He hadn't seen this in so long… That Blood Red Moon… Why was his Domain connected to it… Was it because of her? Because of the Stellaron within him?
Blood poured and dripped from every orifice… Flesh had been torn and rendered, and bones had been snapped and turned into dust… Dottore would have his work cut out this time…
He hadn't seen so much of his blood outside his body… He had never been left in such conditions, even when facing beings from other worlds with otherworldly power.
His eyes flickered as he lay in a crimson pool of darkness. A shining set of crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness, amusedly at his battered form.
There was no victory here. He could not even escape. Even with the power of his domain… He was dragged into the Abyss… Into the void of the Demon's Domain.
Beating the Demon here was impossible… The power of the sentient Stellaron contained within him. It drew power from their world, but it fed within the darkness of the Abyss… This world was a perfect feeding ground for it. It grew stronger here and, by proxy, his strength…
"How much longer will you defy the natural order, mortal? We dragged you to this Abyss, Jester…"
"It was not I who defied the natural order, Stellaron. The Principles kept us separate from the rest of the universe! We deserve to be set free from this cage…" Pierro spat, gazing upon the massive Fox as he lay within his domain, only to gasp as a claw gouged into his back.
"...You aren't wrong, but your goals are selfish. You wish only to free this world from its chains to gain more power. It's because of people like you the Principles cage used in here… And the Aeons who created me wish to harvest planets to increase their power."
Pierro's face fell, his eyes flickering at the words of the sentient Stellaron. Its purpose was… "What?"
The demon only toothily grinned, staring down at him. "Oh, don't worry… The Abyss is only an insignificant spec in the chasm of endless void of space. Finding me should be near impossible since we accidentally found our way here."
"Enough, Kurama," Naruto's voice reverberated from beneath the creature, striding beneath it toward him, stained with the beast's glow and power of its domain, five black orbs floating behind. "There is no need to explain to him what we know of the outside worlds or our travels on the rails to search for our old home and answers to protect our current one."
"What matters is sending a message that we will not tolerate an attack on our family." Naruto hissed and outstretched his hand, radiating energy shining and drawing Pierro toward him. "You may be cursed with immortality, but through those journeys… I've learned how to deal with people like you."
"You wish to see the outside world?" The same strange light engulfed Pierro. Broken and unable to struggle, his eyes flickered. Was he serious? Was he sending him through the Abyss? To another world… All his life studies in Khaneri'ah… Was for this chance… And now…
Why did he make this sound like a punishment?
Naruto cruelly smirked as the light swallowed and dragged the Jester through the darkness of the Abyss. "Have fun in that husk of a world… And to think that was once our home."
"Who knows, maybe you'll learn something about me and my people while you cross the dust of that planet."
It was yet another day.
Everything was running efficiently, and he had noted only one minor inconvenience. A clerk had filed a peculiar petition this morning. Typically, such a proposal would have been promptly denied as it was so lavish and garish, and he had, but it was verbose; he had suspected it wasn't entirely his doing…
That handwriting… Had Lady Furina played a part in the proposal? If she had, perhaps she was more interested in learning the inner workings of bureaucracy than he gave her credit for. Or maybe she just wished to boost morale and had written the proposal out, and he tried to pass it for his own…
The problem was she didn't know how to write a bureaucratic proposal, so he had to reject it outright… But it was a lovely notion. She was trying to help her people.
"May I enter, Monsieur Neuvillette? " A familiar voice echoed as the door to his office opened without waiting for his approval.
"It seems you already have, Lady Furina," Neuvillette spoke forwardly as the Hydro Archon strode toward his desk, and he looked up from his work. "If you allow me, work has been relatively similar to today. We can go over the few cases you are interested in. I will even allow you to choose the one that intrigues you the most."
"Splendid!" Furina clasped her hands together at the thought of hearing the juicy tidbits of a case before hearing the case's drama unfold in court. Her face scrunched, and she noticed a particular file on his desk set aside and huffed. "And why was that proposal rejected? What's wrong with livening up Palais Memoria for everyone?"
"Nothing. I agree with the proposal." Neuvillette replied as he slid the said paper before he pointed it out. "Monotony leads to stagnation. Stagnation leads to a decrease in efficiency. New decorations and expenditures to keep from falling into such a rot is a necessity."
"Then why reject the proposal." Furina scrunched her face, placing her hand on her hips.
"It was written poorly." Neuvillette flatly, causing Furina to double over before sinking. "A proposal must be written succinctly and in the proper fashion. Written in such a flamboyant manner… I could not authorize it."
With her head hung momentarily, her head snapped back up, and with a fiery determination glinting in her eyes, Furina gnashed her teeth. "Well, I will be sure to draft such a proposal you cannot deny next time! …I mean, he… Um…"
"I'm sure you will." Neuvillette held back a chuckle that wished to release itself as he finished signing the last of the paperwork he had been working on. Reaching into his desk, he pulled out several folders of case notes and placed them on them. "Which case would you like to go over, Lady Furina, while I have time? We have the one that the Steambird leaked recently. It may be a post mortem, but the case on Tartuffe and his estate on how he made his fortunes…"
"Boring!" Furina moved to the couch, primly sitting on it as she crossed her legs while lacing her fingers. "We know he is guilty of the crimes! I want a real challenge! Something with some tension! Dramatic flare… Woah, woah! Why is everything shaking?! Ah! Out the window! "
"Hm?" Neuvillette lifted his head from the case notes he had begun to mull over. Turning around and looking towards where Furina was panickingly pointing as she fumbled in her seat, his eyes narrowed.
He had not seen a similar sight in twelve years… Not since the original death of the former Knave, Crucabena.
"I see the Flames of Perdition have been ignited once again." Neuvillette mused while watching the terrifying display of flames and blood. Profoundly sighing, he turned from the window and stepped behind his desk. "Apologizes, Lady Furina. We will have to discuss the case notes another time."
"It has come to my attention that I must request an audience with the dignitaries of the House of the Hearth."
"Mother… I'm sorry… I was reckless…" A weak teenager wheezed as he lay in bed, heavily bandaged as she sat in at his side. "When I saw those emaciated patients… Those poor children…"
Without warning, he held his hand, attempting to get out of bed. He was still attempting to help those children. Reaching out, Arelcchino clasped his hand gently. "How many times have I told you? Recklessness always leads to failure. … But it was not wholly in vain. Rest now. Allow Mother to finish the rest."
"No… I can do…"
"Relax, kiddo. You did your job." Father's voice echoed as the door opened, striding toward the bedside. "Listen to your mother, and everything will be fine."
"Now rest up so I can take care of ya, you hear!"
Every time he came to Hotel Bouffes d'ete, there was a story to be told. So many tragic tales had been woven through the walls… So many times had he tried to bring this place down…
And unrightfully so. The sins of the past haunted and tarnished the foundations it stood upon. Even burning everything and starting anew wasn't enough.
They were still paying the price.
But through the fires, many stories of redemption had begun to be woven—the street magician and sister whose performances were quite magnificent—the young diver who had survived the previous regime who had a talent for clockwork mechanics and quite a few peculiar commissions. The overall image of children being visibly happy despite being societal outcasts…
It was a vast improvement over the years when the children rarely left the hotel and were often sullen and depressed. He frequently remembered seeing the current Father constantly coming to tell him the horrible things that happened in this place and how sullen and off-putting the current mother's demeanor was twelve years ago.
"Mother will be with you in just a moment, Monsieur Neuvillette." Snezhevna bowed before the Iudex after leading him to a lavish tea room for guests and meetings. "I do apologize for the lack of preparation. Mother had just returned, but alas, Father has not returned with her."
"That is alright. And please do not rush." Neuvillette stiffly shook his head, his eyes ever so slightly glinting with concern. "I am well aware of your Mother's condition. Do not feel the need to hurry on my behalf due to my arrival and the importance of the matter. If it puts unnecessary pressure on her, it may wait."
"I appreciate the courtesy, but it is unnecessary, Monsieur Neuvilette. Delicate at my situation, I have withstood far harsher circumstances." The door snapped open, and with confident strides, Arlecchino strode into the room; with a glance toward Snezhevna, she softly nodded, and her lip quivered. "Thank you for entertaining our guest until my arrival. You may go. I believe Lyney and Lynette could use some assistance with watching Heloir and Foltz while they set up for a magic show in the theater room tonight."
"Yes, Mother." Snezhevna respectfully bowed before heading out of the room, leaving it to Arlecchino and Neuvilette.
Waving a hand toward one of the lavish red velvet seats at the table, Arlecchino crossed her arms across her chest. "Please make yourself comfortable. Our water is just pristine, as always. If you need anything else, I can call on Katarina and Lyudochka…"
"That is quite unnecessary. I hope this shant be long." Neuvillette accepted her offer, taking a luxurious seat at the table, and he sat across the table from Arlecchino. "Allow me to be transparent. You are aware of why I arrived. Without him currently present, I can only assume that he was at the epicenter?"
Tapping her fingers on her side, x-crossed pupils dilated momentarily. Then, with an amused huff, Arlecchino reached out and took a biscuit from the tray on the table. "I sit before you, Monsieur Neuvillette. We ran into complications with the situation we informed you of. Unfortunately, we have run into complications, and as such, the situation has dissolved, and we have reached an impasse. Bloodshed on Fontaine soil may be inevitable, for we possess secrets they do not wish to be exposed."
"I feared such an outcome was inevitable. With prior incidents where you had to erase prior individuals' memories to allow them to leave the Hearth and enter society, I cannot say this is without precedent. But you are aware of my stance on this if this was how it was to escalate, regardless of your assistance with the current crisis." Neuvillette exhaled, meeting Arlecchino's intense gaze.
"Yes, we are painfully aware of the circumstances." She drummed her fingers along the table. "I can say I was not anticipating this reaction with the Traveler's arrival in Fontaine imminent. When she arrives, the Heavenly Principal's gaze is unusually focused on the region. I cannot say I anticipated them acting when their gaze was already fixed in this direction. It is peculiar, but alas, we have already begun to make our plans."
"The House of the Hearth will be leaving shortly."
"The entire House?" Neuvillette raised his eyebrow and balked at the idea. "I had assumed when you conveyed that only a select few would leave until the matter was settled. I did not expect the whole House to be uprooted. Is that wise?"
"Yes. We are well aware of what that organization is capable of and what they can do behind our backs." Arlecchino brought her arms to her chest once more and shook her head. "The safest thing we could do is take them with us. It resolves the matter of their safety. …Besides, we are no longer caged birds. While many of my children may call this place home, tell me truthfully, how much of a home is this place to them?"
"I see." Neuvillette winced at the condemnation of the treatment of the House of the Hearth during their reign in particular. It had been unfair during most of it compared to how it was seen under Crucabena, who was now seen differently as her crimes had been brought to the public's eyes. If only he could have changed the views of the people sooner.
Seeing a letter slide before him, a slight frown crossed his expression as he picked it up. "What is this?"
"A detailed report of Naruto's observations in the Abyss. It will be quite helpful in the coming months when making a plan. You will know what is coming soon and how to prepare for it." Arlecchino simply replied, meeting his level gaze. "As I always suspected, Lady Furina is the key. She is not what we suspect she is. It is now your job to get her to admit that."
"I will put this to good use, then." Neuvillette repressed a scowl. It wasn't as if he had had those thoughts, but to say them straightforwardly and in the tone she used…
"If that is all, Monsieur Neuvillette, I must begin our preparations to leave. The children are unaware, and it will take at least a week for them to get everything in order. As you are undoubtedly aware, this will be a trying time for us." Arlecchino stood up from her chair, carefully avoiding bumping the table.
"Yes, that is all. I wish you safe travels, and when and if you do return, you are always welcome in Fontaine. I do hope that somewhere in your heart, that you may consider this your home." Neuvillette stood and gracefully bowed. "Oh, and if I dare ask, how will you travel with such a large contingency of people such as the Hearth? By boat?"
Unable to restrain the chuckle at his curious question, her x-crossed pupil shimmered as she returned her gaze to the Iudex. "No, Monsieur Neuvillette. Our means of travel is quite unique."
"Have you ever traveled by train before?"
He had never seen such a peculiar sight before. Could this really do what he said it could? It looked like a simple train… How could it do what he said it could? And all these devices inside it? They looked like stuff his mother and her stupid priestess would make…
"Huh? Who are you?" A rabbit creature that could talk stood before him wearing a conductor outfit, staring at him peculiarly. "Hey, who let you in here?! Only people whom Lady Arlecchino or Sir Naruto authorizes are allowed on the Starlight Express!"
"Shut it, or I'll chop you into stew." He growled, tipping his wide-brimmed hat and turning from the creature. "Who do you think told me to find this Archon-forsaken machination?"
"You'll what?!" Steam built around the creature's head as it stomped before the kimono-dressed young man. "Oh, that's it! I'm gonna toss you for the Express! Just you…"
"Pomi! It's okay! I Invited him." Naruto's voice resonated as a door slid open, and the man stepped out onto the Express, his eyes falling onto the young man present. "So you decided to join. Good to see ya, Scaramouche. Didn't think ya would."
"Hmph. Still using that name for me." Scaramouche sneered and glared at Naruto before scoffing.
Naruto simply pursed his lips and tilted his head. "You going by something different now like Arlecchino? I'm always willing to accommodate, ya know?"
"No. Not to you, at least." Scaramouche shook his head, glancing around at the mechanical marvel that they were within. "So this machine can really do what you say it can? It can travel through the Abyss?"
"Not just the Abyss… Through the rails of space to planets that have been charted. Teyvat was once visited long ago. Probably why the Second Who Came locked everything down when the Stelleron went out of control here after their fight with Primordial One." Naruto pocketed his hands and rolled his eyes. "Anyways, yeah, this is gonna be our mobile base while we take care of business. We let the kids travel the stars and see other worlds…"
"While we purge the rats on our end. Understood." Scaramouche nodded, a sadistic smirk crossing his expression. "Good to see that side of you still is in their Fool."
"Wouldn't want your Blood Stained legacy to be tarnished, now would we?"
R & R. Follow on Ao3 for more consistent updates.