Section 6: The Color of Forest

...Hmm. Now what am I going to do?

They're going back once more, huh? Then I guess I'll have to do the same.

With luck, I'll be able to stay out of sight... But I probably shouldn't get my hopes up.

Hehehe. I really do kind of like this atmosphere.

I love classic goth horror as much as the next girl...

...but places like this? The sort that just constantly eat away at your sanity? Ah, so relaxing!

Don't you think so?

Tch.

Right?

Wow, Master of Chaldea, I didn't think you'd be so easy to talk to!

Hey, do you ever summon demons for fun, too? Not really? I see.

？！

Well, never mind that now. What's our next step?

Say, is anyone else hungry? Would you care for a bite? Do you like goat cheese?

Honestly, I hate those goats, but their cheese is to die for.

...Hey.

Anyone figured out why this bitch keeps talking to us like we're friends?

I, uh, don't know what to say to that... I don't really know how I should be handling this situation, either!

Am I being too friendly? Coming across as too shady?

If this isn't working, um... I can serve you in a more traditional fashion. I was a knight once, you know.

？！

Disagree, but I guess it ain't up to me.

Ah well, I guess we don't have to worry about her.

Not when she's too dumb to complete her own ritual.

Grrr... You're taunting me, but I can't really say anything after what happened...

Ahh, if only my spell hadn't failed... I thought I had the perfect catalyst and everything!

？！

Now you're teasing me too? Why you... Take this. And this.

...On second thought, can I just go ahead and kill her?

Do it! Do iiit♪ Hack her to pieces with a chainsaaaw♪

Gah, please don't!

I know I may still seem dangerous, but I'm practically harmless now.

All right, I'll give you a fair punishment then. Here.

Ow! A flick to the forehead...?

Stay out of trouble, mademoiselle, and that will be the extent of it.

D'accord, I'll behave.

Aww, is that it? Can't we at least give her a noogie or something?

I'm really good at them, you know. In fact, I'm just as well-versed in all kinds of torture techniques as I ever was!

Ooh la la. You don't say.

I think her plan falling to pieces and then having to ask us for help was punishment enough.

If she's willing to help us to atone for her crimes, then we should let her.

Of course, whether she does or not is up to her.

So don't get snappy with me, okay, Mordred?

I'm only getting snappy 'cause we got no idea what this idiot might try to pull next.

All right, bitch, next time you're thinking of doin' something shady, you let us know ahead of time, or I'll cut you in half.

Ahead of time? If I wanted to do something shady, wouldn't it be smarter to keep it to myseYipe.

Ahem, now that I know for sure the Holy Mother of the Abyss won't be coming, my hands are completely tied.

That's fine with me. As long as you get out of our hair.

Hehehe, don't be ridiculous. I'm not going anywhere.

Time to die, bitch.

Has anyone ever called you shortsighted? Or maybe a loose cannon? Anyway, I'd really rather not get into a swordfight here if I can help it.

？！

That reminds me, Master of Chaldea.

How the hell are you so okay with being turned into a freaking pumpkin!?

Are you all right, Puppy? Does anything hurt?

O-oh, yeah, that makes sense. I'll make sure to support your head as I carry you, okay?

？！

First things first: we gotta figure out how to fix Master here.

Aww, I don't know about that. I think he's really cute like this.

I don't mind if you stay this way forever, Puppy.

It's fiiine with meee♪

？！

Too baaad♪

All the more reason to go back to my castle then.

You mean MY castle, Molay.

I know what I said.

IT'S MINE!

Talk about a pointless battle...

(Huff, huff, gasp, gasp...)

(Huff, gasp, huff, gasp...)

How friggin' stupid can you get? You two seriously kept that shit up until you couldn't breathe? Morons.

S-so, was that part of my initiation?

Initiation?

I needed to do something to be officially accepted into this group, right?

I thought about just kind of showing up and acting like I'd always been part of the gang...

...but I thought that might not go over very well.

Yes. Thank you for having me. It's so nice to be included.

Phew! Glad that's over with!

Pushyyy♪ Pushyyy♪ Little Miss Pushyyy♪

Hey! Stop insulting me in song!

Um, yep. Pretty much. Of course, if I'm not welcome here, I can go...

... ...

(Glance)

I've got a new name for yooou♪ It's Shrewdie McPrudieee♪

N-now what, Elisabeth? I-if you think that sort of childish name-calling is going to bother me, you've got another thing coOof!

？！

It's all your fault that Puppy ended up like this, right!?

It's not! It's really not! I promise you, I just miscalculated is all!

Sorry to break up your catfight, but we've got enemies to deal with! Now c'mon! Get your weapons ready!

'Kaaay!

Out of my way!

Repent and diiie!

Hup!

Hmm. These Demonic Beasts are completely different from the kind we hunted before.

I got a bad feeling about this... Hey, Master of Chaldea.

You mind if we stop by our cottage first?

Whaddaya mean, where? It's ...Ah, shit.

It's been several days since we left; the terrain's changed completely.

Whaddaya mean? Of course I ...Shit. I don't.

I could see this place being likened to a fairy tale before...

...but now it could most charitably be called dark fantasy, if not outright horror.

？！

Dammit. Guess I'll just have to Clarent these trees again.

Whoa, whoa, not so fast.

It'd be fine if we were just trying to get out of the forest, but if you do that now, you could destroy the cottage.

Aw, it'll be fine! The others'll know what's up even if they get caught in the blast!

All right, let's do this!

Um, maybe we should discuss this a little more first?

We should at least explore our surroundings a little more before

Clarent Blood Arthur!

Kabooom!

Never mind...

You really did it, didn't yooou♪ That was incredibly reckleeess♪

There, now we can at least see a little bet

The hell? It all grew back already!? You've gotta be shitting me!

That reminded me of a shark instantly replacing a lost tooth.

Well, if nothing else, the other dwarves ought to have noticed that.

I'm sure they're talking about the crazy powerful explosion that just had to be Mordred cutting loose, even as we speak.

Just to make sure, you meant "crazy" as a compliment there, right?

Of course I did. How else could I mean it?

...Tch.

Hang on. Did anyone else hear that?

I diiid♪ And I'm getting a very bad feeling about iiit♪

Hold on tight, Puppyyy♪

？！

The hell!?

Tsuna!? What do you think you're doing!?

Whoa!

...Why're you guys trying to kill us? I can smell your bloodlust from here.

I'm afraid we have something of a problem...

Oh?

Something unusual happened not too long ago, correct?

Something that profoundly affected the nature of this Singularity?

Well, yeah, I guess.

As a side effect of what happened, we were brainwashed. My apologies.

Defeat us. I implore you.

？！

Indeed!

It just goes to show that Tsuna remains Tsuna, even when he's brainwashed!

Tawara Touta! Not you, too!?

No, I'm all right. The Dragon God's protection must have kept me safe.

I'm afraid I can't say the same for those four, though. As Rogue Servants without a Master, there was nothing they could do.

You are correct, unfortunately. And of course, we will do everything we can to resist.

Aw, crap. I can barely think straight. This must be how a Berserker feels.

I'm sorry to hear that. Would you like me to cut your head off for you?

Sure. Long as you can do it without killing me!

I'm sorry. I was careless. But now that things have come to this, I cannot go easy on you.

Prepare yourselves.

I feel terrible for my carelessness as well. May I have this battle, Sir Mordred?

Yeah, all right. But you owe me one.

That's fine with me... Though I must ask: Have you ever returned any of the favors you owe me?

Nope!

Looks like I'm gonna have to fight, too!

？！

...I'm afraid you're mistaken. You'll never save them that way.

Huh!?

(I didn't sense anyone else approach...) Who are you!? Show yourself!

...Who I am doesn't matter. Elisabeth.

Huh? Me?

There is only one thing you must do. Sing, Cinderella.

...Sing?

That's right. Sing loudly and proudly for everyone in the world.

Use your singing to pulverize and woo these woods.

Pulverize...and woo...

Farewell...

Wait! Who in the world are you?

Heh. Apparently, these days...

...I'm what's known as a prince.

Wh-wh-whaaat!?

But a mere prince cannot help the world in this state. The best I can do is aid you in that goal.

Heh. Farewell...

Heh. Maybe... Maybe not...

？！

(And now they're gone. At least they don't seem to be an enemy...)

Wow. So that was the prince! Too bad we couldn't see them.

... ...

That's weird. Running into a prince should be the happiest moment of my life...

But for some reason, I don't feel like celebrating.

Do you know anything about that prince, Molay?

No. I'm as shocked as you are to learn there's an actual prince out here.

Besides, I thought Fujimaru was supposed to be your prince...

？！

So then, all that prince exposition I gave earlier was for nothing!?

Thank goodness no one else overheard me!

Actually, I kind of remember that.

Didn't you say something like "Come to her aid, my prince!" at one point?

Gaah! Please, just put it from your miiind!

So... We still don't know anything more about that prince figure?

I'm afraid not...

Man, your plan really wasn't great, was it?

Stop that! I feel bad enough as it is!

So, what should I actually do now!?

Pulverize them, huh? Got it!

Don't worry! My singing can destroy almost anything down to an atomic level!

That's quite the grand proclamation... Or maybe a tiny one, if we're talking about atoms?

...What in the world am I saying?

Whoa, don't start trying to make sense of this now! You'll lose your damn mind!

Oh, that's easy.

Whenever I sing, pumpkins get even sweeter and start walking around on their own, rats start carrying neurotoxins, and lizards turn into wyverns!

How is any of that good?

？！

...Ahem.

So basicallyyy♪ I just need to beat them black-and-bluuue♪

Battleees♪ Dueeels♪ Skeweriiing♪ Lanceees♪ Tortuuure♪ Bloodlettiiing♪ Coughing up bloood♪ Cold-blooded bloodsheddiiing♪

(Bloodletting and coughing up blood have nothing to do with battle though...)

In other wooords♪ We just have to beat them sillyyy♪

But remember, they're brainwaaashed♪ So try not to kill theeem♪

(He joined in!?)

All riiight♪ Let's have a good clean fiiight!♪

... ...

Does this mean...I need to join in as well!?

？！

...I wish I didn't have to do this, but I must. Here I come!

Since I AM brainwashed, I will chop you to pieces! ...Like cabbage!

Hahaha. That was the tamest trash talk I've ever heard, Tsuna!

Lalalaaa♪ Looove♪ Dreeeams♪ Wiiings♪ And ooother touchy-feely thiiings♪

Ultimaaa♪ Ultraaa♪ Supeeer♪ Hypeeer♪ Feelin'♪ In looove♪ Etceteraaa♪

？！

Wow, this is quite a sight. Look! The forest is returning to its old self!

？！

C'est pas possible! It's like the last transformation never even happened!

...No way.

Are you telling me that Elisabeth's singing...actually undid the warping of the forest?

(...Is this an example of two wrongs making a right?)

Justiiice♪ Freedooom♪ Heaaart♪ Whoa whoa whoooa♪

Zut! These improvised lyrics are absolutely abominable, and yet, they're somehow so bad they're endearing...

So this is the power of singing with love!

I guess. If you can call...THAT love...

It just goes to show that love means different things to different people. How deep...

That is hackneyed bullshit! It's NOT deep!

But don't think this means you've won!

I am fairly certain she won quite decisively.

...Yeah, I guess you're right.

Lalalalaaa♪

Bravo! Even the god-devouring insectI mean, celestial maiden herself would applaud that tour de force!

Oh, is it over already? I can keep going, you know.

Save it for later. Right now, we gotta figure out what to do with these chumps.

Oh, I think simply snapping them out of it should suffice.

All right, everyone, it's morning! Time to wake up!

Gnn...

...(Sigh)

？！

Yes. Though my head and back do hurt a little.

You can thank this clown's singing for the headache, and Touta here for the backache.

What are you saying, Mordred? My songs are all about wrapping my listeners in a warm embrace.

Sure they're not for grabbin' people by the throat?

No, her singing definitely resounded within my heart. That much is certain.

(I could hardly make heads or tails of her lyrics, though.)

See?

We owe you a debt as well, Lord Tawara Touta.

Indeed. I don't know what we would have done if you had not been on the opposing side.

Oh, it was nothing. Luck just happened to be on my side this time. That's how it always goes on the battlefield.

More importantly, are you all all right? You look like you're okay, but I can't be sure.

Just some sore muscles and fresh bruises. Man, you guys got us good...

？！

I wish we knew...

One moment, we were fine. The next, our entire world had changed, and we were no longer in control of ourselves.

It felt as though I'd become a Berserker. What in the world happened to us?

But more importantly, what happened to you? And may I ask who this new Servant is?

Molay, fill 'em in.

Huh? Me? I mean, sure, if you want...

Hello, everyone. My name is Jacques de Molay...

Damn, seriously? How'd you get to be so damn dumb?

Pya...

As far as I can ascertain from what you've told me, it certainly sounds like humaner, Servant error.

(Sigh)

Oh merde. They all hate me...

Y'think? I can't imagine why!

May I ask you something, Jacques de Molay?

Why did Elisabeth's singing restore the forest to the way it used to be?

I, um... I'm not really sure, myself...

Oh come now, Prince Candidate No. 3! Isn't it obvious?

No, milady. Please, tell me.

Okay, if you insist.

The answer...is love.

Love. Of course. (Slow nod)

That, or Elisa Particles.

Elisa Particles. Of course. (Slow nod)

Elisa Particles? What the heck are those?

？！

I seee... Wooow...

It seems she's reverted to her childhood self.

It happens sometimes. Especially when people learn about things their minds just can't handle.

The fact that Molay's actually got some common sense must've backfired on her here.

I must admit, the moment I heard that song, it felt as though I had been struck directly in my sinuses.

To me, it felt as if a hand had grabbed hold of my brain and begun to squeeze.

In my case, it was as though someone had placed a large temple bell over my head, then rang vigorously.

No comment.

Hey, I saved you guys' lives, remember? Why're you being so mean? Do you want me to sing a sad song instead?

So this is Halloween... So THIS...is Halloween!

So, putting all this together...

If we're going to repair this Singularity, and save my nation...we need Elisabeth to sing.

Looks like it's tiiime♪ for my singiiing♪ To save the wooorld♪ once agaaain♪

This is all so, um...amaziiing♪ I'm so, um...surpriiised♪

D'you think it'll be a problem that our world-saving singer has a shit vocabulary?

("Again"? Does this mean she's saved the world with her singing before...?)

(Perhaps I should have taken singing lessons as well...)

All right, Master of Chaldea, how 'bout we do this for now?

Molay leads us back to the castle, El-El does the singing, and I clear us a path to get there. Sound good?

Huh? You mean my job STILL isn't over?

Hell no.

？！

You know iiit♪

I can't just leave my Master stuck with a pumpkin head, after aaall♪

So of course I'll sing for you, Puppyyy♪

？！

But in exchaaange♪

Yeah?

I want you all to cheer for meee♪ Otherwise, I won't have the spirit to siiing♪

What was that?

So, let me get this straight. You want cheering, like...

"Eee! Elly, I love yooou!" And for me to wave my Clarent around like a goddamn glow stick!?

ME!?

Whoa, you'd really do all that for me!?

Hell yes! Wait. I mean, hell no!

Ugh, dammit. I can't even tell which one's the lesser evil anymore.

... ...

Well, uh...for the time being...I guess I can do that if you can beat me in a fight. How 'bout it?

？！

Hey, the more muscle in your head, the tougher it is! Now c'mon, let's do this!

Bring it, bitch!

Eee! Ellyyy!

Thank you for your suppooort♪

？！

Don't gotta tell me twice! Hrah!

There we go. If we just repeat this process, we're bound to make it out of these woods sooner or later.

The only question is whether Mordred's magical energy will hold out...

Don't worry 'bout me.

I made a bet, and I lost. If that means cheering for her, fine.

Whatever it takes to get out of these damn woods, I'm doin' it, come hell or high water!

Great. That's the spirit. Still, that's a lot to put on your shoulders alone.

And your Noble Phantasm isn't the only one capable of widespread destruction.

So what do you say we carve the path out of here together!?

You're on, Boney! Race you to the end!

Then allow us to help, too.

Indeed. We can't just sit back and let you two do all the work.

We'll do our best to help cut down the forest while keeping Elisabeth safe.

Then, that means...I'm a real princess now!

... ...

Right?

Of course it does, Cinderella.

Cinderella!

Okay then, my seven dwarvesI mean, knights? Hotties? Ah, whatever. Let's do thiiis♪

Eee! Ellyyy!

This has grown a great deal more chaotic than I could have imagined...

Eee! Ellyyy!

You, too!?

...Ahem. (Cough, cough)

Hehehe. It just slipped out. Well, don't I feel foolish.

I don't think it's foolish at aaall♪ People are naturally musical, you knooow♪

I can't believe this happy-go-lucky harpy ruined my carefully laid scheme...

And the fact that she's probably right only makes it worse!

All right, Puppy, we'd better keep going if we're going to get you back to your original body!