"Okay, young lady. We need to talk. Who are you?" Pierrot underhandedly pointed at the mirror in her room. Intent to get an answer out of that cheeky reflection.

"A clown, silly."

"Don't call me that." Pierrot scowled.

"Oh, eh-heh. I meant the word. I didn't call us "Silly". Wait, we're the same aren't we?"

"We are!"

"Are you mad?" She asked concerned.

"As in angry, or crazy? Because we sure share the same thought process." She folded her arms. "But there's a little schism in our personalities… And that unsettles me a bit."

"Yeah, it's like you haven't changed."

"Why must I hurt me, every time I speak to myself?"

"I helped out too! It's just dream…" The reflection held out her hand. "It's just a dream."

"This isn't a dream!"

"I'm not trying to convince you! Wait…"

"Let's never talk about this again…"

"Yeah, good idea, you depress me. And cheering us up is draining… Hug Arms for me."

"You got it, sister."

Chapter 35: Five…

"So. Let's get this straight." Silvana spoke to this girl that fell out of the sky. "You are from some kinda futuristic world. Am I following so far?"

"Uh-huh. My world would be science-fiction to you. With no magic."

"Hm… Kinda curious now… So you had no Puyo. And then you had."

"Still have, on occasion, it's hard to say whether that's a good or bad thing at this point…"

"And this "Ecolo", challenge-"

"Forced upon me."

"Forced a battle."

"I didn't even have time to think."

"Sounds like a stalker of an abomination to me."

"He is."

"And the Puyos teleported you here. Landing on my feet while was in THE MIDDLE OF MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL CARTWHEEL!"

"Sorry about that…"

"'Zat it?"

"Yeah, that about covers it."

"And now you're talking to a clown and you look like the crazy one." Sil snickered at the new girl's expense.

"Very funny…"

"Well…" Silvana erected her hand. "Welcome back to Primp." They shook their hands.

"How-"

"Did I know this isn't your first visit, Ringo?"

"AAAH!" Ringo pulled up a leg, tugged back her hand to put them both behind her head on one side.

"Pffffft. Your face, what kinda reaction is that?"

Self-conscious, Ringo relaxed her muscles. "How in basic trigonometry do you know my name?"

"Imma great sorceress." She replied like Amitie would proudly announce the same thing, only with understated happiness. Fists on hip, standing proud. Ringo had nothing to say. "Sorry, I'm not that much of a clown. Though my friend Amitie is."

"Hehehe. I shouldn't laugh. That explains it. As much as I love to catch up and explore I really need to get home quickly. You wouldn't happen to be a dimension dweller, would you?"

"I am."

"Thought so. Wait."

"I can bring you home if I knew where you came from. But I don't." The jester threw her hands in the air.

"Fan-flipping-tastic…" Angrily whispered to herself.

"Here's a ticket for my show if you can't find home with Puyo Puyo."

"Thanks. But I got a plan."

"Lemme hear it."

"I need to find Arle so I can find the Dark Prince. We're on good terms. He can bring me back. If not Arle will make sure he does it."

*Applause, no sarcasm* "Oh, good plan. But Arle's M.I.A. for more than half-a-year in Primp." 'Hallelujah. Hope she's dead for all intents and purposes.'

"Oh, playing Puyo with everyone I meet it is for me."

"Um… I could take you to Arle's world. NevermetArleeverbythewayneverinmylifetrustmeonthisone. Also how sharp are your nails? I clipped mine yesterday."

"Really, that'd be a big help finding the Dark Prince! Also: Whyyyyyyyy?"

"To tear a rip in Space-Time. Duh!"

"… Are you being sarcastic?"

"Tone: Yes. Method: No. Now, Redhead, wanna go or…"


Akuma opened the door of his private quarters to see the nervous Silvana. "Silvana. State your business, kuma!"

"I, um, just kinda… wanna bond with you, Grandpa."

"Grandpa?" The possessed plush raised an eyebrow.

"Would you prefer I kept calling you Gramps?" She narrowed her eyes.

"It makes no difference. Come in, make yourself comfortable, ma, kuma!"

"No experiments, please." *Plomph on sofa*

"Interested in a board game?"

"Not in the mood…" Sil moped slumped over. "But I'll play with you some other time if you promise not to flip the table with your quirk." *The lightest snicker*

"I'll hold you to it, kuma!" He put his ancient Puyo Puyo Jenga away. "So what do you to cry about now?"

"…Am I that transparent?"

"Judging by your last visits. Yes, ma!"

"Hmm. Well…" 'I'm your responsibility, bear. Deal with it.' "No. Not going there."

"Wise choice." The bear poured tea. Sil braced herself. "And yes, you're that predictable."

The jester peeked behind her hand. "I-I wasn't worrying about that. You have a kettle and you tend to yell!"

"Just tell me what's on your mind already, kumakumakuma!"

"Fine!" The fire between them turned autopilot on. "It just sunk in!"

"What sunk in?" The Bear said composed. Lowering the tension.

Silvana sighed. 'This is way too common for my tastes.' "That I love my life here…" She said sullenly with a tender smile. "People like me for some reason. People look actively forward to our shows…"

"Ah. I see. You're scared, more than ever. Of losing it all…" He said sympathetically.

"Oh, didn't think of that! All this happiness, living this truth, it physically hurts! I have to admit to myself not to being Silvana to survive sometimes…" *The dams burst* "Pleeeeee-heeeeeeaaaaase, put your body to good use. Please, I have this habit of hugging soft things to get rid of… of…"

Without saying anything. The demon floated to the semi-demon. Touched by the sentiment it, the girl embracing the elder. Her lip quivered. "Being Arle doesn't feel like myself anymore… Like she's completely separate from me, but she keeps tormenting me… And I don't always feel her. That's usually when I'm happiest and carefree. But when I do feel like I'm in an iron maiden at all times. Except with fingers instead of deadly spikes. Putting pressure all over…"

"You're putting on a great demonstration with your arms. If had an actual body I'd choke, no doubt, mamamaKuuuuuma!"

Sil quietly loosened her grip. "I hate my existence as much as you do. But I can't throw it away and grow more bitter than ever in hell…" *Sniff*

"Silvana, you know very well why I hate you. But you're not the cause. Just a painful reminder, kuuuuuumaaaaaaaaa!"

"Yowch, my ears… I hate you too, gramps. My life wouldn't hurt without you. I'd still be an innocent girl murdering her way to the top of the tower. You're a terrible grandpa!" *Strong punch, small impact*

Akuma did not react physically. He sighed. "You're not the first grandchild of mine that said that to me. You're better than them. And me." He patted on her back.


"Silvana, we need to talk."

"Vento bothering you again, Klug?" Silvana replied leaning out the window.

"No, actually, thank you so very much. B-But that's not why I'm here. How evil do you think I am?"

"¿Que?"

"For winter vacation my family's going to Exact Museum in Pinda."

"Woooow. You go, Klug. Have fun."

"Purity Test?"
"Purity Test!"

"I see… Honestly… I am… No, nevermind. You're not that evil, power hungry maybe." She shrugged.

"Finally, a straight answer! Something I can't change… Great."

"I'm sure you'd thought about this already, but. Maybe you shouldn't carry Stan around?" Sil threw out there.

"As a matter of fact, I have. I locked him up in a safe, took a shower, washed my hands to be on the safe side. And I'm still considered evil enough… It's not fair!" Klug's about to burst, but he won't.

"Please don't cry, you don't have enough dignity to save yourself at this rate, Klug." This is Silvana being nice. "You're way less evil than I am."

"About that! Barring your treatment of Raffine, and your amethyst mag… I just answered my own question."

"That's an automatic disqualifier, I think. But it can't be your power wantinghavingness."

"That's not a word!"

"Nerd." Countered with a grin.

Klug scoffed it off (tried it anyway).

*Sticks tongue out.* "Where were w- Oh, yeah. But it can't be your power hungriness. Ammy's kinda power hungry too."

"She must get a free pass. She lacks conviction behind her ambition."

"Yowch, bull's eye. I felt that. So true it hurts. Good luck, I need to lift weights. But if you wanna keep chatting that's fine."

"I'll be on my way then. Until we meet again…"


"Okay, young lady. We need to talk. Who. Are. You?" Silvana spoke into the mirror, and she did not talk back to herself. Her face bare, letting her reflect on herself fully.

She did not look happy. "Okay, Silvana…" She paused to take a breath. "That name… Fits like a glove… Smells like one too. At least the name sticks." *Smallest winch* "Which is a good thing." She forced a smile. Frustrated she doesn't have a genuine one to muster. As far as her body was concerned it was her proper name or bust.

"…You idiot, one observation and I'm already depressed. I'm just trying to review myself…" *Self-slap!* "You made progress, Sil! You're not her anymore! I was never her! Yikes! This stiiiings…" Sil held her hand over her heart.

"Why must I hurt for enjoying life here? I got an adorable friend. Lots more. A stable night job, still somehow. I'm stronger than before and more nimble than ever!"

"On the other hand… I do talk to inanimate objects, and myself a lot. I'm probably crazy anyways… No matter what I do…"

"I've been playing a ditz for fun too… I don't mean too… Maybe I've been a clown for far too long… Oshare made plenty of stuff for me, I should wear them."

"DIE!" *Heart slam* "DOWN!" *Slam!* "YOU!" *SLAM!* "STUPID!" *HURTING* "PAIN!"

The pain did die down a little. It doing so because she controlled it, or it just happened to do so coincidentally on its own, Sil was unsure. It did make her a little giddy. "Hahaaaa! Take that biology! Silvana Vibitia Pierrot wins this round!~ Ahahahahaaaaaa! HAH!" She fell over on her mattress. "Owiiieee. My chest hurts… Heeheeheeeeeeee~"

"Life sucks… Please Lemres… Help…"

Author's Notes:

Next Chapter is the end for a while. Brace yourself. I probably made notes for that before the Copy Amitie chapter.

Next up: Jolly Christmas.