Early update, since I'm at the hospital right now. Don't know what's gonna happen-

-

"... so that's why, okay?" I blinked, my head buzzing. What... what just happened...?

The steel door flew open, a certain Blazeling strutting through, a confident grin plastered on. "... sup."

Soleil bounced up. "Tango! You came to save us...! I knew you had the heart of a hero!"

Tango winced at the complement, and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah... don't push your luck. Let's move."

Being free from cell was wonderful, even if this basement wasn't much better.

[FILE SAVED - Card Castle, Prison]

"Children...?" A soft voice made us all jump and spin around, me and Soleil reaching for our respective weapons. I did take notice that Tango did not reach for his axe.

"I mean no harm, I promise..." The voice came from a large cell, and, stepping closer, I could see three people sitting inside.

One of the ladies was the one speaking, her serpentine body reminiscent of the Rudinns we'd encountered. Everything about her screamed 'royalty'. "Who are you...?"

She spoke again. "I am Queen Gem Taylor, former queen of the Diamond Craggs..." her long body curled in on itself, trying to savoring any warmth.

The only man spoke after her. "You may call me King Scott of RiverFell!" He carried a pompous attitude with him.

"Hush Scott!" The last person scolded. She looked like both Sausage and Edmundo, a living doll. "I am Queen Shelby of Shroom Meadows... I'm sorry for my... 'friend's rudeness."

Gem slithered closer to the bars. "What're you kids doing here? The place is no place for you!"

"WE." Tango spoke for us. "-are the Heroes of legend, destined to save the world and all that stuff."

Something glimmered in her eyes. ""Heroes'? Oh, apologies! I didn't know!"

"It's alright!" Soleil assured her. "Once we defeat the king here, we can free everyone!"

Shelby jumped up. "Really?! I-I'll be able to see her again!?"

Scott huffed something. Something about a 'lesbian disaster'. Gem punched his shoulder.

"Of course!" Soleil promised.

"Thank you... kind Heroes..." Gem waved as they left, hope blazing in her eyes.

The elevator doors opened, and I hovered in front of the panel. The buttons weren't labeled, or at least they were, but they'd rubbed off due to age.

I pressed the third button, and instead of going up, we started going... sideways...?

"... pretty sure we didn't go sideways when we were dragged here." Tango pointed out. The doors opened, and the air nearly choked me. I coughed, staggering out of the elevator.

"Whoa-!" Soleil let me brace against them. "You okay?" I gave a shaky nod.

Tango took a step forward. "What's even over here? More cells?"

I stared down the flight of stairs. "Looks like just a single cell." I don't know why, but I started walking down the stairs.

[FILE SAVED - Card Castle, ???]

Yeah, real helpful, save file. Thanks.

"H-Hello?" I spoke up, my voice breaking under the pressure. Something was setting off alarm bells, just like the tree place. A heavy weight pressed down on me.

"BOO HOO, BOO HOO, VEE HEE HEE." A strange voice... sobbed. It didn't sound real, like the person was pretending. "SO LONELY, LONELY, I BE..."

Something red glimmered in the impenetrable darkness. "BUT LO, THREE VISITORS STANDING INSIDE? WHO ARE YOU FEW?"

Soleil was cordial, at least. "Hello miss! I am Soleil! And this is Diamond and Tango!"

Tango peered into the darkness. "So-" Twin red eyes and a wide, strained grin popped up inches from him. He yelped, scittering back. "What the hell are you doing in there!?"

"I AM INNOCENT, INNOCENT. I JUST WANTED TO PLAY A GAME. BUT THE BORING EMPERORS FOUND SUCH TO BE A TROUBLE."

Those three from the prison...? They seemed nice...

"AS PUNISHMENT, THEY CRAVED TO IMPRISON MY BODY. BUT I'M FAST, FAST, CLEVER, CLEVER." The strange voice giggled darkly. "THEY LOST THE CHASE, AND LOCKED UP THEIR ENTIRE RACE. BUILDING A PRISON AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD. NOW I'M THE ONLY FREE ONE."

"Huh? Free??" Soleil gripped the bars. "But you're clearly the one behind bars..."

"THINGS DON'T SEEM SUCH FROM HERE, LIGHTNERS!"

"Well, sounds like you don't need any help, then." Tango began walking away, pulling us with him. "C'mon guys."

"THAT IS UN-SO." The person ran a strangely sharp finger on her cell bars. "I GROW LONELY IN MY LITTLE FREEDOM. SO, SHALL YOU PLAY A GAME WITH ME, ME...? I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FREE!"

"Should we?" Tango initiated a group huddle. "This woman is bad news. I can tell. The air in here is just bad."

"I second that," I raised my hand. "But she's trapped down here, just like everyone else. We should at least try...?"

"I still don't like this..."

"Sure," I agree. "We'll play your game."

"FIND THE KEY, AND I'LL LET YOU BE FREE, FREE. THE KEY IS HIDDEN FROM EYES, THE SHOPKEEPER KNOWS A SECRET."

Shopkeeper...? Sausage?

I fished out the two broken key fragments as I ascended the stairs. Now that I looked at them, they definitely fit together.

Shopkeeper... maybe we should pay Sausage a visit.

"This lift should be our ticket out." The doors shut behind them, and this time I pressed the correct button. "Now, it might take a while, so..." Soleil made themselves comfortable. "Get comfy everyone!"

The elevator droned, the rattles and tiny bumps becoming background noise.

"Hey, Soleil...?" Tango spoke after a minute. "Y'know Joel's dad... the King?"

"Yes...?"

"When we meet him..." Tango twiddled his thumbs, uncharacteristically nervous. "Do you think we'll have to... hurt him?"

"Huh, Tango...?" Soleil moved closer to him.

Tango was quick to catch himself. "I mean-! I could EASILY destroy him! But..." his tail thumped loudly against metal. "You guys, I know that's not really your thing. You're more about, uh, groveling like total losers."

"Hey now!" I defended myself, but laughed.

"And-! I was thinking... maybe..." He looked between her and Soleil. "I could... do that too...?"

Soleil gasped happily. "Tango!? You wanna try out ACTing...?"

Tango glanced away, uncomfortable. "Uh, well-"

"We'd be happy to have you ACT with us!" I encouraged him.

Soleil backed me up. "And don't worry! We'll be there to help you! You won't have to figure it out by yourself!"

Tango gave a genuine smile, tiny and... relieved...? "... sure, alright."

Silence fell again, until the elevator clicked to a stop. Soleil stood, stretching. "Well! This is our stop!"

I moved to follow them out, but Tango stopped me. "Wait."

Tango pushed himself off the wall. "Y'know, I'm starting to realize. It'll be easier for us to get out of here... If we all, uh, 'get along' a little more. So... next time we fight an enemy... If you tell me what to do, I'll listen to you."

He gave me a warning look. "... but, y'know, don't tell me anything STUPID, or I'll go back to cracking skulls, alright?!"

I gave him a sly smile. "Sure thing, tough guy!"

He walked past me, smiling nevertheless. "Diamond... I'm counting on you, okay?"

"I'll do my best!"

-

"Uhhh, you're unbanned from free ham sandwich day??" Tango tried. The first of the twin Rangers squealed in delight.

* Soleil cast PACIFY!

The two left behind, we snuck out the front, Tango watching our backs. "Okay... we can use the warp door to get over to Sausage's shop, and be back in no time a all!"

"Just hope this is all a good idea..." Tango despawned his axe into his inventory.

"Me too."

The doll Darkner was cleaning the counter of his shop, smiling mysteriously at the trio of kids. "Heh heh... welcome back, kids...!"

"Hello! We're actually not here to buy anything!" Soleil took the lead. Sausage's smile never vanished, and he cocked his head to the side.

"Well, come here just to chat, then?"

"Actually, we came here to ask you about someone..." I placed the two key fragments on his counter. "A strange prisoner who acted really weird. She seemed to have known you, somehow."

"Strange prisoner..." Sausage tested the word, then froze. "Oh, Her. Eheheh, after all this time, all that effort I took to- ahem, so, you want to release Her...?"

"Yes- well, maybe..."

"Well... know that you've gotten me thinking..." He hummed quietly, his blank eyes staring at his hands. "It could be trouble if she were left alone for any longer. It would be better if you Heroes dealt with her now, rather than later. Who knows? Perhaps a little chaos could be fun...?"

"Here," He reached under the counter, placing the key fragment next to mine. "It's the last piece, since you've found the other two. Just gotta find someone who can fix them. Eddie could help with that."

How does he know the smith guy?

"Guess we're committing to this..." I held the fragments tightly, tucking all three into my keys items.

-

"This key has an awful energy to it..." Eduardo gave me the fixed key, albeit with hesitation. "Be sure NOT to use this on anything!"

I felt bad lying to him, but this was the last step, and hopefully it'll be over soon.

The trip back to the castle and the hidden cell went by a lot quicker, now that we knew what we were doing.

The strange prisoner giggled darkly. "VEE HEE HEE, THE KEY, THE KEY! A MARVELOUS FUN IS ABOUT TO BREAK FREE!! WON'T YOU LET YOURSELF OUTSIDE!?"

I took out the key, searching for a door to put it in.

... There's wasn't a door. Or, at least, there wasn't one before. As soon as the key came within range, a door materialized. The door swung open, and I saved for good measure before entering.

The lady at the other end of the room was unlike anything we've seen before. She was a plush toy Darkner, obviously, but definitely not friendly looking.

She had a demon-like body, red hood, tail, horns, and small wings. Strange purple strings wrapped around her arms, legs, chest and neck, although not connected to anything.

Her red button eyes flashed, and she grinned wickedly. "VEE HEE! VISITORS, VISITORS! NOW WE CAN PLAY, PLAY! THEN, AFTER YOU, I CAN PLAY WITH EVERYONE ELSE, TOO!"

Soleil looked around the room, at the strange carousel design. "So what are we playing, exactly...?"

"OH, IT'S JUST A SIMPLE..." Her eyes shadowed black, reflecting only a tiny sparkle of... lavender? "NUMBERS GAME..."

She lifted her hand, and a scythe flickered into it. The scythe tripled, and flew at us.

Tango dragged us out of dodge. "What the-?!"

"WHEN YOUR HP DROPS TO 0, YOU LOSE!!"

Tango summoned his own axe, grinning viciously. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh...? Then, I gotta warn you..."

I unsheathed my sword. Soleil readied their combat yo-yo.

"You're dealing with a couple of sharks..."

"VEE HEE HEE! SHARK-TO-SHARK! I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!"

"NOW, NOW!! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!"

-

We didn't last long.

"MY HEARTS GO OUT TO ALL YOU SINNERS!!" Tango was the only one of us still standing. He clutched his axe tighter, glaring at the Witch.

He tried skirting around the projectiles, diving around the Hearts, and swung his axe, shooting a flaming vortex at her. It clipped away at the Witch's HP, but wasn't nearly enough.

Tango crumbled to a dice bomb, and everything went dark.

Something stabbed through me, and I fought the urge to scream.

And I was back, fighting off the panic with a stick.

We were in front of the cell again, staring down the now open door.

Was that how save points worked? I never understood why I always interacted with them. Now I'm glad I did.

I really didn't want to think about how it happened, otherwise...

"Why-" I composed myself. "Why don't we try and prepare for this a bit more? Just in case..."

Tango and Soleil glanced at each other, and followed up the stairs after me.

-

"Ahahaha...! So the worms have decided to come out and play...?"

"Who's there!?" I wrapped a hand around my sword.

The mysterious voice must've found that amusing. "Thoust FOOLS...!"

A light beamed down, cloaking the entrance of a very colorful man.

He didn't look like any Darkner we'd seen up to this point, with his almost Lightner-esqe appearance, save for his dark gray skin. "I am The Grand Duke of Puzzles, thou're greatest adversary! Joey Graceffa! Thou may have clawdst past all thouse otherest conundrums...But Thouse were created by utter weakings!"

"Now, prepare thouself. For the STRONGEST puzzle of THOUST LIFE!" I slammed a hand over my mouth, disguising the snort that escaped. "TOIL WORMS!"

Tango stared at him blankly. "Do you think we're stupid?"

"Mayhaps!"

I rested a foot on the box, kicking it onto the switch. "Oh no...! How difficult...!"

His smile widened, stretching painfully. "GOD- DAMMIT-!"

He slid away, leaving me pondering his name. Wait... Joey Graceffa... JG...

"Oh, sonofa-!"

-

The next time he appeared, I didn't waste a second. "So... it was YOU who messed up all those puzzles back there!"

"Of course twas I! As I saideth before! They were made by weaklings!" He floated closer to us. "And ifst thou thought that was all I hadst, thoust would be wronge! It's time for you to feel my Reale Powere!!"

"Oh you are so damn lucky ​​​I'm not in the mood for violence." I hissed out.

"Behold! My ULTIMATE Puzzle!" I suppressed a scream. This was fine, I swear! All good! It's not like it's the last ​​​stupid puzzle rehashed with the box slightly further away!

"Gonna wring that stupid excuse for an enemy's neck..." I, once again, kicked the box to the switch.

He was silent, then started laughing. "Gullible little worms, you lot! That wasn'tst REALLY my ultimate puzzle! I have a wayst better one right... here!" He says that, yet showed us nothing.

"Can... can we see it?"

"No."

Finally, he's gone.

I fished out another Revive Mint from a red chest, my reward for goofing around with some disguised switchs.

Oh! Another shop! Well, I did say we'd need better gear if we want to deal with the Witch. I wonder who-

I pushed the glass doors open, stopping in my tracks. "Noooo, not you...!"

"Aha! Yes! Tis I!" The last person I wanted to see greeted. "Thoust greatest adversary! Now a humble shopkeepere!"

"Why even sell to us?" I grabbed 3 Amber Cards, one for each of us. Tango picked out a sweet looking axe from the weapons area.

"Hahaha!! So I might amasseth funds, Worms! An army of funds..." He took the D$ from us, counting it painfully slowly. "So that I may crushest thou like Fermented Grapes, into a most delicious and most adult beverage - Vengeance!! Ahahaha!! Oh, how I amuse myself!!!"

I held my tongue. Don't say anything. "Welp, good riddance!"

"See thou in the Dungeon, Worms!"

Tango played with his new toy, twirling it with practiced ease.

I was really, really not looking forward to what we needed to do next. "Alright, now that we have better gear, I think it's time we try aaaaaooout dealing with that strange prisoner!" Nice save, idiot.

-

Attempt number... guh, I lost track, ​​again.

* Let the games begin!

The Witch sprayed out a fan of spade shaped bullets, teleporting at our weak spots. This was the one I was most used to, and I slipped by unharmed.

I drew my sword, the black and orange blade gleaming in the low light. It easily cut through most of her attacks, but one or two streaked past me, a lucky dodge.

"OOOOOOHHH! LOOKIE HERE FOLKS! WE GOT OURSELVES A FIGHTER!!"

Her scythe grew in size, and quadrupled, criss-crossing in a circle pattern.

I bounced away, using my momentum to spin in place, letting the scythes fly past. Don't panic, remember what happens when you panic. ​​

Tango blasted the Witch back with a volley of orange, yellow and blue flames. "Why don't you take after your ancestors, AND BURN!?!"

"WHY WOULD I DO THAT?! THIS IS FAR MORE ENTERTAINING!!" The scythes sputtered out, and we had a second to breathe. Not for very long, though.

"WHAT'S A ROSE WITHOUT A FEW THORNS!?" She cackled, scythe handle slamming into the ground. Huge vines shot up after it, threatening to trap and ensnare.

"Tango, Fire Spin!" Oh Angel, it sounds like I'm in a PokeyMon battle.

Tango obliged, spinning his axe until it whipped up a gale, flames joining in. The fiery vortex burned away at the vines, reducing them to dust.

"Everyone! Hypnosis, together!" Soleil swung their yo-yo like a pendulum, and Tango shifted his flames to something far more alluring.

The Witch stared, transfixed, breaking away a moment later.

The ground beneath us shifted, and we fell into our own little seats on a merry-go-round. Not this again...!

Avoiding getting crushed was harder than it looked, and it took two Dark Burgers and Heal Prayer from Soleil to help us. At least we still have both our Revive Mints.

"HEE HEE! WATCH YOUR STEP!!" The Witch floated up, twin pairs of dice at the ready. "MY HEARTS GO OUT TO ALL YOU SINNERS!"

I split apart from Tango, forcing us both into a run as the bombs exploded over us. A dice was yanked back, Soleil straining to keep it from harming us.

They thew it, letting it fly and explode another dice bomb.

* Smells like chaos.

"YOU KIDS ARE REALLY KEEPING UP!!"

A barrage of diamond attacks swirled upwards, an almost tornado-like formation. "SHIELDS UP, EVERYONE!!"

Soleil ducked behind them, their specialized weapon at the ready, and Tango braced himself for the attack. Hopefully, if we do this right, it won't be necessary.

The diamonds cleared, mine and Soleil's HP close to single digits.

"Use the Spincake! I'll back up Tango!" Soleil nodded, and I sprung to my feet, letting the healing magic of it empower me. Tango already had a Fire Spin at the ready, and we charged.

The spinning of the room gave us a speed advantage if we followed it's path. Tango fought against the rotation, axe crackling with dark flames.

I lept at the Witch, distracting her for a moment. My blade clashed with her's, sparks flying. "OH HELLO THERE LITTLE HERO, COME TO PLAY!?"

"Fat chance!" I scowled, then smiled, my eyes flicking up.

I broke away from her, taking far too many spade projectiles to the chest. A fiery explosion knocked her down.

I smiled from my downed stance, Soleil helping me up with a Revive Mint. Only one left, better make it count.

"WOO! YOU KIDS TIRED ME UP!!" Tango and Soleil started lowering their guards, believing her. Even the next attack was dog water compared to the others.

"Don't stop! She's tricking you!" I got their attention. "Soleil, heal Tango! Tango, you know what to do!"

The two teens took the instructions, and Tango exploded up after a second. I followed not far behind, switching to my shield at the last second, buying Tango extra TP.

"JUST KIDDING!! THIS SHOW'S NOT OVER YET!! HERE'S MY FINAL TRICK!!!" The Witch blinked out of existence, replaced by her scythe. Tango had a moment to look shocked, before he fell.

Something metallic wrapped around him, and pulled him away from the falling attacks. The Blazeling crashed into Soleil, his savior.

I grabbed both their hands, pulling them towards a more or less safe spot I discovered. It wasn't really 'safe' but it was the easiest place to dodge these attacks.

In the end, only Tango himself was hit, and it was fixed by a single Dark Burger.

"Hah... How-" He winced at the phantom pains. "How much longer is this gonna take??"

"Hopefully not much longer..." I knew our time was running out. The Witch never ​​paused for more than a few seconds. "How much TP we got?"

"Uh-!" Soleil ducked under a spade bomb launched at them. Their arms and face glowed a soft orange. "About 68 percent...?"

"Okay..." Would it be better to Hypnotize or have Tango use his Fire Spin?

The decision wasn't my own, as Tango roared at the Witch, flames blasting from his raised axe.

"... 18 percent..."

"DINNER TIME PUPPIES!!" The Witch whistled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. Shadows leaked from her own, solidifying and forming into weird, half-melted dog-like creatures.

Tango's large ears flattened, and his let out an airy hiss, his tail lashing. My sword cleaved through one, then three, and reached a grand total of six before I noticed Tango's reaction.

His claws were leaving indents on the fireproof wood of his axe, and his pupils were thin slits. He wasn't moving, frozen in place.

A Shadow Hounds he faced snarled, leaping at him.

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!!" I slashed at them, a ferocity so wild it forced my mind blank. "LET OFF HIM NOW!!!" I tore the last Hound away.

Distantly, I heard Soleil quietly helping Tango through his thoughts. The Blazeling was having trouble breathing, coming in quick, ragged gasps.

I wasn't done. The fury wasn't gone. Not yet.

I grit my teeth, and, with a scream unfit for a girl my age, crashed into the Witch, her health taking a massive blow.

Something pulled me away from her, making my punch connect with nothing but air. I growled, the sound deep and animalistic.

The Witch staggered up, stuffing falling from her wounds. She appeared stunned, then smiled, her scythe dissipating. "HEE HEE HEE... YOU'RE A STRONG ONE, AREN'T YOU...? THAT WAS FUN!!"

"FUN!?" I yelled. The person holding me, Soleil, held me tighter. "Not now..." They whispered.

"BUT THERE ARE YET STRONGER FOLKS OUT THERE KIDDOS!!" The Witch ignored my anger. "THE HAND OF THE KNIGHT IS DRIFTING FORWARD. SOON, THE OTHER 'KING' SHALL RETURN, AND HELL'S ROAR BUBBLES FROM THE DEPTHS..."

"H-Hell's Roar...?" Soleil whispered, their glowing eyes locked on the demoness.

The Witch floated above us, inches from my face. "LIGHTNERS, CAN YOU STOP IT?" She cupped her rounded hands together. "EITHER WAY, A MISCHIEF-MISCHIEF, A CHAOS-CHAOS! LIGHTNERS! FROM INSIDE YOUR LITTLE CELL!" She brought out her scythe again, this time levitating it in front of her.

"TAKE ME AND DO YOUR STRONGEST-!" The Witch dissolved into purple lines of light, wrapping around the red and black scythe, letting the blade clatter to the floor.