Hey! Yes, chapters are smaller than expected and shorter. I'm trying to get my mojo flowing again, so please be patient. It's the whole writers block thing, if you know what I mean. Anyway, on with the show!
"Grim Reaper? What is this Grim Reaper, that you speak of?", Zim raised a brow, becoming suspicious.
Zora, who hardly had the nerve to say anything at first, piped up. "Is he death, like the skeleton with the cloak and scythe?"
Zim looked down over at her. "You met this 'Grim Reaper', Zora?"
Zora shook her head. "Nope. I was only assuming who he may be. I do not recall meeting him at all."
Ryuu looked slightly worried, but shrugged it off. "Well, I'll call him over. Maybe he can sort things out here. Better than no help at all, really."
He took out what seemed like a small silver whistle. It was small, as big as his finger, and had a small silver skull engraved on it. He took a deep breath, and blew as hard as he could.
A loud, high pitched sound emitted from the puny piece, echoing throughout the halls.
Everyone had to cover their ears to avoid the piercing toot. After the echo faded, a tear in the middle of the air came out of nowhere.
Out from the tear, slid out a long, sharp scythe. Soon following, was the old devil himself. The Grim Reaper.
His long bony skull was drawn into a scowl, up until he saw who was the one who summoned him.
"Ryuu! Ha! How ya been, mon? I've hadn't seen you in forever!"
"Good to see you too, Grim. I'm guessing from the look on your face that those kids who you're with are giving you a hard time?"
Grim scowled once more. "Don't remind me, mon. Those two little devils are going to be the death of me. I can't believe I agreed to that horrible bet, what with being 'best friends forever' and such.."
Ryuu shook his head, chuckling in humor. Grim didn't approve much of his mocking, but another thing caught his eye.
Grim's gaze rested on Zora, who remained holding Zim's hand.
"Why, if it isn't Zora! How are ya, girl? I haven't seen ya since you were a tot!"
Zora's expression froze. 'How does he know my name? He knew me since I was a kid, but then... Why don't I remember him..?'
Grim frowned a bit. "Now that's no way to greet a friend, child. Haven't your parents taught you any-"
Grim was cut off as Ryuu pulled him to the side.
"What is the meaning of this, mon? Someone needs to set that girl straight. How is it that she acts like she doesn't know me?"
Ryuu whispered in his 'ear', "Grim, I've been meaning to tell you this, but I never got the chance. Zora has amnesia. She doesn't remember you or her life here in the underworld prior to her moving up to the human realm with her mother. Her father only stayed there for some time, you know, after the incident occurred."
Grim's jaw almost dropped completely from his skull. If he had a heart, it would have been partially broken now. Zora doesn't remember him? Him! The Grim Reaper! The one who babysat her and taught her about the underworld and it's boundaries, along with giving her Cerebus as a gift when she was born!
"So, how do we fix that, mon? Surely her father knows of this?"
Ryuu nodded his head. "Yes, he is fully aware, and so is her mother. But we came down here to find her mother. She doesn't know about her father just yet. I'd like to keep that quiet for now, at least, until we get down to the main hall, where they both are."
Grim nodded, understanding the situation. 'So it's come down to that, huh? I'd never imagine that Dante would go that far... poor girl...'
"She doesn't know what she's in for..." Grim sighed sadly. HE cleared his throat as both he and Ryuu turned to face them.
"Well, since all of you are lost, allow me to escort you to the main hall. You can all discuss matters there shortly after."
Everyone nodded as they began following the Reaper, who continued his conversation with Ryuu.
"Ryuu, mon. Do you think it wise for dat girl to go trough wit dis? I mean, after all, she is just a child."
Ryuu frowned and shook his head. "Sorry Grim. It's not my place to say what goes. He decided all that for her."
Grim pondered to himself. He glimpsed over at Zora, and then at Zim.
"What about dat boy? Her father doesn't like mortals."
Ryuu grimaced. "He's not a mortal. He's an alien."
Grim almost stumbled as he walked. Alien? 'Well, dat was unexpected...', Grim thought grimly. He, himself, couldn't bear the thought of Zora being with Zim, let alone just them holding hands. But at least he's more tolerant than her father.
"We're here. Prepare yourselves... especially you two."
Grim pointed at Zora and Zim. The two froze in shock.
"What do you mean, Grim? How dare you think that I, Zim, am infantile!" Zim fumed as the doors of the main hall opened. Beyond that was another set of doors, which led to the throne room.
"I'm afraid dat's as far as we go.", Grim grew bitter, his grip on his scythe tightening.
Gaz looked over at him. "Why's that, bonehead?"
Grim glared around the open and wide area of the main hall. It looked more like a ballroom than it did a hall, with a giant bone like chandelier hanging above them.
"Cause we have company, child. And it's not exactly a welcoming one." Suddenly, the doors of the throne room where chained up, with a giant padlock on it.
A dark entity glowered into the room, as a dark portal, similar to Cerebus', appeared before them. From it, stepped out a tall, cloaked figure. The dark figure laughed a sinister laugh, as the doors behind the group slammed shut and were locked as well.
The cloaked figure smirked as he stood in the middle of the main hall floor.
"Well, well, well. Good to see you two again, Grim and Ryuu. As for you, visitors... Welcome to Hell."