Play Giorno's Theme from JoJo: Golden Wind!

Chapter 18: Golden Witch of Lies

Tower of Babel

"You want to take Dr. Stone, boy?" Ibara asked with a sneer. "Even if you're planning to use it against us, it only works with MY voice."

"At least it would be out of your hands." Joker replied. "We won't let you petrify another soul."

"Joker, this is the cure to his ability!" Crow grabbed and tossed the container to his leader. Angela attempted to fly and grab it, but Joker snatched it in time. Crow and Violet tried to grab the Angel in Soul Ropes, but her slippery body slipped out. Joker made an energy shield to block her, then Violet leapt to stab the Angel's back. Joker quickly rushed toward Ibara, the elder fleeing around the corner.

"Five meters, one second!" Ibara tossed Dr. Stone back, but Joker shot his gun, hitting the device with precise aiming as it bounced toward Ibara. Ibara dropped his weapon to fly out of range of the light, but once it faded, he launched a Soul Rope to quickly retrieve it. "You know, back where I'm from, when children like you refuse to respect their elders, then they're better off as stone! Medusa didn't appreciate children like you and neither do I."

"Sounds like Medusa was in need of a change of heart. And so do you."

"The time for my heart to change has long passed. I was only obeying my tribe's customs, and in the end, I was accepted to Spirit World. What we did was just! Children like you are guilty heathens!"

"You're disgusting. I'm putting an end to you now."

"Too bad, boy. Your future is set in stone!"

Boss fight: Ibara

Ibara twirled Dr. Stone while only emitting a small radius of light. He tried to whip the device against Joker, the thief dodging with Flash Steps on his way to Ibara. Once close, he slashed the elder with his sword and kicked him off his feet. Joker grabbed a gun and riddled Ibara with bullets before the man could jump back up. He was able to yank Dr. Stone up and hit Joker's middle back, turning that spot stone. Joker escaped before more damage could be done. Ibara set his weapon to petrify the air, forming a stone bubble around himself. Joker summoned Arsene and ran up to attack the stone, attempting to breach it. "Target: pants, ten meters, one second." Joker bolted away, but couldn't escape the light in time before his pants petrified.

"Fiery Lightning Howl!" Ibara smashed through his own barrier, building energy into a yellow orb that would unleash into a bolt. Joker was struck through the spine, but he endured the pain as he poured some Miracle Fluid on his pants, reverting them. Ibara lashed the weapon once more, Joker ducking backward in evasion—"Aah!" He bent against the stone patch in his back, resulting in pain. Ibara managed to hit Joker's neck, making another stone patch before he could escape. "Target air, 15 meters, one second!" Ibara threw the weapon and exploded a stone sphere that smashed Joker into the wall. "Ha ha ha!" He pulled Dr. Stone out of the bubble. "That should teach you, boy!"

However, Joker was able to put on the mask of a Goliath (an elephant Hollow), the beast bursting into form and breaking the boulder bubble open. Joker escaped from the tight enclosing and shot bullets at Ibara, afterwards running to slash at him before the man fled again. "Five meters, one second!" He tossed Dr. Stone back, but as Joker evaded, the thief latched a Soul Rope onto the device. The two played tug-o-war over Dr. Stone, so Ibara pulled himself closer and stated, "Target energy ro-" Joker released the rope, causing Dr. Stone to fling and bounce against Ibara's face. Joker rushed up and sliced Dr. Stone's string, snatching the weapon and kicking up at Ibara's face.

Joker ran with Dr. Stone in hand, but Ibara conjured a new string and sent it to latch his Zanpakutō. Joker kept his hand firm over it, once more struggling to keep it out of Ibara's grasp. Ibara enhanced the strength of his string and was able to yank Joker over completely. Ibara leapt to slam Joker against the ground with his nails, piercing the thief in the process. "Two meters, one second!" Ibara quickly flew away, allowing Dr. Stone to explode and petrify Joker. "At last, I-"

However, Joker had thrown the Miracle Fluid in the air at just the right angle where it would spill over him, freeing him of the stone. He quickly tugged the string and pulled it from Ibara's grasp. "Now it's mine!"

"Twin Lotuses!" Ibara unleashed powerful spirit flames from his hands, Joker squeezing just in the middle of them. Ibara flew up and slashed his nails, Joker countering with his sword. Ibara conjured and latched another string to Dr. Stone, using his other hand to grab and throw his crown against Joker. Ibara followed up with a Thrust attack, blowing Joker away and snatching his Zanpakutō back in the process. "Medusa's legacy belongs only in my hands, little brat. Only I am worthy to pass judgment in her name!"

Krrrrzzz.

"Eh?" Ibara held the device up close, noticing a small chip on Dr. Stone. "Where did this come from?"

Joker smirked. "Now, Oracle."

"Two meters, one second."

"Wait… was that my-"

Before Ibara could finish his sentence, Dr. Stone exploded with light. The Historian elder was completely petrified, the shock on his features highlighted.

"Oracle was listening to this fight. She recorded your voice through my phone just now." Joker said, helping himself up. "And she replayed it through that little speaker. So, your own Zanpakutō really could have worked against you. It can't even tell your voice from a recording."

". . . . ." Ibara had no words to say.

"Hmm…there's still a few droplets of the formula left." Joker noticed, looking into the container. "Should be enough for your head. Perhaps you'll feel like telling us how to make more of it. …After we're done with Skull Face, that is." (End song.)

…

Elsewhere in the tower, Valentine was accompanied by Sandman, controlled by the parasite as they explored a corridor. "So, you've recently awakened your Zanpakutō, Sandman. Only now do I feel a familiar chi inside you, similar to my own." Valentine turned to him. "D4C!" The spirit of his Zanpakutō appeared. "Just what is your spirit's name?"

Morpheus appeared over the Sandman. "President Valentine… as I expected, you exist in this Miracle Universe as well. Indeed, you and Sandman are similar. He possesses a power known as 'Megalovania.' He can draw on the combined powers of his parallel selves throughout the multiverse. I am the spirit that was born from the souls of him and his ancestors. There are other universes where Sandman is an even more prominent figure, but their hearts ultimately tie back into him, the original 'Nolan York.'"

"And in each of these worlds, is Sandman hailed as a hero?"

"Less heroic in some than in others. It is a matter of perspective."

"M-Morpheus!" Sandman began to squirm, balling his fist as he threw a punch at Valentine. The president caught it in his palm. "Morpheus, attack this bastard!"

"I would, Sandman, but your resolve is faltered. If you are indeed the Miracle, would something as menial as these creatures control you?"

Sandman brought up his other hand and tried to shoot spirit flames, but with a swing of D4C's fist, Sandman was blasted through a door. The hero struggled to stand himself up, propping his hand on the rim of a table. "…?" Sandman was leaning on the side of a Reflecting Pool. As if on instinct, Sandman began splashing the golden water over himself.

"Ah, yes." Valentine recalled. "Skull Face's parasites are addicted to moisture. When they feed too much on the host's body, eventually the host will dry up, and they'll have nothing to thrive on. Even a Sandman must stay hydrated."

Sandman panted and looked into the pool, still holding himself up. An image began to form from the golden ripples: Gwen Murphy was on the floor with a ruptured throat. "Is that… Gwen?"

"A friend of yours?" Valentine asked, looking over him.

"Gwen is… dead?" The image changed to that of Gwen lining up with other spirits in the Underworld. "Wasn't Gwen infected by the parasites? Is Gwen dead… because of Skull Face?!"

"Skull Face is currently implanting thousands of forgotten languages into his victims." Valentine explained. "He stated that he did not intend to kill anyone, but he couldn't help if some didn't survive the process."

"How could you be okay with this?! You were a president of America. How could you side with…"

"And you are absolutely right. After all, this is merely a clone."

…

The Lost Voices gravitated around Skull Face like planets around a sun. The ancient voices of the cosmos grazed the air like comets, mixing with the modern voices in a vast array of colors.

"OOF!" He was shot in the right chest by a bullet. "Oof!" Another hit his left.

The culprit to march into the chamber was a parallel of Skull Face, his gun raised. Behind him was President Valentine, his arrival more calm and subtle with his soundless shoes. "…So, the time has come at last, Valentine?" Skull Face asked perceptively.

"But of course. You couldn't expect me to sit idly by as you destroyed the languages of the universe. America is part of the universe. We are the ultimate lingua franca."

"I knew all along, Valentine. Whether it was your America or modern America, your patriotism is boundless. Your desire to harness the Voices was as strong as my own. That's why you were the perfect accomplice. But even if I wanted to restore the voices of 'your' America, English is still a lingua franca. It would have only existed as a small amount, at best. But it's far too late for you to seize control. Do you really think that parallel alone can command the parasites I developed from Synthia's chi?"

"I may have a stronger bond with the Voices than you think." Valentine marched closer. "Because even the universe itself has a voice. All universes possess a melody. See for yourself, Skull Face!" Valentine crossed his arms and his fingers. Two diagonal, golden, see-through barriers emerged from his being, seizing Skull Face and the Voices between them. To his left and right, Skull saw his reflections in the barriers, and the space closed until the reflections sandwiched him between. "Song of the Multiverse!"

Skull Face and Valentine were standing under a massive waterfall of bright, rainbowy colors. The waterfall appeared to be pouring from a river, interconnected via a great many, countless, branching rivers, all originating from numerous sources.

"This, Skull Face, represents a basic understanding of our multiverse." Valentine proclaimed, his form charming and refined against the colorful falls. "Our universe is a Dimensional Fusion that is filled with voices, souls, and colors from a great many sources. It has filled the great pool of our universe. From our pool, some rivers have formed and branched off into parallel universes." Valentine indicated the small, slightly slanted rivers pouring down into other pools. "But sometimes, there are leaks that drip out, resulting in the small, 'inferior' universes."

The Lost Voices appeared to be spinning and dancing wildly under the noise emitting from the pool. "Furthermore, each universe possesses its own frequency, or 'melody' as a more pleasant turn of phrase. I am able to bring in parallels by tweaking the melodies in a way that adjusts them for this universe."

"So, your Zanpakutō is not only imbued with Space Chi, but Music Chi?"

"Indeed. And this tower with high concentrations of Music Chi are perfect for enhancing my power." Valentine raised his finger and gestured it toward him. The Voices gravitated in his direction. "Your parasites have adapted with the voices of these spheres, but by manipulating their frequency in this space, I can turn the Voices in my favor. I am a man who can sing the songs of all universes! Only I am worthy to wield the Voices of the Miracle Universe! I care not what you do with the rest of the cosmos, but I will ensure that America remains the strongest country in all universes!"

"Then let us see who is destined to command the voices!" Skull Face declared, drawing his gun.

"D4C!" Valentine's spirit blocked the bullets and flew to punch Skull Face. The masked villain intercepted the fist as One That Covers began to form a black and silver suit of armor over its master.

Outside

Gohda had fled to the mountains at the edge of the valley. With a remorseful sigh, Gohda set the dollhouse down and entered it. "It's time that we cut ties with the KND, Maria-chan. Beatrice…"

A beautiful woman in a brownish dress with orange stripes, ginger-blonde hair with a rose, and blue eyes appeared. Beatrice inhaled from a pipe before blowing a gentle cloud of smoke over Maria. "Arrange Maria's mind so that her adventures with the KND feel like a dream. Afterwards, we will return to my room in Heaven's Hotel. We will live the rest of our afterlives in peace with Maria's family. I will have to do my best to keep Maria from exiting, let alone encountering the KND again. The fate of her friends is regrettable… but Maria-chan never should have troubled herself with such things. She is too pure for this world."

Gohda exited the dollhouse and picked it up. "Growl…"

Gohda gasped, turning. An Ursa Hollow crawled around the corner of the mountain path. Seeing Gohda as prey, the creature charged, but Gohda extracted his energy blade and slashed at the bear.

At this time, Renard, Snake, and Emily were driving through the valley in the former's convertible. "Huh?" Snake looked over. "Hey, I feel someone's energy over behind that hill."

"I'm more concerned about the jillions of spirits inside and around the tower." Emily replied simply.

"Let's just check it out real quick."

"I guess since we are close." Renard complied, turning the car that direction.

The trio saw the back side of an Ursa, shortly before the Hollow was impaled and dispersed. Through its fading remains, Gohda was present. "?!" The butler gasped, his face creasing anxiously.

"G…Gohda?!" Emily exclaimed.

"Now, just what are you doing out here?" Snake asked, drawing a gun. "Shouldn't you be with your friend, Skull Face?"

Gohda bit his lip. It seems they already found out about his deal somehow. There was no point questioning how they escaped from the labyrinth. "…I have no further need to antagonize you. I only wish to take Maria-chan and live in peace. Skull Face and York-san are in the tower. Go and stop him if you must, but please leave us alone."

"You think we're letting you off the hook that easy?!"

"Snake, Renard, just hurry to the tower." Emily requested, climbing out. "I'll straighten this out. They're my teammates, after all."

"Ugh…just catch up soon. Renard, let's go."

"You sure? Well, okay. Please save Maria, Emily." Renard started the car up again and continued the drive.

"Gohda, what's going on here? Why did you trick us into that labyrinth? Was Maria's family really captured, or were you working for Skull Face all along?"

"Maria-chan has led a very difficult life. She was a young child in a desperately troubled family. Innocent, but forced to absorb the negativity around her. But now that we've been through the sweet release of death, we were freed from that darkness. That's why… I was desperate to save them from Skull Face! I had to betray you! But now the Ushiromiya Family has been returned to us! I am escorting them to safety within Maria's dollhouse. Rosa-san, would you like to speak to Emily-chan?"

A woman with sandy-brown hair and a black dress exited the dollhouse. Emily recognized her as Maria's mother, who Emily sometimes saw from outside their mansion. "Hello, Emily-chan. Allow me to apologize on Gohda's behalf. The truth is, as an Ushiromiya servant, he is bound to us before anyone else."

"That is why I chose to betray you in exchange for saving them." Gohda bowed his head. "I am as ashamed of myself as you are of me. So, please allow me to never trouble you again. If we no longer associate with the KND, then no villain will attempt to hurt us again."

"…" Emily was silent for a moment. "You know something, you guys never let me enter your mansion. You always said that 'commoners' weren't allowed."

"Our family is of high esteem even in the afterlife." Rosa inferred. "Besides, you were still among the living, Mrs. Dickson. We couldn't let you spread our secrets to the Mortal World."

"I don't know anyone who would be interested in you or your secrets. Except for right now. Just what type of secret are you really hiding?"

"Emily-chan, perhaps you should go to help your friends. We would like to put this awful business behind us and go somewhere far away."

"Why doesn't Maria come out? I want her opinion on this."

"I don't want you seeing my daughter, anymore. Please leave, Mrs. Dickson." Rosa frowned impatiently.

"Maria is our teammate! We need her help! Doesn't she want to help us?"

"My daughter does not want you, anymore!" Rosa shouted, creasing in anger. "Why can't you leave us alone?!"

"Why can't you tell me the truth? For all I know, you aren't even her mom!"

"Nyarrh! And I don't think an outsider like you has any right to judge me!"

"Whatever! I'm going to see Maria!" Emily flew to the dollhouse.

Rosa dealt a swift, brutal kick to Emily's face, slamming her against the cliffside. "Dammit, Gohda, what's wrong with you?!"

"Rosa-san, I will take care of her. Do not trouble yourself."

"Hmph…just be rid of her, Gohda." Rosa returned into the house.

"Why don't you leave her to me?" Beatrice asked, materializing beside Gohda.

"Who are you?!"

"Beatrice is our family's honored benefactor." Gohda answered.

"She…she feels like a Zanpakutō spirit."

"If you insist on interfering with our matters, we must be rid of you."

"Frankly, Mrs. Dickson, you are hardly worthy of being part of our Golden Land." Beatrice smiled wryly. "You are merely a threat to the Ushiromiyas. You need to perish! So, E-mi-ly Dick-soooon… GO TO HELL!" (Play "Mirage Coordinator" from Umineko!)

Boss fight: Toshiro Gohda

Beatrice pulled out her pipe and turned it into a golden sword, flying to slash at Emily. The Halfa dodged and clashed her own sword with the energy blade. She flicked Ecto Beams from her fingers to hit Beatrice's eyes, seeming to harm Gohda as well. Emily turned intangible briefly before kicking both feet into Beatrice's face. She then flew around the witch to attack Gohda, who readily lashed his blade in defense. He disarmed Emily before thrusting up at her, but she flipped back in evasion, kicked Gohda's arm off-course, then slammed a punch into his nose. "AAH!" Emily screamed when Beatrice grazed her back. Emily recovered her weapon and shot a larger beam at the witch, blasting her against the wall. "Draw to life, Phan Art!" Emily whipped up a picture of El Tigre and had him use his chain arms to bind Beatrice.

Gohda launched a red web that wrapped around Emily, binding her as well. Gohda called Beatrice back and flew to the sky, conjuring twin Shoulder Towers. Tigre cut Emily free as the Halfa took flight, maneuvering quickly to survive the storm of ammunition from the towers. Gohda conjured two Gungnir Spears, shaped with light energy as he launched them at Emily. In shifting between the spears, two cannonballs shot her, but she kept flight and launched to punch Gohda. The butler blocked with a barrier, and several shots pounded Emily's back, weakening her enough for Gohda to stab her belly. He punched Emily downward, but she recovered, donning an angered expression as she flew a far distance. "OoooooooOOOOOOOOOOO!" Her Ghostly Wail vibrated the air and forced the towers to collapse into dust.

Emily returned to Gohda, having more room to dodge the Gungnirs. He tried to slash her directly, but she made an Ecto Shield, blocking him before shooting a beam into his head. She then grabbed him by the neck and flew down to slam him into a mountain, but Beatrice suddenly appeared above and kicked Emily off him. Gohda conjured a giant cake out of energy and flattened Emily underneath it. As she struggled to escape the cake, Gohda began to materialize stone-like soldiers that were twice their height. The giants charged the cake just as Emily escaped from it. She yelped as one slammed its fists at her, the woman dodging and punching to knock it down. Another one slammed, but she grabbed its fist and mustered her strength to lift the beast and swing it into another.

Emily flew back and drew Numbuh 362, the child Supreme Leader leaping out to pound and bash the 4th giant with her Yield Staff. She was too nimble to manage, but when Beatrice attempted to slash the drawing, Emily intercepted her sword with her pencil. Beatrice applied pressure and sliced the pencil, causing 362 to vanish. Emily flew circles around Gohda and shot Ecto Beams, the man defending with his blade. She turned intangible, Gohda conjuring a shield in preparation. He kept his blade ready the other way, and as expected, Emily appeared. She dodged his slash and shot ecto in his eyes, then flew away before Beatrice's sword could attack.

"I remember you and Maria saying the 'Golden Witch' was the one who uplifted you to the Spirit World. I always dismissed that as your family's belief, but I wonder…"

Gohda flew away and conjured four Shoulder Towers, retreating behind one. Emily gave chase, maneuvering around the tower, but Gohda continued to keep out of her vision, leaving the towers to bombard her. Emily became invisible again, but the towers seemed to automatically trace her. She decided to muster a wider Ecto Beam and destroyed the tower Gohda was behind, then she quickly flew to intercept and grab the butler. Emily slammed him directly against a tower, and the remaining three dispersed. Gohda binded Emily in a red web, stunning her once more and landing slashes against her. She escaped, her Zanpakutō suddenly reforming as she stabbed the pencil into Gohda's eye.

"Golden Chef Mode!" A golden spatula spawned in Gohda's hand in place of his blue blade. A black cape was fit over him, along with a black chef's hat with the Ushiromiya wing crest. Gohda flipped energy patties up from the spatula and launched them at Emily, burning her with the heat of a stove. Emily drew Spongebob to counter his patties and flip them back, but Gohda simply flipped them skyward, making full, giant burgers appear over the patties. The burgers dropped on Spongebob and squished him, then they tried to bounce onto Emily, keeping up with her despite the ghost's speed. She shot beams up to destroy the burgers, but was sandwiched between two steaks.

Emily burst with ecto to escape, flying to punch Gohda, but Beatrice smacked her to the ground with a gold frying pan. Emily dodged the Gungnir Spears, but Beatrice enlarged her pan and dropped down. Luckily, Spongebob jumped in to defend Emily, suspending the pan up with his spatula. Emily squat her legs, built strength, and sprung up against the pan, pushing it all the way up against Gohda. She then flew above and smashed Gohda against the pan, all the way to the ground. Gohda smacked Emily with the spatula, and a cooking pot suddenly formed and sucked her inside. Gohda conjured and dropped other ingredients in, heating the pot up before it exploded. Emily was covered in soot and soup, but Gohda followed up with another red web before slamming her to the ground.

Emily crashed on the path, but as she looked up, she noticed Maria's dollhouse. "I've had enough of this!" She blasted a beam to destroy the dollhouse instantly.

"NOOOO!" Gohda screamed.

All the miniaturized contents of the house came exploding out, including Maria and the 16 Ushiromiyas and servants. "Mmmmm…" Maria moaned in exhaust.

"Maria, wake up-!" Emily yelled, but was flattened under another cake.

"Oh…ow…what hap…"

"Maria-chan!" A figure appeared in the child's blurry vision. She fully awoke to Gohda's vibrant smile. "Maria-chan, you fell asleep again! Your family is worried about you."

"Maria's… family?" Looking around, the forms of her relatives became clear to her eyes.

"Maria-chan!" Rosa walked over and helped her daughter to stand. "Honestly, you need to be more careful. You tripped and hit your head. The dollhouse shattered!"

"Dollhou…wait a minute." Maria rubbed her eyes. "Mama, wasn't everyone kidnapped? W-what…what was I…"

"Oh, Maria, you had a bad dream!" her grandpa, Kinzo boasted humorously. "You were just taking us for a walk! Please be more-"

Emily burst out of the cake. "MARIA! Gohda betrayed us!"

"Wh-who is that?!" Maria asked. As she stared at Emily, her mind was flashing.

"Maria, watch out!" Gohda yelled. "That is an evil spirit! Beatrice is protecting us from it!"

"Dammit, Maria knows I'm her friend!" Emily yelled, growing more angry and impatient. "What the hell are you all doing to her?! What kind of family are you?!"

"Maria…Is that Maria's friend?" the child moaned dizzily.

"No, Maria, she's a stranger." Rosa told her. "Strangers aren't friends."

"But Maria feels like she knows-"

"You do not know her! Let Beatrice destroy her!"

"Did you do something to her mind?!" Emily yelled. "Maria, don't you remember? We were trying to stop Skull Face, we have to go to the Tower of Babel!"

"That is not Maria's concern!" Gohda yelled. "Maria, ignore this stranger!"

"Skull Face… Maria feels like that's important, uu-uuu…"

"It's not important!" Rosa insisted. "Get these thoughts out of your head!"

"But Mama, Maria really thinks she's forgetting something, uuuu!"

"Stop with that 'uu-uu'—I mean, stop thinking about it! That woman is no one! You are not a KND opera—mmph!"

"Rosa-san!" Gohda panicked.

"C-Candy…candy…cundy…knndy?"

"Why don't you tell her the truth, Gohda?" Emily asked aggressively. "Why…why did you already have the Stolen Truth? Why did you deceive us and give it to Skull Face? Why is Maria's memory fuzzy?"

"Please, just go away, Emily-chan! Just let Maria—I mean, us live in peace!"

"The reason is… because you killed them, didn't you?" (End song.)

Slashing sounds screeched the air as Gohda and the Ushiromiyas were pierced with red blades. Maria felt pierced, too, her eyes shooting open. "W-what?!" Gohda sweated. "How could you accuse me of something so awful?! We were all welcomed here… by…"

"By the Golden Witch, Beatrice? And why is your Zanpakutō named for the witch that they worship? And all that stuff you said before, about how the 'sweet release of death freed you from your darkness'… I learned from Kid that your home island suddenly exploded… but you were responsible for that, weren't you? I don't know how, but it has to be you. Maria was an innocent child born to a troubled, negative family. And you decided to play the role of their witch 'Beatrice' and uplift them to paradise."

"Th-th-th-th-th…th-th-that's… w-why… would you accuse Gohda… of such a thing?…" A waterfall of sweat trickled down his skin.

"Because I feel like the Stolen Truth has something to do with it. That's why you already had it. …Have you been lying to Maria all this time? Is this really her family?"

"How dare you infer that I'm not Maria's mother!" Rosa rasped. "After our horrible tragedy, all she has is us! All she has is…"

"And have you guys ever questioned who was responsible? Or did you know all along Gohda was your killer? That he was the 'Beatrice'? Why did you never let me into your mansion? Because you're not real. You're not."

"I…I…I…" Rosa's form sizzled like static… and disappeared. The rest of the family followed.

"…" Maria was left standing speechless. Her young eyes struggled to process everything.

"This is… a big mistake…" Gohda shuddered. "G-Gohda… never killed anyone… Gohda just wanted… the Young Miss… to live happily… Gohda never wanted to…"

"Gohda-san." The butler looked down at the confused child. "Where is Maria's family?"

"Maria…" Emily approached her, placing a hand to the child's shoulder. "I don't know where your family is… but they were never with you. They weren't kidnapped by Skull Face, they were never in your mansion… They were illusions that Gohda created. You've been living with lies."

"No, Maria-chan… don't listen to Emily." Gohda said. "Your family… is just fine… they're at Heaven's Hotel… they're at-"

Maria waved her wand and twisted Gohda's mouth with a spell. "Maria isn't sure what's happening… but she feels like… Emily-san isn't lying." She looked up at the Halfa. "You said we have to go to Babel, didn't you? York-san needs our help?"

"…Yes, Maria. We really should go."

"…Hai!" Maria beamed spiritedly.

Emily lifted the witch on her back and began the flight to the tower. Gohda merely floated in place, shuddering terribly.

Then Emily returned, grabbed his ankles, and SLAMMED him against the mountain, knocking him out. "Just to be safe." With that, the flight continued.

Snake and Renard flew to the top of Meloetta's statue, racing for the tower. "Stop where you are!" Sherbet yelled, he and Ciel assuming position. "No one is to disrupt President Valentine's…?"

He silenced himself, realizing that Snake had a box over his head while running to them. They dropped their guard from confusion, but Snake took off the box and quickly shot their knees. "I'll deal with them!" Renard declared, sending her Four Beasts to attack the Angels.

Snake entered the tower, keeping his box up as he raced through and skimmed the halls. "Sandman… where the hell are you?!"

…

Within the Multiverse Pools, Skull Face, armed in his battle suit, leapt to hammer Valentine, but the president dove into the shiny pool. Three Valentines flew out, landing a Triangle Uppercut. Skull recovered and shot down at them, but could only hit the parallels while the real Valentine bent the melody around his foe and disabled the suit. Skull used Bright Heaven Cannon, but Valentine splashed some water up to have the 10 beams warp somewhere in the universe.

"To be able to view the Multiverse on such a scale… truly a one-of-a-kind power." Skull Face said. "Just how many cultures in how many universes have fallen to the lingua francas?"

"And how many Americas face destruction? Indeed, we were a fated duo, Skull Face. Both of us were fated to command the Voices. Even so, I am not the only man with this power."

Close to Coruscant(?)

A fleet of ships were pulling a massive supply of crates across Galaxia. Von Kriplespac, a weasel in a lab coat and floating chair was twiddling his gloved fingers in the flagship. "Uuuu hehehehehahaha! All going according to plan, ja? I hope ze Hunter Association enjoys zeir food, ja? They vill never suspect that zese foods are laced vith a drug zat vill sicken zeir stomachs for ein entire month! Zen who vill be hunting in ze Gourmet Hunt? Vhy, only our new associates, of course, ah hahahahahahaha!"

"Sir, did you say something?" asked the charming, British man driving the ship.

"Silence! Just get us to Coruscant ASA-pronto! We must deliver zese ingredients before any vone has a chance to find out—I mean, before ze Gourmet Hunters starve, ja? Drive faster!"

"You needn't fear, Mr. Kriplespac." The handsome, black-haired, pale-faced man turned to him with a beaming smile. "Rest assured, I am one hell of a driver~"

The ships were minutes away from landing on Coruscant, the planet directly in sight. …From the angle they were driving, they didn't see Amazonia directly behind the planet. Nor did they realize it was actually Bobopolis, wearing a Coruscant mask.

Special thanks to Sarstar for the multiverse concepts of pools and melodies! Also, my mom always joked that "KND" sounds like "candy" (which it does), and I think this is my first time referencing that fact in a chapter.