Tundra was explaining what had happened to Ellen as Hirune went back into the forsaken realm to get her clothes back. Kala walked over and sat next to Hirune, staring at her face with curiosity. Then jumped back as Hirune opened her eyes already looking at her and her dress appeared on her.
"You need something?"
"No, no-- well yes, but no, you don't even need to worry about it!" Kala said panicking as she fell backwards off the bed.
Hirune leaned over her and sighed, "What is it?"
Kala laughed nervously, "You see, after Tundra took such a large liking to you, I've actually been curious about you. Thing is that since you lost most of your memories recently, I haven't been sure how to approach you."
"You could just hang out with us. I'm sure I'll warm up to you eventually," she responded with an eyebrow raised.
Kala sat up, "So, uh... Do you know Oceanic Pod?"
Hirune stared at her for a second before beaming, "You mean you also listen to them?!"
She nodded, "Yeah, they're actually my sisters--"
"You're related to them?! That's so cool! How's it like-- no, no. I'm sorry you probably get asked that all of the time and are tired of it."
"No, you're fine! I'm not good at talking about myself unless it's with anyone in our little squad so whenever we get a new member, I try to talk about my sisters instead to get comfortable around them."
Hirune nodded and hopped off the bed sitting crisscross apple sauce next to Kala. She stared at her confused for a moment, her shark tail swaying behind her.
Hirune rolled her eyes, "Go on, I'm interested in hearing about you and your sisters."
Kala nodded and smiled, "Okay, where should I start? Let's see... Fun fact: I have ninety-eight sisters and one brother. Safe to say Baleine was desperate to get a boy. Actually, I'm one of the youngest by eighty-nine years. But main topic right now, Oceanic Pod. You know, Ray, Orca, and Sunny are all stage names. Their real names are Mara, Skachi, and Koudya. Yah, I know, unique names. But that's something that's to be expected from children of Baleine. Though my favorite sister is Skasila, she's just a librarian off of the coast of Gresalia, I don't know why but she's just really comforting somehow."
Hirune nodded to show she was still paying attention, though she was still stuck on the fact that not only was she related to the three most popular idols in the world, but she had ninety-five other sisters and a brother.
"So would you say your relationship with all of them is healthy to some degree?"
"I don't know most of them, though mom claims that all of my older siblings have changed my diaper at least once. But it doesn't really bother me. The only siblings I need are Mara, Skachi, Koudya, and Skasila."
Ellen suddenly interrupted them, "Hirune, can I talk to you really quick? It'll only take a moment don't worry."
Hirune nodded and followed Ellen somewhere deep in the woods near the void pond. Then Ellen suddenly pushed her to the ground and put a black hole near her neck, just far enough for it to not suck her in.
"I'm sorry but I need that jester," Ellen said as she pulled out a small little box.
Hirune quickly devoured the black hole, pulled Ellen beneath her, and prepared a bright yellow flash in her hand her fingers around her neck. She knew from the moment Ellen pushed her to the ground something was wrong; she just wasn't sure what it was.
Then Ellen's eyes flashed black for a split second. Which snapped her out of whatever she was doing as she threw the cube away, "Okay, I understand. You want to keep the jester, it's fine."
Hirune tightened her grip on her neck, "And how do I know you're not lying? Sorry but you've got to remember, whatever trusting Hirune you met, no longer applies to you."
Ellen sighed, "I guess I have no choice then."
Ellen snapped her fingers and everything went black, then a huge light appeared before them. They were between two black holes of equal mass, being pulled in both directions, yet they remained stationary.
Ellen jabbed Hirune in the gut with her pinky and a bunch of chains came out of the black holes and restrained her. Ellen walked over and traced her fingers up Hirune's side until she reached right above Hirune's hip.
"Right about here," she muttered ripping a hole in that part of Hirune's dress. She summoned the box in her hand again and pressed it against the comedy mask mark on Hirune's hip. As this happened Hirune tried desperately to escape her restraints.
The box glowed brightly for a moment, but nothing happened. The mark stayed there and Hirune sighed in relief.
'Okay, she can't take away the jester. Good, good.'
'That's just the easy way to take an artifact, she's yet to try the other way. Though it's not really convenient and it's also illegal under certain circumstances,' Namulenza said with worry in her voice. 'I should've saved the Polar switch for this occasion! Why'd I have to waste it on Sangre?'
Hirune was about to ask what she meant, then Ellen got really close to her face and said, "You have the Devourer's energy throughout your body. If I get enough of that energy, I can devour the Shadow jester artifact off of you, so I'm sorry but I'm going to have to do something that's going to be uncomfortable for the two of us. Oh, and if you're wondering why your jester hasn't saved you, it's because he can't access this realm. But don't worry, I'll keep it to the more comfortable way even if it takes longer."
Ellen grabbed Hirune's face and kissed her deeply with no sign of stopping. Hirune squirmed, but the chains got tighter and held her completely in place.
Ellen pulled away and whispered into Hirune's ear. Her breath sending a shiver down Hirune's spine, "You could also just give up the jester. Think about it~, wouldn't just simply handing him over be easier~--"
Amia's voice suddenly spoke in the very back of Hirune's head and before she said anything Hirune instantly told her to take over. In any other case she would've kept control, but she knew that Amia would keep Ellen alive and sane in order to laugh at her failure and she wouldn't.
Her hair turned fully silver as she said, "Devourer!"
And just like that Amia was in control and a bunch of devourer jaws shot out of the shadows beneath her clothing and devoured the chains off. Seizing the opportunity, she shot a yellow beam of light out of her fingertip directly at Ellen's face. Causing her to grasp her head in pain as she heard the whispers of The King in yellow.
Amia laughed sadistically as she did two incantations, "Forsake Ellen! Forsaken Realm!"
Ellen looked around the at the new area surrounding her. The constantly blooming and withering flowers, the two uniquely colored ponds, the castle, and the three moons. It was extremely entrancing in its own creepy way. Amia's laugh echoing throughout it.