Quick note here. I had originally not planned on using the Red Prince and had cut it, but then realized how much shorter it would have made the story (by like a chapter or so) and I would have lost a little impact so I added in a way that raises the stakes a little.

What was this place? A castle?

Why was she here? She had traversed a long distance, attempting to find her. She was driven to find her, and this castle was in her way! Oh, if she could just go around! Alas, the fastest way around was through! She must reach the tree!

She knew Little Red was heading there, too. It called out to her. There was something about it that drew her.

Neo frowned as she wandered through the entrance. It was too easy to sneak in. The toys guarding the entrance were easy to trick and fool with his constructed illusions. Drawn for their place, she could strut on in. Why toys were being used as guards was beyond her. Never mind that they were sentient, but they made her day simpler! How easy would it be to take this place for her own? Oh, a castle would be…

Dreadful. It reminded her too much of Lady Browning's Preparatory Academy. That place was built like a castle and shared many similar features! All to fuel their ego on how Spider was hiding in plain sight… Until she and Roman exposed them.

Neo gnashed her teeth, slamming her fist into the wall. Why was every thought returning to him? There was nothing she could do! She couldn't bring him back! All she had left was the memory…

And she could avenge that.

Ugh. What was with this place and red? She wouldn't have minded it if it wasn't for it being adorned everywhere and so tackily decorated. It was like her father's useless trinkets!

And why were the spiral staircases that led to nowhere?! It was infuriating! Who built this place? She could fire them if she could!

Neo rolled her eyes as she stepped into the center room beneath the main spiral of the castle. From here, she could find her way. Hopefully, there was a way through. Otherwise, this shortcut would turn into a detour.

And what was with this room? Was that chess set in the center? Ugh, why were there so many games and pieces to games all over the place? Who made this a game room? This should obviously be the throne room!

"Halt! Who trespasses onto my castle?! No, who dares walk into my game room like they own it!"An agitating voice shrieked.

Neo was drawn to an awfully dressed humanoid kid who thought they were royalty. He was somehow shorter than her. She scoffed, waving him off as she looked around further. A large grin formed on her features. Finally, she wasn't the shortest in the room!

Her face darkened, and she scowled at that thought. She had long accepted her appearance and appreciated it. Those thoughts reminded her of what she felt like when she was young… And hidden from the rest of the world by her parents.

"A human? Ugh, I hoped I would never have to see another filthy cheater!" The tiny red prince glared at Neo. "Of course, only a human would sneak into my castle and try to wreck my gaming room! I shall teach you manner, young lady!"

His words caused her to stop. Her gaze sharpened, and turned back to the Prince. What did he say? He said human? Did that mean he had contact with humans before? Did Little Red come through here? Where was she?!

And why was her world shrinking?! Was she on the chessboard?! Were the pieces moving?!

Neo's eyes sharply glanced across the board, the subject of her ire sitting on a throne-like seat. Gleaming with joy at how she appeared now. "Now, let's play a game, shall we?"

"And I won't lose to a filthy cheater!"

"Little, how much longer?" Ruby exhaustedly asked, crossing a bridge and entering the acre he had informed them of. She squinted at the mouse tucked into her hood, nudging him awake again. Why was he like this? "We've been walking all day and haven't even left the jungle. Are you sure we are heading in the right direction?"

"Yes?" Little nodded, but his squeak wasn't brimming with confidence.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Yang grumbled and sent a glare at Little. "Oiy, you better figure it out really quick! This day is…"

"Starting off with a Yang!" Blake chirped as she slunk to Yang's side, her eyes fluttering with amusement.

"Blake… Could you not?" Yang awkwardly turned her head away, hiding a mild flush.

"Why? Cat got your tongue?" Blake mewled, her fingers interlacing with Yang's, causing Yang's face to blush beet red.

"You know how I feel about puns… Stop…" Yang muttered, looking away bashfully.

"About time," Weiss mumbled, faintly smiling despite her flat features.

"Why do you say that?" Weiss jumped at Naruto's voice, curiously tilting his head at Blake and Yang.

Hadn't he been walking next to Ruby? Wait… Why was Ruby trailing her now? Why was her pace so slow?

Weiss scowled momentarily, returning her gaze to Naruto. "It just is."

"Mah, if you say so." Naruto squinted before shrugging his shoulders.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Weiss sharpened her gaze.

"Don't know. It just doesn't seem like the time. Feels like other things should be the priority right now. Lost in another world. No sure answers on how to return. Friends who are struggling." Naruto answered honestly before his gaze shifted behind the slowed pace of Ruby before he locked eyes with Weiss.

Weiss' breath momentarily hitched before she flushed and shot a nasty glare at Naruto. "I'm fine…"

"Atlas was your home, wasn't it? My village was destroyed not too long ago. I know how it feels to lose your home." A cold shiver traveled down Weiss' spine at Naruto's tone of voice. She ducked her head away. Why was it so… Sympathetic? And she hated it!

"Don't act like you know me," Weiss responded coldly.

"I guess you're not wrong there," Naruto winced but nodded.

A moment of silence followed. Weiss' gaze shifted back and forth several times toward Ruby and then to Blake and Yang. A slight pang of anger followed by guilt. She didn't want to feel like that and was genuinely happy, but…

Her home was gone.

"You lost your home as well," Weiss awaited Naruto to speak while not looking at him.

She grimaced as he nodded, unsure what else to say. She didn't even know how to move on. The idea of the place she called home was gone. What was she supposed to do? All she could do was channel all her pain and keep moving forward. Make that pain her driving force not to stop.

It was all she had left.

"What did you do?" Weiss asked, her gaze finally shifting to him.

"I kept fighting," Naruto simply replied, recalling everything he felt when he stepped foot into the ruins of Konoha. His eyes burned with determination as he looked ahead. The trees thinned, and what seemed to be a settlement was off in the distance. "Just cuz it was the darkest day of my life to see my village destroyed didn't give me the choice to stop fighting. I couldn't let everyone down. I could let myself down and show everyone the fear that welled within. I had to keep fighting. I kept going so I could give everyone hope that we could start over again and rebuild. Cuz if everyone else has hope, I can keep moving forward."

"And rebuild we did." Naruto paused. Weiss was left wordless, gazing uncomfortably for a moment before she looked to the dirt, contemplating what he had said. His first response was almost alarming. But it made sense as she listened to what he had to say. She couldn't contextualize it in words. He wasn't eloquent in doing so, but his words resonated. Hearing that someone else who lost their home did what needed to be done and started to rebuild their home left a sense of hope.

Her gaze shifted to Ruby. Weiss felt she was listening to Naruto, too, for her step had picked up. Weiss grimaced and tucked her head. They had both lost something. She was too cold last night when Ruby woke up…

"…Or at least started to before the war. Eh, that's another topic altogether! Let's not get into that!" Naruto nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

Weiss shot a glare at him, breaking her thought before her face fell. He was facing a war of his own back at his home too. She knew how that felt. How horrible the feeling was…

But all was not lost. Winter still remained and had to be fighting. Her mother and Whitley were alive. They could build a new home again.

"Thanks," Left Weiss' lips, and she held a sliver of a smile. "I think I needed to hear something like that. It puts everything in perspective."

"You're welcome?" Naruto scratched his head and chuckled, mildly confused and unaware. He hadn't said anything that profound. It was simply what he had to do, and he conveyed his feelings straight from his heart.

People always had profound reactions to that. Even when his words should have echoed hollow…

"About time you caught up," Weiss huffed as Ruby trudged beside them. She then softly smiled, attempting to bring up the mood. She knew she had lost her father… But they had never been close. She didn't have an idea of what to say to Ruby.

She had lost the same friend twice. One that she, from observing, felt like it had a spark. What was there to say?

All she could think was to lighten the mood.

Weiss kept her smile and sent a content, but shaded, glare at Naruto as she tried to make light of the situation. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I would think you were conjured to be here with us. Having someone who can precisely relate to what we are going through feels a little poignant. What next? Do you have advice for a couple unable to figure out how to say how they feel?"

"Mah, not really… I was on the receiving end of that. Still not sure how to feel about it given when it happened she was protecting me and nearly died for it…" Naruto furrowed his brow at what Weiss said. It did feel a little on the nose that the first people he found here were searching for their own way home. Was a part of a war and dealing with the consequences of it. Having lost their home or someone close to them.

It felt entirely as if it was on purpose. And he didn't like that.

"Seriously! I was joking! Really, what are you?!" Weiss stumbled, and for the first time, Ruby chuckled very lightly.

"Watch what you joke about. It might come true." Ruby smiled. Weiss halfheartedly scowled at Ruby but hid her smile, seeing her friend acting close to normal.

So she could deal with her snarky comment. However, why was his face twisted in concentration? What was he thinking…

"Come on, slowpokes!" Yang waved from ahead. "I can see the village! Let's hurry up and see if this vendor has Weiss' weapon so we can get out of here!"

"And maybe I'll find that raccoon that took my arm and give him the what for!"

It didn't take much time to arrive at their destination. The cat seemed to know locomotion with him was faster and simply rode his shoulder, knowing it couldn't keep up. It was almost as if he expected it. That was annoying on its own.

At least the cat was helpful. Able to direct him efficiently and explain the area. It seemed to know everything about this place. And from what he gathered, he was one of the first beings created in this world. And that his creators were of Light and Darkness.

Ironic, but it made sense it thought they were creators when they possessed Yin and Yang chakra. Now, if that chakra could repopulate. The techniques he gained through it were a massive drain on his coils.

What he could do without was the cat's banter as he attempted to scan this strange miasma of an area for clues about what pink glow was.

"Fascinating." The Cat mewled, much to Sasuke's chagrin. "Your powers are different yet similar to my creators, Young Creator. Yet, they feel oddly familiar and in ways similar."

"How so?" Sasuke knelt, finding tracks of a humanoid creature… And deep heel tracks? Was someone else wearing high heels in this terrain?

He had thought the royal girl would have ditched hers by now, given how useless they were in anything but an urban environment. Someone else didn't have the sense to ditch them or at least take them off while traveling in rugged terrain.

"Your powers have an aura of darkness to them. As if they have been tainted somehow." Cat mused. Sasuke glowered internally. The cat wasn't wrong. Indra and his descendants were bathed in the hatred that consumed him. Hate that he only overcame because…

"Your power reminds me of when Darkness and Light first brought me into this world. It's subdued and calm. As if it is at peace." Curious added, taking all of Sasuke in before mewling. "That was long before they had their differences and left this world to fight."

Sasuke's tongue clicked. A God of Dark and Light had issues with another and fought over it? It seemed as if certain facts transcended worlds.

However, he refrained from glowering. He was far from pacified. After their tussle, he accepted Naruto. He proved his way could work and was working. But if there was something that had to be handled less than cleanly, he would handle it.

Following the tracks, it was clear only one had left, and it wasn't the humanoid creature. The marsh helped, but a clear and visible energy trail traveled in the same direction, making it significantly easier to track.

"The feeling of this creator is different. Curious." Curious sharply stared in the direction the aura went.

"Another creator?" Sasuke's gaze sharpened before following the trail, intent on finding this other creator.

"Oh yes. In my time, I have seen many minor creators come and go. None ever came close to being like my creators until you arrived. But this sensation is quite frightful, I must say." Curious widely grinned despite the words that left his mouth.

"Tell me," Sasuke grunted, following the trail. Without Naruto, he didn't have an empath or sensor who could tell him this information.

And the cat knew its place, even if it was plotting. He would handle that when the time came.

He watched Curious Cat's teeth flash brightly as it purred on his shoulder. And one word followed that left Sasuke slightly unsettled.

"Madness."

"Uh, what happened here?" Yang blinked at the entrance of the town.

Everyone else stood beside her, flabbergasted at the panic of what seemed to be toy soldiers accosting the town's citizens.

"Well, this will make it easier to blend in. No need to act like we belong." Blake attempted to look at the bright side.

"I always wanted to be long, but I am still just small." Little responded, mishearing Blake.

"Ha, I like him. We should keep him." Yang snickered, earning her a jeer from Blake.

"Shouldn't we help them?" Ruby looked around at the panic, feeling like she needed to do something.

Only for Naruto to punt the first toy soldier accosting a bird creature. Each of their eyes narrowed, watching the toy shatter into pink shards of aura glass.

"Neo?" Ruby's voice dropped to a whisper, and her eyes narrowed.

"Not sure who that is. Regardless of whatever created these things, they are fakes imbued with such a negative energy I'm struggling to determine what it is." Naruto frowned, holding his temple in mild agony. "Gah, these buggers are giving me a headache."

"Then let's take care of them." Yang cracked her knuckles, a slight grin spreading. "Good timing."

"I need a bit of stress relief since that raccoon stole my arm."

What was with this stupid game?! The rules didn't make any sense! And the punishment she received when she failed was absurd!

Neo's body ached. Her limbs hung limply at her side. Her breath was shallow.

She had quickly comprehended the game's rules and had been excelling, but he kept throwing a new rule in to up the stakes. She had to adapt on the fly. Neo was more than capable. It was trivial…

Until the rules of the game became contractionary. He was forcing her to cheat. That was the only way she was going to win. And in turn, he would gain the satisfaction of knowing he was correct.

And that was the last thing she wanted to do. The main objective hadn't changed. He wasn't paying attention to her last pawn. No, all his focus was on her. Good.

Neo seethed at the chuckling Prince. He dared to think this was funny? He trapped her in this game as punishment for just trying to get through this place! Like it was that much of a crime to trespass! She had done far worse in the past just to survive!

"Just give up! I've already won!" The Red Prince preened, giddy about his victory over the intruder. "Alas, if you would only speak, it would make this victory all the sweeter!"

Neo sneered as she stood at the center of the board. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Those words reminded her too much of what her father used to demand of her… When she never could!

Guiding the last pawn with a flick of her arm, her clone moved the last pawn into position, leaving the Red Prince to freeze. Neo smugly flipped a single finger toward the Prince.

"No, no, no! This can't be… I can't lose." The Prince stuttered, stunned at how the game turned on him. Neo turned the tables and preened before the Prince, causing his shock to shift to rage. "You must have cheated! I'm done with this game! You shall pay for this!"

Her eyes sharpened. He wasn't going to restore her? He was going to renege on the rules he set due to the pettiness of losing? Her stomach boiled in anger. She had done everything right, and this little twerp was going to flip the table in his rage!

"No."

The Prince froze as shards of pink aura glass congealed to where a player would sit across the other board. His chair leaned back until he fell out of it, attempting to crawl away only to find a wall at his back. A horned creature's foot echoed as it stopped before him, towering over his hunched form.

"Fix."

"Yes, yes!" The Prince snapped his fingers in terror.

The world around Neo returned to her usual size. The board creaked under her heels as she tapped her feet. It felt nice to return to normal…

But her anger remained.

Neo stepped beside the demonic creature, unsure precisely how it came under her control. But if this being feared this creature, she would use it to her advantage.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry for breaking the rules! It will never happen again!" The Prince begged, kneeling before her and asking for her forgiveness.

Neo sneered. He thought she was simply going to accept his apology? After he broke his own rules after she won the game.

Oh, he was going to be sorry.

"Remove…?"

The Prince screamed as the creature moved forward but stopped. Neo held her arm in front of it. It was feeding on her anger. That wouldn't do. Killing him wouldn't be satisfying. No, only one person deserved to die. She had a better punishment in mind for him.

Instinctively holding out her fingers in a similar snapping matter to what the Prince had done earlier, Neo's finger snapped.

And a wave of pink light engulfed the castle.

"Well, that's the last of them," Yang wiped her hands as the last of the fake soldiers had been dispersed. "Not sure what her problem is, but I'm gonna give her a beatdown the next time we cross paths! She won't surprise me again."

Ruby shrunk at Yang's statement but stiffly nodded. Naruto frowned at this interaction. From how she reacted, it felt like she knew this Neo person differently than the others. Did she know why she would do something like attack this town?

"Thank you very much for the assistance!" A voice called out nearby.

"It's the rat!" Yang squinted, shaking her fist before spitting. "You took my arm! Give it back! I might need that later!"

"But I'm a mouse." Little looked offended. "That's the Jinxy Peddler. That's his purpose."

"You are adorable, but not right now!" Yang lightly winced before turning her focus onto the raccoon.

"I did no such thing!" The Jinxy Peddler huffed and shook his head. "All my goods are acquired with upstanding methods. Now, if you wish to purchase one of my items, I will gladly put them up for auction."

"Why you little…" Yang refrained from reaching over and strangling the raccoon.

"I don't see our stuff anywhere." Weiss sulked, scanning his wares in his booth and not finding her sword.

"All of Jinxy's items are disguised so those buying them would think they are extremely valuable," Blake informed Weiss, browsing the wares herself.

"So, how do we find what we are looking for? Or pay for it?" Ruby asked, doing the same. It had been some time since she read the book, so her memory of it was vague. However, her attention became fixed on a peculiar green doll. What felt like butterflies swirled in her stomach.

Why did it feel like she knew what this item was?

"What does your heart tell you?" Blake answered Ruby's question with a question. "As for payment, I don't think there is a currency here. I remember Alyx offered her happiest and saddest memories for her things…"

"That's right! I only accept what you offer if I like it!" Jinxy grinned, holding his arms up. "So if you would like to start the bidding…"

"Release." Naruto held his hands in a ram sign and expelled his chakra.

Immediately, all the items transformed into their genuine forms. Blake's eyes widened and snapped toward him. "How did you dispel the illusion like that?"

"Basic stuff from back home. Everyone's taught how to do that." Naruto responded, glancing at what was there now. "Ah, that's an arm… And is that your sword?"

"Yes!" Weiss desperately reached for Myrtenaster, only to jerk her hands back as Jinxy slapped them. "Ow!"

"There is no touching merchandise until the transaction is complete!" Jinxy growled only to flinch back as a weight presence was placed on him.

And a calm Naruto stepped forward. "Mah, I already proved you didn't get this stuff legitimately. Let's not make this worse for ya. Got it?"

Jinxy gave a weak yip and nodded, frightened of the young man before him. Whatever this man was, he didn't want to upset him!

"Good, I'll just be taking this back." Yang grabbed her old prosthetic with a grin. "At the very least, I can use it for parts for Ember…"

An ear-piercing shriek cut Yang's statement. Everyone jerked, temporarily searching for the scream's source, but Naruto gazed straight toward a sobbing Ruby as she fell to her knees…

Clutching what looked to be another sword. And if he had a guess…

It belonged to Penny.

This was carnage.

Sasuke had felt and saw another surge of light swallow this castle as he followed the trail of madness. Yet he couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by the damage inflicted on this castle. Saying a whirlwind swept through this castle would be an understatement.

It was a maelstrom of chaos.

Sasuke couldn't hide his glower at his thought. Somewhere, Naruto was grinning…

Sentient toys ran amok, running wildly while others attempted to regain order. Fighting against themselves, only for the fakes to shatter into shards of what seemed to be glass. He had walked into a battle and could only revel in the aftermath.

"Oh my, what happened here?" Curious Cat leaped from Sasuke's shoulder and onto the cold, stone floor. It was almost as if it was admiring the carnage before him. "This was the Red Prince's birthday. What tragedy has befallen him and his wonderful subjects."

"The same thing we're tracking," Sasuke grunted, sweeping through the castle in disarray, intent on reaching the center. He could feel the madness was concentrated there.

It helped that a shrill weeping was coming in that direction, entering what he expected to be a throne room, only to see a devastated and ruined game room.

"I'm so sorry… I'll never cheat again…" Came from the center of the room. Sasuke frowned as a sobbing royal figure sat before a broken game board, crying aloud. "I promise… I'll be better. Yes, I will be better. I will teach everyone to play the games properly…"

"My Prince?" Curious strutted forward, seemingly concerned for the royal figure. "What happened here?"

"Curious?" The Red Prince sniffled, looking up from his board to see the cat sitting before him. The Prince then lowered his head, failing to hold back his sobbing. "I broke the rules… And I was punished for it… Ah, not another human! Please, I won't break them again!"

"You were punished for breaking your rules? And a human punished you for them?" Curious tilted his head in wonder.

Sasuke's eyes sharpened. He already assumed it was whoever they were tracking. But to think they were capable of this? Well, it was intriguing, at the very least. They wouldn't be a pushover.

"I was so afraid…" The Prince sniffled, shaking his head. "There was nothing I could do once she summoned him… Why does it follow her orders?"

"It?" Sasuke questioned.

"The Jabberwalker." The Red Prince quivered and shook in fear. "She is in control of it…"

"She controls the one being that can stop Ascension."

And another update. Just got in before I had to get ready for work, otherwise I would have had to wait until tonight or tomorrow to finish it up.

Don't got much to say, hope you enjoyed. If you have a moment, I always love hearing from ya. Ya'll are my fuel and motivation, so every bit helps keep me going.

So until next time my friends, Peace.