Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They never have been, and they never will be. Unless Maxwell Atoms says so, because he owns them. I do, however, reserve the rights for a few characters. And if you don't know who they are by now, what're you doing this far into the story?!

AN: If you can spot the two quotes from Futurama in here, I'll give you a cyber cake. :P

On with,

Chapter 21

A glint of metal and a black rod-that was all they needed to see.

"The scythe." Persephone finished, though it was rather pointless.

Mandy frowned and her wide eyes slackened, forming a rather unamused look. She had been hoping for something far more interesting. Billy, of course, was more easily entertained.

"WOW! What the heck is that?!" He pointed and jumped in front of the Goddess, who promptly fell over backwards.

Never in her thousands of years of existance had she been so frightened and confused; the ball of energy that was the redhead was more frightening than anything she had encountered before. It was much like someone who had never been near an animal to suddenly be jumped by a boisterous, bouncy little puppy; virtually harmless, yet intimidating.

Not sensing anything wrong, Billy leaned over and peered at the object still clasped in her grip. The brunette's eyes moved wildly, searching for a way to call him off. Mandy would have, at that moment, but seeing her in such a fitful state was far too entertaining to let pass by. Arpiagus would have helped her, but being the wise guy he was, also thought it funny to see her in a daze.

"Oooh! Can I see it?"

His hand reached down, and Persephone's flew to her face as a sheild. But his intentions were not on her at all, as she quickly found out, but rather, the shiny scythe. Billy pulled it away from her shaking form with ease, and began carefully examining it. For him, that meant the test poke, the test sniff, and lastly, the test taste. As his tongue met the gleaming edge, a blue aura circled around him. The idiot stopped in mid-lick, interested in what was happening. Then, without warning, the blue mist seemed to strike him.

ZZZZ-ZZZZ-ZZZZZZZ!!!...

His body twitched involuntarily a few times, as the blue light streamed in and out of his body. Too shocked to scream, Billy just stood there as the charge charred his clothes and face. After a few moments the energy seemed to dissapate, and Billy turned to Mandy, his hair fizzling at the end. Out of stupidity, his tongue remained connected to the scythe. He only let go to try and speak.

"Woah." He wheezed, a puff of smoke billowing from his lips. "That tasted like a near-death experience..."

He grinned, though his eyes and body swayed like a drunk.

"Let's do that again!" He opened his mouth in preparation for another lick, but was quickly covered by a pale hand.

"Let's not." Mandy's voice chilled him to the bone, and he nodded slowly.

"Uuuhh...I feel funny..."

His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he teetered once more, arms waving, before falling over backwards. His head was about to hit the floor when it was caught by the same hands that had silenced him only moments before.

The blonde growled at her unfortunate positioning; she knew that she could not hold the unconcious idiot while bent over for very long, yet did not want to hurt him. In all fairness she should have let him fall, but now that she had bothered to catch him, would not waste her efforts. Glaring at the old man and the Goddess (who, as she was disgusted to see, was also still on the ground) she sat down on the dirty floor, cradling Billy's head against her crossed legs.

"All stupidity aside, would you care to let us...me...know what Grim's scthye has to do with any of this?" She asked in mock politeness.

Arpiagus stepped forward, muttering uner his breath for his companion to get up, and rested his back upon the table. Tangling a finger in his stringy beard, a faraway expression crossed him for a moment, then vanished.

"I can use it to conjure an army."

"Then why do you need us?"

"You and your boyfriend are going to conjure it for us."

Ignoring the snide remark about Billy, she pressed further.

"How? And what makes you think we'll lend our services to you?"

The old man sighed and gazed upon her, for once with a serious look, exempt of any humor or mockery.

"I have the scythe and powers, but cannot create my own army. My magic will only get me so far, you know.I can summon any being from any of the farthest reaches of the universe, but alas, I know of none. Persephone here is the only other living being I have come into contact with for hundreds of years. I am a solitary man, a hermit, as your kind might say. We need your memories and minds to help form an image of whom to call. If I can tap into your minds with the scythe, I can pull forth any relatives, enemies, friends, mythical creatures...anyone or thing you have ever come into contact with. Those who are your enemies will be filtered out, but everyone else will appear here."

Arpiagus gasped for a moment, as his speech had winded him. His lungs were not what they used to be.

"Hemm...As for the latter question...if you do not comply, then the realms will be given up to Decarabia and his army. Our plans may not be explicit, and are a bit irrational, but this is our only solution. Otherwise, all will be lost. Decarabia could strike at any moment."

Any precautions or hints of doubt were blown out the window. It was almost funny, how someone who hacked and wheezed every other sentance could create such an impact. Mandy barely had time to register the importance of her decision before it was thrust upon her.

"Do you accept?"

Persephone had risen, straightened herself, and appeared calm without anyone's notice, and it came as a surprise to hear her voice.

"Are you sure this is our only option?"

"Not unless you wish to be dictated by a demon. And now that he has tapped into the power Persephone has stored for so long...he will be completely corrupted. Whatever soul he had in him is gone now, replaced with evil. Evil that you can't bargain with, that will show no mercy or pity, and that feels no pain."

"You could have answered with a simple 'yes or no' instead of dramatizing everything."

"I'm simply stating the facts. You and your idiot here are the only sentient organisms for hundreds of miles who haven't been recruited into Dec's army. You're rather...alone right now. Even returning to the outside world without our help is almost impossible."

"There are no other humans?"

"No. Only you...and your friend."

Mandy looked down at Billy for a moment, for he had begun to drool on her leg. Yet his random twitches and giggles seemed to captivate her, and she found herself leaning inwards a bit further. He was her only gateway to her world now. Without him, she was alone.

Her only friend.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She snapped back and her head refocused, though it was too late. They had already seen her so disgustingly close to him.

"We'll help you, alright? If the universe fell apart, how would I rule it? There will only ever be one dictator. Me."

Even in a 'good' mood Mandy could be frightful, and aggitated, she was even worse. Her venemous words clutched around the Goddess' and Arpiagus' hearts, releasing a gasp from both. Neither had any idea just how malicious the girl could be when she wanted to.

Regaining her former attitude towards him, Mandy slapped Billy hard, sending his eyelids flying open and cheek burning.

"Ow..." He mumbled, still only half awake. "My frumpy ass cakes...Oh. Whodat?"

He squinted for a moment, as her face was concealed in shadow.

"It's me, stupid."

"Grim?"

Not bothering to answer his moronic question, she pushed him from her lap. She didn't dare look at him while doing so; if she did, the teen might have been tempted to tone down her harshness.

"Nobody we know has any training or weaponry. How are we going to face Decarabia's army with a bunch of low lifes?"

Arpiagus mearly chuckled. It amused him, how often she underestimated his abilities.

"I can provide what we need to defend ourselves. As for weapons...I can improvise. And even though your allies have never been in a battle before, we must at least try. Hopefully sheer numbers will outweigh the oppositions. They're not very bright as it is, at any rate." He rolled his eyes, and Persephone nodded her head in agreement.

"You'll be sending thousands to their deaths. Some wouldn't even last five minutes."

The old man's brow wrinkled, and his grin dissapeared. He knew and achknowledged the fact. He also understood the impact it would create. Unfortunately, there was no way around it.

"What are a few lives weighed against the fate of the universe? It will be painful to see those you know fondly die fighting. But if they do not, they will die without dignity, and without a shred of mercy. If Decarabia's in charge, it will be a slow demise."

Even Billy looked downcast at this, and he turned to Mandy for reassurance. He, of course, had not idea what was going on, which was his cue to look to her for answers. But she did not see him, nor his confused face, for her head was bowed. Her parents, his...everyone. As good as dead.

And it might be in vain.

"Mandy? Are we going to die?"

"Not yet."

She had always thought in better to be rid of the pests and annoyances that filled her life, but now that she was actually faced with the truth, it almost hurt. What was worse, the both of them could be killed as well. And if anything ever happened to him...

No. She would protect him.

"We oblige. Provided that our 'army' works under my command."

"But you've never commanded such a large force before. You'd have no idea what to..."

The feeling of power and leadership only strengthened around her as he spoke, and he quickly cut off his unspoken sentance. Using his acute judge of personality, he could already tell what he was about to say was a lie. She would lead, and others would follow.

"You shall have that granted for you."

"Then let's get going."

-GABM-

Outside the shack, Persephone spoke up for the first time in a while. It had become rare for her to talk at all, as she let Arpiagus do most of the guiding. It was not in her nature to consort with others, as hundreds of years in solitude had taught her. It almost seemed as though she had trouble holding a conversation at all.

"Who's memories shall be used? Who here has seen the most?"

"Oooh, ooh! Pick me! Memememememe!"

Billy held up his hand and arm, jumping up and down in an insane attempt to get picked. He still had no idea what he was being picked for, exactly, but as long as it entertained him, it didn't matter.

Mandy crossed her arms over her chest.

"Billy's been to more realms and universes than you can count. He's always getting himself into trouble with Grim's stuff."

Persephone turned to Arpiagus, a doubtful look on her face.

"Should we even access his memories and thoughts at all? Who knows what imaginary things are running around in his head."

"We have to. Even if what he conjures is not real, at least we'll have more bodies."

The old man nodded in the redhead's direction, and he bounded over to him and the scythe. Quivering with excitement and anticipation, Billy stopped in front of the cloaked man and lady, who took care to step back a few feet.

"Now Billy. Billy?"

His attention had been diverted for a split second, and Arpiagus had to recall it before he decided to run away.

"Yes, uglyman?"

"I need to to calm down, right now. Think of something peaceful, and quiet...sometime when you were very relaxed...Can you think of any such time?"

The teen bowed his head and squeezed his eyes tight, brain scrambling for an answer. After a few seconds his tense body grew limp, and a stupid smile fixated itself across his lips.

"Uh-huh. I remember when Mandy and me was sitting in a tree, and we was talkin'...It was real nice."

The blonde uncrossed her arms for a moment. She didn't think he would remember that, much less find it serene.

"Excellant."

The aged man took a few steps towards him, uttering a faint 'shhhh' sound, like one would to calm a kitten, or other animal. He lay one hand to rest over the content boy's head, the other gripping the gleaming handle of the blade. He too closed his eyes, and took a deep breath; he had not let them know this, but he wasn't quite sure his magic would work with such a powerful obejt. His ideal goal at the moment was simply not to kill the boy in the process.

Especially not since the girl eyed him like a hawk.

Slowly, he brang the scythe towards Billy's hat and hair, struggling against the power within it that wanted him to slice the teen open. The sharp point glistened, and finally touched his head.

The result was mind-blowing.

Sundry colors filled the cave with an explosion of light and a deafening bang, knocking both of the ladies in the party off their feet. A vibrant display met their eyes; it was as if an aurora borealis had sprung from Billy's mind, painting itself in whisps across the sky and low ceiling. The once empty cavern now danced with his memories and recollections, as well as faces he knew well...and others, whom he had seen but once. Dream people also drifted lazily to and fro, as well as monsters and ghouls. All those in his fantasies were present, shining through the gateway into his mind.

"Hold ON!"

Arpiagus shouted, as the swirling images began to drift faster and faster, melding into a dark cloud above their heads. Even Mandy was awestruck. She had seen magic and spells, but none like this.

Billy began to sweat and tremble, as his already feeble brain struggled to cope with the onrush of emotions, remembrance, desires...and faces he wished he didn't remember quite as clearly. He knew the evil beings would be filtered out, but they still frightened him.

There was another crash, and the cloud seemingly exploded in mid-air; the air cackled with static, and the pulse of other worldly powers as the beings were sucked from their homes, and lives...

Mandy forced her eyes open against the blinding white light, enough to see familiar shapes materializing before her.

First a head would appear, without a body; then shoulders, torsos, legs, and feet. Some were caught in inconvenient positions, pure and simple shock painted across their faces. Others, as she soon found, seemed less than surprised.

"What am I doing here?"

"Marge?"

"Where the hell??!..."

"Odd."

A body formed, slower than most, directly in front of the blonde, and she scrambled to regain her footing, in case it fell on her. She did a double-take. At first, she had thought it to be Billy. Taking a closer look, though, she soon realized it was not. His neat attire and blue cap gave him away instantly.

"Oh no. Not you."

"What the devil am I doing here? What's going on, Mandy?"

William looked around frantically, his panic rising as he saw the large crowd forming around him.

"Don't just stand there, woman! Tell me!"

Still at a loss for words after having seen the explosion of people, Mandy decided to make her answer short, and to the point. Besides, she was in a hurry.

"You've been called for war."

"Oh. Bloody hell."

Not wanting to have to stand and explain anymore than that, the girl turned on her heel and left, pushing through the crowd. Where was Billy?

William didn't mind her quick departure, anyways. Amanda had begun to form beside him, her eyes crossed, and mouth wide open.

"Hehehe...Did everything just taste purple for a second there, William?"

-GABM-

Weaving in and out of the familiar faces, searching for Billy...he was her only concern right now. Once the war began, she could not let him out of her sight for even a moment. If she didn't, there was no way he would survive.

Frusterated, she began pushing monsters and humans aside, straining to reach the middle of the horde of bodies. Some reacted poorly to her rude shoves, but others were too busy trying to figure out what was going on to care or notice.

The monsters forming around her made her side-step a few times, as quills and spikes shot out as they materialized. For a moment she was even forced to dodge the panting, saliva-encrusted lips of the Chupacabra, from so many years back.

Damn them all...there were so many voices and screams, each overlapping one another, that she couldn't make out a certain high-pitched babbling. Little did she know that he had already found her.

Ten dirty, unkempt fingers found their way onto her shoulders and twirled her around, though not forcefully.

"It worked Mandy! I conjured them all up, just like the uglyman said! He's over there, with pretty lady. They're talkin' 'bout settling down all these peoples. I dunno how they're gonna do it. The point is, I found my dad!"

Mandy leaned to the side, and found herself staring into a fat belly. Her gaze trailed upwards, into the face of the man that almost matched wits with her idiot. His black pompadour with streaked with gray, yet his essence of childishness never faltered.

"Hi, Mandy. Nice party ya got here, but where's the free cheese? And soda machine?"

Failing to notice the seriousness and obscurity of his situation, Harold absent mindedly began picking his nose, muttering about how noisy it was in the cave.

Tired of dealing the stupidity of those around her, the blonde roughy grabbed Billy by the arm, dragging him towards a nearby ledge.

"Bye, son! Have fun with Mandy! And don't forget to bring back cheese!" Harold tried to call through the flurry of people beginning to form in front of him.

She paid no mind to his calls, eyes glued to the rocky overhang.

The crag would be an ideal spot to get the attention of the masses...

AN: It'll get better, don't worry. Once the battle starts heating up, so will the action...