Hahahaha... As soon as I posted chapter 24, I sat down, started, and finished this! It just took me a little while to get off my lazy tail and post it...;)

I just had a realization: wouldn't Dimentio's birthday be today, being April Fool's Day?? A jester?! Get it?! AHAHAHAHAHAHA-brick'd- But I guess happy birthday, Dimentio. Even though you're a crazed, evil villian, you deserve some recognition. XDD

Smash Bros. Brawl is AWESOME!! I beat it last weekend, and it was so cool...If you haven't gotten it yet, get it now! OR SUFFER!! XDDD

Cliffhangers plzkthx. MWHAHAHA.

Enjoy!

-Laz

Gustav and Ettle dashed through the halls of Castle Fidéle, trying to find the location of Noir and Taire. Ettle simply followed Gustav without question, but Gustav was trying to figure out where he was exactly; Blumiere had put them in the most complicated spot in all the castle, and Gustav was having a hard time finding where the master bedroom was.

Endless twists, turns, and dead ends met the two, which were counteracted by groans of annoyance and growls of hatred. Gustav could have sworn that they were headed right where they needed to be going, but as soon as he thought so, there was something to prove him wrong.

Finally, Ettle sighed as Gustav stopped at yet another dead end.

"Are you sure you know where we're going?" Ettle asked softly and innocently. Gustav groaned and leaned against the wall. He allowed himself to slide down it until he hit the floor.

"Ugh, Ich weiß nicht," Gustav admitted, closing his eyes tiredly. "I do not know vhere ve are, Ettle. I veally do not know. I could have svorn dat ve vere approaching the interior, but I suppose not…"

Ettle frowned, knowing that Gustav's emotions were becoming negative. "Come on, Gustav, I'm sure we'll find it soon; we just have to keep going."

"I am not even sure I can do dat…I am so tired, Ettle. Both mentally and physically. I have been valking for hours and speaking English for days, and I desire rest…"

Ettle sat down, feeling tired herself. Admitting defeat was the easiest option, but it wasn't the best one. She looked around to see if anything was causing familiarity to either she or Gustav.

"Landmarks…landmarks…isn't there some sort of—YAAGH!!" Ettle suddenly screamed, causing Gustav to jump up. He realized that they both were surrounded by black, glowing outlines, like nothing he had seen before. "Wha-what's happening to us?!"

Gustav looked around, but found no one surrounding or watching them.

"Whoever you are, show yourself!!" Gustav demanded, hoping for an answer. There was silence.

Ettle began to shake violently, overwhelmed by fear. "Gustav, make it stop…Make it stop!!"

"Ettle, just calm down!!" Gustav replied. Vat is going on here?!

Suddenly, their beings began to fade. Gustav and Ettle cried out, desperate for help.

"Gustav, DO SOMETHING!!" Ettle begged. "Anything!! Just quickly!!

"I do not even know vat is happening, and you expect me to do someding?!" Gustav shouted. Ettle yelped as she vanished into thin air. Gustav gasped. "ETTLE!!" Then, as Gustav's sight began to darken, the German Hero managed to cry, "Blumiere, Hilfe…!"

Timpani couldn't keep her eyes off the last page of the Light Prognosticus. Its phrases began to anger her and aggravate her; why couldn't the Ancients just be specific and general? Why couldn't they speak English instead of something so terribly complicated?!

"Two balances the Two." It taunted her. She finally got so frustrated with the idea, she expressed it vocally.

"'Two balances the Two', it says. It's just WAITING for me to let down my guard so it can just throw me back, just like it did to you, Blumiere," Timpani scowled. "Just ridiculous…" Blumiere could only smile in her time of anger; she was so silly when she was upset like this.

"That could be anything, I swear," Timpani ranted. "It could just mean two of us against your parents, Blumiere. Two of us against Dimentio and Zahira. Gustav and Ettle against Dimentio and Zahira!! Seriously, it makes me wonder how Merlon could EVER read this thing! A book is supposed to educate, not make you hostile!!" She stomped her feet and held up the white book in the air. "Oh, great Ancients, show me what the heck you're talking about!!" She paused and growled after seeing and hearing nothing.

"What a bunch of rip-off artists!!"

Blumiere nodded, trying to ignore his wife's rage on the Light Prognosticus; at one time or another, he himself had doubts of both the Light and Dark Prognosticus. But he did know what she was talking about, and he was thinking about it.

"'Two balances the Two'…ugh, I mean, come on!! What the heck does that imply??" Timpani muttered. Blumiere's eyes widened. There were four of them, including Ettle…

"Two humans…two of the Tribe of Darkness…" Blumiere muttered quietly, slowly realizing the answer. Timpani looked up at the French count and blinked.

"Huh?"

Blumiere turned around and took Timpani's shoulders and began to shake her. "Hello?! Wake up!! It's talking about Heroes; there are two of each species!! Ettle's the fourth Hero!" He let go of her and started to laugh. "Of all the times to be so ignorant! The Light Prognosticus glowing, her constant company with us, her caring instinct…no wonder!!"

"But of all the times to realize it…I mean, what are her powers? She can't aid us in battle, can she?" Timpani asked. Blumiere looked down in thought.

"I don't know, but we'll find out for sure…"Blumiere trailed off. "Perhaps her maid skills have been her powers…her specialty is aiding everyone back to health…think about it. She helped us get healthy again after the long journey over, and she helped nurse me back to health after Count Bleck. So if someone gets hurt in battle, she'll be there to help with no hesitation! She's like you, Timpani, you don't care who or what is injured, you help them anyway. Plus, the Light Prognosticus has always brought love to someone, hasn't it? You and I, and now Gustav and Ettle."

"Blumiere, I don't know…Gustav got powers when he was recognized as the Hero…"

"And what about you? You don't have any powers, do you?"

"…Well, not really…I just carry the Light Prognosticus because—"

"Because you have the purest aura of all of us," Blumiere finished. "That's not a power; it's more of ability. Ettle has abilities; trust me on this, Timpani. At this point, who else could possibly be the fourth Hero?"

Before Timpani could say anything more, the white book began to glow once more.

"And the Prognosticus prophesizes of all times just to make things more complicated," Blumiere frowned. He paused. "Or, were you about to..." Timpani opened it and read it aloud.

"'As the battle rages on, four will assist in the fight for dimensions.'" Timpani read. "Four…? If there's you, Gustav, Ettle, and I, who else is there? Whose side are they on?!"

Blumiere remained silent. "…I…don't know…for all we know, these four could be on Dimentio's side…"

Timpani frowned; if she didn't understand who they were, and her husband didn't understand, they would be in for a surprise that no one could ever begin to predict.