Author Notes

First off, I will say there is a bit of novelization in this story, specifically the scene in the anime/manga where the doll-like emissary speaks to Zatch and Kiyo. Of course, I integrated parts of this story into that certain scene. And I would like to thank those who have reviewed up to this point. You rock!

Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). The only things I own that are currently revealed in the story are E, Nylon, Shine, Angelica Tsukoro, Curtis Herrakoro, Gretchen, Harumi Kisamaru, Haruko, Izo Uramori, Myriam Schwazden, Mystrael, Metallix, Professor Linda, Orion, Jade, Shine, Zale Schwazden, Thoria, Cassandra, Vini, Amanda, Phoebe, Samantha, Phantom, Isaac, Marjorie Barragán, and Talón.

Chapter 19: Incomprehensible

Talon, still in his Go Airzuruk form, flew his exhausted partner over the skies of Mochinoki City. He asked her, "Ko kaw? (Are you feeling well, Marjorie?)" The Spanish women replied simply, "Just fine." She then added in, "There's Phantom and Isaac." Nodding, the avian Mamodo swooped down until they reach the rooftop of a particular building.

"Was he to satisfaction?" Phantom inquired with neither him nor Isaac turning to look at them.

"Yeah, I guess he's what Leo talked about." Marjorie answered, getting off Talon as Go Airzuruk dispelled. The bird then roosted on Marjorie's falconry glove. "Too bad the little prick got last-minute help…"

"The outcasts are infamous for converging against stronger ones," Phantom explicated, "even at the most inopportune of times."

"I realize that, and it's a damn shame too." Marjorie groused, putting away the antique white spellbook, "I'm gonna be out of heart energy a considerably long time, Phantom and Isaac."

"That is an unfortunate denouement, mademoiselle," Isaac stated pityingly, turning to their fellow team, "so allow us to grace the stage and take over the act. Soon enough, Lord Leo will finally enact his strategy, and we can nab whichever cursed one whom we will call ally."

"It's taking him an awfully long time." Marjore noted impatiently.

"He's probably overdoing himself again," Phantom conjectured apathetically, "going through all that trouble just to recruit enough people for that accursed lock." Isaac looked at his dark partner curiously, "Oh?" Phantom continued, "In the span of a couple of weeks, we've had three cursed ones confirmed. Now, he's looking to do two more. While I am duly loyal to him, his methods are repulsively questionable."

Marjorie looked off to the side as she muttered, "So you feel the same way…"

"I wasn't aware someone shared my sentimentalities." Phantom stated vacantly, chuckling without emotion. When the wind brewed, his large, tattered cloak billowed ominously. "Hm. Isaac, it is time. Let us go collect our ally and be out of this wretched town."

"You're in luck, Marjorie and Talon," Isaac said, turning to them, "You get to be the audience to a grand finale. Leave the rest to us, if you please." Marjorie waved off them off dismissively, "Just don't take too long and don't lose either. Leo will be all over our asses if you two were to disappear during the recruitment stage."

Phantom enlarged to the point it covered himself and his bookkeeper. It circled and swirled around the two characters until they disappeared, leaving the dark Mamodo's words in the word, "Rest easy. They are the ones who should worry…"

"First and foremost, Ang, have you heard about the recent sightings of a strange structure?"

Angelica, Kiyo, Zatch, and E were now riding the former's black, hoodless sports car, now on the way to the Takamine Residence to discuss their battle plans further. The two humans were located in the front seat with the Mamodo in the back.

"I'm afraid I haven't…" Angelica responded demurely, "I've been too busy with other things to actually notice."

"Angelica has been away from Odaiba, even the Tokyo area, for a few weeks prior to now in order to further her efforts towards becoming a psychologist," E explained, "Apparently, she got accepted into a high-ranked technical university. They have extensive prerequisites she needed to attend to while balancing the classes she takes now in high school."

"Sounds like a lot of work, Ang," Kiyo pointed as Zatch innocently played with Vulcan.

"It is…" Angelica groaned exhaustedly, slumping over comically, "The college also required my SAT and ACT scores. Unfortunately, I had not taken them, so that meant more and more studying for me. Put the training E and I have been doing in-between my studies. And if I do get accepted, that means I'll literally be graduating high school this very year even though I'm just a junior and start next year…Uch, I'm just exhausted…"

"ANG, GET BACK IN THE LANE!"

Angelica straightened back up and screamed when she realized the car was in the wrong lane. She immediately turned the wheel, swerving back to the right lane before the oncoming car got too close. "SORRY!" She shouted apologetically to the passing car.

Kiyo, meanwhile, was breathing heavily as if he just recovered from a heart attack. "Told you she was a horrible driver…" E grumbled, slumping into his seat. "You really are tired, Ang…" Kiyo mumbled fearfully.

"AHH! Vulcan fell under the seats!" Zatch whined, scurrying to recover his fallen toy.

"You know, I'm quite surprised Curtis didn't throw up yet." Izo quipped, idly tossing a full Gatorade bottle up and down in his free hand.

"That's actually impressive," Nylon commented, sitting on the hood of Izo's car, "Usually, rookies regurgitate after the first day of activity for a strenuous sport like track."

Izo, Nylon, Gretchen, Harumi, and Haruko were stationed at the parking lot of the school in front of the Athletic Complex. They were lounging around their cars that were parked side-by-side to each other, waiting for Curtis to appear.

"Told you he had a knack for it!" Harumi boasted proudly with a grin, "See, I know when I see talent for a specific something!" Haruko was sitting on the front of Harumi's car, kicking her feet idly in the car as her bookkeeper continued, "And guess who's next in my sights?"

"I'm scared to ask who." Izo replied jokingly. Harumi chuckled at his joke and proceeded to say anyway, "Our good friend Ang! And the sport is tennis!"

"Pft, what?" Nylon and Gretchen exclaimed questioningly, sniggering.

"I would like to know where did that idea come from?" Izo asked casually.

"Oh, come off!" Harumi argued, "We all know Ang needs to relieve some stress from all that damn work she's doing! Besides, have you seen the legs on her? She screams 'tennis player'!"

When Harumi mentioned Angelica's legs, Izo balked comically, oafishly dropping the Gatorade bottle as a crimson tint. "Uh, uh, I-I'm afraid not!" He stammered clumsily, picking up the drink. "Take deep, even breaths, Izo." Nylon instructed, smirking and suppressing his snickers. "Shut up, Nylon!" Izo shouted in retort.

Gretchen only sighed at them. From the corner of her celestial blue eyes, she saw Curtis finally making his way out of the Athletic Complex. But, strangely, he looked like he was in a hurry based on his quick strides. "Something is wrong." She thought.

Curtis finally made it to the cars. He was dressed in his normal attire and was carrying a black sports bag that was hung over his shoulder. Based on how the sun reflected off his hair, it seemed he had taken a quick shower. "Yo, guys!" He greeted, coming to a stop.

"Ah, Curtis, your timing is impeccable." Izo noted.

"Yeah, yeah, that's nice and all," Curtis spoke dismissively and then said as he placed his sports bag on the hood of his car, "But we all gotta talk about somethin'." Izo, Gretchen, Harumi, and Haruko all looked at him curiously, allowing him to continue. "I trust that ya'll know about that Mamodo structure thing, right?" He surveyed.

"Izo and I saw about that while we were at the tournament." Nylon announced, getting off the roof of Izo's car and landing on the pavement. Harumi eyed all of them, "Are you guys sure that's a Mamodo structure?" She asked incredulously.

"You'll believe me after I say this," Curtis said seriously, "That shit is gone."

"Gone?" Gretchen exclaimed questioningly, "What do you mean gone, Curtis?"

"Gone as in someone pulled a freakin' Harry Houdini on it!" Curtis clarified, "One day, it's there. Now, reporters said on the TV in the locker room it ain't there no more!"

"Okay. It must be a Mamodo sort of thing, then." Harumi admitted, cupping her chin thoughtfully.

"It would explain why the activity of Mamodo has been shifting…" Nylon muttered forebodingly, crossing his arms austerely. Haruko looked at the knight worriedly and said, "Y-You've noticed too, Mr. Nylon?"

"I'm sure we all have," Gretchen spoke, "Not just us three, but others like E, Zatch, Ponygon; all of them."

"That is troubling information, indeed," Izo said, "But I'm afraid there isn't much else that we can do. It's a scenario I hate being in, but we can only wait until something in our power can occur."

"I hate being in that situation too," Harumi huffed as she went into her car and withdrew a journal and pen, "So, go over what information you guys have on the structure. I wanna archive it." Everyone repeated what they knew, which was very little and stuff everyone else more than likely knew themselves, as Harumi write it all down. "Okay. Got it." She announced.

"So ya'll need to be careful out there. Shit sounds like it's fin to go down." Curtis warned as he popped the trunk of his car and tossed his sports bag into it. "Duly noted, Curtis," Izo replied as he tossed the Gatorade bottle to him, "That's for you by the way. Great job."

"Whoo, thanks!" Curtis said appreciatively as he caught the bottle, opened the orange cap, and downed a bit of the refreshing liquids. "I was half-expecting you to become dehydrated during the session." Harumi announced with a teasing smirk. "I fell out like two times!" Curtis said defensively, "I was okay for the most part! Cut a brotha some slack!"

"We will," Gretchen stated with a smile on her face, "Of course...it seems you have regained your stamina back."

"Not entirely." Curtis admitted sheepishly, "As long as I don't do nothing strenuous, I'll be aight."

"Excellent!" Harumi piped in blithely, "And, because I have all my wonderful friends back in town, I propose we go spend some time together!" Haruko looked at her and questioned, "Um, Harumi? Aren't Angelica-san and Mr. E away still?"

"Nope!" The blonde high school student proudly announced, "In fact, she came into town late last night."

"What?" Izo and Curtis exclaimed in surprise, "Why didn't you tell us that?"

"You never asked," Harumi simply responded with a shrug of her shoulders. The two teens deadpanned at her with Gretchen shaking her head as Nylon and Haruko respectively chuckled and giggled.

After surviving the drive, Angelica, Kiyo, Zatch, and E converged in Kiyo's bedroom inside the Takamine Residence. Posted on the wall near his study were assortments of pictures of the cryptic Mamodo World structure.

"I see you've been analyzing the thing quite raptly." E noted, leaning against the wall beside the bed in which Angelica was sitting on.

"Yeah," Kiyo responded, sitting in his office chair backwards, "Whatever that structure is, it's related to the change in activity of the Mamodo. A lot of strange things have been happening as of late."

"So you've noticed…" E muttered, peering at Kiyo through the rim of his black hat. Kiyo chuckled, "I should've known an introvert like you, E, would notice immediately." E responded, "It's not just that, Kiyo…the atmosphere, even the breeze, became tense after the announcement of that structure's existence. A Mamodo with even a shred of my senses could tell that."

"But, at the same time, things are too quiet to make radical suppositions." Angelica chimed in, "E and I haven't actually engaged in anything Mamodo-related during the time frame of our trip barring training."

"Zatch and I have." Kiyo proclaimed, eyeing the blonde, innocent boy sipping his orange juice childishly. Angelica and E looked at him curiously as a means to get him to continue, "First off, a few weeks back, a Mamodo team by the name of Arth and Elly challenged us and told about two great threats. Then, more recently, and me and Zatch went to meet another team, Rein and Kyle, where this other team, Rodeux and Chita, wanted to make Rein their ally for something…"

Angelica was mystified at the information while E maintained his stern, recent disposition, quietly ruminating on the bothersome subject. Before either of them could say anything else, Kiyo's mom called out, "Kiyo! You have a phone call waiting for you!"

"Coming!" Kiyo yelled back in response and rose from his seat, "Excuse me for a sec, you two." The brownish-black haired male excused himself from the bedroom. "Hold on! Wait for me, Kiyo!" Zatch exclaimed, frantically following his bookkeeper.

Once the two were gone, E released a heavy sigh, causing Angelica to say, "Stressed?" E shook his head, "No. Just pensive." Angelica looked to her Mamodo partner solemnly. Just then, she felt her cell phone vibrate. "Oh! Hold on, E." She said as she withdrew the device and answered, putting the caller on speakerphone, "This is Angelica Tsukoro. How may I help you?"

"Girl, you ain't got to get formal with me! It's yo boy!"

"Along with your girl!"

"You really should've told Curtis and me that you had returned since Harumi likes to withhold that sort of stuff."

A bright smile graced Angelica's face as she responded sprightly, "Hey, guys! It's good to hear from you all!" Hearing her best friends again was like a panacea to the stress she had been enduring from the work. "And sorry about that. That's actually because Harumi texted me first before I fell out from I got last night."

"Is Mr. E there?"

"I'm sure he is."

"Yeah, he shouldn't be far from his bookkeeper! Let's here the little alien speak!"

E sighed sharply at Nylon's quip, thinking about how much he hated when someone denounced him as an alien despite the fact he was not. Nonetheless, he replied gratingly, "I'm here, so don't stress yourselves."

"Anyway, Ang," Harumi spoke, "Since every one of us is officially back in town, you feel like having a sort of reunion?"

Angelica contemplated on the proposition. While it had been a while since her circle of friends engaged in leisure activity, the matters at hand kept her perturbed. But, then again, she was available immediately after she finished her meeting with Kiyo. "Okay. I'll be free in about thirty, forty minutes." She said, "Where are we meeting?"

"We're going to the movies, homegirl!" Curtis answered. "I'm sure it fits both you and E since the latter likes dim environments." Gretchen said with a tinge of humor, triggering another audible sigh from the psychic Mamodo.

Izo then decided to move onto another, more serious subject, "In addition to catching up with you, we also called to ascertain your welfare, seeing as the activity of Mamodo has shifted according to what Nylon, Gretchen, and Haruko are telling us."

"Them, too, huh?" E thought, now fully interested in the subject.

"Yes, I know," Angelica said, "But your concerns are appreciated. Anything else I need to know?"

"I don't know if you and E know 'bout this yet," Curtis spoke, "There's this strange-ass tower in the Resuka range that we think is linked to the Mamodo World. And if you do know, get this: it disappeared like magic."

An indescribable feeling washed through E and Angelica upon that revelation. It confirmed fears and doubts but concurrently added to their burdensome thoughts. "What else could happen next?" They said in their minds.

"Let's not talk about that," Angelica firmly said, deciding to take a step back, "I just want to concentrate on what movie we're viewing later today." She then heard rushed footsteps approaching the door and instantly assumed Kiyo was coming back. "I'll talk to you guys in a bit. Sayonara!" She said, ending the call. Just in time, too, as Kiyo had reentered the room.

"I assume something is wrong since people mainly don't charge into a room like that," E reasoned, watching as Kiyo hurriedly fiddled with his computer at his study.

"Wonrei and Li-En have gone missing…" Kiyo announced, much to the shock and horror of Angelica and E, "That was Doctor Riddles who was on the phone. He checked out the village and found out that out. Now, he sent me a picture detailing who villagers saw on the eve of their disappearance."

Angelica and E curiously removed themselves from their positions and looked over the shoulders of Kiyo and Zatch to see the picture on the computer screen. "Okay, the download's finished," Kiyo announced, manipulating the mouse in order to open the file, "These are the guys who appeared before Wonrei and Li-En vanished."

The file opened and revealed a picture of burly, black-haired man with a set of wings and strange line markings, and a slim young woman with a scary-looking mask fragment. Angelica and E only stared at the screen in bewilderment, finding the duo odd for their appearance. Kiyo and Zatch, however, felt dread brewing within them, not too dissimilar from the feeling Ang and E just experienced after hearing about the structure's supposed disappearance.

"Th-their…" Kiyo gaped.

"…Rodeux and Chita…" Zatch spoke after his dry thought managed to form the words.

A unsteady breeze, full of the tension E previously talked about, swept through the air and into the room via the open window, making the pale yellow curtains dance helplessly. "What's…going on here?" Kiyo asked aloud.

"Kiyo?" Angelica squeaked, finding herself succumbing to the tense atmosphere. "Zatch?" E looked at the Lightning Blonde curiously.

"They appeared before Wonrei, too…?" Kiyo said, gritting his teeth, "They might have been caught up in fighting Rodeux…but there's just no way he and Li-En could've lost to them!" Zatch's gazed dropped to the floor as he mumbled, "Something happened…that's for sure…"

"Wonrei has become their ally."

This particular voice was warped, echoing, and—most of all—sinister. The sudden appearance of said voice caused Kiyo, Angelica, Zatch, and E to immediately turn around in shock. Behind them was odd creature; the best description for it would to call it a doll, but even then, it was so unique, an accurate categorization was nearly impossible to find. Its silver mane and pale yellow cloak swayed in the imaginary breeze, much like the one that just entered the room. Worst of all, its presence casted a dark, foreboding aura to the point the very room dimmed considerably.

"Who are you…?" Zatch and E demanded.

"Wh-When did you…" Kiyo and Angelica stammered.

"Wonrei is in the Mamodo World structure you seek."

Annoyed by the doll's cryptic words, Zatch jumped off the office chair and demanded again, "Who are you?" E barked , adding in his own sentiments, "And what the hell are you talking about?"

"Calm down, you two," Kiyo said critically to the two Mamodo, "While his appearance is strange, it doesn't seem to want to fight…"

"What you call the Mamodo World structure…" the doll said with its ever-present, sharp-toothed grin on its face, pointing at the rendition of the mysterious tower on the wall behind them, "…its real name is…Faudo."

"Faudo?" The two sets of teams repeated the name, looking at that certain picture. Inexplicably, their hearts wrenched a little, another indication of the increased intension in the air.

"In order to revive Faudo, a Mamodo called Leo has gathered powers."

"Powers?" The Mamodo commented.

"Leo?" The humans said contemplatively.

"In order to break the "key" that seals Faudo, Wonrei has added to their powers, becoming apart of the force that is gradually assembling."

Zatch spoke heatedly, appalled at the words of the doll, "Wonrei would never ally himself with bad guys!"

"The demon known as Leo possesses a special technique. He possesses wicked knowledge to transfer Faudo into the Human World. He uses this wicked technique to gather forces at Faudo, and I surmise he has the strength to force one last ally to their cause with this technique. The technique which Leo possesses is…a curse!"

Kiyo, Angelica, E, and Zatch were absolutely aghast at this piece of information. Was this truly the threat that lied in wait inside the mysterious structure formally known as Faudo?

"There are only few who have been cursed, but it is enough people to break the seal on Faudo. Also, those who have been cursed will lose their lives in four days. And there is no way to break the curse but to break the seal on Faudo. Unfortunately, killing Leo after he has cursed someone will not undo the curse itself. Faudo's revival is only a matter of time!"

They could not tell if the doll was being sympathetic to them or not. His aura contradicted his tone. But, Kiyo knew one thing for certain, "Wonrei become their ally…in order to save Li-En's life…"

Suddenly, the cloak of the doll caught on fire, signaling its desire to leave the room. "Kiyo!" Zatch exclaimed in shock as a red-orange hue graced the dim room. The flames spread quicker than any wildfire they knew about. It seemed like that was all the info they were getting.

"After four days…everything will end…"

"Four days…" Kiyo said. He felt his heart race to the point he could count the heartbeats every passing second, symbolizing the doomsday clock of four days the doll had so 'generously' provided.

The doll laugh sinisterly at the flames engulfed the rest of it. "Wait, who are you? Who sent you?" Kiyo demanded. However, as predicted, it was too late. The doll was eaten up by the flames, but its evil laughter was overshadowed by the troubling thoughts of everyone in the room.

"Faudo…" Angelica spoke once everything was back to normal, or at least a semblance of normality.

E said seriously, "What really has me concerned is that it said this Leo person had enough strength to curse one last person. If it was no one we knew, it would not have bothered to tell us that…Who the hell could that person be?"

"We may not know who that gut was, but Wonrei and Li-En must be saved." Zatch said resolutely.

"Yes…" Kiyo growled, the bangs of hair shadowing his eyes, "A curse, he says…" He clenched his fist and swiftly turned to the computer screen that harbored the image of two agents of this Faudo Cult. "Absolutely unforgiveable!" He yelled, throwing his fist at the screen, a hollow echo sounding from impact that seemed to cut through the tense atmosphere.

But that tension would be replaced.

"So, you two have decided."

And this agent was not a strange but sinister doll, but rather strange but eccentric Mamodo. Kiyo, Angelica, E, and Zatch turned to see a female garbed in black, sitting cross-legged on the windowsill and nonchalantly eating a popsicle. "Before you even ask, my name is Mystrael, and I am going to test you." She said after withdrawing the half-eaten treat from her mouth.

"Test us?" Zatch exclaimed in wonderment.

"9:00 PM sharp, tonight," Mystrael set the stipulations, "Allow me to test to see if you two have what it takes to be King. And to see if you have what it takes to take on Faudo."

"Her, too?" E grumbled in his mind.

"I advise punctuality," Mystrael suggested, grinning cryptically, "Either way, I will test you…even if I must hunt you down."