Dear Shishima,
I wholeheartedly hope my letter isn't taking away any of your time in this precious period. Although my omniscience cannot reach the mortal realm unless I'm summoned there, I must confess that I do long for your presence at the palace and for our philosophical conversations that always proved to be insightful - for the both of us. You should feel a sense of pride that of all our kings I consider you to be the most interesting to speak with, precisely because you value knowledge as a way of attaining power.
And no, while you may object to the title, even five minutes spent as king is enough to qualify you as one in my eyes. As a matter of fact, to me you became king in precisely the moment you chose to pursue the people's well-being above your own. But, most importantly, you matured the very moment you chose to pursue your happiness with Nekohana over the glory and power that a king's life would provide you. That is something I'm most certain your late father would've been proud to witness.
If you're wondering what is happening in the Twilight Kingdom, I'm happy to inform you that Hyouma is doing a marvelous job as queen. Her reign, with a little guidance from me, is by far the most peaceful we've ever witnessed. The people's demands are being met, the senate's corruption is being kept under control, and overall the capital palace is maintaining open communication with all regions.
However, I'm afraid I must also be the bearer of bad news. Earlier this morning I sensed two rogue angels emerge from a cave in the north. A platoon is already scouring the mountains for them. What truly aggravates me is that I cannot sense their presence or intentions that well. It's almost as if they also bathed in the Abyss to shroud themselves from my perception. From the little I could garner, I am certain they are seeking an audience with your mother at any cost. Worry not, I've already maximized the security at her suite.
While I have no intention of worrying you, I do hope that one of these days you'll find the time to join us at the palace and lend a hand in dealing with this conspiracy. The choice is entirely yours.
Always at your service,
Fukurokuju, military tactician and royal advisor of the Twilight Kingdom
A pair of angels soared like mighty birds through the Twilight Kingdom's cloudy skies - Kamijishi, dressed in humble robes, and Tenshiyoku, now wrapped from his neck to his knees in the kingdom's finest white silk, baring the right side of his chest. In the proper lighting he could have been mistaken for Hermes or even Apollo.
"Are you certain it's a good idea to be out in the open?" the skeptical Tenshiyoku asked as he scanned their surroundings.
"Yes, worry not. A mere misting from the nothingness of the Abyss is enough to make anyone undetectable, even to the likes of Fukurokuju, let alone their security enchantments!" Kamijishi reassured him.
"Good. I still can't believe someone as powerful as Koushishi was dethroned so easily. And by her son, no less! He must be around my age, how could he succeed where I failed?!"
"A slight correction, my prince - Shishima is older than you by almost a millennium."
"My point still stands! We were both humiliated by our mothers, so why is it he could have his payback and become king while I had to wallow in that cave for so long? It's so unfair!"
Kamijishi turned away, frowning at the immature tantrum. It was no different to any entitled noble. Then sensing the awkward silence he was quick to reply, "Unlike you, Shishima hadn't fallen into a coma. He spent the last millennia preparing for his eventual return and vengeance, which is why he was successful... even if he renounced the throne shortly after."
"He what?!" Tenshiyoku exploded. "He got the chance to be a mighty king and threw it all away?! That fool! This is all the more reason for us to break Koushishi free! Not only will this right Shishima's wrongs, but she will be indebted to us and help our cause."
"An excellent plan indeed, Your Highness. My spies have uncovered that Koushishi had two loyal advisors, one of which was imprisoned while the other was relegated to the duty of court jester. Might I suggest we earn their trust first?"
"And what use would we have for her advisors?"
"My prince, if we get them to join our side they will persuade her for us. It makes negotiating easier."
"This is a hassle, Kamijishi. However, I do like how this plan sounds, I say we give it a shot!"
Kamijishi nodded and faced away. The prince was somewhat cunning but it was hindered by a great ego and short temper. It was no wonder his coup against Oureria failed. The only hope they had in achieving their long-term goals depended on Koushishi and her cohorts taming Tenshiyoku's impulses and helping him focus on what was important.
Throne room doors were kicked open loudly. Duenyan Emperor was startled out of his slumber. The surprise visitors were Borof and Skull Beyan, the latter holding a book. A frown stretched beneath the mustachioed cat - such insolence would not go unpunished. Before he could speak, Borof pointed accusingly and shouted:
"You bastard! You lying bastard! You tried to set me up!"
"What's the meaning of this?!" Duenyan shouted back, rising from a throne made from sewn-together plushie limbs. "What is the basis for these accusations?"
"There's no missing 'prized glove'. It was a ruse to soil my reputation and distract everyone!" Borof stomped his way to the throne. "You're the one holding the key to finding Dormageddon X! I bet you're just waiting for the right time to use it, you opportunistic fatass!"
"Are you listening to yourself, moron?! Why would I doom myself and the rest of our race by unleashing Dormageddon X? I know full well we'll be sealed forever the moment we face his mere presence!"
"How can I trust you?" Borof got right in Duenyan's face, jabbing his chest. "You're the most selfish, greedy, power-hungry and megalomaniacal Funky Knightmare I've ever had the displeasure of meeting!"
Duenyan scoffed, "Yet you serve a demon fitting the same description without any qualms."
Borof's gloved fist collided with Duenyan Emperor's cheek. He flew back with his throne, denting the wall.
"Say what you will about me, but don't you dare insult Shishima-sama!"
As quick as he was punched, Duenyan sprang up and dashed at Borof, the two of them commencing yet another physical brawl. Shaking his head, Skull Beyan stood in a corner and opened Gripage once more, rereading the riddle thoroughly.
"That which you bravely seek lies inside thee," he repeated the last line, turning it over in his head.
"It is indeed a good riddle, is it not?" Gripage said.
"There's no way the answer is inside me or those two. We're plush toys, we don't have souls or any of that mystic nonsense cooked up by those of flesh and blood," Skull Beyan reasoned. "Then what could it mean? Who holds the answer?" A sudden epiphany. "Unless, you do!" He glared at Gripage, the book moved as if to nod. "You can lead us right to Dormageddon X's whereabouts!"
"Quite true. 'Your belongings are part of who you are.' Congratulations for solving my riddle." Without further prompting, its pages flickered open to its middle. The pages were blank until a cosmic map bled through, detailing the creature world planet and the surrounding cosmos. "I was your guide and key all along."
"Thank you!" Then Skull Beyan revealed a bejeweled glove he'd hidden within his own stitching. The roughhousing plushies noticed and stalled.
"My prized glove!" Duenyan shoved Borof aside.
"You were the thief?!" Borof gasped.
"This is not simply a glove, you nitwits," Skull Beyan explained. "It reeks with Forbidden power. My old master must have sent it as a means of corrupting you, Duenyan Emperor!" Forbidden symbols appeared on the glove, a hellish aura of black and red. They floated off and with one swipe Skull Beyan used the glove to tear open a portal that led into space. "But now it shall serve as the key to awakening Dormageddon X once more! At last, I'll fulfill my master's dying wish and his side will prevail!"
"Why you..." Duenyan seethed.
"Get him!" Borof jumped, ready to give him a beating.
With an ominous giggle, Skull Beyan vanished into the portal, sure of his victory. He didn't expect for both Borof and Duenyan Emperor to be fast enough to follow him through. Taken aback, he propelled himself away through the vacuum of space, returning his attention to Gripage's map, determined to reach the Forbidden Star before his pursuers could catch him.
Tenshiyoku and Kamijishi touched down behind a tree that was near the palace's entrance. As per usual, a pair of guards were thoroughly inspecting each and every traveler wishing to pass through the gates. Thankfully the queue wasn't long. Queen Hyouma's regional aid policies meant that commerce and industries were no longer heavily tied to the capital. Kamijishi smiled, thinking her generosity in this matter would be her undoing, for they would slip through between the commoners. His thoughts were interrupted by Tenshiyoku's whining:
"This 'nothingness of the Abyss' hasn't made us invisible! How are we going to sneak in undetected?!"
"Patience, my prince, for I have already thought ahead," Kamijishi reassured him as he fetched a vial from his pocket. "I'm happy to divulge how I acquired this rare liquid, because I'm quite proud of myself!"
"Hmph, tell me!" Tenshiyoku crossed his arms.
"After shrouding me and my spies with the Abyss, we searched for the mythical cave where Fukurokuju exiled himself. We found a mansion sitting by a peculiar lake. I took a sample of the water and have tested it on objects and spirits. Once removed from the lake, its properties grant invisibility. Even a drop is sufficient, but the effects don't last long."
"Good work, I've chosen my servant well," Tenshiyoku still sounded snide. "Let's make good use of this narrow opportunity of time, shall we?"
"We shall." Kamijishi opened the vial. "My spies confirmed that Koushishi is locked up in a luxury suite that is well-guarded. Rufu, her former general, is in the dungeons. Sazansho, her royal blood ideologue, lives in a modest apartment on the palace's thirty-eighth level. He's also under strict supervision, but we may have a chance to get to him first after Hyouma dismisses him for the day."
"Very well then, Kamijishi. We shall find this Sazansho and recruit him. But you must follow my lead!"
Kamijishi nodded obediently, hoping the prince would not drive their potential allies away with his bratty attitude. Willing to take the risk, he opened the vial and poured the water on both his and Tenshiyoku's hands.
Chasing Skull Beyan was resembling a bad comedy, the three plushies somehow swimming frantically in the vacuum of space. Perhaps an observer would laugh were it not for the fact the creature world's fate hanged in the balance. Although united in their shared goal of preventing another apocalypse, Borof and Duenyan Emperor continued to bicker even worse than before.
"I don't get how Shishima keeps a clumsy hothead like you around! It's your fault this happened!" Duenyan chastised while swiping.
"My fault?! I'll have you know, I wasn't the one who took the bait and made a fuss over a damn glove!" Borof protested, kicking his legs.
"No, but you teamed up with Skull Beyan and got us all into this mess! Your impulsive actions have spelled our doom!"
"Save the lectures for when this is over, okay? We've got more pressing matters at hand!"
"Of course you'd say that because you know you're in the-" Duenyan's voice was cut short once the crimson rays of the Forbidden Star were cast upon them.
"Crap, we're too late!" Borof pointed to Skull Beyan who floated before the celestial body. While it was like a star it was surrounded by four X-shaped protrusions. "Beyan, I know you can hear me!" The skull plushie turned. "You don't want to do this! Your master was living in hard times, he wouldn't want this for you!"
"You know nothing about my master!" Skull Beyan spat back. "You wanted Dormageddon X, Borof? Here, I'm giving him to you on a silver platter!" He aimed the glove at the Forbidden Star.
A pulse. One of the Xes broke into rubble, then a giant arm formed, fingers curling over burning, infernal light. The limb of black stone compressed until it was smoldering with lava. A second pulse followed. Then a third and fourth. The other stones cracked apart and then the Forbidden Star was vanquished.
What appeared before them was a meteoric monster, its limbs connected by that infernal light, its head sprouting fiery horns, showcasing sinister blue eyes, a sharp-toothed mouth and obsidian crown. Dormageddon X set his gaze on the three fools who dared disturb his centuries-long sleep. They deserved no words. Outstretching his hand, he fired three fireballs that would seal them for eternity.
"At last, my master has been avenged!" Skull Beyan exclaimed, accepting his burning fate with open arms.
"This is bad, we've got to-" Duenyan Emperor was struck next and swallowed.
"Oh no you don't!" Borof punched the last fireball and it scattered, much to Dormageddon X's surprise.
"Interesting, you can resist my sealing power." His voice boomed like an erupting volcano. "Are you a Command, little wolf?"
"I'm much more than that! I've come to request that you join my cause!"
"You dare ask Armageddon itself to serve your cause? You certainly don't know your bounds."
"Oh, I know them well!" Borof took out his glowing deck. "I serve the great Shishima-sama, and those who walk his path know no bounds!"
"Perhaps a duel will make you see reality," Dormageddon mused, calling two dueling tables into existence. His cards were already set up and five shields materialized before him. "At the start of our game, I set up Forbidden Star ~World's Last Day~ with four seals attached to it."
Borof was quick to set his own cards and thus their match began.
"I summon Linkwood, Explosive Dragon Edge." A young humanoid with long red hair and dressed in a white kimono spread flexed arms by Borof's side. "With his effect, I reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a Dragon or Draguner, it goes into my hand. The top card is... Glenislay, Dragon Edge!"
"I discard Dorhakaba, Final Forbidden Delta to summon Final Forbidden Redtron, D2V3 with 3 mana instead of 5." A white robot bunched flaming fists. "He takes off the upper left seal and I destroy one of your creatures with power 1111 or less. While there's none, Redtron can force battle your Linkwood!" It was pummeled and scorched in one hit.
"I summon Glenislay, Dragon Edge and equip her with Beginning Start, Initial Dragon Tool." A young woman with long pink hair took his place. Her kimono was white and purple, she had three swords at her waist. She raised both fists, a white gauntlet with angel and demon wings descended from a hyperspace gap, fitting itself. "Beginning Start gives blocker to the equipped creature if it has the Light civilization, slayer if it has the Darkness civilization and grants +2000 power when battling if it has the Fire civilization. Since Glenislay is Light Darkness Fire she gains all three abilities! What's more, Beginning Start makes all of my Draguners cost 1 less."
"I expand Dormageddon Area, Termination of D. I end my turn and Denjara Switch, I turn the D2 Field upside down and summon Victorious Volg Thunder from my hyperspatial zone!" A skeletal wolf that was colored blue, black and red emerged and howled loudly. "He takes off the lower left seal, which grants Redtron power attacker +2222."
"Useless, since your turn's ended. My turn, I summon another Linkwood for 1 mana!" Borof revealed the top card of his deck. "A Draguner, he goes to my hand! I summon Loveace, Dragon Edge for 3 mana and equip him with another Beginning Start!" A humanoid with curly white hair and gold ram horns donned shining armor. Twin gauntlets descended onto his hands as well. "Since I played a dragheart, Loveace allows me to draw a card. I attack with Glenislay. Invasion! I evolve her, Linkwood and Loveace together into Deadman=the=Original, Dragon Edge Dragon!" The three transformed into a bipedal dragon, green and eyeless, wearing a fur loincloth with a belt of skulls. It wielded an axe in gauntleted hands. "With Deadman's effect, I bring out draghearts that cost 3 or less, for each card under him! I equip him with Migawari, Nightmare Swastika, Proto Gigaheart, Invincible Sword and a third Beginning Start!" Weapons flew down, new gauntlets, a blue sword with a constellation pattern, and a red shuriken with a demonic face.
"Since you played a creature for no cost, Volg Thunder makes you discard a card at random," Dormageddon X reminded his opponent and watched Hibiki, Explosive Dragon Edge land in Borof's graveyard.
"Deadman, double break his shields!" Deadman heeded the order, rushing and hacking away two shields with his various weapons.
"Shield trigger, I summon Kizamu, Forbidden V and take off the upper right seal, granting him slayer." A white robot with a head like a cyclist's helmet floated by Dormageddon X's side, it sharpened the blades it had instead of limbs. "I force battle him with Deadman, destroying both creatures!"
"2D Dragsolution - I flip Migawari into Karakurigaeshi, Ninja Mansion and Deadman remains!" Borof replied and watched how the bot was crushed, after which the shuriken was thrown upwards and then transformed into a plush-material mansion. "I end my turn, and since I brought out another dragheart, I dragsolution all my Beginning Starts into Final the End, Finishing Heaven Dragons!" The three pairs of gauntlets were tossed up and transformed into white-armored dragons, each with one black wing and one white wing. "Let's see you get through my army!"
A knowing grin flashed across Dormageddon X's face, startling Borof. "I summon Dorhakaba, Final Forbidden Delta from my graveyard and remove the last seal. Forbidden Big Bang!" He left the protection of his shields and entered the battle zone, blasting fireballs at the opposing creatures, capturing all of them. "When I'm liberated I seal all your creatures. While I'm in the battle zone, you cannot send seals to the graveyard."
"So I can't free them just by playing Commands?" Borof's jaw dropped. "No..."
"Victorious Volg Thunder, double break his shields!" The skeletal wolf dashed ahead, ravenously swiping.
"Shield trigger, I summon Rosia, Final Dragon Edge, equip him with Gaial, Leader Dragon Sword and have him force battle Dorhakaba!" An angelic humanoid with long green hair, donning white and gold armor with a green-visored helmet took hold of a flaming sword with green horns at the hilt. He dashed ahead and hacked through the gray robot, then both of them combusted. "But how? Rosia has higher power!"
"Dormageddon Area grants slayer to all my Commands. Also, since you played a creature for no cost, Volg Thunder makes you discard." This time Glenmalt, Final Dragon Edge landed in Borof's graveyard. "Now I break your final shields!" Dormageddon X announced, his hand emitted an infernal wave, decimating the three remaining shields.
"Shield trigger, I summon Borof, Final Dragon Edge!" Borof eagerly joined his foe in the battle zone. "With my effect, I mill the top card of my deck and return a card in my graveyard to my hand. I'll salvage Hibiki, Explosive Dragon Edge. Then I equip myself with Urovelia, Divine Dragon Spear, which grants me blocker!" Borof reached behind him and pulled out a white spear circled by gold ram horns.
"Volg Thunder makes you discard again," his opponent was quick to remind him and then Evilvy, Dragon Armored 05 / Evil Force landed in his graveyard. "Redtron, todomeda!"
"I block!" Borof darted out, spear pointed. He was knocked out of the battle zone by those flaming fists, back behind his dueling table. "Heh, since I was destroyed, 3D Dragsolution - Karakurigaeshi flips into Utsusemihenge, Blame Demon Dragon!" The plush mansion transformed into a winged black and blue dragon with a red shuriken on its chest. "My turn then, I summon Hibiki, Explosive Dragon Edge and equip her with Joan Mizell, Revolution Spear!" A black-haired catgirl wearing a short red suit skated in on roller blades, gripping a white spear. "She has speed attacker, so I break a shield!" Borof ordered and she dashed ahead, whipping a shield.
"Shield trigger, I cast Hyperspatial Basara Hole and seal Utsusemihenge!" The ninja dragon was engulfed by a flaming star, much to his owner's chagrin. "Then I bring out Black X, Temporal Impulse." A skeletal figure crucified to a stone tablet emerged from hyperspace and joined Dormageddon X's army.
"I... end here. But since Hibiki's tapped, I dragsolution Joan Mizell into D'arc-en-Ciel, Holy Spear Dragon Elemental!" The spear shot up, transforming into a silver dragon-angel grasping the same weapon.
"At the start of my turn, since you have seals in the battle zone, Black X awakens into Dokindam BLACK, Awakened Black End!" The stone tablet broke apart and out from it emerged a horned figure with four arms, each holding a flaming halberd. "I cast another Hyperspatial Basara Hole to seal D'arc-en-Ciel and bring out Black Ganveet, Temporal Soldier and he destroys Hibiki!" The dragon-angel was also caught in a flaming star, after which a demonic knight descended upon his skeletal horse and hacked the catgirl apart with his scythes. "Your entire field is gone, and so is your shields and your spirit. Know thy place in the world - todomeda!" Dormageddon X fired one last fireball at Borof. He was rendered speechless by his humiliating loss, merely bowing his head, resigned to whatever fate awaited him.
Sazansho retired from the queen's chambers as a tired daiyoukai. Not only did his red and blue buffoon suit lack style, it was also itchy, tight and a pain to perform parlor tricks in. Back in the days of Koushishi's rule, he only wore the finest uniforms and ordered other youkai to perform humiliating acts for his entertainment. With a sigh, he accepted that he had taken those glorious days for granted and now they were long gone. He lowered his head and sobbed, tromping down the stairs, away from the fanciful upmost levels he once reveled in, and back to the mediocrity of his new apartment. It hosted but a small room, a single desk and bed. He was not permitted to own books or correspond with anyone and was under strict supervision, day and night. Angered, he tried for the millionth time to claw at the metal leash around his neck. It seemed unbreakable and it prevented him from spitting his anti-magic fire. There was no escaping his accursed fate.
He recalled the day King Shishima decreed that he lose all titles and become the new court jester, sheer hatred filling his heart. At this point he considered eternal imprisonment, even execution a more dignified fate. Now he was stuck being a buffoon for the backstabbing cousin who dared overstep her bounds and bite the hand that fed her. To him Hyouma was no queen, but a spineless accommodator. If only there were a way for him to right the wrongs done to him and his beloved queen Koushishi...
"Psst, Sazansho, over here!" He heard a whisper and turned to a cleaner's closet.
"Who's there?" Sazansho curiously approached.
"Do you want to see a magic trick?" The voice didn't wait for an answer. He revealed two hairless hands, each holding a card: VV-8, Forbidden Machine and Bolbalzak, Matchless Dragonmech. The hands shone green and then the cards were forcefully fused until a new one was created from them: Vol-Val-8, Forbidden Dragon King. "Behold - this brand new finisher can be all yours, if you join us!"
"Join you? Who are you and what do you want from me?" Sazansho couldn't help his skepticism.
"We're allies," a younger voice added. "We wish to reinstate Koushishi on the throne as much as you do." At those words Sazansho's expression brightened. "All we want in exchange is for you and your queen to help us with our goals."
"What goals could be more important than restoring the Twilight Kingdom?" Sazansho was incredulous.
"How about taking down the Dawn Kingdom?" Tenshiyoku replied, revealing himself.
Sazansho's eyes widened and he gasped at the blasphemy of an angel setting foot in the capital palace. Before he could call for guards, Kamijishi covered his mouth and pulled him into the closet. He struggled against them, but both angels were quick to douse him with the Abyss's nothingness, to ensure Fukurokuju would not perceive their secret alliance. A new civil war awaited the Twilight Kingdom, and their side would emerge victorious no matter the cost.
My wise mentor,
I confess that I also long for our conversations. Here on Earth, the closest I get to an intellectual debate is either with my beloved Nekohana or with the mortal I guard. Yes, you read that right, this Shishima is now spending his days protecting a mortal life. I will get into the details when we eventually meet again in person, or if you really push me on it, a future correspondence. Hopefully it will be the former, as your presence is one of the few I cherish.
While I'm happy to hear that Hyouma is doing a great job as queen, know that I'm unsurprised. She was raised for this since birth, it's been her life's only goal. I cannot think of a better daiyoukai to handle the reigns of power than her.
In regards to those two angels, it's good to see that both you and my cousin have taken the necessary precautions to prevent a coup. If they aren't captured or this conspiracy gets out of hand somehow, I ask that you reach me as swiftly as possible so that I may lend a helping hand.
For the time being, I'm afraid I have more pressing matters to attend to on Earth. Among which is the joy of impending fatherhood. Be sure to drink a bottle of wine in honor of my family, dear teacher, for the legacy lives on!
Lord Shishima