Silvana was cornered in this maze of mirrors. There wasn't much she could do, another look-a-like was out for her blood. Worn and stressed out from all the monsters and other look-a-likes. She did not know why they looked like her, but seeing them lose the life in her eyes only did wonders on her psyche. She's gonna need lots of hugs.
Her latest aggressor came closer, another look-a-like, colored red this time. Giggling like mad, spells prepared, and a dishonest smile on her face.
Silvana took her last gulp, she hoped she would not die tonight. She found herself pressed against the mirror. And was she surprised when she fell in. "Huh?" She put her hand against the glass and it went straight through.
"Fire!" Her enemy casted, Silvana withdrew her hand.
The fireball bounced over the Doppelganger's head. Surprising both of them. Silvana cracked a huge smirk. "Nehnana-NA-NAAAAA!" She gloated. *Immature raspberry* She took the time to take it easy.
"How did you do that?" The former aggressor asked. Knocking at the glass. Her reflection was going right through her prey. Going from unrestrained malice to looking as curious and innocent as a kitten.
"Iunno. And I don't care."
"C'mon tell me!"
"Nuh-uh."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please with sugar on top?"
"Didn't you wanna kill me?"
"D-Did I?"
The doppelgänger's feelings got hurt.
"You sure did! Did you kill all those look-a-likes of mine? The ones I didn't kill?"
"I think they're mine, I saw them come out of a mirror…"
"St-Still wanna kill me?"
"Why would I do that?!"
"You did kill those other yous."
"Oh, those? Because they started attacking me. I should be the only one. You can come out now."
"I'm staying here."
"Why?"
"You just said you killed them, murderer."
The doppelgänger did not like being called that.
"…I saw you kill some too…"
"That doesn't count!"
"You're not like them."
"Duh… I'm just here to find something cool, steal things. But I got attacked by monsters and lots of mes."
"Steal? Who are you?"
"You first."
"I'm Arle, the real Arle."
"Silvana. I mean _! I'm _."
"Silvana, cute name." "It's _."
"So you didn't come out a mirror?"
"Looks like I can go in them. But no. I'm from a few towns over."
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry."
The doppelganger felt her heart sink, she put her hands over her mouth.
"I didn't mean to, I thought it felt funny going after you. You look just like me. I thought you're just miscoloured like me."
"Well, I'm just here to steal things."
"But the tower's closed, how're you gonna got out?"
"Not to me, it isn't. So you're the real one?"
"Uh-huh. The others have no feelings. Nowhere I'm safe."
"Hmm… How much gold do you have?"
The doppelganger rummaged her pockets. _ looked at it without leaving the mirror.
"I'll kill four of your yous for that much."
"Really. You'll really do it, Silvana?"
"Yes. How will I know I won't kill you on accident?"
"Uh… What if I shout *Whisper whisper* when we see each other again?"
"Okay, now… How will I know I won't kill me anyways?"
"Uh… Iunno, we fight?"
"Deal!"
They shook hands.
Silvana went on to do some of the doppelgängers dirty work. But of course, she sidetracked for some loot.
She was never heard from again…
Chapter 25: Silvana, meet Silvana
*Cheery whistling* "Oh, another town ahead… Lessee, Primp Town, eh? Sounds peaceful." The outsider rubbed her hands together. "Looks likw a breather, but what do I care? I'm gonna have a blast!" She strolled off with a big smirk on her face.
She spotted a trio of strangers, she decided to have a little chat about the town.
"Yo!" She walked up to them. The warlock, the diviner and the hellhound turned around. The warlock, in particular, looked surprised.
"Do I know you? You look familiar." The diviner goth commented.
"Nope. Hi, I'm Silvana, I'm new here."
The warlock looked confused again.
"I'm a world traveler, and I'm curious about Primp."
Lemres put fingers on his chin. Trying to figure something out. "Any relation to the Silvana in Primp, perhaps? You have a similar figure to her." That innocent comment got Feli to dagger.
"Oooo, there's a Silvana in Primp already? Well, in that case, I wanna be surprised, I never met another Silvana before. Where does she live?"
"We're on our way there to drop off Bal, she lives in a caravan by the circus, would you like to join us, Miss Silvana?"
"Nah, you shouldn't hang out with soul robbers."
"What? Soul?"
"Robber?" Feli got on edge. Baldanders got in pre-pounce stance. Lemres both.
"Kekekekekeh." She cackled, still acting somewhat friendly. "You heard me." She whispered.
"Kuh!"
"HEEEEEEE!"
*Hoooooooooooooowl!*
Silvana grinned, pleased with herself yet again. Leaving her victims unable to run after her. She couldn't wait to see the havoc she's gonna cause Primp Town. "KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!"
Meanwhile, Sil was chilling on the not-too-busy beach with her buddy Arms. Lying in on a lounger, in a parasol's shade. Sipping juice and reading her book on how to circus. Occasionally practicing.
*Sip* She didn't have any worry. She relaxed for a change.
"What's that, Arms? You want to unbutton my shirt?"
*Monkey nod*
"Geez, I didn't take you for the type. Only one okay?" Sil giggled a little.
*Monkey jump for joy* *Monkey paw wriggling*
She might be a bit bored out of her skull though, she shouldn't have brought her buddy with her. She feared she'd lose him if she left him behind for a swim.
"Huh? You'd rather that I send you home so I can swim, instead of staring at the sea, distracting me for looking for new material?"
*Monkey says yes*
*Snuggle* *Kiss* "You're such a sweety, Arms." *Another hug for good measure* "See ya~" Sil teleported Arms and her important stuff home. *Defeated sigh* "I'm definitely still crazy." She mumbled, smiling melancholy. She tightened her mask straps. "Oh, well. Ocean, here I come!"
"Hi there."
"Arle? Is that y- AAAAAH!" Vento's got his soul stolen.
"That name does sound familiar, but no."
"Freeeeeh!"
"My daddy says, he wants his soul back."
*Sniff* "Freh."
"And you stink, daddy said."
"Just be happy don't have one, kid. 'Cya." Silvana saluted, with a cheeky grin. Adam van Frankenstein's got his soul stolen. Alucard van Frankenstein did not.
"Uh… Wh-Who're you?" Sig didn't know what was in front of him. The face was equal parts Arle and Silvana. That should without saying, that comparison within the comparison. But to Sig's credit, this doppelgänger wore clothes similar but not quite to Arle's. And Sil's facial expressions when she still was full on Doppel.
It didn't seem to be a copy like Sil and Vib were. If she was, this one seemed to prefer Purple as her color. And wouldn't announce herself the way she did if she was a doppelganger like Sil or was Sil or Arle.
"Silvana Puzlow." Sig was confused. Silvana? 'Did I mishear things like usual?' He thought in relation to the last name.
"Yoink."
"Aaaaah!
"How did you? Nevermind. Give that back." Sig swiped his huge claw to get his soul back but instead, he slammed it and S. Puzlow against a nearby tree. Bending it.
Sig gasped. With some difficulty, he got to her aid. "So sorry, you okay, Sil?" He tried to get her up, appalled he slapped a familiar face.
"Kekekekekeh. You'd have to do a whole lot more to hurt me. As if that's possible" She floated herself back on her feet, showing no signs of being hurt. This baffled Sig.
"Thanks for caring, though. But don't think I'm giving it baaa~aaaack." S. Puzlow waved Sig's soul in front of his a face. Pulling on her eyelid down and sticking out her tongue. *Backhanded slap with soul* She dashed off to her next victim. "Tell your friends!"
"Water's so cold~." Sil enjoyed herself.
…
"This is boring, maybe I should've let it slip that I was going to the beach. Alone. Five more minutes and I'm going home."
Silvana racked up a lot of souls, and she wasn't even halfway done. Naturally, she gained a lot of haters.
"Ah, don't even bother! Still am the greatest thief in the woooooorld! Actually, do bother! Makes it more fun!"
S. Pierrot was on her way home. But on her way, she noticed a lot of people looking angry at her. They seemed like they were in discomfort in general. 'What's up them?'
A little later she encountered Sig, in similar discomfort.
"Sig, you look a little…"
"Sil? Is that you?"
"Of course. Are you okay? Not really. I got my soul stolen."
Sil reacted immediately with a gasp and a hug. Staining Sig's clothes with her wet hawaiian shirt.
"Are you alright, Sig? Still feel like yourself?"
"Yeah, it hurts a little. I'm not the only one."
Sil looked at Sig pointing around them. "I see… Then please take it easy. Now tell me you who took all those souls so I can stomp him into the ground for you!"
"Um… I don't think you'll like this… First she said she was invisible, she didn't get hurt when I hit her."
"That's invincible, silly."
"She, uh, looked like-"
"Hi Arle, did you get a tan? Looks neEEEEEEEEEE!" Amitie got her soul stolen.
"Silvana Puzlow?" Silvana Pierrot repeated standing in front of her home.
"I think so." Sig replied.
"Well let me changed and I'll go get everyone's souls back." Sil's door was open. "Shoot! Did I leave it open?"
"KUMA!" No time to inspect that, Akuma came in flying in on Hohow Bird.
"What's up, gramps?"
"What's up? Someone sharing your name has put the town in disarray, Kuma!"
"No, not you two too?" Sil felt disgusted with this fiend.
"Ho No, we don't have souls." Hohow clarified.
"…Did you try to beat me to the punchline?"
"No Ho!"
"Enough rambling! This Puzlow woman is sitting on Primp Magic School. Shrugging off any attack."
"Ho Ho! Mr. Akuma's not kidding. She just keeps sitting there like it's nothing."
"Is she done stealing?"
"Far from it. The all infamous Soul Robber has done give everyone a chance to get their souls back, ma, kuma!"
"Uh… What does that mean?"
"We don't know, my informants told me this is unprecedented. She wants to meet you, kuma!"
"And if she meets me… She'll lets everyone's souls go?"
"I doubt she'll keep her end. Be careful, Silvana. Don't get your soul stolen."
"If I have one, gramps."
"DON'T RIDICULOUS, KUMA KUMA, MA, KUMA!"
The demon teddy yelled.
"Of course you have one." Sig, smiled putting his big hand gently on her shoulder.
Sil smiled back. "Then I'd better not lose it."
Hohow didn't know what they were talking about.
"Carry me, Hohow!" Silvana raised her elbows.
"I'll try, boss." Hohow clutched her arms with his talons.
"I'll catch up."
"Or rest on my bed. You don't look so good."
"How abou-"
"My couch? Shhhhhhuuuuuuuure."
Puzlow was sitting on the roof. Elbows on her lap, cheeks in her palms. Smiling at the angry mob throwing garbage at her. *Thunk* "Kekekekeh. Nice try, four eye(s)! Whoop! Kee~. You do know what invincible means, right? I'll give five more minutes to let me meet your Silvana!"
"I'm right here, thief!" Sil said semi-heroically, majestically swooping down a pudgy bird slightly less tall than her. "Loose!"
"Yes, boss! Put that villain in her place!"
Sil did a few somersaults with a few poses in between each flip.
*Applause*
S. Pierrot bowed down to the crowd and bowed down to her look-a-like as well. Who applauded as well. Actually impressed.
And what a look-a-like. Her face was just like hers, including the red eyes. Though the eyes were dull, no reflection in it.
Now focusing on her clothes and her haircut, it was uncannily just like what Pierrot was born in.
She also had a more tan skin color.
"Gotta say, I was not what I was expecting a clown in a Hawaiian shirt. I'm Silvana. Silvana Puzlow." She smiled.
"Sil Pierrot… I'm here to take the souls back. So hand them over."
"C'mon, I wanna chat a little first, I never got to meet another Silvana before. Please sit."
"You're not gonna steal mine?"
"Kekekeh. Not yet… Anyway, depends if you're BFF material."
"BFF?"
"Best friend forever. I'm the best I know, you have my name so you must be the best too."
'What kind of logic is that?'
The crowd were wondering why they were chatting. But they kept quiet to try to listen in.
"So why do you wear you the mask?"
"Don't know. Hey folks, why do I wear the mask?!" Sil put her and hand over her ear.
*One loud crowd of different people retelling different stories*
"…So no one knows?"
"Pretty much… Are you really invincible?"
"Yup. Just try you worst spell."
"I'd love to, but I don't want to level the school."
"You can do that?"
Puzlow was amazed at Pierrot's backhanded boast. She didn't reply back.
"So we're sitting on a school, eh?"
"Yeah. What of it?"
"Dunno, never went to one. Mommy wanted me to become a thief. So I did. So I became the greatest."
"By stealing souls?"
"You got it!"
She winked.
"Any idea how hard it is to take a soul someone was still using it?"
"No. Because people value them."
"Pffffft. They can live without, don't kid yourself."
Puzlow brushed off dismissively. "You should try it, it's extra fun stealing from someone who knows they're about to lose a soul."
'Monster…' "I won't, I'm not invincible."
"Eh, I only get touched when I let them. I love their reactions. Earlier today, a blue-haired dope gave me a good giggle."
'I might just murder you.'
"Why're you looking at me like that?" Puzlow said, keeping the same smile on her face.
"Oh, sorry. No offence, but I can only look at your face before I get irrationally angry."
"Maybe you should raid a dungeon. That always relaxes me."
"Me too, but I think we'd better play Puyo Puyo."
"Puyo Puyo?"
Pierrot gave Puzlow a puzzled look.
"Don't know what Puyo Puyo is?"
"I know about those slimy blobs."
Pierrot smirked this time.
"Oh, it's easy. Just match four Puyo of the same color faster than I can and you win."
"Oh, that sounds so much fun! I win, I take your soul."
"If I have one…"
"I thought you were a weirdo for your mask. But you'd be a super weirdo if you didn't have them for me to steal."
"Whatever. And if I win you give everyone their soul back, right?"
"Eh, sure."
*Silvana Pierrot scored an 8-Chain and won, big surprise…*
*And the crowd goes wild!*
"Aw, no fair!" Puzlow climbed out of the rubble with no effort, throwing a tantrum.
"Now, give the people their souls back."
"No way!" The newcomer pouted. Poofing in some souls in her hands. "I made so many memories with these. Look! I got these off of the Dark Prince himself. He actually almost destroyed me for just having a face he didn't like me having. This one's from some loser calling himself Demon Serv-"
Pierrot stared at the things in her doppelgänger's hands. "These are not souls… These are… shoe… soles?…"
"Yeah, what did you think I stole? I only take one per person. Everyone's balance is uneven and their feet hurt. Kekkekeh! So funny and the perfect challenge!"
The clown was in disbelief. This girl was seriously stealing soles. She was worried over her town's safety. And in reality, it was barely anything, the town and by extension the rest of this world are weenies. She felt her muscles tensing. "I wanna be angry, and I will." Calmly stated. "I know a spell that dispels any invincibility!" Not-so-calmly she threatened with a bluff.
"Y-Y-You can't!"
"She probably could!" Someone yelled.
"Thanks, Am!"
Puzlow gulped. "W-Well if you're gonna take that away from me." She pulled out a familiar face.
"ARMS! How di- You broke into my home!"
"You're weren't there. Now Miss Monkey is mine." She rubbed it with her cheek. Playing with it more like a child than Pierrot would.
"You let him go!"
Silvana Pierrot, from her shoulder bag, grabbed her former prison turned storage holder and caught Silvana Puzlow and Arms in it. She made O shapes with her hands to put over her eyes to imitate winking. Signaling to Hohow and/or Amitie, to open it in half-an-hour. Pierrot jumped in her metal case.
"Huh? Where am I?"
"In a realm where you can't make people's feet feel slight discomfort, Silvana. You're stuck here until I find a way I can make you return all the soles."
"You can't make me!" Puzlow jumped into a big mirror Pierrot had lying around. She's now on the other side, blowing raspberries.
Something triggered Pierrot's memory. "Noooo…" It wasn't a big no, more like a disbelieving no.
"What's up now?"
The clown hesitated to confirm her suspicions, it did cut open an old wound. 'Here I go…' "Ajdan Elra." She spoke as she picked Arms up. Dropped by her enemy.
Puzlow's eyes widened.
"Gosh! Arle? Is that you? The one that let me live?"
"Yes and no. Turns out I wasn't the real one after all… (I'm not taking my mask off.)"
"Eh, I figured as much from the beginning."
"I would say I wish we didn't have to meet like this, Warle. But-"
"Please, Silvana."
"But-"
"I don't go by that anymore, I have nothing to fear. It's Silvana."
"But…"
"You must've stolen my name. Can't blame you, it's gr-"
"BUT! I'm surprised to see you at all."
"Why?"
"I thought I found you lying dead on the floor back in the tower…"
She said deadpan. Surprising herself how detached she felt from this conversation.
"Nah, I'm alive. I was just taking a nap. And what a nap! I felt better than ever. I don't even need sleep or food anymore after that nap. Nothing hurts too."
Pierrot winced. She had a guess to what was going on. But first a question: "Aren't gonna take revenge on me and the one who killed you?"
"Why? Thanks to you and Arle I can't be stopped. If anything, I'm forever in your debt."
"So how ab-"
"Nope, soles are mine."
"Can you even smell them? I can smell you through the mirror." Pierrot waved the air away.
"Nope!"
"Mmmmmgh… She did kill you, Warle."
"That's what I thought too, but I was glad we're wrong." She stuck her tongue out.
Pierrot pondered. "I bet I can prove it you're dead. And if I'm wrong I'll let you go, won't harm you, and you leave with everyones… *sigh* solessssss…"
"Okay."
Akuma caught up to find a circle of people in front of the school. The people made way for Akuma. "Amitie, are both Silvanas in that box?" He observed.
"Uh-huh. We're supposed to open it any moment now. Sil is teaching Silvana a lesson in there."
"I pray you're talking about ours."
…5…4…3…2…1… And box opened. Bursting out light of it. Out of it came the ghost of a five-year-old. Wearing a similar hood to that of the ghost twins at the nearby cemetery, but with a light shade of purple. And like those ghosts, no legs just a wispy tail.
The clown just climbed out, clutching her monkey tight. Just in time to watch the fireworks. As little Miss Puzlow, whether she did it of her free will or it just happened on its own, all the soles magically flew back to rightful owners, from here in Primp, to all over the globe, to all the interdimensional victims. Blocking the sun for a few minutes, they're so numerous.
After that was done, Silvana, the ghost, flew off crying.
"Thanks P, I can finally run again!"
"Freh."
"Thanks, my feet don't hurt no more. My daddy says."
"What just happened?"
"Who was that?"
Sil the clown however was showered with praise and questions. She just took the former.
"Make way, make way!" The mayor walked up to the clown. "Miss Pierrot. As mayor representing our town of Primp. I thank you wholeheartedly."
"Eh heh, it was nothing Mayor von Frankenstein."
"What happened in there?"
"Pure guesswork. You see, turns out I actually knew her."
"Are you two family?"
"NO! I met her one day, found her dead later. We were five."
*Negative/sympathetic crowd reaction*
"I'm not scarred. Long story short, I made her feel her heartbeat. And she turned into a ghost. Which explains why she was invincible. I don't get how she was physically my age though…"
"She was a ghost since she was five in that case." Akuma spoke. "It's documented that if a ghost doesn't realize they've died, they continue to live on in physical form. Taking whatever form they think they are. Ghosts in themselves are rare! They usually turn to ghosts when they see their bodies. There's never any worry of that normally happening, usually, they don't remember anything, kuma!"
"Okay… Thanks, Akuma." Sil replied.
"You deserve a reward, Pierrot. Something magnificent. A reminder that you saved everyone from sore feet. Perhaps a statue, so when tourists come they know who their unsung heroine is."
"Aw, Mr. Mayor. You shouldn't." Silvana played coy.
"I shouldn't? Alright if you say so. Good day!" The mayor went off, as did most Primpers.
Sil cursed, she wanted to say she just didn't want a statue. "Whyyy?" Amitie put her on her friend's shoulder.
Grouchy Silvana finally got home. Putting her mask on her coat rack. She let out a few groans, threw Arms on an empty couch, jumping to join her almost stolen buddy. Being really affectionate towards him.
"Welco-"
"GEEZ SIG! F-Forgot you were here." Sil jumped looking at the other couch.
*Monkey wave*
*Sig wave*
"Stop sneaking up on me like that."
"I got my sole back. What happened to the other Sil?"
"Gone." Sil threw her couch pillow at the demon boy's face. He didn't react. "That's for making me think you were gonna die again!"
"Huh?"
"I thought you lost your soul! S! O! U! L! SOUL!"
"Oh, sorry…"
"Whatever, what's done is done. I threw a pillow at your face. I'm okay now. You're okay now. Everyone's okay now."
…
"I got my name from her, even I didn't remember it."
"That explains it. Is she like you? Couldn't figure that one out."
"No, she's just a girl that inexplicably looked like me. Just a little guilty of what she has become to do such things…"
…
"I suggest you sleepover, Sig. The air's a little polluted with the nauseous smell of feet stink."
"'Kay." He smiled.
"Sneak preview of my new act, a board game or cards?"
Author's Notes:
Hope you liked stupid…
Inspired by a chat I once had with JelliPuddi. Where I mentioned that Sil's one of the generic Doppelgangers. And not Warle. That surprised her. And while I had no plans of including Warle, I brainstormed this idea shortly afterwards. That was a while ago.
It wouldn't make sense that recently created Doppelganger (as in one in this continuity) would go by Warle. That's why she's an actual Doppelgänger. Just a normal look-a-like. I basically applied what Poison Ringo (whom I considered including somewhere) is to Ringo. Might as well retcon in why Silvana would know the name Silvana. Because that kinda bugged me, not gonna lie.
It is a different take on Warle. As you may have noticed, I do cherry pick what is canon from Madou I in this fic. Fudoushi and Mamono being both the bosses at the end. Hope you guys don't mind.
For the first time ever I looked up Madou Monogatari footage up, specifically the Mega Drive version of I. And it looks so fun! I love the mirror maze. It looks so immersive, some good catchy tunes too, none of that atmosphere/orchestrated stuff that bores me after a while. It just looks like a fun video game. One in its purest form. Mind you, I'm super jaded, I have trouble looking at ANYTHING and admit to myself: You know, I wanna play this.
So how did Silvana feel her lack of heartbeat, if she can't feel anything? I'm sure there a good explanation.
Next up: Another two raffles, manually picked this time. With the fan favorite: _ _ _! Made to serve as a prologue for the chapter after that.
