Chapter 4: Topsy Turvy

An: Ah, what the hell, just want to say, there's not really a room like this in the games, but I got the idea from a stage of the NES game, Little Nemo: The Dream Master and the animated movie, Little Nemo in Slumberland. Suppose to replace the Dance Hall stage.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ^_^

~*~

"That was a Cerberus you two have just defeated. I wasn't surprise, that there be another in the castle after all these centuries." Said a voice from the shadows, as Soma and Damien turned around. A blonde haired woman and dark haired man in a black suit came out from the shadows. The spaniard smiled at the other duo as he spoke, "Long time, no see, Yoko, Arikado."

"Huh? You know these two?"

"Yes, they're my friends. Damien, this is Yoko Belnades and that's Genya Arikado. Yoko, Arikado, this is Damien Chambers."

"Please to meet your acquaintance." Said Damien.

"The pleasure's all ours." Said Yoko as she tugged on Arikado who growled in annoyance.

"What are you guys doing here?" Asked Soma. Before speaking, Arikado made a quick glance at the boy who Soma introduce. The boy resembled Richter Belmont, his friend and ally many centuries ago...More angelic as he was, before being controlled by Shaft, except for his ponytail and blue eyes. "We sensed that something was going to brew within the castle walls so we came to investigate and make sure it was a false alarm." Said Arikado. Yoko glanced at him.

"That's what I came here for too. When I felt the energy on the sphere and entered the realm, I managed to find Damien, but I also sensed yours & Yoko's energy as well. Was there any trouble?"

"Well, no...Unless you count that someone is going to resurrect Dracula one way or another!" Exclaimed Yoko as Arikado glared at the blonde who ignored it. 'If you weren't going to say anything, then I will.'

"What?! You got to be kidding!" Exclaimed Damien.

"How's that possible?" Asked Soma.

"There is a way. You know what day it is?" Asked Yoko.

"Friday the 13th. But what does it have to do with his resurrection?" Asked Damien as he was waiting for an answer. Arikado continued where Yoko lefted off, "When the full moon appears in the sky, by midnight in THIS realm, Dracula arises from his resting place where he shall reclaim his power.."

Soma put his head down as his mind recorded every word Arikado said. Damien glanced at the other youth as he put a hand on his shoulder. "Soma?"

The spainard looked up at Damien as he said, "I'm fine, Damien. Then he looks at Arikado. How long we have before that happens?"

"Judging from the time in the real world, we have but 23 1/2 hours, to get to the Throne Room where the ceremony is going to take place."

"Then let's go there!" Said Damien. That's when Yoko stepped in. "Unfortunately, the warp point to the Top Floor is sealed by some unknown sources and even going through the Inner Qaurters, a black energy door is blocking the path. It be difficult to proceed." Explained Yoko. Damien made a low whistle, "Looks like we're not invited to this little ceremony. As it seems, mysterio wants us to go around this weird castle and play 'ring around the monsters', until we all fall down."

"Exactly." Agreed Yoko.

"Alright then. If that's the case, so be it!" Said Soma as he was about to take out his sword when Arikado lifted a hand at him to stand down. "Don't go overboard, this being may be testing us, how far we will go and unless all of his henchmen are defeated in the areas they are lurking in, we won't be able to enter the Top Floor. Besides, it'd be a perfect opportunity for you, Chambers, to retrieve all your souls and abilties in order to proceed." He said. Damien was quiet for a moment, then nodded.

"Good. We'll go to the Chapel's warp point to the Castle Corridors."

"What for?"

"There is a secret path we found, leading to another room. Let's not waste any more time."

"Yes."

The team sets out as the door opened before them and headed straight toward the warp point.

~*~

Somewhere in a small area.....

"Let me go!" Cried a small female voice as the sound of metal kicking back and forth through the hallways as a dark voice spoked, "You can kick your cage all you want, but I'm not letting you go. As my new little fairy servant, you shall do as I say, whether you like it or not!"

"I'm a elf for one thing! I wouldn't listen to you, even if you were good looking!"

"Ha! Elf or fairy, what difference does it make?! You're both the same! Said the demon whose body was red and legs that resembled a goat's. Blue Horns were sticking out from his head and elbows as wings were spread out from his back, blue gleaming in his eyes. He looked down at the small elf who kept kicking her cage. ...And you're mine!"

The elf woman was very pretty and had curly light purple hair, including eyes. She wore a long blue dress with slits on each side, showing her pale legs which were covered by a pine-green cape and shoes, that matched her dress. A thornless briar circlet was on her head with a green gem and in her hand, was a crescent ornament shape staff as she uses it to break free. But the cage was magic proof, so it was pointless to use up all her powers.

As she sat harshly in her cage, the creature only grinned at her as he said, "It won't be for long before I take you to my humble abode." He said. The elf didn't say anything but hugged her knees and began to weep softly as the hideous creature laughed cold heartly.

~*~

***Castle Corridors***

As they came out of the warp point, Soma, Damien, Yoko and Arikado jumps down the wooden steps one by one, as the team encounters zombies popping out from below. Yoko summons ice, as she freezes some of them coming toward her, while Damien cuts off their heads with his sword. Soma & Arikado uses their similier fire attack as they all got out of there before having to fight the undead again.

The next room was leading up and downward as they conitnued to moved toward their chosen path and enter the door before them.

~*~

***Room of Confusion***

Soma was the first to come in as he stops by his tracks and the others crashed into him, looking at the scenery before them. Damien was first to exclaimed, "Everything's upside down!"

"I can see that!" Exclaimed Yoko as Soma looked at Arikado in wonder, "What place is this?"

"This is called the Room of Confusion." He said. "Weird...NOW I know the castle undergoed some changes." Said Soma. "You can say that again." Said Damien.

Without another word, they leaped to the next stand to another, as the team managed to find a stairway leading to the top (which of course, leading below). They were encountered by Ghost Dancers and Waiter Skeletons as Damien was the first to kill a few, absorbing both souls and the trio followed by help killing the rest of them. A floating giant skull charges at them as it knocks Soma on the ground and Damien strucked it with the Great Armor's attack from his sword, shattering the skull into pieces. A blue soul entered him before he helped Soma on his feet, while Yoko and Arikado have just had took out a Disc Armor from behind.

It became surprising that there weren't any more monsters in the next room they came across, except for a Giant Golem that began to move toward them. Soma and Damien used their souls as Arikado and Yoko casts their spells on it when there was a drawback; the creature was still standing as it spewed out stones at the team before they dodge it. Soma transforms into the Devil and dashes into the stone creature before it stops then falls into pieces as it's soul went inside the spaniard. With that out of the way, Soma and the gang continued onward as they found another blue door leading to the boss. They went in before it closed behind them and cautiously stepped forward, only to hear a cry from the path infront of them.

"NO! LET ME--LET ME GO! HELP!"

Alarmed, Damien ran toward the call as the rest followed behind "Damien! Wait up!" Called Soma, but the american was now farther as the taller youth changed into a bat while Arikado turns into a wolf as Yoko hops on his back and both animal forms picked up the pace to catch up with the boy.

The red demon had the small woman in his grasp as he said, "Scream all you want, no one will hear you!"

"Someone just did!"

The creature turned to see who said that and there stood Damien, holding his weapon as he continued, "You know, you got alot of nerve of torturing someone whose not bigger than you. So I suggest let the little lady go or get ready to see yourself pummeled below the dirt."

"Ha! Don't make me laugh! Why would a boy like you be so ignorant to challenge me?!"

"Who said it was only me going to challenge you?" Damien smirked as Soma and Arikado appeared, changing back into their human forms and Yoko holding her whipsword in place.

"Who are you and who is your master that sent you?" Asked Soma. The creature grins, placing the elf woman back in her cage as he replied, "The name's Pazuzu and you're meaning my mistress."

"Mistress??"

"That's right, the countess who brought back Dracula before. She had me turn this area into my territory and to watch out for any intruders. However, I never thought I would have visiters coming over after all these centuries. I'll gladly welcome you, but if its to rescue this little pointed ear broad of an elf, I won't give her up!"

"Since you put it that way, we're gonna have to take her from you." Said Damien. "We'll see about that." Pazuzu begins to spit out flames three at a time as the team splits up and dodges each of them.

Afterwards, the demon jumps from the ground and lands harshly, causing the whole area to shake slightly as everyone stood still. Damien almost lost his balance when Soma grabbed his arm just when Pazuzu summons so many dark blue imps in the room to attack. The team killed as many as they can while the demon just stood watching as a few more began to drop in. Seeing that he was paying more attention with that attack, Damien took the opportunity to charge at the demon and cast Tiny Devil as he created a blade vortex which sent him flying backwards.

While Pazuzu tries to get up, Damien frees the elf woman who flew toward him and hid beneath his ponytail. "Don't worry, you'll be safe." Said Damien as the elf woman held onto his collar when Pazuzu got up with a now pissed off look in his eyes and charges into Damien before he was about to attack. He fell backwards as the elf woman fell onto the ground and slowly got up, seeing the american getting hit with punches by the demon.

"Damien!" Cried Soma as he was about to help his friend when more imps shot at him like many bullets and went down. Yoko and Arikado had their hands full with more imps as Soma struggled to break free.

Meanwhile, the american was giving a punch in the stomach as he fell to his knees when Pazuzu picked him up by the neck and sneered. "Not tough now, are ya?!" Damien didn't said anything, but spit at the creature as he growled in response. The demon got angry as he began to choke Damien who drops his sword and the boy grasp his arms, trying to break free.

The elf watched in horror as Damien was about to get killed. Holding onto her staff, the demi-creature cried out. "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!"

Light began to fill the room, as everything turned white and the demon watched while holding his captive, who glanced with one eye half opened. A spark hit the creature as he lets go of Damien who fell onto his knees, gasping for air and grabbed his sword from the ground.

There was a purple glow hovering infront of Damien who kept looking as he manage to see the image of the elf. She smiled before changing into a light blue ball as it went inside the hilt gem which began to glow, transforming into a really big yet white energy blade. With both hands, Damien held it as he look how big the sword was when he heard a voice. "Your sword and I became one, now you can summon the Sword of Fate."

"Sword of Fate??"

"There is no time, your friends are in danger! If he dies, then all of his imps servants will disappear." Said the voice.

As Pazuzu was about to get up again, from an unknown clearing, the youth raises the huge blade over his head and shouted "SWORD OF FATE", before he swunged it through the demon who cried in pain as he was spilt right down the middle. The soul went inside him before the demon's remains disappeared and the imps that were attacking the others, had vanquished into thin air.

Soma, Yoko and Arikado got up from the ground as they looked at Damien who watched as the blade glowed and the light blue orb came out, reverting back into the elf who opened her eyes. The sword was revert back to it's original form as the elf lands on Damein's palm, looking up at the boy with eyes of gratitude. "Damien, is it not? I will forever be in your debt." She said.

"There's no need to repay me."

"Please, allow me to accompanying you and your friends, master." Said the elf. Damien was confused at the moment when Arikado said, "She is now your familiar, Damien. A spirit that will be very loyal to you and help you whenever needed."

"Er, okay. By the way, what's your name?" He asked.

"My name is Bleu, the elf sorceress. I was captured by Pazuzu when I was trying to stop the one who was going to revive Dracula. It was even worse that I couldn't find a way to get through the black door."

"I know what you mean, we found out about that and have been fighting these monsters in order to proceed. Say, Bleu, is there more to this area or just a small room?"

"No, there's a door leading more to this area and the catacombs, leading to an upward area I never went to." Replied Bleu. "Can you lead us the way, then?" Asked Yoko.

"Of course!" Said Bleu as another green orb went inside everyone before proceeding to the next area.

As they went in, the team found another soul statue and a door that Bleu described before Damien destroys it, a gray soul enter his body as Yoko asked in wonder. "Which is it this time?"

"There's only one way to find out." Said Arikado before he summons the Crissagrim and slashed at Damien who moved in a quick side dodge as he glared at the dark man. "Hey! What was tha-Wait." He tried it again by moving left in a quick move and right. "Seems to be somekind of side dash, almost similier to mines." Said Soma. "Let's proceed further, you two." Said Arikado.

"Yeah."

~*~

Meanwhile, inside the throne room, the redheaded woman looked down at the team from her crystal globe when a henchmen entered. He had white hair and beard; along with pointed ears, wrinkled tan skin and black eyes. He sort of resembles Merlin, only short and wore a violet robe which covered his whole body as he held a staff with an ornament that shaped as a glaive. The small elder stepped in the room as he stops to bow his head at the woman who still had her back facing him.

"Lady Carmilla, you summoned me?"

"Yes I have Chamberlain. There is something I want to show you. Come here." Commanded Carmilla, normally, as her servant Chamberlain stepped forward and stood beside the woman. The image of the battle with Pazuzu and the four beings appeared as the elder mage looked on, then soon answered, "So these are the four who have enter the castle you mentioned."

"Yes. I have been watching the battles they fought. But what I don't understand, is how much power these four possess, even that boy who's wielding the Soul Reaper. They managed to make it this far, which is impressive. However, they are becoming a nuisance to me and will do all they can to get to the Throne Room. No matter, my five loyal Daemons will rid of this annoyance once and for all. They are in their territory right now preparing themselves and with that out of the way, I'll begin the ceremony without any more interruptions."

"Yes, my mistress."

"Dracula will arise to reclaim power and bring forth chaos, just as the prohecy had said. Ha,ha,ha. Come. We must have everything all arranged for the ceremony and we must hurry."

TO BE CONTINUED........

AN: The Soul Reaper is the name of Damien's sword and Carmilla is the countess from Circle of the Moon who was responsible for the resurrection of Dracula and plans to see him rule. If you played the game, you probably knew already. Just to help jog your memory. I figured that she'd be the main villain of the story who going to revive the count and wants to rule by his side. There probably others from the games that might appear also. I'm trying to figure out who else. One thing for sure, I'm not quite happy how this chapter came out, at least, for certain parts. Please review.

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