for a fist bump.
"You too, wolf, you too." Bang Shishigami answered as he to offer his fist."You truly are a bro!"
"And you are the bro-iest!"
And with that the two shared the manliest of fist bumps.
13.4
In the Canopian Criminal Justice System there are two separate but equally important groups: the police and prosecutors who apprehend and trial the offenders and the idiotic defendants who take up the courts time with their self-serving bladder.
These are their stories.
Municipal Court Part 8
Tuesday, January 30th
Today was a day like no other, because today was the day that Peacock finally faced court for one of her most heinous crimes that she had ever committed.
The Gallery was full not because this case was infamous, but because the crowned ruler of the Kingdom, Princess Parasoul, had come to the proceedings. But she wasn't the only Local Looper to come, the rest of them had also come to watch the trial's outcome, not out of concern for Peacock but out of morbid curiosity of how this trial might by the looks of things, it might take a LONG time to get there...
"So she hits the switch and sent a million bolts of electricity to the leprechaun's pot of gold! There were smoke and cool sparks everywhere and the little bugger's head went kaboom! But, later she finds out that that was a Lepre-clone and the real Leprechaun…"
"Miss Peacock!" The judge presiding over this case interrupted Peacock's blabbering while walking from one side to the other in front of his bench. "You already acted out 5 Leprechaun cases, 6 Puppet Masters's and for some reason, 9 Annie: Girl of the Stars movies."
"Yeah, I know there were 10 Annie movies, but real A:GoS Fans don't count number 8!" She emphasized by slamming her fist upon the judge's bench. "Which totally violated the integrity of the A:GoS cinematic Universe!"
Once again, the judge interrupted Peacock but this time he used his hammer to swap away the defendants hand away from his desk. "What does that have to do with the Land Fraud charges against you?"
"Bottom line? In a world of psycho zombies, Leprechauns, Skullgirls and killer puppets who drill your eyeballs with their little screw hats, am I really such a bad person?" Peacock raised a question which she didn't give anyone enough time to even respond before she continued. "Just 'cause a few of my customers got buyers' remorse over the houses I sold them? I still believe in a place where overcrowding is never a problem. I still believe in a town called Chernobyl and in a planned community called Chernobyl Vista Heights."
Unfortunately, this Chernobyl town properties were located in the middle of No Man's Land, on the crater where Former Queen and Skullgirl, Nancy Renoir, had exploded during the climax of the previous war.
"I find you guilt…" the judge was about to pass judgment but Peacock raised an objection.
"Hold your Hammer, M.C.! Cause I got proof of my innocence!" with a whistle several mail delivery men came to the courtroom carrying bags upon bags of letters which they proceeded to flood the judge's bench with. "Letters! Thousands of them- all addressed to a guy who'd never commit fraud: Santa. Delivered by the Canopy Kingdom Postal Service to me! Proving that I am Santa."
This cause the gallery to explode in murmurs, but it wouldn't last long before the judge called for order in the court.
"Order, order!" He silenced the Gallery, before picking up one of the letters. "Even if these were relevant, which it isn't, these aren't addressed to Santa, you idiot! They're addressed to Satan."
"What? Give me that!" Peacock snatch one of the letters and read the name of the addressed. "Stupid Postal Service!" she cursed before collecting herself. "Your Eminence, please instruct the jury to disregard the…"
"For the 19th time! There is no jury!" The judge said exasperated while pointing at the empty seats where the Jury would usually sit.
"Wow, I knew I was drunk, but I must be DRUNK." Peacock chuckled a bit before continuing, "Regrettably, my liege, a jury of decent, hardworking, system-hating Dago-Canopians, was essential to my defense strategy." Because nowadays you couldn't say Fish people because it was somehow considered racist, "So, I must take a mulligan and officially change my story." She cleared her thoat before continueing. "I now claim I was rendered incompetent by a known medical condition: Saturday Night Fever."
The judge finally had it with Peacock's antics and silenced her by throwing his hammer towards the girl's face. "If this state's three strikes law and three day court limit hadn't crammed our prisons full of people, I'd still be able to send murderers and felons and you to jail, but I can't." The judge announced regretteably.
"Yes! I'm going to AnnieCon this year!" Peacock pumped her fist in a celebratory manner before she jumped into the Defense's bench and started dancing, causing the entire gallery to start talking.
"Freeze, you degenerate lout!" The judge ordered for order again. "You've shown galling contempt for this court, for me, but worst of all, for the law! in front of the royal Princess, no less! What must they think of the law now? What lesson did they…?
"Judge, F.Y.I, Annie: GoS starts in 20 minutes, and I'm way across town."
"That's it! I'm making an example of you." The judge stood up in anger. "I hereby sentence you to community service!"
"Community service?! I prefer the Electric Chair!" But Peacock's objection fell into deaf ears.
"Community service it is!"
"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
[-x-x-]
"I'm afraid to ask but…does court usually goes like this in this Loop?" a man dressed with a blue suit and red tie with a spiky hairdo asked to the girl standing next to him outside of the courthouse.
"Then it involves Peacock, it does." Marie explained with a monotone voice, not really all perturbed by the proceedings. "Just be glad that this happened here and not in your Loop, Mr. Wright."
"I guess…" Despite how strange his court battles were in his Loop, with the perspective of other Judicial Systems, Phoenix Wright really wasn't looking forward to the day Peacock went to court in his Loop, as a defendant, a Lawyer, or even a witness.
"Finally! I'm free!" Peacock declared as she exit the courthouse with a grin plastered on her face. "And I got off with just 5000 hours of community service, that's like 45 minutes!"
"Actually that's around 7 months or so." Phoenix pointed out.
"What?! Stupid Metric System!" The Defense attorney assumed that the drunkenness hadn't dissipated yet.
"So? What do you have to do to give back to the community?" Marie asked slightly curious.
"I have to go to a place call Geiger High or somethin'."
"You mean that school is located in a ghetto cesspool full of crime and poverty and despair?" Marie asked for clarification on the matter, it wouldn't be good if Peacock accidently violated the stipulation of her sentence by going to the wrong address.
"Oh! That Geiger!" Peacock said with sudden remembrance. "That's like a block away from mu house."
"Yeah the commute is going to be a breeze." Marie said with a smile. "But let's worry about that latter, let's go celebrate." She proposed. "And you can come as well, Mr. Wright."
"I…don't…" Phoenix tried to turn the offer down but he was grabbed from behind by Peacock in a faux chokehold.
"Come on Feenie! Let's go for some noodles! I know a place in Little Innsmouth!" And they were going to eat like there was no tomorrow.
"Little Innsmouth?!" Phoenix repeated slightly worried by the name.
"Yeah, and it's full of Fish People."
"Patricia!" Marie reprimanded.
"Fine, Dago-Canopians!" Geez, some people were too PC.
"That's better." Marie said approvingly, before turning to the defense Lawyer. "Don't you worry Mr. Wright. Little Innsmouth is very nice this time of the year, and their noodles are quite exquisite."
"I guess…" It seemed that he wouldn't be able to bail out of going out for lunch with these two. 'At least they are inviting me, for a change.'
"Yes, let's go! My treat!" Peacock said as she pulled out a wallet which looked very familiar to Phoenix.
"Wait! Is that my wallet?" He asked as he desperately tried to look for his wallet on his own pockets.
"Last one there is a Porcupine Head!" The girl laughed before speeding away with Phoenix's wallet in hand, and not a second later with Marie in tow.
"Hey wait!" Phoenix shouted as gave chase to the two girls. 'Why does this stuff always happen to me?'
13.5
"Are…Are we really doing this?" Filia asked completely dumbfounded when she saw Carol decorated their shared apartment for the Loops. "Are we really going to celebrate Trinity Day?"
"I don't see why not." Carol shrugged as she decorated the Trini-Tree.
"Maybe because the Trinity is a trio of Eldritch Abominations who observe our every movement 24/7 and possibly plan the entire annihilation of our entire world; most likely through the Skullheart and the Skullgirl." The Parasite host offered the reason of her discontent with this Holiday.
"Well yes…"Carol trailed off a bit before continuing. "But ordinary people don't know that, to them they are still the goddesses that gave birth to our world and created us Humans, Ferals, Dagonians, Gigans and every other creature around." Which was technically true, they did create their world and brought life to it, but the question as to why they (probably) wanted to destroy their world was difficult to grasp. "Like it or not, they are our goddesses and this season everyone celebrate the births of Aeon and Venus into our world."
"Didn't scientific studies prove that Aeon and Venus were born in spring instead of winter? And doesn't history show that the church moved the celebration to winter in order to easily annex the Dagonians into Trintism?" Filia asked making Carol stop on her tracks and gave her a 'look'.
"You are a spoilsport, you know that?" Carol said before remembering something, "Speaking of births, I need to set up the Nativity." Carol moved away from the Trini-tree and opened up a box with several ceramic figurines. "Please help me set it up."
"I still think this is silly…" Filia crossed her arms taking a stand against this holiday.
"Wow, you really are a killjoy, kid." Samson commented making Filia more annoyed.
"Says the guy who boycotts Ascension Week, every year."
"Hey, hey, hey! At least Trinity day makes sense," Samson defended his displeasure for that holiday, "Ascension Week is filled with several historical inaccuracies! And you want to know how I know that?"
"I know, because you were there…" Filia couldn't help but roll her eyes; she had heard his rant about the Holiday before.
"Damn right I was there!" Samson nodded full of himself. "First of all, Aeon and Venus didn't sacrifice themselves for our collective sins, they were murdered by Eliza because she was bitch." Of course that was the time where Eliza was known as Neferu. "Not only that, they didn't resurrect three days later like everyone says, in fact what happened was…"
"Please Samson, I hear this rant every year, could you just give it a rest?" It wasn't that the story wasn't interesting, but hearing it ALL the time got grating after a while.
"Could you two give it a rest?" Carol said turning at the duo. "Sure it makes no sense, and our goddesses are evil and stuff, but Trinity day is more than the religious aspect. It is the season of forgiveness and kindness; it's a day to spent time with the people you love and care about, a time to show goodwill and love, not with presents but by opening our hearts to others." Carol then fisnished her heartfelf speech by butting her arms on her hips. "So put aside your cynicism and help me set up the Nativity!"
"Yes Carol." Both Filia and Samson shut up and kneeled down to help Carol with the decorations. "While they were setting up the inn and the animals, Filia couldn't help but wonder again. "Isn't it strange that Trinity Day bears a strange resemblance to the Christian Holiday of Christmas?" That and that Trinitism was very similar to Roman Catholicism.
"Must be a coincidence." Carol shrugged, having given up on questioning things like that hundred of loops ago. "And done!" Carol said with a smile as she looked down at the nativity.
"Huh? I don't think there was a dinosaur present at Aeon and Venus birth…" Filia looked at Carol whose only response was…
"How do you know there wasn't? Were you there?"
"Girl has a point there, kid!" Samson agreed much to Filia's chagrin.
"You guys!"
13.6
"Happy Trinity Day Everyone!"
The atmosphere inside the chambers of Lab 8 was full of merriment as all of the Lab Kids sat around the Trini-tree and opened all of their presents. The scene was really heartwarming to see, knowing how austere a life inside the Labs was.
All of these kids were at some point orphans or abandoned kids, who were left to fend for themselves in the harsh outside world, most of which couldn't last a week. Now the Labs gave them a new chance at life, serving as test subjects for the implementation of new cybernetic body parts or artificial parasites, in order to create the future weapons that would help fight the Skullgirls.
Say what you will about the moral implications of taking unwanted kids off the streets to use for experiments; those experiments saved this children lives and Ileum knew they are happier here than on the streets. She was just the head nurse of Lab 8, but she cared and loved each and every single one of them. And that is why she was so insistent on celebrating Trinity Day, to brighten up their lives even just a little.
"They are all so precious…" Ileum whispered to herself, and was surprised when someone stepped next to her and replied.
"They sure are…"
"Ben?" The nurse turned to look at the massive cyborg and friend. "I thought you wouldn't be able to come…"
"I thought so too…" Big Band said as if reminiscing about something she had idea what it was. "But I managed it and it seems I arrive just in time."
"That you did…"
"Hey It's Big Band!" One of the children said, making the rest to turn and look to the detective and cheer. "Yay!" The lab children surrounded him and began jumping up and down excited, tug on his coat or try to climb him, all because they were happy to see him.
"Calm down, Calm down," Ben gently said, "I'm happy to see you too."
"Hey, BB? Do you have any more stories about crooks you captured?" asked one of the boys, who wore glasses and the lower half of his jaw and neck were completely metallic.
"Not only that, I also brought some gift for everyone." Ben answered with a smile as everyone cheered and tried to hug him.
[-x-x-]
After more presents were opened, the Lab children all began to play around, while both Big Band and Ileum kept an eye on them.
"Look how happy they are…" Ileum said with a small sigh. Although it warmed her heart, she couldn't help but remember that this happiness and merriment would be short lived. "How I wish they would always be this happy."
"They are," Ben nodded, "They have you." It wasn't a secret that Ileum cared for these children as if they were her own, and in turn they loved her like she was their mother.
"And I'm happy too but…" she knew a life of isolation within these chambers wasn't exactly the best life, even if it was much better than their previous one before they all arrived here. Not only that, these children were destined to become the next generation of superweapons against the Skullgirl; and this sadden her even more. Ileum's thoughts on the matter were cut short when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.
"Ile… I know what you are thinking right now, and I can sympathize…" Ben was familiar with how difficult the life within the Labs was, when he too was saved by them and had to undergo "Therapy" in order to get accustomed to his new body. "But as long as they have you by their side, their lives would never truly be sad. In fact, if it hadn't been for you back then I wouldn't have recover as well as I did."
"Ben…" Ileum remembered, all those years ago when a half dead police officer was brought here to the lab and underwent heavy surgery in order to give him a new experimental body. She was there when he was on the operating table, she was there for the physical therapy, and she was there when he was first deployed to combat the Skullgirl 15 years ago.
"You help me change my life for the better, and I'm sure it is the same for these kids" Big Band's words really got to her teary eyed behind her porcelain mask. "Not to mention both Leduc and Hive, they too had grown quite well under your care." Leduc was a bright young boy who would go on to do great things and Hive have learned a lot under the nurse's tutelage. "And with Peacock…eh…without you she would've probably leveled the whole place by now."
Now that, made the nurse chuckle a bit. "That girl is quite handful…" A tomboyish troublemaker and the Double Parasitic integration didn't do anything any favors. "Dr. Avian is sure that she is the perfect weapon against the skullgirl, and with time there will be no more need for more…" meaning that the rest of children would never have to be deployed for battle.
"That means we can finally retire…" Big Band joked while secretly wondering what would Ileum's reaction would be if he told her about the close relationship Peacock shared with the current Skullgirl. "I can finally write down my memories and turned them into bestselling detective novels, and you can take on gardening like you always wanted."
"That was before the war…" Ileum slightly lamented, "Before…the accident…" she said as she gently placed her hand upon the porcelain mask occulting her face. "I don't think I'll be received well by the outside…and here in the Labs there's no way to grow any greenery." At least not in the traditional way without the aid of Experimental procedures like she preferred.
"I…Sorry…" Ben regretted bringing up the topic, forgetting for just a second the circumstances of Ileum's outside look.
"It's okay, don't worry about it." She had accepted the reality of her outside look a long time ago. It was by her own decision to be grafted with her Artificial Parasite "Salamander Shell" to save her life and continue with her duty.
"You know…whenever I look at you I never see Salamander Shell…" Big Band confessed.
"Your optic nerves must be damaged…"
"No, I'm serious. When I look at you I keep seeing that nurse who saved my life never left my side while I was recuperating…"
"Ben…" That was truly one of the kindest things someone had ever said to her. "I wish I could say the same about you…I only know you as your current self." The nurse confessed in a well mannered manner way, not meant to insult him.
"Fair enough, I guess…" the detective just smirk at the jab against him.
The two of them continue to talk about the past, when suddenly Hive appeared.
"Hey, BB…Happy Trinity Day…" the teen girl greeted in her usual tone of laid-backness. Something that wasn't unexpected from a teenage girl.
"Happy Trinity Day…" Big Band greeted back not really bothered by the girl's general attitude. "I thought you'll be outside by now looking for something to do." Unlike the other children, Hive could leave the Lab and visit the outside, since her own parasite "Beelze Bomb" is a mix of an implanted modifier and a wearable suit, meaning suit off and appear normal while still have access to her powers.
"That's what I plan to do. I have a social life you know." Hive answered rolling her eyes, which in turn made both adults roll their eyes too. They hoped that by now, the girl would've grown out of her prissy attitude.
'Ironic that she manages to act like a Queen Bee without even going to school.' Ben silently thought, 'Or maybe not, knowing what Beezle Bomb is capable off.'
"You wouldn't understand anyway." Hive was about to bail out until something caught her eye. "Hey, why don't you look up, you two." She said with a smirk that usually spelled trouble to her fellow "friend" Leduc.
Looking up, the two adults found a decorative Sand–Clock with a bow.
"You got a kiss now." Hive said keeping that smirk on her face. It was a tradition for Trinity Day and the season to kiss under the Sand-Clock, which represented the Goddess of Time, Aeon.
Both Big Band and Ileum look away from the hourglass and turned to each other and stared into each other's eyes in silence.
The two of them had a lot of history together and they had known each other almost two decades now. They respected and care for each other a lot, especially when they help fight against the Skullgirl together during the war.
"No"/"No" The both declared at the same time.
"Eh?! Why not? It is tradition!" Hive insisted, but both adults kept on shaking their heads in disagreement.
"In your own words, 'You wouldn't understand'." Ileum countered back. Sure she cared for Ben a lot and she couldn't imagine her life without him, but she had never really felt compelled to kiss him or exhibit some kind of "Romance" with him.
"Well said." Big Band agreed. He too cared a lot for Ileum and the children they two look after, but he was far too old and busted for displays of affection like that.
Stanley, one of Dr. Avian's colleagues, often joked that both Ben and Ileum acted like a married couple who had been together for 20+ years. Instead of a roaring bonfire that was young love, theirs was a modest hearth whose fire burns humbly and keeps the home warm.
Although he would keep insisting against the contrary, Big Band thought it was a semi-fitting description of what both he and Ileum shared.
"You guys aren't any fun…" Hive crossed her arms in front of her. "Such prudes."
"You'll be singing a different tune if it were you under the hourglass." Ben pointed out.
"Ha! That's where you are wrong, because I would never be caught unaware underneath one with someone I'll never want to kiss."
"Really…? Think again…"Now it was Ileum's turn to smirk, something that Hive could feel despite the mask.
"What are you…?" It took Hive a full second before getting what the two adults where getting until before jumping backwards afraid that she too was under an hourglass. Unfortunately for her, her sudden jump caused her to accidently smash into someone else, who was unprepared for the sudden collision causing the two of them to fall.
"Hive!? Are you okay?" Leduc asked despite him been the one who softened the girl's fall into the ground.
"Leduc?!" Hive was surprised to look at the blond lab assistant, but that surprise didn't last long before it gave away for unexcused anger. "Why don't you see where you're going?"
"I'm sorry…" The blond apologized as he help her get up despite her been the one who rammed into him.
"Hey Hive! Why don't you look up?" The head nurse said enjoying the surprised look on the teen girl when she found there was an hourglass over both her and Leduc.
"What?!"
"Guess you two have to kiss now!" Big Band joined in too.
"It was an accident! We just fell underneath it." Hive said defensively but the cyborg detective just shrugged.
"' Guess, you're a prude like us."
"K-K-Kiss?! With Hive?" Poor Leduc stammered getting redder by the second, not even his high collar could hide it.
"Don't you get funny ideas, you!" The girl threatened the blond before she turned to the adults. "You guys, tricked me! So it doesn't count!"
"I thought you said you will never be caught unaware underneath one of them…" Ileum returned Hive's own words back to her, causing the pink head to get red either in embarrassment or anger.
"You…" Hive muttered before dusting herself off and began to walk away. "You guys suck!" and with that she leave the place.
"What was that all about?" Leduc asked as he got his red cheeks under control.
"Just teaching Hive a lesson about respecting their elders." Ileum answered. "Like any good mother would."
13.7
"Hephaestus! May I have a Word with you?" Kali asked as she approached to the ever busy Craftgod.
"Is it urgent? Because I'm a little busy right now." There was only so much he could take on his plate.
"I just want to ask you I simple question." Kali said slightly uneasy, something that was rare for the blue woman. "Can there be fused Loops with Madoka's Loop?"
"No." Hephaestus quickly answered, turning away from his work to look at Kali. "Why do you ask?"
"There is something I must show you…"
[-x-x-]
"After I was 'chosen' to be in charge of the Skullgirls Loop." Something Kali wasn't particularly happy about, "I've been noticing a strange trend that left me baffled the first time I encountered." She then turned on her monitor to show Hephaestus what she was talking about.
"Is that Madoka!?"
"No." The goddess quickly corrected, "But they have quite the resemblance…" she referred to Filia Medici who the monitor showed to be dressed exactly like Madoka and with pink hair too. "She's not the only one…" The monitor changed to show other Loopers and non-loopers looking like several people from Madoka's Loop. "Sayaka Miki, Homura Akemi, Mami Tomoe and Kyoko Sakura. They are all present." All of they been played by Peacock, Cerebella, Ms. Fortune and Squiggly respectively.
Hephaestus looked at the monitor in complete silence trying to process what he was seeing. After a whole minute he turned to Kali. "Explain, now." He needed to know everything that Kali did in order for him to decide what to do next.
"At first I thought it was a strange glitch, but after some research and seeing it happened again, made think otherwise."
"This has happened before?"
"Yes." Kali nodded. "I don't know the exact parameters that causes this strange loop, all I know that it happens when no one is awake…well besides the Loop's Anchor, Annie, but she…she never interacts with any of her fellow Loopers, and decides to travel to distant planets when this kind of Loop happens."
"So, this is a recurring event…" Hephaestus thought worriedly. "Tell me, what did you find in your research?"
"After taking a closer look at the code for each of the Loopers and non-loopers affected, I found some foreign data attached to them." Kali revealed with a very serious tone.
"You mean…"
"Yes, although they are just bits and pieces, there is data from Madoka's world in them." The blue goddess then changed the image of the monitor, "Which explains why they don't act entirely alike their counterparts."
The monitor showed Ms. Fortune's Mami acting more roguish instead of ladylike, Squigly's Kyoko was a refined lady, Cerebella's Homura was a show off, and Peacock's Sayaka was…well Peacock. The only one who acted remotely the same was Filia's Madoka, but that was because their personalities didn't clash like with the others.
"What about the rest of the world? Are they too affected?"
"Well…" Kali decided that instead of explaining it herself, she showed it in the monitor.
It was a coarse imitation of Madoka's Loop. Although the world looked the same as always, with the Canopy Kingdom resembling a dark deco version of a mix between California and New York instead of Japan; the setting resembled Madoka's. "Kyubey" in this case played by the shape-shifting Double, made girls/women take wishes upon the "Heart" transforming them into Magical Girls and have them hunt for Skullgirls, this Loop's version of the Witches, who as with Madoka's, were magical girls how felt into despair. The fundamental difference is the magnitude of the wishes that could be granted by the SkullHeart and the reason for creating Magical girls; instead of harvesting energy to fight entropy, the mission of "Kyubey/Double" was to strengthen the Magical Girls by pitting the against increasingly more powerful Skullgirls, which in time would turn create even more powerful Skullgirls, in an endless cycle. That is until the Loop eventually ends.
Hephaestus again fell into a deep meditative silence after he watched the whole thing.
"So far, this Loop as happened 1 every 500 to 1000 loops give or take." Kali informed. "I don't know what causes them or why there is foreign data of integrated into the Loops code," The Trio of Eldritch Abominations known as the Trinity could have something to do with it, but so far she had no evidence of that. "But so far it hasn't caused crashes or any other sort of trouble. But I thought you ought to know this was happening."
Hephaestus took a deep breath before finally speaking. "Thanks for informing me about this. Please continue to monitor the situation and keep me informed of any updates of this situation." He was too busy with other Loops and working on fixing the tree, he had no time to dedicate himself to this situation unless it presented a risk to the tree itself. So for now, the priority of this mystery remained very low.
"Should we tell Madoka about this?" Kali asked making the Craftgod halt for just a second.
"No." He answered solemnly. "She doesn't need to know. This matter will remain between the two of us until there's more information it."
"I understand." Kali agreed with a nod. "I'll keep up the investigation."
"Please do." And with that Hephaestus left carrying with yet another thing to worry about later.
13.1.- Don't F*** with Them Girlz
13.2.- This is True Love We're Makin'...near a Highschool of the Dead.
13.3.- Blazgirls…? SkullBlue…?...Whatever…
13.4.- Law and Disorder.
13.5.- Merry...Trinity Day?!
13.6.- Lab 8 Holidays.
13.7.- Loop's Mysteries. [Admin Shenanigans]