Road Trip of the Heart

by ultima-owner

A unforgettable journey of crazy times, at least for the person doing it. It's a SIOC fic so if you don't like those, please don't flame.

29. Absolute Death

Welcome! The Vision of Inevitability and the past, present, and future it carried by happening.

This Chapter may have spoilers for High School DXD, Ori franchise, Type Moon franchise, Pokemon, Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate, Team Four Star's Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, Märchen Awakens Romance, Princess and the Frog, Hotel Transylvania

Disclaimer: I only own my stuff.

Side story chapter four: Absolute Death

Unknown time

The Dimensional Gap (A space that borders worlds Chaos sectioned off for side projects from the rest of the Sea of Stars the world rest in.)

"Fly Arrow of Death! I Invoke your Name and Target, TRIHEXA!" Electra declared with all limiters removed and Weapon in bow form. Voleta 'united with her, adding red streaks to her hair and glowing runes on her outfit and wings. "Yes, fire the arrow and end the beast." Death whispered in her ear, providing the 'permission' to use the Named Arrow. From the moment the Arrow fired, screaming are it hunted its name sake, the almost impossible dream that was the death of the Apocalyptic Dragon of Destruction became reality. Great Red, A giant red western dragon known as the Dragon of Dragons, Dragon of Dreams, and the True Red Dragon Emperor, among other titles he had, was the only one to notice the Arrow attacking and killing the beast in every possible instance of all realities.

He didn't give it more than a smirk as he cartwheeled in the Gap. All he had to do was make sure no one tampered with the godly seals YHWH used to seal the now dead/dying beast known as Trihexa. The moment the seals fail, Trihexa will die permanently. Great Red couldn't remember when the last Named Arrow had been used but he did know that an 'echo' of the one that fired it would reappear the moment it does it's task, one last face for the victim to see. You could call it the 'last rites' as the Arrow kills you. He watched as the shooter was taken to the human world by the specter of Death. He felt Ophis, known as the Ouroboros Dragon and the Infinite Dragon God, watching him. Must have sensed the Arrow being fired. Ophis would demand he returns 'her silence' as 'she' called the Gap. (Dragons of this set of 'worlds' didn't have a set form, like what they wanted to look like. IN short, Dragons are Power personified)

An hour later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap (One of the Worlds based on High School DXD)

Rome, Italy

Vatican City

Electra was hurling blood as the aftereffects of using her full power without limiters, uniting only staved off the stress on her body for a little bit, firing the Named Arrow compounded the effects, made her insides feel shredded. She'd live but it would be a painful time the next 24 hours. Rei was doing her best to heal her as Wallace held her steady, but the damage was hard to heal. "My Lady hang in there. I will find someone that knows a healer." Wallace said carrying her princess style and going up to the first person he could find.

Said person was a woman of unparalleled beautiful with long blonde hair and twelve golden white wings on her back and glowing halo over her head. Her cloths, while covering a lot of skin, did little to hide her figure. If Wallace wasn't worried about Electra, he would have said she almost as lovely as Lady Sakura or Lady Titania, but he was quite bias toward his creator and the Laskaris Clan. "Dear me." The woman gasps as she noticed his urgency. "You don't need to say anything. Follow me." She urges him to follow her as she hid her wings. A few minutes later they were stopped by an adult nun and two girls, one with blue hair and other with blonde hair, in cloths that mark them as affiliated with the church. "Lady Gabriel, it is an honor for you descend from Heaven after that feeling of Death was felt in the city." The adult nun said bowing.

"Sister Griselda she needs help." The blue haired girl said, as she sized up Wallace as a possible threat. Electra tilted her head and hurled again making the girls recoil from the bloody puddle it made. "Xenovia, Irina prepare a room for Lady Gabriel so she can heal her." Griselda ordered, looking at the bloody pool that had a less than orderly feel to it.

An hour later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Rome, Italy

Vatican City

Vatican HQ

"She was in fatal danger, but she used too much Chaos Energy for her body to convert safely." Gabriel, the Seraph and voted 'Most Beautiful and Powerful Woman in Heaven', said to Griselda as they stood outside of the room Electra was resting, a magical sleep that would last two days so she wouldn't be in pain, watched like a hawk by Wallace and Volata. Rei was sleeping next her energy spent. From her attempts at healing. "Did they say who sent them or why she was like that?" Griselda asked.

"They are not with any of the Three Factions nor are they enemies." Gabriel said with a pity filled smile. "The Laskaris Clan always has been loyal to Hestia first, even as it brings them o close to death time and time again." Griselda didn't hide her shock. "But they haven't been seen in years." As far as the Church knew, the Laskaris Clan was holed up somewhere avoiding everyone. "By muddling of Chaos and Death she shouldered a task that proved to be unhealthy for her body's limits." Gabriel said, annoyed she couldn't find out what the task was. The only one that could say was Death and she did not fancy asking.

"What of her companions?" Xenovia asked as she returned with a bowl of fruit for the room. "Rei is a spirit guardian, as creature born of light and plant life with talents only they have, but it's not uncommon for these talents to be shared with other spirits, even if it's weaker than the original user." Gabriel explained. "Voleta is a being of Chaos, I'm not sure what she plans but her loyalty is to young Electra. And Wallace, a Fae Creation that rivals ones of legend. His Loyalty to her is unbreakable as his body." Gabriel praised Wallace with a joy that moved them.

"He would weather the sea's mightiest waves if she asked." An old man that smelled of the salt water said as he strode in without a care. "I tried to stop him, but he said Lady Gabriel was expecting him." Irina stated as she ran up to them, drenched and had seaweed tangled in her hair. "Poseidon, did you have to do that?" Gabriel asked him sternly. "she tried to stop the tide." Poseidon stated with a boisterous laugh. He takes the fruit bowl from Xenovia and walked into the room, closing and sealing the door behind him.

"Maybe he can get some answers from them." Xenovia said miffed at the lack of information. "I expect a clearer but still hidden answer about the Task if a Greek God does the asking." Gabriel stating her reason for calling him. "Electra visited the Greek Gods the day before the 'Task', leaving with a Being that was Death, not a deity but the Force itself." The humans shuddered at the idea of meeting Death itself. "Does he always drench people that stop him like he did with me?" Irina asked, changing the subject, carefully removing the seaweed. "It's one of the nicer ways." Gabriel stated as Poseidon ripped the door off the hinges and stomped out, later they would hear the 'freak storm out at sea 'appeared out of nowhere' at that exact moment. "How dare Death force a Mortal to fire a Named Arrow?" He raged as he left, cursing in Greek what he would do to Death if he could.

Gabriel was shaken by this. She looked close to tears. "Named Arrows are not safe for a Mortal to fire. They can damage the soul if the shooter lacks the right qualities." Gabriel explained vaguely as it was a subject that Heaven didn't like talking about. It wasn't forbidden knowledge, but it was a touchy subject. The idea of weapon that kills for good without fail, not created by any of the religions, was a blow to all the groups 'Belief systems' and it was agreed never to explain what a Named Arrow did. The humans picked up on her feelings and dropped the subject.

"I'll get someone to replace the door." Xenovia said, looking at the crushed metal handle and splintered door that fell apart like land slips but an earthquake.

Two days later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Rome, Italy

Vatican City

Vatican HQ

Electra gingerly got out of bed and noted the room's roman style. "I'm in Italy." She said to herself, nodding to Wallace as he offered an arm to steady herself on. "Vatican City to be exact. The Catholic Church's private land that they sometimes lord over other groups." Voleta snarked, commenting on the other version of the Church she observed. "The current Church isn't like that." Griselda said shooting a stern look at the chaos being. "Not from the events I've watched. You've got skeletons just like everyone else's closets." Voleta said knowingly.

"Voleta, be nice." Electra ordered. "You got it." Voleta replied filing away the dirty laundry she had on them for later use. "when you are ready for travel, you are to accompany Xenovia and Irina to Kuoh, Japan to meet up with the Second Owners of that area. Serafall Leviathan, the Devil in charge of Foreign Affairs, will meet you at the earliest convenience. Until that time, you will be staying with one of the Second Owners to ensure a war doesn't break out." Griselda stated. Electra understood that Death had stepped on a lot of toes when they had given her the Named Arrow task. Now she was walking on eggshells until the factions decided if she was a 'danger to the peace' they had going on.

"Second Owners? Normally there is only one person held responsible for keeping the Moonlit World from being discovered." Electra pointed out. Griselda found her wording odd but explained, "The Sitri and Gremory Clan Heirs have agreed to share that role because of reasons unknown, likely Devil Politics." Electra knew there was information being left out, like why the two were being sent to a Devil owned town in Japan the first place. She could hear the tension from Griselda's body language and tone.

She decided that she'd heed the advice she got in her dreams at some point between the pain and her waking up.

Flashback

Electra's Dream

She wasn't aware of how long it had been since she fired the Named Arrow and the blinding pain that followed, but at some point, the pain stopped, replaced by a false peace. It was a numbness of a forced sleep, but she welcomed it. She looked around at the calming dream a cloaked figure watching her. "So, you survived. Just maybe you can restore what was broken. Seek out the blind blade who lived." The figure said, disappearing but leaving behind a sword that felt sad and incomplete. The 'soul' of it pleaded with her showing here six other swords along with the names of the seven blades, Excalibur Destruction, Excalibur Mimic, Excalibur Rapidly, Excalibur Nightmare, Excalibur Transparency, Excalibur Blessing, Excalibur Ruler. Electra knew this was Excalibur Ruler.

"I will do my best to heal your 'wounds', Sword of Promised Victory." Electra told the sword as it took refuge in her soul. The Light Energy helped ease the numbed pain, and Electra witnessed past events of this World. Among them was one that stood out more than others. A devil being slain and a failed attempt to pin the blame on the Nekomata race. At her request, the sword shared what it 'heard'.

"The Court finds the Reincarnated devil Kuroka Toujou, and by extension the Nekomata race, Not Guilty of murderer. The evidence of a Deal Maker circle was uncovered in a basement near the sight of the crime. There is sufficient proof that the victim of this crime broke conduct when requesting a contract and was slain." The judge said before glaring at the chained up black-haired half Devil who was smirking. "On the charge of not protecting your master, Kuroka Toujou. GUILITY!" The Judge roars slamming his gavel. "You shall be placed in the prestige of The Leviathan Maou to ensure you do not give anyone 'ideas' about letting Pureblood Devils foolishly kill themselves like this." The Judge said as Kuroka was dragged out, still in chains.

Excalibur Ruler had gotten this information by 'ordering' those that rule the dreams to tell it. A power that seemed limited was implied in a way that would help it reunite with the six other fragments, one day but not today.

Flashback end

Three days later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kuoh Town, Japan

Kuoh academy grounds

"Please don't pick a fight with the Devils." Electra stated., covertly looking at the sword bag on Xenovia's back and the golden ribbon on Irina's wrist. That accounted for Mimic and Destruction. She felt the gaze of a bat that was magical in origin spying on them. They were walking past the main school building and headed for an old building with wards to make you want to head somewhere else if you got to close. "Where is Wallace? We could use him to intimate the Heirs." Xenovia suggested. "He's talking to the other Heir to see when her sister will be coming." Electra pointed out and knocked on the door of the Hair of the Gremory Clan's HQ.

A white-haired girl with amber cat-like eyes and a bored, who looked longer than Irina, opened the door looking at them with an unreadable look you'd see from a cat. "Buchou is waiting for you." She tells Electra, ignoring the Exorcists on purpose. Electra hid her snickers at how catty this girl was acting, must be part Nekomata or that sub species Nakoshou. Electra didn't miss the slight annoyance at how endowed Electra, bigger than her mother but nowhere near Sakura.

Inside the Occult Research Club building

"What brings you to my town, Exorcists" Rias Gremory, a well-endowed crimson haired teen, demanded as she sat at a desk with steepled fingers. With her was her peerage, beings reincarnated by 'Evil Pieces' special magical chess pieces that are given to high ranking devils. Rocks are walls with strength, not all are slow, but they aren't getting a bonus in that stat if that piece is used on them. Knights are fast with finesse to their strikes. Can't tank as well as Rocks but not as fragile as Bishops can be. Bishops are better with magic than the first two pieces. The Queen is more rounded with boosts in speed, strength, and magic. The Pawn can get boosts by promotion if they are in turf deemed as the enemies' base. The King Piece wasn't given out because it's too dangerous to be used.

Electra asked a question shattering the tension. "Why is he looking at me like that?" She pointed at a teen with brown hair and had a perverted vibe about him. (All 8 Pawns) "That's Issei." A blonde teen, that felt like hate and swords, said with sigh. (Knight) "He's a pervert." Issei glared at him and said "Shut up pretty boy Kiba. I wasn't be a pervert. There's something in her hair." Issei defended himself. "Shirone, did you sense anything?" A raven-haired girl, slightly more endowed than Rias, asked. (Queen) "too much Storm" the catty girl said flatly. (one Rook) A blonde girl, who looked like she couldn't hurt even a fly, walked up to Electra and asked, (One Bishop) "Are you alright? You seem to be walking a little stiffly." She had a pair of rings on her hands and healing glow covered Electra, removing the stiffen that was leftover form a few days ago.

"Akeno, how is that tea coming along?" Ria asked her Queen. "it's will be ready shortly. Asia is perspective about when someone is injured." Akeno commented. Xenovia was about to make a comment about Asia being a witch because she became a devil instead of dying as a human, but Electra pointed her staff warning. "Not one word. She is not Joan of Arc. You can't expect her to be a 'perfect saint' and it the Church was in the wrong when that Devil purposefully did what he did to get her excommunicated like he did to all the nuns that has in his peerage." Electra stated as ozone filled the air.

"Who is he and how do you know this is true?" Rias asked. "Diodora Astaroth, Devil suspected to have thing for Nuns, Caused Asia Agrento to be 'let go' so the Church's followers would not give up on them." Voleta stated as she appeared with a copy, she made, of a document meant only for the high ranked humans of the Church. "They tried to keep this from Heaven, but you can't fool the Angels for too long. Too bad they kicked out the white mage already." Voleta sat on Asia's shoulder and pat her cheek with sympathy. "Cheer up. You found family that like you more than just the white mage you keep around because they can heal." Asia didn't understand the videogame references but was touched at the kind intent.

"But she's witch!" was all Xenovia could get out before being shocked by Electra. Just enough voltage to numbing her tongue and jaw, 'silencing' her for like an hour. Her hair was light socket spikey, a bonus that got Rei to laugh as she tumbled out of Electra's hair. "She did warn you." Irina sighed. Rei landed in Shirone's lap and stopped laughing as they stared at each other. "Mascot." Shirone says amused. Rias giggles at some inside joke. "So, who are your friends?" Issei asked. "The one with top secret paper is Voleta, a being of chaos. And this little darling is Rei, a Spirit Guardian." Electra says indicating Rei, who was happily munching on a cookie Shirone gave her.

"Shirone doesn't share." Kiba said shocked. "You just aren't cute enough." Akeno said as she pours tea for everyone. Rei climbs up Electra and dives into her hair with cookie still in her mouth. "Don't ask. She's worked her magic and made a livable 'bag of holding' like space in my hair." Electra said. Rei emerged with box her size and presented it to Shirone, with the cookie still in her mouth. Shirone looked in the tiny box and found a crystalized pecha berry cube. She eats the quarter sized cube and said "Sweet." She thanks Rei with a nod and the focus was back on Rias. "A Spirit Guardian? Like from that new game coming out. I think Moon Studios is calling it 'Ori and the Blind Forest' or something like that."

"but they don't exist on this world. I searched the Church's library." Irina commented, having done research while Electra slept. "Exactly! Just like that crystalized Pecha berry isn't from this world either." Voleta said amused. "That's from Pokemon!" Issei said. "Go on. Use that lump of meat between you ears for things other than perversion." Voleta said, egging him on. "You have access beyond the Gap." Issei stated. "Bingo! Chaos let us into your cluster of worlds that the Gap protects from all sorts of dangers. Wars have gone on that you have no idea about, or maybe you do as 'fiction'. Life is strange like that." Voleta said.

"We can talk about that later. Four of the Excalibur fragments were stolen, and the thief was tracked to this town." Irina said sharply. "Only because they wanted you to follow them. I watched the thief in action. Trail was baited to be followed. The Church is being a bunch of rats running into a trap." Voleta said. "Sword Boy over there knows of a someone helping the thief. Head of the Holy Sword Project, Valper Galilei." Kiba had a hateful sneer on his face. "That is just one of the Skeletons, I know. I have juicer ones for later." Voleta told the Exorcists before disappearing somewhere.

"Don't mind her. She is a being of chaos and is freer than an independent cat." Electra stated. "who is the thief?" She asks. "Kokabiel." Irina stated grimly. "They sent you to fight a ten-winged angel?" Electra said flatly. "The Church is full of morons. Not totally, just a lot of them." The devils nor the Exorcist had no way to deny it, not that many of them wanted to. "I might have to risk it and help fight him. Two limiters should be enough to deal with him. No need to pull out the super weapons if want the town in tack." Electra mused as Rias' stifled laughter got worse.

"You sound like someone from a magical girl anime." Issei said as the Exorcists left the building. "you've got a staff, a cool outfit, an animal mascot, and aren't afraid to take on the super evil monster that is troubling the town." He ticked off his fingers as Akeno was having a giggle fit and blushing. "I'll be staying with one of the Devil Heirs because of 'almost causing a war'. "Electra said the last part in a snooty voice. "They can go to Tartarus and tell Nyx I said hi." She stated. "We never got your name." Asia said, "The letter was vague." She explained because Rias was still giggling about some inside joke. "Electra Nyx Laskaris, shaman, Professor, Performer, among other talents, at your service." Electra said playfully. "One of my times is the 'Thunder Shaman'."

"Partner! DO not piss the Storm Singer off!" A red scaly gauntlet, with green gem, appeared on Issai's arm as a male voice spoke from it. "ah, Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination. I'd say it was nice to meet you in person, but you seem to be attached to his soul?" Electra said. "I got shoved into a Sacred Gear, along with my rival, by the Big Man (those Devils feel pain if you say God's name near them). Several wielders later, His pervert was born with me in his soul." Ddraig explained. "So that's what the Sacred Gear system is about. Heavenly made weapons for humans to level the playing field." Electra stated, getting it. She had 'met' Ddraig in a dream meeting set up by Chaos.

"now that they are gone, I can ask if the Hellsing anime was made here." Electra said. "That and Hellsing Ultimate was aired, despite the Church throwing a fit." Akeno said with sadistic smile. "Some Americans Abridged it. Care to watch it with Rias and I?" She asked. "sounds like a good watch. How do Devils watch anything with the men man being name dropped in them?" Electra wondered. "only happens if it's in person not a recording. (Not sure if this is true or not)" Kiba said relived he wouldn't be dragged into another 'movie/anime night' with Rias who was obsessed with anything Japan, mainly anime and manga.

The next day

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kuoh Town, Japan

Kuoh academy

Occult Research Club building

"So, Kiba and Issei recued you from Freed, who was using Excaliber Rapidly because Kiba wanted to get vengeance and Issei was trying to stop him from going Stray (when a Reincarnated Devil leaves the Peerage without permission. Most of the time they go out of control and need to be hunted down.)." Rias stated looking at the Exorcists, who's clothes were sliced in a sadistic fashion. "We lost our Fragments as well, meaning they now have all six of the fragments the Church had." Xenovia said, angry at herself and the fact they had to flee from the fight after light spears rained down from nowhere.

"Good, they weren't lying to me when I asked at four in the morning." Rias shot the two devils a look as she said this. They looked away in shame. "Have you considered letting us Devils aid you in getting the fragments back? As much as the idea of a Holy Sword, that can erase our soul being, around is not good for us, but peace is more important." Rias stated. Electra had learned Akeno was an extreme sadist and masochist but cared about her 'family'. She was itching to fry Freed when she learned he almost sliced off Kiba's limbs with the speed enhancing holy sword fragment.

The only reason Kiba still had them was because Freed was a sadistic monster that was kicked out of the Church for getting off on killing anyone that was in anyway to be related the Devil Faction, even humans that are clients of a Devil. A light spear flew through the roof with a note. No one was hit, but it was jarring that someone would attack in board daylight. They heard wings and a few black feathers drifted through the hole. "To the one whose voice moves the sky, I await you in the battlefield of my choosing, in two days. Don't be late or the Contract will be enforced. – Kokabiel, angel of the stars" Electra read. On the back the map of the school grounds.

Electra condensed spear of tainted light magic and feathers into a star-like jewel on a black chain. "The honest feelings of one who has seen war." Electra mused, looking at the jewel that had a swirl of colors that expressed Kokabiel's innermost feelings. "I never imagined the item on the list would after the project was finished." She blinked then realized she could talk about the 'Impossible Task' Lady Titania gave her. "I guess, Lady Titania's command has been lifted." Electra stated, noting the effect of the trinket. It boosted battle related skills and cut the damage received in half, but light and dark damage was cut by three quarters instead of half. "You need a name." She told it as everyone was staring at how calm she was.

"Honest War." She decides on. "Deal Maker" Shirone stated shivering a little as she looked at the wording of the challenge letter. "He desires to fight the mortal picked by Death, who survived what all other mortals failed to do." Electra said. "Firing a Named Arrow." Rias flinched as if struck. "What is a Named Arrow? Lady Gabriel mentioned it but not what it is. The Church has no record about it and everyone I asked refuses to say anything." Irina asked. "I overheard my parents talking to my brother years ago, but they refuse to tell me and I'm the Heiress of the clan." Rias stated.

"I know a little about them." Akeno said shaken. "I don't know what they do but all mortals that have fired one, perished not even a few days later, in pain that even I do not want to feel." Shirone had some info too. "Sure Death, never fails." Was all she said with a look of absolute fear. "to fire one, you need to be 'not alive and yet alive' at the same time. The soul is not meant to be in such a paradoxical state and if your will is too weak, the mere presence of the Named Arrow will kill you." Electra said. "I survived because of the stubbornness my clan is known for."

"The stubborn refusal to die before you get into the triple digits age wise, you mean." Rias pointed out. "Nine times out of ten the Laskaris Clan members are over a hundred when they die." She gives Electra a look and asks, "What is a Named Arrow's purpose?" Electra sighed and said "It's Death's last Resort weapon to kill things that are too hard to kill otherwise. Any more information is reserved for above your paygrade." Electra stated.

An hour later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kuoh Town, Japan

Kuoh academy

Student council room

Sona Sitri, a dark-haired pureblood high classed devil, cleaned her glasses in anger. "He plans to use my school as a battlefield without my consent?" Wallace knew she was being rhetorical, so he just stood silently. Tsubaki Shinra, a glass wearing dark haired devil (Queen), was trying her best to calm her down. Momo Hanakai, a silver haired beauty, and Reya Kusaka, a brown-haired beauty, were Sona's Bishops. They were looking for ways to minimize the property damage in tomes as Tomoe Meguri, a red-brown-haired devil (one Knight) was doing school related paperwork so they could focus on their search.

Tsubasa Yura, a blue haired devil (One Rook), was moving the stacks of papers, which were heavy, as needed. "Did her sister's letter come yet?" She asked. Ruruko Nimura, a brown-haired devil with her hair in twin tails (Pawn), answered. "Not yet. Saji is checking the mail room now." Genshirou Saji, a brown-haired devil (Four Pawns), was only male member of Sona's Peerege. Ruruko had a crush on him, but he had a crush on Sona. Right on time he returned with a box with airholes in it. "No letter but this package was addressed to you." Saji stated.

"Don't open it!" Sona said as he pulled on the knot. It was shredded by a black cat with twin tails, who yawned. "Mailing myself wasn't that good idea. Better tell Levi-Tan the mail system is too slow." The cat stated licking her paw daintily. "Kuroka why did you mail yourself? And why didn't my sister just send a letter stating when she would be here?" Sona asked "That easy to explain. She wanted to test it on me so she could do it another time as a surprise. Too bad it did work right." The cat said nonchalantly. When her eyes fell on Wallace, she padded over to him and jumped on to his shoulder. "oh my. What a well-made golem. Fae made from the looks of it." Her eyes widen. "The Titania's Favor was used to make you. Now that is quite interesting."

The Devils filed that away to ask about later because there were bigger matters to discuss. "Kokabiel is in town and invoke a duel with Electra Laskaris using a Contract from the Deal Maker." Sona stated. "And he is using my SCHOOL as the battleground." Kuroka looked at her sharply. "Tell me everything." The cat all but hissed with sisterly anger. Shirone was her sister and she'd kill anyone that dared to bring harm to her. That is why she let her previous Devil master get killed.

two days later

Well past midnight

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kuoh Town, Japan

Kuoh academy

"What have you done to my creation?" Valper Galilei, an overweight ex-priest wails as he tries to put the six out of seven fragments fused sword back together. Kiba, brandished his Sword Birth (Name of the sacred gear that lets him spawn Demon Swords. He also has one that spawns Holy swords called Blade Blacksmith) Balance Breaker (A trump card of a Sacred Gear) called Sword of Betrayer, a Holy and Demonic sword. Xenovia was the killing cerberus offspring that Kokabiel summoned to 'keep them entertained' while he fought Electra in arena creature by the Contract, he signed three days prior.

"Keep it busy." Rias said blasting another of the demon dogs with orb of the Power of Destruction. "I don't have full control of Durandal (one of the four greatest holy swords) yet." Xenovia said, as she swings the broadsword. "Holy and demonic cannot exist in the same sword! It is impossible!" Valper wailed. "Unless," He didn't get to finish as Excalibur Ruler speared his heart from behind. The Cloaked Figure from Electra's dreams removed her hood to reveal a female Fae with long dark hair. "The one you know as God is dead as much as Uranus (Greek Primal of the Sky) is dead. His body was slain, leaving him cut off from interacting with this world."

"Thank you for giving me the chance to fix what is broken." She says looking at the fast-paced battle going on. She noticed that Freed had skulked off soon after the sword was broken by Kiba. "What a waste of a human. Daring to force my masterpiece to let him use it." She looks at the last beast and sighs as it's defeat brings everyone's attention to her. "Stand down and don't talk unless asked." She ordered using Excalibur Ruler to force them to their knees. "Who are you?" Kiba said through gritted teeth. HE had learned that the 'light element', which lets you wield holy swords, had been extracted his friends (children at the time of their deaths) to be given to just about anyone.

"I am Vivien, the Lady of the Lake, and as the creator of this sword, I wish to fix it. May I use your friends light?" Vivien asked Kiba, gesturing to the 'Light Element' crystal by his feet. "As the last person they knew currently available to ask, it's the least I can do, 'human decency' as some would call it." She said briskly. As a Fae she couldn't fully understand it but after raising Lancelot she had a better grasp than most Fae. "What will become of them?" Kiba asked. "Their light will strengthen the sword and an echo of what happened this day will be in the memory of the blade." Vivien stated, waiting for his answer.

"You may do what you must." Kiba said, feeling that's what his friend would have wanted. She took the crystal, broken shards and chanted in a tongue that was beyond the Devil's 'all speech' abilities.

Meanwhile

In the 'arena'

Electra was bloody and bruised as she fought the Angel of the Stars without 'outside help'. He was only slightly better. His black wings were bend at odd angles from blocking blows. His long black hair was at different lengths from where it was sliced. His black robes were in tatters. And bloods flowed freely from burns and wounds littering his pale skin. "How I it that you are this strong?" He asked, "we are limited to the abilities natural to us, but you are absorbing light spears and keeping up with me, a ten-winged fallen angel, who witnessed the Great War and survived." She pants as she answered, "I trained for years to get this powerful. All my family is strong. That is no shame in being weak, but I am the daughter the Bird of the Hearth. As his daughter I am expected to push the limits and carve out my space in the Clan."

They look to the side to see Vivien reforging the true Excalibur. "Looks like time is up." Kokabiel stated, looking up a little and to the left at figure in white trying to break the barrier. "You win this time but never stop training or I will hunt you down and kill you for that insult." He declared, falling on his back with a laugh. He had proved Fallen Angels were the strongest of the Three Factions by the virtue of being the only one to dare challenge the Storm Singer to such a battle as he did. No tricks, only skill and talent of the combatants. All for the price of giving up his plan to start a war.

"I guess he was right, there are better ways to enjoy war." Kokabiel said with a satisfied smile. "You sound like Papa. Throwing himself into the thick of it and coming out bloody, sometimes none of it is his blood." Electra said falling over if not for the white armored figure holding her up. "you used the Chloroheal spell to replicate the effect of your Galvanism, which was disabled by the rules of the Contract." The Figure stated. "You named a spell that turns light into healing after a pun on Chlorophyll?" Kokabiel asked, "that's something Azazel think up." He laughed as the figure deactivated his armor to reveal a white-haired teen with a white dragon wings with blue energy being the 'skin' of the wings.

Vali, a human working with the Grigori (The Fallen Angel Faction) and wielder of the second Heavenly Dragon sacred gear, Divine Dividing. "Hello Storm Singer. I see that you have improved since the last time we meet in that odd place." Albion, the White Dragon Emperor of Supremacy, said from within his prison. "I'd give you a proper greeting, but I'm tapped out at the moment." Electra said looking amused.

Vivien walked over to them with the completed Excalibur in hand. "You have done the task I set out for you." She stated. "As payment I offer you a choice. A weapon without peer." She indicates the sword she was carrying. "Or I can offer a gift that is not a weapon at all." She had a look that was searching for something. "As tempting as Excalibur is, someone else will wield it when the time is right." Electra said memorizing the blade in its entirety. Unlike the Church made fragments, its light was welcoming to all, even devils, should they not be foes to its wielder. It whispered a secret to her.

"Take this seed and plant it in a crater." Vivien stated giving her a glowing walnut. "The tree it grows into will fill the crater with the purest waters you will find. This water will breathe laugh into even the most barren of soils" Electra takes the seed and asked, "Why does it look like a walnut?" Vivien laughed, "so it survives the trip. You Laskaris have bumpy rides and I don't what the seed to get crushed." She looked at Electra then handed Asia a list of Electra's current injuries. "You are free to go about your day." She says, releasing them from the commend they were under. She then left with the Holy Sword much to Irina's shock.

"The Church will not be happy to learn this." Xenovia said, kicking the body of the ex-priest who caused the Church to lose a holy sword. "Someone needs to take the fall." Irina stated. "I'll do it. You believe in God," She pays no mind to the headaches she caused, "Much strong than I do, and they will kick the one that reports this to them." She hugs Irina, "I won't forget this." Irina said with a watery smile. "I have the feeling the sword will find a wielder the Church won't mind at some point." Electra said mysteriously.

A few days later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kyoto, Japan

Urakyoto (The Youkai capital in a sub-dimension)

"So, my daughter is inside this living cloak?" A golden haired kitsune woman said as her nine tails move in an amused fashion. "Yes, Lady Yasaka. When worn it cut you off from 'reality', protecting you but you can't interact with anything. Like Avalon, it is connected to 'somewhere' because even the Fae can't have it go nowhere." Electra said. Kuroka, in her human form, was looking at the living cloak using her Senjutsu (sage arts) skills, to get a read on what it was. "Is Kunou with this 'Voleta'? I heard a rumor that she took a page out of Hellsing Abridged and tilled every painting in the Underworld by an inch." Yasaka said with an amused smile. Kuroka hid her laughter with a sleeve. "Yes, she did that. She was a little bored. Like how she decided that she'd take Kunou, who asked to 'see something interesting, 'on a walk' in my private space." Electra points to the cloak.

"Please tell me it won't be a killing spree." Kuroka asked, worried. "No just trip down the rabbit hole into a space that is sort of my soul. There's a lot of metaphysical mechanics to it." Electra said vaguely. "you can enter your own soul by putting this on?" Yasaka asked for confirmation. "more or less. Lady Titania must have known it makes little sense, but it's the Fae. What can you do?" Electra said. "And Wallace. Why does he have the faint scent of the Titania's Favor on him?" Her tone was dangerously calm. "I returned it to the Fae Realm, ending it's rein of misfortune. Did the jewel claim one of your people's lives in the past?" Electra asked.

"no but it had a sickly-sweet odor that reminds me too much of the Killing Stone." Yasaka stated, running a finger over the cloak like one would stroke a cat. "What dangers exist in this 'soul' of yours?" She asked. "Have you ever read Through the Looking Glass? If so, you have an idea why your question is hard to answer. Rules here might not be rules there and vice versa. The dangers I can say for sure is there, is the Storms and some of the Spirits that I employee." Electra said vaguely. "They can be zealots when it comes to me, as I helped them reach the heights them reached." She then gave them a bare bones rundown of the 'mini-world' she watched over all her life.

Yasaka nodded in understanding. "Rei go see if you can find them and guide them out." Electra said. Rei nodded and disappeared into the living cloak's depths. "So, you need to give permission for someone to enter that 'place'. can you just revoke the permission and kicked them out?" Yasaka questioned. "Bad idea, anyone without my express permission is in that place, the Spirits will remove them by any means that works. It was intended to be a place for me to go to for peace and quiet but it's a Fae artifact at its core." Electra said.

Elsewhere

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Woven Forest

"I think I'm lost." Kunou, who looked like a younger version of her mother, said looking at the colorful tapestries that hung from the branches of the trees. They had been relaxing in a field of flowers, when a 'Storm' sucked her up and separating her from Voleta who last words were. "Electra is going to kill me." That was an hour ago and she still hadn't found the exit. A lot of interesting and beautiful art pieces, but no exit. Her ears twitch as a scuttling of many legs got closer from all angles. She created an array of Foxfire around her as she looked for what was coming.

Spiders, from as small as a coin to the size of a horse, surrounded her. She tensed but they didn't attack. A spider the size of a small dog, who looked so cute to Kunou, came up to her and said, "Mama wants you to follow us. It has been while since she's had a fresh face to visit her." The spider had this adorable voice that made you want to coo at it. "This better not be a trap so she can eat me." Kunou said, petting the cute spider. "Mama doesn't need to eat. Nor do we, but she likes having a drink with a guest in this place. It's had to make small talk when you are as large as a landmass." The spider had cover it's attempt at saying a different word for her size, which was cute.

Kunou extinguished her flames and asked. "if she o big, then how is this place different? Do you have a name?" The spider moved its head in negative fashion. "I am one of the trillion of children Mama has birthed. We don't really have names or voices, outside of this place. This place is weird. Mama will explain better." The spider said as the spiders left a path open for her to follow.

A half hour later

She was hearing a sound being repeated over and over, along with a woman's voice humming a working song. "Mama is up ahead. We know this forest almost as good as the Great Mother." The spider, who Kunou really wanted to give a name, said with pride. The humming stopped as they entered the clearing. Weaving spider silk was a beautiful woman with hair that looked like the night sky. Her lower half was that of spider that looked just like her hear. "Welcome, unexpected guest, to my home away from home." Her voice was inviting and warm.

"A 'Storm' dropped me here." Kunou said bowing respectfully. The spider woman nodded. "Yes, this realm is prone to those. They are the manifestation of the Laskaris Luck that the Great Mother inherited. All caught in them will find themselves somewhere else. Even the Great Mother herself can be taken by it's grip." The spider woman said, setting her work down and going to look her over. "My name is Kunou, may I know your name?" Kunou asked. The spider woman looked amused at her request. "I am known as The Walking Sky, The Weaver, and Bite of Death. My Name is known only by one being, but you may call me Skyrose if you wish." She stated.

"That's Mama's favorite nickname." The spider piped in happily. "Mama?" Skyrose looked at her child and answered, "Yes little one?" The spider looks at Kunou and asked, "May I have a name?" Skyrose arched a thin brow and asked, "you are the youngest of my brood, yet you are the first to desire one. Do you understand what you are asking?" Skyrose waited for her child to answer. "To have a name means I want to be my own spider. No longer connected to you and vast network of children who are your eyes and ears." The spider recited. Kunou knew this was private affair but she had to voice her opinion. "Isn't that a little cruel to deprive your children a chance to be themselves?" She asked politely.

Skyrose looked at her and asked, "Would you be willing to aid my child if I were to let her have a name?" Kunou looked confused. "When I grant them a name, they are no longer the creature they were before. To have a name is to have the right to leave the nest and find a life without aid from me." Skyrose said. "And we can talk without needing to be in this place." The spider added, getting a pat on the head by Skyrose. "Yes, I didn't forget that part." She said lovingly. Kunou was conflicted. Sensing this, Skyrose walked to a table and poured out tea. "Come and sit while you think over this choice. I know you have questions that are burning in that little head of yours." She said amused.

Five minutes later

Kunou had asked about this place that Voleta taken her and Skyrose explained it was a place born of the Great Mother's soul. Many places in it were representations of the bonds with other beings or places she's been. "Who is the 'Great Mother'? you and your child keep saying that, but I don't understand." Kunou asked nibbling on a tea cookie. "The Great Mother is the one who cared for my home for a long time. All the spirits save one call her that. No matter how many times she says she is just a caretaker at best. She said being compared to Tiamat was a little much." Skyrose mused with a fond smile.

"talking about me, are we? How bold, spider." The robed spirit of Time said as he appeared. Kunou was instantly terrified by 'his' heavy gaze. It took the child of Skyrose biting her and the poison making her feint to break the stare down.

A few hours later

"What happened?" Kunou asked, noticing that lighting of the forest had gotten darker. "I had to bite you. Sorry." The spider said, looking sad. "She is right. That Lovecraftian being that is the Great Mother's 'spirit of Time' was messing with you." Skyrose's tone was of great annoyance. "The little one was quick to do a healing bite as soon as 'he' left. Laughing at your out cold face of fear." Kunou couldn't find any bite marks and Skyrose waved it off when she asked why. "my children leave no mark when using a healing bite. You are a little pale but nothing tea won't fix." Skyrose said setting her at the table.

Kunou did feel a little chilly. As she warmed up Skyrose asked again, "Would you be willing to watch out for my child. I am far too large to do it myself. My real body is larger than Asian continent, not counting my legs." Skyrose's statement made Kunou pale. "My children won't get to that size for millions of years at least." Skyrose reassured Kunou. "Yes, I am that old." She added. "You age well." Kunou said as warmth returned. "I was the among the first beings the Great Mother watched over and among the ones to be cared over to the next attempt." Seeing Kunou's look of confusing, Skyrose explained, "The Great Mother was given a proto-world to watch over. Full of spirits that had no idea how to live. She tried her best but at some point, something would go wrong, and she was forced to select who to carry over to the next run. She took no pleasure in seeing the rest get broken down to their base elements to create fresh elemental spirits."

Kunou was flabbergasted at this. "It's the creator's fault for making it that way." Skyrose stated. "Dressed all in black with his face always hidden. He wanted to see if he could create a world from scratch and forced a girl who wasn't even born yet to be future caretaker of that world under the guise of a 'gift'. Poor Electra has cried a river of tears for us spirits, not knowing if we even had enough of a soul to be 'real'." Skyrose had this look that Kunou hadn't seen yet from her. Skyrose must hold The Great Mother, Electra, in high regards. "Mama, can Kunou provide the name?" The spider asked.

"That is a good idea. She will be the one to make the transition a smooth as possible." Skyrose said. Kunou remembered what she had felt when she was first bitten it stood out more than anything else about the spider. "Frostbloom. Her bite seems to lull you into a cool comfort like a blanket of snow." Kunou said softly. "how fitting. You are the first she has bitten. I wasn't sure what her affinity was until then." Skyrose said then Named her child that name. The spider changed before Kunou's eyes. Her fuzzy body changed to that of jumping spider (save for size, she's going to max out at the size of a small hill with extreme jumping power) with an off-white base color and frosty blue markings. "Yeah! I have a name!" She jumps and gets tangled in the canopy above her. "And you 'jump good'." Skyrose says with a half sigh half smile. Turning to Kunou, "Thank you for taking her in. She will be an ally that will be invaluable to you. Take this and do not open it until you are back home." She thrusts a folded a tied-up object into Kunou's arms as a 'Storm swallowed up both Kunou and Frostbloom without disturbing anything. Skyrose smiled. "Farwell my child. May you find love." She whispered, a tear echoing in the silence.

Elsewhere

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Valley of the Brave

"Soon as we find her, we'll have to get Jace to open the door out." Voleta said to a smirking Rei, who in a bell like but understandable voice, said "and then you will be in big trouble for not warning her about the 'Storms'. It's your fault for not exploring this place with us when Electra came here the first few times. No, you were tipping paintings. We explored a little of this place but it's so big it will take years." Rei was very happy she could talk for real in this weird world that was Electra's soul. Electra was still trying to come up with a name of this place but, like how she knew the name of the areas she visited in it, it took self-reflection to unveil that information.

Kunou and Frostbloom fell from the sky and landed on a springy mushroom the size of a house. "This is a Break Fall Mushroom. They seem to grow only in places that the 'Storm' spits you out." Frostbloom explained. "That explains the weird landing into your forest home." Konou said. "It's called Woven Forest. Mama says it was named that before she came there but I don't get why." Frostbloom said as them climb down the side of the giant fungus.

"Woven Forest? That's on the other end of this land mass from here!" Voleta says willing out a map that was vague at best. Near the coast was a place called 'Blooming Waves'. "This where the flower field we spent the day is." Voleta said. Next to that was a tangle of squiggles labeled 'Arrow Path', which shoot in all directions to before all joining at where they were now the 'Valley of Brave'. Sitting on the near a mountain, whose name was smudged, was Woven Forest. "How do we get home?" Konou asked. Voleta looked away as Rei stated. "Because Electra isn't here, we have to do it the 'hard way'. Through the Valley of Brave, up the Cliffs of Pain, past the Cave of Deepest Despair, to reach the Tower of the Gate Keeper." Rei explained.

"Jace can be rude but it's his job to protect the gate that can take you anywhere." Rei said but added under her breath, "Even if it's so annoying when it spits you out midair for umpteenth time." Frostbloom waved a leg, saying, "Mama told us how to do this way out. We don't normally use it because we could just 'unsummon' ourselves back home, but I can't do that anymore." She seemed to remember something and looked sad. "The Great Mother won't be able to summon me anymore." Konou put down the thing she was given and picked up the, surprisingly light, dog sized spider and soothed her with a hug. "That's alright. If there's a way, I'd be your summoner." She said softly.

"You know that your spider friend can till spin webs, right?" Voleta stated. "Spider Spirits are not limited as mortal spiders." Frostbloom perked up and weaved a silk backpack in the span of an hour. "Not to be rude but how are you talking?" Konou asked Rei as she put the object into the backpack and putting on. Rei, somehow wearing intellectual glassed stated. "I this land, those lacking something are given that if the need is great enough. Like voice, sight, or form." Her glasses vanished as the explanation was finished. "makes very little sense to you but this place is full of Chaos energy because of an event Electra was a part of. I wasn't around to witness it, but it might have been the thing that kicked off this place being born."

Frostbloom pipped in, "Mama was one of the first to come here. It happened when the Great Mother 'joined sword with stone'. Not sure what Mama meant by that." Frostbloom looked at the map and pointed to two points of interest. "This place is where the 'Storms' originate." The spot was an island in the far corner of the map labeled 'Eye of Abyss'. "Mama said it barely is stable enough to form the weird winds that are now known as the 'Storms'." She then points to a spot in the Cave of Deepest Despair labeled, 'Lost Hope'. "This place is important. Mama said if I even got to go there, make sure to bring an offering for what resided there."

Kunou looked around the Valley, noting trees of all kinds. As they walked forward a sign appeared out of nowhere. "Pick only what you would enjoy most!" It said in a wise old man voice before sinking back into the ground. "that happens sometimes." Voleta explained with a shrug.

A few hours later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Cave of Deepest Despair

They had crossed valley, which was slopped downward deeper you went, grabbing objects before walking up thousands of stairs to climb the towering Cliffs of Pain. Then they entered absolute darkness as they entered the cave. Every sound echoed loudly. "Why can't I make a flame?" Kunou asked as her Fox Flame refused light. "Seek out the lost light in the darkness. Their light will open the way." The Signpost said, scaring them with it's out of nowhere advice. "I guess we just go forward?" Rei said, even her body's light was not working. The magic of the Cave was unnerving them. "The cave devours all light. Find the light in our home." The voice of thousands of centipedes with a 'Dark Light' markings on their bodies that was darker than the Darkness around them. They scuttled into the walls removing the 'Darker Light' the group had to guide them.

"Those are the Eaters of Darkness. A swarm of Centipedes who's leader's size comparable to the Ōmukade of legend (a mountain sized centipede)." Voleta said with dread. "Is their leader important?" Kunou asked, still feeling the eyes of the Darkness Eaters on them, hidden in the rock walls. "He is the Spirit of Darkness. One of the first three spirits to be born in my home." Frostbloom said shivering with fear. "He can shape darkness itself and sustains himself of it. It is said he travels to the heart of the Realm of Darkness to feast on black crystal fruits growing from a withered tree that has never seen light." The fear she had was tangible. "The young weaver is correct." The voices of the Darkness Eaters echoed around them. "Our father travel for the Writhing Tree to eat it's fruit, that are purer than any Dark Crystal. The Moogles have been pestering him to bring them some for their 'Research'."

Unknown time later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Cave of Deepest Despair

Lost Hope

After a nerve-wracking journey in darkness with only the Darkness Eaters' comments as compony as they descended, they found a large cylinder room with the soft light of glowing mushrooms and lichen illuminating a foundation with the word 'hope' written in ever langue that exists around the stone rim.

"I guess we throw in the offerings." Kunou said as they threw in what they found in the piles of stuff scattered in the Valley of the Brave. Rei, a tiny brass bell that had a soothing sound. Voleta, a multi staged puzzle toy with more than one way to solve it. Frostbloom, a spider lily flower. And finally, Kunou threw in a flaming mirror hair ornament she had hope she could give to her mother. The items vanished into the water. A figure rose from the fountain with almost frail features and hair of the finest blue silk. "I am the Spirit of Hope cultivated by the Great Mother's sadness. You may call me Pax." The spirit said as her eyes drifted up to gaze upon them. They were an inhuman piercing amber. Kunou shivered as her soul was lay bare before those eyes.

There was understanding in Pax's gaze, but it was imperial without bias. Pax was the judge that prevented visitors from leaving this place. what seemed like hours, but was just a minute, Pax stated, "You desired to keep your offering, young fox. Explain." It wasn't a question. "I wanted to give it to my mother." Kunou said truthfully. "Your desire is selfish but not for your gain in the end. I will grant you a replacement gift that she will find more pleasing." From the water floated a pair of bronze olive branch hair combs. "made by a master blacksmith at my request for the Great Mother but she requested I give it to someone who need it more. Be sure to thank her when you meet her." Pox said floating the hair combs over and dropped them in to the silk backpack. A disk floated from the unseen ceiling and waited for them to stand on it.

One ride up later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Tower of the Gate Keeper

The disc left them in a tower of stone with no doors or windows, they had phased through the floor before the disk dropped them, so they had no idea what the outside of the tower looked like. Hanging on the walls were paintings, photographs and drawings of exotic and mundane places. In there was a staircase up but no furniture at all. They spent some time to look that was walls.

Three hours later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Tower of the Gate Keeper

Six more floors of the tower all the same set up. (Art, stairs and no furniture at all.) The top floor was different, a great stone gate and a Jackalope in armor with weapon on paw guarding it. "were you born a Kitsune or were you blessed into one?" Jace asked bluntly. "Because That sun Goddess isn't above turning humans into her messengers by force." Kunou was caught flat-footed at this. "I was born with nine tails, just like my mother was. I don't remember anything like what you are describing happening." She said carefully, eyes tracking Jace's mace. "Oh well. Missy is waiting for you since you've been here about two-ish days." The Gate opened and air Kunou knew drifted out of it.

Moments later

Human Realm Beyond the Gap

Kyoto, Japan

Urakyoto

Yasaka watched as a gate appeared and spat out four beings instead of the number she had had been waiting for. Rei made a jingling huff as she noticed her 'voice' was gone. Voleta was snagged by Yasaka who was quite cross with her. "Care to explain why you took my daughter on a two-day trip without asking me?" She said. Voleta huffed in her clawed grip. "She was fine! a close encounter with the resident Lovecraft time being but she was fine. Right Frostbloom?" She asked the dazed spider.

"She was overwhelmed by his presence, so I had to use my poison to knock her out." Frostbloom bowed as she explained, "Sorry about poisoning your daughter, Great Lady." Yasaka's grip on Voleta tightened as she said, "how much danger was she in?" Frostbloom shivered as she said, "'He' has been known to cause hearts to stop and minds to break when 'he' doesn't hold back 'his' true aura." She added, "I made sure to administer a healing bite before the poison did too much damage." Voleta was thrown aside as Yasaka lifted up Frostbloom and said, "thank you for saving her. We Kitsune have sharper senses than most and it can be to our downfall."

"Are you one of Her children?" Electra asked picking up Voleta as she entered the room. "Great Mother! I have a name! Sorry I won't be able to help you anymore." Frostbloom said legs wiggling in happiness at the sight of her. Yasaka kissed the spider's brow and set her down. "your chaos spirit is toeing the line but I'm letting her off with a warning." Her tone was motherly. "It was amazing! I little scary but that place is amazing." Kunou said rummaging in her silk bag. She presented the gift to her mother. "I brought you these. Pax said you would enjoy them."

"Pax? You must have impressed her for her to give you this." Electra said, smiling at the craftsmanship of the set. "Made of a bronze only the Greeks have accesses to." Yasaka mused with a knowing smile at Electra. Rei pulled the tied bundle from the backpack and gave to Kunou to open. She pulled the thread and it unwound with ease. A blanket of a giant spider walking across a deadly and chaotic land. "That's my Mama." Frostbloom said pointing that the spider that dwarfed a mountain with ease. "Indeed, she is. The Walking Sky is a caring mother." Electra said. Among the folds was a bracelet with charms (a spider, a flower, a web, a dark purple kanji for poison, and a snowflake.) on it. "A summoning item?" Electra asked, "And it's already registered to you." She tells Kunou.

"My summoning item?" Frostbloom said looking at it. Her dance of joy was adorable. "You are the cutest little protector I could ask for." Yasaka said. "Make sure to protect my daughter." She said laughing at Frostbloom's bow.

A few weeks later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Southern Continent

Caldia

Caldia's Floating Palace

"Why did the gate screw up this time?" Electra asked as she was on bottom of the pile. On top of her was Voleta, then Wallace, with Rei being the lucky one being on top. Jace looked confused. He scratched his chin, tapping the stone doors experimentally. "Not sure. It was going smoothly with Chaos helping us get past the Gap safely then something shifted and changed the 'path' in some way." Jace said. "I called you here, Gatekeeper." An extremely old man, wearing a black robe with a pointed hood, said.

"I am the Grand Elder of Caldia and you are in my throne room and I used Dimensional ARM Last Resort Horn (Not cannon) to call someone to aid my kingdom." He said showing them a silver horn on a pedestal by his 'throne', more like a pillow in the middle of the room. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important." Electra had stayed at the Youkai Capital for few weeks before leaving with Chaos' help. "We were headed home after recovering a risky task." Electra said.

"Oh? And what odd friends you have with you. A nature spirit, a Chaos spirit, a golem made from a blood-soaked artifact, and a living garment hiding under your feather cloak." He lists, which is a feat with how his physical eyes, completely milky white, didn't seem to work. "Life is a journey full of twists and turns." Electra said in a sagely but amused tone. "You are wise beyond you age, the horn picked well." Grand Elder said with a faint smile. "I was afraid that it would summon a monster of destructive power as it had the last time it was used. The land still bears the scars of that event."

"That is typically what you get from a 'last resort'." Voleta commented soon as Wallace got off her. "So, what's the danger we need to stomp out? A demonic army? A curse that needs to be stopped. A famine?" She listed. Grand Elder's answer was grave. "Worse. An Orb of collective vileness, and The Chess Pieces army will bring ruin to this land if they are not stopped again. Six years ago, a stranger from another world led the Cross Guard and pushed back the Chess Pieces enough for them to need to lick their wounds." Grand Elder sighed. "Alas, peace did not last and recently they returned stronger than ever. The Stranger is nowhere in sight and I fear that you may only be able to push them into the shadows again."

"They have 'immortal' members or are just that powerful." Electra guessed. "Yes, young Phantom was twisted by the whispering of the Orb. He is currently a 'Zombie' via the effects of the zombie tattoo. The only way to undo this curse is to use the Holy ARM Purific Ave. It looks like an odd key." He states. "Lovely. What else is stopping us?" Voleta said annoyed. "The people of the other kingdoms are going to be stubborn and they regard us as ARM thieves. Please don't mention how you summoned or where you were summoned to. You may tell the witch, Dorothy, if you meet her." Electra had a feeling she'd know this person on sight. "I have a few ARM that will help you blend in few can cast magic without an ARM." Grand Elder said.

A few days later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Vestry

"You must be Dorothy." Electra said as soon at the Flying Carpet ARM, the Grand Elder had lent them, landed in the wrecked town. A red hair young woman, about 16, wearing a black outfit and rings, that were ARM, on her fingers. She had silver witch's broom in hand. With her was a young teen with spikey blonde hair, a black haired teen that had the look of a farmer (his silver shovel Arm he was wielding reinforced this idea), a dark haired female that she knew was the princess of Lestava (the Grand Elder had told Electra about the notable royalty.), a dog wearing a Santa hat, pants and glasses, and a blonde male, looked 17, with a flirty grin.

"Are you with the Chess Pieces?" The blonde kid asked. He had a silver hammer with a long nosed mustached ball chained to it. "If so, I will smash you even if it's isn't gentlemanly." The ball declared. "A living and talking ARM? May I have everyone else's names?" Electra said, face hidden by her thunder bird mask. Their names in order were, Ginta, Jack, Snow, Edward the Dog, and Nanashi (Means nameless). The ARM was called Babbo. "who are you and why do you hide your face, which must be as lovely as your voice?" Nanashi, who she knew was the mysterious chief of Luberia, a powerful Thieves Guild, asked. "Because I don't need to be endlessly flirted when people that get their kicks from death and suffering are running around." Electra said, brushing him off.

"Two people that sound 'nasty' and another that sounds odd are in the cave along with the voice of the dead." She said pointing to the cave, who's opening looked like the jaws of a dragon. "Sound? I don't hear anything." Edward the dog says confused. "Trust me, there is more to hear than most can hear." Rei says something from her current spot on Electra head. "Yes, I noticed the curse on them." Electra said. "unless we know what we are dealing with, I will not try to break that curse. Too risky for them."

"I'll stay and heal the towns folk." Snow said. Electra stayed with her while Wallace cleared rubble. Ginta, Nanashi, Dorothy had entered the cave as Jack used the Earth Magic Stone (large marbles that unleashed abilities in ARM) slotted in his 'Battle Scoop' to grow plants.

A few hours later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Vestry

"This place was destroyed! How it is back together?" Ginta asked when his group came out of the cave. "It was something Electra did." Jack said, "She put on this mask and her eyes glowed. Then she sung." They looked at him oddly. "No really! The land moved and repaired the houses" Edward the dog said. "Her presence changed as if someone else was there with her." Dorothy had an idea what was going on. "Spirit channeling is a rare skill that lets one borrow the powers of elemental spirits by having them inhabit your body and/or an object." She said recalling the Grand Elder hammering this information into her head so she would get tricked by any spirit.

"Turquoise, spirit of earth (gems, soil, ore, the works), crafting and blacksmithing, can bend the land to her will. She does have a habit of marking her work." Electra said, refusing to look at the man-sized statue of the hundred-handed creature, whose face was hidden from view, that rested in an open area of town. "An interesting appearance for a spirit. What is she like?" Nanashi asked. "She could care less about romance and is always making something. Completely silent and few have seen her face, it's not because of a curse, or being shy. It's just that looking at a head that is almost all eyes isn't easy." Electra explains. "But they are among the most beautiful expressive eyes I've seen." She finished with an unseen smile.

In no time the town's people started a feast in their honor. Electra couldn't help but smile as she remembered the ghost ship that went out to sea from the hole in the cave wall Ginta made. The spirits of the dead were free to pass on. "Can you tell me anything about this key?" Ginta said coming up to her with an odd key ARM. "That is Holy ARM Purific Ave." She states. "It isn't useful to you right now but later it will prove to be of great importance."

Later that evening

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Vestry

Everyone was drinking, Ginta was having a non-alcoholic one, leading to drunken singing and the like, someone gave Snow booze as Edward the Dog angrily tried to find the one that got her drunk. There were questions about tales and one of the surviving Cross Guard members that were in the area was asked by Ginta, "What's with the nighttime mountain over there?" He points to a mountain that had stood out as being in 'nighttime' even during the day.

"That? That's the Nyx Mountain. Fifty years ago, a Dimensional ARM called Last Resort Horn was used to deal with a conflict over the rich land the mountain stands on." He says with fear. "The being that answered the call was a tall winged woman of ash and smoke with shining eyes and wearing a flowing dress made of the night sky." He described stealing glances at the mountain. "When she heard was the summoner wanted her to do, she smiled a smile that was described as condescending. She then declared 'I, Nyx Primordial of the night and hellhounds, declare in this mountain and the land it sits on my property. Be grateful mortals that you no longer have to kill yourself over its resources.' The area became shrouded in night eternally and beasts that she called Hellhounds patrol it for intruders."

"That's an ARM can call a Kami?" Ginta asked, "A Kami is a spirit that worshiped. It's not the full explanation but the comparison he's making is close enough not to be an insult." Electra added. "To think my namesake would be summoned to this world." She elaborated by stating her full name. "I am Electra Nyx Laskaris. It will be my pleasure to aid Team MAR in putting an end to the Chess Piece army." Babboo looks at her pointedly. Using the moon at a 'mirror', Peta, one of the Knights of the Chess Piece army (the ranking goes like this: Pawn, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Queen (only one of them), and King (only one)), explained that at noon tomorrow the war games would begin, hosted at the Reginlief Castle on the Western Continent.

Then he was interrupted. "Change it to the day after tomorrow, mortal." The voice of Nyx demand, "Or my hounds will eat you alive." Peta seemed to be talking with someone and stated, "Lord Phantom has agreed to your request. Good day." The moon returns to normal as an elephant sized black mastiff, with a sinister appearance, sat just out of the range of the bonfire, waiting with eyes on Electra. From its jaws came Nyx's voice. "Follow my hound, child who bares my name. Bring only your cloak, no one else." Electra dusted herself off and told Rei, "Stay with Snow, you too Wallace and Voleta." She gives Voleta a look. "Keep them safe and if I'm not back by the time you leave for the castle, I'll meet you there." She tells Ginta.

She walks to the beast and it threw her on its back before sinking into shadows. "Should we stop her?" Babbo asked. "No, when Nyx requests you audience, you obey." An elderly townsperson named Rick said. "Once a year, every year, someone leaves for the mountain from somewhere across this world. Tomorrow is the hundredth anniversary of the summoning of Nyx. As long as you don't cross Nyx, you will be returned by the end of day." He said this with certainty. "How do you know this?" Ginta asked. "I was asked fifty years ago, and it was otherworldly." Rick explained that Nyx was limited to how much she could interact with this world. There was three days that she was most powerful. A random being was chosen and stayed for 24 hours before being returned.

Later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Nyx Mountain

Electra found herself in a place lit by the moon and stars. Nyx was waiting for her on a throne that had gems imitating stars and planets set in black rock. She had to be forty feet tall and had a pleased smile. "I have been waiting to meet you for many years. Almost two decades ago your father visited my palace and requested to use my name as his child's 'middle name'. I agreed on the terms you would meet me before the dawn of the day you turned 20 or face my wrath." Nyx said standing up and stinking down to a 'human' height. "Let me see your face." She ordered. Electra removed her mask.

Nyx held her chin in grip of iron and inspected her. "You are worth to bare my name. Maybe even worth to be called my blessed child." She mused as she inspected Electra's body making mental notes that Electra had a feeling were about the pros and cons of being connected to Nyx. "The feathered cloak is nice but this one is much more interesting." Nyx said with a grip on the living cloak. "Please don't damage it. It took me years to make it." Electra requested with a bow. Nyx looked amused. "Why would I damage this masterpiece? It is on par the shield that Achilles carried. A world inside of an object that can be carried or worn is beautiful." Nyx said this caressing the cloak.

Around the place, Arai, spirits of curse and one of Nyx's children laid out a feast, at a table that appeared from the shadows, for them to partake in. "Come we have much to catch up on. I am please you came two years before the deadline." Nyx said, returning the cloak. A woman with golden hair and a blue-gold dress and a man just as beautiful appeared taking seats at the talk. "Lady Hemera, Lord Aither. It is an honor to meet you." Electra said bowing to the Primal of Day and the Primal of Light and the Upper Air, who are sister and brother but married (The Greeks gods and other such beings do not have 'DNA' to cause problems like mortals.).

"Come sit with us. You are not the first mortal mother invites to eat with us." Hemera said with a smile that shined in the night. "Mother invites a few of her children to these parties every year." Aither said airily. He looks at her with interest. "You aren't the usually mortal, are you?" Electra bowed and stated, "I am Electra Nyx Laskaris born almost 19 years ago to Zane Laskaris and Aqua, his wife." Hermera had this look as she swept Electra up into a hug. "You are more lovely that I imagined." Electra wasn't sure what to say. "Did my blessing bring you a companion a bright as the sun?" Hermera asked.

Electra spent the next hours explaining her life and the beings she met, Hermera loved Sunshine the most (likely because her blessing is what helped tip the scales toward them meeting.).

Hours later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Nyx Mountain

Nyx had her said still as her attends finish work on a dress that looked like hers. "I can't have the mortal representing me not look the part." Nyx said sharply. "And Call me Aunty Nyx in private." She added with a softer smile. Electra's music had done something because Nyx was acting like the strict relative that showed she cared behind closed doors. "Of cause Aunty Nyx." Electra said. "Good. I expect you to put that ring to good use in the War Games." Nyx said. When the dress was finished, and Electra did a little twirl. "Perfect. You will be the star of any formal event." Nyx said noting the time. "Our time is almost up. Only an hour left before we part ways, place come to my home if you can make the journey."

The next day

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Hild Continent

Vestry

It was six in the morning and Ginta's group was getting ready to leave. "Don't leave without me." Electra said as she leaned against a tree with a long scarf, whose design was having the sun and moon on it, waving a little. "Lady Nyx had a little mischief and left me a few hours back that way." She points behind her. "I see you came back with a gift." Dorothy commented as the sun hung low in the sky and the sun on the scarf was faintly glowing. "My music was quite pleasing to the ears of Nyx and her guests." Electra explained as they got together to teleport to the castle, getting there early was a good idea.

An hour later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

Pozun, a short lizard tailed, purple skinned, pointy eared creature with no nose and two small horns on his head was started when they knocked on the portcullis of the castle. "Why are you here so early?" He asked as the guards of the castle opened the gates for them. "Are you the referee of this event." Electra asked. The creature was wearing an outfit that looked like that job. The Creature adjusted his black pointed hat and said, "That is correct. My name is Pozun, I hope you enjoy the event." Rei looks at his lack of nose, confused. "Yes, I am aware of my handicap when it comes to smelling things." Pozun states, "You seem to lack the ability to speech the common tongue." Rei nodded sadly. Pozun gestured to the courtyard and said, "You are free to wait for noon over there. You are the first to come for the War Games."

Electra goes to a wall sits down, leaning against the stone. "You must be sleepy staying up all night and day waiting for me to return." She says to Rei who yawn in her lap. Electra softly sings 'Hanakazoe', the same lullaby Zane sung to Ori. The notes of the song carried far into the castle, soothing the frayed nerves of those that dreaded the Chess Pieces winning the war, even if it was only a little. Edward the Dog fell backwards to the ground and snoring in an instant. "She has the voice of angel." One of the guards said, with a smile, the bags under his eyes were a clear sign he hadn't gotten any good sleep the past few days. Electra took a somewhat nap too because she didn't feel like waiting five hours after no sleep for over 24 hours, sleeping at Nyx's party would have been rude.

Almost five hours later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

"Who's the grumpy youth with the fairy on his head?" Electra asked as she woke up. "Belle doesn't care if the Fae Queen says not to harm you. Belle will knot up your hair if you insult Alviss." The light blue haired fairy said, annoyed, in third person. Alviss, a 16-year-old that had large spikey raven hair and had two orange triangle tattoos under one eye, just stated, "Please be civil with our allies, Belle." Belle huffed and glared at Electra. An old man with short but spikey hair, large eyebrows, and a thin mustache, asked her, "Are you the one Nyx choose this year?" He had his arms behind his back looking at her with interest. He was Gaira, a prominent member of the Cross Guard. Electra looked at him and states, "You are number 75 on her wall of guests. You've aged well for someone over 70 years old."

Gaira chuckled. "Lady Nyx picks the most interesting guests." The Princes of Reginlief, a woman with long black hair and a sorrowful expression, came out and welcomed them to the second War Games. With a heavy heart she told them to grab an orb from a pedestal. When the 'test' was started, everyone was taken to black space with a Chess Piece member waiting for them.

In the test space

Electra looked that the foe before her and noted his confidences and the bishop earring he had. "I, Maira, will be your executioner today. Guardian ARM Vaqua!" an ARM with segmented oval on a chain with blood shot eye set in the middle of it glowed. A gelatinous blob with on eye appeared as Maria acted like he had won already. "Guardian ARM Demon Tarantula." Electra stated holding up a spider ring (I couldn't find a description of this anime only ARM so I'm wing it.) and throwing it into the air. A house sized Tarantula looked at the Chess Piece and just slurped up the acid slime ARM when it attacked. It looked at Maira and looked disgusted. Then brutally killed him because it had no desire to eat him.

Electra sighed and dismissed the ancient, and barely controllable, ARM slipping it back on her finger and grabbing Vaqua's inactive form as she passed the test.

Back at the castle

"Did anyone care about some member named Maria?" Electra asked hunched over jawless skull masked Chess Piece member, who appeared to be a Knight. "You killed him? Some of us will be annoyed yet happy you got rid of him before we did." The member said before teleporting back to their base. "Who was that?" Electra asked, scanning the corpse of the Cross Guard that failed the 'test'. She rushed to Gaira and started healing his wounds. "He is Chimara, the fourth strongest Knight of the Chess Piece army." Gaira said ashamed he lost (He had no idea Chimara is female), "He uses Ghost ARM." Electra remembered that Ghost ARM altered the user's body in some way. (Simple ARM are tools. Weapon ARM are weapons. Darkness ARM cast curses with drawbacks. Dimensions ARM can take you places. Nature ARM deal with the elements in some way. Guardian ARM summon something to do the fighting for you. There are ARM that don't fit in any of these groups called Unique ARM.) "You need to rest and recover." Electra ordered and he chuckled. "Danna had a saying. 'When a Doctor tells you something, there must be some truth to it.'. You need to win." He said before falling asleep due to a Sleep spell from Electra.

Later that evening

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

"IF we are going to be fighting together, I might as well tell you some truths." Electra said. the stars and the small fire their only light. "I was summoned by the Last Resort Horn. The leader of her home was the one to do the deed." She points to Dorothy who had a sharp look in her eyes. "I'm not for the earth Ginta is from but I've been to a similar place more than once." She says. "What questions are burning on your tongues?" She opened the door and the questions came after them talking to each other.

"What is your home like?" Snow asked. Electra smiled and stated. "I live in a place known as The Garden, a place where refugees of all kinds can find a less stressful home." Electra's voice was of yearning. "In the center of this place is a kingdom, The Prize Kingdom, founded by a group that wished to repay their savior by making him their king. He did not ask for that role nor the grand palace they built." They imagined their version of the place and its people as she talked of notable places and the wonders to behold.

"If it's so wonderful, why did you leave?" Alviss asked. "Surely you would enjoy being near the palace if the Prize King is really that likeable." He said this not knowing who Electra was, she hadn't gotten to the 'Royal Family' yet. "A bird does not grow if they stay at the nest their whole life. To live you must spread your wings and fly towards the unknown." Electra said. "I journeyed with my Papa and had adventures. Then when I was ten, I had a solo journey that lasted years. I returned home and it was all the sweeter after seeing that was beyond my world of origin."

"What of your family? Do they miss you at all?" Ginta asked. "You got called here to help save the world and you only have those three with you as company until you ran into us. By the way, what are they?" Electra laughed. "Rei is Spirit Guardian, a seed that will become a great tree one day. Voleta is a spirit of Chaos. Wallace is special." Electra paused, "I asked the Fae Queen for someone that would watch my back in battle no matter what and Wallace, a golem that embodies the idea of 'the unbreakable wall' is the result." They looked shocked at looked at how human Wallace appeared. "Wow, I didn't even notice with how well-made he is." Jack said.

"As for my family, they know I will return alive, one way or another, a Laskaris returns home with an experience to share. That is the kinds of bonds we of the Laskaris Clan carry." She noted the time and stated, "One more question then go to sleep." Snow asked an interesting question, "where did you get your feathered cloak? It feels like it's woven with the bonds of a group." Electra just stated, "it was made from the feathers, willing given, of a flock of interesting birds I became close to in my travels." She goes to sleep before anyone could ask any more questions.

The next day

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

Electra joined the first battle of the War Games. The place and number of fighters would be decided by dice. The roll was a three vs three as the castle. An area of dropped in the courtyard and the Rodokin family were the first Chess Piece team to fight. Ginta and Garon Rodokin (bishop), a large bald muscular man with tribal tattoos all over his body, were the captains of the team. Defeat them and said lost instantly. The other way to win was getting the most wins of the match. Leno Rodokin (rook), a blue haired teen wearing a black and red mask and a pair of Weapon ARM rings stepped up. Electra did the same.

He activated the ARM, turning the rings into arm blades shaped like diamonds, (Its name is Storm Kadarm.) and rushing her the instant the match began.

"You seem to prefer the stronger ARM." Electra stated as she flowed around his attacks. She was getting a feel for his patterns. Garon sighed, "Your brother is doomed." He told the third member of the team and his other child. Pano (rook), a blue haired teen with red fang tattoos under her eyes and wearing a skimpy outfit, look at her father confused. "What do you mean? I'm not sensing any magic power being used from her." Pano asked. "Exactly. She's trained to fight hand to hand." Garon stated, watching his son use a nature ARM Fireball to launch fireballs and coat his weapons in flames. When Leno overextend a stab attack, Electra's fist buried itself into his gut and he folded like paper.

Pozen announced her victory as Electra carried Leno off the Arena. "He'll have a lot of bruising and pain." Electra tells Garon, setting his son down. "Thank you for not killing him." Garon says sincerely. "Maybe he will understand true strength now." Electra comments as Jack goes up to face Pano, who used a Weapon ARM called Ball Hammer. It was a beach ball sized silver ball on a thin silver staff. Jack lost in the first minute after entangling Pano in beanstalk lines and getting the metal ball hammer to the balls in return.

"that is a spot of bad luck." Electra mused as it came down to the third match to decide who would win the battle. Despite Garon nature ARM, five to hard his body and five to enhance his strength, he was defeated by Babbo version 3 Gargoyle, a monstrous Guardian with a ring in its mouth. The Chess Piece army came to see the fight in person making Electra worry who they were here for, Ginta, her, or both. Pozen stated the then battle would be tomorrow morning at the desert field, three members on each side.

Electra was walking toward the castle when a Chess Piece member wearing a skull mask with a tongue out like a dog does, gestures from the shadows. "PSHH! Over here." He said in a stage whisper, sounding joyful and carefree. Electra went to him. "You need to be in the next battle. Queen's orders." He told her, making a show of looking around for eavesdroppers. "Thank you for informing me, um?" Electra said politely. "Name's Ash, tenth strongest Knight." He said with a laugh and teleported away. "He wasn't so bad a person." She says to herself.

The next day

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Desert Field

Electra waited as Snow beat Fuugi, a Rook who used wind ARM, by dropping a giant snowman Guardian ARM on him. Nanashi fought Loco, a 32 year woman who's Darkness ARM made her younger, and lost because of extreme pain from the voodoo ARM and not attack her when he had the chance, because he wanted to let Peta know he's going to kill him for killing the members of the thieves guild. "I do hope you go all out." A bald man who looked stitch together from parts and not wearing a shirt. He had a knight earring and she heard no heartbeat at all from him.

"May I ask who you are and why someone like you is with the Chess Piece army?" Electra asked. He laughed hollowly. "I am Subject 42 (Not cannon character), and I seek death." He stated. As the fight began, she noticed that he wasn't in control of his body. He was a living puppet for the Chess Piece army to use as they want. As she delivered blows, his body gave but recover at a rapid rate, making it more difficult to grant his wish. "Come now, the Queen wants to see what you can do." Subject 42 said antagonizing her. "Nature ARM Stormfront Battleground." Electra declared, activating a ring ARM with runic markings on its band. (Not a cannon ARM) A charge filled the air as arcs of electricity jumped around them and a glow tinted the everything in blue.

Elsewhere

Chess Piece HQ

"not that ARM!" Dandarshi, a guardian ARM what was a giant, like 10 feet long, talking sword with a mirror like face near the hilt. His current owner was an ugly, in both looks and personality, overweight girl named Emokis (Ranked Bishop). "Emkis kicked the ARM saying, "Shut up! I'd don't want to miss her being killed. "Let him talk, he seems to know what this ARM is." Halloween, third strongest Knight of the Chess piece army, stated. He was a wearing a tomato mask and chained to a large metal cross but still able to walk around. "It's was a staple among a group of diehard warriors. Should they find themselves in an unavoidable death, this single use ARM would trap the combatants then something to do with lightning happens that leaves a chucky mess of corpse soup and glassing the area. No one alive knows how it works, and the group are extinct. Last I heard, all the remaining ARM of that kind were stored in Nyx Mountain a little over 150 year ago."

"You mean the place she was invited to visit days ago." Ash asked. "The lady of the mountain must have given her one for whatever reason." The Chess Piece members start to hear a high-pitched whine as bolts swirled faster and faster around the two, who were rooted to the spot but the lightning going through their bodies. "Is it just me or does that sound like an explosion waiting to happen?" A cheerful blue haired girl, with a sea themed ball dress and a spiral shell hair piece, said tilting her head in confusion. She was Aqua, a Bishop who is only a part of this group out of fear. The Viewing screen was a blinding white, and their eardrum burst as a earthshattering electrical explosion sounded from the battle.

Back at the battle

"Electra! Are still alive!" Snow yelled, coughing as she unburied herself from the wave of sand the blast caused. Nanashi standing in shocked silence. On the other side was Fuugi, who was a jabbering mess pointing at the aftermath of the blast. There was glassed crater painted red with gore and Electra standing tall, unharmed and supercharged with energy. "Monster." Loco stated shaken to the core. In her opinion, no one could survive that much lightening coursing through their body. "The winner is Electra of Team MAR!" Pozun said.

Elsewhere

The Queen of the Chess Piece army was holding the shattered remains of the controller ARM that she used to puppet Subject 42. She was wearing a half mask of her lower face and a dark velvet colored dress. Her pink flowing hair was perfectly brushed. "She might be interesting enough to keep around after we win this war." She stated as the Arm turned to dust. She didn't care that her 'puppet' 'broke'. He had served his purpose and entertained her to the end.

Later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

"Don't get to close to me." Electra told everyone. "I'm currently overcharged and anything at gets too close will have their blood boil. I'll be back in a day or two when it's safe." She was enveloped by her living cloak and both vanished. "Is that possible?" Snow asked, "yes but only in extremely lightning charged areas. Given the blast, I'd say she's telling the truth." Dorothy says.

A day later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Caverns of Souls' Past

"What is this place?" Electra, she wasn't wearing a mask at the moment, wondered out loud as she walked in the path of a cave she found. On the walls were images, to vague to be clear of their meaning but clear enough to give her a sense of 'remembrance'. "They are your past live, or at least what clings to the 'bones' of the soul after it is processed." The gentle voiced speaker was the Spirit of Death and a summon that she hadn't ever 'met'. She felt his presence as she was forced to do a 'reset' but never met him. When he came into the faint glow her body was giving off because of the overcharge, he looked like a skeleton, with sockets that glowed a peaceful blue, who was a bookie. Wearing a work cloth, a bowler hat and hanging from his belt was a book satchel and writing tools in his chest pocket.

He was smoking a 'cigar' that smelled of pleasant spices. "Call me the Record Keeper." He said shaking her hand. "I don't think we've met before." He says, blowing smoke rings. "I've been working in this because the Council of Death didn't want just any spirit of death help you." He said, smiling. "They created me from scratch, just for you, little lady." He said with mirth. "What did you mean about souls and stuff?" Electra asked. She had an idea, but not explained in that way. The Record Keeper blow a drumstick. "You know how there's bits lefts after you finish off a juicy drumstick?" He asked. "It's like that. The soul gets pulled from its 'Framework' and said 'framework' is reused while what's taken off is set to the afterlife, as they don't need a 'Framework' anymore."

"It's not the more complex answer, but we both know that knowledge already." The Record Keeper states, referring to the in-depth knowledge of the afterlife she had bargained for from ghost pokemon. "Why use a food analogy? It's makes it sound like a soul is just food to eat." Electra said. "To some it is." He says in reply. "So, you overcharged again?" He comments. "And you exploded someone with lightning." He sounded impressed. "I've been working in your soul since you were born and that is a feat to add to the record books. 'Survived your own self-sacrifice attack'." He writes in in a flip notebook.

Seeing 'the Look' she was giving him, he put the notebook away. "Right, Death wanted me to keep a closer eye on you and shoved me into your soul with a way to get to your 'pet project' world, as they called it. I had no say in it. On top of that, I am forced to work in this place, the Caverns of Souls' Past. Echoes of all your past lives are recorded here in some form." He blows a smokey word 'wait list' as he comments, "Anyone that requests to have a better family their next life seem to end up on the Laskaris Clan waiting list. No all of them are 'processed' because of 'errors'." He snorts, "More like some being inferring with death. I believe anime has a term for that, 'Isekai'."

An hour later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Caverns of Souls' Past

The Record Keeper's Home

"It's not much but it's home." The Record Keeper states, leading her to chamber full of shelved books and a small desk with skull candle holder on it. There were a few office chairs too, the nice ones that swirl. "as you can see, I don't have much to do other than work. We can talk for the next day or two while you 'unwind', nothing here can get boiled alive." He says as he sits down behind the desk. Electra takes the other chair. "Why are 'frameworks' required? I never figured that out." She asked.

The Record Keeper reached into his dark and pulled out a skull rotary phone and made a quick call. After the call was finished, he put the phone away. "Ok, the bosses are letting me answer that question because you kept Mew from getting too crazy." He leans in and whispers, "She likes to hop dimensions if she gets bored enough." He leans back and pulled out a potted glowing vine. "This hope vine cannot grow without something to guide." He states. "The 'framework' helps the new soul mature." Electra stated getting it, "And the layers of past souls that coat the 'Framework' like flavor on a smoker or a copper kettle, help how?" His answer was simple, "To help the fresh soul be more open to possibilities. One of your past selves loved anchovies to the point he ate them every meal, but you only eat them every so often."

He let her think this over. "why so much secrecy if the answer is so simple?" She asked. "No idea. They are 'tight lipped', not the exact working but there is no mortal word to describe the full truth. Think so dangerous they don't even think about the reason why." He stated. He plucks a scroll from the many shelves and sets it before her. "Now then, this is an issue that your father got you involved in." He sighed. "You have 'debt' to an odd group." The scroll unrolled and it was an agreement between Zane and the second signature was pictures of Voodoo masks. "You need to make an offering in the form of a mask to group of voodoo spirits to prove that the knowledge they shared with your father to teach you was not wasted. It was a few tips at most, but a deal is a deal."

Electra tried to remember back to one of her early birthdays and the only thing that stood out was that he showed how to make 'spirit paint' that helped make a mask into one that could house a spirit. There were other steps, but this was an important one. "Did he really talked to Dark Voodoo spirits just to get knowledge on a type of paint?" Electra asked. "Yep, had to deal with some twig of a shadow broker to even get in contact them. He's got a shadow that is as active as Peter Pan's." The Record Keeper says rolling his 'eyes'. "When you decide to pay them, find the 'Shadow Man' he's the broker."

A few days later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Landing field

Electra was relaxing in a field of yellow flowers when a girl falls from the sky and landed amid the flowers, which were springy enough to break her fall. "Where am I? Is this heaven?" She said shaken. "No, you're alive." Electra said You aren't the only thing that has been falling here today." Electra shows her seven different ARM. "Those are MR. Hook, Avrute, and Kollekio's ARM! This weird cloak ate them after Miss Rapunzel killed them." The girl, Aqua, then realized, "I'm in the cloak that has been eating at the ARM from the Chess Piece Army members that died!" She started panicking but Electra's music stilled her worry.

"You are not being digested." Electra states. "The cloak is no like a certain ship eating whale I've heard of." Aqua commented, "Fastitocalon might be big enough to eat houses but ships are too big." Electra looked at her. Of course, there would be a Guardian ARM that was a whale. "I'm talking about Monstro, a whale so large, ships are bite sized snacks." Electra said and Aqua had a happy look in her eyes. "That's so cool! Where is he?"

"Swimming in space somewhere. He's a space whale. And no, you don't want to find him, he will eat you. Uncle Sora got eaten by Monstro and that a close brush with a parasite in the whale's stomach. That acid reeks like no tomorrow." Electra said. "Care to fill me in on why this lady is killing her teammates?" Aqua spilled the beans and told her that Rapunzel, a Knight, was a vain lady that cut up people that displeased her and took great pleasure is destroying the 'beauty' of any pretty female she meets. "You are very pretty. It's a good thing she hasn't seen your face under your mask." Electra noted her 'shell hat thing was an ARM. "What kind of ARM do you have?" She asked. "I have a Weapon ARM that gives me ice skates. A giant clam Guardian ARM named Akko." Aqua says then points to her hat, "And this is a Nature ARM called Supikara. It lets me call sea friends to help me." She was cheerful, distracting herself from her brush with death before she got here.

"If you want, I can show you my sea friends. They visit at the beach that way." She points pas a hill and a light forest. "Really? You are so nice!" Aqua hugs her and begins to cry. Electra pats her back as she cries. "Let it all out." Mob, who had then underground, surfaced to see if he could give aid to the sobbing girl. "Do you like flowers?" The many heads ask in a soft hissing voice.

Aqua, with tear stained cheaks looked and Mob laughed. "You are the funniest hydra I've met!" She said, "I mean in a good way!" She says, "All the ones I met are all 'RAWR! I'm big and scare! Let me eat you!'" Her impression wasn't very scary. "But you look like a bouquet of flowers that you wouldn't dare trample." Mob chuckled and hissed, "Let them try we plants can fight back." Mob gently lifted them up using his necks and placed them on his back, before walking toward the beach.

Half hour later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Shore of Chance Encounters

near the Sea of Unknown

"you have so many friends." Aqua said staring at all the fish, big and small, normal and not so normal looking, all swimming in the sea before them. "They are the lesser spirits." Electra said. Aqua tilted her head confused, "they didn't make the cut to being 'THE' spirit of water in the trials that were done. There is one that meet the challenge head on and passed with flying color." Electra said as giant fin cut water at alarming speeds. The fish scattered as a shark bigger than the Kraken of legend stopped at the edge of the shallower waters. "Great Mother, what brings you to your soul place, whose name has yet to be found?" The 'shark' said in a loving female voice.

"It's good to see you, Florence. Aqua here had a close brush with death by her former allies." Electra said. Florence got quite riled up and demanded, "Where are they? I will test my teeth on their bones!" Aqua was still processing that she was in Electra's 'soul' and was taken aback by the spirit's words. "She will get her dues in time." Electra said, "I have the feeling that Phantom will get her killed soon. After her killing of useful members."

Aqua, getting her bearings, asked, "How am I in your soul? That doesn't make any sense! Sure, that cloak ate me, but you are here! How are you in your own soul?" Florence's laugh was a deep booming one. "Pup, the mysteries of her soul are too confusing for you to understand. The Great Mother will be the only one to understand this place fully and truly." Aqua nodded and stated, "but I'm not a baby dog." Electra was the one to answer, "Shark babies are called pups. They hatch in the womb and, in most cases, cannibalize each other to survive. It's nature at work."

Aqua looked hurt by this news. "My pups are the exception. Spirits are not like mortal beings and our diet is vastly different." Florence stated as six much smaller and slimer, the size of mild sized full grown Great White Shark, sharks circle Aqua and Electra in the shallows. "Meet my latest litter, not as many as normal, but when you have children that number in the billions, having only six pups this time is nice." Florence's tone was warm. "They are very strong looking. How old are they?" Aqua asked petting them and giggling as they playfully splash her. "they left the womb two months ago. I was hoping you'd look at them, Great Mother. They are smaller than the past litters. I am worried something went wrong."

Ten hours later

Half hour later

Realm of Electra's 'soul'

Shore of Chance Encounters

near the Sea of Unknown

After much testing, Electra found they were healthy. "I'm not sure why they are smaller than normal, but they are healthy as all your children." Electra said as Aqua was riding on the back of one as thee them raced to impress the 'Great Mother'. "If I had to say, they are going to be more speed based instead of power." Electra theorized. "so, another group is born among my pups. First, the larger and powerful striking group like a tidal wave. Then the group who's jaws grip without fail came next. The group who hunter even in the blackest of waters was born and so forth." Florence sighed. "Not one is like me more than passing resemblance. Do you think I am asking too much?"

Electra waded over to Florence's head gave as good a hug as she could. "You are Florence, the spirit of water, the seas, and it's inhabitants. You are one of my friends and I understand your desires. Wanting to have an heir that is like you is normal. Have you seen how this litter has been? They are happy, healthy and are eager to be summoned. You have enough groups to cover any kind of need I would have out to sea." Florence's eyes swam with emotion as she said, "Great Mother, you are wise beyond your age. Thank you for giving me the chance to prove myself when I foolishly bite the walking sky's leg as a pup."

Electra laughed, remembering the moment well. Florence had been a young rebellious shark and bite the tip of a spider leg that was thicker than a redwood trunk. Not her brightest moment by any stretch. The great spider and half a mind to throw her into the sky, and killing her with a landing impact, but Electra and asked for Florence to be spared, just this once. She learned her lesson about attacking without a plan. Florence's relationship with the spiders was still rocky, even with the many eons of accelerated time they had lived. "You're welcome." Electra said.

The next day

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

Just before the fifth match was to be started, Electra and Aqua appeared them the deaths of the cloak, startling everyone. "You're alive?" Phantom, a spiky blonde teen with an arm wrapped in bandages and a zombified body, asked from his spot on the ramparts. "Yes, Mr. Phantom." Aqua said bowing as deep as she could, "Is it ok if I drop out of the Chess Piece Army? Miss Rapunzel forced me to join or she'd kill me because I was prettier than her." Aqua was shaking with fear as she requested this. Phantom's cold eyes looked down at her and said in a nice voice, "That's fine. I'll just kill you at some point after the war is over. In return, Electra needs to fight a knight in the fifth battle, ok?"

"She can take my place." Jack stated. Phantom seemed to be thinking how unsightly Jack's glare was. "that's fine, make sure to entertain me." A Chess Piece Army Knight pulled off her mask to reveal a deep scar that seemed to have rendered one of her eyes, covered by an eye patch, useless. "Sir! I will fight her and prove I am better than her!" The Knight, who's outfit was BMSM inspired, said like a fangirl. "Thank you for volunteering, Candice." Phantom said with a smile that hid nastiness. "The battle will be in the Desert field. You might see the red glass in the distance." Phantom told Electra like it was the funniest joke.

One teleport later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Desert Field

Electra, Snow, Ginta, Alviss, and Nanashi appeared in an area of the desert that had chucks of ruined pilers around. Emokis stated she'd be first and summoned Dandarshi, who was absolulty scared of Electra. "Master! Please tell me we aren't fighting Electra!" Emokis looked at the sword, annoyed. "No, I'm fighting her!" She points at Snow. She then asked if she was the fairest (beauty wise). The Sword lied and said easy. When the match stated, Emokis used a nature ARM called Flower Pluck. As she plucked the petals saying ugly or pretty, Snow having hair pulled out with each petal. The last petal was 'ugly' and Snow was caught in an explosion but it didn't do much to Snow.

Electra was watching the fight hiding her digest for Emokis, who summoned a Gingerbread House and ate it, bulking up with fat but getting stronger with each bite of 'magical candy, behind her mask. "What a nasty brat." She muttered as Emokis threw a giant boulder at Snow who was activating an ARM she got from the Grand Elder. Apparently, Dorothy had taken them there and everyone got new ARM. The Chess Piece Army came for a visit but left after a short-lived fight. Snow's was a Guardian ARM named Undine, who was a water spirit made of water with runic ribbon around her body.

When Undine called Emokis ugly, the sword was asked again but this time he told the truth. Emokis 'destroyed' the sword, with punch without looking. She was too busy stuffing her face to see the cloak steal the sword before the punch connected. "Defeat her." Snow ordered. Undine smiled slyly and said, as you wish. Aqua Needles." The attack was a geyser of water destroying the gingerbread house. Emokis rushed Snow in anger. Undine just bubbled her head. Emokis refused to give up as her lungs protested. Even as Snow begged her to give up, Emokis passed out and Undine released the bubble out of pity.

"It's nice to meet you, Storm Singer." Undine said to Electra as she returned to ring form. Hamelin, an unassuming person with instruments on his person was one of the top Bishops. Alviss fought him and Electra noted the Piper look alike was a fan of music. One ARM drained magic if you heard the flute's music. Another was a clarinet that made fakes of the user. He also had a set of wings. He had a Guardian that was large beast but rendered him motionless while it was active. Alviss used a darkness ARM to freeze the beast's movement then beat the user.

Candice stepped forward with a bigger than her body stone ax in hand. "Please die painfully for me." She said with a smile. Electra looked at her foe and threw her feather cloak and mask to Ginta. "Hold on to these." She said as she brought out gauntlet and sword. "If Phantom wants a show, then I will show him that which cannot be controlled." Holding the are normal length, she chanted under her breathe the required chant. A gate appeared behind Candice and creaked open. "Nice try." She said lifting her Eyepatch up to reveal a Magic orb that she used to switch places with Electra who was still chanting but loud enough for them to hear. "O Primal Mother, Tiamat! Pour forth the sea of creation. Grant me this boon and I will give you a sacrifice worthy of your generosity!"

"Get on the rocks!" Babbo yells. Everyone, save Electra, jump on to the nearest rock thing as a singing voice heralds a surging black tide that poured out of the gate and covering Electra as it spreads out. It soon retreated to the single point and became a set of scaled armor with long curving horns that Electra wore. "I give up two days eyesight as soon as this fight is finished." Electra stated before going after Candice, who threw a bracelet looking ARM to summon a clock. She tried using other rock-based nature ARM, but Electra's armor let her plow right throw them. Things got weird when she stuck Candice. For one, she was enjoying the pain and two the hands of the clock were moving with each attack.

"Don't attack her!" Alviss warned but it was too late as a giant head with snake for hair was summoned. "My clock turns my pain in power, letting me summon my Guardian ARM Gorgon!" Candice declared. Electra was arching with electricity as the ARM's stone gaze failed. "Why aren't you stone?" Candice demanded. "Galvanism turns all energy into power I can use. Even the energy of that things stone eyes." Electra said as she rushed Candice and gave brutal blows to Candice's joints, making movement too painful ever for her.

"I win." Electra says as Pozun makes it official. The armor of Tiamat melts of her body into a scaley length of cloth as her sight is taken for the next two days. She puts on the cloth on like a blindfold and returns to Team MAR. "Are you ok?" Ginta asked. "I'm fine. Sword of Dawning Storms, would you be my eyes, please?" She asked the sword, sheathed in the gauntlet. The eye in the gem 'smiled'. "Thank you." She says patting it fondly. "What was that? A Darkness ARM?" Alviss asked. "Nope, something I nearly died to get. Lesson one of dealing with beings of Chaos: Be always wary when they tell you to do something. Lesson two: If they are beings more powerful than you by a lot, do as they say and hope you survive." She said nonchalantly.

Ginta's fight with Ash, who believed that if the Chess Piece Army won his kids would be safe, split his body apart to dodge and attack. He could turn his shadow into a tangible thing that absorbed attacks. He then hid the battle from view and halved both Babbo and Ginta's power by half using a third dimensional ARM. The sword could see what was going on inside the dome. They were fighting with a bomb getting bigger but switching between them like a game of hot potato. To make sure Ginta was the one that exploded, he summoned a Guardian ARM, called Death, that was masked creature with four detachable scythe arms.

Ginta protected himself in that flan form of Babbo then used Gargoyle to defeat Death. The next match was between Nanashi and his friend and former boss of the thief's guild, Galian (knight). It was an intese battle between lightning users. Nanashi won.

Ten minutes later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

"You are crazy." Alan, a Man that had been trapped in Ed the Dog's body, said, ruffling Electra's hair. "Blinding yourself to win. It's removable, is it?" He asked. "I am not the one using my eyes at this moment, Tiamat is. It is the pact I made with her. I offer her time to see other worlds that she cannot, and she grants me an armor in battle. This was the first time I used it for real." Electra smiled as people cheered. "Not to be rude, but how is a blindfold helpful if this being waits to see?" Alan asked smoking a cigar. "It only block view for a mortal being. These clearly aren't eyes of a mortal." She lifts it just enough for him to a beautiful violet eye with an 'x' shaped pupil in it.

"Right, not scaring people is helpful." Alen conceded and the blindfold hid the eyes that set him on edge. It wasn't scary, just old. Eyes older than anything he'd gazed at and that's what set him on edge.

Later that evening

"Ginta, do you know anything about 'Tiamat'?" Alviss asked. He was making glances at Electra who was sitting back staring at viewing orb ARM, looking at different places. "She was called the 'primal mother' of Mesopotamian and Sumerian Mythology. She is described as a dragon who birthed the world and was described to an unescapable void by her children. I don't know anything else." Ginta said scratching the back of his head. "That's depressing. How could her children do that to her?" Snow asked. "It was a different time." Voleta said sadly. "the world was young, and her children had a harsh mindset. The chaos tide you saw was the sea of creation that she used to bring life to the world. From it, all life is born." Voleta stated.

"Even you?" Jack asked, "You are made of chaos." He pointed out. "I was born from chaos but not from that source of chaos. I've met more than one version of Chaos the creator. Tiamat is a bit of a hugger but nice overall." Voleta shrugged. "I got it! Electra is Greek!" Ginta said with a light bulb moment. "It took you that long to figure it out?" Voleta asked in deadpan. "History isn't my best subject." Ginta said. "Anyways, I remember watching the Olympics and there was a fighting event they brought back for that year that reminded me of how Electra fights hand to hand."

"ah, the Olympic games. People across the globe coming together every four years to compete in challenging games of skill and strength to prove their country is the best. One of the greatest things the Greeks invented." Voleta said with smile to her voice. Gaira, who overheard this, came over and asked for more information.

Two days later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Western Continent

Reginlief Castle

During the Sixth battle of the War Games, Snow was kidnapped, and Phantom announced the final battle would be held today. The jig was up with Electra's 'ARM stealing Cloak' as Phantom told her the winner of the War Games would get the stock pile of ARM, including the Hag of a knight who was killed not long after the fifth battle, as a prize. The stockpile was in the triple digits with all the people who died. It's not like it was her idea in the first place. Nyx wanted to 'spice things up' with the war games and planted a 'spell' on the cloak to let it be where it was needed to collect the ARM from the corpses.

So far Jack and Alviss beat their opponents, but when Dorothy went to fight Chimera, she was told, "No I want to fight her." Chimera pointed at Electra with such hate it was palpable. Pozun shivered as he let the unplanned change of fighters happen. Chimara removed her mask to reveal a face scared and a bunch of eyes all over one side of her face. She then shared how villagers started a witch hunt, torturing and killing anyone connected to the Chess Piece Army after the first war ended. She as, the almost wife of one of the pawns, was disfigured by them after they killed her soon to be husband.

Her hands were transformed into grotesque mouths with teeth as she used some of her ghost ARM. "Now scream for me!" She yelled bringing the teeth down on Electra. The feathered cloak became a bed of a feather shape spikes, blocking the teeth then the charge made Chimera scream in pain. "But how? I didn't detect any ARM being activated." Dorothy asked in shock as Chimera used Ogre Hand, a ghost Arm that gave her long claws hands. "Longer reach will not help you." Electra stated whistling up a mini storm cloud that blocked her from view.

"Chimaira!" Chimera declared activating a Guardian Ghost ARM that merged her with a drill armed monster. "I don't know how you are using magic without an ARM, but you will not make light of me!" Chimera said, blowing the storm away with the drills' spinning. "Come forth!" Electra said, summoning a horde of her spider summons. "Bind her." Was all she ordered as the spiders skittered towards Chimera who realized a bigger target was a bad idea. "I Forfeit!" She yelled and teleported back to base. The spiders looked disappointed and returned to Electra who praised them. The crowd was a little terrified of them.

Alan and Halloween were the next fighters and the crowd was happy for the spiders as they were pulling people out of Halloween's fire and explosion attacks, aimed at them because he could. "So, he's Alan's neighbor or something?" Electra asked, from what she understood, Pump, Halloween's old name, was a bully of a brat who tortured animals as a kid. He was also the one that cursed Alan. A real piece of twisted work. After a near death by immolation, Alan won by punching Halloween into the horizon with giant floating fists. He's death was confirmed by her cloak taking Halloween's ARM. The next match was a blood match between Nanashi and Peta. Peta's ARM joined the stockpile, as Nanashi got his revenge with crushing and shocking.

The battle between Phantom and Ginta was a nail biter, not that Electra had time to watch it with wrapped attention. She was still saving the crowd. Ginta had revealed Babbo version 6: Puss in Boots, a cat Guardian ARM that could use ARM like a person could. When Ginta made super bubble and blow up Phantom's arm. Electra's Cloak did the cheeky thing of stealing all but two of the ARM on said arm just before the blast hit. The remaining two ARM were Guardian ARM, which Gargoyle beat, leading to a slugfest and a supersized Babbo dropping on Phantom to get Ginta the win.

Two hours later

Realm beyond the Clown Gate

MÄR-Heaven

Lestava Castle

Lestava Castle floats in the air above where it normal rested and had been in chaos as the Chess Piece Army was defeated, Phantom and the Queen (Dorothy's sister) dead, and Electra and the King (The evil soul of the Orb) were in a soul to soul combat. Danna, Ginta's father, had his soul in Babbo this whole time as his body had been stolen by the King. "So, she's from another world?" Danna asked. "And she met that real Tiamat, not the Guardian Arm version." Electra's still form stood near them as they waited to see who would win. "It was crazy and I'm glad we meet her." Ginta said smiling.

Electra coughed blood as she moved again. "That scythe wielding hate slime mummy put up a good fight, but hate is just a form of negative energy in the end." She said, voice strained. "Are you insane?" Dorothy yelled shaking her. A magic stone bounced toward Ginta, who picked it up. "Babbo's eighth stone." he said. Electra held up two silver keys. "I transmuted the Orb into a pair Dimensional ARM that are useless in the same world but if one is on your side of the gate then." She coughs more blood freaking them out. Ginta uses Babbo version 4: Alice, a black-haired female angel like Guardian Holy ARM, to heal her.

"Sorry about that. I didn't realize I used that much SOUL in that battle." Electra says then continues where she left off. "These keys are linked. As long as one in here and the other is in his world, Ginta can come and go from his world to this one." Dorothy hugs her tightly, thanking her as the castle falls back to earth.

A week later

Back in her universe

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Somewhere in the Bayou

Electra was carving away, sitting in a rowboat, drifting along the bayou. "Rei, do you think Voleta and Wallace are having fun shopping in town?" Electra asked. Rei nodded being secretive. "They have a surprise for me, don't they?" Electra said, tapping Rei on the nose with an unmasked smile. "If that's the case, I'll give them extra time." Electra made a wind blow here deeper into the bayou, so that it would take longer for them to return to town.

An hour later

Electra was annoyed at the mask not looking right. She set it aside and started again. She could sell this mask to tourists, after using normal paint on it, not the special paint, but the Voodoo spirits were explicit about how they wanted the mask to look. "What was wrong with that mask?" a southern drawl of a voice said as a firefly lazily flew over. "It wasn't to the clients' standards. I can still sell them but not to this group." Electra said. "Sounds fair. My name's Ray. Well, it's Raymond, but Ray sounds better off the tongue." The firefly said. "I'm Electra and this is Rei." Electra say in return, Rei waved.

"what brings you to my neck of the bayou?" Ray asked. "Just needed peace and quiet to work on this. Came back from a huge party four days ago and the city is having Mardi Gras in two weeks. That means it's super busy and no chance for peace and quiet." Electra explained. "It's that time of year again? Where has the year gone?" Ray mused. "Time can be finicky. Take my Papa for example, he is over ten thousand years old but only in double digits at most when you ask his age. The reason why, Time travel. Makes little sense but that's life." Electra explained as she shrugged. Ray smiled and said, "you've got an interesting family." He looks up at the sky, "Do you see her? My Evangeline?" She follows his gaze and it was on the 'Evening Star', but it was different from the other versions of the star she's seen, more 'alive' and magical. A smile crept its way to her face as she realized it was more than a star. "she is the most beautiful star I've seen this evening." She says.

"That's right. I'm going to marry her." Ray said in a lovesick tone. "what don't get is why a firefly like her is always hanging out in the night sky." Electra chuckled at his question. "Maybe she's being a good listener for other people. She can sit up in the sky and hear everything. Sometimes all the help that someone needs is a good listener." Electra swore the star 'winked' at her as she said this. "You say the sweetest things about my Evangeline." Ray flew off with a wave leaving them alone. "Do you think he knows he is in love with the Blue Fairy (not cannon but theorized by fans) that gave Pinocchio live?" Electra whispered to Rei. Rei shook her head amused.

The 'star' descended and landed in the rowboat, turning into said fairy, a blonde woman with a sparkly blue dress. Her wings were like gossamer and she had wand tipped with a little gold star in her delicate hands. "You are the first to content the dots. Not even your family noticed." The fairy laughed. "Don't tell anyone this secret, Ok?" Electra was more than willing to agree to this request. "As payment, I will help give you time to finish your mask." She says taping her wand on the boat, sending it much deeper into the bayou. "May your dreams come true." She said as she returned to the sky.

"We're going to be 'lost in the bayou' for a few days at least." Electra states as she gets back to work. Fae, even the kinds of ones, like the Blue Fairy, loved to make it a little harder for you. It was their nature to test people with tricks even if they are granting a wish.

A week later

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Heart of the Bayou

Just as Electra finished the perfect mask, blood and magic mixed into the paint, the rowboat docked itself at a ship turned treehouse sitting in the branches of a Willow tree so big its trunk was much thicker than a Red Wood. "Ok, that must be important." Electra said, wrapping the mask in an oiled cloth to protect it.

Inside the treehouse

They had climbed the floating staircase (It's a staircase without a foundation or support holding it up.) and found vine walled room lit by candles and light balls in colored glass bottles hanging from lines. There was a claw footed tub, an anchor, a bronze diving bell helmet and other things about home. Sitting on a tall backed wicker throne and barefoot on the body of a green snake because her legs couldn't reach the wicker footrest, which was sitting on a fancy round carpet,, was short roundish dark-skinned woman, in white outfit with big gold hoop earrings, a thick gold necklace and small round shades on. "Welcome to my home. I am Mama Odie, the Voodoo Queen of the Bayou. How can I aid you?" She had sunny but wise voice.

"I am Electra, and this is Rei" Electra greeted with a bow then added, "a Fae, who wishes to remain unnamed, charmed my boat to come here the long way so there must be some way for you to help me." She stood up, the snake hanging off her neck, and looked at Electra closely. "Hmm, you don't look like you need help. Maybe it's someone I knew your looking for." Mama Oldie mused. Rei said something that soured the mood, "The Shadow Man? You're looking for my fool of a son?" Mama Oldie asked (This is semi cannon but was cut from the final cut of the movie) "Yes, he's the three party in a contract with the Deal Maker and his 'Dark Voodoo Spirits'." Electra shows her the contract.

Mama Oldie took the contract and read it over. "Were they the ones to request the deal? How odd. Normally it's the other way around when it come to the knowledge about how to make the special mask paint." She mused. "Normally I'd give advice to 'Dig a little deeper'." Electra saw that she had a blue stoned ring one hand and a gold bracelet on the opposite wrist. "I haven't had contact with him for years, but I'd look around the back alloys." She said, unsure. "Thank you for the wonderful advice." Electra said bowing again. Rei asked how to speak in the common tongue.

Mama Oldie laughed, "That, little spirit, is a gift that comes with age, there is no rushing it. Even vocal, you will learn how to talk and more people understanding you. Give it time." Rei huffed and looked away. "Don't mind Rei, she's been annoyed about that issue for a few years now." Electra said as Rei sulked in her mane of hair. "I understand completely. Children, mortal or otherwise, are lacking in the patience department. Could you tell me how you have the 'scent' many spirits?" Mama Oldie asked, arching a brow. "Great Mother!" a Darkness Eater stated as it appeared from a summoning gate. "We have found a living shadow." It bowed in shame, "But it ran when it saw use having a quick snack."

"There, There. You can't control your diet of darkness and shadows." Electra said. Mama Oldie had knowing smile as she got her answer. "My son had a rather animated shadow, has mind of its own but was always looking out for their shared survival. Find that shadow and you will find my son." She said with the snake nodding in agreement.

A few hours later

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

French Quarters Alleyways

It took much shorter time to return to the city. And they were searching for the lanky male shadow her summon had describe. As soon as they turned a corner, a shadow beast pointed down an alleyway. Following the path lead to a twisting turning set of directions by silent shadow beasts that vanished. The path ended at a place called Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Emporium.

"How can I help you this fine evening?" A dark-skinned shady man, leaning a crystal topped cane, asked, as he tipped his top hat, which has a skull and cross bones on it. "Are you the Shadow Man?" Electra asked. "Dr. Facilier, Shadow Broker and yes that is a title I'm known by." His shadow was pulls at his coat with terror. It was as animated as Peter pan's shadow. "She's the one with the mask?" He asked his shadow. And just like that his plan changed. "Come right in. Your client is waiting for you inside." He opened the door and let her enter first.

Inside the shop

It was a small shop with a dark hallway leading to a round room with a table and few chairs front and center. Candles gave the only light. Masks hung on the wall, one of them was cracked down the middle. Following her gaze, he told her, "There was an unforeseen accident with one of people I did a reading for, a few years ago. He didn't like what he heard and smashed that mask over my head. Things ended badly for him." The masks' eyes glowed, watching her. "Don't mess with spirits. They have many ways to punish you." Electra warned. Dr. Facilier laughed, "A fellow practitioner. What art do you use?" He asked. "Shamanism." Electra said pulling out the wrapped mask. "Not one I know much about but that requires masks to invoke the aid of spirits, right?" He guessed. "sometimes, but not always. You don't mind if I sell the 'failed' masks. They have normal paint on them."

"I get 30 percent of the profit." He said extending his hand. "Deal." She sealed the deal. He took the mask and replaced the damaged one. "You got it perfect. I can't imagine how many times you screwed up." He said, not expecting an answer. "596 times. All of them close of had a flaw to it." Electra said annoyed. "It took me a week straight to finish that mask you have there." He was surprised. "You work fast. I'm guessing you had premade slabs of wood on hand before you started." Electra sat down and he did the same. "Let's see what the cards say about you." He said shuffling the deck of tarot cards. "You grew up in a harsh but fair family. Born to riches with a curse of chaos on your blood." He said

"You are wander from your home seeking farther sites, finding trouble with your prize." He comments reading the second card, "And finally your future." He looks at the last card and stared. "Looks like your destined for the pyre. Turned to ash and jarred up on some shelf. Didn't expect to see that." He said. "Normally I see a closer future, like marriage or if you have kids." He taps his chin in thought. "All my family have been cremated then 'jarred up on some self' as you called it." She said annoyed. "Sorry about that I just call it as I see it. We bury the dead in above ground mausoleums." Electra slides four one-dollar bills to him. (1 US dollar in 1926 was worth, rounded up to the nearest dollar, 15 US dollar's today.)

"Thank you for your patronage." He said but froze as a giant mask with downward facing horns appeared behind him. "is something wrong?" He asked the boss of his 'Friends on the Other side' aka dark Voodoo spirits. "My debt? I haven't forgotten." He said as two of the bills were taken. "You want to talk to her alone?" Dr. Facilier said before running out of his show in a hurry. A being that was like a skeleton version of Dr. Facilier stepped out of the mouth of the mask. "Correction, he copied me." The being said, reading her thoughts. "I am called Baron Samedi, Loa of the dead." (Loa is the name for Dark Voodoo spirits). He had a cigar that Electra lit with a little lightning.

"I want to thank you personally making the mask on such short timeframe." He said. "And such amazing work too." He said blowing smoke rings. "I would like to offer you a deal." He turns to her. "Nothing to demanding. Just your services making masks like this one." He has said mask in his hands admiring it. "You will be paid for your work on case to case basis." He presents a contract and quill to sign. She made sure to triple check it before signing the deal. All she had to do is make masks to order as his special humans required them. "Thank you for netting me the deal that will make all the other Loa come to me for quality masks." Baron Samedi said laughing as he took the contract and quill, walking back into the mouth of the giant mask, which slammed shut and vanished. The mask she made floated before her and thanked her before returning to its spot on the wall.

The next day

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Duke's Café

Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff, was the wealthiest man in town and in charge of the upcoming event in six days. He was a large man in a white suit and well-liked by most of the town's people, some like the Shadow Man, were of a different opinion. "You want to sell hand carved masks at Madi Gras?" He asked, "I'd have to see an example of your work before I give the seal of approval." He said this as Charlotte, his blonde-haired daughter entered the café. "Daddy. Is this the person you were asked to meet?" She asked rushing over, hugging him and sitting down.

"Wow! You're beautiful." She marveled at Electra. "How do you get your hair to look like feathers?" She asked. "It requires the right bushing and some special shampoo and conditioner." Electra said pulling a few different masks she's made. "Oh my! These are lifelike." Tiana, a black-haired dark-skinned waitress said as she walked to the booth, pencil and notepad in hand. "Who made this one?" she points to a mask of a pensive looking white furred beast. "I did. This one is of a Yeti. The Yeti is said to help stranded climbers just as much as it is also said to defend its home for hunters who wish to add it to their trophy wall." Electra said.

"You imitated the fur perfectly." Big Daddy, his preferred nickname, said then asking, "Are you willing to pay five dollars to reserve a spot? As much as I'd like to say my word is enough, the government is requiring me to ask for a fee." His tone was apologetic. "You said five dollars, right?" Electra said handing over said money. "Thank you." Big Daddy said then opened the menu and ordering a big breakfast. Charlotte ordered a smaller but richer breakfast. "And what will you be having?" Tiana asked, having written down everything. "I've heard a lot about beignets (fried pastries topped with powder sugar) you serve here." Electra said and Tiana wrote it down. "your food shouldn't take too long." Tiana says as she returns to the kitchen.

"Now, you do all sorts of masks, right?" Big Daddy asked, "Do you have any 'Voodoo' masks? They would sell fast." Electra pulled out one of the 'flawed' masks after putting the samples away. "I've got almost 600 of them I'm looking to sell. I have a pull cart that I store most my mask making related stuff." Electra paused then wondered, "I wonder where Wallace and Voleta are. I know they said they had errands but that was a while ago. I hope they didn't get lost again." Big Daddy offered to help. "Wallace is a bald man of your stature and Voleta is red haired woman with a parchment for mischief." Electra described.

"I think I ran into them a few days ago." Big Daddy said rubbing his chin. "They were arguing about something secret. Well, the lady was doing most of the arguing. Wallace was mostly shooting down her argument with glares." Electra smiled at this. "Wallace is my bodyguard. It's been quite a crazy 3 or 4 years he's watched out for threats. I don't need one, but you never can be too sure when your family is more well known for both good and bad reasons." She said in far off voice. "You come from an old family? Clearly you inherited the beauty." Big Daddy said friendly. "I've considered getting bodyguard for my daughter but she's safe in this city."

Tiana came back with the food and had to ask, "I can't help but wonder where you found a fella like Wallace. He looks able to glare a gater into submission." The people in the dinner got a kick out of that. "I got him from a Queen who was moved by my singing. It wasn't easy to get Wallace, but it was worth it." Electra said. "Was it a queen I know?" Charlotte asked, cutting into her hotcakes. "She's a Queen of beauty unrivaled but has a cruel streak you never want to face. To say her name is to invite her into your area." Electra warned.

Six days later

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Electra was at her booth selling masks like hot cakes, the 'voodoo' masks were already half gone. We sat down as foot traffic slowed down. "Electra! Down here!" the voice of Tiana said from behind a wheel of her cart. "Why are you a frog?" was Electra's question. "You can blame the prince next to me for that." Tinana said kicking another frog into view. "I thought she was a princess." Was his excuse. "Prince Naveen of Maldonia?" Electra asked. "Yes, that's me. Can you help us break the curse?" He asked. "I can't because of a 'chaotic cure my family bares. Even if I am a princess, it might 'spice things up' and twist it in an interesting way." Electra told them.

"You're a princess?" Tiana asked, "of a kingdom you wouldn't know about." Electra shushed them, "you need to find the Voodoo Queen of the Bayou. Rei will help you get there." Rei popped into view and picked up the frogs, running off to the bayou. A man wearing the Princes looks, dark hair, dark skin and a roguish smile walked by with the feeling of magic about him. She'd stay out of this conflict. The freeloading prince needed to learn a lesson about hard work. She wasn't kidding about her kiss having the chance of not breaking the curse. Chaos plus magic like that can be dangerous.

Hours later

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Electra looked up at the sky and bore witness to a new star appearing, right next to Evangeline. "Oh Ray. You had to help even if it cost you your life. You got to marry your love, but your massive family will miss you." Electra said, as she counted the earnings. She totally sold out of all her masks and the Shadow Man was no longer around to collect his cut. His 'friends' got impatient and dragged him to the 'other side' to pay off his debt in a different way. "Where are those two?" She said out loud. She hadn't seed hide nor hair of Wallace and Voleta in two weeks.

About fifteen minutes later, Rei came back with the cursed frog couple and a trumpet-playing alligator named Louis. "What have you learned from this experience?" She asked them. "That debt can be deadly." Tiana quipped. The streets were empty and dark, so they had no reason to hide. "That's a given but I mean how have grown as a person?" Electra asked with a somber smile. "That the only princess I need is right here." Prince Naveen said hugging Tiana, who melted into his hug. "Hard work is nice too." She adds. "Hello there, angel." Louis greeted, "Do you remember me?" He asked. Electra laughed and stated, "We had a jam session in bayou ten days ago. Not really that good at jazz but we had a fun time."

"Not that good? Your singing was like swung gold. Maybe you could team up with be for their wedding." He whispers the last part.

A few days later

Earth (Princess and the Frog world)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Old Sugar Mill

Electra sighed as she learned what was keeping Wallace and Voleta. They had been 'misplaced' by a book eating them. They had bought it from a secondhand bookstore, and it swallowed them on the way back to the docks. Dr. Facilier had found the book and had it in his shop. Electra went there to see who gets the cut of the money after coming back from the frog couple's wedding. After getting married Tiana was a princess, so they were back to human. In a sadistic twist to prevent shorting Dr. Facilier's 'time', it was to be giving to the one that beat him, Tiana. Baron Samedi insisted on this arrangement because it was more entertaining.

"What's got you down?" Tiana asked as she cleaned up the place. She bought the property to turn into her dream restaurant, 'Tiana's Palace'. "A book 'ate' them, that's why I haven't seen them in the last week." In her lap was fancy leather-bound book with no title. "That can happen?" Prince Naveen asked as he pushed a wheelbarrow of boards to the growing stack. "Normally you need special books but this one seems to have reacted to Voleta's chaos energy, sparking a reaction and connected with a world. The problem lies in the subject matter of said book." She says, showing a picture of dark castle with monsters of all kinds walking to it in one of the chapters.

"it's different from how it looked when they bought it. It was a copy of Dracula. Now it seems to be about a hotel where monsters go get peace and quiet." She explained flipping through the pages that seemed to go on forever and then they were blank as words images were being added in real time. "This book in now a connection to a world unconnected until a touch of chaos opened the door." She explained, closing the book. "That door is closed for now until I can find a way to get there." Electra said. "I know where I need to go to start this journey to bring them home. A place where tales are narrated and is ripe for a dose of chaos to 'spice things up'." She smiled and grabbed a hammer and nails, "But before that, I need to help you fix this place up. My name is going to be on the walls after all." She gestures to a plaque thanking her for her contribution to the restaurant.

Author's note: The path to that world will not be straight and orderly, such is the path of chaos.