THE BLUE COUNT'S CASTLE XOVER

The evening arrived as the fictional characters had come back from their series or "fanmakes", as they call it, to rest in their own place. Inside a mansion that was reserved for relaxation, a group of Toon characters were seen gathered at the library room. Their exhaustion was slowly vaporized by a couple of hot beverages around, accompanied by the warm fireplace (the night is quite chilly tonight). Some of them were discussing the latest gossips, work and perhaps, themselves.

"Man, I'm beat!" Sonic the Hedgehog wiped out his forehead, "Not only I'm to attend every video game convention for the latest release but I was also forced inside fanmakes too!"

"Well, at least you have something to do. We're practically doing nothing after our last special is shown!" Buttercup of the Powerpuff Girls trio sat on the couch with her sisters.

"Yeah, and it's practically bad." Bubbles pulled up a raspberry in disgust.

"Would you guys stop complaining? At least you get to enjoy your freedom, unlike me who gets around the rabid fan girls." Sora sipped his tea.

"Yeah, it's because you're such a bishie." Ichigo Kurosaki replied deadpanned.

Not far from where they are, a young woman in her early twenties and wearing a dark Lolita costume is reading a book. She did not resemble the various assortments of characters but she did have an unusual aura.

"Actually, I'm quite tired of all those fanmakes." Sora replied to them, "I mean, I never meant to be rude to the authors, they have wonderful talent, it's just that they…"

"They never tried something new and using the word 'fun' as an excuse?" Tea Gardner replied.

"Yeah, something like that." Sora told them.

"Aw, come on. It can't be that bad…" Sonic told him in an assuring tone, "The reason why we get so tired about it is that they followed the original story with few alterations and often times, these stories are from Disney or other series. That's why we get so tired acting out in those kinds of fan fictions."

"Especially if the author self-inserts," Blossom sighed, "No offense to some, but there are quite a few authors who were so absorbed into their fantasy and forget their reality."

"Yeah, we need to change this fanmakes! But how?" Bubbles pondered.

The girl sighed and spoke quietly to them. "Actually, what you need is a new kind of a story that no one had ever read."

The Toons instantly turned their heads towards the figure.

"Um, 'scuse me, but mind telling us who you are?" Ichigo asked the newcomer.

"I am not who I am and nor I play an important role in your stories," She spoke in a chilling audible tone, "But I played the role of a storyteller and I have come to perhaps offer an advice to your troubling issues."

Sonic cleared out his throat to interrupt her a bit, "Yeah we'd love to play out in another fanmake but almost all of the stories there are from the series or movies that had been done with. Most of them are nearly ruined with the fourth wall breaking joke, how is this different?"

The girl slammed the book and rose up from her seat. "I have an idea, what if I told you another tale?"

"Eh?"

"Yes, it's a tale that not even Disney would dare to create. I'm not meant to be arrogant but the tale that I'm going to told you won't be as sweet as you think."

"Is it a scary tale?" Bubbles peered behind the couch.

"Yes, it was meant to be scary." She answered.

"Does it have ghosts in it?" Buttercup rose excitedly.

"Not that much but it won't scare people." Buttercup immediately pouted.

"Then what's the point of a scary tale without any ghosts or monsters in it?" Ichigo complained to the author.

At once, the room seemed darkened. Everything became silent and eerie; the only source of light left is in the fireplace. The female narrator grimly faced the fireplace where the flames crackled and roaring wildly amongst the log.

"Because this tale… is about a horrible man. And a man so terrifying that a man could spoke of his real name." She paused for a moment and draw back a whisper, "This… is the story of Bluebeard."

---

THE BLUE COUNT'S CASTLE

---

Following the faint traces of my memory, I begin to recall my vague self.

What did my expression look like when I was laughing or when I was singing?

Just why is my supposedly white gown so bloody red?

Ah, I remember now. It's red because I was killed by that man. </i>

---

"We've arrived Lady Kagome."

Kagome stepped out from the carriage and stared down at the magnificent mansion in front of her. It was huge, pretty and a bit menacing to behold. The garden was luxurious and everything that the mansion beheld would put the other wealthy suitors to shame.

When her father told her that she was going to marry 'Bluebeard', she didn't think that it would be this BIG. For some reason, the arranged marriage was planned because of her family's financial problem but Kagome did not have time to bother about it. She'll do whatever she can to get her family out of the mess even if she had to love a man that she had never met before.

Kagome followed a servant into a living room, decorated like the ancient Rococo style interior. She was told to wait there, as her future husband is about to arrive.

At this time, Kagome wondered if 'Bluebeard' is supposed to be as terrifying as his name. She shuddered, but she had to keep herself calm down.

The door opened and the servant bowed down as the figure entered the room. Kagome nearly had to keep her face composed once she saw him.

"Good afternoon, Lady Kagome. My name is Myotis, but I was also known as 'Bluebeard'."

---

It seems that the Count has always had the nickname "Bluebeard".
At least by the time I married him, he already had that name. </i>

---

Kagome wasn't prepared herself for her husband in the church aisle. The husband that she saw was tall, elegant and beautiful than a human being.

Blond, silky hair…

Blue sapphire eyes…

A face of an angel…

Soon, Kagome began to forget the worries she had from the arranged marriage. She did not care anymore if this marriage was for money. The moment he introduced himself to her, she had fallen for him.  

---

How could eyes as gentle as his have such a gloomy hue?
Was it due to the fact that they were tainted with the odors of iron and blood? </i>

---

"Why did you marry such a terrible man? Didn't you hear what he did in the last war?" Kagome's friend, Sango, whispered to her during the party.

"Yes, Myotis told me that he was once a General of in a war. What of it?" Kagome glanced back at her husband who was busy chatting with some people.

"Don't tell me that you did not know about him! He tortured and killed more than thousands of people during the war and mounted their heads on the spears!" Sango placed her hands on Kagome's shoulders, "Listen to me, he's bad news! If you're not careful, you'll end up dying on his hands!"   

---

Ah, my husband didn't love me. Yet, I turned a blind eye to that painful fact.
But I can no longer keep lying to myself. I loved him more than anyone else. </i>

---

Time had passed, Kagome was pregnant with the child on her stomach. Time also made her deeply in love with Myotis, despite the fact that he did not seem care for her at all. Kagome turned away all her wicked thoughts about his dark side and merely focused on pleasing him as a wife.

That night changed everything. It was the first and the last time she would see her husband as an angel.

Kagome had received a letter from her childhood friend, Inuyasha. He had just come back from a long trip and gave Kagome a beautiful key necklace made of gold. Unfortunately the letter and the gift landed on Myotis's hands.

---

As more long nights passed by, you committed one wicked lechery after another </i>

---
"Dear, why it's so dark here? What's going on?" Kagome asked as she entered her husband's room.

There stood amongst the darkness was Myotis, his hand was crushing the letter and a furious expression is embedded on his face. He turned around and glared at his terrified wife. Before Kagome can say anything else, he dragged her away into the underground chambers.

---

In a forbidden room, as if to bury your loneliness and burn away your hollowness. </i>

---

"Myotis! What's going on?! Stop it!" Kagome pleaded to Myotis as he repeatedly whipped her on the ground.

"WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME?!" He screeched while whipping Kagome once more, "WHO IS THIS MAN THAT SEND YOU THE LETTER?!"

"Myotis! I swear to you! I love you more than-" The knife was plunged into Kagome's heart before she could say anything else. There was no scream coming out as she lay down lifelessly on the ground.

The golden key was stained red.

---

Since then, Myotis changed. He was the same beautiful and wealthy man amongst innocent eyes but now, his heart was fueled with craze and treachery. His lust became overwhelming and so does his violent temper.  

"Was I angry at the fact that she broke our promise?
Did I simply love her too much? I do not know anymore.
When I killed my first wife, did I also kill my sanity and judgment?
Again and again, I took another wife, molested her, and killed her..." </i>

That is what he spoke in his heart.

From then on, he continued to pursue a woman, made into his wife and killed them senselessly in an unusual manner.

---

2ND WIFE: JAZZ FENTON </i>

"My dear!"

Jazz wailed as Myotis continually beaten her down with the whip. He throws her into a wall where he blood splattered and licked his whip sensually to taste her blood.

---

3rd WIFE: MINERVA MINK </i>

Minerva thought she could finally marry the prince of her dreams after Myotis proposed to her a month ago, but she was wrong.

"What are you doing?! No… NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME! AAAAAAAAH!" Minerva's screams were shortened when her lungs was constricted by the rope on her neck.

Myotis cackled loudly as Minerva did not show any signs of life again from the choking.

---

4th WIFE: PRINCESS CLARA</i>

"That's right! Cry you little slut! Beg for me!" Myotis laughed again as he dragged the beaten up Princess Clara into an iron maiden and clasped her limbs into the device.

"No… please…" Clara shook in rejection, as Myotis was about to close the device.

BAM!

Clara's scream rang out throughout the mansion that night.

---

5th WIFE: NEFERTARI VIVI</i>

Vivi backed up to the wall as Myotis held up a burning torch. She screamed and screeched as Myotis suddenly grabbed her hand and brings her to him.

"What's wrong? I thought you're enjoying this!" Myotis menacingly held up the torch to her torso.

"Darling, please! This isn't you! Don't do this to me!" Vivi pleaded but her screams fell futile when Myotis drove the burning torch into her body. Vivi barely screamed as flames suddenly engulfed her body.  

---

6th WIFE: SAKURA HARUNO</i>

Myotis gave out a thunderous laugh as he dove Sakura's head into the boiling water. The water muffled Sakura's screams while Myotismon kept repeating to dump her head onto the water.

---

No matter how much I believed and prayed, she wouldn't help me out...
Even if God were to stand before me, as long as there's a hole, I'll penetrate...
with my spear of Longinus! </i>

---

Myotis stood in front of the horrible disfigured corpses of his past dead wives. He stared out at Kagome the most amongst the dead that were hanged. Once again, his heart was wretched with grief.

"I declare all of you witches! You ungrateful pigs! I definitely will not forgive you!" He verbally announced to the rotting corpses.

---

"That's a horrible story! Why did the girls ended up like that!" Blossom spoke out to the narrator.

"Yeah! It's terrible! Why can't there be a happy ending to them?" Bubbles shivered beside Bubbles.

"Freakiest tale I've ever heard…" Ichigo sweatdropped.

"Hold it right there. The story isn't quite finished yet." The girl spoke quietly to them.

"Really? Why?" Sonic asked to her.

There was a mischievous glint on her eyes, "Because the story wouldn't be completed without a hint of revenge, right?"

---

"There goes another one… the same as always…"

"Poor girl… I hope the Count won't do anything to her…"

Whispers accompanied Serenity Wheeler as she was about to enter Myotis's carriage. Ever since Count Bluebeard had proposed to her suddenly, Serenity had no choice but to take the offer on the account of her greedy brother. Her brother, Joey, protested, but she choose to ignore it rather than having her father's wrath came upon them.

"Serenity!" her brother's familiar voice entered her ears. Serenity saw Joey along with his friends, Tristan and Duke, came to her. "You guys…" Serenity looked at their worried faces.

"Is it true that you're marrying Bluebeard?!" Duke questioned her.

"No way I'll let a scoundrel after MY Serenity!" Tristan objected.

"YOUR Serenity?" Duke sarcastically replied to Tristan.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine on my own! Besides, the Count doesn't look half bad…" Serenity joked lightly.

"Listen, Serenity!" Joey told her strictly, "I didn't wanna scare ya, but I've heard bad stories about that man. His last six wives were never seen again and I don't know what's he's going to do to you…"

"Then what should I do?"

"Here." Duke put a whistle on Serenity's palm.

"What's this for?" Serenity asked them.

"In case there's something happening you, call us using this," Tristan instructed to her.

Serenity smiled warmly to them. "Alright, don't worry. I'm going to be alright." She hugged her brother for one last time before she left.

---

While that man was out, I visited one treasure room after another,
But I became curious about one particular room that I'd never visited before.</i>

---
Three days later, Myotis went out from the mansion for some 'urgent' business. Before he left, he gave some keys into Serenity and entrusted her with it. She can open any rooms with the keys as long as she won't touch the last golden key.

Serenity obeyed Myotis out of hear and watched as her fiancée disappeared from the horizon. With her innocent curiousty, she opened up the keys one by one, enthralled by Myotis's immense collection of treasuries.  

---
I softly whispered into that girl's ears:
"Use the golden key. Inside this forbidden room,
a priceless treasure is stored..."</i>

---

There was a voice coming out of nowhere that nearly frightened her. Serenity felt goose bumps but nonetheless was curious about the golden key. Then she remembered the servants talking about Myotis's forbidden chamber.

Could that be where the treasure is?

Serenity tiptoed into the abandoned hallways where Myotis always been. Once she arrived, she saw a dark door decorated with stones. Glancing at the key, Serenity pushed the key forward to the lock and turned it.

"That's right. Insert the key into the keyhole, and turn.
You'll see what's there very soon: our dead bodies…" </i>

Serenity slowly opened the chamber door and dropped her candle out of shock.

"…and our urge for revenge!"</i>

Inside the room were bodies of rotting corpses of Bluebeard's last wives!

Serenity let out a long shriek, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKK!!!"

---

Ah, girls do not just want their body embraced; they want their heart embraced.
You are quite a sinner. But still, you're the one I loved.</i>

---

Myotis came back from his trip when he saw his future wife shivering in panic as she saw him. Immediately, Myotis knew that something had gone wrong.

"Serenity, where is the key to my scret chamber?" He asked in a low tone.

"Eh, ummm… about that…" Serenity tried to answer meekly at Myotis.

"Hooo… disobeying my orders, eh?" There was a malicious smirk on his face, "Very well then, from now on, you can join them immediately as the newest resident!" he bellowed angrily.

"Wait! Please at least let me say my prayers before I die!" Serenity pleaded and bowed to him.

"Hmph. You may as well do it. I'm getting sick of this anyway." Myotis urged his hands for her to go.

In no time at all, Serenity bolted out to the nearest place with a window on it to call on her brother and his friends.  

---

Grief can never be healed by means of hatred.</i>
In twilight's darkness, only the songs keep echoing back and forth.
Now let's put an end to your sick comedies! </b></i>

---

"Joey! Tristan! Duke! Help me!" Serenity hollered for them but she felt her effort were useless. All of a sudden, she remembered the whistle that Duke gave to her and sounded it.  

Not far from the mansion, the three of them heard the whistle. Joey was first to be alerted by the sound.

"Serenity!" He quickly unsheathed his sword and dashed into the mansion.

"Joey! We're coming too!" Tristan and Duke followed him as well while unsheathing their swords.

---

In twilight's darkness, only the songs keep echoing back and forth.</i>

---

Serenity whimpered as Myotis draws closer to her. There was a whip on his hand. He crackled the whip threateningly to the floor.

"Are you done yet? Hurry up!" He ordered to the whimpering Serenity. When no sound was found on her voice, he ordered again. "HURRY UP!"

---

Now let's put an end to your sick comedies! </i>

---

"I CAN'T WAIT NO LONGER!!" Myotis raised up the whip to beat Serenity with it.

"Kyaa!" Serenity tried to shield herself from the harm.

At that moment, the door was immediately bursted open. With a loud cry, Joey, Tristan and Duke rushed to Myotis and attacked him. But Myotis was a formidable opponent. Being a former war General gives him far more experience in combat yet the three of them refused to lose.

"How dare you try to kill Serenity, you bastard?!" Joey slashed at Myotis.

"Die! Bluebeard!" Tristan plunged his blade at Myotis's abdomen.

Myotis paused for a moment upon discovering that he had been stabbed, "Huhahaha…" He laughed insanely as he stared at his own blood and turned to his opponents. He whipped at them despite being severely wounded.

"What! Shit! Is he a monster or something!?" Duke reeled back in shock and disgust, only for the whip to make a contact on his body. "Argh!"

"Duke!" Tristan shouted then stared at Myotis. "Alright, come here you monster!" He makes another blow at Myotis.

"Take this!" Joey slammed he hilt of the blade at Myotis's hands and the whip fall from Myotis's grip.

"What?! You…" Myotis was choked again when the blades slowly drained him out of his life. Meanwhile, Serenity had been watching in horror as Duke protects her from the scene.

With one last blow, Joey pulled out the blade from Myotis's body. The Count let out a dying choke before he falls to the ground, dead. To make sure he was dead, Joey kicked the body and it rolled up lifelessly on the floor. Her friends and her brother consoled Serenity, still traumatized, as they watched the body died.

In his dying vision, Myotis saw a woman floating on top of him with a pitiful expression. Next to her was a child… no, a baby. In his last remorse, Myotis knew that it was the spirit of his first wife.

"Please… forgive me…"

---

Back at the library room, everyone who had been hearing the story was stunned. The narrator only looked at them without any expression on her face.

"Woah, that was intense." Ichigo commented.

"Yeah, and very interesting as well." Sora nodded in agreement.

"I like it." Buttercup smiled smugly, "First non-boring fairytale I've ever read!"

"True, but I don't think it would work well with those happy-go-lucky fanmakes out there." The girl told them.

"Ah, who cares! It's the author's creativity to try out something new rather than repeating things over and over again!" Sonic told to her.

The girl smiled, out of satisfaction. She too up her book and walked into the library door.

"Where are you going?" Blossom asked.

"Ah, you see… I still got some stories to tell." She walked out of the library. "Maybe we'll meet again next time."

And with that, she disappeared in the night.