As they flew to their next destination, Mike and Heidi sat quietly.
The events of Rapunzel's story lingered in their minds.
Mike stretched, acting casual. "So... that was an interesting story, huh?"
Heidi, looking away, shrugged. "Yeah. Just another fairy tale."
Neither of them said what they were really thinking.
The Next Day...
Mike and Heidi sat across from each other, both blushing, both trying to say something-
But the moment stretched on too long.
Jim and Naomi watched in amusement.
Jim: "Oh? Could it be? Finally?"
Naomi (smirking): "Looks like they're realizing it at last."
But just as Mike opened his mouth,
Heidi immediately looked away, crossing her arms. "Tch. Don't stare at me like that, idiot!"
Mike scoffed, leaning back. "You were staring first!"
Jim and Naomi sighed.
Jim: "Never mind. They're still hopeless."
Meanwhile, in the depths of Vampire Family's spaceship, Nosferatu had finished analyzing all their battles through the data gathered by the monsters.
He had uncovered something terrifying.
Nosferatu: "The orbs resonate strongest when those two trust each other. If we destroy that trust... we destroy their power."
Alucard grinned, fangs gleaming. "Then we make them destroy each other."
He turned to the monster that had retreated from the Ugly Duckling Planet.
Alucard: "It's time to redeem yourself. I'll give you a new ability-illusions so powerful they can twist reality itself."
The monster bowed. "I will not fail again, Master."
Their plan was set.
A trap world was created-a fake paradise called "The Fairy Stop."
A grand, dazzling festival would be the bait.
And Mike and Heidi would be their prey.
_ _ _
As the spaceship neared its next destination, a message transmission suddenly appeared.
A beautiful, elegant voice spoke:
"Welcome, travelers, to the greatest festival in the fairy universe-the Fairy Stop! A place of joy, luxury, and endless delight!"
The message was accompanied by visuals of a vibrant world, glowing in golden lights, filled with laughter, music, and a palace made of pure crystal.
Mike's eyes sparkled. "A party?! That's a first! We could use some fun!"
Heidi scoffed. "You just want to flirt with every girl there."
Jim and Naomi felt something was off.
Jim: "A party? In the middle of all these fairy tale? Doesn't that sound suspicious?"
Naomi (analyzing data): "No records of this world exist. This place was never part of the fairy tales."
But before they could investigate further-
The ship was forcefully pulled in by a mysterious energy.
They crash-landed, right in the middle of the festival.
The Fairy Stop was mesmerizing.
Glowing lanterns lit up the sky.
People in elegant clothes danced in a grand ballroom, laughter echoing in the air.
As soon as they stepped out-
A mysterious man approached Heidi.
He was tall, handsome, with golden eyes and a charming smile.
"Ah, a beautiful lady like you should not be standing alone." He took Heidi's hand, kissing it lightly. "Come, let me show you a night to remember."
Heidi's face turned red. "W-What-?!"
Mike glared immediately. "Oi, back off!"
At the same time-
A stunning woman with long silver hair appeared beside Mike.
"You must be a great magician I'm pretty interested in magic," she purred, running a hand along his arm. "Come, I have something special to tell you."
Mike froze. "Huh? Wait, what?"
Heidi and Mike were separated before they could react.
Jim and Naomi were instantly suspicious.
But just as they were about to interfere-
The festival guests suddenly swarmed them.
Dancing, singing, pulling them into the crowd-keeping them distracted.
Meanwhile...
In a lavish private room, the handsome gentleman led Heidi to a balcony.
"The boy with you flirts with everyone, doesn't he?" he whispered.
Heidi hesitated. "Well... yeah, but-"
"But why does he never look at you the same way?"
That sentence stabbed into Heidi's heart.
The man smiled darkly. "Are you sure you mean anything to him?"
Meanwhile-
Mike was seated beside the silver-haired woman, who whispered into his ear:
"The girl tagging along with you is always annoyed at you, isn't she?"
Mike tensed. "That's just how she is-"
"She never appreciates you. She scolds you, looks down on you, argues with you. Doesn't it get tiring?"
Mike clenched his fists.
Both of their orbs, glowing faintly, began to darken.
In the distance, Nosferatu and Alucard watched with satisfaction.
Nosferatu: "Their hatred will soon be complete. They will destroy themselves."
As Heidi and Mike returned to the ballroom, their gazes met-
But instead of warmth-
There was uncertainty.
Mike's thoughts swirled: "Does she even care about me?"
Heidi's emotions twisted: "Does he even see me?"
Their bond was fracturing.
And at the height of the festival-
The illusion vanished.
The grand ballroom transformed into ruins.
The guests disappeared into smoke.
The handsome man and the silver-haired woman revealed their true form as they merged into one figure-
The same Monster from the Ugly Duckling stood before them, laughing darkly.
"Now... let your hatred consume you!"
A surge of dark energy struck both Mike and Heidi.
Pain. Anger. Doubt.
Everything crashed down on them at once.
The orbs inside them flashed violently-then turned black.
A monstrous crimson aura surrounded them.
Their eyes glowed red.
Their forms twisted, distorted.
Their clothes burned away, replaced by dark, armored versions of their Warrior suits.
But this time-
They were mindless.
They were monsters.
Heidi let out a demonic screech.
Mike roared, his wand glowing with uncontrollable fury.
Jim and Naomi arrived-but too late.
Jim's eyes widened in horror. "No... they've turned into-"
Naomi clenched her fists. "This was their plan all along!"
Nosferatu's voice echoed across the ruins.
"And now... they will destroy everything, including each other!"
Mike and Heidi turned to each other-
And with no hesitation-
They charged at one another, Mike's wand and Heidi's utensils clashing with monstrous force.
Their greatest bond-
Had become their greatest curse.