Castlevania: Aria of the Ascending Soul

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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Trevor's four paws slid to the ground leaving him laying splayed out while he began banging his head against the table he was on. In front of him was Kazu's phone and for the life of the man in plush, Trevor could now officially say he was done with life. He could feel Sophias' presence, not in the sense of her breaths or the notion that spirits 'made' sound. But being together for as long as they had been, well...

"... What's wrong Trevor?" Sophia finally asked, after Trevor stopped treating his head like a hammer. While his muzzle was smashed against the table he slowly slid one paw to point to the phone.

"Remember when we decided to marathon Dr. Who?" Trevor asked, seemingly the room in general.

"Yes, I kind of enjoy that series, as I recall you found it a bit boring," Sophia noted patiently.

"Yes well, apparently Soma has introduced Leon to the series as well and..." Trevor stuck his head up and in his 'best' attempt at sounding like Leon. "Do you think those who created the series had ever been in the Castle? It just seems to me, that in a way the Doctor is very much like Mathias. A thinker, not a fighter at least until recently. Being a Time Lord as a stand in for being a Vampire, given that Mathias also has lived for over 900 years. His home is also larger on the inside than on the outside and it remodels itself with every incarnation of its Master."

Once Trevor was done talking he resumed bashing his face into the table as he really didn't need his ancestor to be 'that' creative. Or connect the dot like. With Sophia sighing as she tried very hard not to giggle. Since it 'was' funny, in a manner of speaking, especially with her husband bashing his puppy face into the table...

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'I really should go to check on the rest of my kin. Its not as though Mathias didn't tell me how to get to the Vatican...' He thought as he hung up the phone. Jumping down from the desk to the chair, to the floor Leon was at least fortunate to have the familiars around to help. The fairies opened the door for him when he reached it. Generally keeping the trip simple for him until he reached the portal and through that the Vatican.

'The portal puts you down at the end of the hallway where Yoko's suite is. Just go to the first door on your right and you're there.'

With such simple instructions it was nothing for Leon to find himself presented with the door to the suite. In fact it had been 'so' simple and Leon's mind busy with many other thoughts that he had forgotten one small. Inconsequential issue.

Fluffy paws make no sound when knocking on solid wood doors.

In fact Leon didn't realize he was making no sound and stood there for a time expecting the door to be opened. If not by Yoko who would have the easiest time, than by his kin who would take time to get the door open. But as those minutes stretched, he finally opted to take a walk to the edge of the hallway and take a look around. Just to see what the Vatican looked like in this day and age. Assured that given the nature of his kin and their free run of the Vatican, a lion in a Japanese men's kimono would give no more pause. Save maybe being dressed like a decent human being.

The floor was wood, highly polished from what he could see with a thick wide rug that covered it in a soft cream color. There was a few small tables against the walls at intervals with paintings above them as well. The wing was also quiet as becoming a residential wing one could easily assume. But as Leon reached the end of the hallway he saw a pair of boys walking along one carrying a tea set the other seemingly just tagging along given how they were talking.

And despite it being normally rude to listen in on another's conversation...

"Its raining so much... blah..."

"I like rain... but only when I can stay home. My parents light the fireplace and we can listen to the rain and they have tea, my brother and I have coco... I'll bring you over next time when I know..." Xavier offered when he caught sight of a new plushy. A rather unique, important looking plushy. He heard Elmo thank him as he continued on his way across to the kitchen.

While a lion plushy dressed in some weird, but cool, looking clothes came walking down the hallway. Not only dressed, his mane was brushed to cover one eye like a proper hair style! "Hi Mr. Lion, you look new. Did Ms. Yoko make you?" He asked bending down so he was almost eye to eye with the lion.

Leon for his part lifted his gaze and gave a slight nod, it wasn't that far from the truth after all.

"Ms. Yoko isn't home though, Simon has the key to her suite."

'Oh... well... that explains why no one opened the door now doesn't it?' Leon thought to himself when he suddenly got picked up and barely refrained from blurting out a sound. 'Hmmm..'

"Here I'll take you to him and the others," Xavier offered while he fumbled with picking up Leon. The original 'carry like a puppy' was no longer any good. The older boys had declared that it was necessary to 'treat the Plush like people'. Allowing the plush to establish what 'they' considered comfortable when being carried. But given that this was clearly an important plush, what with his clothes and neatly brushed mane, he needed to be carried like an important person! Right?

While Elmo began having a crisis as he looked around in a mounting panic. Getting lost in the Vatican was already terrifying in and of itself. Getting lost while walking with someone else when everyone had always gotten lost in groups when they were with someone else? Nope, Elmo was done with all that. Gearing up to start bawling at being the 'first' to experience such a new horrible event.

"We're coming Elmo!" Xavier called out, just as Elmo sucked in his first breath to bawl with.

Leaving the child with puffed out cheeks as he turned and saw Xavier turn the corner while carrying a lion in a kimono. "Why didn't you say anything? I was getting scared!" Elmo protested, especially since the kids were chatting spooky stuff at the moment.

"I'm sorry Elmo," Xavier replied as they finally reunited. "But we weren't gone that long."

'This is the Vatican though... Its the one place I would expect that children 'not' be afraid...' Leon thought, as he finally got to sitting proper on Xavier's arm. Though it came off like a small child sitting on their parent and he could 'just' see over Xaviers' head. But it wasn't completely undignified and he was able to rest his paw hand on Xaviers' collar. 'My, and my kins' bodies are interred here though, that 'should' be keeping out any evil. Once I can have some alone time with them, I think there are questions that I must ask.'

The children had resumed their walk, allowing Leon to his thoughts for a bit while being carried down the stairs.

"Say... what do you think his name is? I mean all the other Plushy have names, he has to have one too," Elmo asked as he over at Leon.

Leon had to bite his metaphorical tongue to keep from introducing himself, while the pair pondered various possible names for him. 'I would suspect that they would default to the fact that my form is a lion and call me Leone...'

But they were literally discussing various names that had nothing to do with his form. Confusing the poor man as he wondered why they were skipping the most obvious... 'Wait... this child called Simon by his name. Should I assume then that they 'know' the names of my kin and that is what is confusing them? They are expecting that my name does not follow the form of this body?'

"Huh? He's smiling," Elmo noted as he paused seeing the corners of the lion's mouth that perked up.

"Yeah, you're right... Hey did we guess your name?" Xavier asked eagerly as they paused in the middle of the hallway.

Leon shook his head 'no', but he did reach out and gently pat the boy on the head for his earnest attempt. The pair of boys looked a bit disappointed, but they continued on their way all the same rattling off names that might be Leons. But never asking 'if' Leon was his name.

Eventually the pair turned their attention to topics outside the Vatican and that was when he found his interest waning. Much like with Lady Mina and her friends, the topics were based on current events that Leon didn't grasp. Of course he had developed a fascination in that show he watched, and he learned a great deal. At least from his point of view. However; the show's central location varied between one country and the 'universe'.

The Vatican was 'not' the Universe.

'But what do I know of this modern age? Best be it to talk to Simon and hope he doesn't attempt to punt me across the room like he does Trevor.' Leon thought to himself as they finally ended up in a room with a raised floor in the back and stands on them. Also filled with children of various ages, plates and cups resting on some chairs. The kids themselves resting on others with a set number of chairs that didn't 'appear' to have people sitting on them.

"Took you long en...! Oh Xavier has a lion plush!" one boy, tall and nothing but limbs called out under his hay colored hair.

Suddenly all the kids turned to look at the group while two bears and a pair of dog plush toys popped up and looked over a set of chairs.

"Leon!"

Even as Xavier put Leon down he could see his imprisoned kin scramble down their chairs to the ground before stepping forward to bow to him. The kids were 'oohing' over Leon's attire, while Christopher was the only one of his kin to approach him...

"Sorry Leon, but Elmo is terrified of dogs so Juste and Richter are going to stay a healthy distance away from the child." Was Christophers' vocal greeting while Leon walked up to greet his kin, earning a confused ear wiggle from Leon. He turned to glance up at the 'Elmo' in question before turning back to Christopher.

"But now that you're here you can tell these kids what we want them to know. And we have questions..." Richter commented patiently only to frown slightly when Leon shook his head. "Wait, are you saying you 'won't' talk?"

Leon nodded, 'I guess its going to be awhile before I have a chance to explain it to you...' he thought ruefully. The irony that he needed to be discreet about his ability to talk, but it meaning he couldn't communicate to his kin as they did wasn't lost on him.

"Well I guess we won't find out until we're away from the kids..." Simon sighed before he squeezed his way between the chairs so he could get back to his seat.

"Elmo... Elmo... Come on Elmo..." Xavier began, grabbing the boy by the wrists and trying to drag him along.

"The goal is to get Elmo to 'not' panic and run screaming when he sees Juste and or Richter." Christopher explained as he turned to guide Leon. "Granted the pair are in the form of 'toy' dogs which should give you an idea how bad it is. Though given the boy was exposed to the intense violence of a werewolf who was his grandfather..."

"Interestingly enough though in their casual chatter we've been learning a few things about what goes on outside of the Vatican. Gardens of plants are showing signs of evolving into Dark Children, the one childs' neighbor doesn't tend to their garden. Allowing it to grow its own way and they recently found a number of bones of various animals that seemingly died there. Hidden among the foliage," Juste recounted for Leon while his grandson took up the second part of the story.

"Where we were more incline to think it laziness and the animals just went there to die. He admitted that the neighbor is 'not' a nice person, and the animals looked to have been tied up in branches..."

"While his friend's parents are similar in treatment of the front lawn of their home. But he mentioned that the plants in his yard appear to 'retract' from their steps. The branches are pulling back to create an unnatural, but clear, path for them to walk. If they're not 'bad people' then it would imply both gardens are becoming aware."

"They don't have access to the greater span of the worlds' information, but what they 'do' know is concerning. Either the Children are being more active in seeking out their Lord, or they're just not fearing stepping out all together," Christopher added.

"He's awfully responsible looking for a plush. What with that kimono and all," Tony commented thoughtfully as he observed this new plush.

"Yeah, his mane is brushed and he's moving all dignified... Wait... does that mean Simon and the others are naked?"

"Does it count when they're plush?"

"Did you two figure out his name before you got here?"

"No, I found him down in the hall where Ms. Yoko lives," Xavier confessed as he pulled on Elmo. Granted Elmo wasn't 'running', but that was mostly due to Xavier holding and pulling, once released Elmo was going to make a run for the proverbial border.

"I got this!" Another boy with a soft round appearance announced as he went digging into a pouch he wore at his hip. He pulled out a series of cards with the alphabet printed on them. Then like cracking a code with being guided forward and backwards the boys spelled out Leon's name.

"Wait really? We got a Simon, Richter, Juste and Christopher. 'None' are bear or dog names and now we have want amounts to 'Lion the Lion'?" Tony asked causing all the boys to turn towards the lion who had gotten himself as comfortable as he could on the chair.

Leon paused before giving a faint shrug, both paws held up helplessly, 'it felt like a good idea a the time...' he thought ruefully.

"So are you family?" the soft round boy asked curious as he settled back into his chair.

All the regular plushs nodded save Simon, who had crossed his arms and looked away in disgust. Only to get tackled and forced to nod in response, causing Leon to look at the quartet askance before covering his face in mild shame.

"And you're all boys too soo... which one of you is the oldest?" Tony asked, curious about this as well and was rewarded with Leon raising his paw.

From there Leon had established a game for the children as he held out his paws with various widths. Using that to express the gap between him and his kin. Yet interestingly enough somehow, despite being the 'new plush on the block' Leon seemed to have the easiest grasp of talking to the boys. At least to said boys' point of view, than again they didn't realize Leon had spent some time with Lolita Ladies in Japan.

Where as Christopher had made a point to approach the door to help Xavier keep Elmo settled down. But it meant that his cubby ears could pick up stuff going on outside.

"What is going on?"

"Simon come here!" Christopher called urgently, his tone the only reason Simon slipped out of his seat without question.

"Father, please keep the children in this room until otherwise informed. There's been a death," another male voice reported. Their voices were low and not entirely easy to hear, but having spent his life as a hunter as experience. He seriously wanted to press his ear to ease drop on the conversation. But it was also his experience with voices that he could tell there was more than just 'a death' going on. The voice was uncharacteristically low, worry and nerves could be heard as well. The speaker wasn't one of the younger ones, but not one of the elders.

"So? It would not be the first time one of the elder members of the clergy has passed on," De Luca pointed out, confusion clearly in his voice. Though he was more readily thought of as the 'resigned to his fate Choir leader who now had to deal with the Plush'.

"True, but from what I've been told it wasn't... a 'normal' death... Please just keep the children in here until someone alerts you. This is the Vatican and if they can't be safe here, then where else could they go?"

"I understand," De Luca replied, which was about all the warning Christopher got before he got smacked with a door.