At the fourth floor, Kyle and Emily, and S.S. and September, hadn't seen anyone or anything yet, just as they had entered second and third floor at first.
So, for first, they began to search the place.
It seemed like this place was a huge stage.With seats which were supposed to be accompanied for many people, but half of them were gone as if someone had stripped them off, but a stage which seemed prepared for actors, or any other performers to perform or play, was still fine, although it was also dusty and old.For Kyle, he remembered the story which old woman had told them at first, and thought with a bit of sorrow how Puppeteer and Clown would have played on this stage as well.But as the barrier was also splitting this place to half, even when both sides' friends were bumping into them and facing their friends right face to face, they won't be able to see them yet.And when S.S. and September had went upto the above stand of the backside of the stage, which was probably prepared for precious guests, or owners themselves, to see the play or perfomance high above and better than anyone else.And yet, friends scanned the place and searched. head to the backstage, to the high stand seat, every seats in front of the stage, and even tiny corners.Just then, S.S. had discovered something while she was searching.She found a queer-looking knight standing in the corner.That knight was probably an empty armor, different from the one they saw from the third floor.But the queer thing was....it was wearing a crown.A golden crown with the shape of a diamond, resembling their crystals, attached to the crown.S.S. was feeling strange feelings from that knight, but she ignored it and fled to the other side.And it seemed as if no one was here, but still, they should have known.....
None of the sides of the barrier are safe at this moment.
- - - ♣♦ - - -
And it happened as Emily and Kyle side suddenly heard something from the stage.Someone was standing there, and the light was falling to show that person.It was a small child, and by now Kyle and Emily could tell that that child was a human despite that she didn't have wings or tail, not elves.And that child was dressed in a very queer ways, for she was dressed in a green clothes which looked like a witch costume."Hahaha..!" that child was laughing.But for siblings, after facing harmless looking Heart fairy, and seeing how dangerous that child could be, prepared themselves to fight."You..you wouldn't want to hurt me, t-travellers!" cried the child."I-I'm the powerful Clover Witch, and I have the ability to attack those on the other side!"And after hearing this, Agatha went to the other side to check on S.S. and September, and they were indeed dodging suddenly appeared yellow arrows coming from everywhere. It seemed like it was coming from the stage...just as if that child was controlling this all.Agatha whispered this information to Kyle after returning, and Kyle and Emily were both ready to attack, but Clover Witch stopped them both by saying, "If..if any of you attack me, it would be worse for your friends!"So Kyle and Emily couldn't attack that child, and yet, S.S. and September were madly trying to dodge the arrows coming from everywhere, without even knowing a thing.However...Agatha could still get to the other side without being spotted, so she went to the other side, and informed S.S. and September about the Clover Witch."What in Crapes' name! how come there's a kid who can attack those on the other side?? is that even possible??"[I can't tell now..but how are we going to solve this?]"...We need to somehow..get rid of the source of this.""Hey, words' easy! this is different from any other enemies whom we faced!""Maybe, but have we ever given up?""Well.....""You know the answer."September sighed, but she replied anyways."Fine...we never did.""That's the spirit."[Can I help you with anything?]"Is..I mean, are Kyle and Emily safe?"[Well, at least they're not being attacked.]"Well then, can you find anything which is shooting this arrows? without..being spotted to even us.""Why's that??"[Yes, why?]"I don't think that it's true that Clover Witch is causing all this. there's...someone else here. there must be.""How could you be so sure?!""I don't know...but I did feel and saw something suspicious in THIS side.""But..""So, Agatha, do you think you can do that?"[..Well. I'll try.]And now, Kyle and Emily were in a suspended atmosphere, afraid to risk their friends' safety, and Emily was especially guilty for fighting September and have been hurted her mind earlier.So she was definitely not going to move, and S.S. and September didn't even have times to breath dodging arrows coming from every direction, and Agatha was swimming in the walls and floor to look for anyone shooting those light arrows.How long would they stay suspended like this...no one could ever tell.
- - - ♣♦ - - -
................"Hmm....I see."Someone...or something dark was moving underneath the old stone ceiling..."So....two of my puppets had fallen...interesting."Just then....in the mirror which was right behind the dark man, something wavered and moved.The dark man turned around to face the mirror.When he noticed that something was coming out of the mirror, he's quietly smiling expression shifted into frightened look.Behind his mask, he could feel the fury from the form seated in front of the mirror."Why...did you come here?"-Isn't it obvious?"I..beg your pard-Argh!"The shape darker than the darkness moved its arm to strangle the masked man right against the wall.-You know what I'm saying. they're here. the crystal collectors."Argh...! right, I know, my followers are getting rid of them, I swear! they won't get through this time-Ugh!" Masked man fell right onto the floor, and he looked up to face the enraged dark form moving and whispering in his head.-Remember our deal. he didn't revive you and your foolish clown friend for nothing."Ugh..right...I swear! I'll make sure to get rid of them...!"-You better.....you know what's best to keep you and your friends' presence."Right! right, I can make it..I swear!"-..Fine. this is your last chance.....Then the dark form faded into smoke and disappeared.And the masked man was left alone in the dark, big room.
- - - ♣♦ - - -
While Agatha was searching all over the walls and floor, she couldn't find anything suspicious..that is, she couldn't see anything or anyone suspicious.
So, she swam up to the ceiling in order to see the whole situation from wider view.And she saw, that it definitely looked different in kind...to think that the Clover Witch is shooting all those arrows...that was probably lie.So, she went to the spot where she thought all the arrows were coming from.She appeared from the backstage, and saw that something looked off in her sight.Then, she spotted something queer as all she could see was the shooting rain of golden arrows, and September and S.S. dodging and jumping handsprings to dodge them.She could see a floating golden crown in front of her.Arrows were being shot casually, but yet, endlessly and fiercely.So, Agatha's gaze was turned to the floating crown as she suspected that this crown..or whoever wearing this crown, must be the one shooting all these arrows.In truth, only thing she could see was crown, and not that of arrows or bow, but she changed her vision to look in the view of ghosts.And she saw....a tall figure wearing that crown and using his bow and arrows to fire them.And Agatha, who saw this, immediately swam over to S.S. and September, who were hiding behind the fallen seats, and whispered a truth to them, that someone was shooting all these arrows.Then next, she swam over to Kyle and Emily to tell them that it was right for them to think that there's someone else in the next area.And S.S. and September decided to make a plan to counter that invisible archer.....while Kyle and Emily considered about what to do with Clover Witch.("Hey...what should we do? attack her?")("Not yet. we need to trust S.S. and September, and wait until some difference happens.")("But what if something terrible happens to S.S. and Sep while we're hesitating like this!")("...We should see first.")For Emily, it seemed that Kyle was being over too cautious for now...but she wanted to trust him, that other two would be fine, and that they'll make it....
- - - ♣♦ - - -
Meanwhile, for S.S. and September, they were trying to act out.S.S. were stepping out from behind the seat and jumping from wall to barrier and floor, trying to dodge the arrows as if they were bullets.Then, when she dove down from her spot, and she repeatedly bumped the barrier with her feet.It seemed as if S.S. was still thinking that it was witch girl who was shooting arrows.So she continuously kicked the walls....until she diverted the direction of her body to slash the invisible archer right behind her on the stage."...!"Archer was not speaking, not even his voice came out, but it seemed obvious that S.S.'s attack worked...his blood was spread on the floor for a brief moment, then the form which Agatha had seen appeared in front of two girls.An archer, only his body not showing, but his clothes were all showing as Agatha had seen.He was wearing a leather top with no sleeves, and wearing knee-length leather boots, with big bow in his hand and quiver full of arrows were strapped to his back."...!""Now's the chance, September!!"Then, September, who was pretending that she was hiding behind the seat, jumped down from the high stand to comfront the archer.S.S. was holding the invisible man by his arms, near to breaking his bow, and then September slammed down onto both of them.She dug her claws into man's chest, and the man was struggling in pain, and S.S., while grabbing his golden crown, shouted,"You better tell us everything you know, before it gets worse!"But then, Clover Witch in other side, quivered slightly and held her hands up high, with some staff held in her right hand.Then, Invisible archer shoved September from his body, and stood again.Then S.S. spotted that Archer's clothes were still slashed just as S.S. had attacked him, but she saw that his bloods were not coming out anymore.Neither in the spot where September had stabbed him.'Could it be...? of course there must be a reason....'And while S.S. and September had comfronted Archer, he shot his arrows to a wall in the right side of him.It didn't take long for S.S. to notice the reason for his action.She immediately grabbed September by the collar and dragged her down."Uwa! what in Crapes--.......!"And in September's sight, she could see golden arrow had pierced through her right shoulder.Her face was tight and serious, not showing affect of pain, but September was filled with disbelief....S.S. gets hits? by the arrow? wait..is she going to die then? no, that can't be possible! of course not...she's the strongest person she knows...why would she suddenly di-While million thoughts were crossing her mind, S.S. herself simply grabbed September by back collar again and literally threw her into the door leading to the high stand.And she locked the door with her dagger from the outside."Quickly! get Agatha...you know what to do next, don't you?!""Wait, but you--""I'll make it, I promise! but right now, do as I said! there's no time!"".........!"While September was kept in a staircase leading up to the high stand, S.S. was facing the archer.And when there was only two of them, he finally began to talk."....What can you do now?" he queried."...!" but S.S. was focused on what's in front of her right now than the words which Archer had spoken himself."..You can....talk?""Oh, of course....as long as I'm allowed.""....What's with you...and that witch girl in the other side? are you family?""................"Archer stopped to speak for a moment, and changed the subject."Aren't you feeling pain from your shoulder?""Don't try to shift the conversation...it seems like that she's your family, no?""...Close enough. satisfied?" Then the archer aimed his arrow straight toward S.S...."It's impossible to miss you while I'm standing this close.""Sure...but who knows? you might miss more important things.....""....?"
- - - ♣♦ - - -
Meanwhile, September quickly called out to Agatha while she was stuck inside the staircase.She whispered to Agatha...("Tell Kyle and Emily to get that witch girl under control! please!")Agatha quickly delivered the message, and while she was left alone once again, September thought to herself,'...Maybe I'm not the useless one after all....well, being close with them all and that.'
- - - ♣♦ - - -
Agatha was back to Riverside siblilngs' side, and quickly whispered the message into Kyle and Emily's ears.And before Kyle or Agatha could do anything, Emily suddenly ran in a full speed toward a witch, and Witch suddenly yelped and began to run all around the stage and backstage.Emily was surely chasing that girl like mad, and she was literally screaming in panic and fear, and mostly surprise and shock over the fact that those four wanderers had finally noticed the trick of her and Invisible Archer.Then, Invisible Archer had stopped in S.S. and September's side, hearing little girl's scream from the other side.S.S. couldn't hear that, but Agatha and Archer, like those who have the part of magic from this haunted castle could at least hear or see through the barrier,And Archer aimed the arrow straight toward S.S.'s throat, and he spoke,"What's happening?""...?"But S.S. was not really understanding him, for she was just saying that in trust of Riverside siblings.
- - - ♣♦ - - -
And while Kyle and Agatha knew with all their heart that what Emily's doing is fatal, for this girl was quick as a mouse, so it was just getting Emily's health lower and lower until she finally collapses...But Kyle had grabbed Witch by her collar after getting a help from Agatha's brief jumpscare.Kyle grabbed her up by her back collar, and the big witch hat she was wearing fell off from her head."Uwaa!! let go of me, let go! please, don't hurt me! ahh!!!"When hearing young witch's scream, Archer finally removed the arrow from S.S.'s throat, and backed away.S.S. saw that it seemed that the Archer was turning his gaze to the other side of the barrier, and he was continuing to move in a short moment and flinching alot.It seemed like he was nervous.For a test, S.S. scratched Archer's face slightly by throwing her dagger, and while he flinched and turned, S.S. was already crouching there to pick her dagger up.Then she turned around and shoved her dagger toward his face..or the part seeming like his head."........"Finally, Archer fell to his knees in front of S.S.. "..Fine....do what you like..just...let her go. please.""............."Then, S.S. removed her dagger and shoved it into her pocket."If you're telling truth, wait here for a moment."And S.S. moved to let September out, and right after she was out, she fell flat on her face, and looked up to see S.S.'s face."Hey~~is everything good now? huh?"S.S. smiled briefly and nodded.Then Agatha, who spotted this whole thing, informed Kyle and Emily about what had happened, and they soon interviewed Archer briefly, and it was pretty easy, for Archer didn't know by now that Kyle had apologized sincerely for grabbing young girl's collar and gave her some treats to calm her down.She wasn't screaming, or showing any intention to fight anymore, so in siblings' side, they were safe.And just as S.S. thought, that Archer on the other side was using his invisiblility to attack by firing arrows, while Witch in the other side could heal him with her magic.And S.S. heard from Archer that they didn't know anything about the crystal they were talking about, for S.S. could sense that this Archer and the girl on the other side is still under control of crystal of this castle, they did not know anything about that.But Archer informed them what would be waiting for them next, King and Queen to challenge them a chess game, and a Clown named 'Joker the Jack' to charge them by taking them into his special dimension.And--if they could ever make it until there, they would probably comfronted by Spiriteer, the Puppeteer who was thought to be a murderer in the past, and someone who's controlling all the ghosts and contolled people of this castle.After S.S. heard everything about other enemies, she concluded that they would never remember their past or find themselves, or remember each other as long as that crystal's under Spriteer's control.So she stood up with September, and headed to the next staircase leading to the fifth floor behind the backstage with September, and Archer was payed by little girl's voice chattering and exclaiming in the other side, after all of their 'enemies' were gone.And he sighed and smirked briefly, thinking that those kids were maybe not 'Intruders' after all.......