"Cool, right?!"

She nodded. "It really is!"

"Heh, question is, though.. where is 02 in this huge place.."

"Well, we can still find him! I'm sure we can!" She smiled encouragingly.

"Yeah, heh! Why am I getting all disturbed over this?!"

She grinned. "Come on, then! We should start looking!"

01 began to look around the core.

Yumi followed. She was still worried but enjoying her latest adventure.

...Yumi suddenly saw movement around the corner. A dress swished softly around it.

That must be her..!!

"Kiara?" Yumi called out as she raced around the corner.

..But nobody was there.

Was it just her imagination..?

Yumi looked around wildly. "What the..?"

Suddenly, red chains arose from the ground and clamped around Yumi.

"Ah!" she cried out, accidentally dropping the crown in her surprise.

A figure cloaked in black approached from the darkness, taking the crown into their hand.

"I'll be taking this back."

Their voice was dark and ominous, but almost velvet-like. As if used to entrance people.

"That's my friends crown!" Yumi cried out desperately. "Give it back!"

"It's not hers anymore."

They tore their hood off.

It was Kiara.. but.. her hair was a slick black, not curled, and her eyes were dark blue.

But aside from those differences...she seemed.. the same..?

"K-Kiara..?"'Yumi asked quietly, frightened. "W-What... what happened..?"

"Kiara? I am NOT that pacifistic fool. I am Lucia."

..Her tone turned darker.

"W... what..?" Yumi said softly. "I... where's Kiara?"

"She.. is right HERE."

She put the crown on..

The opal jewel's shine dimmed violently, the originally white jewel turning a dark green.

HER soul color.

Her eyes widened. "But... but how?!"

"This crown is very, very special. I must thank you for bringing it back to me.. oh, and for bringing that fool of a royal guard.."

"Ngh..." She pulled against the chains. "No! Give it back!"

She took off the crown and caressed it softly with a chuckle.

"Travis!"

She called. The same bat monster with armor flew down next to her..

Their eyes were glowing bright white.

They were under Lucia's control.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the guard. "Travis..." she whispered, looking at him, frightened. She was trying not to show it, but she was scared.

"I must thank you for your help, but sadly, I must be off."

She placed a hand on Yumi's face softly.

"Off to take what's MINE."

Her eyes suddenly went completely white.

A forcing influence began to pound into Yumi's mind.

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to fight Lucias control. :No!: she shouted in her own mind, not saying the word out loud.

:You will be  m i n e .:
: Please save me..:

Her velvety voice spoke, more speech backing it that sounded like Kiara. The REAL Kiara.

:No!: she repeated, not able to make out the words that Kiara said, but still hearing her voice and knowing it was her. :No, I won't let you!: she thought, still trying to fight against Lucia.

:You will never escape..:
:Don't look her in the eyes..:

Two piercing white eyes stared into her soul.

:Sell your spirit to the skies.. give in to the empress eyes..:

The voice spoke.

She slowly shook her head, her eyes shut tightly. :N... no...: she said in her mind once again, though she was beginning to tire.

:Leave your soul to me... know all that I will see..:
:Don't look at her... please.. help..:

:...no...: she said softly. :I... won't... let you...:

:You will lose control.. there is nothing left to make you whole.:

:...: she didn't say anything else, but still, she was fighting Lucias control, albeit weakly.

...Control was being lost, and rapidly.

:You will join Kiara in her cell.. but don't worry. Your time there will be fun.. and besides.. I t ' s  f u n  t o  w a t c h  h e r  s u f f e r .  ;

Yumi still didn't open her eyes, and she was too tired to form a response, but she gasped slightly.

Suddenly, her vision went dark.