The spaceship emerged from the swirling fabric of space, its sleek hull reflecting the distant glow of a sun-kissed world.
Mike, Heidi, Jim, and Naomi stood on the observation deck, their eyes fixed on the majestic sight before them — the Sleeping Beauty Planet.
Unlike the worlds they’d encountered before, this one exuded a fragile beauty.
Rolling meadows, crystalline lakes, and towering spires of an ancient kingdom gleamed beneath a sky brushed with soft violet clouds.
Jim: "Alright, lovebirds. The next fairy tale planet is in sight — Sleeping Beauty."
His voice held a teasing edge, making Mike and Heidi simultaneously groan.
Naomi: (smirking) "And this time, I bet you two will have to learn yet another lesson about love."
Mike and Heidi: (grumbling) "Shut up."
Yet the warmth between them was undeniable.
Despite their bickering, the memories of their last battle — the desperate fight against Sebastian Reck and the raw emotions it unearthed — lingered.
Naomi noticed how they unconsciously stood closer now, how their glances lingered. Jim noticed too but said nothing.
With a flash of golden light, the spaceship entered the planet’s atmosphere, descending toward the fairytale kingdom below.
The capital city was everything one would expect from a storybook realm. Ivory towers pierced the sky, while vibrant banners fluttered above cobblestone streets.
Citizens moved about in elegant garb, their laughter echoing through the marketplace. The atmosphere was peaceful — almost too peaceful.
Mike’s brow furrowed as the ship touched down on the outskirts.
Mike: "Something’s not right. After everything we’ve seen, this… feels wrong."
Heidi stepped forward, her gaze steady.
Heidi: "Which means we should be ready for anything."
They set out toward the grand castle, a massive structure with spires that gleamed like pearls.
As they approached, they noticed a sense of anticipation among the people.
Rumors of Princess Aurora's awakening had spread. The scene played out like the classic tale — Aurora, cursed to an eternal slumber, awaited the fabled prince’s kiss to break the spell.
The four watched from the shadows as the prince, clad in shining silver armor, entered the castle. The air grew tense. But just as he leaned in to deliver the legendary kiss—
A pulse of black energy erupted from the castle.
A horrific shockwave surged through the air, sending tremors across the kingdom.
The prince froze, his face twisting in agony as the very essence of his being seemed to unravel.
Aurora, still in her slumber, vanished in a swirl of dark mist. The prince followed suit, his form disintegrating like ashes in the wind.
Heidi: (gasping) "No… not again."
The castle walls groaned, the once pristine marble now corrupted by creeping shadows. Cracks spread like veins of darkness.
Mike: (clenching his fists) "These bastards just won’t stop ruining these stories."
Before they could react further, a chilling laugh echoed from above. The sound was melodic yet filled with malice.
From the corrupted skies descended a woman — regal, terrifying, and draped in flowing black and crimson robes. Her eyes gleamed an unsettling shade of blood-red, and a wicked smile curved her lips.
It was Carmilla.
She hovered with an air of twisted elegance, her presence suffocating the space.
Carmilla: (mocking) "Ah, you must be the ones who stopped my dear brother. How quaint."
Her voice dripped with condescension, though a flicker of genuine curiosity burned beneath the surface.
Unlike her brother Alucard, who relied on hatred, Carmilla was a creature of manipulation — a puppeteer who reveled in twisting the minds and hearts of others.
Naomi: (whispering) "That’s Carmilla. She may be even crueler than Alucard."
Carmilla's crimson nails traced patterns in the air, the shadows around her responding like obedient serpents.
Carmilla: (smiling) "My brother may have fallen, but I prefer a different approach. I don’t really shatter love, darlings. I shatter hearts."
With a wave of her hand, the castle was engulfed in dark mist. The entire kingdom warped, twisting into a reflection of her malice. Thorny vines erupted from the ground, snaking through the streets and consuming the beauty of the land.
Carmilla: "Your little victories mean nothing. This story is now mine."
Jim and Naomi instinctively kept their distance, but Mike and Heidi stepped forward.
Mike: (voice firm) "We’ve beaten your brother. We’ll beat you too."
Carmilla’s smile widened.
Carmilla: (whispering) "Let's see if you are lucky enough to survive my game, Orb Warriors."
Mike transformed and charged forward, summoning his magic wand's powers using nature magic.
From the ground, massive vines erupted, twisting like snakes to ensnare Carmilla.
At the same time, Heidi lunged with her twin weapons — a meat cleaver in her right hand and a kitchen knife in her left as she transformed.
Her swift, unpredictable movements matched Mike’s strikes, a true reflection of their growing bond.
Heidi: “We’ll cut you down!”
The vines lashed forward, attempting to entangle Carmilla, while Heidi’s attacks gleamed with burning strikes.
But Carmilla simply smiled.
With a wave of her hand, the vines withered instantly, reduced to blackened husks.
She effortlessly dodged Heidi’s relentless onslaught, her movements elegant and calculated.
Carmilla: “You’re nothing but children throwing tantrums.”
She retaliated, unleashing a wave of crimson energy that sent them both flying into the stone walls of the castle. The impact left them gasping for air.
Bruised and exhausted, Mike and Heidi pulled themselves to their feet.
Mike: “We can’t… back down.”
Heidi: “No. We’re not losing to her.”
They attacked once more.
Mike summoned more vines from the shattered floor, thick and massive. They twisted and surged toward Carmilla.
Simultaneously, Heidi dashed forward, channeling all her remaining energy into her weapons. Flames crackled around her cleaver and knife as she struck in tandem with Mike.
For a moment, it seemed like their combined force might overwhelm her.
But Carmilla raised her hands.
A massive crimson sigil ignited in the air, pulsing with destructive energy.
Carmilla: “You’re simply… pathetic.”
The sigil released an explosion of black energy. It crashed into Mike and Heidi, sending them skidding across the ground.
They groaned, struggling to move.
Seeing each other in pain, the weight of the battle overwhelmed them.
But amidst the agony—
They reached for each other.
Mike’s trembling hand found Heidi’s, their fingers intertwining.
Mike: “I can’t lose you.”
Heidi: “I… I won’t lose you either.”
Their gazes locked, tears welling in their eyes.
And in that moment—
A golden light burst forth.
Their hearts connected, and the powerful force of their bond materialized. Love Form.
Their bodies glowed radiantly, their strength renewed.
Jim and Naomi gasped.
Naomi: “They did it! They activated Love Form again!”
Jim: “But can it really hold against her?”
Mike and Heidi charged once again.
Their combined attacks were faster, sharper, and stronger than before. Every strike echoed with the power of their connection.
But Carmilla was unfazed.
She moved with ease, as though predicting their every move.
Carmilla: “Love? How dull.”
The crimson mist around her twisted into black chains, wrapping around Mike and Heidi’s limbs.
She lifted her hand, the chains pulling them closer.
Carmilla: “Love may ignite a spark, but I will snuff it out.”
With a vicious smile, she unleashed a devastating wave of darkness, swallowing the Love Form entirely.
Mike and Heidi screamed in agony.
The golden light shattered.
Their bodies were consumed by the shadows.
Carmilla: "Welcome to my domain — the Trial of Trust begins now."
The light vanished.
And in an instant, Mike and Heidi were swallowed into the darkness.
Jim and Naomi could do nothing but watch them disappear, leaving only Carmilla’s lingering laughter.
Jim: (gritting his teeth) "Damn it!"
Naomi: (worried) "Mike… Heidi…"
But this time, Carmilla wasn’t just testing their strength.
She was testing their hearts.
_ _ _
Mike and Heidi jolted awake, their bodies aching as they stumbled to their feet. The vibrant kingdom of Sleeping Beauty was gone.
Instead, they stood in a bleak, twisted realm — a crimson-hued wasteland covered in thick fog. Towering black thorns twisted across the barren ground, and the air was heavy with the echoes of distant whispers.
Above them, a crimson moon loomed, casting an eerie glow.
Heidi: (looking around) "Where are we?"
Mike: (clenching his fists) "This… this should be Carmilla’s world."
A low, melodic laugh reverberated through the fog, followed by Carmilla’s voice.
Carmilla: (mocking) "Welcome to my little playground, dears. This is the realm of despair — a reflection of the doubts that dwell in your hearts."
The mist parted, revealing Carmilla in all her twisted elegance. Her black and crimson robes flowed unnaturally, and her blood-red eyes gleamed with amusement. She hovered effortlessly, her presence commanding and sinister.
Carmilla: "You are both so predictable. Love. Passion. But what happens when the foundation of your precious feelings crumbles?"
With a sinister smile, she raised her hand. Dark energy twisted through the air as the world around them began to shift.
The ground cracked open, revealing a twisted castle rising from the depths. Blackened towers loomed overhead, and twisted vines curled around the stone walls. It was a corrupted reflection of Sleeping Beauty’s castle — distorted and incomplete.
Carmilla: "You will both play your roles in this tale, but not as you expect. Blue Magician… you will take the role of the cursed one."
Dark chains lashed out, wrapping around Mike’s wrists and ankles. He gasped, struggling against their cold grip as they began to pull him downward.
Carmilla: "And Yellow Cook, you will be the savior. The one who must awaken him. But beware… every step you take will lead you deeper into despair."
Before Heidi could react, Mike was consumed by shadows, vanishing from sight. The castle gates creaked open, inviting her in.
Carmilla: (softly) "Let the trial begin."