They had landed in a place called Middle Grimm, the middle layer of the Grimm World. Now the question was: where was Strohelm's helmet?
Diego: "Hmmm..."
Jeanne: "Ughh... Huh... wait a second, this is a painting of my grandfather..."
A painting of an old man with a long black beard.
Nacht: "Indeed... that's him... Stroholm the Magician..."
They walked forward. Jeanne was still behind them... but while they looked ahead, she wore an evil grin.
Jeanne: "...Fools... hehe..."
She followed them.
Diego: "Where could his helmet be?"
Mona: "Hmmm..."
Nacht: "Hmm?... (The paintings...)"
There was a painting of a train next to Strohelm's portrait... and next to that, a painting of a tunnel.
Nacht: "Hmmm... (Could this mean something?)... Hmmm... Excuse me."
Stranger: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Excuse me... do you know what's at the end of the tunnel?"
Stranger: "Hmm?... You mean the Dawn ne Don Tunnel... Listen to my advice... don't go there."
Nacht: "Hmm?"
Jeanne: "Huh?"
Diego: "Why?"
Stranger: "...It's the most dangerous place in this forest... They say there's a train... that actually takes people... but... they're not humans... they're monsters... vampires... skinwalkers, witches, beasts, or even Apocalypse members."
Nacht looked at his friends.
Nacht: "Hmm?..."
Stranger: "Hmmm?..."
Nacht: "Okay, thank you very much, sir."
Stranger: "...Hmmm... you're suspicious... perhaps I should report you to the guards after all."
Nacht: "Hmm?... Feel free."
He smiled like a child, but a deadly and disturbing aura came from him.
Nacht: "...Just as they warned us, I will warn you... If you do that... it may have been your final hour... Hmm?"
He smiled. The man became frightened and walked away.
Nacht: "Hmmmm..."
He stopped smiling and looked serious.
Nacht: "Let's go."
Charlotte: "Woow... (Master Nacht is so cool!)"
Jeanne: "(Woow... That guy... is dangerous... The legends of Zephyr are true... The Zephyrs are... real monsters.)"
They continued walking.
Nacht: "...If anyone sees us going there... stop them."
Diego: "What if they run?"
Nacht: "Kill them."
Diego: "Got it."
One thing must not be forgotten. The Phantoms were no longer as kind as they once were. They still helped people, but their goals came first. Because of that, Diego, Nacht, and Mona had decided they would also sacrifice people if it meant destroying the Apocalypses or protecting themselves. Only Kisa opposed this, while Charlotte remained neutral, though she believed they should not go too far.
Nacht: "...Hmmm... Ichabod, help me out."
Diego: "Hmm?"
A horse made of black smoke appeared.
Nacht: "Come on, climb up... Einsenheim can take us."
They climbed on, and it began moving.
Kisa: "Nacht... was that really necessary with that man?"
Nacht: "If people get in my way... then yes, Kisa... I'm tired of my friends being put in danger because I didn't want to drag others into it... Anyone who interferes is responsible for their own fate... Hey, rookie."
Diego: "Huh?"
Nacht grabbed his ear and whispered.
Nacht: "Watch Jeanne."
Diego: "Huh?"
Nacht: "Do it."
Diego: "Why me?"
Nacht: "Because you're good at it... Hmph... when it comes to women."
Diego: "Ugh... Hahhh... fine."
Nacht: "Good."
They stopped.
There it was.
The tunnel.
Nacht: "Hmm?..."
(Dong... Dong...)
Diego: "...A tower?"
Kisa: "Strange."
They stopped at a station.
Diego: "Hmmm..."
They waited.
Nacht: "Hmm?"
Kisa: "Ughh."
Both looked around.
Mona: "Ugh."
Charlotte: "Something's coming, isn't it?"
Nacht: "Mhm."
Jeanne: "Hmm... several things."
Several strange figures appeared... vampires... then figures with terrifying faces... and even monsters.
Nacht: "Hmmm..."
They looked at them.
Nacht: "Hmm?... Don't worry... they won't dare come near us because of my power and Mona's... they can probably see them."
Mona: "Yeah... they're monsters themselves. Of course they can see our guardian spirits."
Behind Mona stood a giant cat with huge eyes... and behind Nacht stood a figure made of black liquid with many faces. It was Ichabod's true form. The cat was one of the Town Musicians fairy tale characters and Mona's guardian spirit.
Diego: "Huh..."
Mona: "They seem afraid of Diego too."
Nacht: "Of course... He has the power of the Werewolf from Little Red Riding Hood. He represents gluttony and devours every living creature regardless of what kind of being it is."
Diego: "Hmm... Hey... a train really is coming..."
The train stopped. They boarded and sat down.
Kisa: "Mmm..."
The monsters stared at them. One even tried to touch them, but as it approached, Mona's cat devoured it.
(Splach!)
Cat: "Meoooowwwwwww."
Mona: "Shhhh... it's okay, Miw..."
Jeanne: "(Terrifying... It makes you wonder... who the real monsters are here... them or us... especially those two... they're the truly frightening ones.)"
The train continued moving.
(Tschutt...)
Diego: "Ohh... look..."
It was a city where the houses floated in the air.
Diego: "Hmm?"
Jeanne: "Ughh..."
Nacht: "Well now..."
Kisa: "Woow... even the people are walking while floating in the air..."
Diego: "Creepy."
The train continued.
Diego: "Where are we supposed to get off?"
Nacht: "Good question. Jeanne, any idea?"
Jeanne: "Hmmm... Oh... If I remember correctly, Father once mentioned a castle made of gray stone with a green roof... There's even a painting of it, and he said it belonged to us. But I've never seen it myself... maybe it's where Strohelm's place is?"
Nacht: "Hmmm..."
Jeanne: "Let me think... There was a song my mother used to sing... The train goes on and rides as if it travels upon the stars... some towers float in the sky... be a good little girl and you'll arrive at the Dream Castle... By the way, Dream Castle is a place connected to Wonderland... that's what I read in the Wonderland books and in my father's book, Journey of the Stars."
Diego: "Oh... I see... very interesting."
The train kept moving.
(Tschutt)
It stopped. The monsters hurried out, though some left calmly.
Nacht: "Hmm?... Looks like only we remain."
The train continued.
Nacht: "Hmm..."
(Two hours later)
Diego: "(Snore)..."
Jeanne: "(Zzzzz)..."
Kisa: "(Zzzz)..."
Charlotte: "(Snore)..."
Mona: "...Mmm...(Zzzzz)..."
Nacht: "Hmmm...(I mustn't... fall asleep...)"
He fell asleep.
Nacht: "...I have died more than a hundred thousand times... My curse makes me return... the curse my family gave me... Through Tara I learned... that it had more to do with my family than I thought... And so I wouldn't feel the pain anymore... I stitched part of my brain shut and sewed closed the place where the pain was... that's why there's a crack on the left side of my head... and the stitch marks..."
(Some hours later)
Jeanne: "Hey... Nacht... Nacht?"
Nacht: "Ugh."
Jeanne: "Look."
Nacht: "Hmm?"
It was a castle... gray walls and a green roof.
Jeanne: "That's it. It has to be... right?"
Nacht: "Does it resemble the painting?"
Jeanne: "Yes."
Nacht: "Okay..."
The train stopped. They got off.
Mona: "(Yawns)..."
Charlotte: "Mmm."
Kisa: "(Hiccup)... mmm."
Diego: "Ugh."
(Fart)
Mona: "You disgusting bastard."
Nacht: "Hmm?"
Diego: "Sorry... It's a habit."
Mona: "Tsss."
They walked forward and looked around.
Diego: "Where are we?"
Jeanne: "At the ass end of the world?"
Diego: "That would explain the smell."
Charlotte: "That's the smell of your fart, genius."
Diego: "Oops."
Mona: "But... could it be that wasn't just a fart? Did you shit your pants?"
Diego: "What? No... maybe... okay... I don't know."
Nacht: "Hahh. Let's go inside and find a toilet for you."
Diego: "Good idea."
They went inside.
Diego: "Woow."
Nacht: "Hmm... Oh, look. That seems to be it. Go in."
Diego: "Okay."
He went inside.
Diego: "Ahhhhh... yeah... Oh yeah..."
(Ding!)
The walls vanished.
Diego: "Huh?!"
Nacht: "Um."
Mona: "AAAAAARGHHHH."
Charlotte: "Gross."
Diego: "AAAAAAAAAARGHHHH! Don't look!"
He pulled up his pants.
Diego: "What the hell was that..."
Mona: "Ughh... the hair... the hair... I'll never forget that."
Charlotte: "Ugh... it is... but... small..."
Diego: "Hey..."
Nacht: "...By the way, Diego... why the fuck do your underwear have star symbols on them? How old are you again?"
Diego: "...I don't remember... 20?... Yeah... 20."
Nacht: "Hahhh... Okay... let's see what could be here..."
Diego: "Mm..."
Kisa: "Hmm."
Charlotte: "How about we keep moving?"
Jeanne: "Good idea."