I am so sorry for the delay! First off, to whoever created a TVTropes page for this fic, THANK YOU. I seriously appreciate it, and let me know what I can do to improve the page!
Second...I'm sorry to say that writer's block hit hard for me for this fic, and I wish it didn't, because I'm proud of how it's turned out so far. I want to at least see it through to the end.
Thank you for sticking with the fic even after a hiatus!
Yami immediately stepped between Pinkipoo and the others, fire blazing in her eyes. "Pinkipoo! How did you find us?"
Pinkipoo giggled hysterically. "Wouldn't you like to know? Aw, don't look so mean, Yami, we haven't seen each other in years!"
"I know exactly why you're here! And you know I won't let you get him!" Yami declared, baring her teeth.
Pinkipoo unsheathed sharp claws. "Come on, we can settle this like adults! Maybe if I scratch out your eyes you'll hand your kids over!"
That pulled some sort of trigger in Yami, as she reached up. Purple smoke engulfed the room as her disguise vanished, and subsided to reveal Yami now with almost bone-white skin, her black hair almost reaching the floor and flickering like a fire. She was dressed in an purple and gold kimono, the right side of the robe placed on top of the left and the sash edged with black. On her head rested a silver crown with the Eerie tribe symbol in the center, shining a deep purple.
"As the Queen of Yokai and SSS-ranked Eerie tribe representative, prepare to pay for your treason against the throne," Yami declared, cold fire blazing in her eyes as she looked down at Pinkipoo like she was a stain that needed to be eradicated from the face of the planet.
Pinkipoo's grin evaporated in an instant as Yami stepped forward. "Ah...ahaha...maaaaaybe we could just...talk it out, Lady Yami?" she said in a tiny voice, sweating fiercely.
"Let's take this outside!" Yami declared, dashing toward Pinkipoo. The moment the two touched, they vanished instantly in a cloud of purple smoke.
"Mom?!" Nate yelped, running outside. He looked around, heart thumping in his chest, until he looked up to see the two fighting in mid-air. Pinkipoo was trying to flee, screaming as Yami flung a ball of purple fire and missed her just barely.
"I won't miss next time!" Yami declared, charging after Pinkipoo like a bull. She collided into her like a semi hitting a trash can, and Pinkipoo crashed down in the backyard like a meteor. Unfortunately, Slitheref was right beneath her, and the two lay dazed for a minute or so.
Yami took her time landing before them, walking toward them like a lioness stalking her prey. "We trusted you. My husband, my children-we trusted you, and this is how you repay us? By slaughtering your king, by helping a madman take the throne by force, by coming after me and my son and attempting another murder?"
Her right hand formed a purple fire that covered it entirely, and she grabbed Pinkipoo by the throat. "I hope you remember everything in your next life, just so you can suffer!"
"Your Majesty, wait!" Venoct shouted, back in yokai form and holding up the foldable fan. "Pinkipoo never betrayed us!"
Yami turned around, and her eyes widened at the sight of the fan. She dropped Pinkipoo and darted over to Venoct, looking at the fan. "What is this...?"
Kyubi stepped to Venoct's side. "We think it's something of McKraken's. Pinkipoo and the other Lower Enma Court members...their colors are gone. They aren't acting like themselves. And considering Pinkipoo had this on her..."
Yami took the fan, looking it over. Pinkipoo staggered up, stumbling toward her. "Give that back...that isn't your's..."
Yami didn't respond to Pinkipoo. "Venoct, Kyubi, do you know if this can be reversed?"
"I mean, maybe, but..." Kyubi began, before Yami folded up the fan and pointed it at Pinkipoo. Pinkipoo froze up, eyes wide.
"No. Please, no," she begged. "I'll do anything you want!"
"Then tell me how to return you and the other Lower Enma Court members to normal, or perish," Yami spat.
"Just-Just say 'Color Beam' and-"
"Color Beam!" Yami shouted, and a beam shot out of the fan, hitting Pinkipoo. She squealed and writhed in pain, her pink coloration slowly returning. Once her colors were fully restored, she dropped to the ground.
"Oh...Oh no..." Slitheref said, trying to slither away.
Without a moment's hesitation, Yami aimed the fan at Slitheref. "Color Beam!"
Slitheref howled in pain as his colors returned, dropping to the ground once he was restored to normal. Neither he nor Pinkipoo moved immediately as Yami stored the fan away, Venoct and Kyubi approaching them.
"Lady Yami..." Kyubi began, ears lying flat as he gestured toward the house.
Nate and his adoptive parents were watching from inside, Mrs. Adams holding Nate tightly. Yami cringed at the sight of Nate's wide-eyed look, Blizzaria with her hands clasped over her mouth.
"N...Nathan, I'm sorry," Yami apologized, bowing her head. "My temper got the best of me."
"My lady, we...we should back off for a bit," Blizzaria spoke up. "It might be best to retreat to the Sanctuary for now."
Yami nodded, then turned to Mr. and Mrs. Adams. "My deepest apologies. We...We will be taking our leave for now. Blizzaria?"
Blizzaria nodded, and the two poofed away.
"Welcome back!" Chirpster greeted as Katie and her friends approached, back at his sanctuary. "Anything to report?"
"Well, uh...we met with Yami," Katie responded. "And she confirmed Nate is the missing prince."
Chirpster beamed. "Wonderful! Simply wonderful! Is he doing well?"
Katie nodded. "Yeah, it's just...we're all kind of shocked," she responded, sitting down. "It almost seems like a fairy tale, a prince being raised among regular humans for his own safety."
Chirpster hummed in agreement. "I don't blame you. If word of who the heir truly is reaches McKraken's ears..."
"Chirpster, if you don't mind me asking, do you have Auntie Heart here?" Whisper asked. "We may have an idea on how to help Slitheref and the others!"
"Well, yes, but...truth be told, what has happened to Slitheref and the others might not be as easily reversible as we hope," Chirpster pointed out, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. "Auntie Heart is powerful, don't get me wrong, but I'm not wholly sure her power alone could help them."
Whisper visibly deflated, and Chirpster quickly raised a wing. "I'm not saying she can't, mind! But please, don't count your sparrows before they hatch, Whisper!"
"I-I know, I shouldn't!" Whisper spoke up, "But I want to have some faith the answer is among us!"
The door behind the group suddenly opened, and revealed a bruised and battered Apelican.
"Apelican?! What happened?" Chirpster questioned, standing up.
"Chirpster...a yokai got in..." Apelican wheezed. "Emenyan's fightin' them..."
Chirpster rushed to his side before he collapsed, eyes wide for a moment as he looked over Apelican before turning to Katie. "Do you have any healing yokai?"
Katie nodded, quickly summoning Happierre. He yelped as he noticed Apelican and flew to his side.
"Mon dieu! What happened?!" Happierre asked, setting his healing magic to work.
"An intruder in the Sanctuary," Chirpster responded, rising to his feet with a determined look on his face. "I will go and take care of them."
"Not without us! We can fight too!" Katie protested.
Chirpster winced. "...I know, you have the Yokai Watch, and you aren't without your allies, but allow me to take care of this battle in your stead. Please."
Without another word, he left to the ground floor. Katie paused for only a moment before following after him, despite Eddie and Bear's protests behind her. "Katie, wait!"
"I can't stay behind and watch!" Katie said as she hurried to the ground floor. The scene was not a pretty one as she arrived-yokai were lying about the area, while Emenyan and Chirpster were fighting what looked to be a very punk-looking gray yokai, a large pompadour on his head and swinging a bat with nails embedded in it around. Emenyan was gripping one of his arms, tails ablaze as he panted. Chirpster was currently engaging the gray yokai by himself, two wooden boxes with mouths at his side.
"Katie, this looks dangerous...!" Whisper noted as he floated by her side.
The boxes floated in front of Chirpster, toward the gray yokai. "Now! Choose your box!" Chirpster said, brandishing a fan. The yokai growled, and swung his bat at both boxes in a horizontal motion. Chirpster smirked.
"Now, now, don't be greedy!" he chided as the boxes exploded in the yokai's face. He was flung backwards against the ground, skidding for a few feet. Emenyan chuckled as he straightened up.
"You didn't have to be that hard on him, y'know," he said to Chirpster.
"Oh, yes, I did," Chirpster responded, the smirk wiped off his face as the yokai got back up. "This is Bruff we're talking about, not Timidevil."
Bruff lunged toward Chirpster, snarling like a beast, only to be met with a lunge from Emenyan. The two collided briefly before Bruff shoved him off and tried to punch him-
Only to be intercepted by a Darumacho, freshly summoned. He caught Bruff's arm just in time, and Emenyan stepped back a little and glanced behind him. Katie's watch was glowing, a tough look in her eyes.
"We had it, kid," Emenyan weakly protested, legs starting to wobble.
"I'm not going to stand by and let you guys get hurt!" Katie argued in turn. "I'm a Watch holder, right? I should use this power to help!"
Emenyan grinned and gave a short laugh. "Well said, kid!" he meowed before collapsing. "Oh sweet mother of Lady Yami I'm in pain."
As if the words summoned her, the door opened to reveal Yami herself in her yokai form, Blizzaria by her side. "Chirpster, are you-"
Yami paused mid-sentence to look at the chaos that had unfolded, her and Blizzaria's gaze traveling from corner to corner, to Chirpster and Emenyan, and finally settling on Bruff. There was an awkward silence for what felt like forever, before Bruff changed targets to Yami, raising his bat and preparing to bring it down on her-
"Shiny Snowdrifts!"
Before Katie's eyes, a mini-blizzard was summoned and froze Bruff like it was nothing. Yami sighed once it was clear Bruff was frozen solid, dragging a hand down her face.
"What in the name of the Divine Paradise happened here?" she questioned. "This was meant to be a sanctuary, how did one of them get in here?"
"Good question, my lady. Also, my apologies for not greeting you sooner," Chirpster said with a bow.
"Uh...what happened with Nate and his family?" Katie asked, gripping her arm. Blizzaria sucked in a breath and winced, while Yami lowered her head.
"I got too caught up in a fight. I wouldn't be surprised if I scared him."
"Lady Yami..." Whisper murmured, knitting his brows together.
"We have good news, at least. We have a way to return them to normal," Blizzaria said as Yami produced a gray fan decorated in tentacles. "If we hit them with this beam, they'll return to how they were before."
"That's great!" Katie exclaimed. "Though...I think we should wait for Bruff to defrost first."