IT HAPPENS IN THIS CHAPTER (lolactuallynotyet)

''I saw three yesterday''

''Three?''

''Yes, two vampires and one demon'' Eve signed, taking a sip immediately after Noriko had given her a cup of tea.

Noriko sat down next to her friend, who had come to her house to tell she had been attacked and failed to defeat three monsters.

''A demon too, huh?'' She mused. Noriko hadn't expected a demon to be roaming around in Seinarushima. She did suspect at least one vampire and probably a werewolf (seriously, didn't people notice that the 'Hairy Robber' wasn't just a regular animal?) but not a demon.

Seinarushima might be more in danger than she had originally though.

''About those vampires...was one of them...you know?'' Noriko hesitated a bit, not wanting to know the answer.
She didn't want her thoughts to be confirmed, she didn't want that...

''Sorry, one of them really that student of yours'' Eve looked away for a moment, she knew Noriko hated for her students to be involved...

Noriko took a sip from her cup, she was trembling so much, it almost fell out of her hands.

''The other one I didn't recognize, maybe she's from a different class, or school, or city'' Eve continued, trying to ease the dread that had suddenly filled the room.

But Noriko Morino didn't seem to listen.

Op: 'Halloween Night' by Aya Ikeda

Episode 27: Aah! The Dance of Loneliness!

''Oh everyone!'' Wisp floated in the middle of the room, she seemed very exited, more than normal ''I've found something simply marvelous! Absolutely wonderful!''

''What?'' Larry asked, trying to mask his curiosity with an annoyed sign.

''Deep in the forest...'' Wisp began, as If she was telling an exciting story, ''I found...a castle!''

''EEEEH!? A Castle!?'' Everyone cried, big eyed.

''It's true, It's true!''

Yuina was a bit suspicious, If there really was a castle wouldn't at least someone noticed it before now?

''Could it be...Onibara?'' Orlok suggested.

''I'm not sure, but I'll lead you there!'' Wisp flew around wildly, ''Follow me!''

''Well?'' Larry asked impatiently, tapping his front paw on the ground audibly.

Wisp didn't answer, she floated around, her glow flickering, lightening the forest.

''Eh...Wisp?''

''OH MY! IT'S THERE!'' Wisp suddenly acclaimed with an extremely shrill voice, frightening both Wakaba and Tomoko who both clung onto Miku.

All looked at where Wisp suddenly dashed off to.

There really was a castle. And it was quite big.

Slowly coming closer the group took a good look,

''Hmm, If this is Onibara's doing...'' Zeta began, his hand on his chin, ''Where are the vines, thorns and roses she's obsessed with?''

Yuina slowly gave the door a little push, surprised it fell open without even using a lot of power.

''Keep your Hollow Changers ready!'' Orlok warned the four as they slowly entered the long hallway which opened up in front of them.

Yuina looked around somewhat nervously, something felt...off.

Maybe it was because Kurenai wasn't following her?

Not that Yuina complained about that, in fact, she was glad she could manage to talk Kurenai into staying behind with Kabocha while she, her three teammates and the fairies inspected the so-called 'castle' in the woods.

Wakaba kept walking close to Miku, while Tomoko was holding tightly onto the fairies.

Empty paintings filled the walls, however they were so many in various sizes and forms.

Most of them were of men and women, all dressed in old-fashioned yet complexly decorated dresses and suits.

No one recognized any of them but everyone found themselves staring down each and every portrait.

Also their eyes seemed to be following them,...or was It just the group's imagination?

''Hey, maybe when I'm fully a vampire, I can take this castle and protect the city...'' Yuina, while mostly joking to ease the suspenseful mood, she almost immediately found herself thinking about that little suggestion.

Tomoko suddenly came to a standstill.

''Everyone...do you hear...music?''

In another room, a figure stood next to a piano, carefully letting its fingers slide over the keys.

''Visitors? My, my, what a marvelous surprise!~''

Her lips curled into a smile as she clapped her pale hands together.

''I've got to welcome them!''

''Tomo?'' Miku, with Wakaba still clinging onto her, turned to Tomoko, who looked around cautiously.

Yuina, still walking in front, turned around to face her teammates.

They all seemed to be scared, or at least nervous. Even Larry and Wisp looked rather unconformable.

''We didn't hear anything...'' Larry said, with almost everyone else nodding in agreement.

''Oh!'' Tomoko forced a smile on her face to ease the mood a little ''Must have imagined it, then! Sorry I spooked you guys...''

Since all doors were locked, the only thing they could do was walk forward to the big door at the end of the hall, which slowly came closer and closer.

''Wakaba?'' Yuina turned to the strongest person of the group, who reluctantly gave the door a weak push.

With a creaky noise it completely fell open to reveal a simply huge, yet empty, ballroom.

''Uhm...'' Wakaba immediately rushed back to Miku's side upon seeing the room.

All holding their Hollow Changers ready they entered. And of course the door automatically closed behind them.

Yuina couldn't help but roll her eyes.

How predictable.

Then it turned out the ballroom wasn't completely empty.

A person appeared, literally just appeared from thin air, on the stairs.

It was a pale young-woman with glowing silver locks, which floated despite there wasn't any wind inside, she was dressed in a dark blue Victorian-style dress. Her eyes were tightly closed and her lips curled into a smile.

''Welcome!'' She greeted with a very sweet voice, not unlike Wisp's, as she extended her arms.

''Who are you?'' Yuina spoke, shocked at how her voice trembled at the sight of the young-woman. Yuina could feel it, something was wrong with her.

''Kirika Uzumaki''

Even before the young-woman had finished talking, Wisp launched into the air.

''YOU ARE A GHOST, YOU ARE PERFECT~'' She cried with a rather hoarse tone as she floated in front of Kirika.

''Oh my, who are you, little one?''

''My name is Wisp, I'm also a ghost, just like you! Can you become a Pretty Cure, help us save Halloween World, this world and prevent a huuuge disaster from happening on October 31?''

Being reminded off the exact date when the gate would be opened and all the evil monsters could escape to the human world, made Yuina even more nervous.
They were only a few months left...

''Halloween World...Pretty Cure, Hmm?'' Kirika took it surprisingly well, she leaned with her chin on her hand and was seemingly deep in thoughts.

''We could really use your help!'' Tomoko, after putting the fairies on the ground, rushed to Kirika and extended her hand, holding the blue Hollow Changer.

''At least think about it, please''

''Oh dear, your hands ...'' Kirika carefully grasped Tomoko's trembling hands, putting on hand on the Hollow Changer.

''My brother...my father...'' The green-haired girl suddenly couldn't keep it in, she started sobbing, then Kirika slowly took the Hollow Changer from her.

''I'll help'' The ghost smiled, her smile grew into a grin ''But first..''

Mosaic-glass filled the walls, all with various patterns, most notably spirals.

Then walls appeared all around the ballroom, separating everyone.

Eve was 'patrolling' the island again, she had felt a vague presence in the nearby woods.

It wasn't a vampire, nor demon.

It were Ghosts!

She already had her 'Spooky-Catcher' (It was Noriko's idea to name it that!) in her hands, which looked like some kind of over sized flashlight with a handle.
It was a rather awkward thing to use and hold, but it worked and Eve had already caught many ghosts with it.

Then she saw it.

''This wasn't here before'' She simply stated, trying to open the door of the big castle in front of her.

Locked.

Yuina opened her eyes, only to find herself in a smaller version of the room she had just been in.

But she was alone.

''Hello?''

She was surrounded by the walls, the mosaic pictures on them had changed from spiral-patterns to...her friends? She saw Miku, dressed in a dark-purple robe. Wakaba was clothed in ragged up cloths, she reminded Yuina a bit of a typical image of a caveman. Tomoko wore a mechanical suit and had green skin. The fairies shared a glass, with a big moon visible behind them.

Yuina gasped when she, only now, just noticed she was wearing a pink-colored ball gown, decorated with a lot of jewels and ribbons.

Then she heard the sound of clapping, and another flash came.

A man, a man she'd never seen before, stood in front of her. He was tall, tidy and dressed in a very nice suit, wearing a soft smile on his lips as he extended his hand to Yuina.

He kinda reminded her of the actor playing Hiroto on her drama-show, Secrets and Tears, but taller, paler and darker hair.

The perfect kind of man. At least, according to Yuina.

The man stared at her silently, still with his hand extended.

''N-NO!'' Wakaba screamed, slapping the hand away from the man who had appeared in front of her, Wakaba leaned onto the wall with Miku's picture on it.

The tall girl closed her eyes tightly, hoping the unknown man would disappear.

What was going on? Who was that guy? Where were the others?

Just then the man faded away, allowing someone else to appear.

''Wa-ka-ba~'' She heard a familiar voice whisper.

Her fear disappeared when Miku stood in the same spot as the man just had been, her purple locks tied in two buns and dressed in a similar suit the man had been in.

''Miku? What's g-going on?'' The tall girl asked, Miku merely grinned and grabbed her hands as she forced Wakaba to dance.

''Miku?''

''It's alright, I'm here, Wakaba''

It was alright, Miku said so, and Wakaba trusted Miku.

So she danced.

''Andromeda?''

Tomoko felt even worse when she saw none other than Mart appear in front of her, his skin was green and his eyes big, and he was wearing a formal (on their planet, at least) mechanical suit.

''Andromeda'' He repeated, using their native-language to communicate with her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

''Why did you abandon your true nature?''

Tomoko flinched, why was he bringing that up?

''No, we already talked about that...!''

This had to be an illusion. A mind trick!

Yes, of course! There was no way Mart could be here.

''Just wait for me, We're going to save ever-''

''Hush'' With one word and pushing a finger on her lips, Tomoko trailed off, her eyes empty and staring off into the distance.

She had completely fallen into his grasp and let him lead her around the ballroom.

''When are you coming? I'm waiting for you, I miss you''

''I miss...you...too...I...'' Miku couldn't take the sight of her father staring at her with pleading eyes.

''You don't care about me, right?'' He spat ''You think I'm creepy and weird too right?''

''No!...That's not true!...dad...'' Miku felt tears rolling over her cheeks,

If someone was creepy and weird. It was her.

She brought her hand to her nose.

But it was normal again.

''Let go of your fears, your father will protect you'' Her father extended his hand.

Miku took it reluctantly.

''Daddy!'' She sobbed, ''Please...please, don't go!''

''I won't''

Kirika signed.

''Oh my, they are rather weak'' Yet a smile grew on the ghost's face.

''What did you do!? Where are they!?'' Larry roared as he was held back by Zeta, all the fairies stared at the floating girl who looked over the empty ballroom.

''Could you, please, explain-'' Orlok began, holding back his frustration.

''Don't worry about them, they are facing the powers of a poltergeist, they are facing their own demons right now'' Kirika answered, clutching the Hollow Changer against her chest with a smile.

''After all, I just want to see my future-companions in action''

Something wasn't right.

Yuina took her hand back as she simply shook her head at the man.

''No, I won't''

The man didn't seem to like that, as his face turned into a frown and he took a few steps back.

Then he changed.

The man changed into a living, pitch-black shadow, and didn't wait to lash out at Yuina.

''Oh, oh!'' Kirika almost jumped in anticipation ''One of them is going to fight!''

Kirika made a few gestures with her hand and a mirror-like object flew in front of the small critters, in the mirror a scene was playing out, like a movie.

''Yuina!'' Orlok hissed, as the five saw the pink-haired girl took a fighting stance.

Just in time Yuina managed to avoid the fist of the shadow.

''...Boo Boo Bogey! Monster Change!'' She held up her Hollow Changer and in a moment she was Cure Blood.

''Pure Blood lust, Defeating you is a must! Cure Blood!'' Before she even finished announcing her name, she had already landed a hard kick in the shadow's side, sending it against one of the mosaic-glass walls.

Blood's head finally started clearing up, she started thinking straight again.

What is going?

''Who are you!? What are you?!'' She asked the shadow, still lying idly by the wall.

No response. Nothing at all.

''Answer me, you stupid-!'' Blood cried, patience completely thin, she lifted the shadow with one hand and threw him so hard against the most nearby mosaic-glass, the one with Miku on it, that it broke and another room was revealed.

When a shadow flew against her father, he immediately shoved Miku away as he himself also became a shadow-like figure.

''Miku!'' A familiar voice, coming from quite far away, awakened Miku from her trance-like state.

''Daddy...?'' Miku whispered, biting her lip and holding back her tears. Her father wasn't with her. She probably wouldn't see him again after all this.

Cure Blood stood in front of her friend, pointing at Miku's necklace.

''Miku?'' Blood took the short girl's hands.

''..Daddy..'' Miku whispered, as Blood gently shook her a little.

''Miku, listen, I'm not sure what's going on, that ghost girl must have something to do with this..'' She said, ''Let's transform, okay?''

''...Alright'' Miku slowly took her Hollow Changer and transformed.

''Magical Spell, Potion with a strange smell! Cure Witch!''

The pink and purple Cures didn't even need to say anything, just a single glance was enough for them to know what to do.

Attack those shadows and break the mosaic walls!

Cure Witch used her staff to shove the taller shadow, which had looked just like her father a moment ago, against one of the walls, instantly breaking it.

Completely in trance, she didn't even notice the others and just continued letting the fake-Miku lead her in circles in the ballroom.

''Wakaba!'' Witch called, slapping the fake-Miku away with her staff (which was rather awkward to do actually) and it also became a small shadow-figure, instantly dashing towards the two with jerky movements.

''Hey, Wakaba!'' Witch repeated, shaking the tall girl a little.

''Miku...? What...what is..''

''No time, just transform! Quick, I'll cover you!''

Just as Wakaba slowly grabbed her Hollow Changer, Cure Blood was busy, holding the other two shadows in each hand and throwing them around, kinda like pompoms.

''Pretty Cure! Blood Fang!'' It felt quite good to use her trusty old attack, she held one of the shadows close and pressed her glowing, sharp teeth into its shoulder, making it slowly disappear after another quick fit of jerky movements.

''Howling High, Full moon in the sky! Cure Wolf!'' After transforming, Wolf almost immediately took a protective stand in front of Witch.

''Miku, Thanks'' She whispered.

''Hey, It's Cure Witch now, hehe!'' The purple girl grinned, using Witch Curse to shoot a stream of purple light at the small shadow, which also disappeared.

''Now, let's get Tomo and the others, and get out of here!''

Blood used the last remaining shadow to break the glass with Tomoko on it, revealing yet another room.

''Tomo! Tomo!'' Again, Witch simply used her staff to slap the fake-Mart away, making it transform into another shadow.

''Pretty Cure! Wolf Claw!'' Wolf immediately attacked the remaining shadow with her razor-sharp claws.

''EH?'' Tomoko stared around with big eyes ''What happened? Where's everyone?''

But before anyone could say, or do, anything, a cracking noise was heard and soon the ballroom completely broke down, revealing...the same ballroom, but with Kirika and the five fairies in the middle.

''Congrats'' The ghost clapped, still her eyes closed and still a smile curled on her face.

''What is going on? What do you want?'' Blood demanded as the five fairies quickly turned to the Cures' side, but Wisp reluctantly floated in between.

''Oh, I simply want to become your team's newest addition'' Kirika held up the blue Hollow Changer.

''But what was the point of-'' The pink-cure began only for the whole ballroom to suddenly be filled with hundreds of shadows.

''I only want to know how strong you are! I'll join too, this time'' Kirika announced, her arms wide as she started to inspect the necklace ''Now, how to use this thing?''

Then the door was slammed open and everybody turned their head to the new figure which had entered the room.

''You foul ghost, It's end of the road for you!''

A familiar pink-haired woman appeared, walking with her trusty whip in one hand, and a flashlight-like device in the other.

''I, Eve Belmont, will-''

''Oh, you, I remember you!'' Kirika interrupted what could have been a long speech by the monster hunter, Kirika clapped her hands together gleefully and the shadows disappeared.

''What are you talking about!?'' The woman, Eve, hissed, slashing her whip in the girl's direction.

She sensed so many creatures, a vampire, a werewolf, a ghost...it was making her feel dizzy.

''Kurobara, remember!'' Kirika reminded the woman, floating in her direction as she completely ignored the group.

''You know about Onibara!?'' Larry shot at the ghost, ''Wait...Kurobara?''

Kurobara? Didn't she mean Onibara?

''Kirika Uzumaki'' Eve signed, recognizing the floating girl, ''What are you doing here, it's not safe here''

As a warning, she slashed her whip in the group's direction, making all take a few steps back.

''They are dangerous creatures!''

''Now, now, Eve, these are my new comrades'' Kirika signed, holding up her Hollow Changer.

''Listen to us!'' Blood called, reluctantly stepping closer to the woman, ''We are trying to protect this world, but to do that...we've made some sacrifices, that's why we're like this..''

''It's true! Please help us! We could really use some help!'' Tomoko, begged and bowed politely, ''My father is in huge danger''

Eve stared at the girls for a moment, her eyes inspecting all the other creatures in the room, as well Kirika, she eventually nodded stifly.

''Fine''

Kirika smiled brightly as the Cures slowly transformed back.

''..But If you attack any human, and I mean any human, you're dead'' Eve hissed, again slashing her whip as a warning.

''Y-Yes'' They all said weakly.

Eve tried to force a smile on her face, but without success.

Well, as long as they didn't hurt anyone, Eve will try to help them. It has been so long since she last worked together with a vampire, maybe she still had those injections to help them get into the sun without burning?

''You're all Noriko's students, right?'' Eve asked the girls, her arms crossed and her voice clear.

''Ms. Morino?''

Eve nodded.

''I think we should have a talk with her'' She then turned to Kirika, who still floated awkwardly next to Eve, her head down at the mention of a familiar name.

''I'm sure she'll be happy to see you again''

ED: 'Delusion Disco!' - Kazusa Murai (Wakaba Tsukino)