After their failure in Agrabah, the group resumed their journey through the Sea of Stars, which led them to a world that Kairi, Edea, Rena, Eve, and Airy already knew: the Greek world of Olympus.
"Were you really here before?" Nina asked as she eyed the Greek architecture of Thebes as she passed.
"Yes, this is where I met Edea, Rena, and Eve," Kairi replied.
"Oh, dear, don't remind me. What a mess we got into that tournament." Edea laughed nervously as she remembered what happened earlier.
"And all of that was because of a certain fairy present here," Rena mentioned looking at Airy.
"Let's just let it be, okay?" Airy asked as he looked away.
"And where should we go from here?" Makoto asked. "Do you know where to ask?"
"I have an idea," Kairi said. "They most likely know something about where the fragment we're looking for might be."
"Unless it was stolen," Makoto said. "Again."
"For that to happen to us twice in a row would be a big problem," Eve said. "Besides, the chances of that happening are very low."
"Hopefully, we'll get it smoothly," Kairi said.
"It's better for us. We are playing a lot on this trip." Priere said, somewhat distant, picking up on Kairi's curiosity despite not saying anything.
Eventually, the group made it to the Olympus Coliseum, getting the astonishment of the girls who weren't there the previous time. Upon accessing the interior of the colossal structure, they saw how the arena was turned into a training center where Hercules trained with the equipment of the place while he was supervised by Phil, who was pressing the hefty man to try even harder.
Hi Phil. Kairi said to Phil.
"Not now, we are busy. If it's a package, leave it at the entrance." Phil said without turning around.
The girls looked at each other, raising their eyebrows, until Priere approached the faun from behind and, grabbing her horns, turned her around.
Phil looked confused for a moment until he recognized those before him. "Come on! If it's you." Phil exclaimed upon seeing them.
"Nice to see you too, Phil," Rena said, then looked at Hercules. "And you too!" exclaimed the hero.
Hercules heard her and turned to them. "Hey, welcome back!" The hero said approaching them. "My, how you have changed."
"Well, the truth is that a lot has happened since we left," Edea said with a hand on her head.
"And I also see that there are more people with you three," Phil said looking at the other girls. "It's okay that you follow a golden rule that consists of three words: The more, the merrier."
Makoto began calculating with her fingers, realizing that it was four words and not three, which caused Rena to shrug from her looking at her.
Then Phil recognized Airy in the group, pointing at the fairy on the spot. "What is that one doing here?"
"It's long to tell, but now she's with us, so calm down." Kairi defended Airy, who looked away.
"It's okay to reminisce about old battle stories, but I guess we have things to do, don't we?" Priere asked moving alongside the group in full view of Phil, surprised to see the demon.
"It's true." Kairi nodded, then looked at Phil and Hercules. "Phil, Hercules. If it's not too much trouble, I wish I could talk to Zeus for a bit."
At that moment there was a blinding flash of lightning, with the king of the gods appearing in the place, surprising part of the group.
"Does anyone want to talk to me?" Zeus asked looking around, until he noticed Kairi and the others. "Oh, what a surprise! Welcome back!" He said with a wide smile.
"We are glad to see you too, Zeus." Said Edea, with some nervousness.
"Well, what do some champions want from the Lord of Olympus ?" Zeus asked clasping his hands.
"Uh, look..." Kairi said, seeing how to ask the question before the god's gaze. "We wondered if you happened to know about an artifact that was hidden sixteen years ago."
"Sixteen years ago?" Zeus asked.
"Yes, after what happened to the Order of the Phoenix," Kairi said.
Zeus's eyes widened at this, beginning to think for a moment until he snapped his fingers. "Hades! Can you come here for a moment?!"
Suddenly there was an explosion of black smoke that surprised the girls, the lord of the dead appeared where the black smoke was.
"Okay, Zeus. Can I know what you want?" Hades asked until he noticed the girls. More specifically in Kairi, Edea, Rena, and Airy, his flames turn red. "You again?"
"We're glad to see you too, Hades," Edea said sarcastically.
"Hades, I called you because it seems they are looking for the fragments of the seal," Zeus said.
"What fragments of what seal?" Hades asked raising an eyebrow as his flames turned blue.
"You already know," Zeus whispered. "Of what happened sixteen years ago, with the Order and the Fallen."
Hades began to think until he heard the chime, his eyes widening and his flames turning red in a moment.
"But have you gone crazy?!" Hades exclaimed.
"No, we have to locate the shards, as well as make them pay for what they did to Kairi's mother," Rena said.
"Her mother?" Hades asked. "Are you saying that the girl is part of the Order of the Phoenix?" Then he looked at Kairi. "Prove it!"
Priere shook his head as Kairi sighed. Then the girl transformed in front of them into her Esper Form, practically shocking Zeus and Hades, so much so that her flames suddenly turned blue.
"Okay…" Zeus commented on Kairi's Phoenix hybrid form. "It is clear that you are the daughter of the Phoenix. Which explains a lot, starting with you being able to wear Shiva's armor earlier."
Maintaining the Phoenix Hybrid form of hers, Kairi looked up at the gods. "I know what happened to the Order and why. We need the fragments to end this. Can you help us?"
Zeus looked at Hades who stared back at him. "Well, we already knew this day would come, didn't we?"
"Yeah." The god of the dead said blankly. "Right."
Hades turned to the side and made a gesture with his hand, causing a flare to appear between his fingers what looked like a small black triangle with a mysterious red glow.
"Is that what I think it is?" Rena asked.
"Yeah. One of the fragments of the seal that keeps the world of the Fallen closed." Zeus replied.
"Oh really?! You gave such a valuable item to… him?!" Edea asked pointing to Hades.
"Believe me, I'm wondering that too," Phil said scratching his head.
Hades stared at the fragment for a few moments until he shook his head.
"No! There has to be another way!" Hades exclaimed turning to everyone. "I can be many things. Cunning, manipulative, vindictive, sarcastic, cruel, ruthless, ambitious, ruthless, calculating, even ironic. But not a suicide." Then he looked at Zeus. "Zeus, you know well what could happen if the Fallen were given free rein. As they are, trickling out, they are already a problem. Imagine if the dam broke."
"It is true, but remember that it has to be done," Zeus said. "If she is who the prophecy says, she needs the fragment. So stop being stubborn and give her the fragment."
"No. I am sorry brother. I am not going to risk those things coming knocking on my door." Hades refused, crossing his arms.
"Oh come on!" Priere exclaimed and grabbed Hades by the robe and pulled him up until his head was level with him. "We don't have all day for your doubts."
Hades stared at Priere for a moment. "Does anyone know what a demon is doing here?"
"That's not the point!" Said Priere sticking her nose to the god's nose.
"Look, I don't want to risk you screwing up. I have my doubts that you can handle this problem." Hades said looking seriously at Hades.
"Do you want proof? I could send any person or creature you send me for a ride!" Priere exclaimed, raising his fist.
"Hey, Priere, calm down," Makoto said as he tried to calm Priere down.
"No wait." Hades said raising a hand. "Are you sure you could defeat anyone, whoever your rival is for this fragment?"
"Precisely," Priere replied.
Kairi could see a sinister smile on Hades's face.
"How about a deal? If you defeat whomever I choose, I'll give you the fragment. Do we have a deal?" Hades reached out to Priere with his outstretched hand.
Nina raised an eyebrow looking at both of them. "Hey, Priere, you should do some thinking. This looks like a-"
"Deal!" Priere squeezed her hand in Hades's.
"Trap..." Nina commented taking a long breath.
"Who knows what mischief he plans to do now," Kairi said looking at Hades.
Hades leered at Priere for a moment.
"Hercules?"
Everyone turned to Hercules confused, because that was the name that Hades suddenly said.
"Could you take care of this?" Hades asked.
"Who? Me?" Hercules asked, clearly confused like the others.
"He? You're kidding, right?" Edea asked.
"I have six words for you, Hades," Phil said to the god of the dead. "Have you lost your mind?"
Makoto frowned with her hand on her head as Phil's sentence lacked words this time.
"That's five, sir." She said Eve to Phil before looking at Hades. "But you're right. What meaning does this have?
"Oh, do you think your friend couldn't handle the son of Zeus?" Hades asked with a machiavellian smile on his face.
"Is this a trick question?" Kairi asked. "But if you want it that way..."
"Not so fast!" Hades said. "We have a deal. Only the demon girl can fight the musclehead."
Phil sighed. "Is right. A deal is a deal. Even if it's with him."
Hades smiled at Kairi's scornful face. "Yes that's how it is. So now you can transform into a human again and move away."
Kairi frowned at Hades as he reverted to his human form. Without being able to do much, the girls headed to the stands.
"You've gotten us into a big mess, Priere," Airi commented to Priere as she walked away from her.
"Believe me, it's better this way," Priere said.
"I don't know…" Rena said.
Hades was going to walk away until he turned to Hercules. "Oh by the way. In the fight don't hold back. If I find out that you've let yourself lose, I won't give them the fragment." Hades said.
"Oh come on!" Edea exclaimed as she sat down in the stands. Now they could no longer count on Hercules to lend them a hand with Hades' ruse.
Hercules looked at Zeus, who gave him a cracked smile before walking away. The hero then looked at Phil. "Any advice?"
Phil looked at Priere and the girls, and then at Hades who was wearing his smirk, then at his pupil. "Sorry, but I don't want to play Hades' game. Right now you are alone. And even if it sounds bad in this situation, don't worry. Unfortunately for everyone, she's not much."
"Sorry?!" Priere asked when he heard the faun.
Both Priere and Hercules got into position while Zeus made the training equipment in the arena disappear. The two stared at each other for a moment until Hercules flexed his arms, suddenly glowing golden.
"Oh, and now this!" Airy groaned, making the others look at her. "A divine ahura. Now not even Priere will be able to beat him."
"Don't tell me..." Edea put her hand on her forehead.
Priere didn't seem to mind that change, preparing her staff for the fight while Hercules prepared himself with raised fists. The two stood still for a long time until Hades launched a fireball against a bell in the coliseum, the sound of which started the fight.
Priere began to quickly approach Hercules, attacking with his staff, but it bounced against the brilliant hero's body with each blow, at which point Hercules began to prepare his fist to launch his attack. Priere jumped to the side avoiding the hero's punch and as he moved away from him he used his staff to summon a line of explosions around him that hit Hercules, but he did not appear to have taken any damage.
"Priere, think a little! Attacking like crazy won't do any good!" Rena exclaimed.
Priere was upset looking at the hero, just as he jumped at her, landing causing a shock wave that knocked her back, followed by another punch that did hit her, sending her to the ground. Priere felt the force of the punch, the strongest she had ever felt in her life, but she was up quickly.
"Hey, have you had enough?" Hercules asked, taking the audacity to pose in front of her with her muscles.
Priere began to get angry with Hercules seeing how he belittled her at that moment. She was supposed to be one of the most powerful demons in existence. Even before she turned, she was someone the demons feared, before…
Priere extended his hand towards Hercules, charging in the palm of it an enormous amount of energy in the form of a sphere that changed size erratically. She was willing to end this fight in one fell swoop, unleashing all of her power against the hero.
"This is going to get ugly." Said Kairi seeing what she was planning to do Priere.
Priere uttered a heartbreaking scream when the energy sphere was transformed into a huge beam that ended up impacting Hercules, her body being absorbed by the enormous energy beam that crossed the walls of the coliseum, being perfectly visible from the city.
The demon parried her attack, falling to her knees from the exhaustion of unleashing such an attack, but her eyes widened in terror as she saw Hercules fully intact, walking towards her, while she was unable to get up or even stand. move.
Hercules cracked her knuckles as he approached Priere, but didn't show a smile.
"I'm sorry," Hercules said, before throwing a punch at Priere, for whom everything went black when he received the blow.
"Priere!"
Priere began to open his eyes, groaning as he put his hand to his head.
"Hey, don't try too hard." She heard Edea's voice from beside her.
She shook her head and looked around her, seeing that she was in her bed in the gummi ship, with the group around her.
"What happened?" Priere asked with exhaustion in her voice.
"You lost," Airy said dryly. "Spectacularly."
"Airy!" Rena scolded Airy before looking at Priere. "How do you feel?"
"Like a herd of mammoths ran over me and ran over me?" Priere asked as he sat up in bed, sighing. "What happened to the fragment? Do you have it?
"I'm afraid not," Makoto said. "We have fallen into a trap from which we cannot get out."
Hades was very clear. If you don't defeat Hercules, we won't get the fragment." Eve explained.
"Damn. This time I have gone and done it." Priere cursed himself.
"It's not your fault," Kairi said. "Hades didn't mean to give us the shard willingly, after all. He just made sure to create a loop by refusing to give it up to us."
"Then I will fight again," Priere said, but she felt Nina's hand on her shoulder.
"No. You have already seen it. None of your attacks have affected him." Said the winged girl.
"All we can do now is think of a way to get the shard out of Hades' hands." Said Edea crossing her arms and sitting next to Priere. "There should be some way to get it. Maybe stealing it? Or giving you extreme training against gods?"
Priere looked at her legs thoughtfully, until she raged, hitting Edea's head and leaving a smoking lump on her head.
"Ouch!" Edea exclaimed, putting her hands on the bump and looking at Priere. "What got you now?"
"Sorry... but without him you were the only thing I had on hand," Priere said looking at Edea.
"Him?" Kairi asked, raising an eyebrow. "Of whom you speak?"
Priere sighed heavily and lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"My brother," Priere replied.
"Your brother?" Makoto asked.
"It's right," Eve said. "We hardly know anything about Priere's past."
The girls turned their gaze to Priere, who was silent in bed staring at the ceiling.
"Anyway, there's nothing can do about it," Priere said with a sigh. "I think I mentioned earlier that I was a demon slayer nun before, but that's not the whole story."
The girls were silent when she was going to explain the story to him.
"I previously belonged to a church organization known as La Pucelle, where I teamed up with my younger brother Culotte, our teacher Alouette, and the head of the organization, Father Salade. I also worked with us Princess Eclair, and the pirate Homard and his Chocolat Gang. And finally, there was our partner Croix Raoul."
The girls noticed a subtle change in tone at the last name.
"Our world was being invaded by demons. No Fallen ones, but real demons, and we took care of them. And I was the best at it. So much so that I was named demon Overlord by them. At first, I refused, but because of that I had to face a demon that was pretending to be me, although we managed to take care of her."
"Unfortunately everything was getting worse. We didn't just find out that our country's religion was controlled by demons. We also find out that Croix was actually the Dark Prince, who was supposed to destroy the world. Also that Alouette was the Maiden of Light, who had to face the Dark Prince and, to be honest, a title that I wanted.
"To make matters worse, it turned out that, despite trying hard, I ended up turning into a demon. Initially, I didn't want to accept that reality. Oh boy, did I refuse that with all my might. But I finally accepted myself, being reborn not just as a demon, but as the Maiden of Darkness, a counterpart to the Maiden of Light. Using that power I was able to purify Croix and stop the mastermind behind the corrupt church."
"After that, both I and Croix had to leave, leaving the others behind. Everything seemed to be going well... until the Heartless showed up and had to ruin everything." Priere finished and turned his head to the side of her.
It was probably around this time that the girls found her in Luxendarc.
"So your world was devoured by darkness, isn't it?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, and that we turned the world upside down to avoid it," Priere said. "That's funny. It's all been for nothing. And I don't even know where Croix or the others are anymore." she sighed. "I miss them. Including my brother."
Kairi began to think for a moment before looking at Eve. "Eve, could we go to another world for a moment?"
"To another world? Where to?" Eve asked.
"To Traverse Town," Kairi replied. "I have a hunch."
After a short, but silent journey, the group descended on a world that looked like a gigantic Victorian-era city under eternal night, plus some parts that for some reason didn't fit into the architecture itself.
"This is Traverse Town?" Rena asked as she looked around her as she walked.
"Yes that's it," Kairi answered who walked ahead of the group. "Amazing, right?"
"Why do I have the feeling that this world is not like the others we have visited," Makoto asked.
Then Kairi stood up, causing the rest to stop as he turned to face them.
"You see, that is the reason we have come."
The group looked at her curiously as Kairi looked from her to Priere.
"When you told us your story, even when the Heartless appeared in your world, I remembered this place," Kairi said.
"Why?" Priere asked. "What is special about this world?"
"You see, it turns out that this world is, how to put it?" Kairi thought for a moment. "I think the correct term, in this case, is 'shelter world'."
"Shelter world?" Edea asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Kairi answered and continued. "When a world is consumed by darkness, not all is destroyed. Sometimes some fragments of this world end up in this place, which at the same time becomes a new home for those who have lost their world but have not fallen into darkness. In addition to being a refuge for those who come out of the dark without having a home to return to.
The girls were looking at her in silence for a few seconds until Eve spoke.
"Oh, I see." Said the Nasod. "This world, as you say, serves as a refuge for those who have lost their home to darkness or cannot return to it."
"That's right," Kairi said, turning his gaze from her to Priere. "If there is even the slightest chance that someone from your world has avoided being consumed by the Heartless, then he will be here."
Priere stared ahead of her for a moment until she stepped past Kairi, immediately turning her gaze to her.
"Are you sure about that?"
Kairi nodded, causing Priere to smile with some hope in herself.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
That scream made Priere look back in shock, for at the time she thought she would never hear that voice again.
"Where did that scream come from?" Makoto asked hearing that scream like the others.
"It came from ahead!" Rena exclaimed as she traced the sound from that direction.
"There's the Second District!" Kairi said looking at the others.
"That voice... It can't be!" Priere exclaimed.
Suddenly she spread her wings and flew off in the direction of the Second District, leaving the girls behind her.
"Priere, wait!" Kairi exclaimed, running after her along with the others.
In the Second District, a boy with short brown hair and brown eyes wearing blue clothes with white borders, a blue cap with white borders, black shorts, brown shoes with wide blue socks, and a brown backpack was running through the streets all the time. fast as I could
"Why?" The boy wondered as he ran. "Why those things don't stop harassing us?"
The boy kept running until he stopped in front of the district fountain, cursing himself for not taking the stairs on the sides of the district. But when he turned around he was startled to see a trio of Zip Slashers slowly approaching.
"What do you want from me?!" The boy exclaimed, taking the backpack from his back. "Have you not had enough with my home?!"
The boy started pulling things out of the pack and throwing them at the Heartless, including apples, pots, lollipops, and other items he had inside, including small explosives, but none seemed to have much of an effect on the Heartless. Then as he backed away he tripped and fell to the ground on his rear, watching as the Zip Slashers closed in on him until they jumped on him.
The boy, seeing that it was the end of him, closed his eyes terrified, with a single sentence coming out of his mouth.
"Sister, I'm sorry."
The Zip Slashers' attack never happened, instead, he heard three loud metallic bangs sound at once. The boy began to open his eyes slowly, seeing how the Heartless seemed to have been knocked down at the same time and destroyed on impact as they were disappearing. Then he noticed who he had in front of him because it was the one who had saved him.
To him, looking from below, she looked like a demon girl wearing black boots and brown leggings, wearing a very revealing black leotard with wide sleeves, a pair of black demon wings on her back, holding a white and gold cane in her hand, with her horns sticking out of her… red hair?
'That cane, and that red hair... it can't be...' The boy thought as if in a trance, getting up slowly without taking his eyes off the demon girl, until she turned to him.
Priere was watching the boy that she had behind her, while he continued to stare at her without saying a word for several seconds.
"Culotte?" Priere finally asked, a tear lingering in his eye.
The boy kept looking at Priere while his eyes began to shed tears down her cheeks because he never expected to see her in that situation again, after everything that happened.
"Sister!" Culotte exclaimed, rushing over to his older sister to hug her.
Priere turned in time to embrace her younger brother, having not seen each other since that day long ago when she turned into a demon. But she was also happy to see that he was safe.
"Culotte! Where are you?" asked a slender petite young woman with a pear-shaped figure with long, reddish-blond hair, reaching to her knees, tied in a small braid at the bottom, blue eyes, fair skin, wearing cross-shaped earrings, a white collar, a cardigan over an orange mini dress, black tights, a black T-shirt, chunky brown semi-platform shoes. When she directed her gaze toward the fountain, her eyes widened, looking back down the alley from where she came. "Come here, quickly!"
Soon several people met her.
One of them was a man with orange-blonde hair, blue-green eyes, and a patch over his right eye, dressed in red pirate garb with two rapiers hanging from his belt. He was followed by a tiny fairy with green hair and red eyes, butterfly wings, and two white antennae on her head, wearing a green and white long-sleeved leotard with light brown stockings with green tips and orange earrings. There was also with him a small anthropomorphic cat dressed like a pirate, even with a hook in his right hand.
Another was a young girl with purple hair and aquamarine eyes, wearing a wide blue and white gold-trimmed dress with a large bow on the back, a green brooch, thick brown gloves, pink stockings, armored heeled boots, white spherical earrings, and a cap resembling a crown.
And the last one was a middle-aged man with a slightly stout build and a bald head, wearing traditional religious clothing, consisting of a long dark brown robe with a white collar, a small dark brown and white hat, and a pair of brown glasses. He adjusted his glasses, incredulous at what he was seeing.
"By the Maiden of Light." the man exclaimed, seeing Priere from a distance. "She is alive!
"Big Sister!" The purple-haired girl exclaimed, running over to where Priere and Culotte were.
Priere stopped hugging her younger brother and turned just as the girl jumped on her, hugging her tight.
"Eclair! Are you here too?" Priere asked the girl, hugging her too.
"I never thought I would see you again, Big Sister!" Eclair exclaimed with tears in his eyes.
"This is what one would call a pleasant surprise." Said the man dressed as a pirate, approaching them along with the others.
"Homard!" Priere exclaimed, looking at the pirate and letting go of Eclair's embrace. She then saw the girl and the man too. "Alouette! Father Salade!"
"Hey, what about us?!" Asked the fairy standing next to Homard next to the pirate cat.
"Hey, of course, I haven't forgotten about you, Papillon." She said nervously before seeing the cat. "And neither do you, Yattanya."
"Better for you, young lady! Meow." Yattanya the cat said seriously.
"Of all the people we could meet here, I never thought you would be one of them." Father Salade said with a smile.
"You say that like that's bad," Priere said arching an eyebrow.
"On the contrary! Glad to see a familiar face in this strange place." The older man answered.
Alouette nodded. "I deduce that despite what happened, you are still the same as always, right?"
"You can count on that!" Priere exclaimed with a smile and winking.
Then she looked from side to side.
"Hey. Is Croix not with you?" the demon asked.
"Wasn't he supposed to be with you?" Eclaire asked.
She shook her head. "Yes, but when all that happened, we ended up separating. I expected him to be with you."
"Well, in the time that we are here, we have not seen him," Culotte said. "By the way, do you know where we are? It is clear that this is not Paprika."
"It's true. I have never seen a place like this in my life." Homard said. "And that I have traveled the world for quite some time."
Priere looked a little nervous looking at Culotte. "Well, you see, the truth…" she was silent. 'Let's see, how do I explain that we are in another world without it sounding crazy? Although our being here is already crazy.'
"Priere!"
Priere turned towards the fountain just as Nina landed near them, surprising the others, just as Eve and Airy landed as well.
"What the?!" Homard exclaimed with his mouth open. "What are they and where did they come from?"
"Can tell us what you were thinking, rushing out without warning?" Airy asked.
"That's what I was going to ask you!" Kairi exclaimed as she ran down the hallway on the side facing the stairs to the lower level with the others.
When everyone was already reunited with the group, Father Salade looked at the group before looking at Priere.
"I take it you know all these people, right?" Asked Father Salade.
"Well, where do I begin with?" Said Priere somewhat nervous.
"Hey, are these people the ones you talked about earlier?" Edea asked looking at the group.
"That's right," Priere said. "I present to you my younger brother Culotte, Eclair, Alouette, Homard, and Father Salade." She introduced first. "People, let me introduce you to Kairi, Edea, Rena, Eve, Nina, Makoto, and Airy."
Culotte nodded. "My pleasure, ladies!"
"Wow, he's more polite than the older sister, it seems," Airy said. "And that she's a demon."
"Do you have a problem with that, devil fairy?" Priere shook his fist at her.
"No comment." The faery shrugged.
Alouette addressed the girls. "If you've been with her, I hope Priere didn't cause you trouble, and I thank you for taking care of her."
"No, it was nothing," Kairi said with a smile.
"My, from how she had described you, I imagined you differently," Makoto commented.
Alouette glanced at Priere, who was flustered by her gaze.
"I've only told you the truth, really!" Priere exclaimed, taking a step back with his hands raised.
"Are you sure you haven't exaggerated the story to look better in front of them?" Culotte asked.
That question ended with a blow to the head from Priere that left a smoking lump on his head.
"Now it's enough!" Priere exclaimed angrily.
Everyone looked at the two nervously.
"Some things never change," Homard commented, scratching his head. "Which is good when it comes to her."
At that moment Rena noticed a small flying Heartless over the rooftops of the district.
"I would suggest that we have this discussion somewhere else. The Heartless would be showing up at any moment." Rena said.
"Right, we should talk more calmly in the First District, if I got the name right." Said Culotte recovering from the bump on the head. "That place doesn't usually get invaded by those things that often."
"Very true," Homard said. He turned his gaze from him to Yattanya. "Warn the rest of the gang to meet us in the First District!"
"At your command, Captain! Meow." Yattanya exclaimed before running off.
"The truth is that we had another idea in mind," Priere said with a smile, causing the group to look at her in confusion.
Everyone was gathered in the Gummi Ship after the guests had recovered from both the shock of appearing inside the ship and actually ending up in another world. Following then, Kairi and the others explained not only how Priere had joined the group, but also the reason they were traveling.
"Incredible," Culotte said after hearing the explanation. "And to think that our world was just a star in the sky."
"I must say that this is quite a surprise." Said Father Salade. "Especially knowing that I am before the daughter of the Phoenix himself."
"An Esper, the fruit of the union between a human and an Eidolon," Alouette said. "I never thought I would see one in person."
"I'm still amazed that we're actually in a spaceship," Homard commented.
"Yes, that may be the normal reaction to people who come here," Eve said until she directed her gaze to a large group of small bipedal cats dressed as pirates that were roaming the room. "But could you ask your pets not to touch anything on the ship, please?"
"We are not his pets! We are the Chocolat Band! Meow." Yattanya exclaimed at Eve's comment.
"But she's right. This is not our ship, to begin with. So please be considerate of our hostesses." Said Homard, at which point Yattanya began to order the others to stop messing with the ship.
"I have to ask, Kairi," Alouette said. "If you are looking for these, fragments, to stop your enemy, why have you come looking for us?"
"The truth is that we did it for Priere because the poor thing was down at the time," Makoto commented.
"Makoto!" Priere exclaimed angrily because she didn't want to be seen as someone weak.
"Priere? Down?" Culotte asked. "Things must be very ugly for it to be like this."
Thus Culotte earned another hit on the head from Priere.
"You wouldn't say that if you had faced a demigod!" Priere exclaimed.
"A demigod?" Eclaire asked.
"Yes, one named Hercules," Priere said.
"But sister, shouldn't you be able to win over a demigod?" Culotte asked.
"And what does a demigod have to do with all this?" asked Father Salade.
"You see, it turns out that Priere made a deal with Hades, the god of the Underworld. He would only give us the fragment we seek if Priere were to defeat Hercules in combat." Rena explained.
"Yeah, but the problem is that when Hercules fights, he surrounds himself with a divine aura that protects him from any attack," Kairi said. "She went all in, and she still couldn't do anything to him."
"Wow, that's quite a surprise." Said Father Salade. "Someone Priere can't harm?"
"Don't make fun, okay? The situation is bad enough on its own." Priere commented.
"I only know that Sora managed to beat him once, but I don't think he ever mentioned to me how he disabled that immunity," Kairi said.
"Yes, an enemy that is invincible is very tricky," Alouette said.
"If we all go together, maybe we could beat him," Eclaire said.
"It wouldn't do any good, Eclair," Culotte said. "If what they say is true, only Priere can fight him."
"I'm glad someone remembers that point," Rena said. "It's the only thing that's giving us trouble right now."
"Yeah." Said Priere crossing his arms. "That's why I must find a way to fight him and break his barrier."
"Thinking of a strategy?" Alouette asked. "Wow, it looks like you're truly growing up. Despite being similar in age to Kairi."
The girls stared at Alouette in silence for a few seconds until they reacted in shock.
"What?!" They all asked except Priere.
"Is she seriously about our age?" Edea asked, pointing at Priere.
"Well, I admit I don't have a bad image as a teenager, do I?" Commented Priere with a smile.
Kairi looked at her for a moment before thinking to herself. 'You have to see what darkness does to your body. I must remember not to abuse the Diabolos Form for too long.'
"Seriously, and me thinking that you were at least the oldest in the whole group, excluding Rena and Eve, obviously," Airy said.
"You don't look like an old lady either, Airy," Edea replied to the fairy.
"Shut up!" Airy exclaimed.
"Well, back on topic, do you think that if you could hit that Hercules, you could beat him?" Eclair asked Priere.
"Undoubtedly!" Priere exclaimed with a smile and winking.
"Well, as I once said: If things don't seem to work, begin with the basics." Said Father Salade.
"With the basics?" Priere asked. "You mean when I was a sister?"
"Yes that's it Priore." Said Father Salade. "Maybe this way, starting with the roots, you will be able to work a miracle."
"A miracle." Priere thought for a moment about Father Salade's words, until she ended up having an idea, directing her gaze to Kairi. "Kairi, let's go back to Olympus."
"Now?" Kairi asked Priere.
"Yeah. I have an idea that might work." Priere said with a smile.
In a short time, they returned to Olympus, and after bringing their guests back from the shock of seeing the Greek city, they returned to the coliseum, where they saw Hercules training under Phil's supervision until they noticed his presence.
"Geez, are you back yet?" Phil asked.
"Come on! And that thing?" Culotte asked when he saw Phil.
"I am a satyr to you, young man. And I'm a hero trainer, so some respect." Phil scolded Culotte, crossing his arms before looking at the girls. "Seriously, who are these people?"
"They are my friends, and he is my younger brother, so be careful," Priere warned the faun.
"Hey, Priere," Hercules said approaching. "No hard feelings, okay? I had no other choice. I had to fight without holding back."
"I know. That's why I'm here, to ask for payback." Priere said.
"My, my." Hades suddenly appeared in a burst of black smoke, resting his elbow on Priere's shoulder as he looked at his nails. "Haven't you learned your lesson, miss?" he asked with a mischievous smile until Priere moved his shoulder away from Hades.
"Who is this sinister being?" Eclair asked taking several steps back when she saw Hades.
"Oh, visitors? I am Hades, Lord of the Dead. Nice to meet you." Hades said before thinking a bit. "Hasn't the group grown a bit suddenly?"
Suddenly he had Priere's baton impacting his face, causing him to look at the demon girl.
"Let us not stray off the topic, Hades," Priere said. "Let's get this over with."
"Yes, very true, let's finish this as soon as possible." Hades said.
At that point, the girls led the group into the stands while Hercules and Priere took up positions in the arena.
Just at that moment, Zeus appeared next to Hades.
"Wow, looks like the lady is coming for a rematch," Zeus said to Hades. "By the way, isn't this busier than before?"
"They sure are acquaintances of the demon girl." Hades said. "But no matter how many people come to cheer her, the result will be the same." He said with a smile.
Both Priere and Hercules stared at each other, positioned in a fighting stance. Or at least Hercules when he covered himself with his golden aura, for Priere was standing motionless, eyes closed and breathing hard.
"What is he doing?" Edea asked.
"Just watch, young lady." Father Salade said with a smile.
"Back to the origins. Before being a demon" Priere told herself, taking a deep breath. "And what was I good at before I was a devil?" Then her eyes widened defiantly. "Make miracles!"
Priere took the baton from her and began to juggle it around her until he held it firmly in his hand, pointing it at Hercules with their feet together.
"And that posture?" Kairi asked.
"That posture... It's the one she used before when she was human!" Culotte exclaimed, recognizing that position.
Hades raised an eyebrow at the position that Priere had taken at that moment but without losing her smile, thinking that the result would be the same.
Priere looked with her eyes around Hercules until she noticed something at the hero's feet. At that moment she joined her hands reciting a prayer.
"What is she doing? Praying?" Rena asked.
"Now, you will see a miracle," Alouette said.
As she finished reciting the prayer, suddenly the ground at Hercules' feet lit up, causing a burst of light that shocked Hercules, but that wasn't the only thing. The aura around him had disappeared!
They were all shocked to see what happened to Hercules's aura.
"What just happened?!" Hades exclaimed when he saw what happened.
"This is what I was referring to." Said Father Salade with a smile. "A miracle has happened."
Priere smiled firmly looking at Hercules, who looked surprised. "Now we are even."
"It seems that way." Said the hero, bumping his fists. "Now this is going to be a fight."
Priere gripped her staff firmly in his hand, pointing it at Hercules defiantly.
At that moment Hercules charged his fist until he launched himself at Prier, who jumped to the side to avoid the punch and then hit him with the cane, making him recoil with the blow. Priere smiled with that given blow, but at that moment Hercules smiled too.
The hero charged at the demon throwing punches at all possible angles while she nimbly dodged them, even using her staff to block some of the punches until he found an opening and struck her in the chest. But Hercules took her staff with his hands and sent them both flying through the air.
Priere spread her wings to stand in the air before swooping into him, slamming her staff into his head before landing behind him. He shook his head at the blow before turning and charging headfirst like a bull at her, but the demon nimbly leaped at him avoiding the hero's thrust.
"What are you doing, Junior?!" Hades exclaimed. "Finish her!"
Hercules turned around rotating one of his shoulders. "I must admit, this is getting interesting." He said he with a smile.
"Everything is easier when you don't have that barrier of yours," Priere commented, twirling his cane mockingly.
"Right, but this isn't over yet," Hercules said before taking a big leap toward Priere.
She stepped away from her before the hero fell to the ground, sending a shock wave around her. Then he launched himself running at Priere, but instead of dodging him, she summoned several sticks that spun in the air behind her before throwing them at Hercules, which hit him violently several times, stopping his attack, a moment that Priere took advantage of to jump and lunge at him, kicking him in the chest before following up with a couple of swipes of her baton, knocking him to the ground.
"I've never seen her use those techniques before!" Edea exclaimed seeing her fight Priere like that.
"That's her old fighting style," Alouette said. "The style she used before acquiring the title of Overlord."
Makoto hissed in surprise. "Fury will love this."
Hercules began to get up, while Hades began to get angry, his flames turning red by the minute.
"For once I need you on my side!" Hades exclaimed, red with rage as Zeus held him down. "Stop fooling around and finish her off!"
Hercules took a deep breath before spinning like a top at full speed with his arms outstretched, moving erratically in all directions, forcing Priere to constantly dodge him, to the point of having to use her staff to deflect the hero's spinning. Then when she ended up walking away from him Priere used her magic to unleash a string of explosions that caught Hercules by the band, stopping his mad attack.
But the hero was not defeated and he launched himself at her again trying to hit her with his fists, but both were already quite lean from the fight, so their movements were slower than before, this one getting a right hand that made her back.
Hercules smiled, beginning to flex his arms. "Hey, do you give up?"
Priere rubbed his mouth after the blow, beginning to smile. "I'm sorry, but I'll tell you something very clear," Priere said, before lunging at Hercules like lightning and punching him with her fist. "I won't lose...!"
Hercules backed away from that punch but began preparing another of his powerful punches to hit her. But Priere took advantage of that advantage to summon dozens of spinning staffs that remained floating in the air, leaving many of those present confused.
The hero launched his charged punch at Priere, but Priere dodged the punch and countered with a kick that sent him flying into the flying staffs, bouncing between them constantly until he flew back to where Priere was.
"This ends here!" Priere said clenching her right fist.
When Hercules got close enough, she threw a hook with such force that the hero was sent flying into the air, causing everyone to look up at the sky for a moment until they saw the hero fall again, crashing to the ground and causing a huge tremor in the place.
Hercules was lying motionless on the ground for a few seconds until he got up before a surprised Priere while he smiled. But then he landed on one leg as she breathed hard.
"Phil?" Hercules asked, totally exhausted.
The satyr knew what he was referring to, throwing the towel he had on the floor.
"It's over!" Zeus exclaimed as Phil threw in the towel, extending his arms to the sides. "The winner of the match is Priere!"
After that, both the girls and the group began to celebrate Priere's victory while Phil ran to Hercules.
"Are you alright, boy?" Phil asked Hercules.
"Yes, I'll need a good rest though," Hercules said.
Then Priere approached Hercules. "It was a great fight, strongman." She said extending her hand to the hero.
"I could say the same," Hercules said, taking Priere's hand to get up. "You know? You could go very far by participating in the tournaments."
"That I can guarantee," Phil said crossing his arms with his eyes closed and a smile.
"Get that! Now we can acquire the fragment!" Edea exclaimed looking at Kairi.
Kairi nodded before looking at Father Salade. "Mister. I don't know how to thank you for this. If not for you and your advice…"
"You don't have to thank me, young lady." Said Father Salade. "The one you have to thank is Priere because it is she who won, not me."
Kairi smiled at the man's words.
"GHRAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Everyone turned to see Hades, who was completely red with his flames burning uncontrollably, breathing violently.
"No way! I refuse to accept this result! I want a rematch right now!" Hades exclaimed angrily.
"In your dreams, Hades!" Priere said, crossing his arms. "You said it: I defeat Hercules, you give me the fragment. That was the deal."
"She's right," Zeus said. "Now stop complaining and give them the fragment. They have earned it."
Hades glued his face to Zeus'. "Do you know what could happen, brother? I'm not taking risks!"
"What do you mean?" Kairi asked.
"What do you think will happen if you break the seal, and somehow screw up? We will all pay for you!" Hades exclaimed. "I'm not going to risk putting the fate of Olympus in the hands of some brats who have no idea what they're up against or risking if they fail!"
"Now it's enough!" Priere exclaimed. "If you're not going to give us the fragment willingly, I'm going to beat you until you give me the fragment!"
"Oh, do you want to fight me, monster?" Hades asked, making Priere angry at the term used. "Well, I'll teach you how a god fights!"
Kairi frowned at Hades's rebound. "It's enough! We'll solve this right now!"
At that moment, Father Salade raised his arm, stopping the group.
"We'll take care of it."
After those words, both he and Alouette, Culotte, Eclair, and Homard got up from their seats and moved to stand next to Priere, causing both the girls to look at them in confusion and Hades to raise an eyebrow at them.
"Are you seriously thinking of fighting me?" Hades shook his head rolling his eyes up. "Outsiders, each weirder than the former."
"You shouldn't underestimate us, Lord of the Dead." Father Salade warned. "We have defeated enemies more fierce and terrible than you are."
"Oh really?" Hades smirked, creating a ball of fire in his hand. "Then prove it!"
Hades launched the fireball at them, but they scattered as Priere blocked the fireball with his hand. Hades frowned but when he wanted to realize it, Father Salade was already in front of him.
"Old stu-"
Suddenly, Father Salade punched him in the stomach, which interrupted the Lord of the Dead with a grimace of pain and surprise.
"I wouldn't underestimate Salade the Demon Killer if I were you," Salade said, giving her another blow that had Hades's head drop, then kicking her back.
Hades blinked several times before snapping back to reality, watching as Eclaire, armed with a sword-shaped spear and a shield, lunged at her, beginning by shooting lightning from her spear at Hades. But he dodges the lightning and takes the tip of the girl's spear with his hand.
"You missed, young lady." Hades said with a mischievous smile.
"I wouldn't say that much," Eclair said looking at the god.
A hiss was heard behind Hades. "Behind you~!"
Hades raised an eyebrow at the voice, turning his head to see a girl identical to Eclair, but dressed in a form-fitting leotard instead of a dress whose weapon was a bolt of lightning shooting out of the weapon's handle. She extended her weapon, hitting the Lord of the Dead's back, causing him to receive a tremendous electric shock that lit up her body.
The girls were silent processing the fact that that girl had appeared from the beam that Eclair released earlier, but they decided not to comment even when the aftershock ended her attack and it vanished merging into Eclair.
Shock smoke billowed from Hades's body after the attack, shaking his head to recover and look at the angry girl, only for Homard to jump at him wielding both of his rapiers.
"Oh, and now the pirate." Hades snarled rolling his eyes before unleashing a fiery shot from a finger at him.
But the pirate blocked the shot and before the god could do anything he began slashing and stabbing dozens of times at him with his rapiers, ending with a crosscut with their flame-covered swords, driving the Lord of the Dead back.
"How did you like that, God of corpses?" Homard asked with a smile, but apparently tired.
"Oh really? Use fire against me? What were you thinking? Fight fire with fire?" Hades asked angrily, preparing a fireball to throw at Homard.
"Well, maybe something holy will put you in your place, Lord of the Dead," Alouette said catching her attention.
After several prayers, Alouette raised her hand to the sky, and before Hades could attack her, several projectiles began to fall on him like a storm, also nullifying the fireball he had prepared.
When the attack ended, Hades began to look everywhere angrily, not caring who would be his victim at that moment, until he saw Culotte near him.
"And what do you want, little rat?!" Hades asked, red with anger.
Culotte looked somewhat scared at the Lord of the Dead, but he bent down, pulling from his backpack what looked like a stuffed cat. Everyone fell silent upon seeing the stuffed cat. Even Hades started to think if that was some kind of joke. Suddenly the stuffed animal began to rise like a rocket toward the sky, which made Hades look up until it disappeared. The god arched an eyebrow looking up until he saw how it came back, but...
"Oh no," Hades commented looking up, while a shadow grew over him.
The girls, Hercules, Phil, Zeus, and even Priere winced when what fell on top of him was a giant stuffed cat weighing several tons that shook the place on impact. When the giant stuffed cat began to rise again and shrink to enter Culotte's backpack, they saw Hades lying on the ground, half buried in the ground by the weight of the stuffed animal.
"That's enough…" Hades groaned, raising an arm and pointing upwards, before starting to get up. "For Pete's sake, I am a god… I deserve more respect!" Hades staggered to his feet as he looked up at the stars.
As his mind focused, he saw Priere advancing toward him, cane in hand.
"Hey hey! Calm down! Calm down!" Hades exclaimed, stepping back with his hands raised. "Pri, Pri, Pri! Can I call you Pri? Hey, you're worried about your boyfriend, aren't you?"
Priere stopped in front of him when Hades mentioned that.
"Yes, after your visit I investigated you in case you came up with something like this." Hades said. "Look, if you forget about the fragment, I'll help you find your boyfriend, okay?"
"That's cheating!" Culotte exclaimed angrily.
"That was very low!" Makoto exclaimed, ready to jump into the arena.
Priere was silent for a moment.
"Yeah. It is true that I am worried about Croix. I don't know where he is. I would do anything for him. But…" Priere said, clenching her fist in front of Hades. "But now Kairi needs me. And now I must help her end this conflict. So you will give us the fragment by hook or by crook!"
With those words, Priere hit Hades hard with the cane, sending him flying to the bottom of the stadium and passing through one of the entrances, causing a great scandal with the noise caused by the strong impact. And at that moment the fragment, which was sent flying by Priere's blow to Hades, fell to the ground in front of the group.
"I'm glad she's on our side," Edea said with a grimace as Kairi nodded.
Zeus shrugged. "Well, I think the issue is already solved, right?"
Culotte approached, looking at the fragment on the ground before picking it up. "Is this what you were looking for?"
"It doesn't seem like much, really," Homard said. "It looks like a normal black triangle."
"And yet I feel a great dark power in it," Alouette said.
Priere approached her younger brother, who handed over the fragment, the latter showing it to the girls.
"We have it!" Priere exclaimed with the shard held high, a smile on her face.
"Finally luck smiles on us," Rena said with a smile.
Priere then looked at the others. "Thanks for everything."
"It has been nothing, Sister Priere. Whether you are a demon or not, you are still a part of our group." Alouette said.
"Yeah, that won't change anything." Said Father Salade with a smile.
"And now what do we do with you? We must get you somewhere safe now while we can." Priere said.
"The truth is that I wanted to ask you to leave me here," Culotte said, making everyone look at him.
"What are you saying?" Priere asked.
"I've done some thinking, and I need to get stronger. And from what I've seen, this is the right place." Culotte said.
"What do you want to get stronger with, huh, kid?" Phil asked walking up to the boy. "Well, look no further, because I am the satyr you are looking for. I have taught the strong man everything I know."
"Wait! Are you seriously going to train me?" Culotte asked surprised.
"Yeah, but let me tell you six words, kid," Phil said. "I am very strict with my apprentices."
Makoto got lost again recounting Phil's words.
"I won't let you down, sir! I mean…coach." Culotte said.
"That's the way I like it, boy, with determination," Phil said proudly.
"Maybe I can teach you a trick or two for someone your size, little one," Hercules said as he approached and placed his hand on Culotte's shoulder.
"Well, that means we'll stay here for now," Alouette said.
"Yes, at least to make sure that Culotte doesn't end up broken in training." Said Father Salade. "I have the feeling that he is stricter than I was."
Priere glanced at the girls, watching as Kairi nodded, before turning her gaze to the group. "Then we will come back for you if it happens that our world has returned to its place."
"I hope you are well on your journey," Eclar said looking at Priere.
"Do not worry! You already know me." Priere said with a smile.
"That's what we're worried about," Homard commented.
"Are you hinting at something, Homard?" Priere asked, annoyed by her comment.
As they talked, Eve looked at Kairi.
"Now that we have the first fragment, we already have an idea of what we are looking for in the other worlds," Eve said. "And I think with that fragment I could program a scanner to locate the other fragments more easily."
"Not forgetting the fragment stolen by the pirates," Edea said.
"Precisely," Eve said.
"Well, at least luck is smiling on us this time," Kairi said, directing her gaze to Priere, who was happily discussing with her former classmates.
Meanwhile, Hades rose from the tremendous blow, rubbing his head as he looked away from it, before turning his head to the readers.
"If this all goes wrong, nobody must blame me like usual."