Chapter Text
Rei wouldn’t say that she was the biggest fan of the cold. Yes, the winter season was quite pretty. At the same time, it made for the worst weather to wear dresses. Not that her particular outfit was really doing it for her. Clearly meant as a replacement of her old uniform, it meant going through the process of empowering the mystic code once more. By no means a bad thing, it was still annoying.
“Please let the next Lostbelt not be a snowscape. Please let the next Lostbelt not be a snowscape. Please let the next Lostbelt not be a snowscape…” the master thought as she met Kadoc’s gaze. Very much sizing her and Kiyohime up, that didn't explain the look he was shooting at the couple.
“I can take them.” Anastasia announced, only to catch looks from Kiyohime and Rei. Almost as a joke, Kiyohime brought forth her fans. Setting them ablaze, she pointed one in the royal's direction. “That changes nothing.”
Kadoc raised an eyebrow.
“She's a Fujimaru, regardless of what that vixen's crony claimed.” Kafoc announced, Rei looking away. Muttering something to the snow, it was back ahead. “For the record, fuck her.”
Kiyohime looked at her wife. As much as she wanted to offer her a squeeze, that would mean having to extinguish a fan. While the option of summoning more servants was there, the rest of their crew was still on their way. Starting a fight without backup was the absolute last resort.
“I’ll be fine.” Rei cooed, splitting her focus between both opponents. “Care to elaborate on that statement? I hate Mrs Fujimaru as well, if not even more so.”
Kadoc’s eyebrow remained up. Looking over to Anastasia, the crypter was met with a head shake from his servant.
“No comment.” Kadoc announced, his eyebrow now coming down. Just in time for Kiyohime to take a step forward. Kimono waving about in the wind, the fire intensified. “Oh. You were actually serious.”
Rei nodded. Anger surging across her body, she did her best to hold it in. The longer that she thought it over, the more pissed off she felt.
“What? Of course I want to know what the fuck my mom is doing now with Koyanskaya! Especially after her stupid attempt to seize control of my workplace! So yeah, I’m fucking pissed.” Rei screeched and caught Kadoc by complete surprise. Looking back over to Anastasia, a warning shot from afar was enough to dissuade any further attempts (currently).
“Oh my. I didn’t think this would turn into a possible family reunion.” a voice announced, no doubt Koyanskaya. Not that Rei or Kadoc could see her. Nor would it change anything if they could. Beyond the fact that some of the former’s anger would be directed in that general direction.
“Go away!” Anastasia announced, her doll floating off in Kiyohime’s direction. Picking up a clump of snow, an attempt was made to dump it on the innkeeper. Failing miserably, that was her owner’s cue to go for more direct results. Mostly in the form of an icy wind, it did little to actually stop Kiyohime’s advance. Let alone the fire on her fans. If anything, they seemed to intensify in heat and/or temperature. “You must have other servants, right? At least bring out someone who might be willing to fight fair. That’s all I’m asking for.”
Rei shrugged. Looking out behind herself, she could just make out the Shadow Border heading her way. Coming at a reasonable pace, it was now a matter of surviving long enough to get the necessary support.
“Maybe, maybe not.” she countered and cracked a smile. Watching Kadoc’s composure shatter, that was Anastasia’s cue to follow after her doll. Charging up some kind of ice-based attack, it was promptly cut off Kiyohime’s fire breath. Especially as the innkeeper snatched Vivy out of the air.
“Give her back!” Anastasia screeched, choosing to go for a swipe. Connecting with the air, all that accomplished was catching even more flames. Shooting a look in Kiyohime’s direction, she followed it up by way of an ice breath. That too was deflected by the innkeeper’s fans. “Brat! Asshole! Bully!”
Rei’s eyebrow went up.
“You’re the one who attacked first.” Rei countered and caught a glare from Kadoc. Tuning it out to the best of her abilities, she watched the Shadow Border roll up. Da Vinci rushed out, briefcase in hand. Goredolf followed right behind, an oddly feminine walk compared to his companion. Not that Rei particularly dwelled on that detail. Mostly on account of how fast they managed to close the distance. Handing the briefcase off to the master, her attention turned ahead. “Now then, let’s see who wants to engage in a bit of regicide.”
Anastasia’s gaze snapped over. Muttering something less than appropriate under her breath, Kadoc shot her a look. Then it was back over to Rei once more. Only now, Mordred and Jack had joined the battle.
“Phew.” Kiyohime whispered as Mordred threw Jack on their back. Charging forward, Kiyohime took care to give them the appropriate space. Wouldn’t want to get in the way, after all.
.
Shadow Border (ToC)
Ritsuka shifted ever so slightly in her chair.
Happy as she was to hear from her fellow masters, this was very much not the place she had in mind. At the same time, it was a miracle in itself that they were even able to have this conversation in the first place. Something to do with how Zero Space interacted with parallel universes and the like. The actual technical explanation went well over her head, but it boiled down to being an internet connection across space. And maybe time, but she wasn’t completely certain on that front./
“That certainly beats what happened to me.” Ritsuka muttered, only to catch a look from BB. Currently doing her best to maintain the connection, that was easier said than done in Void Space.
“That isn’t really a high bar, though.” Rei countered, both women’s gazes snapping over to Priscilla’s portion of the display. Currently humming to himself, that didn’t explain why he had Kadoc tied up with his face caked up with makeup. Or where he had managed to get a dark blue and purple dress. “How about you, Priscilla?”
Priscilla nodded and cleared his throat. Checking to see if Kadoc had made any attempts to get free from his binds. Finding that he hadn’t, it was back over to whatever he was using to communicate with everyone else.
“I guess it’s my turn then.” the crossdresser announced and composed himself.
.
Priscilla was used to shame.
It was one of the few consistent things in his life, even after getting swept up into Chaldea. In a way, it was quite comforting. But not this time.
“You're not going out like that.” a voice announced and Priscilla's gaze snapped over. Finding Goredolf, the master froze. Roman and by extension - Da Vinci, had put up with his unique brand of commanding servants. Goredolf was now the one in charge and that would no doubt bring with him mass- “If nothing else, at least let me touch up your makeup.”
Priscilla did a double take, but nodded nonetheless.
“Thank you, director.” he cooed and watched Goredolf pull out a makeup palette. Getting to work on Priscila’s face, the rather tight sparkly blue dress shined in the relatively limited light of the vehicle. Add in Priscilla’s pale blonde wig done up in a braid down to his back, it was quite obvious to the director what his plan was.
“So what’s your plan if the next lostbelt is snow-themed as well?” Goredolf inquired and caught a shrug from Priscilla.
“Honestly, I’ll just go as Anna then.” Priscilla countered as Goredolf pulled away. Taking a moment to admire his handiwork. A smile formed on the director’s face.
“Fair enough. Though, the studios and parks are very much mage shell companies.” Goredolf added as Priscilla picked the briefcase up. Mentally preparing himself for whatever awaited outside, what looked to be a mysterious admirer planted a kiss on his lips. Putting a spring in Priscilla’s step, he rushed out. “I trust you know what you’re doing, Miss Serenity?”
Serenity made herself visible. Currently hanging from the ceiling of the Shadow Border’s exit, it was a cinch to get down and meet the director’s gaze.
“He needs the body heat.” Serenity answered and caught a look from Goredolf. Opening his mouth for a brief moment, he closed it right after.
~
Outside, Priscilla took a moment to catch his breath. While Elsa’s dress in the movies managed to keep her warm, the costume version was very much leaving a lot to be desired. Good thing the poison coursing through his body was offsetting that with some amount of body heat.
“You know, I could probably ask Kadoc about that.” the master thought as he scanned the horizon for his target. For once in this blasted singularity, that was quite an easy task to achieve. Mostly on account of Priscilla being able to make out the crypter laughing his ass off. Anastasia was thankfully silent, mostly on account of not completely getting why Kadoc was laughing in the first place. Normally a small kindness, it wasn’t meant to laugh. Priscilla was certain of it.
“When Koyanskaya said to look for a massive fairy, I didn’t think she meant in that context.” Kadoc taunted as Priscilla approached. Feminine gait on full display, he did throw a touch more effort to boot. Just on the off chance that his opponent was jealous.
“Wait. Is that the Snow Queen?” Anastasia blurted out, only to catch a sigh from Kadoc. Shooting him a look, it's back over to Priscilla.
“I mean, Frozen is kind of an adaptation of that particular fairytale.” Priscilla countered, the sound of footsteps echoing about from behind. Tuning them out, he split focus between Kadoc and Anastasia. More the former than the latter in this case. “Does that count in your book?”
Anastasia looked to Kadoc. Catching a head shake, that was oddly Vivy’s cue to rush over to Priscilla. Doing a couple loops around the master, the doll promptly flew back over to Anastasia. Taking their place beside the grand duchess, they almost looked to be whispering something to her. Not that Priscilla could make anything out.
“No it doesn't, you entitled, disgusting fairy!” Kadoc announced and caught a glare from Priscilla. Taking a step forward, the master muttered something to himself. Yet, Kadoc made no effort to meet Priscilla’s gaze.
“Go ahead. Say that again.” Priscilla cooed, leaning even further into the feminine tone. Yet, Kadoc refused to look his way. If anything it almost seemed like he was looking even further away. “Clearly you think that you're somehow a worthless mage, cursed with misfortune. You're not, for the record.”
Kadoc opened his mouth, but closed it right after. Still refusing to even steal a glance in Priscilla's direction, that brought with the sound of chains rustling. The head of a spiked ball passed by, just barely missing Kadoc and by extension - Anastasia. Looking past Priscilla, the pair found Penthesilea. Oddly pissed, there was very little stopping her. Beyond her master (obviously). A shame that the pair had managed to burn that particular bridge.
.
Shadow Border (MA)
Rei raised an eyebrow.
While she was expecting some kind of story when it came to why Priscilla’s Kadoc was in the state he was in, this was not the form she was expecting. Judging by the way that Rei and Knuckles were looking from her end, the master was not alone on that front.
“Isn’t that a touch excessive?” Rei inquired and Priscilla shook his head. Taking care to split attention between the various other feeds on this call, a sigh followed.
“It was very much a split second decision and in the heat of the moment, I might have snapped.” Priscilla answered as he gazed down at his lap. Pulling his head back up right after, a reluctant smile. “If anything, I’ll no doubt get punished for it once we reach the Wandering Sea.”
Ritsuka and Rei raised an eyebrow. Falling down as quickly as it came up, a new thought entered their minds. One of far more importance and could help later down the road.
“How the heck did you get your Penthesilea to like you?” Rei inquired, only to catch a confused look from Priscilla.
“Aren't you a girl as well?” Priscilla announced, only for his Penthesilea to walk in. Taking one look at Rei, it was back over to her master.
“She's just been giving me the cold shoulder, that's all.” Rei explained and caught a look from Penthesilea. Looking over to Priscilla once more, it was back over to the screen.
“I mean, I wouldn’t exactly call him manly in the slightest. Kind of like Astolfo and Jack.” Penthesilea announced, only to catch looks from her audience. Didn’t explain the muffled ‘hey’ coming from one of the feeds. “Better question. Who the heck invited that thing to this meeting?”
Pointing in the direction of Knuckles’ feed, the echidna shrugged. Trying to hold in his laughter, that caught him a glare from Penthesilea. “I guess that makes it my turn then.”
.
Knuckles was quite used to the cold. That was a normal part of living on a floating rock in the sky. The few times that he wasn’t, were more the results of getting dragged away by the forces to be. Usually Eggman and/or whatever force that he had allied himself with for that particular day.
Yet, there was something different to this cold that the echidna couldn’t quite put his finger on. Even with the threat of microwaves more or less eradicated, there was no telling what other contingencies that Gaia/Alaya had that were now activated. Probably something annoying, if he had to take a guess.
“Maybe this is the work of an emerald?” he thought, shifting his grip on the roof of the Shadow Border. By no means the most comfortable ride in his life, it certainly beat walking and/or gliding in treacherous conditions. “No, it would be obvious if such a power source was invol-”
Before Knuckles could finish that thought, a rather large ice sculpture slid by the border. Coming far too close for comfort, that was the echidna’s cue to stand up. Taking a moment to get his balance, his attention turned ahead.
In the distance, Knuckles could make out Kadoc and Anastasia. The former on the lookout, the latter hard at work creating ice sculptures. To what end, he couldn’t say. While his first guess was some kind of intimidation factor, they were far too generic to work as intimidation. Ignore the fact that the vehicle could just drive through then without any damage.
“Hey! Give back the Chaos Emerald!” Knuckles shouted, his words echoing about the snow. Kadoc and Anastasia looked at each other, then in the direction of Knuckles.
“Are my eyes playing tricks on me or did that rat just talk?” Anastasia announced, only for Kadoc to shake his head. Focusing on each other rather than the incoming vehicle, what sounded like a sigh escaped the crypter’s lips.
“First off, that’s an echidna. Not even close to a rat.” Kadoc explained, catching a glimpse of the Shadow Border skidding to a stop. Knuckles jumped off, gliding rather gracefully in the snow. Gaze locked onto the pair as he dusted the snow off of his body, they reluctantly gazed back. “Secondly, what makes you think we’ll just give you back the emer-”
Before Kadoc had a chance to finish that statement, he was decked in the groin. Crumpling to the floor, Knuckles wasted little time rustling through his pockets. Finding nothing beyond some saint quartz, a couple dolls and a second vivy doll, he chose to leave it all behind. Instead, his focus shifted to Anastasia.
“Where is it? I know you have it on you.” Knuckles accused, very much ready to punch the grand duchess. The only thing really stopping him from accidentally committing regicide was that of the rumbling earth. Taking a couple steps back, his gaze snapped behind himself. There, Kingprotea was charging head-on.
“For the last time, you may not play with Anastasia. Nor the mammoth, for that matter! Do I make myself clear?!” BB announced, trying her hardest to keep up with her towering daughter. Easier said than done while she was in this particular state.
“I don’t care. Tiamama said yes and that’s all the confirmation I need. If anything, she’s a far better mother than you ever have or ever will be. I don’t even know why you try.” Kingprotea announced, only to catch a look from her mother and her master to boot.
“What do you mean Tiamat is here as well?” Knuckles announced as Kadoc and Anastasia forced their attention over as well. Clearly not knowing what exactly to make of this predicament, that was to be expected. “It’s a long story. Not that I was going to tell you two to begin with.”
Kadoc raised an eyebrow. Looking over to Anastasia, he was met with a shrug from the grand duchess. Already in the process of conjuring forth yet another ice sculpture, it was a moot point. Mostly on account of the additional rumbling of the earth. A tear formed off to the side, the snow threatening to rapidly fill it up. Or at it would’ve, had Tiamat’s massive body not pierced through.
“Of course I’m here. What mother wouldn’t be?” Tiamat announced as she pulled herself slightly further out. Waiting a moment for her audience to focus on her and her alone, the mother of all was instead met with an ice sculpture to her chest. Slamming into her with the force of a wet noodle, Tiamat’s gaze snapped. “Young lady, is that how you treat your other mother?”
Anastasia remained silent. Almost looking ready to conjure forth yet another sculpture, she stopped herself.
“Of course not!” Anastasia countered, puffing her chest out for good measure. All that the grand duchess got was getting picked up by the mother of all. “Uh… A little help here, Kadoc?”
Kadoc rolled his eyes, only to find himself KIngprotea now holding him. Clearly having much in the way of ideas, all it would take was a command from her master to stand down. Alas, Knuckles was not in that sort of mood. Especially with the true prize still in play.
.
Shadow Border (&K)
Knuckles let out a breath.
While he normally didn’t consider himself much of a talker, something about this felt kind of cathartic. Not that the echidna could put a finger on why exactly it brought that feeling. Didn’t particularly matter.
“Anything else we need to go over?” Knuckles announced, his gaze bouncing about between Rei, Priscilla and Ritsuka. Getting shrugs, a tiny part of him felt like he was forgetting someone. “Wait. Did Hakuno not ca-”
Right on cue, Hakuno called in. Oddly stressed out, her clothes were in absolute mess. No sign of her Nero or Tamamo. Instead, she had Extella with her. Somehow even more unkempt and disheveled than normal, her blade jittered about on edge.
“Sorry about that. Demon Pillar Invasion right before a Christmas event.” Hakuno announced, catching looks from all sides. Of course things couldn’t be easy.
“Is it even close to Christmas?” Ritsuka announced and caught a shrug from Extella. Catching more looks from her fellow masters.
“Good question. No clue.” Extella announced as the sound of Jack carving their way through… something echoed from the other side. Not that Knuckles and company could discern whether or not that was the full extent of what was going on. While the temptation to ask was there, there was no doubt a rational explanation to all of th-
“Ritsuka, you’re needed on the bridge!”
.
Shadow Border (ToC)
Watching the feed cut off, Ritsuka’s gaze snapped over to the doorway. Finding Kiyohime and Serenity there, that didn’t explain the presence of Salter. Dressed in her Shinjuku Singularity attire, she almost looked like she was chowing down on some candy. Not that the master could think of where she had gotten it in the first place. Or why she was glaring daggers in BB’s direction.
“I assume that you’re the one who called for me?” Ristuka inquired and Salter nodded. Watching Kiyohime and Serenity take their places beside their wife, she motioned for the trio to follow.
“You could say that.” Salter announced as her expression shifted. Leaning forward, she raised a hand to her ear. Holding it there for a couple moments, it came back down right after.
“Is something the matter?” Ritsuka inquired and Salter shook her head. Gazing down at the floor, her mouth opened up. Yet, only silence escaped her lips. “Salter?”
Salter shook her head.
“It’s nothing.” she muttered and shook her head. Catching raised eyebrows from the trio, the fallen king headed off…
.
Fuyuki Singularity F
“I knew I would find you here.”
Goetia rolled his eyes. While he wouldn’t say that he was hiding (per say), the number of eyes staring at him made it a vastly unfair challenge.
“Oh. Is Alaya pissed that I’m disobeying this vessel’s wishes, Ms Fujimura?” Goetia announced and met Taiga’s gaze. Dressed in her kendo attire, she looked… indifferent.
“Yes, but that’s small potatoes in the grand scheme of things.” Taiga explained, only for Goetia to raise an eyebrow. “I assume that this is where you plan to end things?”
The words rolled out and the demon king sighed. If he didn’t know any better, he probably would’ve thought she had gotten lucky. Goetia knew better.
“Maybe, maybe not.” the demon king countered, the glare of the eyes intensifying. “It is quite premature to ask that. She still has five more lostbelts. That’s not even accounting for whatever other trials might be thrown her way.”
Taiga rolled her eyes.
“Yes, but it’s not like you to just come here on a whim.” Goetia muttered and caught a chuckle from Taiga. “What is your true reason for seeking me out?”
Taiga rolled her eyes and sighed.
“There’s a rumor going around alleging that you’re in fact a single demon pillar wearing the face of the beloved Mr Archamani.” Taiga accused and watched Goetia’s expression shift. Kendo stick now pointed out at him, a sigh followed.
“Purely the work of Satan. You really need to stop hanging out with them.” Goetia countered, only for a rock to hit him. Shooting it a look, he was gone. Afterwards, Taiga let out a chuckle.
“Having met ‘the devil’ themselves, they’re not all that bad.” Taiga announced and stretched. Then she was off as well.