Cole walked up the path of the Great Volcano, trying his best to keep his composure. Kyu followed behind him, her expression calm. "You seem rather nervous. Do you think that I'm going to attack you?" Kyu asked. She could tell he was trying to keep himself cool, but she could hear his heartbeat had increased ever so slightly.

The warlord hummed as he kept on walking. "No, I don't. I just… I'd like to ask you something if you didn't mind. You said that your name was Kyu, and I knew it sounded familiar. But… you can't possibly be the Kyu who was a part of the Titanic Ten, can you?" he asked looking over her shoulder.

She smiled. "That's quite a random question. But yes, I am. What made you ask?"

Cole sighed. "Typhon and the Ten's legends aren't quite as well known down here in the Underworld as they are on the surface, but there are some records written down about their exploits. Most in my tribe weren't big on reading, but I've come across them a few times. And your name isn't exactly a common one anywhere in mewni."

Kyu looked rather impressed. "Wow, a fire nymph who can actually read. In my time such a thing was unheard of. You were little more than brutes who cared only for combat. You've certainly come a long way since there," she said.

"Not as far as you'd think actually," he muttered. But he was glad at least someone recognized his efforts and decided to just take the compliment. "We're here."

They stood at the top of the volcano, both looking down into the boiling lava. Cole grunted. He came to the Great Volcano for flame ceremonies, but the last time he had been up here specifically was during Topaz flame ceremony. Back when Phyra was with them, and they'd been whole.

He looked back at Kyu worriedly. "So, how do you intend to get-" Kyu began walking forward, ready to dive in. Cole went wide eyed, stepping in front of her. "Whoa, what are you doing?! You can't' just jump inside! You'll be cooked alive!"

Kyu blinked, and then laughed. "I'll be fine."

"Kyu, if even half of what little I've read about you and the others is true, I don't doubt your strength and resilience. But even we can only last so long inside of the intense heat of the Great Volcano," he said. "You don't even know if what you're looking for is really still down there."

"My shamisen is still down there. Deep down, neat the bottom. But there. I can feel it. I've been able to ever since I came to your village," she explained.

Cole sighed. "Even so, I… you said you were looking for your son. That your family was trying to protect him. I know more than anyone how painful it is for a family to lose their mother. Please reconsider," he said. He didn't know Kyu very well, and he didn't know her family at all. But he still wouldn't wish the pain he still felt from Phyra's loss on his worst enemies.

Kyu looked at him sympathetically. It didn't take a genius to see this was being said from personal experience. "I see. You have my condolences for your loss," she said before turning back around. "But I can promise you that I won't be dying so easily."

Without another word, she jumped, and Cole watched in shock as she dived down and broke past the surface of the magma. He stood and waited for any signs of life, but it remained scarily silent. He waited, and time passed. More time than it had taken Topaz to return from her ceremony. He began to feel nervous. She had sounded so confident, but… was she really okay?

Suddenly the ground began to shake, and the Volcano began to rumble. Cole took a step back. This… this was new. The Great Volcano rarely made this much noise. Was this some sort of sign? It rejecting someone who wasn't part of the tribe perhaps?

It kept rumbling, and eventually he saw something come poking out of the surface. It came shooting upwards, and Cole backed up as it made it just over the edge and landed in front of him. He stared in awe as Kyu rose to her feet, magma dripping off of her. "Well, that was actually rather relaxing," she said. "I might try that again some time."

She then held out her hands, looking over the instrument she held in them. "Well, it looks like everything is still in perfect order," she mumbled. She reached into her kimono and then pulled out a pick, strumming it against the strings. Her ears twitched at the melody that resulted from it. "And sounds good too. Oh how I missed you." Things never felt quite right without her Shamisen near her.

"Uh, Kyu…"

She looked over towards Cole, who pointed towards her. The titan looked confused, but then looked over herself. Her hair, both on her head and that of her tails, now all looked like they were flames. "What the…? This is going to wear off, right?" she asked, the white flames still burning brightly.

"I'm not sure…" Cole said. This was honestly a first for him.

Kyu purred. It honestly felt pretty warm. But… she wasn't exactly in love with the idea of walking around like a sentient lantern. "I'll figure out what to do about this later. For now I need to get going. I want to thank you again for your help. I truly do…" she slowly stopped, and then looked down towards the base of the Volcano.

"Is something wrong?" Cole asked.

Kyu smirked. "It seems like that brute of yours from earlier still hasn't learned his manners," she muttered. Cole looked at her confused. Was she talking about Scorch? "I think this works out fine though. I could use a little practice. And I won't rough them up too terribly."

"Wait, what?!"

Kyu leapt off into the distance before Cole could even think to stop her. He looked amazed at just how much ground she had covered with a single jump. Kyu kept going, and with how quickly and far she was moving, it didn't take her long to reach the bottom. There, she saw a group of fire nymphs waiting.

Standing at the head of them was Scorch.

He scowled when he saw the titan. "Well, you got back far quicker than I expected. And I don't see Cole with you. Did you kill him?" he asked. Honestly that would work out perfectly for him. But he'd figure and sort that out later. "And what is… did you enter the Great Volcano?" he asked glaring.

Kyu narrowed her eyes at him. He sounded a little too optimistic about what he assumed happened to Cole. she didn't like it. "So what if I did?"

"Unbelievable. For you to disgrace it with you… being, is just disrespectful. I don't care what that weak old fool says. After what you've done, I refuse to let you leave here alive." He had planned on tailing her outside of the village and ending her there, but with Cole absent there was no reason he couldn't do it here then hide the body.

He reached for his sword once more, and some of the others around him stepped forward. "Man, it really is a shame…" Salvo said, shaking his head.

Braze smirked. "Payback time…"

Kyu looked around at the group, and then smiled. She took a seat, strumming the pick against the strings of her shamisen. "Such ignorant little children. Allow me to play something to soothe your savage attitudes." Scorch pulled out his sword, about to ask her just what she was doing, but then Kyu strummed the shamisen again.

Scorch stumbled back as he felt a sharp pain. He looked down and was surprised to see a gash across his chest. He looked back up towards Kyu, wide eyed. "You should all consider yourselves lucky. You'll be the first in over two thousands years to be blessed with the sounds of my melody…"

"Tell me what happened."

Kruger opened his eyes once more, and saw Vera standing in front of his cell. This time she was quite a ways back, and the guards were standing between them. Kruger signed and shook his head. "I already told you, there's not point in-"

"Indulge me," Vera said, a determined look on her face. "Tell me anyway. What happened the day you left. The day you became a traitor to the Lucitor family."

Kruger narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure you want me to pop that little bubble of yours girl? You're bound to hear something you might regret," he warned.

Vera shook her head. "I don't care. There's a saying on Earth. Those who don't learn from their history are doomed to repeat it. So I want to know our history. The real history, and learn from it," she said.

"That's a very noble sentiment. But a moot one," Kruger said. "When all is said and done, I doubt this kingdom won't be a kingdom anymore. Your title and crown won't really mean anything."

"I think you're wrong. I think we'll find a way to stop you all. And I think once we do, it's going to take a lot of work to pick up the pieces. But I'm going to do my best anyway," she said, crossing her arms. "So start talking. I want to know everything."

Kruger raised an eyebrow, but Vera had a look on her face that told him she wasn't going anywhere. He let out a sigh. "You know how the war started. The feud between the monsters and mewmans continued to escalate. Typhon tried to broker peace. The queen committed to the genodcide of monster kind."

Vera nodded. Star had made it very clear to everyone just how her family had come into power. She didn't know all the details, but she knew the Butterfly family had been the one to start the conflict. "What you may not know, if that her and the mewmans cruelty was directed towards we demons as well. We were seen as little more than animals."

"What?" Vera asked. She had always heard that the Lucitors and mewmans had always been allies in the war. This was the first she heard about anything like that.

"Naturally, with us both being persecuted by the mewmans, one would think we would have joined forces. Lashed out against a common enemy. My father seemed to think the same thing. And so he sent me to ask for an alliance with Typhon. Needless to say I was shocked."

Vera raised an eyebrow. "Why? You said it made sense, right?"

"Because my father was…" He stopped himself, then sighed. It wasn't worth getting into right now. "No never mind. The point is he knew I'd a friendship with Typhon and Python. We'd fought together against mewman forces before when they attacked monster and demon settlements. And so it wasn't too difficult to convince them to join forces with us."

"Together, our combined forces would surely cause the mewmans to back down and sue for peace. I came back and joyfully told my father of the good news. He was pleased, but little did I know it was for all the wrong reasons," Kruger said, looking irritated as he thought back to it. "He commended me. Told me he knew that if anyone could convince Typhon, it would be me."

"My father and I hardly ever saw eye to eye, but I felt pride in his words. Pride in knowing I might be able to help end a war, end bloodshed, just once without having to draw my blade first. And then… then he told me his real intentions. He never wanted an alliance. Not really. He wanted an opportunity to claim Typhon life. One that would be given by earning his trust."

"He wanted a blade plunged in his back. And he wanted me to be the one to carry out the deed. He wanted me to betray my friend. My ally. Someone who I had fought and bled beside on the battlefield," Kruger said, shaking his head. "He expected me to just… bury my honor. And not only that. We would use the opportunity to take out the others as well. Commit simultaneous attacks against them at one, crippling their forces."

"And that's when you killed him?" Vera asked.

Kruger hummed. "Yes…"

Vera gave him a sympathetic look. "I… that's terrible," she said shaking her head. "I'm sorry that happened to you. But… did you really have to kill him? You could have refused. Tried to convince him otherwise. Or… or just left. You didn't have to-"

"What do you know about my father?" Kruger asked.

Vera was quiet for a moment. "Honestly, not much. Our history says he was clever, and… and his death is what ultimately led to our family teaming up with the mewmans. In order to… avenge his death," she said hesitantly.

Kruger scoffed. Of course that was the story. "My father was just short of a tyrant. He was obsessed with our family gaining status and power. He crushed anyone who would dare stand in our way. I despised his methods. But as a knight, I was duty bound to serve. At least until it was my time to take the throne."

"When he asked me to betray Typhon… I begged him to reconsider. Told him that he would disgrace our family's legacy for eternity. He told me I was being naive. That for our family to truly ascend to power, unsavory deeds would need to be done. That Typhon would only be the beginning. And that if I was unable to understand that, I was unfit to rule."

Kruger balled his fist up. "He laughed… he laughed as he talked about helping wipe out thousands of innocents. All for the sake of cementing his power," he looked up towards Vera. "Tell me, if your father was willing to commit to the murder of hells know how many innocent people, could you do it? Could you just walk away then?"

He stood back up, an angry expression slowly spreading across his face. "So first I… cut down the guards. And then when my father reached for his own sword, I took off his arm. And when I told him to surrender he… he went for the sword with his other arm. I was trying to spare his life, but he had already committed to killing me. To killing his own son."

"The way he looked at me, the expression in his eyes… I didn't see a father anymore. I didn't see my family anymore. I just saw a tyrant, clawing for power. So I sunk my sword in his chest. And put an end to him. That's where my brothers found me…"

Vera frowned. "I… but it's that true, why didn't you tell your brothers. Why didn't-?"

"My brothers?" Kruger asked, glaring. "You think my brothers bothered listening to what I had to say? They'd already known what my father was planning. They were just as guilty as he was. And when they saw him there dead, with my sword soaked in blood, do you know what they saw? A chance. A chance to claim the throne for themselves. I wanted no part in it. So I left, and joined Typhon."

"I told him of my father's plan, and… he gave me a place among them, despite many of their objections at the time. And from then on, the Ten became my family."

Vera was clearly taken aback by the story. The details were… well, nothing like what they were taught growing up. "So… you killed your father so that you could save people. And you got called a traitor for it. That's… that's not-"

"Fair?" Kruger asked, tilting his head. "Doing the right and honorable thing is rarely ever easy, or fair. And it's hardly ever a path that can be taken with words alone. My father tried to do something evil, and I acted to stop him. Because that's what a knight does," he said bluntly. "And I've never lost one wink of sleep over it."

Vera looked down in thought. She… she couldn't really say she could argue with him. Obviously if she'd had the power to stop someone who was about to do something so horrible, she obviously would do it. But if that person was her own father… it was hard to even imagine if. Would she really be able to do the same thing?

Kurger had, and she knew Astro had been planning to. But even then… "My father isn't like that. None are any of the people that you took," she said, conviction in her voice. "I know you did what you felt you needed to to protect people. But this isn't the same thing. Times have changed, and there are other ways of-"

"More words," Kruger said, cutting her off. "I've had enough of them. You asked me to tell you and a story, and I have. Now, it's time for action. Farewell girl. I hope one day you can learn to harden your heart and do what truly needs to be done."

Before Vera could ask what he was talking about, Kurger raised his hand, his eyes glowing bright red before he blasted a hole into the floor. Vera and the guards were knocked back. She hit the ground hard, wincing before she looked up to see that… he was gone.

"Oh no…"

Down deep within the Lucitor vault, Margo stared at the ancient weapon known as Bloodedge. She had heard vague rumors about the sword's existence before now, but they had never really interested her. She had her own trusted weapon after all, and it was such a hassle to track down it just didn't seem worth the effort.

It had to have been what he was here for, and she wasn't about to let him get his hands on it. She needed to move this thing somehow. She didn't plan on letting Kruger escape, but she didn't want to take any chances. The problem was… how?

The moment she had laid her hand on it, it started to give off a very dark and ominous aura. One that had smothered her. As if the sword itself was rejecting her. She wondered if it had anything to do with Kruger being so close. If she could just find a way to get it far away, somewhere he'd never find it.

She suddenly felt the ground shake, and her eyes went wide. She looked around, and saw a figure burst through the ceiling of the vault. Kruger landed down on the ground, right next to the red bladed weapon. He rosed up, smiling as he looked down at the blade. "Hello old friend. It's been so long."

Margo looked towards him stunned. "How?!"

Kruger glanced at the Queen. "Ah, I see you came across Bloodedge. Were you trying to wield it for yourself?" he asked. "That's quite a bold move for someone of your caliber. The burden of Bloodedge is beyond you."

Margo drew her sword and rushed at him. She had no idea how he got out, and she wasn't going to waste time pondering on it. All she needed to do was focus on bringing him down. She spun around and swung at him, but Kruger leaned back and dodged it, grabbing Bloodedge as he did.

He leapt back, smiling as he began unsheathing his sword. "Normally I wouldn't draw my blade against a woman. Especially a human one. But you should provide a decent warm up for our reunion," he said before pointing it at her. "Come. This is your chance to see the gap between you and a true Demon Blade."

Margo growled before rushing at him again. She sent a flurry of slashes his way, which he easily parried. Margo spun around and aimed a strike at his neck, but he avoided it before flicking his sword towards her. Margo raised her own and blocked it, but was sent stumblined back. The power behind his strike was amazing.

"Hmm… perhaps this won't be as fit as a warm up after all." Kruger rushed in towards her, and began swinging his blade at a blinding speed. Margo swung back, doing her best to parry them. Though it didn't look like he was putting much power behind the blows, each felt like it had the force of a truck behind it. And Margo was barely able to keep up.

Their blades caused sparks to fly through the air, but eventually one of Kruger's attacks got through, cutting her across the shoulder. She winced and then leapt back. Kruger frowned. "My apologies. I didn't intend to actually cut you. It seems I'll need to take a bit longer to get used to things," he said.

Margo narrowed her eyes. "I can't tell if you're trying to be chivalrous, or condescending. Either way, I'm not amused," she said.

Kruger hummed. "I didn't mean to insult you. I just genuinely don't like raising my blade against women," he explained. "If it's any constellation, your technique is impeccable. I can see how you managed to become such a noteworthy swordsman. But… you're still limited by the fact that your human."

Margo opened her mother's retort, but Kruger sent a slash towards her. Margo reacted quickly, just barely able to knock it away. It slashed through the ceiling like a hot knife through butter. Before she could steady herself, Kruger was already in front of her, swinging his sword for another strike.

CLANG!

Margo's sword went flying from her hands, landing on the ground behind her. "A human will never truly be able to match a demon in sheer strength," he said. He raised her blade once again, and Margo could see this cut had more power behind it. She quickly moved out of the way, but Kruger swung anyway.

The slash he let loose was massive, so massive that it went through the wall on the other side of the room. Margo looked back, and could see that it had made an opening. An opening that led all the way outside. Her eyes went wide. He had cut through the entire castle.

He rushed through the newly made exit, and Margo grabbed her sword and rushed after him. The guards throughout the castle had been so confused by what had happened, most of them couldn't react fast enough to even think about cutting him off. The few that had were easily knocked aside as he made a beeline for the courtyard. Margo kept running after him, but he was steadily widening the distance between them.

Vera, who had been passing through the hall, gasped as she saw him run past. He spared her a glance, but then kept on moving. He also passed by Scab and Isaac. The former grabbed his sword, not making any move to stop him, but ready to defend himself and more importantly his charge.

Kruger looked towards them, or more specially Isaac. That child certainly had potential. He could see it. He was almost tempted to take him since he felt such talent would be wasted or misused under their watch. But he just kept running. By the time he came of age, everything would have changed for the better anyway.

A few guards that had been lingering around the courtyard moved in front of him, and he prepared to cut them down, when suddenly a figure came crashing into them, sending them scattering apart.

It was a fox. A nine tailed fox, with flaming white hair. Kruger smirked, quickly recognizing the figure. He came to a stop, and then the fox's form began to change. Kyu stood up on her feet, looking up towards Kruger. "I see you've reclaimed Bloodedge," she said smiling towards him.

"And I see you've reclaimed your shamisen… and taken a swim as well. Are you trying out a new look for Python. I think it suits you.""

Kyu rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Get rid of this."

Kruger chuckled before raising his hand, with a wave, the flames that had formed around her hair suddenly dispersed. "You don't look as bloody as I imagined you would. Did they not put up much of a fight at the Great Volcano?" he asked.

Kyu clicked her tongue. "The warlord was actually quite agreeable. But there were a few who needed an overdue lesson in manners. I spared them on his behalf, but it did give me the chance to play once more. And you?"

Kruger shrugged. "The new Demon Blade is interesting, but… I find her lacking. As are the rest of my so called family, save for the infant. There's no reason to linger here any longer. We should take out leave."

"Hey! Stop!"

Margo rushed towards the two, gripping her sword tightly. Both of them turned towards her, but neither seemed to make any move to defend themselves or even attack. Margo leapt forward, but suddenly they both became engulfed in flames. The flames quickly dispersed, and the two were gone.

Margo slid to a stop, looking furious. "Damn it!" He had gotten away! He'd slipped right through their fingers! Their prisoner, their best lead on getting her husband back, had just vanished into thin air. And what was worse… he barely even had to try to do it.

In fact, saying he was trying at all was a joke. They had played right into his hands. He could have escaped whenever it wanted, that much was clear. He'd only come back for the sword, and now… now he had it.

And the threat facing them was that much bigger...

A/N: Kruger and Kyu now have their weapons back, and have struck a blow against both the Lucitors and (part) of the Fire Nymph tribe! Vera also has something to think about from Kruger! And Margo bested with the blade?! The threat is real! So far the Ten have been unstoppable! Who do you think is going to strike next?!