CIMA: The Vengeance

[TheLostGamer]

Tired of waiting for a second CIMA game to come out? Then you'll want to read this; it's a sequel to CIMA: The Enemy. Full-size, too (60 pages long). To see it all at once (and with pictures...I'll put up more pictures sometime), go here:

http://the_lost_gamer.tripod.com/cima.html

Enjoy!

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Altran Continent
Jillani Region

Esswood and Richard are talking to each other in the secret lab/base. Richard is balding and has a black moustache, and is frowning in his picture. He’s wearing a rather ugly white and green striped jumpsuit.

Esswood: What’s the news?
Richard: My brother has quit.
Esswood: We always thought he might...he’s always been a little different from us. That’s why we advanced you instead of him.
Richard: I’m going to miss him. Will you?
Esswood: He will be missed. He was a great Gate Guardian. We should have made him one of the Six Stars when Jester died and left a seat open.
Richard: Why didn’t you?
Esswood: He doesn’t like to follow orders. He prefers to “do things his own way”, like he said all the time.
Richard: That makes sense, I guess. I could see how he could have been dangerous.
Esswood: He could still be dangerous. He knows a lot. If he decided to turn against us...
Richard: Yeah...
Esswood: Why did he quit? Hopefully he wasn’t mad at us or something.
Richard: No, he didn’t seem upset. He just said he had something to do that could be more important than what we’re doing.
Esswood: What do you think it is?
Richard: This might sound strange, but...if you remember, he didn’t seem to care when you didn’t make him one of the Six Stars. I would have expected him to be a little upset at the least.
Esswood: Why is that, you suppose?
Richard: If you remember the two Gate Guardians with Jester...they said they defeated Pike Nighttrap and found the Singularity.
Esswood: I think I remember. They were called Ark and Ivy, right? Utter nonsense, of course. As if a trainee could defeat one of the Crimson Nine when one of the Six Stars could not.
Richard: I think Ralph might have believed them.
Esswood: Really?
Richard: Yes. He thought they were telling the truth, because otherwise the pioneers wouldn’t have named the town after them.
Esswood: Interesting...so that’s why he quit? He thought we were making a mistake?
Richard: I believe so.
Esswood: But why quit now? That all happened a few months ago. Why didn’t he quit then?
Richard: I was wondering that, too...
Esswood: ...... There’s something you’re not telling me.
Richard: I looked in on it. Apparently those two are taking a two-week vacation.
Esswood: Really? Where to?
Richard: Interestingly enough, they’re going to the town named after them.
Esswood: So what do you think Ralph is up to?
Richard: I think he might try to contact them now that they’re away from us. Their information on the Singularity might help him on his search for the Base.
Esswood: It won’t work. Those two are lying. They have to be; there’s no way they’re telling the truth.
Richard: Still...we’d better send someone to keep an eye on things.
Esswood: We already have someone who keeps an eye on them here. We should go check his files.
Richard: I agree.
Esswood: And then you can go after them and your brother to see what they’re up to.
Richard: Yes, sir.
Esswood: At least until we can confirm that Ralph and those two are not dangerous.

Altran Continent
Eastwick Region

Ark and Ivy are in an empty compartment on a train.

Ark: It sure will be nice to see everyone again!
Ivy: Yeah...
Ark: Ivy? What’s wrong?
Ivy: ...I’m just thinking about last time we were here.
Ark: Yeah, me too.
Ivy: ......
Ark: It wasn’t all bad, you know.
Ivy: I know. It’s just that...
Ark: ...Everything went wrong at the end.
Ivy: ...Yeah.
Ark: ...Where did things go wrong?
Ivy: ...I don’t know. I just don’t know.

Claude comes in.

Claude: Ark! Ivy!

They turn to look at him.

Ivy: Claude!
Ark: Conductor!

Ivy and Ark walk towards Claude.

Claude: How are you doing?
Ark: Pretty well. How about you?
Claude: Can’t complain! Hopefully we won’t run into a CIMA gate like last time!
Ark: Hopefully not!
Ivy: Yes. Hopefully.
Claude: ......

Ivy turns around to look out a window.

Ark: ......
Claude: Ivy?

Ivy turns to look at Claude.

Ivy: Yes?
Claude: You seem off. Is something wrong?
Ivy: It’s just...nothing. I’m fine.
Claude: Are you sure?
Ivy: Yes.

Ivy turns back to look out the window.

Claude: ......
Ark: You were like this when we left.

Ivy turns around again.

Ivy: ?
Ark: You didn’t want to see anyone. You wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Ivy: ...I had my reasons.
Ark: You were scared of them, weren’t you?
Ivy: Me? Scared? Ridiculous!
Ark: You were scared what people would think of you. Scared they would hate you because you’re a CIMA.

Ivy turns around to look out the window again.

Ivy: ...Maybe a little.
Ark: I knew it!
Claude: I don’t think it matters that you’re a CIMA. You saved us all and we’ll always be grateful.
Ivy: ......
Claude: Besides, it’s not like we told anyone about you.

Ivy turns around to look at Claude.

Ivy: What?
Claude: Well, what did you think we would do? Go around making “IVY IS A CIMA” signs?
Ivy: You really didn’t tell anyone?
Claude: We didn’t want to ruin your career as a Gate Guardian. Why? Did you tell anyone?
Ark: No. We didn’t want to ruin our careers as Gate Guardians, either.
Ivy: ...The way things have gone, it’s almost like we did try to ruin our Gate Guardian careers.
Claude: Really?
Ivy: ...Yes.
Ark: ...When we got back to headquarters, they didn’t believe that we found the Plug. Or that we had defeated Pike Nighttrap...They thought Jester died killing Pike, and we were just lying to make ourselves seem important.
Ivy: They sent us back to school.
Ark: It’s so pointless! We defeated one of the Crimson Nine and what do we get? We have to restart our training from the beginning again! It’s such a waste!
Claude: It sounds...bad.
Ark: It is! It’s terrible! We’ve being forced to go over amateur stuff again!
Claude: Still, though...at least you two weren’t separated.
Ivy: (scoffs) Some comfort.
Claude: Why is that, I suppose?
Ark: I don’t know...maybe Jester left instructions for us to always be paired together or something like that?
Claude: Well, don’t ask me. ...... I’ve got to go back to the engine. See you later, Ark and Ivy!
Ark: Okay.
Ivy: See you later.

Claude exits the room. Ivy goes back to looking at the window. After a moment, Ark walks up to her.

Ark: Why do you think that is?
Ivy: What?
Ark: Why do you think we’re still together?
Ivy: I don’t know! What does it matter?
Ark: I just think it’s-
Ivy: It doesn’t matter! Who cares? Everything’s gone bad since we defeated Pike and got lumped together as lying amateurs and put back into school! So what if we’re together? Everything is still terrible for us!
Ark: Don’t get so offended, Ivy. It was just a question.
Ivy: Oh, getting worked up too easily, am I? Isn’t that what you expect? I’m a CIMA, so you think I’m going to act weird and then kill you, right?
Ark: Ivy, no-
Ivy: I should never have agreed to come to this wedding!
Ark: You-
Ivy: It was a bad idea!
Ark: Will you let me finish?!
Ivy: ...Sorry.
Ark: Ivy, it doesn’t matter that things have been going badly with our Gate Guardian career. We’re not going to the wedding as Gate Guardians; we’re going as guests.
Ivy: ......
Ark: You’re forgetting the wedding is in a town named after us. Even if the “official” Gate Guardians think we’re liars, the people in Ark and Ivy Town won’t. They trust us there. It doesn’t matter if you’re a CIMA. The people there trust you.
Ivy: ......
Ark: I trust you, too, Ivy.
Ivy: ...I know. I’m sorry. I overreacted. It’s been hard lately, and I’m worried this trip might turn out to be too much. Because no matter how bad things have been, they would have been worse if everyone knew I was a CIMA. And now we’re going to the one place where everyone knows I’m a CIMA...
Ark: It’ll be okay, Ivy.
Ivy: ...I hope so.
Ark: ...Me too.

The screen fades out to black, then fades back in. Time has apparently passed, as the scenery outside the train has changed.

Ark: It looks like we’ll be there soon!
Ivy: It sure does...
Gregory: Thank goodness. This train ride has gone on far enough.

Ark and Ivy turn around and look behind them. A man and a woman have just entered the car. The man has glasses, well combed hair, and is dressed in a business suit. He looks stern. The woman is tall with shoulder-length blonde hair. She smiles a lot, and is wearing a pink/red shirt and white pants. They are in their forties.

Ark: Who are you?
Gregory: My name is Gregory, and this is my wife Hilary. And you are...?
Ark: Ark.
Ivy: Ivy.
Gregory: Charming. Well, we must be going. I want to see the conductor.

Gregory walks forward to the exit of the car, past Ark and Ivy. Hilary stays put.

Hilary: So you’re Ark and Ivy, and you’re going to Ark and Ivy Town? That’s kind of cute...
Ivy: Actually, the town is named us. We helped protect the founders of the town from some CIMA.
Hilary: Really? That’s interesting. So you two are Gate Guardians? You know, there’s a man somewhere else on the train who seems to know a lot about Gate Guardians.

Gregory turns around.

Gregory: Hilary, we don’t have time for this. I want to see the conductor before we stop.
Hilary: Oh, fine.

Hilary walks to Gregory. He turns around to leave, but she turns around to face Ark and Ivy.

Hilary: One last thing before we go. What brings you two to your namesake town?
Ark: We’re here for a wedding.
Hilary: Aw, you two are getting married? That’s so cute...

Gregory turns towards Hilary.

Gregory: Hilary, we have to be going!

Hilary turns toward Gregory.

Hilary: Gregory, why do you have to be such a spoilsport? Can’t you let me talk to the cute young couple?
Ark: Um...we’re not getting married. We’re going to see someone else get married.

Hilary turns towards Ark and Ivy.

[TheLostGamer]

Hilary: Really? Whoops. My mistake. I just assumed you were getting married because you two look so cute together.
Ark: ......
Ivy: ......
Hilary: Anyway, hopefully we’ll see each other later! Goodbye, Ark and Ivy!

She turns around and leaves with Gregory. Ark turns toward Ivy.

Ark: ...That was strange.
Ivy: What do you mean? Don’t you think I’m cute?
Ark: No, I, uh...
Ivy: Are you saying you think I’m ugly?
Ark: No, you, uh...
Ivy: Oh, I get it! It’s strange that someone thinks you’re cute!
Ark: No! I just never thought of us as being together.
Ivy: What?! You were asking me about why we were still together when the train started!
Ark: No, I mean together as, you know...a couple. I just thought that was...strange.
Ivy: What’s so strange about it? You think I’m strange?
Ark: Not too strange, no.
Ivy: Gee, thanks.
Ark: Well, it’s true.
Ivy: Yeah, like I said, thanks. At least I’m not as strange as you are.
Ark: I’m not strange!
Ivy: Aw, I’m just kidding. Take it easy.

Ark and Ivy stop looking at each other. No one says anything for a while.

Ivy: Besides, I’m so cute that any couple I’m in is a cute one.
Ark: Yeah, whatever you say.

An announcement goes through the train.

Announcer: The train is going to reach Ark and Ivy Town in about a minute. Passengers, please prepare for departure.

Ark: I guess we’ll be there soon.
Ivy: Yep.

The screen fades out to black, then fades back in on the train station. Vanrose and Shelley are there together. The only other person there is a small girl (she looks like she’s four years old) named Kelly. She has shiny long black hair and a blue dress. She is playing with a doll. The train pulls up to the station and stops. Ark and Ivy get off.

Vanrose: Ark! Ivy!
Ark: Vanrose!
Ivy: Shelley!

Ark and Ivy walk up to Vanrose and Shelley.

Vanrose: So you two managed to get time off for the wedding, huh?
Ark: Of course we did. Did you?
Vanrose: Well, I had to. Rick asked me to be the best man.
Shelley: I still can’t believe they’re finally going to get married.
Ark: I know what you mean...Rick and Diana’s relationship was always pretty rocky.
Vanrose: Well, I had faith in Rick. I knew he could do it.
Shelley: You should wait to say that until after they’re married.
Ark: Why? Are you worried they’ll call off the wedding?
Shelley: No...it’s just that...well, with all the pressure from the wedding and all, Diana is very high strung right now. One wrong move by Rick could spell disaster.
Vanrose: Aw, don’t be so melodramatic. I’m sure everything will be fine.
Shelley: I am, too. Still...
Ark: ...Best not to rock the boat.
Shelley: Ivy? Are you okay? Why haven’t you said anything?
Ivy: I’m fine. I was just thinking about...some other things.
Ark: Oh no, don’t start that again.
Vanrose: Start what again?
Ark: Nothing. She’s getting all weird again like she was on the train ride here.
Ivy: I’m not getting all weird!
Vanrose: Well, girls usually get weird when it’s time for a wedding.
Shelley: What’s that supposed to mean, Vanrose?
Vanrose: See, like that.
Shelley: Vanrose!
Vanrose: Ha ha, just kidding, Shelley.
Shelley: Humph.
Ark: So, where is everyone?
Ivy: Yeah, you’re not the only ones who want to see us, are you?
Shelley: Oh, no. Everyone wants to see you. Vanrose just made them stay away.
Ark: Really? Why?
Vanrose: As Mayor of Ark and Ivy Town, I’m on the reception committee to welcome you to our town.
Ark: ?
Shelley: He’s the mayor, so he gets to pick you up.
Ark: Oh.
Vanrose: Come on, I’ll take you to go see everyone!

Vanrose walks off. Ark, Ivy and Shelley follow after him. Ivy stops and turns around. Ark, Shelley and Vanrose stop and turn towards her.

Ark: Ivy? Why did you stop?
Ivy: Something feels wrong.
Ark: What did I say about starting that again? Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.
Ivy: It’s not that! Something just feels wrong. Like something bad is going to happen soon or something.
Vanrose: What’s going to happen?
Ivy: I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have. It just feels like something strange is going on here...
Ark: ......
Ivy: ...It’s probably nothing. Let’s go.

They all leave the train station, going off-screen. Ralph steps out from the train. He’s Richard’s brother, but doesn’t look like it all that much. His head is shaved and he is wearing a dark blue jumpsuit.

Ralph: Hmmm...It looks like Ark and Ivy had visitors. Looks like it might take longer than I expected to get them alone so I could talk to them in a secure place. Well, can’t lose them.

Ralph hurries off in the direction Ark, Ivy, Vanrose and Shelley were going. When he’s gone, Richard steps out from the train. Richard’s talking on a cell phone.

Richard: Yes, Chief, it looks like I was right. Ralph is definitely following those two. No, I don’t know why, yet... ...... I’ll follow after him and phone when I have more information.

Richard goes off-screen in the same direction as Ralph and the others did. Nothing happens except for the small girl playing with her doll some more. After a while, Claude walks up to the train entrance and then turns around.

Claude: All aboard!

Nothing happens.

Claude: Little girl, are you going to go on the train?
Kelly: No, sir, Mister Conductor, sir. My mommy said not to get on any trains.
Claude: Where is your mommy?
Kelly: I don’t know. She told me to stay here while she took care of some things.
Claude: Do you know when she’ll be back?
Kelly: No, but I don’t care. I like being here playing with my dolly.
Claude: ...... Well, it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to go on the train.
Kelly: Nope.
Claude: I guess I’ll have to take it back to the city all alone. Maybe I’ll see you later, little girl.
Kelly: Bye, Mr. Conductor!

Claude enters the train and shuts the door behind him. The train’s whistle blows and the train leaves the station. When the train is gone, Kelly stands up and looks around.

Kelly: It appears two Gate Guardians are following Ark and Ivy. Hmmm...this’ll make things different...

Kelly warps away. The screen goes black, and fades back in on the main room of the local inn. Ark, Ivy, Vanrose and Shelly are entering.

Vanrose: You’ll have to spend the night at this inn.
Ivy: I don’t remember an inn being here.
Vanrose: Why not?
Shelley: Vanrose, did you forget that she was unconscious for most of the time she was here?
Vanrose: Oh, yeah. Sorry.
Ivy: It’s okay. So who owns the inn?
Vanrose: You’ll see...
Philis: Ark! Is that you?

Philis, who was already inside the inn, runs up to the group.

Philis: Ark! It is you!
Ark: Hello again, Philis!
Philis: Ark, it’s so good to see you again! And Ivy, too!
Ivy: It’s nice to see you again too, Philis.
Philis: Are you here for the wedding?
Ivy: Yes.
Philis: I thought so. We’re really busy right now because a lot of people are coming in for the wedding and staying here.
Ark: It seems busy.
Philis: It sure is! Mom’s letting me help take care of the guests now. Can I sign you two in?
Ark: Okay!
Philis: Great!

They all walk over to the main desk of the lobby. Philis gets behind the desk and starts sorting through paperwork.

Philis: Let’s see...we’ve got a couple’s room for two...
Ivy: Couple’s?
Philis: That means the room has only one bed instead of two, so the couple can sleep together.
Ivy: ......
Philis: No, wait, that room’s reserved for a Gregory and a Hilary. Hmmm...let’s see what else we have...

Philis goes through some papers while Gregory and Hilary come in. Gregory walks quickly and directly up to the main desk, not looking anywhere else and dragging Hilary along with him.

Gregory: My wife and I are going to be spending the night here. May I see a manager?
Philis: I can help you, sir.
Gregory: No, no, no, you’re just a kid. I need to see someone in charge here. I have some very important business to attend to.
Philis: I’ll go get my mom.
Gregory: Excellent.

Philis goes off to find her mom. Gregory drums his fingers on the desk impatiently. Hilary looks around and notices Ark and the gang.

Hilary: It’s Ark and Ivy from the train! Nice to see you again!
Ark: Hello.
Ivy: Hi.
Hilary: Are you two staying at the inn, too?
Ark: Yes.
Hilary: You mean to say they named the town after you, and they don’t give you your own house to stay in or anything?
Ark: Nope.
Hilary: How terrible!
Ivy: Well, they did send the mayor to meet us.
Hilary: Really? What was the mayor like?
Vanrose: That’s me. I’m the mayor.
Hilary: Oh. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Mayor.
Vanrose: You can call me Vanrose.
Hilary: I’m Hilary.
Shelley: And I’m Shelley. I’m Vanrose’s assistant.
Vanrose: And don’t worry about us not being nice to Ark and Ivy. We’re holding a welcome back party for them tonight.
Hilary: Oh, good. That’s nice. And you two look nice, too. Are you a couple?
Vanrose: Yes.
Hilary: Oh, thank goodness! I didn’t want to make a mistake like I did with Ark and Ivy.
Vanrose: ?
Hilary: When they said they were going to a wedding, I thought they were going to get married.
Vanrose: Oh, well, that’s understandable, I guess...
Hilary: I think they look cute together. Like there’s some sort of connection between them.
Ark: It must be because we spend a lot of time together at work.
Hilary: What kind of work do you do?
Ivy: We’re Gate Guardians.
Hilary: How interesting!

Philis returns with her mom.

Telmia: May I help you, sir?
Gregory: Are you a manager?
Telmia: I am the owner of this inn.
Gregory: Excellent. I’m here to claim a room I reserved a while ago.

Philis walks to Ark and the others.

[TheLostGamer]

Philis: We can get you signed in as soon as mom’s done with this guy.
Ark: Okay.
Hilary: Hello! My name’s Hilary! What’s yours?
Philis: Philis.
Hilary: Do you work here?
Philis: My mom owns the inn.
Hilary: That’s nice.
Philis: Do you have a room yet?
Hilary: I think my husband is taking care of that right now.
Philis: Oh, that guy is your husband? No offense, but he’s kind of a jerk. He didn’t let me check him in because I’m just sixteen.
Hilary: Well, he gets that way sometimes. Especially when he’s busy.
Philis: Why is he so busy?
Hilary: Oh, he’s here to make some kind of business deal.
Ark: Why did you come with him?
Hilary: Oh, he said I had to come along. He’s kind of pushy.

Gregory turns around.

Gregory: Hilary! I got our room. Let’s go.
Hilary: See what I mean?
Ark: Yeah...
Hilary: Goodbye, everyone!

Hilary walks up to Gregory.

Telmia: Your room is this way.

Telmia walks off, followed by Gregory and Hilary.

Ivy: She likes to talk a lot, doesn’t she?
Ark: Yeah...
Philis: I can get you rooms now.

Philis goes behind the desk as the screen fades black. It fades back in on a reception hall that is full of talking people. These people are Halley, Emmy, Jean, Eberle, Philis, Telmia, Shelley, Vanrose, Doug, Ileyda, Rick, Diana, Ralph (guy following Ark and Ivy), Richard (guy following Ralph), and Kelly (girl from the train station). Ark and Ivy walk in.

Ark: This must be the party.
Ivy: I guess so...

Rick walk up to Ark and Ivy.

Rick: Ark! Ivy! Glad you could make it!
Ivy: Well, we thought it would seem silly to miss our welcome back party.
Rick: Naw, I meant for the wedding! You’re coming, right?
Ark: Of course.
Rick: That’s great! It’s kind of hard to believe that it’s only tomorrow. There’s so much to do!
Ivy: Hopefully this party will relieve the pressure.
Rick: Hopefully!

Gregory comes in with Hilary. He walks in and looks around.

Hilary: Ark! Ivy! We keep running into each other...
Ivy: Yes, it seems to happen a lot.
Hilary: I wonder why...
Gregory: Quiet, honey.
Hilary: Aw, lighten up! It’s a party!
Gregory: We’re not here to party. I’m only here to meet my contact. I was told he’d be here.
Ark: Your contact?
Gregory: One of the people I’m making a business deal with. His name is Doug. Do you know if he’s here or not?
Ark: Yes, he’s the one-

They are interrupted by Kelly shouting loudly.

Kelly: Everyone, may I have your attention?

Everyone turns to look at her. She’s standing on a stage thing.

Ark: Who’s she?
Ivy: I don’t know...
Kelly: Hello everyone. Now, Ark and Ivy have just come in, and I, for one, would like to give them a special gift. I just need a little help. Could Halley and Emmy come up here, please?

Halley and Emmy go up. Kelly stands behind the two of them, putting an arm on each of their shoulders.

Halley: What do you need our help for?
Kelly: Just stand still for a while, and you’ll find out. Now, Ark and Ivy had this town named after them for their brilliant work in killing one of the Crimson Nine and protecting the pioneers six months ago, and I think it’s about time that we got our vengeance!

A gate opens on the floor in front of Kelly. She flings Halley and Emmy inside.

Eberle: Halley! Emmy!
Ark: CIMA!
Kelly: Catch me if you can, humans!

Ark runs at Kelly. She jumps in the gate and it shuts after she passes through, so when Ark reaches that area, she is gone. He examines the floor.

Ark: The gate has shut.
Eberle: What does this mean? What’s going on, Ark?
Ark: I don’t know...
Kelly: Ha ha ha...you’ll have to be faster than that to get me, Ark!
Ark: Who are you and what have you done with Halley and Emmy?!
Kelly: Don’t you remember me, Ark? I’m the little girl from the train station! And don’t worry, I’ll take good care of the little brats for you!
Ark: Show yourself!
Kelly: I don’t think so! Why don’t you all come here instead?

The entire floor turns into a gate. Everyone falls in and therefore is in the Gate World.

The gate world here is different from the Gate World in CIMA: The Enemy. Instead of one big platform, it is divided into four separate platforms like this:

-- --

-- --

On the first platform is Ralph, Rick, Eberle and Telmia. On the second is Richard, Vanrose, Doug, and Shelley. On the third is Ark, Gregory, Hilary and Philis. On the fourth is Ivy, Diana, Jean and Ileyda. Everyone gets up.

Philis: What’s going on, Ark?
Ark: I don’t know...
Kelly: (still unseen) Ha ha ha...four gate guardians, four to a group! It works out perfectly! Good luck getting to me, Gate Guardians!
Ark: Ivy, do you know what this place is?
Ivy: I’m not sure.
Kelly: No, no! No helping each other!

The four platforms move farther apart so that no group can speak with another group.

Kelly: That should take care of it!

Portals appeal on all four platforms. Ark turns around to look at the one on his platform.

Ark: A portal...
Philis: Are we going to go through it, Ark?
Ark: I don’t think we have a choice.
Gregory: Now, wait a minute. What, I ask, WHAT is going on?
Ark: That girl must have been a CIMA in disguise. She’s brought us all to the Gate World.
Hilary: CIMA? The Gate World? Oh no!
Philis: Don’t worry, we’ll be okay. Ark’s been through this sort of thing before.
Ark: That’s right.
Hilary: Oh, yes, you said you were a Gate Guardian.
Gregory: Good. Then get us out of here. Now.
Ark: It’s not that simple.
Gregory: I don’t care. I have business to take care of. Get us out of here immediately.
Ark: I will; don’t worry.
Gregory: Well, then hurry up!
Hilary: Gregory, could you be a little nicer to Ark?
Gregory: I am being as nice as I should be considering the circumstances. He got us into this mess, and as far as I’m concerned, he can get us out of it, as fast as possible. Which means doing it now.
Ark: Fine. Everyone get on the portal.

Philis, Gregory and Hilary get on the portal and warp off. Ark follows them.

The end up in a dungeon. There are five platforms in this room, one in each corner and one in the middle of the room (none of the platforms is connected to another one). Each of the corner platforms has a switch (the kind you step on) on it. The middle platform has four such switches on it.

Ark moves Philis, Gregory and Hilary onto the switch. This causes a bridge to appear, which leads to the platform in the middle of the room. Ark goes across the bridge and steps on one of the four switches on the middle platform. Nothing happens.

Gregory: Now what?
Ark: Someone else will come.

The game switches to Ivy, Diana, Jean and Ileyda.

Ivy: It looks like we’re going to have to go through another dungeon again.
Diana: This is terrible! I’m going to get married tomorrow, and I wind up in a CIMA dungeon! They’re so creepy! I thought I’d never be in one of these places again!
Ivy: Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here in time for your wedding.

Diana turns to Ivy.

Diana: Why do you CIMA do this? Why do you have to torture innocent humans like this?
Ivy: ......
Diana: Why? WHY?
Ileyda: Diana! Behave yourself!
Jean: Ivy didn’t bring us here. Don’t blame her for this.
Diana: ...You’re right. Sorry.
Ivy: ...It’s okay.
Diana: I’ve just been so worried about the wedding and all, and this on top of that...it’s too much.
Ileyda: We understand. Weddings are stressful. I was a nervous wreck when I was getting married to Doug.
Jean: I was worried during my wedding, too.
Diana: Yeah, I know...
Ivy: Let’s get on with the dungeon rather than talk about weddings.
Diana: Okay.

Diana, Jean and Eberle get on the portal and warp off. Ivy follows them.

They end up in the same dungeon as Ark and his party, although on another platform.

Ark: Ivy!
Gregory: What is it?

Ark turns to Gregory.

Ark: It’s Ivy...
Gregory: Swell. Will that help us get out?
Ark: Of course.

Ark turns to Ivy.

Ark: Ivy! Are you okay?
Ivy: I’m fine, of course. Why, were you worried?
Ark: Not really. Just checking.
Ivy: Good, because we haven’t been gone that long. Just wait a sec and I’ll get to you.

Ivy moves Diana, Jean and Eberle on the switch on the platform, making a bridge that leads to the middle platform appear. Ivy crosses the bridge and stands on one of the four switches there. She and Ark look at each other.

Ivy: Is anyone else coming?
Ark: Well, Vanrose and Doug haven’t shown up yet, so I imagine they will.
Gregory: Doug? He’s here? Good, I need to do business with him. Where is he?

Ark turns to Gregory.

Ark: He’s not here yet.
Gregory: Humph. Just get us out of here.
Ark: Don’t worry; I will.

Ark turns to Ivy.

Ark: The CIMA said something about there being four Gate Guardians, didn’t she?
Ivy: I think she did...does that means there are more Gate Guardians here? Who?
Ark: I don’t know...

The game switches to Ralph, Rick, Eberle and Telmia.

Rick: Ach! No! We’re in a CIMA dungeon again! Just before my wedding! This is terrible!
Ralph: It certainly seems bad, all right...

They all turn to face Ralph.

[TheLostGamer]

Eberle: Who are you and what are you doing here?
Ralph: I’m Ralph. I used to be a Gate Guardian. I just quit. I was hoping to get a moment alone to talk to Ark and Ivy at the party, but...then this whole mess happened.
Telmia: How do you know Ark and Ivy?
Ralph: I don’t. I haven’t met them yet. But I first heard of them six months ago when they came out of here with Jester’s corpse, saying they found the Singularity...let’s just say that caused a bit of a ruckus in the Gate Guardian organization...
Telmia: ......
Ralph: No, sorry, that’s wrong. It didn’t cause any ruckus in the Gate Guardian organization. They just branded Ark and Ivy as liars and demoted them to the lowest level possible.
Eberle: Really? How horrible...
Ralph: I know. That’s why I came here. I need to talk to Ark and Ivy and get their side of the story, because if the Gate Guardians are wrong and they’re telling the truth, things could get very ugly.
Telmia: They’re telling the truth. They did kill Pike Nighttrap.
Ralph: Obviously, or else we wouldn’t be here now. I’m guessing CIMA is trying to get revenge on Ark and Ivy for killing Pike.
Telmia: If that’s true, then why involve us? Why not just go after Ark and Ivy?
Ralph: I don’t know. Unless...
Telmia: Unless what?
Ralph: Unless Ark and Ivy were also telling the truth about the Singularity. Maybe taking us all captive has something to do with it...or maybe it’s those two little kids. That CIMA went right after them...
Telmia: ......
Eberle: ......
Ralph: Well, come one, let’s go.
Rick: Go? Where? In the dungeon? It’s could be dangerous there!
Ralph: We don’t have any other choice, you know. Besides, don’t worry, I’m a great Gate Guardian. I’ll protect you!
Rick: I thought you said you quit.
Ralph: Only recently. Don’t worry. I’m still great at beating CIMA.

Rick, Eberle and Telmia get on the portal and warp off. Ralph follows them.

They end up in the same dungeon as Ark and Ivy and their parties, although on another platform.

Rick: Ark! Ivy! Thank goodness you guys are here!

They turn to face Ralph and his party.

Ark: Rick! Eberle! Telmia! ...Who are you?
Ralph: I’m Ralph and I’ll be there soon.

Ralph moves Rick, Eberle and Telmia on the switch on the platform, making a bridge that leads to the middle platform appear. Ralph crosses the bridge and stands on one of the four switches there.

Ralph: I’ve been wanting to talk to you two for a while, but I don’t think this is the time.
Ark: No, I wouldn’t say so.
Ralph: Are we waiting for someone else?

The game switches to Richard, Vanrose, Doug, and Shelley.

Richard: A CIMA dungeon. I knew there was something fishy going on. I’ll just have to find out what.
Vanrose: Hey, who are you?
Richard: I’m Richard. Who are you?
Vanrose: I’m Vanrose, the mayor of Ark and Ivy Town.
Richard: How nice. Lucky for you, I happen to be a top-level Gate Guardian, so none of you will have to worry about getting hurt while you’re in here.
Doug: We’re not worried. We didn’t get hurt last time.
Richard: Last time? Oh, right, when Ark and Ivy “killed Pike Nighttrap”.
Vanrose: ? They did kill Pike Nighttrap.
Richard: Right...Did you see them do it?
Vanrose: ...No.
Richard: Ha! No matter now, let’s just concentrate on getting out of here, hmmm?
Vanrose: Hmmm...

Vanrose, Dough and Shelley get on the portal and warp off. Richard follows them.

They end up in the same dungeon as Ark, Ivy and Ralph and their parties although on another platform.

Richard: This seems easy enough. Get on that switch.
Ralph: ! I know that voice...Richard? Is that you?
Richard: Hold on.

Richard moves Vanrose, Doug and Shelley on the switch on the platform, making a bridge that leads to the middle platform appear. Richard crosses the bridge.

Ralph: Richard! It IS you! What are you doing here?
Ark: Okay, who is this guy?
Ivy: Beats me. I don’t know either of them.
Ralph: This is my brother Richard. He’s a big shot Gate Guardian.
Ark: I see. What are you doing here, Richard?
Richard: I’m under strict orders to follow you three and look out for anything strange.
Ark: ?! Follow us?
Ralph: What for?
Richard: You see, Ralph, the higher-ups didn’t buy it when you just “quit” all of a sudden. I thought you did it so you could catch up with these two on their vacation, and it looks like I was right.
Ralph: So what if I wanted to meet Ark and Ivy? What’s wrong with that?
Richard: Think about it. These two are the biggest liars to ever become Gate Guardians!
Ark: !
Ivy: That’s not true!
Richard: Yeah, right. You expect anyone to believe that nonsense about how you killed Pike Nighttrap?
Ark: That’s true!
Richard: Nonsense! You two have to be the biggest liars ever!
Ralph: Richard, what if you’re wrong? What if they are telling the truth?
Richard: They’re not. They can’t be! I can’t believe you don’t think they’re lying!
Ralph: All I’m saying is that it can’t hurt to hear their side of the story! That’s why I wanted to meet with them!
Richard: Craziness! You’re lying, too! You’re probably in cahoots with them or something.
Ralph: Oh, that’s nonsense.
Richard: Hmmm...anyway, I’m here to watch you three, because you’re up to no good!
Ralph: What? We’re not doing anything wrong!
Richard: A CIMA dungeon opening in a secure area? Something suspicious is going on here, and I intend to get to the bottom of it, and right now, you three are the prime suspects.
Ralph: See, that’s why I quit. All you top-level Gate Guardians are stupid jerks!
Richard: One more insult and I’ll throw you in jail.
Ralph: Aw, great, even my own brother is against me. He thinks I’m a liar.
Ark: Get used to it. We are.
Ralph: Yeah, I know. Let’s talk later, when he’s not around, okay?
Ark: ...Okay.
Richard: Wishful thinking. I’m not letting you three out of my sight until the proper authorities come in.
Ralph: Yeah, yeah, I could’ve guessed that. ...... Are you going to step on the fourth switch or what?!
Richard: Yes, hold on.

Richard stands on the fourth switch. Walls appear, dividing the room into fourths. Stairs to a lower level appear on each fourth. Each of the four parties goes down to the next floor, which is big and has walls all over, like a maze, except there are no split paths. The Gate Guardians follow their respective paths through the maze (Ark finds a key along the way), and all of them end up together in front of a door leading to a boss fight.

Ralph: A door...does anyone have a key?
Ark: I do. I found it on the way here.
Richard: Really? No trouble whatsoever?
Ark: No...
Richard: Right...

Ark ignores Richard and unlocks the door. The four of them walk forward to see Kelly, still disguised as a little girl.

Kelly: Managed to get this far?
Ark: All right, CIMA, what are you up to? What is all this?
Kelly: Aw, explaining isn’t fun at all...We just want revenge on you, okay?
Richard: What’s with the strange separation? I’ve heard of CIMA separating people one by one, but never into groups of four.
Kelly: (happily) Oh, that’s easy to explain! I couldn’t have all four of you Gate Guardians together at the same time! I wanted you to meet up one by one so you could introduce yourselves!
Richard: Introduce ourselves?
Kelly: Yes, I didn’t know you two, but I saw you introduce yourselves to everyone so I know who you are now! You’re Richard, one of those annoying almost-but-not-quite-one-of-the-Six-Stars Gate Guardians who goes around making and following stupid rules. You’ll be fun to kill.
Richard: You’re not going to kill me, CIMA!
Kelly: (ignores Richard) And you’re Ralph, who quit being a Gate Guardian just so you could talk to Ark and Ivy about the Singularity in hopes that they’d help you find the Base.
Ralph: ......
Kelly: And last but not least is Ark and Ivy, the pair of Gate Guardians who killed Pike Nighttrap.
Richard: Oh, listen, I have had enough of this nonsense about those two killing Pike. It. Did. Not. Happen.
Kelly: Wow, you’re a jerk. I can’t wait to kill you.
Richard: Fat chance. I’m not a top-level Gate Guardian for nothing.
Kelly: I think I’ll keep you for last.
Richard: Last?
Kelly: Hee hee hee...

The ground starts to shake. Debris falls, knocking out everyone except Kelly.

Kelly: Let the fun begin...

The screen goes black. It fades in on the Gate World, with the four separated platforms that look like this (I’ve numbered them this time around):

4-- 1--

3-- 2--

The platforms are closer together now. Ark and Ivy are on platform one. Each platform has a broken warp portal. Platform four has a large warp portal on it. Ark and Ivy wake up.

Ark: Wha? What’s going on?
Ivy: I don’t know...things have been very confusing lately.
Kelly’s Voice: It’s easy! Let me explain it for you! Your platform has five dungeons in it. Beat them to make the bridge appear to this platform (platform 2), and beat the five dungeons there to make a bridge appear to this platform (platform 3), and if you’re really lucky, you’ll beat the five dungeons there to make it to final dungeon here (platform 4)!
Ark: So, that’s, uh...five times three...
Ivy: Sixteen dungeons. And there’s sixteen people we need to save, so that’s one per dungeon, I’m guessing.
Kelly: That’s right! And one special person in the final dungeon for each platform!
Ark: Special person?
Kelly: Those two brats you like so much and the two Gate Guardians, duh!
Ark: (turning to Ivy) I don’t like this.
Ivy: Me neither.
Kelly: Good luck. Not that it’ll help!

A warp portal appears.

Ark: A warp portal...
Ivy: Yeah...
Ark: Let’s hope it leads to a dungeon.
Ivy: Where else will it lead?
Ark: Everything has been so weird...I’m not sure what to expect.
Ivy: Well, what else are we supposed to do?
Ark: You’re right. Let’s go.

[TheLostGamer]

Ark and Ivy enter the dungeon, Slithery Paradise, which is cavernous and snake-themed. When they reach the third floor:

Hilary: Ah! CIMA!

Ark and Ivy rush forward. Hilary is trapped behind a column, with a CIMA nearby. The CIMA is trying to attack her, while she’s trying to fend it off with her purse.

Ark: Hilary! We’re coming!
Hilary: Ark! Ivy! Thank goodness! Come quick!

Ark and Ivy manage to save Hilary.

Hilary: Thank goodness you came when you did! I don’t think I could have beaten the CIMA myself. You guys are great!
Ark: That’s our job. Always protect everybody...
Hilary: Well, I’m glad that you two are here to protect me! You two are quite the CIMA-fighting pair!
Ivy: Thank you.
Hilary: And you look so cute together...
Ark: ......
Ivy: (amused) You said that already.
Hilary: Oh, I’m just like that. And you two really are cute together...
Ark: Uh, let’s get going through the dungeon.
Hilary: Oh, of course!

They make it to the boss fight. Kelly warps in.

Ark: You again! Who are you?
Kelly: You don’t know? Well, I guess you wouldn’t, seeing as I’m disguised...

Kelly loses the little-girl disguise, and looks how she does normally. She doesn’t look that different; she just looks like an older version of the little girl.

Kelly: I’m Kelly Fariton, third best of the Crimson Nine! Here to avenge Pike!
Ark: Big deal! We’ve killed a member of the Crimson Nine before!
Kelly: Pike was just number eight! I’m much better than he was!
Ark: Prove it!
Kelly: Ah, ah, ah! Didn’t you learn anything with Pike? I’m in charge around here, which means you’ll fight me last, in the last dungeon! You can deal with Shun!

Kelly warps out and Shun warps in. He’s a short, stubby, mean-looking guy.

Shun: Shun Dearth, number nine of the Crimson Nine, at your service! Get ready to die!

Shun warps off and sends Beltrax, a snaky monster, to fight Ark and Ivy. Beltrax loses, of course. Shun warps back in.

Shun: Ah, you got lucky that time.
Ark: We did not!
Shun: I’ll get you next time!

Shun warps out.

Ark: I forgot how annoying it is to fight a boss and just have the CIMA run off.
Ivy: Yeah...

Hilary comes up.

Hilary: Did you kill the monster snake thing?
Ivy: Yes.
Hilary: Oh, you two are so strong!
Ark: It wasn’t big deal.
Hilary: Maybe to you, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it! You two are great!
Ark: Thanks.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Dreary Desert, which is an empty desert-like dungeon. On the second level, they find Diana, in a trap that requires Hilary to go across a bridge and stand on a switch while Ark and Ivy go to Diana. A circle is in the middle of the bridge.

Ark: Diana! Are you okay?
Diana: I’m fine, but get me out of here, quick!
Ark: ...... It looks like Hilary will have to stand on the switch on the other side of the bridge.
Hilary: What? I’m not going to do that! I could get hurt!
Ark: But you have to. There’s no other way to save Diana.
Hilary: Yeah, but why should I risk getting hurt to save her? I don’t even know her!
Diana: What?! You’d better not abandon me here!
Hilary: I just, I don’t, I mean...Why don’t you send Ivy instead? She can take care of herself.
Ivy: Fine, I’ll go.

Ivy goes across the bridge and steps on the switch. Ark saves Diana and moves her to safety.

Ark: You should be okay now, Diana.
Diana: Thanks.
Ark: See, Hilary? Nothing dangerous happened.
Hilary: You’re right...Boy, do I feel dumb.
Ivy: I’m coming back, Ark!

Ivy goes across the bridge again, but walks into a teleport trap (not on the circle).

Hilary: ?! What happened to Ivy?
Ark: She walked into teleport trap...
Hilary: What does that mean?
Ark: She’s somewhere else in this dungeon.
Hilary: Oh, this is all my fault...If I wasn’t scared of crossing the bridge, that wouldn’t have happened!
Ark: It’s not your fault, Hilary.
Hilary: Yes, it was! I was being selfish! Well, that’s going to stop right now!
Ark: Uh...that’s good.

Two floors underneath, they find Ivy. She’s in a trap identical to the one Diana was in.

Hilary: Ivy! Are you okay?
Ivy: I’m fine.
Hilary: Oh, thank goodness! Ivy, I’m so sorry I made you go across the bridge! I should have done it myself!
Ivy: It’s okay, Hilary.
Hilary: No, it’s not! I shouldn’t have been selfish!
Ivy: Well, I’m fine, so there’s no need to beat yourself up about it. Just hurry up and get me out of here.
Ark: We will! Weird...this trap is just like the one Diana was in.
Hilary: I’ll go across the bridge this time!

Hilary goes across the bridge. A CIMA appears.

Hilary: A CIMA!
Ark: Hold on, Hilary! I’m coming!
Hilary: No! Save Ivy, first!

Hilary fights off the CIMA with her purse. She manages to kill it by the time Ark saves Ivy.

Ark: You should be fine now, Ivy.
Ivy: Okay, this is just plain embarrassing, for a Gate Guardian to need to be saved.
Ark: Yeah, I know. Hurry so we can get Hilary.
Hilary: No need! I took care of the CIMA!

Hilary walks back across the bridge, but stops when she walks past the circle.

Hilary: What? Why can’t I move?
Ark: A freeze trap?! I didn’t think they were real!
Hilary: What is it?
Ark: It’s a freeze trap! You can’t move if you’re standing if you’re in one of those glowing circles!
Hilary: Get me out, quick!

Ark and Ivy manage to do so, and at the exit to that room, they all stop to talk.

Hilary: I’m so sorry to all of you for being selfish.
Ark: Hilary, you can stop apologizing. Everything’s fine.
Hilary: I know. And it’s not going to happen again.

Hilary turns to Diana.

Hilary: Listen, I’m sorry about that.
Diana: It’s okay...I guess.
Hilary: I’m Hilary. Who are you?
Diana: I’m Diana.
Hilary: I think I’ve heard of you somewhere...
Diana: I’m the one getting married tomorrow.
Hilary: Oh, so that’s you? Congratulations! It’s great to meet you!
Diana: Likewise.
Hilary: Let’s just hope we get out of here before then!
Diana: We’d better!
Ivy: Don’t worry! We will!

At the boss fight, a CIMA called Randstand warps in. He is wearing dark blue armor.

Ark: Who are you?
Randstand: I’m Randstand, you executioner.
Ark: I’ll believe it when I see it.
Randstand: Oh, you will. Trust me.

Randstand sends a spike-monster named Charblis to kill Ark and Ivy. They win, naturally. Randstand warps back in.

Randstand: You won. Impossible!
Ark: Believe it, buddy!
Randstand: Consider yourself lucky. Next time, I won’t hold anything back.

Randstand warps out. They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Saddened Heart, a mechanical dungeon. On the second level, they find Philis, trapped near a CIMA nest.

Hilary: Hey, isn’t that the girl from the hotel?
Ark: Philis!
Hilary: Yeah, that was her name.
Philis: Ark! Help me!

Ark and Ivy manage to save Philis.

Philis: Ark! You saved me! Thank you so much!
Ark: It was nothing.
Philis: Seriously! Thank you so much! You’re so big and strong!
Ark: Aw, gee...
Philis: You’re the greatest, Ark!
Ivy: Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, Philis?
Hilary: She’s right, though. Ark’s a great guy...and you look very cute with him.
Ivy: Why do you keep saying that?
Hilary: I’m just saying, maybe Diana isn’t the only one who should get married...
Ivy: Okay, that’s enough. Ark and I just work together, that’s all. Don’t try to set us up with each other.
Philis: Just work together? Sure you don’t like him as a friend, or maybe more?
Ivy: Yes, I’m sure!
Philis: But don’t you WANT to?
Ivy: Well...
Hilary: Ooo! I knew it!
Philis: Uh oh...
Ark: Can we get back to going through the dungeon?
Hilary: Oh, we’re making Ark all uncomfortable. Yes, let’s go!

A little while later, they come to a part when the floor thins so only one person can pass through at a time.

Ark: Why is it so thin here?
Philis: It looks all right to me.

Philis walks forward.

Philis: It’s okay, see, Ark? It’s perfectly-

Philis walks into a teleport trap and disappears.

Ark: Philis!

Ark runs forward and disappears into the teleport trap as well. Ivy and the others walk forward.

Ivy: They’re gone. This could be trouble.
Hilary: Why? Do you think they’ll be hurt?
Ivy: No...
Hilary: Then what’s the matter?
Diana: You saw what kind of mood Philis was in...her and Ark alone together.
Hilary: Yes, I see...
Ivy: Let’s hurry up and find them, shall we?

The game switches to Ark and Philis. They’re trapped in a small area.

Ark: We can’t get out of here...I’ve never seen this before.
Philis: That’s okay, Ark...That means we have time to be alone together...

Philis walks towards Ark. He steps backward, right into freeze trap, unfortunately.

Ark: Oh no! I’m in a freeze trap.
Philis: Shut up, handsome. That means you can’t escape me now!
Ark: WHA-

Philis walks right towards Ark as the game switches back to Ivy, Hilary and Diana. Ivy leads them through the dungeon. On the next floor, they find Philis, trapped.

Ivy: Philis? Is that you?
Philis: Yes! Save me, please!
Hilary: Hold on, Philis, where’s Ark?
Philis: Ark? Isn’t he with you, Ivy?
Ivy: Do you see him anywhere?
Philis: No...
Ivy: Then he’s not here with me.
Hilary: Where is he, Philis?
Philis: How should I know?
Ivy: Both of you went into the teleport trap, so you should have turned up in the same area.
Philis: Teleport trap? What? I haven’t seen Ark since that weird dungeon where we all got separated.

Hilary turns to Ivy.

Hilary: Ivy? What’s going on? Has Philis lost her memory or is she lying or what?
Diana: CIMA...

Hilary turns to Diana.

[TheLostGamer]

Hilary: Listen, I’m sorry about that.
Diana: It’s okay...I guess.
Hilary: I’m Hilary. Who are you?
Diana: I’m Diana.
Hilary: I think I’ve heard of you somewhere...
Diana: I’m the one getting married tomorrow.
Hilary: Oh, so that’s you? Congratulations! It’s great to meet you!
Diana: Likewise.
Hilary: Let’s just hope we get out of here before then!
Diana: We’d better!
Ivy: Don’t worry! We will!

At the boss fight, a CIMA called Randstand warps in. He is wearing dark blue armor.

Ark: Who are you?
Randstand: I’m Randstand, you executioner.
Ark: I’ll believe it when I see it.
Randstand: Oh, you will. Trust me.

Randstand sends a spike-monster named Charblis to kill Ark and Ivy. They win, naturally. Randstand warps back in.

Randstand: You won. Impossible!
Ark: Believe it, buddy!
Randstand: Consider yourself lucky. Next time, I won’t hold anything back.

Randstand warps out. They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Saddened Heart, a mechanical dungeon. On the second level, they find Philis, trapped near a CIMA nest.

Hilary: Hey, isn’t that the girl from the hotel?
Ark: Philis!
Hilary: Yeah, that was her name.
Philis: Ark! Help me!

Ark and Ivy manage to save Philis.

Philis: Ark! You saved me! Thank you so much!
Ark: It was nothing.
Philis: Seriously! Thank you so much! You’re so big and strong!
Ark: Aw, gee...
Philis: You’re the greatest, Ark!
Ivy: Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, Philis?
Hilary: She’s right, though. Ark’s a great guy...and you look very cute with him.
Ivy: Why do you keep saying that?
Hilary: I’m just saying, maybe Diana isn’t the only one who should get married...
Ivy: Okay, that’s enough. Ark and I just work together, that’s all. Don’t try to set us up with each other.
Philis: Just work together? Sure you don’t like him as a friend, or maybe more?
Ivy: Yes, I’m sure!
Philis: But don’t you WANT to?
Ivy: Well...
Hilary: Ooo! I knew it!
Philis: Uh oh...
Ark: Can we get back to going through the dungeon?
Hilary: Oh, we’re making Ark all uncomfortable. Yes, let’s go!

A little while later, they come to a part when the floor thins so only one person can pass through at a time.

Ark: Why is it so thin here?
Philis: It looks all right to me.

Philis walks forward.

Philis: It’s okay, see, Ark? It’s perfectly-

Philis walks into a teleport trap and disappears.

Ark: Philis!

Ark runs forward and disappears into the teleport trap as well. Ivy and the others walk forward.

Ivy: They’re gone. This could be trouble.
Hilary: Why? Do you think they’ll be hurt?
Ivy: No...
Hilary: Then what’s the matter?
Diana: You saw what kind of mood Philis was in...her and Ark alone together.
Hilary: Yes, I see...
Ivy: Let’s hurry up and find them, shall we?

The game switches to Ark and Philis. They’re trapped in a small area.

Ark: We can’t get out of here...I’ve never seen this before.
Philis: That’s okay, Ark...That means we have time to be alone together...

Philis walks towards Ark. He steps backward, right into freeze trap, unfortunately.

Ark: Oh no! I’m in a freeze trap.
Philis: Shut up, handsome. That means you can’t escape me now!
Ark: WHA-

Philis walks right towards Ark as the game switches back to Ivy, Hilary and Diana. Ivy leads them through the dungeon. On the next floor, they find Philis, trapped.

Ivy: Philis? Is that you?
Philis: Yes! Save me, please!
Hilary: Hold on, Philis, where’s Ark?
Philis: Ark? Isn’t he with you, Ivy?
Ivy: Do you see him anywhere?
Philis: No...
Ivy: Then he’s not here with me.
Hilary: Where is he, Philis?
Philis: How should I know?
Ivy: Both of you went into the teleport trap, so you should have turned up in the same area.
Philis: Teleport trap? What? I haven’t seen Ark since that weird dungeon where we all got separated.

Hilary turns to Ivy.

Hilary: Ivy? What’s going on? Has Philis lost her memory or is she lying or what?
Diana: CIMA...

Hilary turns to Diana.

Hilary: What?
Diana: Philis was a CIMA...
Hilary: What do you mean?
Diana: CIMA can shape-shift and disguise themselves as someone else. It happened last time.
Hilary: So the Philis that disappeared with Ark is a CIMA in disguise? How horrible...
Ivy: No wonder she was coming onto Ark so much. I wonder what that CIMA is up to...
Philis: Excuse me, what’s going on?
Ivy: On the last floor, we rescued you, and then you and Ark walked into a teleport trap.
Philis: ?
Ivy: We’ve just decided it was a CIMA disguised as you.
Philis: So Ark is with a CIMA who he thinks is me?
Ivy: It seems so.
Philis: That’s not good. Get me out of here and let’s catch up with them, quick!

After beating the very tricky trap, Ivy frees Philis and takes everyone to the next floor, where Ark is with the CIMA-Philis. She’s busy kissing him. Ark is still in the freeze trap.

Ivy: Ark!
Ark: Ivy! I’m in a freeze trap! Get me out of here, now!
Ivy: I don’t know, it looks like you’re pretty busy...
CIMA-Philis: She’s right, lover. Let’s enjoy this...
Ark: Ivy, get me out quick! Philis is acting VERY strange!
Philis: That’s not me, Ark!

Ark looks at the two Philises.

Ark: Philis? Then, what-
CIMA-Philis: Oh, poo. They’re here already. I should have made that trap harder...

CIMA-Philis steps back and turns into Famstis, a female CIMA. Her blue hair has large curls, and she is dressed in a contrasting red/black outfit.

Ark: Who are you?
Famstis: I am Famstis, CIMA of love, passion, longing and mystery! And I’m taking you with me!

She grabs Ark and warps away with him.

Hilary: Oh, that’s not good.
Ivy: No it’s not. Let’s keep going.

Ivy leads Hilary, Diana and Philis through the dungeon. In the boss fight room, Famstis warps in.

Ivy: Where is Ark?
Famstis: Why? Do you miss him?
Ivy: ......
Famstis: Miss having him around? Miss being able to look up and see his handsome face?
Ivy: Why are you always obsessing about how everyone feels about Ark?
Famstis: I told you, I am the CIMA of love! I want all of you to feel the power of love...my power! I rule it! I am the master of it! I have complete control!
Ivy: Okay, that’s it. You’re crazy.
Famstis: Say what you want. I will manipulate everyone’s love as I please.
Ivy: So where is Ark?
Famstis: He’s right here.

Ark appears on a floating platform nearby. He is unconscious.

Famstis: I’ll let you get Ark back if you beat my creation!

Famstis warps out and sends in Ragter, an orange tentacled panda bear-like creature. Ivy beats it.

Famstis: You beat it! Amazing.
Ivy: It was easy.
Famstis: Such is the power of your love for Ark. Your desire fueled you on to do the impossible and succeed.
Ivy: Are you going to give Ark back, or am I going to have fight you now?
Famstis: Don’t worry, I’ll give him back.

The floating platform with Ark on it falls down onto the floor and splits apart.

Famstis: I’ll see you all later. You and all your wonderful emotions...I can’t wait!

Famstis warps away. Ark gets up.

Ark: Ivy? Wha? Where are we? What happened?
Ivy: I killed the boss, no thanks to you.
Ark: Where’s Famstis?
Ivy: She left.
Ark: Good. I don’t like her.
Ivy: Big surprise.

Philis, Hilary and Diana walk up.

Philis: Ark! You’re back!
Ark: Yes, it’s me!
Diana: How can we be sure it’s you and not a CIMA in disguise?
Ark: Ask me a question that only Ark would know the answer to.
Philis: Gee, it’s hard to think of a question like that...

Ivy hits Ark on his right ear.

Ark: Ouch! Hey! What was that for?
Ivy: Just checking to make sure it’s you.
Ark: What?
Ivy: If a CIMA is disguising as a human, all you have to do it touch one of their ears to turn them back to normal.
Diana: Really? That’s interesting...
Ark: If all you had to do was touch it, why’d you hit me?
Ivy: Just making extra-sure.
Ark: Humph.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Swampy Station, which is a strange mix of swamp and the train station. On the second level, they find Shelley in a trap.

Ivy: Shelley!
Ark: I wonder when we’re going to find someone who isn’t a girl...
Shelley: Hey, guys! Get me out of here!

They do so. At the exit of the floor, they talk.

Shelley: Thanks.
Ark: No problem.
Hilary: You look familiar. You’re the mayor’s assistant, right?
Shelley: That’s right.
Hilary: Oh, goody! I got it right!

On the next floor, there is a column, and three switches (the kind you stand on), a blue one, a yellow one, and a pink one, in front of it.

Ark: Hmmm...
Hilary: What’s the matter? All we have to do is step on the switches, right?
Ark: I think so...

Hilary steps on one switch. A buzzer sounds and she is knocked away.

Hilary: Hey!

Ivy turns to Ark.

Ivy: It looks like only a certain person can stand on a certain switch.
Ark: Yes, but how do we know who goes on which switch?
Ivy: We’ll just have to guess.

After some guessing, it turns out that Hilary, Shelley, and Philis go on the switches, Hilary on the yellow one, Shelley on the blue one, and Philis on the pink one. The column then lowers, and a ding is heard. Hilary, Shelley and Philis disappear.

Ark: !
Ivy: Those switches were baited...
Ark: ?
Ivy: They were teleport traps. When we activated the switches, we activated the teleport traps.
Ark: But we had to activate the switches to lower the column.
Ivy: Exactly. There was no way to avoid getting someone teleported.
Ark: Tricky...
Diana: They’ll be okay, right?
Ark: Hopefully...

[TheLostGamer]

Ark, Ivy and Diana go on until they get stuck.

Ark: Dang!
Diana: What’s wrong?
Ark: We’re stuck...
Diana: So what do we do?
Ark: Hope the others show up...

The game switches to Shelley, Hilary and Diana.

Hilary: What happened?
Diana: I guess the switches were teleport traps.
Hilary: So what do we do now?
Shelley: Let’s go on. I’ll lead.
Hilary: Okay.

Shelley leads them. They reach the floor with Ark, Ivy and Philis.

Shelley: Ark! Ivy!
Ark: Shelley! Is everyone okay?
Shelley: We’re fine. Hold on, I’ll help you guys out!

In this room is a blue switch, so part of getting through the room involves stepping on the switch. Shelley does so, because she was the one who went on the blue switch last time. This lowers a column, and activates a freeze trap that is on the switch.

Shelley: I’m frozen! That switch was a freeze trap!
Diana: Crud. What do we do now?
Hilary: I’ll try to lead.

Hilary leads, with her purse being her weapon. She does a pretty good job, enabling Ark and Ivy to continue and unfreezing Shelley at the same time.

Shelley: I’m unfrozen!
Ark: And we’re coming over! Thanks Hilary!
Hilary: Aw, gee...you’re welcome, you guys.

Ark and Ivy resume control over everyone. When they reach the boss fight, Shun warps in.

Ark: Oh, it’s you again. Mr. Last Place of the Crimson Nine.
Shun: When I kill you this time, I’ll be promoted for sure!
Ark: Whatever. You don’t seem like much of challenge, Shorty.
Shun: Looks aren’t everything, you know! Get ready to die!

Shun warps out and sends in Brax, a large, quick-moving and slimy square monster to fight. Brax loses, and Shun warps back in.

Shun: No, no! How did you beat Brax?
Ark: Easily.
Ivy: Yeah, if that’s your idea of a challenge, you need to get some new ideas.
Shun: You will die, next time FOR SURE!

Shun warps out.

Ark: For a member of the Crimson Nine, he’s not tough at all.
Ivy: I think he’s lying about that, just to try to intimidate us.
Ark: That would explain it.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Forlorn Fields, which is strangely familiar. It is made of green fields of shamrocks, and has lively dance music playing. On the third floor, they find Halley.

Ark: Halley!
Halley: Uncle Ark!
Ark: I’m coming, Halley!

Ark has to make two bridges appear to get to Halley, which he does fast as Halley is being attacked. They stop to talk at the exit.

Ark: Halley, is that you?
Halley: Yes.
Ark: Better double-check.

Ark touches Halley’s ear.

Ark: Yes, it’s you.
Halley: ?
Ark: If you touch someone’s ear and they’re a CIMA in disguise, they turn back into a CIMA.
Halley: Oh, like with my dad last time.
Ark: Exactly.

Hilary steps forward.

Hilary: Hi, I’m Hilary! Who are you, little boy?
Halley: I’m Halley.
Hilary: Nice to meet you!
Halley: Uncle Ark, how did we end up in a CIMA dungeon?
Ark: Remember the girl at the party?
Halley: Yeah...
Ark: She was a CIMA.
Halley: Oh.

Ark and Ivy keep going through this dungeon, which is oddly familiar. At the boss fight, a familiar CIMA appears...

Genox: Hello again!
Ark: Genox?!
Genox: That’s right!
Ark: But we killed you!
Genox: You sure did!
Ark: How are you still alive?
Genox: Three words: Magical leprechaun dance.
Ark: ......

Ark turns to Ivy.

Ark: He doesn’t seem to have changed much.
Ivy: Yeah, he’s almost as weird as that Fastimus CIMA.
Genox: Attack, my brethren!

Genox warps out and sends in the boss, a horde of dancing leprechauns. Ark and Ivy manage to kill them, and Genox warps in.

Genox: You beat them! How unfortunate!
Ark: Wait a minute, Genox. You made this dungeon!
Genox: Um...that’s right...
Ark: So that’s why it seemed so familiar! You didn’t make a new dungeon; you just mixed pieces together from the dungeons you made last time!
Genox: Shhh! Not so loud! Someone could hear you spilling my secrets! I’ll make a new dungeon next time, okay?
Ark: Why should I worry about spilling your secrets?
Genox: Because I can spill your secrets! Don’t forget, I know about the Singularity!
Ark: ......
Genox: See you next time!

Genox warps away.

Ark: Do you think he’s serious about the Singularity?
Ivy: Probably...I’m just amazed he’s still alive.
Ark: Yeah, how is that possible?
Ivy: I don’t know...
Ark: Me neither.

They exit the dungeon. The last part of the bridge connecting platforms one and two falls into place. Everyone crosses over the platform two. A warp portal appears and they go through it to reach the next dungeon, Black Night, which is a dark factory-like dungeon. On the third level, they find Rick, at the far end of a thin corridor.

Ark: Rick? Is that you?
Rick: Yes, who are-Ark! Diana!
Diana: Rick!

Diana runs down the corridor towards Rick, as he runs down it towards her. They meet in the middle.

Rick: Diana, are you okay?
Diana: Of course I am! How about you?
Rick: I’m fine now! It’s so great to see you! I was worried you would get hurt or something...
Diana: Were you worried you’d get hurt?
Rick: Well, maybe a little...
Diana: Ha!

The camera moves over to everyone else.

Hilary: He’s her fiancee, right?
Ark: Right.
Hilary: Aw, that’s sweet...

Suddenly, Rick and Diana are teleported away.

Hilary: What? Another teleport trap?
Ark: CIMA use them a lot...
Ivy: I thought something like this might happen. It’s suspicious that Rick would be all alone, untrapped, in an empty corridor.
Ark: Do you think he’s a CIMA in disguise?
Ivy: Maybe...
Halley: We’re going to find them, right, Uncle Ark?
Ark: Right!

The game switches to Rick and Diana.

Rick: Diana! Are you okay?
Diana: Of course. Calm down, it was just a teleport trap.
Rick: Sorry. ...... So what do we do now?
Diana: We’re going to go on, of course!
Rick: Oh...do I have to lead again?
Diana: Yes! Do you expect me to lead?
Rick: No...it’s just it’s that, uh...gulp, here we go.

Rick leads Diana through two floors, before being stumped at a two intertwining paths puzzle that involves moving parts of the paths.

Rick: We should probably wait for Ark here.
Diana: Okay.

The game switches to Ark and the others. Two floors later, they reach Rick and Diana. Working together, the two groups hit various switches in proper order so they can join back into one group and get to the boss fight. At the boss fight, Randstand warps in.

Randstand: You got past that last puzzle. You’re smarter than you look.
Ark: Thanks, I always knew I was smart.
Randstand: No, I was saying that you look very stupid.
Ark: Hey!
Randstand: You should hope you’re stronger than you look, too. You’ll need it if you plan on living.
Ark: Try me!

Randstand warps out and sends in Chuttin, a car-like enemy that zooms around the screen quickly. It loses, and Randstand warps back in.

Randstand: I don’t believe it. That was my most powerful creation.
Ark: If that’s the case, you’re worse at creating CIMA than you look.
Randstand: Hm. We’ll see if you’re laughing next time, when you’ll face the toughest fighter I can give you...myself!

Randstand warps away.

Ark: We’re going to fight him next time? Seems a little quick, doesn’t it?
Ivy: I prefer to think that we’re remarkably fast.
Ark: Makes sense.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms two and three falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Frozen Depths, a snow-covered dungeon. They find Gregory on the far end of the first floor.

Hilary: Gregory! Are you okay?
Gregory: I’m fine, Hilary. Gate Guardian! Come here and rescue me! Then get me out of this place immediately!
Ivy: A little pushy, isn’t he?
Ark: Yeah, I noticed that earlier.
Ivy: Maybe we shouldn’t save him until he asks us in a nicer way.
Hilary: No, he’s just like that! I swear! Please rescue my husband!
Ivy: Calm down, Hilary. I was just joking.
Ark: Yeah, we’ll save him.

Ark and Ivy save a non-thankful Gregory.

Gregory: Good. Now get us out of here.
Ark: How about saying “Thank you”?
Gregory: Don’t backtalk me, boy! Your job is to protect everyone, so hurry up, protect us, and get us out of here!
Ark: ......
Hilary: *sigh*

They continue going through the dungeon. At the first room of the next floor:

Gregory: What was that?
Hilary: What was what, honey?
Gregory: That sounded like my lawyer.
Hilary: What? Are you crazy?
Gregory: I don’t care what you think. I heard my lawyer and I’m going to find him.

Gregory walks off.

Hilary: Gregory, please! Don’t go off! It’s dangerous!
Gregory: Bah! There are Gate Guardians here to protect us!

Gregory walks into a teleport trap and is teleported off.

Hilary: Gregory!

Hilary runs to where Gregory was but nothing happens.

Hilary: ...He’s gone...

Hilary walks back to the group, and walks into a different teleport trap. Ark turns to Ivy.

Ark: Well, there goes Hilary and Gregory.
Ivy: I’m not going to miss Gregory much, but we should find Hilary.
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Bah! All she does is talk about what a cute couple we are!
Ivy: Ark...
Ark: Just kidding. I’m sure they’re fine. Hilary can fight off CIMA, you know.
Ivy: I know. But what about Gregory?
Ark: I don’t know if he can’t fight, but why? Don’t you think they’ll be together?
Ivy: No...they disappeared in two different teleport traps.
Ark: Hmmm...you could be right. Let’s find out.

The game switches to Gregory and Hilary, who are together.

[TheLostGamer]

Gregory: What? What just happened?
Hilary: It was a CIMA trick...we went into a teleport trap.
Gregory: Teleport trap? What does that mean?
Hilary: We were teleported to some other part of the dungeon.
Gregory: Blast! Why didn’t those Gate Guardians do something?
Hilary: I don’t think they could have done anything. CIMA dungeons are designed like that.
Gregory: Bah! We got stuck with sub-par Gate Guardians! They’d better come get us soon!
Hilary: Honey, aren’t we going to go looking for them?
Gregory: No.
Hilary: I can fight off CIMA with my purse.
Gregory: I don’t care. It’s the Gate Guardians’ job to save us, so they’d better just do their job.
Hilary: Honey, won’t you come with me? I can protect you.
Gregory: I told you, no. Let the Gate Guardians do that.
Hilary: For me? Please, honey?

Hilary kisses Gregory on the cheek.

Gregory: No, no, no!
Hilary: Fine, I’ll take a leaf out of your book, Mr. Stubborn!

Hilary gets up and walks off.

Hilary: I’m going to go through the dungeon, and you’re coming with me, NOW.
Gregory: Hilary, don’t tell me-
Hilary: NOW, or I’ll beat you with my purse instead of CIMA.
Gregory: No, Hilary.
Hilary: Yes, Gregory. Yes.

There is a pause.

Gregory: Grrr...fine. You win.
Hilary: Good.
Gregory: But when we get out of here, I’m going to have a long talk with you.
Hilary: Whatever.

Hilary leads Gregory until they get stuck.

Gregory: What now?
Hilary: We wait for Ark and the others to show up.
Gregory: See? This is what I meant! If only the Gate Guardians can get through, why didn’t we wait for them to find us instead of going to find them?
Hilary: Oh, shut up, you stupid jerk. You’ll die soon, hopefully.
Gregory: WHAT?!

The game switches back to Ark and Ivy. They go on through the dungeon, and on the next floor, they find Hilary, alone in a trap.

Ark: It looks like you were right, Ivy. Hilary’s here, but not Gregory.
Hilary: Ark! Ivy! You’re here! Thank goodness, I was getting a little worried...
Ark: We’ll get to you, don’t worry.

They do. At the exit of that room, they talk.

Hilary: ...Thanks.
Ivy: What’s wrong?
Hilary: Gregory.
Ark: We’ll find him, don’t worry.
Halley: Yeah, Uncle Ark can do anything!
Hilary: No, it’s not that. It’s just...how he acts.
Philis: You mean like how he’s a big jerk?
Ark: Philis!
Philis: ...Sorry.
Hilary: No, she’s right. He’s mean, even though he doesn’t need to be. I wish he was different.

Sad music plays.

Hilary: I wish I knew what was wrong with him. Why he’s mean.
Ark: ......
Hilary: All he ever thinks about is business. He never stops to enjoy anything, like the beauty of a flower or a spring day or...my love for him.
Ivy: It can’t be like that.
Hilary: It is. Sometimes I feel like he doesn’t love me. That’s all I want. I want to see love. I want to see the world full of love. I want to see it so full of love that everyone will choke on their love for each other.
Ivy: ......
Hilary: ...That’s why I’m always talking about how cute a couple looks. Nothing is more beautiful than a young couple in love.
Ark: ......
Hilary: I want that for you, Rick and Diana. You two are a cute couple in love. I want you to love each other forever.
Diana: We will.
Rick: Of course we will.
Hilary: Good. Because you two look so cute together...so cute...Oh, I’m getting all worked up. I’m sorry.
Ark: It’s okay.
Hilary: I know, I know... (pause) I think you and Ivy would make a cute couple, too.
Ark: We know that. You’ve said it before.
Ivy: A lot.
Hilary: I know, I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I just think you’d be so good together...
Ark: ......
Ivy: ...Let’s go.
Hilary: Okay.

They go on. Two floors later, they find Gregory and Hilary.

Gregory: Ah, finally! Gate Guardian! Help us out of here!
Ark: Wait a second...who’s we?
Gregory: Me and Hilary, of course!
Ark: But Hilary’s here with us...
Gregory: ?! You’re right! How?!
Ark: One of them has to be a CIMA in disguise...
Gregory: It’s this one with me. She just called me a stupid jerk and wished that I would die soon. Hilary would never say that to me.
Hilary: (the one by Ark) ......
Ark: Touch her ear! If she’s a CIMA in disguise, she’ll turn back into a CIMA!

Gregory touches Hilary’s ear. She turns into Famstis.

Ark: Famstis! You!
Famstis: Aw...who cares? This was no fun, anyhow! This pathetic human has no love at all!
Hilary: ......
Famstis: Goodbye!

Famstis warps away.

Gregory: That was...unusual.
Ark: Yeah...
Gregory: (back to normal) Gate Guardian! Get me out of here!
Ark: Right away!

They go through the room and get to Gregory.

Ark: You should be okay now.
Gregory: ...Thank you.
Ark: You’re welcome.
Hilary: Oh, Gregory...
Gregory: What?
Hilary: Why did you thank Ark this time when you didn’t before?
Gregory: ...I just didn’t, that’s all.
Hilary: I think it’s nice of you to thank Ark.
Gregory: Yes, well...
Hilary: What?
Gregory: Nothing. Let’s go.
Hilary: No, what is it?
Gregory: I said nothing. Let’s go.
Hilary: No, I want to know.
Gregory: (grabs her ear and shouts into it) I SAID NOTHING LET’S - AH!

Hilary turns into Famstis.

Gregory: CIMA!
Ark: ? Both Hilarys were Famstis?
Famstis: Yes, that’s right...
Ark: So where’s the real Hilary?
Famstis: She’s right here! I sent her to a freeze trap so I could take her place!

Famstis warps in the freeze-trapped Hilary.

Hilary: Thank goodness you found out about her being a fake! I was worried you wouldn’t!
Ark: It wasn’t a problem.
Famstis: Bah! You were sure I was the real Hilary when you caught the “fake” her with Gregory! I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for this big jerk!
Gregory: Call me a jerk if you want, but at least I don’t go around disguising myself as someone else!
Famstis: You will die, human! No CIMA could possibly be able to put up with you for long! I only wish that I can be the one to kill you!

Famstis warps out. Everything is quiet for a while.

Hilary: Well? Could you get me out, please?
Ark: Yes, of course.

They continue going through the room and end up unfreezing Hilary.

Hilary: Thanks.

Ark grabs Hilary’s ear.

Hilary: Hey!
Ark: Sorry, I had to make sure you weren’t a CIMA. I don’t want to be fooled a third time by a fake Hilary.
Hilary: That makes sense, I guess. Gregory, are you okay?
Gregory: I’m fine.
Hilary: Oh, good.

They continue going through the dungeon. At the boss fight, Famstis warps in.

Famstis: Hello. Again.
Ivy: Famstis, why did you disguise yourself as Hilary?
Famstis: I wanted to. Don’t try to question my ways.
Ark: But all the stuff you said to us...
Famstis: It was lies, yes. I wanted to see how you would react.
Ark: But why?
Famstis: I told you, fool. I am Famstis, CIMA of love, passion, longing and mystery! I control love! I rule it! It exists to follow my will!
Ark: Uh huh. Can we fight now?
Famstis: Impatient human. Of course.

Famstis warps out and sends in an icicle-shooting snow-wolf-like creature named Frold. Ark and Ivy kill it, and Famstis warps back in.

Famstis: Oh, drat, you won.
Ark: Of course we did.
Famstis: Oh, what a failure this dungeon was. I was hoping for lover’s passion between Gregory and Hilary, but instead his heart is as cold as if I had freeze-trapped it myself.
Ark: ......
Famstis: I should have done that last dungeon. I heard the reunion of the soon-to-be-wed couple was beautiful. Simply...lovely.

Famstis warps out. Gregory and Hilary walk up.

Hilary: Is she gone?
Ark: Yes.
Hilary: Good. ...... What did she tell you when she was disguised as me?
Ivy: She said-
Gregory: Does it matter?
Hilary: Yes, it matters to me. If someone is disguised about me and lying about my feelings, I want to know why and how.
Ark: She basically said that you didn’t love Gregory because he only cares about business.
Hilary: Well, he does spend more time worrying about business than I’d like him to, but I still love him. I always will.

Hilary kisses Gregory.

Hilary: I love you, honey.
Gregory: Thanks, Hilary. I love you, too.

Gregory kisses Hilary.

Ivy: Aw...how sweet.
Ark: I guess...
Ivy: Famstis may have been in disguise, but she was telling the truth when she was talking about how beautiful it is when two people are in love.
Ark: Yeah, I know.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms two and three falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Purple Fang, which is a purple, snake-themed dungeon. On the second floor, they find Telmia in a trap.

Philis: Mom!
Telmia: Help!
Ark: We’ll get you!

Ark leads everyone through the room to get to Telmia. As soon as he reaches her, a wall pops up, dividing the room in half, and dividing the group into two parties.

Ark: What?
Gregory: Gate Guardian! What is this?
Ark: I have a name, you know...
Gregory: I don’t remember it.
Hilary: It’s Ark.
Gregory: Fine. Ark! What is this?
Ark: It’s a wall.
Gregory: Well, obviously! What does it mean?
Shelley: I think it’s supposed to cut us off from the others.
Gregory: So we’re going to go alone now?
Ark: Don’t worry, I’ll still protect everybody...
Gregory: Humph.

Ark leads Gregory, Hilary, Shelley and Telmia down three floors (these floors are divided in half as well) to the boss fight room, which is not divided in half.

Ark: I don’t have the key. I’ll have to wait for Ivy to show up.

Back with Ivy:

Ivy: A wall?
Halley: What is it, Ivy?
Ivy: We’re being cut off into different groups because of this wall.
Diana: Again?
Ivy: Yeah, the CIMA here seem to really like that for some reason...

Ivy leads Halley, Philis, Rick and Diana down three floors. I imagine the stuff Ark did while going through the floors has some effect on what Ivy has to do to go through the floors. She meets up with Ark at the boss room.

Ark: Ivy, is everyone all right?
Ivy: They’re fine, naturally.
Ark: Did you get the boss key?
Ivy: Of course.

Ivy uses the boss key to open the door. They enter the boss fight, and Genox warps in.

[TheLostGamer]

Genox: So, did you like that dungeon? I made it all up myself!
Ivy: We’ve seen the wall thing before...
Genox: Yes, well, Kelly told me to put it in. She likes separating people for some reason, and when the boss tells you to do something, you do it.
Ark: Makes sense.
Genox: And she’s told me to kill you! Muahaha!!! ...... That wasn’t scary, was it?
Ark: Nope.
Genox: Oh, well. See if you can beat this!

Genox warps out and sends in Shraxation, a wooden giant of a CIMA that shoots spikes of wood down the ceiling and up from the ground. Ark and Ivy kill it, and Genox warps back in.

Genox: Oh, drat. You won.
Ark: Did you expect something else?
Genox: Well, not really. I’m not trying too hard.
Ark: Really?
Genox: Yeah, I’m just kicking back and letting the other CIMA try to kill you. I couldn’t beat you last time, so what makes things different this time?
Ark: Glad to see you’ve gotten some sense.
Genox: Don’t get too proud of yourself, Ark. You couldn’t beat me last time, either.
Ark: Yes, I did! I killed you!
Genox: Then how am I still alive?
Ark: That’s what I want to know!
Genox: Ark, Ark...so many questions. It’s all good fun, but I can’t answer them all.
Ark: ......
Genox: More next time!

Genox warps out. Ark turns to Ivy.

Ark: Genox is acting stranger than usual.
Ivy: I thought he was just acting different...
Ark: Well, that too...but why?
Ivy: Maybe he’s hiding something...
Ark: Maybe...

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms two and three falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Broken Tracks, which is themed as a ruined train station. It has an large amount of freeze traps. On the third floor, they find Jean, behind a column blocking the way.

Ark: Jean!
Jean: Ark! Good to see you!
Ark: Likewise!
Jean: Get me out of here!
Ark: Will do!

The room is empty, except for a freeze trap, so there doesn’t seem to be a way to lower the column.

Ark: (to Ivy) How can we get Jean out? There’s nothing here except a free trap...
Ivy: I don’t know...it seems the only thing we can do is get frozen...
Ark: I’ll try it. You lead the others.
Ivy: Okay.

Ark steps into the freeze trap, which lowers the column. Jean walks forward.

Jean: Thanks!
Ivy: I wouldn’t have thought that would work...
Ark: Hurry up and unfreeze me!
Ivy: Okay.

Ivy leads everyone through the room. To unfreeze Ark, she has to step on a freeze trap herself.

Ark: I’m free!
Ivy: I’m not! Now you unfreeze me!

Ark manages to do so, by luring a CIMA on a freeze trap, freezing it and freeing Ivy. On the next floor, Ark hits a switch at one point, which shrinks the size of a room so it is only as wide enough for one person to move through it at once.

Gregory: Ark! What did you do?
Ark: I didn’t expect that to happen...
Gregory: Fix it!
Hilary: Oh, Gregory, it’s not that bad. Everyone can still get through.
Ark: Hilary’s right. You should all walk through while standing in a row...
Halley: Okay!

Everyone lines up and goes through the room. Everything is fine until the floor of the thin room collapses near the end, sending Telmia, Shelley and Rick down into parts unknown.

Diana: Rick!
Philis: Mom!
Gregory: Ark! What now?
Ark: It was a CIMA trap...
Gregory: What do you intend to do about this?
Ark: Look for them, of course!
Gregory: And what if they’re injured?
Ark: We just have to hope we get there before that happens.
Ivy: Don’t worry; this happens a lot in CIMA dungeons. They should be fine.
Gregory: Humph.

The game switches to Telmia, Shelley, and Rick, who are all lying down. Telmia gets up.

Telmia: Oh! Shelley! Rick! Are you okay?

Shelley and Rick get up.

Shelley: I’m fine.
Rick: Me, too.
Telmia: That was a nasty fall!
Shelley: Yes, it was. So...we should go on.
Telmia: Okay.
Shelley: Rick, do you want to lead?
Rick: No, Shelley, uh, you can lead.
Shelley: Are you still scared of CIMA?
Rick: A little.
Shelley: Fine. I’ll lead.

Shelley leads them through the dungeon until they reach a point with one of the unavoidable freeze traps like earlier in the dungeon.

Shelley: It looks like I’ll have to freeze myself here to let you guys go on. Rick, you’ll have to lead.
Rick: Okay...gulp...

Shelley freezes herself, letting Rick and Telmia go on. Rick manages to unfreeze Shelley.

Shelley: Thanks, Rick.
Rick: No problem. You can regain control now.
Shelley: You sure? You’re doing a great job!
Telmia: You really are, Rick!
Rick: Thanks, but I’d feel better if I weren’t in control.
Shelley: Okay.

Shelley regains control and leads everyone until they end up stuck.

Shelley: I guess we’ll have to wait for Ark here...

The game switches to Ark and Ivy, who lead everyone else through the dungeon, which probably has more of the unavoidable freeze traps. Maybe even some timed unavoidable freeze traps, where if you don’t unfreeze someone fast enough, a bomb goes off or something and they lose some HP. Ark and Ivy’s group regroups with Shelley, Telmia and Rick.

Ivy: See, Gregory? Everyone’s fine.
Gregory: Humph. I guess you were right.
Ivy: (proudly) Of course I was.

Ark and Ivy make it to the boss room, and Shun warps in.

Ark: Hey, it’s you again.
Shun: You two will DIE this time!
Ark: Sure, sure, whatever. Can we get this over with?
Shun: Fine.

Shun warps out and sends in Drackalich, a train-like bad guy. It inflicts a lot of damage with each blow, but has low defenses. Ark and Ivy defeat it, and Shun warps in.

Shun: No no no!!! How did this happen?!
Ark: Say, you’re not really a member of the Crimson Nine, are you?
Ivy: Yeah, you’re not much of a challenge.
Shun: Rrr...I WILL be made a member of the Crimson Nine when I kill you...NEXT TIME!
Ark: You haven’t killed us so far, I’ve noticed.
Shun: Next time, I’ll fight you myself! And you will DIE!

Shun warps away.

Ark: He’s a little high-strung.
Ivy: I’ll say.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms two and three falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon Innocent Love, which is a grassy open-plained dungeon with reddish grass. On the second floor, they find Ralph, trapped.

Gregory: Hey, who is that?
Ark: It’s one of those Gate Guardian guys...what’s your name again?
Ralph: It’s Ralph. I’m the one who’s not a big jerk.
Ivy: So you’re not the high-level Gate Guardian?
Ralph: I was mid/high-level, but I retired.
Ark: Really?
Ralph: Yes. I was assigned to finding the Base, but I never found it, so I was never promoted.
Ivy: The Base?
Ralph: It’s sort of hard to explain...I’d rather do it later. Right now, would you mind saving me?
Ark: Fine.

In order to save Ralph, they both have to go on unavoidable freeze traps. They do so.

Ralph: I’m free! Thanks.
Ark: Great. Now return the favor and free us!
Ralph: Okay.

Ralph takes control of everyone and leads them to the exit, then frees Ark and Ivy. They don’t move, initially.

Ralph: Are you two unfrozen?
Ivy: Yes, I...I’m just feeling a little woozy.
Ark: Me too.
Ralph: What?
Ivy: There must have been something strange in that freeze trap. I feel all weird...
Ark: Yeah...I don’t know what...

Ark and Ivy take some wobbly steps.

Halley: What’s wrong with them?
Ralph: I don’t know...CIMA must have messed with those freeze traps somehow...
Ark: Must...sleep...
Ivy: Good...night...

Ark and Ivy lie down, on teleport traps. They get teleported somewhere else.

Halley: ! What happened?
Ralph: They were teleported away...
Gregory: Gate Guardian! What does that mean?
Ralph: I’m guessing that CIMA wanted the two of them alone somewhere, so they messed with the freeze traps to make the two of them woozy so they wouldn’t notice the teleport traps.
Philis: But why would CIMA want Ark and Ivy to be alone somewhere?
Ralph: I don’t know...I guess it has something to do with me, because with them gone, I’m going to have to lead you all. Is that okay with everyone?
Rick: I don’t know...
Diana: Yeah, you’re sort of a stranger...
Ralph: (sarcastically) That’s the spirit!
Gregory: I say we do it.
Hilary: Why?
Gregory: Well, there doesn’t seem to be much choice, otherwise.
Telmia: Gregory has a point...
Ralph: Great. I get to lead by default. Oh well. I don’t expect I’ll get any other CIMA-fighting opportunities now that I’m retired.

Ralph leads them through the dungeon. Three floors later, he finds Ark and Ivy, sitting together in the boss room.

Ark: You’re joking!
Ivy: I’m totally serious.
Ark: Oh, Ivy, you are just too crazy! I love it!
Ivy: You’re the crazy one!

Ark and Ivy laugh. The camera pans to Ralph and the others.

Halley: Is that Ark and Ivy?
Ralph: I don’t know...Ark! Ivy! Are you two okay?
Ark: Hey, it’s everyone else!

Ark gets up and starts wobbling.

Ark: Hey, how’s it going?
Ralph: Fine, I guess. Are you two okay?

Ivy gets up and starts wobbling around as well.

Ivy: Yeah, we’re okay. I still feel a little weird, though...
Ark: You look a little weird!
Ivy: Oh, you big goon!

The game pans to Ralph and the others.

Halley: What’s wrong with them?
Ralph: I’m not sure...
Telmia: If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it looks like they’ve just had a night of heavy drinking.
Ralph: Me, too. I think it’s an after-effect from those freeze traps.
Hilary: How are we going to get anywhere if they’re acting like that?

The game pans back to Ark and Ivy, who are wobbling around.

Ark: Hey! Hilary! What’re you all whispering about over there?
Ivy: Oh, Ark, come on, it’s Hilary. There’s only one thing she ever talks about. (imitating Hilary) Oh, Ark and Ivy, you two make such a cute couple together!
Hilary: (huffily) That’s a pretty bad imitation of me!

Ark and Ivy laugh.

Ivy: (imitating Hilary) I know because me and my husband make such a good couple, even though he’s a total BOOB-HEAD!

Ark and Ivy laugh as if this is the funniest joke ever made.

[TheLostGamer]

Hilary: That’s not funny...
Gregory: Calm down. They’re not their normal selves.
Ark: (imitating Gregory) I say, I might be a boob-head, but at least I don’t eat my own boogers!
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) I don’t eat my own boogers, Mr. Boob-head!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Then why does your mouth taste so funny whenever I kiss you?
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) That’s just my lipstick! It looks ugly AND tastes bad!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Bah! That’s no lipstick!

Ark and Ivy laugh some more. Gregory and Hilary are seething mad.

Gregory: (furious) I am not a booger eater!
Hilary: (equally mad) My lipstick is NOT ugly!

Ark and Ivy do not seem to notice that Gregory and Hilary are mad.

Ivy: (imitating Hilary) How would you know? You never kiss me, you cold-hearted boob-head! All you care about is business!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) That is not true!
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Sure it is! When was the last time you kissed me?
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Let me think...that would have to be...when we were on the altar!

Ark and Ivy laugh at this joke, even though it’s not really funny.

Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Oh, you sexy businessman! Kiss me now, you great big stud!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Oh, dear, I don’t think I should...
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Come on! You can do it!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) Let me think about it...okay!

Ark tackles Ivy, so that he is sitting/lying over her.

Ark: (imitating Gregory) I’ve got you now, Hilary! You’re going to get it this time!
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Oh no! Get what?
Ark: (imitating Gregory) The most passionate kiss...OF YOUR LIFE!
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Oh, Gregory, be careful! I’m delicate!

Ark gives Ivy a big kiss.

Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Oh, GREGORY! That was wonderful! Please, do it again!
Ark: (imitating Gregory) I don’t know. I’m late for a meeting scheduled with my lawyer.
Ivy: (imitating Hilary) No way! More! More!

Ivy pulls Ark towards her and the two start kissing.

Ivy: (imitating Hilary) Gregory, you’re fantastic! Oh...(normally) Ark, keep it up!

The game pans to everyone else, who are staring at Ark and Ivy making out.

Hilary: That’s...strange.
Telmia: Yeah...
Diana: That can’t be them.
Ralph: ?
Diana: It has to be CIMA in disguise, not the real Ark and Ivy. I don’t think they’d act like that, even if they’re having some weird after-effect from the freeze trap.
Halley: Yeah, let’s touch their ears!
Ralph: Touch their ears?
Halley: If they’re CIMA in disguise, touching their ears gets rid of the disguise! Watch!

Halley walks over to Ark and Ivy and touches Ark’s ear. Ark turns into Famstis.

Famstis: Hey! I was kind of busy!
Ivy: So was I!
Ralph: Where’s the real Ark?
Famstis: Oh, he’s here!

Famstis warps Ark in. Ark is still kind of woozy.

Ark: Woah...
Ralph: What did you do to Ark and Ivy? Why are they acting so strange?
Famstis: I manipulated the freeze trap so it would have a slow-acting yet exponential affect on the central nervous system!
Halley: What?
Famstis: (annoyed) Their brains are being frozen, bit by bit! The more time that passes, the more of the brain that gets frozen! If you don’t find the antidote soon, they’ll be completely frozen! It’s like a drug!
Ralph: Where’s the antidote?
Famstis: You’ll have to beat me to get it!
Ralph: Okay!
Famstis: Let’s get those two out of the way...

Famstis warps Ark and Ivy elsewhere. Famstis warps out and sends in a blue monkey monster to fight Ralph. Ralph kills it, and Famstis warps in with Ark and Ivy.

Ark: You killed the monkey! Cool.
Ralph: Where’s the antidote, CIMA?
Famstis: It’s Famstis. And fine, here’s the stupid antidote.

Famstis throws something on Ark and Ivy. They stop wobbling around.

Ark: Hey! I feel better!
Ivy: Me too!

Famstis: They’ll be fine. But not next time! All of you will die, when you face me! Beware!

Famstis warps away.

Ark: What happened in this dungeon? I can’t remember anything after we saved Ralph...
Ivy: I remember being here with you and talking with you, and then pretending to be Hilary and Gregory, and then we...
Ark: Yes?
Ivy: Um, never mind. It doesn’t matter.
Ralph: Yes, it wasn’t really you, but Famstis in disguise. Speaking of which, I should check to make sure neither of you is a CIMA in disguise...

Ralph touches Ark’s ear. He remains normal.

Ralph: So you’re you. Now for Ivy.
Ark: I can do Ivy.

Ark walks towards Ivy, ready to touch her ear. As he draws close,

Ivy: NO!

Ivy backs off a bit.

Ralph: She doesn’t want us to touch her ear! She must be a CIMA.
Ivy: No, it’s not that, it’s just...

Ivy casts a meaningful look at Ark.

Ark: Oh, yeah...She, uh, doesn’t like being touched.
Ralph: (suspiciously) Hmmm...
Ark: Look, I’ll just ask her a question that a CIMA wouldn’t be able to answer, okay? Ivy? What was the name of our old mentor?
Ivy: Jester.
Ralph: That question was too easy. Did he drink normal coffee or decaf?
Ivy: Trick question. Jester drank tea, not coffee.
Ralph: Right.
Ark: Satisfied?
Ralph: Yes. No CIMA would be able to know that. Let’s go on, shall we?
Ark: Sure.

They start to exit, but Ark stops.

Ark: Wait. You said something about telling us about the Base.

Ralph: Ah, yes. Since you two found the Singularity, I want to know all about that to help me find the Base. See, the Base is sort of like the Plug. Whoever is the Plug resonates with the Rare Majesties under some situation, and then can kill their enemies by opening the Singularity. In the same way, whoever is the Base resonates with the Rare Majesties under some situation and becomes ultra-powerful, which they then use to kill their enemies. They say the Base is strong enough to stop the Singularity.
Ark: How do you know about the Base?
Ralph: The Base was found, briefly, almost twenty years ago...

The screen turns blank while Ralph narrates.

Ralph: I was on my first assignment, working under a Gate Guardian named Sampson. He and I lead a group of people through a dungeon. Among the people we were protecting was a blacksmith named Doug and his teenage daughter Elizabeth. At a boss room, a CIMA named Falcken showed up.

The screen shows the scene. There is a group of people, including Elizabeth (Doug’s daughter who died) and younger versions of Doug, Ileyda, and Ralph. Falcken warps in. Elizabeth runs to Doug.

Elizabeth: Ah! It’s a CIMA!
Doug: Don’t worry, Elizabeth. The Gate Guardians will protect us.
Elizabeth: Good. I hate CIMA! This place is horrible!
Falcken: I made it, you know. I don’t like being insulted.
Sampson: You won’t have to worry about that. Prepare to die, CIMA!

Sampson turns towards Ralph.

Sampson: Ralph, take the others and stand back. You don’t want to get in my way.
Ralph: Shouldn’t we gang up on him? It seems like we’d have a better chance of killing him then.
Sampson: No, get back!
Falcken: I’m not here for a fight. I’m here to find the Plug. And the good news is I think I’ve found it.

Elizabeth disappears and reappears, in front of Falcken.

Doug: Elizabeth! Let her go!
Falcken: Just try it, human.

Doug runs at Falcken but is blocked by an invisible force field.

Doug: I can’t get to him!
Sampson: Let me try!

Sampson tries, but is also blocked.

Sampson: A force field! We can’t get through!
Falcken: Darnis! I have her!

Darnis warps in.

Darnis: Good.
Sampson: Darnis Amsteram! Most powerful of the Crimson Nine!
Darnis: Flattery will get you nowhere, human. You said you have her?
Falcken: Yes, this is her.
Elizabeth: Let me go!
Darnis: No, not yet. First you must do something for me.

Darnis warps in two Rare Majesties.

Darnis: Resonate with these two Majesties.
Elizabeth: What?

Falcken hits Elizabeth.

Falcken: Do it!
Elizabeth: I’ll try...

The Rare Majesties vibrate for a bit, but then stop.

Elizabeth: I can’t do it, Mr. CIMA! I can’t! Please don’t hurt me!
Darnis: Great. Another failure. We may never find the Plug.
Falcken: Not if we keep searching at random like this.
Darnis: We don’t have much of a choice, do we? Humans are hard to come by, Falcken!
Falcken: I did not mean to be impudent. I apologize, Master.
Darnis: Good. Now terminate the experiment.
Falcken: ?
Darnis: Kill her! She is of no further use to us!
Elizabeth: No!
Doug: No, not Elizabeth! Take me instead!

Falcken ignores this, kills Elizabeth, and tosses her aside.

Falcken: She is dead.
Darnis: I can see that.
Doug: NO!
Darnis: I’ll be leaving now. Kill the rest of these humans.
Falcken: Yes, sir.

Darnis turns around and notices the Rare Majesties are vibrating.

Darnis: The Rare Majesties? What? Someone is resonating with them!
Falcken: What?
Darnis: The Base! Someone here must be the Base!

He looks at Doug.

Darnis: You!

Doug is shaking with anger and grief at Elizabeth’s death. He is also glowing around the edge.

Doug: I’ll kill you, CIMA!
Darnis: Oh no...
Sampson: Doug is the Base?!
Ralph: The Base? What does that mean?
Sampson: It’s too complicated to explain now! Watch!

Doug walks towards Darnis. Slowly, more and more of him starts glowing.

Darnis: Quick! We must stop him before he destroys us all!

Darnis and Falcken run at Doug. Doug throws them aside like rag dolls. Darnis charges Doug again, piercing his leg.

Darnis: Die!
Doug: No, you!

Doug turns around and crushes Darnis’ skull with his hammer. Darnis starts to die.

Darnis: That should have...stopped him...

Darnis dies. Doug runs to Elizabeth’s body, and his glowing slowly stops.

Doug: Elizabeth! No, no...

Doug has turned back to normal by now.

Falcken: He looks the same as he did before...did Darnis stop the Base?
Doug: You! You killed her!

Doug charges Falcken, but bounces off his armor.

Falcken: Moments before, you were powerful enough to kill the strongest CIMA, and now you cannot harm even me. Good. The Base was stopped.
Doug: I’ll get you!

Doug tries to get up, but his leg wound is seeping blood and he cannot.

[TheLostGamer]

Doug: Ah! My leg!
Falcken: You should get that wound examined. In the meantime, enjoy your daughter’s corpse while I report this.

Falcken warps away.

Doug: No! Nooo!

Doug collapses as the screen changes to show Ralph with Ark and Ivy.

Ralph: That Doug fellow was unstoppable there for a while.
Ark: No wonder you’re looking for the Base.
Ralph: Well, that was twenty years ago, and we still haven’t found the Base or the Plug.
Ivy: Why not?
Ralph: Too many variables. Which Rare Majesties should be used? What kind of person is the Plug, in particular? Male or female? Old or young? Which feelings must they feel to resonate? We don’t know, and neither do CIMA. But both of us have been trying.
Ark: Did you ever see Doug again?
Ralph: No. He became a Gate Guardian hater, I heard. I can understand, seeing as we couldn’t prevent his injury or his daughter’s death.
Ark: Actually, Doug is one of the people here in this dungeon.
Ralph: Really?
Ivy: Yes, he was one of the Pioneers we saved last time.
Ralph: I wonder if he’ll recognize me...

They exit the dungeon. The last part of the bridge connecting platforms two and three falls into place. Everyone crosses over the platform three. A warp portal appears and they go through it to reach the next dungeon, Genox Plain. They emerge near a small village. At the start,

Ralph: Er...
Ark: What?
Ralph: Do you guys want to lead or should I? Because technically, I’m retired...
Ark: We can lead.
Ralph: Okay.

Ark walks towards the village. A village youth who looks like Genox speaks up.

Village Youth: This is the Village of Genox.
Ark: Oh, no, not again...
Ivy: Did you say “Village of Genox”?
Village Youth: The village of Genox lies at the beginning of the Genox Plain, which leads to the center of the Land of Genox.
Ark: It looks like Genox was a little self-absorbed when making this dungeon...
Ivy: Yeah, this kid even looks a little like Genox...
Ralph: Genox?
Ark: He’s a CIMA who we met last time in Pike’s dungeon...
Ralph: How is he still alive?
Ark: I’m not sure...
Village Youth: The great master Genox lies in the very center of the Land of Genox.
Ark: Great, so that’s where we’ll find him. Let’s hurry up and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.
Ivy: Me too.

Ark and Ivy leads everyone through the Village of Genox, in which all of the townsfolk look similar to Genox. They lead everyone through Genox Plain, which follows the Village of Genox. Everything here is Genox-themed, so everything resembles Genox. At some point, they find Doug.

Ark: Doug!
Doug: Ark! Have you gotten Ileyda yet?
Ark: No, we’re still missing her and Eberle and Emmy and Vanrose. So that’s four more.
Ralph: Don’t forget my brother Richard.
Ark: Yeah, well, I’m not sure we want to save him.
Ralph: If we don’t, we’d be “subject to more Gate Guardian oversight”.
Ark: I guess...
Doug: How about saving me first?
Ark: Okay.

Ark saves Doug without much trouble.

Ralph: Excuse me, did Ark call you “Doug”?
Doug: Yes, that’s my name.
Ralph: I thought you might be.
Doug: (confused) Why?
Ralph: Um, never mind.
Doug: Okay...

Gregory steps forward.

Gregory: Mr. Doug, I’m Gregory. I came to have a meeting with you.
Doug: Yes...I remember setting up a meeting with a Gregory.
Gregory: Good. Now I’ve brought a-
Doug: Can we wait until we get out of the CIMA world before having the meeting? I’m anxious to get back home.
Gregory: Oh...yes. Yes, of course. Later then, yes...

They continue through this strange dungeon (it has no floors or rooms, as it’s just a plain) until they find the real Genox.

Genox: Well, how do you like the Land of Genox? A great place, isn’t it?
Ark: This place is just plain creepy!
Ivy: Yeah, what kind of strange egocentric maniac are you?
Genox: Oh, you don’t like it?
Ark: No!
Genox: Gee, too bad. I guess you won’t like this!

Genox warps out and sends in three enemies named Greenox, who are miniature-Genoxes that jump around a lot. Ark and Ivy defeat them, and Genox warps back in.

Genox: You won again? That’s not good...
Ark: You don’t seem too upset.
Genox: That’s because I’m not.
Ivy: Why not?
Genox: Not that it’s any of your business, but it doesn’t matter if I kill you two are not.
Ark: Really? Do tell...
Genox: No, I don’t think I will, thank you. Let me just say that I’ve got an ace in the hole, and I don’t have to worry about pretty much anything anymore.
Ark: ......
Genox: But you two do! Because next time, you’re going to fight me!

Genox warps out.

Ark: All the CIMA are saying we’ll fight them next time.
Ivy: Well, we’ve got four more dungeons to go, right? And there’s only four builder CIMA, so that’s one per dungeon.
Ark: I guess...

Everyone else walks up.

Ralph: So we’re almost out of here? That’s good.
Ark: Yeah.
Ralph: You two did a good job fighting that boss CIMA. You work well together.
Hilary: And you two make such a cute couple...
Ark: Hilary, do you have to mention that so often?
Hilary: Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t help it. You look so cute together...
Rick: I thought Diana and I were the cute couple.
Hilary: Oh, you two look nice together, but Ark and Ivy are much cuter.
Rick: Oh.
Diana: Don’t expect to get invited to the wedding after that one, Hilary.
Rick: Diana!
Diana: Just kidding!
Rick: Oh. Okay.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms three and four falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Small Wonder, a train-themed dungeon. The trains are running, so in some places there is the danger of getting hit by a train. On the third level, they find Vanrose.

Vanrose: Ark!
Ark: Vanrose! We’re coming!

Ark and Ivy save Vanrose. At the exit, everyone spreads out.

Shelley: Vanrose, are you okay?
Vanrose: Yep!
Shelley: Oh, thank goodness. I was worried something strange would happen.

A twelve-car train stops nearby, and twelve ninja CIMA jump out, one from each car. Each of them grabs a person and jumps back on the train. The train starts to go again.

Ark: Ah! They took everyone!
Ivy: Catch that train!

Ark and Ivy run and manage to make it onto the last car.

Ark: I guess we’ll have to go through the train, car by car, to get everyone.
Ivy: Looks like it...

They do so, fighting a ninja CIMA in each car and saving someone in each car. They have everyone by the time they reach the engine room, which serves as the boss room. They enter it and Shun warps in.

Shun: So, not so cocky now, are you, human? That level was tough, no?
Ark: No. It was stupid.
Ivy: Yeah, ninjas kidnapping people and putting them on a train? Dumb.
Shun: Shut up! You’ll die, NOW!

Shun warps into his boss form, which involves moving fast and throwing bombs. Ark and Ivy beat him, and he turns back to normal.

Shun: No, NO! I can’t die! I never got to become a member of the Crimson Nine!
Ark: I knew you were lying about that!
Shun: The others...will avenge me!

Shun dies.

Ark: That was easy.
Ivy: Let’s hope the other CIMA are just as easy.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms three and four falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Empty Corridors, an empty, maze dungeon. On the first floor, there is a sign nearby a split in the road.

Ivy: What does the sign say?
Ark: “The road ahead splits and splits and splits and splits. Choose your path right, or be ready to fight” ...... Strange.

In this dungeon, the path keeps splitting into two paths. If a wrong path is taken, a wall pops up, along with a lot of CIMA. When the CIMA are killed, the wall goes down, allowing Ark and Ivy to retrace their steps. At some point, they run into Eberle.

Eberle: Ark! Ivy! Everyone! Thank goodness! This place is dangerous...
Ark: We’re here to protect you now.
Eberle: Jean, Halley...where’s Emmy?
Ark: We haven’t found her yet.
Doug: Or Ileyda.
Ark: Those are the last two, right?
Ivy: I think so...
Ralph: All except my brother.
Ark: Yeah.

They continue going through the dungeon. At the boss room, Randstand warps in.

Randstand: So, you’re still alive. Not for long, though.
Ark: Try me!

Randstand warps into his boss form, which is a dark, blade-wielding ninja-like enemy. He’s not so easy to beat, but Ark and Ivy manage to do it.

Randstand: You have...beaten me. I wouldn’t have thought it possible. At least I shall not have to feel defeat for...too long...

Randstand dies.

Ark: That was kind of tough.
Ivy: Yeah...we won, though.
Ark: Yeah...let’s get to the next dungeon.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms three and four falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Passionate Heartland, a grassy dungeon.

Ivy: Passionate Heartland? This is probably another Famstis dungeon...
Ark: Gee, great. I can’t wait to see the love-maniac disguise herself again.
Ivy: Do you think it’s a Famstis dungeon?
Ark: Well, obviously. Who else would call their dungeon “Passionate Heartland”? Besides, it’s either her or Genox, and this isn’t his style.
Ivy: Good point.

Ark and Ivy turn towards everyone else.

Ivy: Everyone, we’re pretty sure this is another Famstis dungeon.
Vanrose: Famstis?
Ivy: She calls herself the CIMA of Love, and likes to disguise herself as someone else to manipulate how they feel about other people.
Ark: Yeah, so don’t forget that if you touch her ear, she turns back to her normal self.

They go through the dungeon. On the first floor, they find Ileyda.

Ileyda: Doug!
Doug: Ileyda!

Doug runs to Ileyda, and a wall drops, cutting the two of them off from everyone else.

Ark: Hey!

Ark and Ivy run up to the wall to examine it.

Ivy: I don’t think we can get past these walls.
Ark: Me neither.

[TheLostGamer]

Another wall falls, cutting Ark and Ivy off from everyone else.

Ralph: Two walls falling? Odd...

A third wall falls, dividing the party into two groups: one of Diana, Shelley, Eberle, Jean, Hilary and Ralph, and one of Philis, Halley, Rick, Telmia, Gregory and Vanrose. The game focuses on Ralph’s party. After a short while,

Ralph: ...I think that’s the last of the walls.
Diana: Those things are creepy! We’re close to everyone else, but we can’t see them.
Ralph: Yeah...I’ll lead you all.

Ralph leads them through the dungeon, which is walled off like the top floor. Two floors later, they get stuck.

Ralph: I guess we’ll have to wait for someone else to show up.

The game switches to Vanrose and the others.

Vanrose: I’ll lead, unless someone else wants to.
Rick: No, I’m fine with you leading.
Vanrose: Okay.

Vanrose leads them through the dungeon. Two floors later, they find Ralph and the others.

Vanrose: Are you guys okay?
Ralph: Yes.
Vanrose: Have you seen Doug and Ileyda yet?
Ralph: No.
Vanrose: What about Ark and Ivy?
Ralph: No.
Hilary: I hope they’re okay. It would be bad if something happened to them. They make such a cute couple together...
Vanrose: Yes, well, we’ll try to help you guys out.

Vanrose tries, but ends up getting stuck as well.

Vanrose: We’ll have to wait for someone else.
Ralph: I tried that already, but it didn’t work.

The game switches to Doug and Ileyda.

Ileyda: !
Doug: Don’t worry, I’ll protect you!

Doug leads Ileyda. Two floors later, he is in the room with everyone else.

Doug: Are you guys stuck?
Vanrose: Yes...
Doug: I’ll see what I can do.

Doug manages to free the two parties and join them in his area. They continue through the dungeon, and end up in the room with the boss fight, but on another platform in that room.

Doug: There’s nothing for us to do here.
Ralph: We’ll just have to wait for Ark and Ivy to do something.

The game switches to Ark and Ivy.

Ark: Looks like it’s just us...

They go through the dungeon. On the next floor, they find Doug and Ileyda.

Doug: Oh, good, you two are okay. I was worried when those walls came down suddenly.
Ark: Are you two okay?
Doug: We’re fine.
Ark: Good.
Doug: We’ll join up with you guys now.

Doug and Ileyda walk to Ark and Ivy. Ark touches their ears and they turn into Famstis.

Famstis: Dang!

The Famstises warp away.

Ark: Well, we avoided whatever her plans were with Doug and Ileyda.
Ivy: That’s good.

They go through the dungeon. On the next floor, they find the others.

Ralph: Oh, you guys are back.
Ark: Why do you sound so glum?
Ralph: Nothing, I just like leading people. I sorta miss that, and I did a good job helping out the others here.
Ark: Yes, you did.
Ralph: Well, you guys can lead now.

Ark touches the ears of Ralph and the others and they all turn into Famstis.

Famstis: Damn! Why are you so on guard?
Ark: I’m tired of your games, Famstis!
Famstis: Fine! I’ll stop bugging you!

The Famstises warp out. Ark and Ivy continue through the dungeon and make it to the boss room. Ark notices everyone else.

Ark: Is everyone okay?
Ralph: Yes.
Ark: Are you all yourselves?

Famstis warps in.

Famstis: They’re themselves. There was no fooling you this dungeon.
Ark: Good. What you did last dungeon was low.
Famstis: Low? You think drugging you and Ivy, then disguising myself as you so I can make out with Ivy was low?
Ark: Wait, you made out with Ivy?
Famstis: Ivy, you didn’t tell him?
Ivy: ...No...
Famstis: Really? Why not?
Ivy: ...It didn’t matter. You drugged me to get me to do it.
Famstis: Oh, I’m not so sure about that. You’d like to make out with Ark, wouldn’t you? He’s so big and strong and handsome, and you two make such a cute couple...
Ark: ......
Ivy: Shut up. Ark and I just work together, that’s all.
Famstis: Oh, Ivy, you can’t fool me. I’m the CIMA of Love. Hiding your feelings doesn’t change them. You know you’d like to be Ark’s girlfriend.
Ark: ...Could we get to fighting?
Famstis: Oh, yes. I almost forgot. I’m supposed to kill you. Well, let’s go.

Famstis warps into her battle form, a weird vine-y enemy. She is defeated and turns back to normal.

Ark: We beat you!
Famstis: I lost on purpose. I couldn’t stand to kill you, breaking up the beautiful love you two have together. Make it out of here, and have a lovely life together, you two...

Famstis begins to die.

Famstis: ...That goes for...all of you...have lives...full of...love...

Famstis dies.

Ark: Strange.
Ivy: I’ll say.
Ark: At least she won’t be bothering us anymore.

They exit the dungeon. A part of a bridge connecting platforms three and four falls into place, and a warp portal appears. They go through it to reach the next dungeon, Dangerous Plains, a dungeon made of open plains. On the first floor, Genox warps in.

Ark: Genox? Already? We haven’t been in the dungeon for a full minute yet...
Genox: Oh, we’re not fighting yet. I’m just here to tell you that this dungeon has four floors, each one having a boss for you to fight. Good luck getting through it!

Genox warps out and sends in Anopind, a big, fat boss to fight Ark and Ivy. They beat it and the exit appears. They go to the next floor, where they find Emmy.

Emmy: Ark! Save me!
Ark: Will do!

Before he can save her, a boss CIMA named Procantim warps in. Procantim switches between his normal form (a gray blob) and the various humans in this game. He is harmed when he is in human mode only if he is the same sex as the symbol on the ground, which changes from time to time. Ark and Ivy beat him and get to Emmy.

Emmy: You beat it! Yay! I was worried...
Ark: Don’t worry. You’ll be fine now.
Emmy: I know.

Emmy runs to Eberle.

Emmy: Mommy!
Eberle: Emmy!

They hug. On the next floor, Ark and Ivy fight Gonmisano, a fiery CIMA. On the next (and last) floor, Genox warps in.

Genox: How did you like that dungeon?
Ark: It was...original.
Genox: Glad you liked it! Although, I should have made a fifth floor so I wouldn’t have to fight you.
Ark: Why, are you scared?
Genox: No, I just don’t want to fight right now. But I guess I have to. Let’s go!

Genox turns into his battle form, the weird spinning top thing, although the fight is probably somehow different from the one in the last game. They beat Genox and he warps back in.

Genox: Well, you beat me again.
Ark: You don’t sound worried.
Genox: I’m not. My job security is fine, thank you.
Ark: Why?
Genox: Seeing as I’m going to die, I’ll tell you. I found the Plug last time, remember? I’m hot stuff because of that, since I’m one of the only CIMA who knows how to open the Singularity.

Genox starts to die.

Ark: One of the CIMA?
Genox: I...told Kelly...See...you...later...Ark and Ivy...

Genox dies.

Ark: Hm...I wonder if we’ll ever see him again?
Ivy: I guess if he can live after getting killed once, he can do it again.
Ark: Yeah, I guess so.

Ralph walks up.

Vanrose: What’s taking so long?
Ark: ...Nothing. Let’s get out of here.

They exit the dungeon. The last part of the bridge connecting platforms three and four falls into place. Everyone crosses the bridge and enters the big warp portal on the platform. They enter the dungeon, Deadly Ending, a castle-themed dungeon. Shortly after, the path splits into three separate paths.

Ark: The path splits in three.
Ivy: What do we do now?
Ralph: Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s three of us Gate Guardians, so they expect us to split up into three groups.
Ark: Okay...who’s going with who?
Gregory: I’ll go with Ralph. He’s the most experienced Gate Guardian, right?
Ralph: Right...
Gregory: Then I’m going with you.
Halley: I want to go with Ark.
Emmy: Me too!
Jean: Then we should go with Ark, too. All right, Eberle?
Eberle: All right...
Vanrose: I’ll go with Ralph. I want to keep an eye on him.
Doug: Me too.
Shelley: I’ll go with Ralph, too.
Ileyda: I’m going with Doug.
Ivy: I guess I’ll take everyone else.

The three groups split up and go down separate paths. In the room Ark’s party is in, Ark has to send Halley and Emmy across a thin bridge to step on a switch. The switch drops walls in the room, effectively separating his party into three.

Ark: Halley? Jean? Everyone? Are you okay?

There is silence.

Ark: Darn walls. I’ll just have to go on and hope for the best.

Ark goes on, and ends up in a room with twelve different platforms. Once is a big one in the middle of the room, while the other eleven are small ones surrounding it. None of the platforms are connected, and ten of the platforms have switches on them.

Ark: This looks sort of like the room where we met Pike, except there are switches. I wonder if the rest of my party will make it.

The game switches to Halley and Emmy.

Emmy: What happened? Where’s Mommy and Daddy? Where’s Ark?
Halley: Those walls are keeping us away from them.
Emmy: What a dirty trick! I don’t like this!
Halley: Don’t worry. I’ll protect you!

Halley leads Emmy to the room where Ark is.

Halley: Uncle Ark!
Ark: Halley! Emmy! Are you okay?
Halley: Sure! I protected Emmy!
Ark: Good job!
Emmy: Where’s Mommy and Daddy?
Ark: They haven’t gotten here yet...

The game switches to Jean and Eberle.

Eberle: What is that?
Jean: It seems these walls are supposed to cut us off from everyone else.
Eberle: How terrible! What will happen to Halley and Emmy?
Jean: I’m sure they’ll be fine. Let’s worry about ourselves for now.
Eberle: Okay...

Jean leads Eberle to the room where Ark is.

Emmy: Mommy! Daddy! They’re okay!
Ark: Thank goodness...
Jean: Where are we, Ark?
Ark: I don’t know. It looks like all we can do here is wait for everyone else to come.
Jean: Let’s try stepping on our switches!
Ark: Okay.

The three groups step on their respective switches, but nothing happens.

Ark: ...Nothing.
Jean: I guess we’ll have to wait for the others, then.

[TheLostGamer]

The game switches to Ivy and her party.

Ivy: Let’s go...

Ivy leads her party down their path. Like with Ark’s party, at some point, walls drop down and divide them into three groups.

Ivy: Walls again. I don’t like these things.

Ivy goes on until she reaches the room with Ark.

Ark: Ivy!
Ivy: Ark!

Ivy looks around.

Ivy: So I guess the walls were supposed to come down to divide my party up...
Ark: Yes, the same thing happened with us.

The game switches to Rick and Diana.

Rick: Oh no! Where’s everyone else?
Diana: Gone, it seems. You’ll have to lead now.
Rick: Okay...

Rick leads Diana to the room where Ark and the others are.

Rick: This has to be where I stop leading. Good.
Diana: Rick, what’s the matter? You’re not bad at being the leader.
Rick: Yeah, but I don’t like it...
Ark: If Hilary was here, she’d say something about how you two make a great team together.
Diana: Well, we do. That’s why were getting married tomorrow.
Rick: It does look like we’ll get out of here soon.

The game switches to Hilary and Philis.

Philis: Oh no, we’re cut off from everyone else.
Hilary: Don’t worry. I can lead.

Hilary leads Philis to the room where Ark and the others are.

Ark: Speak of the devil...
Hilary: What? What’s that?
Ark: We were just talking about you.
Hilary: Really? Anything nice?
Ark: We were just thinking you’d say Rick and Diana make a great couple.
Hilary: Well, I would. They should have a great wedding tomorrow.
Diana: We will.
Hilary: And you and Ivy make a cute couple, too.
Ark: I know, I know.

The game switches to Ralph and his party.

Ralph: Well...let’s go.

Ralph leads them down his path until walls pop up and divide his party into four different groups.

Ralph: Hmmm...walls. I hope everyone else will be okay. I could be in hot water if they’re not...

Ralph makes it to the room with Ark and the others.

Ralph: Hey, Ark, how’s everyone?
Ark: They’re fine. How about you?
Ralph: Same here.
Ark: What about your party?
Ralph: I don’t know...

The game switches to Vanrose and Gregory.

Gregory: Walls, walls, walls! I’m getting tired of all the walls in this place!
Vanrose: Well, I don’t think we can do anything about it...
Gregory: ...... You can fight CIMA, right?
Vanrose: Right.
Gregory: Good. You can lead me out of here.
Vanrose: Fine.

Vanrose leads Gregory to the room where Ark and the others are.

Ark: Vanrose seems okay.
Vanrose: I am okay.
Hilary: How about my Gregory?
Gregory: I’m fine.
Hilary: Good.

The game switches to Doug and Ileyda.

Ileyda: !
Doug: Walls! CIMA’s cutting us off from the others! ...... We’ll just have to go on by ourselves, I guess.
Ileyda: Doug, be careful...

Doug leads Ileyda to the room where Ark and the others are.

Doug: We’re here!
Ark: Good, that leaves just one more group...

The game switches to Shelley and Telmia.

Telmia: Not walls again.
Shelley: Yeah, this is stupid. Why do CIMA keep repeating the same tricks over and over? Can’t they come up with something new?
Telmia: I guess not.
Shelley: I’ll get us out of here.

Shelley leads Telmia to the room where Ark and the others are.

Shelley: Telmia and I are here.
Ark: Good, that’s everyone. Everyone, step on your switches.

Everyone steps on their switches, except for the people who are already on their switches. This causes Ark and Ivy’s platforms to connect to the platform in the middle of the room. They walk to it, and the connecting platforms disappear. Kelly Fariton warps in.

Kelly: So, you made it to the last dungeon. Congratulations. That’s quite a feat.

She warps Richard in, on the eleventh platform surrounding the one Ark, Ivy and Kelly are on.

Ralph: Richard? You’re fine?
Richard: Of course. Harming a high-level Gate Guardian is no easy task.
Kelly: I’m so glad I saved you for this last dungeon. You’re annoying.

Kelly turns towards Ark and Ivy.

Kelly: Let’s fight. I’m anxious to start the Singularity.
Ark: So Genox told you about that?
Kelly: Yes, yes, yes. Those two brats are the Plug, and they resonate when despairing. Genox told me all about it. Why do you think I went straight for the two of them at the party?
Ark: I don’t know...
Kelly: So let’s fight. I can’t wait to avenge Pike by killing you two, and then opening the Singularity.
Ark: You won’t find it so easy!

Kelly morphs into her battle form. After a tough fight, Ark and Ivy defeat her. She morphs back to normal.

Ark: *Huff* *Puff* We won!
Ivy: *Pant* Yeah!
Kelly: Good try.
Ark: What?
Kelly: Fools, you didn’t kill me!
Ivy: No way...
Kelly: I was just showing off how powerful I am! See how useless it is to oppose me! I can kill any of you humans at any time I wish to!

Kelly warps in two Rare Majesties.

Kelly: Now it’s Plug-opening time! Get ready to die!
Richard: Oh, please. Don’t tell me this was all an attempt to open the Plug.

Kelly pauses and turns to Richard.

Richard: How many times do I have to say it? Ark and Ivy did not find the Singularity or the Plug or anything. They’re just liars.
Kelly: You pathetic idiot! Why can’t you see that you’re wrong and they’re telling the truth?
Richard: Impossible!
Ark: It’s true!
Ivy: Really!
Ralph: I believe them, Richard.
Richard: You all are stupid.
Kelly: Fine, you can’t believe they’re telling the truth. Then why can’t you shut up?
Richard: Phaw. If you’re so brave, Kelly, then why don’t you fight a real Gate Guardian like me? Not some retiree or trainee.
Kelly: That is it! I am sick of these interruptions! The next human to talk dies! Okay? Now let me kill these two in peace!

Gregory steps forward.

Gregory: Bah! It seems to me that-

Kelly spins around and shoots Gregory, killing him.

Hilary: Gregory, no! You killed him!
Kelly: I warned him! Anyone else want to try me?

She looks around. No one moves, except Hilary, who is crying.

Kelly: Good. Now you two will-

There is a buzzing sound.

Kelly: What is that?
Ivy: Ark, look! The Rare Majesties!

The Rare Majesties are spinning.

Kelly: Someone’s resonating with them? How?
Ark: Hilary!

Kelly looks at Hilary. She (Hilary) is shaking.

Kelly: But Genox said that the children were the Plug. He didn’t mention this one at all...

Kelly turns towards Ark and Ivy.

Kelly: Too bad! This “Hilary” will open the Singularity for me!
Ark: No!
Kelly: Yes!
Ark: No, she’s not the Plug!
Kelly: What?

Kelly turns to look at Hilary. Hilary is glowing around the edges. Slowly, more and more of her begins to glow.

Ralph: She’s the Base!
Kelly: WHAT?
Richard: Madness!
Ralph: Hilary is the Base! I think I understand it now!
Kelly: This cannot be!

Hilary is glowing all over.

Hilary: I’m not sure what’s going on, but I do know one thing...you are going to pay for killing my husband.

Hilary jumps so she is next to Kelly.

Kelly: What? That jump was physically impossible!
Hilary: I don’t want to hear it! Take that!

Hilary smacks Kelly with her purse.

Kelly: No! It wasn’t supposed to happen this way!
Hilary: Yes it was! The good defeat the evil! That’s the way things work!

Hilary smacks Kelly with her purse again.

Kelly: No...I’ll kill you all...

Kelly dies. Hilary stops glowing and all the platforms move to connect to the one Hilary, Ark and Ivy are on.

Halley: Is it over?
Ark: Yes, I think it is.

A warp portal appears.

Ark: ...Let’s go.

Everyone enters the portal. The screen fades out to black, then fades back in on the train station. Ark, Ivy, Richard and Ralph are there.

Ark: So you have to go? So soon?
Ivy: You haven’t been here a full day yet!
Ralph: I know, but now that I think I know how to activate the Base, I need to get back and do some tests on it.
Ivy: How do you activate the Base?
Ralph: Well, here’s what I think. First off, the person has to be feeling a great amount of grief and despair, you know, like you told me had to be done to activate the Singularity.
Ark: Right.
Ralph: I also think that age has something to do with it. The kids were the Plug were just that...kids. And Doug and Hilary were both 48 when they became the Base. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so. I think it’s the key to cracking the mystery.
Ark: Interesting.
Ivy: Well, let us know how your work goes!
Ralph: I will! Maybe I’ll see you at headquarters! I’m coming out of retirement!
Ark: You can do that?
Ralph: I was only retired for a few days, so it’s no real problem. Besides, Richard’s supervising me, and he approves. Right?
Richard: Right.
Ralph: See you, Ark and Ivy!

Ralph enters the train.

Richard: Ark, Ivy...on behalf of the entire Gate Guardian organization, I apologize for not believing you. You were telling the truth all along.
Ark: It’s okay, I guess.
Richard: I’ll make sure to get you two back at your proper positions.
Ivy: Thanks.
Richard: My report is going to make you two a topic of interest for a while. I hope you’re ready for it.
Ark: We are.
Richard: Good.

Richard enters the train, then stops and comes out.

Richard: Aren’t you two coming back to town?
Ark: Nope.
Ivy: We’ve got a wedding to go to.

[TheLostGamer]

The screen fades out, and the credits roll. After the credits, the game fades in on Rick and Diana’s wedding. The church is full of people, including Ark and Ivy. Yurald is performing the ceremony. Rick and Diana are on the altar, making their final vows.

Rick: I do.
Diana: I do.
Yurald: I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.

Rick kisses Diana while everyone claps.

Ark: So they’re finally married.
Ivy: That’s great. It’s the happy ending everyone needs after that mess in the CIMA dungeon.
Ark: Yeah, a happy ending for everyone...
Ivy: ...Yeah...

Ark and Ivy get up and head for the back exit.

Rick: Ark? Ivy? Where are you going? You don’t want to miss the wedding reception!
Ark: Don’t worry, we’ll be back in time for the wedding reception.
Ivy: There’s just something we need to do first.

Ark and Ivy leave the church. They walk a little and reach the church graveyard, which has Jester and Gregory’s graves. Hilary is there, crying by Gregory’s grave. Ark and Ivy walk up to her.

Hilary: Hello, Ark. Ivy.
Ark: Hello, Hilary. Are you okay?
Hilary: No. But I’m doing better. Thanks for caring.
Ivy: We’re sorry that we couldn’t save Gregory.
Hilary: Me too.
Ark: You two made a cute couple together.
Hilary: I know. I know.

The End

[SinReVi]

I just finished reading the story. I like the whole Famstis stuff.

Philis: Oh, that guy is your husband? No offense, but he’s kind of a jerk. He didn’t let me check him in because I’m only fourteen.

? Philis is 16...