He stared at her as if waiting for something. Alexis wasn't sure what he expected of her. Gilbert had just had Raven destroy his arm and reformed a Contract with said chain. What did he want her to say? She may have understood why it happened, but it was still a shock to her that was just setting in.

He slowly raised his hand and touched the back of his hand to her cheek. The touch felt like it sent a shockwave throughout her body and she snapped to attention. "What the hell were you thinking!? You had me worried!" Alexis glared at him waiting for his response. He didn't say a word and continued to stare at her. Her acting wasn't fooling either of them, so why bother?

She fell into him and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, ignoring the still warm liquid that stained his side. She took a shaky breath, "You know how important you are to me… all of you." Gilbert looked down at her and, seeing that she didn't mind, wrapped his still bloodied hand around her. "You knew I was going to be fine. You knew what was going to happen when you connected with Raven." Her grip tightened. "Just because I knew doesn't mean I would see it and feel any different than if I didn't. Wait…" she looked up at him, "You… know?"

"When our new Contract formed, Raven passed on all it knew about the Blue Monarch and how it has been interfering with your life since it was transferred to you." The two recalled how the year before Oz's disappearance all those years ago Alexis had sustained strange injuries they now knew were from the Blue Monarch 'trying out' her body.

"So you know what happened to Iris?"

Gilbert paused at this. Alexis guessed that he did. She suddenly became very aware of the blood that was now staining her clothes. She pulled away and turned him to get a better look of the wound. "We have to clean and dress it." She started to pull him to follow her, but he wouldn't budge. "We don't have time, Alexis. Oz is going to be executed soon." She stopped. How long ago had that Baskerville told her and Vincent? It felt like a lifetime ago, but it truly hadn't been that long.

"But what are you planning on doing?" she questioned, "Oz is surely going to be well guarded. And where are you planning on taking him?"

"We'll go through Pandora's catacombs. There's an escape to Reveille."

She bit her lip, worried. "Alright," she agreed, "But let's at least do something about your wound. Even for a Baskerville it's going to take a while to heal."

Alexis had calmed down. She was still a little anxious, but not like before; although her current location wasn't helping much. The Rosewood daughter was currently in Pandora's dark and dreary catacombs waiting for Gilbert and, hopefully, Oz. She could have used the few minutes she was alone to get some well needed rest, but the darkness and possibility that an enemy could be around any corner was not helping.

And then she heard it. A large explosion, that surely signaled Gilbert and Oz escaping from the Baskervilles and into the catacombs, reverberated through the walls. Alexis dashed off into the direction it came from, she had to hurry. As much as Gilbert had denied it, he was in pain from his wound still. Alexis could easily see that as she quickly cleaned his wound before they separated.

"Gil!? What's wrong, are you not feeling well!?"

She stalled for a second. "Oz…" she whispered. The woman ran faster now that she knew that they were here.

"Gil, you didn't…"

"Don't worry, Oz, I'm just not used to it yet. Mine… is different from your seal."

She could hear them more clearly now. At turning around the corner, Alexis saw Gilbert and Oz sitting on the ground. Oz seemed distraught, no doubt about finding out about Gilbert's new Contract. But all that mattered to the woman was that Oz looked to be alright. "Oz!" she was in front of him in seconds and was hugging him tightly, "I'm so glad to see you."

They heard Gilbert trying to stand, using the wall as support. Alexis tore herself away from Oz and tried to help Gilbert. "Take it easy," she chided, "You're still not at your best." He gently pushed her helping had away. "I'm fine." The woman rolled her eyes, more in teasing fashion, before they both looked back at Oz. "Sorry about that, Oz, I'm feeling better now," apologized Gilbert, "Let's get away from Pandora and think of a way to help the others." He and Alexis turned to continue down the passage.

"No."

Gilbert and Alexis stopped and looked back. "You guys go back. Gil, you're a Baskerville, you should be at Glen's side; Alexis, you're the Blue Monarch's Contractor, you have a tie to Glen." Alexis frowned. Gilbert blinked. "What are you talking about, Oz?"

"If you stay with me they're going to kill you guys!"

"We won't let that happen!" Alexis intervened. She was feeling a bit angry and disappointed at Oz right now. Did their many years of friendship amount to nothing? So some pieces of truth completely overshadowed who each of them had become and been over all these years? Oz slammed his hands on the hard ground. "Why!? Why would you guys… Gil… you've lost an arm… Alexis… you're cursed with the Blue Monarch… all because of me…"

"Oz, don't worry about it. I don't care about losing an arm, as long as I can be by your side again." Gilbert was unfazed. Oz didn't seem to understand Gilbert's recent revelation. "Cut it out! Cut it out already, you idiot! You're an idiot!" Oz grabbed Gilbert's jacket in clenched fists, "A hopeless, irretrievable idiot!" The boy tiredly sighed at the end of his outburst. Gilbert looked like he was about to say something, but Oz cut him off. "What's the point? What's the point of protecting someone like me? This body belongs to Jack, you hate him, right!? I'm just a plush toy, a Chain, who took the place of the real Oz Vessalius! I'm… a fake…"

"Well what exactly is real, Oz?"

Oz's eyes widened at his valet's words. He felt a hand gently rest on his shoulder. "Oz, you've always told Alice that being a chain doesn't define who you are." A green orb gave a sidelong glance at the brunette. "It's what you do and how you act that defines who you are."

"So what if you're a fake? It's alright," said Gilbert. Oz finally looked up at his two friends. "All that matters is that you're Oz." Gilbert and Alexis sharply looked around and saw two approaching Baskervilles. Gilbert pushed Oz towards Alexis, who stumbled as she caught the boy. He summoned Raven, and looked back at Oz as he did, "Any objections, Oz?"

The trio ran down the passages, Alexis pulling Oz ahead by his hand and Gilbert at the front.

"Alexis, are you… mad at me? Do you hate me?" The question came out timidly from the boy. He was in a fragile stage, between leaving behind the poisonous thoughts of seeing himself as a 'fake' and 'replacement,' and accepting that he was Oz and that everything he had achieved was real.

Alexis let out an irritated sigh. "I only have one reason to be made at you, Oz," she looked back at him with a gentle smile, "and that's for not following your own advice. Also, why do think I would hate you? You're not the reason why I'm the Blue Monarch's contractor; that was… inevitable." They skidded to a halt as Gilbert motioned for them to stop and keep silent.

"Oz, are you there!?"

That voice, they all knew that voice so well. They peeked around the corner they were behind. "Uncle Oscar!?" called out Oz. The Vessalius man stopped and supported himself on the wall. "Uncle Oscar?" Oz called out again. Oscar's only response was to hunch over and wheeze from running. "Give me a second… I haven't run this much… in a while!" He continued panting. "Uh, Oscar-sama," started Alexis, "it's good to see that you're alright, but what are you doing here?" Oscar straightened himself up, still a little breathless, "Sorry, I was heading back to the manor to take Ada somewhere safe, when the Baskervilles caught me and hauled me back to Pandora. Then I heard that they were going to kill Oz, so I…" He trailed off as he ran out of breath.

Gilbert stepped forward and looked like he was about to say something, but he tripped suddenly and fell flat on his face. "Gil!?" cried out Oscar. Oz flinched and Alexis ran to his side. "Sorry, I lost my balance all of a sudden." He felt a gentle touch on his shoulder and someone grab his hand to help him up. "I thought I said to take it easy," scolded Alexis. They both looked up at seeing Oscar approach them. The Vessalius man picked up Gilbert, steadied him, and patted his head. He said a few words to Gilbert that Alexis and Oz didn't hear.

"If we use the evacuation routes reserved for the Four Great Dukes, we can probably manage to sneak out of here," he said to all of them. Alexis smiled, relieved. "That's right, if you can escort us, then we can go through that way," she said glad to get out of here.

Oscar shuffled with something, "I almost forgot," he threw it to Oz, "That's your coat, right? When I pressed the Baskervilles to tell me what happened to you, they gave me these for an answer." Oz heard a rattle in the pocket of his coat and took out his—Jack's—pocket watch. He smiled strangely at his uncle, "Thank you, Uncle." He reached out and took Oscar's arm, almost like a child reaching for a parent. There was something… strange about the whole thing.

Oscar turned and started to lead them up the stairs he had come down. There was something heavily affecting Oscar. The man seemed out of it as they walked.

"Oscar-sama!"

Oscar felt Gilbert push him behind the corner before a barrage of bullets nearly rained down on him. Alexis quickly stepped next to Gilbert. The two had agreed that if a fight ensued during their escape, Alexis would stay with Oz and protect him while Gilbert attacked.

"Aha! I knew you would try to get away through this passageway. Shoot and kill Oz Vessalius now!"

"W-what about Oscar-sama?"

"I don't give a damn about him! As things stand right now, the Baskervilles could decide to execute Pandora's staff at anytime! If we bring them back to them, our lives at the least may be spared!"

Alexis sneered. It was the General's right hand man, trying to save his own skin. Even the underlings he was with thought more of Oscar then he did. "Alexis," Gilbert brought her to attention. "Right," she nodded and placed herself protectively in front of Oz and Oscar. He dashed towards their attackers. It almost literally took an instant for Gilbert to subdue them. "All clear," he called. Oz made his way to the Pandora agents, and seemed to check something on one of them. Oscar followed after him.

"Are you alright?" asked Alexis. "Yeah, fine," Gilbert answered, never taking his eyes off of Oz and Oscar. His eyes narrowed and suddenly aimed his gun. "Wait, don't move, Jack." Oscar slowly moved out of the way, looking back at Gilbert and then at Oz. Alexis noticed what Gilbert had seen, Oz, or rather Jack, had been reaching for one of the Pandora agents' guns.

"Hm, when did you notice?" asked Jack.

"When Oscar showed up I started to sense something off about you."

"Haha, impressive," he stood and faced them, "Not so long ago you wouldn't have noticed a thing."

Alexis staggered a bit. 'What… now?' She had the same feeling as before when she synced with Raven. But who was it? Oscar, Jack, and Gilbert looked at her when she let out a small gasp as she fell against the wall. Jack smiled. "Ah, is he using the Jabberwock, Alexis?" She blacked out for a second, and when she came to she was overlooking the main hall of Pandora Headquarters.

"Be silent, Reapers!"

She looked down at the handful of Pandora agents that sent their chains on the attack; the fools.

CRASH

The Jabberwock appeared.

All, but one, of the agents were undoubtedly dead from the Jabberwock's strike, but she felt no emotion at the moment. They had attacked with their blind belief in Jack still burning brightly.

'So this is how she accomplished her role, isn't it, Jabberwock?'

'Yes, she would become one with the Chain and learn all that had led to the Chain's actions, without the interference of emotions, as you are now. From that she would judge the decision.'

'I see.'

Glen walked over to the remaining survivor, who seemed to be mumbling Jack's name. He stopped next to him and looked down at his pained face. A sickening sound of metal cutting into flesh seemed amplified in the silent hall. Glen had stabbed Elliot's sword into the man's mouth and throat, and Alexis still felt nothing.

"Do not speak his name before me again," he growled.

'Remember to do what you think should be done, Blue Monarch's Contractor.'

That was the last thing Alexis heard before returning with Gilbert, Oscar, and Jack. And it seemed as if it had been the worst time to connect to the Black-Winged Chain. She saw Jack pointing a gun to Oscar, but his other hand was pushing it away. "What's this? Why can't you just go to sleep, Oz?" he suggested. Gilbert made a dash for him, "Jack, you bastard!" Jack made a run for it into the twisting passageways. Alexis struggled to stand up—When did she fall?—and went after him with Gilbert and Oscar.

"Do not misunderstand, Gilbert. I was only protecting Oz, just like you!" Jack's voice echoed through the passageways. It was near impossible to tell which way he had gone.

"This is bad, you two, the underground passage leading to St. Luca's Gate is part of an intricate labyrinth," explained Oscar, "Even though I know the way, I could get lost if I took a wrong turn."

"Oscar, why did you come for Oz?" Jack started again, "Did the Baskervilles tell you? Or was it Zai? Did they tell you that I killed your wife and son?" Gilbert and Alexis stiffened. They couldn't believe the man would really use that against Oscar. "You hate me, don't you, for living the life that belonged to your own son? And you hate Oz as well. You didn't come to save Oz, but to erase his existence with your own hand." Alexis couldn't believe Jack would say that. Without her realizing, she clenched her teeth and balled her fists in anger. 'That son of a—'

"That is enough, Jack!" Gilbert exploded, "Oscar-sama could never hate Oz! Just like Alexis and I could never betray him! You'd better come up with a better lie, Jack! Oscar-sama will always be on Oz's side, no matter what!" Apparently, Gilbert had used up a lot of his energy in his outburst, and was now panting as he cooled down. Suddenly being reminded of Gilbert's still healing state, Alexis pushed her anger aside. "Gilbert, you're still healing, don't do something so strenuous." She quickly realized that she was counting an emotional outburst as more strenuous then battling enemies.

Observing the two, Oscar felt a twinge in his heart. He was reminded of the earlier days when they were all living happily in their peaceful bubble that was the Vessalius estate. Oz, Ada, Gilbert, and Alexis; those memories, these children, he realized, are what helped him pull through life.

Gilbert and Alexis turned to Oscar at hearing his laugh. Gilbert nearly fell at how hard Oscar started slapping his back. "O-Oscar-sama?" called out Alexis worriedly. "It's nothing, don't worry," he reassured after one last chuckle. He looked up at them with a warm tenderness before starting down the passage. There was a new determination in his step.

As Gilbert and Alexis caught up to him, they saw Jack appear suddenly next to Oscar. Before either of them could react, Oscar and Jack reacted.

BANG

It all happened so fast. "So I hate Oz, and after exposing that you meant to have him kill me?" Oscar had Jack restrained against the wall, and the bullet from Jack's shot had only hit part of Oscar's ear. "I'm sorry, but I just won't play along with that story. I'm here to shut that mouth of yours, Jack!" Oscar's grip tightened on Jack's wrist. "You're right. Zai told me all about you. He told me what a coward you are. …You did everything you could to isolate my brother.

"It all went according to your plan, didn't it? Not only did you convince him to replace his own son with you, you also fueled Zai's suspicions. Goading him to seek out the truth about 'Jack Vessalius' of his own volition, all while leading him straight to the deceptive histories that you wished to be revealed. You wanted Oz to bring back the power of the B-Rabbit. That's why among the things you allowed him to discover you included this false piece of information: the only way to destroy Oz was to cast him into the Abyss. And so, we arrive at the Coming of Age Ceremony ten years ago."

Alexis didn't like where this was going. What was Oscar-sama about to reveal about the Ceremony?

"Zai…threw Oz into the Abyss so that no one would be able to seize B-Rabbit's power."

Alexis started in shock. "Oscar-sama, you shouldn't be telling him this!" Gilbert stepped forward. Alexis turned to him with wide eyes. He wasn't shocked or surprised at the information; rather he was worried that this wasn't the best way or place to tell Oz.

"Even if I don't tell him, Jack will. This is the worst possible timing. Still, I'd rather have him hear it from me. You can hear me, right, Oz?" Oscar continued with the story. "However, Oz returned from the Abyss, and instead of being destroyed, the power of the B-Rabbit manifested itself through the contract between Oz and Alice."

"Are you trying to say that I planned that as well?" asked Jack. "Who knows, I had a hard time believing it when Zai told me this story," Oscar responded, "But, strangely enough, now that I'm face to face with you, I do believe Zai was telling the truth.

"Someone once compared you to water." Jack slightly started at the words. "And I see the truth behind that comparison. I can sense… nothing from you." Jack snapped.

"Oscar-sama!" Gilbert and Alexis cried out in unison. Gilbert pushed Oscar away from Jack before he started to release B-Rabbit's powers. "You sound… just like Oswald… How unpleasantly familiar." Jack sent a barrage of the B-Rabbit's chains out.

'Use the Blue Monarch's powers, Alexis.'

'Iris? But I don't know how.'

'You do. It is something that you know by instinct.'

'Instinct?'

'Alexis, try!'

Alexis saw one of the B-Rabbit's chains headed for her. She had realized too late for her to dodge it. Oscar and Gilbert saw it too, and that she was too far away on the other side of Jack. "Alexis!" cried out Oscar as Gilbert tried to redirect some of Raven's power to the chain headed for her.

WHAM

Contact was made, but not as anyone had expected. Alexis was panting heavily as she held the chain in her outstretched hands. She had been pushed back by the force of the chain, but not a scratch was on her. The chain started to look as if it was out of focus before it started to disappear in a light wash of light. Alexis looked a bit drained of energy and about to stumble, but was alright. Jack's lips were in a tight grim line. "And I was hoping that you wouldn't be able to use your abilities yet. At least you can't use them fully." His eyes flicked to the side and Alexis realized what he was looking at.

A chain suddenly changed direction and hit Gilbert as it passed him, knocking him down. "Gil!" Oscar was about to go help him when a chain stabbed into his shoulder and pinned him to the wall. He grimaced with pain, but suddenly fury took over. "I can't…just…run away!" He pulled the chain out of his shoulder. He rushed up to Jack who seemed distracted, most likely because of Oz.

Oscar embraced him. "I wish for you to be happy, Oz." It was hard to tell who looked up at Oscar, but it was clear that message had gotten across. "That is what I wish for you from the bottom of my heart. You saved me, all of you. I love you, with all my heart." It was barely noticeable at first. One drop, and then another, and suddenly a river of tears streamed down Oz's face.

A bright light started shinning behind Gilbert, and everyone shielded their eyes. When they looked again…

"What took you so long!?"

"Alice?" Alexis said, now better but not completely. The young girl was sniffling as her own tears dripped down her face as she hovered over Oz. "You're right. I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry, Alice," Oz apologized as his tears still pooled in his eyes. Oscar and Alexis saw Gilbert walk over to the two. They both thought he was going to console Oz and Alice.

"Uwah!" They couldn't have been more wrong. Oz and Alice started to complain about Gilbert holding them too tight and asking what was wrong with him as he suddenly hugged them as he started to cry. "Oz… Alice…" he said. The two suddenly realized and hugged him back.

They were all back together.