FOREWORD: I actually managed another chapter? Who would have thought…

NOTES: The first and last bits are in some void or another, where Akane and Celes comment on the story. So if you don't wanna read it, you don't have to, since it won't affect anything.

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own DNAngel, nor Cinderella, 'cause if I did, then they'd all be blowing up monsters or something. This is starting to bore me… bring on the monsters!

IN THE LAST STAGE: Meet Patty, the crazy family is back and Krad is… somewhere. Satoshi's the prince who has a twin and… yeah. That's about it.

Other:

(--) Daisuke

((--)) Dark

a time space and switching over to different places and characters.

&…& my own rambling opinions. I kinda stopped using it anyway…

Italics are used when Dark and Daisuke – and now Krad and Satoshi - are talking outside the lines of the story. So it shouldn't be too confusing to work out what's going on, hopefully… If you do get confused, just tell me and I'll fix it up.

:--: Satoshi thoughts

:--: Krad's thoughts

COMMENTS: Someone tell me why I'm trying so hard.


Stage 7: Actions Speak Louder than Words (or is it the other way around?
"What do you mean by that? What's going on?"

"I do not truly know, but there is a problem with the line of connections."

"Hm…" Akane frowned as she thought it over, wondering what to say next, "Well, is there any way of getting me into it?"

"I doubt it. It is unsafe to try."

"That's what you always say."

"I am only thinking of your safety."

'Sure…'

Begin Stage 7-

That night Patty found herself sleeping in the living room – on the couch since she refused to sleep on the floor – and Daisuke was getting prepared for another night out to steal stuff. Well, in a literal sense it was Dark, but it was still the redhead's original body, so then… it was confusing.

Pulling on the black costume that was too big for his form, the redhead allowed the Phantom Thief to take over. Black feathers were strewn across the sky as Dark took off into the night. His target?

Oh, just a hulking great statue that was located in the castle. Whoopedo and all.

Daisuke had asked how was he supposed to get it home, but after having stolen huge paintings and the like, Dark chose not to answer and the redhead gave up on the questions, seeing as he was getting no answers. But he was still wondering if his alter ego would be capable of carrying something so big. Something in the back of his head told him that someone dragging a huge statue in the middle of the night would be a bit too suspicious, so that was that.

Dark snorted; at least it wasn't raining anymore. He would have had to go through lots of rain that would have been hell, and he didn't like getting wet anyway. Pft.

((So, worried about tonight?)) he asked, just for the sake of conversation.

(When am I not?) retorted the redhead in the back of his mind, fidgeting slightly, (You do know that everything you seem to do attracts trouble.)

((And you attract the weirdos.))

(Who says I do?)

((Oh, you know what I mean,)) he got a snort as a reply before he flew off into the night. There was no exact reason to stealing the big statue thing anyway; he was just bored and wanted out and this was the perfect excuse to it all. Not that he couldn't just take over his host's body, but if the redhead began to scream as such, well, the Thief really couldn't handle it if it was going to end up like that in the end. Daisuke had a really easy time finding ways to convince Dark to do otherwise, and he didn't want to have to hear it. The last thing he could do was either wait for the redhead to sleep or block him out completely, but Daisuke wasn't one to quit, so telling him they were going to steal was the last (and easiest) option around.

So Dark flew over to the dilapidated castle while whistling something tuneless while he did so. There would probably an attempt to stop him, but since he WAS the Great Phantom Thief, they would never succeed and everyone knew it. But even so they tried and it was very amusing, to say the least.

By the time he reached the giant stone building, Daisuke was humming in tune with Dark's tuneless whistling and the Thief told his host to be quiet for a minute.

(You started it.)

((That doesn't mean you can annoy me with it.))

(Actually, I think it does.)

((One of these days…)) Dark turned away from the pointless argument and began to walk around – rather – aimlessly, looking for where the statue could be. He wasn't too worried about them hiding it, but it was just a block of… stone anyway, in the end. He then fell back to wondering if it emitted any sort of life force at all, so that the search could be made easier. For a moment, he stopped to think it over and scan around the place.

Grey stones, grey stones and even more grey stones. Yeah, the people were a bit nuts on the whole stone masonry thing, he decided. Then there were a couple of chairs, a few drapes that were limp with holding so much rain, and then the carpet and many many open windows. Not that they could close it anyway. Dark wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this… he decided to pose the question to the silent Daisuke.

((If you had a chance, would you live here?))

The redhead seemed to jump in surprise at the sudden question, (Eh? Why?)

((Just answer the question.))

(Well, no,) the redhead admitted, (Oh, and you might want to move before the ceiling above you crushes you under the weight.)

Dark shifted in his position and frowned as he watched the floor above become the floor below in a literal sense. While the rest of the stone fell he walked off while the guard who'd been standing on that particular piece was still in a daze, and suffering a few broken bones as well.

((Pft. This castle REALLY needs to be fixed. And maybe some paint would brighten it up as well.)) snorted the Thief. ((god, this is pathetic. Even I didn't think something like this was possible.))

(What are you talking about this time?)

((Never mind…))

Daisuke fell silent at this and Dark continued on his way and it wasn't long before he found whatever he was looking for. Not the prettiest of statues, chipped away and all, practically shattered with age, but it didn't really matter. Not to mention what a waste of time it was trying to post guards around, since they were constantly falling through the floors as such…

((Well, that was just too easy. Looks like we'll be going on our way then,)) the Thief said happily, ((You need your sleep anyway, Daisuke.))

(Wow, I never thought I'd hear that from you…)

((Well, maybe it's 'cause nothing's happening!))

Dark managed to trip on his feet and fell to the floor with a surprised yelp. The redhead within his mind blinked for a moment, not sure with what had just happened.

(I've never seen that before… who would have thought you were capable to falling like that? Amazing…)

((Shut up, you.))

Daisuke lapsed into silent laughter, only to be cut short as the ceiling close by them suddenly collapsed, only to be accompanied by another pained groan from someone he knew instantly. He grabbed the person by the collar and shook them irately. "What are you doing here?"

Patty snorted as she struggled to breath for a moment, "Bugger off already! I do what I want and you can't do anything about it!"

"Actually, I think the case involves as to why you fell when you have wings," Dark stated flatly, giving her a shake, "And what's the point of trying to steal anything here? Nothing's worth anything."

"I know. It's just a way to past the time. And it allows me to stretch my wings, seeing that I can't do it either way," she replied calmly, crossing her arms and blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

"Man, this is so much fun," the Thief rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Although I can't see you doing anything useful. Especially when it involved falling from collapsing roofs."

At this, Patty bristled, "Are you insulting me!"

Any other arguing was cut short by more falling floors and finally a muttered groan from one person, who was lying in bed, which had actually just fallen. The man sat up wearing his nightgown and… it was obvious that he couldn't see much and he rubbed his eyes.

"This castle needs more money…" he muttered out of pure being-out-of-it-and-still-asleep. "Stupid place flew up above me…"

"Actually, old man, I think you fell," commented Patty, before Dark could shut her up and he hit her over the head, "Ow! What was that for! Besides! He's an evil old man! Evil!"

"Gwah?" the King blinked.

"Huh?" Patty said.

Dark sighed, "We're busted."

(Dark…)

((We'll be fine. It's the girl I'm worried about. She's very… reckless…))

(Not anymore than you. Really Dark.)

The King must have recovered enough to be able to bellow some incoherent words, but over half the guard were already on that same floor, groaning and muttering about their pain. And it was a lot of pain, seeing as they had just fallen with a heap of stone blocks and masonry.

Patty seemed to get the drift of the situation – after pilfering a few candles, or something – and then found a way to drag Dark after her, mainly due to the fact that he still had a hand on her collar. It was a surprise that it wasn't ripped yet, but she wasn't complaining. The women at the house she no worked in for no real reason were just horrid and all, so fresh air was good. Rain was as well… if you were a plant, anyway.

(What's she doin…) began Daisuke, since all he could do was watch, (Da… DARK!)

Without any form of hesitation, Patty jumped out of the window – finally there was a good reason for them not having glass, whatever that was – and that meant that the other was dragged out with her. Instantly Dark called on his wings and the female thief only smiled innocently when he glared at her, her own wings flapping steadily to keep her hovering for the time being.

"Well, my shift's done, so I'll be on my way," she chirped cheerfully, ready to speed off. She stopped when something white – and fuzzy? – beamed up and was about to hit her and she cursed loudly at the sudden attack, her front slightly singed. "What was that!"

Dark blinked. "Well, what do you know…"

A certain someone with white wings was below them, holding a hand out where the power was generating, "You won't get away."

((Whoa! Lame!))

(Huh? Dark, what are you going on about?)

"Duh! This is just lame!"

"What? Why are you suddenly talking out loud? I just want to go home back to the Dragon Clans!"

"Hey, now you're the one talking nonsense!"

(Dark, please…)

"This is your fault, isn't it? You stupid Thief."

"You're the one who started this Krad."

"Was I? Dark? Was I?"

"Uhm…"

(You can't remember, can you?)

((Quiet. I'm getting there.))

"Hello? We still have a story we need to complete."

Patty waved a hand excitedly and managed to hit both Dark and Krad over the head in her excitement. Both shrank into something similar to chibi form and began to scream at her and at each other.

(This is getting more confusing with each passing stage…)

000

Satoshi sat up and yawned upon the sound of the castle collapsing. Again. Really, it just happened every day. Why couldn't there be one night where they didn't have to wake up, only to fall to the floor below because the floor had crumbled away again? He doubted that the man who was the King and his so-called father – mother not known. No one knew her – didn't have the money to pay for it. The blue-haired boy had rolled his eyes at that explanation. He was a King with not enough money to even give his place of residence a proper foundation so that it wouldn't roll down the hill one day.

Actually, that had happened when Satoshi was five.

There was the sound of someone knocking on his door and he sighed, "Who and what?"

"Satoshi, are you awake?"

"I wouldn't reply if I wasn't."

"Actually, Terra always holds conversation with me in between snores. It's a habit of hers now." Merei opened the door and entered, looking bored. "And the house is falling apart again."

Satoshi snorted slightly, "And you're telling me?"

"Yup!" she smiled brightly, "So does this mean that you are taking the throne once dad's dead?"

"So I have much of a choice?"

"No. Wait," she frowned for a moment, "Unless you want kill someone of the royal family, or decide to do something that would be a shame to the family so that father would disown you… or something."

He rolled his eyes, "That sounds like something you would do."

"Only if I was told I had to take the throne."

"…"

There was yelling from downstairs and more sounds of crashing as more floor caved in on themselves. Then there was yelling and more yelling, and then more yelling, with a bit of swearing thrown in just for entertainment.

Satoshi sighed and rolled out of his bed, wondering how old the thing was, before going over to his window, Merei following behind him. Then an interesting sight met their eyes.

Two people with black wings – one that looked like a bird's, the other a bat's – seemed to be dodging the attacks of white light with another person with white wings. It was uncommon to see these things so the twins were just standing there, gaping at the scene. Not to mention that the light was putting more force into the castle and it was caving in more than ever.

Then Merei screamed; but it wasn't about the actual scene or the fight they were witnessing.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING! THIS IS OUR HOUSE AND OUR GROUNDS YOU'RE FIGHTING ON! GO AWAY BEFORE IT COMPLETELY CRUMBLES BECAUSE OF YOU!"

:Now this is making no sense whatsoever… and what is Krad doing there? Not to mention I just hate this place. Worse then that apartment…:

000

Dark dodged another attack when the scream hit him and he reeled back in surprise. Patty's wings seemed to stop in mid-flap and she plummeted for a moment and Krad was… well, he was there, with wings, and looking bored out of his mind. Okay, so he was causing a lot of damage to the house, but it wasn't his responsibility, right? Well, he thought that was right. So what?

Of course the screaming annoyed the hell out of him and that meant he was distracted long enough for the other two to fly out, which was easier seeing that they were in black and all that junk.

The blonde sighed.

Two? He thought there was only supposed to be one.

Oh well.

Upon arrival back at the house, Daisuke took over again and collapsed on the bed, leaving Patty to whatever she wanted to do downstairs. He was scared out of his wits at what had just happened and was instantly reminded of the wedding incident, however many days back. Really, he couldn't remember.

(That was scary…)

((You just have to live with it, Daisuke.))

(But he was trying to kill us!)

((Yeah, well, think of it as a game.))

(HOW CAN YOU THINK OF THAT AS A GAME! HE WAS TRYING TO KILL US!)

((And we lived through it. Get over it already.))

(WHAT PART OF THAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND! THAT—THAT—THAT—THAT—THAT THING WITH THE BLONDE HAIR AND WHATEVER WAS GOING TO KILL US AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS 'GET OVER IT'?)

Dark frowned and stuck his fingers in his ears, ((Okay, I get the point already. Geez.))

Daisuke closed his eyes, happy that Dark finally saw his side of things for once. Not that the Thief would give up on his side of the story.

Honestly, what was the world coming to?

… Next Morning…

Daisuke was back to cleaning the hallways because he needed something to occupy his mind away from listening to Dark's constant ramblings, so Patty was the one who opened the door when decided to knock on it. She had also come to the decision that if it was someone who annoyed her, well, she could always hit them over the head with the dustpan she was holding.

Opening the door, she blinked as she was met with two identical faces, except that one had long hair while the other had short. Was that even allowed in this society? The bat-winged girl wondered as she sized them up.

"… Yes?"

"We're here to see Niwa-kun," the long-haired brunette chirped.

"We're friends of his," added her obvious sister.

Patty would have allowed them in instantly, seeing as they were most likely telling the truth – and not hiding tomatoes under their dresses – but then she remembered that said redhead was wearing a dress as well, so she'd have to check on that. Instead she scratched her the back of her head and unconsciously tugged at her ponytail.

"I don't know. The mistress of the house doesn't like too many guests this early in the morning. Ironically, it's the afternoon," she added softly, more to herself than anyone else, "But if you wait a moment, I'll see if I can allow you access."

They nodded at her request and she bolted off, not really caring about what the fat lady and her so-called daughters thought about unwanted visitors. What she was wondering was what Daisuke's reaction would be.

"Huh? I have guests?" the redhead was blank at this fact, "But no one visits others these days…"

"Oh, they seem to be twins or something," rushed Patty. "One with long hair and the other short. I mean, is that allowed?"

Daisuke seemed to pale slightly at this as her vague description made sense, "The Harada twins! They can't see me like this!"

((You sure, Daisuke?)) chuckled Dark.

"Shut up, Dark!"

"… Okay," Patty shrugged, "I'll just send them on their way then. Maybe you should take a day off and WEAR SOME PANTS. Okay?"

As she walked off, Daisuke sighed, "I didn't ask for this…"

Once she'd sent them off – the girls understood, or something – and she returned to whatever she was doing. Only to have to answer the door again for some really loud guy going on about being Daisuke's childhood friend. Shaking her head, she sent him off and then had to open the door AGAIN from some strange looking police, who she chased off, and then again… and again…

By the time she heard the tenth knock of someone different, Patty seemed to snap and she stomped to the door, opening and almost popping a vein in the process.

"WHAT!"

Some guy wearing a pompous outfit that was supposed to look really upper-class yet wasn't because of all the dust on it and the mud, whatever, held a monocle to his eye and ranted on about some ball that was being held, blah blah blah.

Not being the most polite person in the world, Patty snatched the invitation out of the guy's hands, threw her now full – and heavy – bin at his head and slammed the door behind her.

"And I thought the screeching and wailing upstairs was unbearable," she muttered to herself as she decided to see what the letter was about.

(Can we go now?)

((I'm beat. Need more sleep.))

(All you've been doing is sleeping.)

"Kyu!"

"Hey guys, once this is over can we beat up whoever caused this? Although I'm not much of a fighter…"

"UH… okay…"

"Kyu!"

End Stage 7

"This is just ridiculous."

"Hm…"

Just as we find ourselves more confused, well… it just gets more confusing. Amd trust us, it won't be making any sense soon…



So I finally did it… Meh. Now to get back to whatever I was working on before this one… I mean… oh well.

Just remember that it could be better, and it could be worse. Thank you.

Reviewer talkback:

Hakudoshi-chan: Uh… right. Glad you… liked it? It sounds like you really are confused…

ImaViet: Okay, this is from chapter one, but thanks for the review and all. I'm glad you enjoyed it… somewhat.

So NOW we can get to the ball… Joy.