With Ichabod's help, Ms. Sonda and Lina now also had weapons that worked well against the shadow monsters… but Batrasa absolutely insisted that they eat there first.
Sophie: "Mmm…"
Ms. Sonda: "Mmm…"
Marcus: "I have to say, this is delicious."
Fiona: "Yeah…"
Ichabod: "I have the best wife."
Alice: "Yeah, sure."
Lina: "You can taste things through the doll?"
Alice: "Yeah… right now, I am the doll."
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm."
Ichabod: "Oh… right… the magician with dolls."
Batrasa: "Hehe, I'm really happy you all like it."
After a while… they left the building.
Sophie: "Mmmm."
Ms. Sonda: "Alright… I'd say we continue… where to next, Alice?"
Alice: "Mm… let me think… I can't tell you because the shadows are following us… so I have an idea… just come with me… and I'll guide you to the place… how about that?"
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm, okay."
They started moving.
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm… Alice?"
Alice: "..."
Alice suddenly became quiet.
(A few minutes later)
Alice: "(Cough)… I'm back, sorry hehe, the doll had a problem."
Ms. Sonda: "Oh… okay…"
Alice: "By the way… I actually don't want you to kill Raven anymore."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Ms. Sonda: "Why the sudden change?"
Fiona: "Hmm?"
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm?"
Alice: "Well… preferably bring him to me…"
Ms. Sonda: "…o…kay?…"
Alice: "Just please do what I say, alright?"
Ms. Sonda: "Okay… as long as we deal with the Zantanel situation."
Alice: "Exactly."
Fiona: "(Hmm… something's wrong…)"
Sophie: "What is it, Fiona?"
Fiona: "It's strange that she suddenly changed her mind… especially after being gone for ten minutes… something isn't right… I can tell Ms. Sonda noticed it too."
Sophie: "Hmm… yeah… I was confused too."
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm… (...I don't like this… why did she change her mind within ten minutes… it can't be a coincidence… from 'kill him' to 'bring him to me'… that's a huge change… does she want something from him?... does she want to give him another chance… or does he have something she desperately wants?… hmm.)"
They kept walking.
Alice: "There…"
Sophie: "Huh?"
It was a forest… but… it was dark.
Sophie: "Hmmm."
Fiona: "Creepy."
Marcus: "As dark as Ms. Sonda's hair."
Ms. Sonda: "Could you all please stop with that already?"
Fiona: "Yeah Marcus… enough already… even I'm getting tired of it."
Marcus: "(Sweating)… okay… sorry."
Sophie: "Don't drag the joke out."
Marcus: "I already said sorry."
Lina: "Honestly, Master Marcus."
Marcus: "(Silent)… I said sorry."
Ms. Sonda: "Whatever, let's continue… by the way, Marcus… once we get back, you'll be punished… I'll discuss it with Miss Valentine."
Marcus: "Ughh…"
Sophie: "Oh…"
Fiona: "Looks like someone kicked a beehive."
Marcus: "Mmm."
Ms. Sonda: "You too, Fiona and Sophie."
Fiona: "Huh?… you made fun of my cane too…"
Sophie: "And my hair."
Fiona: "…Hahh, whatever… Miss Valentine can do whatever she wants… old hag."
(Meanwhile)
Ms. Valentine: "(Forehead twitch)…"
Meliodas: "What's wrong?"
Ms. Valentine: "I don't know why… but I suddenly remembered only Fiona and Marcus called me an old hag."
Meliodas: "(Sweating)… and you're only 27 years old."
Ms. Valentine: "Meliodas… I'm 29 now…"
Meliodas: "Ohh… right…"
Ms. Valentine: "And you are… how old again… 19?"
Meliodas: "(Sweating)… I was your master, Ms. Valentine… I'm 33 years old."
Ms. Valentine: "Ohh…"
(Meanwhile)
They drove through the dark forest.
Alice: "Some of Raven's people are here… humans and elves who probably don't like me."
Sophie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "We're not killing any of them."
Alice: "Kill them if they're armed."
Ms. Sonda: "No… we're not doing that… honestly, I'd rather not end things that way."
Fiona: "Mhm."
Sophie: "Yeah… maybe they have their reasons."
Alice: "Mmmh… do whatever you want…"
They got out of the vehicle.
Sophie: "Hmmm…"
She knocked on the door.
Sophie: "Hello?... Hello?..."
The door opened.
Sophie: "Oh, hello little one."
It was a child.
Ms. Sonda: "Hmm."
Fiona: "Hmm."
They looked at Alice.
Alice: "What?"
Fiona: "I'm just watching… I don't trust you."
Alice: "You think I'd kill a child? Never."
Fiona: "Hmm… I've seen way too many dead children… and I really want to avoid that kind of thing… sorry… so I'm keeping watch."
Alice: "I see… so even for you… it's unpleasant… I thought you got used to this job."
Fiona: "Mmm…"
(Flashback)
Fiona: "No… no… no… please… please… why… why… I put you all in the safe room… so why… did you still die… why… no… no…"
(End of flashback)
Fiona: "Mmm."
Lina: "Umm… Fiona… your nose is bleeding."
Fiona: "Mmm…"
She looked at her hand.
Fiona: "Hmm… you too, Lina."
Lina: "Huh?…"
Sophie: "Huh… what the hell."
She touched her nose.
Sophie: "Ugh… blood."
Marcus: "Hmmm?…"
Ms. Sonda: "Ugh…"
(Deeeeeetttt)
A loud sound rang inside their heads.
Sophie: "Urk."
Fiona: "Aaarghhhh…"
Alice: "Huh?…"
Ms. Sonda: "Ghhh."
Marcus: "Hmm?... what's happening here… ghhh…"
He looked at the child… suddenly its head twisted completely around.
Child: "Hehehehehe… hehehehehehe…"
Sophie: "Ugh!"
Inside the house were corpses.
Alice: "Oh no… that's not a human… that's a cursed Skinwalker!"
Skinwalkers are beings capable of taking the form of other living creatures… they are extremely rare and mostly live in forests… they can create a certain vibration that causes headaches and nosebleeds.
Sophie: "Urk."
(Dieeetttttt)
Fiona: "Aaaaaaaarghhhhhh."
Lina: "Ghhhh."
They collapsed to the ground.
Sophie: "Ghhhhh…"
Alice: "Get away from there quickly."
Skinwalker: "Hehehehehe… hahaha…"
Suddenly, a dark voice.
Skinwalker: "…Food!"
(Fwoosh)
Skinwalker: "Huh…"
Someone appeared.
Alice: "Ugh… that's… one of the others who entered the island."
Carlos: "Hehehehehe… what do we have here… looks like someone's in trouble… hehehehehe…"
Skinwalker: "Why aren't you in pain?"
Carlos: "Huh?... I can't hear your voice."
Blood came from his ears.
Skinwalker: "You numbed your own ears!"
Carlos: "Hehehe… I can't hear you, but from your lips I can tell you can't believe I numbed my own ears… well then, monster… I am the hunter Carlos Rodrigues…"
(Ttttttt)
His eyes glowed… he took out a flute.
Carlos: "Hahh."
And he began to sing…
Carlos: "…Hehehe…"
Skinwalker: "What… ugh."
A horrifying face appeared… it passed through the Skinwalker and tore it apart.
(Splach!)
Carlos: "Oops."
Sophie: "Ghhh…"
Fiona: "Hahh… hahhhh…"
Ms. Sonda: "Huh?…"
Carlos: "Oh… guess I helped you all."
He removed the plugs from his ears.
Carlos: "Ouch."
Sophie: "…What did he say… hunter?"
Carlos: "Ohh… hehehe… Os Caçadores… The Hunters."
Sophie: "Ughh!"
Fiona: "Ughhuh…"
Ms. Sonda: "How… wait… Os Caçadores… you're the organization of crime and bounty hunting…"
Carlos: "No… no… no… not just that… we also like collecting rare things… hehehe… like that flute just now… that's my arcane ability…"
Os Caçadores is a secret organization that once held real authority in San Guimaraes under King Silase… who was infamous for his cruelty… so much that his own people eventually killed him…
Sophie: "Hahh…"
Fiona: "Hmm."
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Leonora: "There you are… Carlos…"
Suddenly a dark aura came from both of them… no one dared move.
Alice: "Such… murderous intent… even for me, this is insane…"
Sophie: "Hahhh."
(Pump!... Pump!)...(Pump!)...(Pump!)
Sophie: "Hahh… hahhh…"
Fiona: "Ughhh… (I've read about them… they were once called heroes… but in truth… they were never heroes.)"
In the early years, these people were celebrated as heroes… but in reality, they were people given these powers through experiments… there was nothing human or heroic about them… they killed villages and innocent people… and they murdered anyone who disobeyed Prince Silase…
Silase was actually the prince, not the king… King Eduardo was paralyzed… so the prince ruled instead… creating an unimaginable regime…
Eventually… the people could not endure it anymore… and Silase was killed during a ride by several sharpshooters… eight bullets… two through his head… two through his heart… three through his stomach and one through his kidney… he died instantly…
And the Hunters were dissolved after the truth came out that they were never heroes.
Sophie: "Hahh…"
Carlos: "Mmm… so… so… what do we do with them… Leonora?"
Leonora: "Hmm… do they have anything important?"
Carlos: "Hmmm… nope… not really."
Leonora: "Then let's just leave…"
Carlos: "Really?... we followed them for this… at least let me have some fun with those two women over there… the redhead and the woman with the cane… hehehe… both have beautiful eyes."
Marcus: "Ghhh!"
(Swoosh!)
Suddenly a dark figure appeared and Carlos stepped back.
Carlos: "Woow… this one's strong."
Marcus: "…Leave… preferably now."
Ms. Sonda: "Hahh… yeah… he's right, just go…"
Fiona: "Mmm."
Sophie: "Ghh!"
They pulled out their weapons… Sophie aimed her pistol… Lina did the same… Marcus summoned his dark figure and Fiona brought out Bob.
Marcus: "Hmm."
Carlos: "Hmm."
Leonora: "Come on, let's leave…"
Carlos: "Hahh… man… thought I could have some fun… guess I underestimated you… besides, we have something else exciting to do anyway."
Sophie: "Huh… exciting?"
Carlos: "Hmm."
Leonora: "We also want to meet this Zantanel… during the trip at sea, we found a Dark Umbrella corpse… and there we found a photo of Zantanel…"
Sophie: "Ugh… how do you know about Zantanel?"
Leonora: "Hehehe… information, my dears… we used to work in the government… our boss Blade is waiting for us… anyway… let's go, Carlos."
Carlos: "Okay, okay… bye!"
He waved and walked away.
Alice: "…Mmm… great, even more weird people in my Wonderland."
Sophie: "Hmm… that's really not good… I thought they didn't exist anymore."
Ms. Sonda: "Mhm."
Fiona: "Apparently… they decided to continue… they've just stayed quiet recently."
Sophie: "Even when they became bounty hunters they stayed silent… that worries me."
Raven: "Well now."
A voice suddenly appeared.
Alice: "Raven!"
Sophie: "Ughh…"
Cinderella: "Hello…"
Fiona: "You're here too, Cinderella… hahh, why am I not surprised?"
Cinderella: "Oh come on, we should be friends by now."
(Wushhh)
Sophie: "Huh…"
Alice: "Raven."
This time Alice truly appeared… with her people.
Sophie: "Ugh…"
Alice: "So… you know what to do."
But instead of surrounding Raven… they surrounded the Dark Umbrella group.
Sophie: "What… Alice… what is going on here?!"
Ms. Sonda: "I knew something was wrong…"
Fiona: "Huh?"
Someone appeared.
Ms. Sonda: "Huh…"
Sophie: "Ughhh…"
It was Zantanel.
Zantanel: "Well hello…"
Sophie: "...Ugh…"
(Several hours earlier)
Alice: "Alright then, follow me…"
(Krach!)
Alice: "Huh?"
The door opened… several dead dolls ran out.
Alice: "Ughh…"
(Patch!) (Patch!)
Zantanel: "Sorry for the interruption, dear Alice."
Alice: "So… you must be Zantanel."
Zantanel: "Exactly… I'm here to free Rapunzel."
Alice: "Unfortunately, that's not possible."
Zantanel: "…Alice… I know you don't like humans…"
Alice: "The ones who don't belong here."
Zantanel: "Still… The Neverland, as you call it… don't you want to destroy it?"
Alice: "Huh?"
Zantanel: "Help me create a world of chaos… or die."
Alice: "Hmmm… and what do I gain?"
Zantanel: "Simple… Wonderland could become greater and stronger… imagine conquering it all."
Alice: "Hmm…"
Zantanel: "More people who fear and love you… fewer dangers and more control… help me free Rapunzel and I'll help you… on one condition… don't kill Raven either."
Alice: "Hahh, I have no interest in conquest… but… I have an idea."
Zantanel: "Hmm?"
Alice: "I want all of you to never return here again… I will destroy the gate that opens every year… I'll help you… and you help me destroy that gate."
Zantanel: "Agreed… oh by the way, what about the Dark Umbrella?"
Alice: "I don't like them. You can do whatever you want with them."
(Present time)
Alice: "Hmph."
Sophie: "Hahh… this is why you should never trust a damn witch."
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
Zantanel: "Heheh."
Alice: "So… I'll free Rapunzel now."
Fiona: "No… ugh… what do you mean by that?"
Ms. Sonda: "Ugh."
Alice: "That was the deal… and you really did destroy the gate. The gate is made of plants… with your curse, you could destroy it."
Alice Robot: "I saw it. She destroyed it."
Raven: "Mhm."
(A few minutes earlier)
Zantanel: "Hey."
Raven: "Hmm?... well now, aren't you the one who came here with Dark Umbrella…"
Zantanel: "I have… a proposal for you, Raven… wouldn't you like… to become the ruler of Wonderland?"
Raven: "Hmm?"
(Back to the present)
Alice: "Follow me."
They followed her… Sophie, Fiona and the others were tied up.
(A few hours later)
They were back in Alice's castle.
Alice: "Hmm."
She pressed a button and a door opened… and there it was… the crystal.
Zantanel: "Hmm."
Alice: "Here it is… now I'll free her."
Sophie: "We have to do something… ghh."
Fiona: "Hhhhh… don't do this, Alice, please."
Alice: "Hmph… no human tells me what I must do."
She placed her hands on the crystal.
Alice: "…Haaahhhh… now!"
She pressed and it shattered.
(Krach!)...(Krach!)...(Krach!)...(Krach!)
(Patch!)
Rapunzel fell.
Zantanel: "Hmm?"
Alice: "Don't worry… she'll wake up… the seal is broken."
Zantanel: "How are we supposed to—"
(Krach!)
Suddenly she pulled her hands free from the ropes.
(Krach!)
And her mouth freed itself.
Rapunzel: "…Hahhhh… hahhhh…"
She opened her eyes… and immediately… everyone felt the pressure.
Zantanel: "Ughhhh."
Fiona: "Hahhhh…"
Rapunzel: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Alice: "Huh… what… is happening here…"
The bindings broke apart… and she freed herself from the crystal.
Rapunzel: "Aaarghhh…"
A black liquid poured from her mouth and eyes.
Rapunzel: "…Who dares… who dares… who dares… to do this… to me, Rapunzel!… AAAARGHHH!"
A hand emerged from her mouth… and then… she came out… Rapunzel.
(Splach!)
Like an animal shedding its skin… except Rapunzel completely crawled out of her own body.
Rapunzel: "Hahh…"
She had two arms… and butterfly wings on her back.
Alice: "Ughh…"
Rapunzel: "…Haahhh."
She opened her eyes.
Fiona: "Hahh…"
Sophie: "Ghhh."
Zantanel: "What… power… wooww… she truly is strong… almost like Cinderella."
Cinderella: "Ughh… Rapunzel!"
She ran to her and hugged her.
Cinderella: "My sweet… daughter…"
Rapunzel: "...…Hahhhh.... Aliceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!"
She screamed so loudly that it didn't just crack the castle… or the room… suddenly countless eyes appeared…
(Meanwhile in Weimarer)
Unknown Man: "Hey… what's wrong with the stars above?"
Unknown Woman: "Huh!"
The stars… began to fall.
(Krach!)
(Krach!)
(Krach!)
And then the stars began growing mouths and eyes… smiling wickedly.
Unknown Man: "Hahh."
Unknown Child: "Mom… I'm scared…"
(Meanwhile in Wonderland)
Alice: "Ughh… this wasn't planned!"
Suddenly Rapunzel appeared in front of her.
Alice: "Ughh…"
Rapunzel: "Hahhhhh… stars… space…"
(Snap!)
Several stars appeared and surrounded Alice.
Alice: "Hey, Zantanel, this wasn't the plan… this isn't what we agreed on!"
Zantanel: "Idiot… since when does a liar trust another liar?"
Alice: "Ughhh."
Zantanel: "Hmph."
Rapunzel: "Ahh… so you are the one who planned my freedom… would you mind… if I take revenge first and thank you later?"
Zantanel: "Hmm, I don't mind. Go all out."
Rapunzel: "Thank you."
The stars crackled with lightning.
Alice: "AAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH!!!"
Marcus: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Hahhh."
Alice: "AAAAAARGHHH… ARGHHH!"
Then a giant box made of stars appeared and swallowed Alice.
(Krach!) (Krach!)
Rapunzel: "Hahhh… but that's still not enough… you tortured me for so long… you witch… I will destroy your beloved kingdom and open the gate of the Abyss!"
She looked at the door.
Sophie: "No… no… if you do that… more rifts and Nemesis will appear… don't do it… Wonderland will be destroyed!"
Rapunzel: "Exactly what I want."
She stood before the gate.
Rapunzel: "Hahhh."
She opened it.
Rapunzel: "Hmm."
Suddenly… a loud trumpet echoed.
(Wuuummm…)…(Wuuummm…)…(Wuuummm…)
Sophie: "Hahhh…"
(Meanwhile in Wonderland)
Neze: "Huh… what… is that?"
Elf: "Huh… a rift?... impossible… there are no rifts in Wonderland… Lady Alice takes care of them!"
Several Nemesis appeared.
(Meanwhile)
Rapunzel: "So… oh, by the way… that used up half of my powers… maybe even sacrificed them."
Zantanel: "Hmm… that's not cool, you know."
Rapunzel: "It was necessary… otherwise Alice would've been in the way."
Zantanel: "Hmmm…"
Rapunzel: "Should I kill these people for you too?"
Zantanel: "Hmm?"
She looked at the Dark Umbrella group and smiled.
Zantanel: "No… no… where's the fun in that?... Hehehehehe… besides, we don't have time for that… otherwise Nemesis will appear here too… we should disappear now… will you come with me?"
Rapunzel: "Hmm… you're not forcing me."
Zantanel: "No."
Rapunzel: "I'll come with you… you saved my life and freed me from suffering… unlike my mother."
Cinderella: "Ugh…"
Rapunzel raised her hand, about to hurt Cinderella, but Zantanel stopped her.
Zantanel: "No, stop… your mother was worried about you and she herself was sealed away… don't be so harsh on her. I promised her I'd help you."
Rapunzel: "A moment ago you told Alice that liars shouldn't trust liars."
Zantanel: "Hehehe… yeah… but I don't want to become that kind of liar either… hehehe… come now, Rapunzel."
Rapunzel: "…As you command…"
Zantanel: "My name is Zantanel Kafka."
Rapunzel: "I know… the stars just told me your name… although that's a lie… Alice said it earlier… but she belongs to the stars now too… hehehe."
Zantanel: "Come on… let's disappear."
(Krach!)
They vanished.
Sophie: "Ghh…"
Fiona: "Damn it…"
Marcus: "Ghh… come on, let's get out of here… Alice's soldiers aren't here right now… and they probably won't come."
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Okay."
Ms. Sonda: "Move!"
They left the castle.
(Krach!)
Sophie: "Ughuh."
Fiona: "Ughh!"
Marcus: "…Hahhh."
All of Wonderland… was covered in fire and ash… Zantanel had killed every human here… the elves too… though some survived, apparently… as well as the fairies.
Lina: "Horrible."
Marcus: "…We… failed…"
Fiona: "Ghh… damn it…"
Sophie: "Hahhh… let's go back… please… there's nothing we can do anymore… except report this to Dark Umbrella… we failed to stop them…"
(Meanwhile)
Raven: "Hey… Zantanel, this wasn't the plan."
Zantanel: "Hahh… be glad I'm letting you live… I kept my word… Wonderland belongs to you now… hehe."
Raven: "Ghhh."