"I'm thinking of going with Five!" Vanya spat out the apple slice out of her mouth in shock. "What?!" She shrieked and wiped her mouth quickly. "You said you wouldn't freak out!" Victoria reminded. "I had no idea you were..." But Vanya stopped herself with a sigh. "You're right, I promised I wouldn't, but still...how can you even consider such a thing?" She said. "You and Allison were volunteering earlier." Victoria stated as she leaned back into the wooden chair. "B-But...Victoria...not you...you can't..." Vanya gasped. "If I don't go...who will?" The red-head said. "Tori, do you hear yourself?!" Vanya exclaimed as her eyebrows narrowed. "We need Grace and Pogo back, safe and sound. They lead us here besides Luther and someone needs to get them back...Five won't let them go until someone takes their place. I think that someone should be me..."

"No, you shouldn't! You can't, I'd rather go instead of you!" Vanya retaliated. "But you have your violin career and your achievement to get first chair and Allison has Claire and her celebrity craze to take care of for herself...I have nobody...no purpose..." Victoria explained in response. "Don't say that! You do have a purpose! Grace and Pogo need you here to help and keep everyone safe." Vanya replied with a worried look. "Luther could do that once we get them back." Vanya put a hand through her hair as she grunted. "And don't think you don't have anybody...you've got me and the others who love you and would be heartbroken if you left." She said, trying to reassure her red-head sister. "But suppose nobody agrees to marry Five, what happens then? To us? To everyone else? To the fate of the world?" Vanya fell silent from the shouts of her sister, she wasn't wrong. If no one agreed to marry Five, then everyone and everything would be doomed. It would be the end of the world as they know it.

"Well...I..." She started. "What if my dreams are a sign? What if this is my fate?" Victoria questioned. "Victoria, your fate is not to be en-happily tied to that monster for the rest of your life..." Vanya stated. "Why not?! Can't you see that no matter what I choose I'll always been unhappy?!" The ginger yelled and let a few drops fall down her cheek. "You don't really believe that...do ya?" Victoria broke down into small sobs and clasped a hand over her mouth to muffle them. "I don't know! I just don't know!" She cried and Vanya pulled her into a tight hug. "Oh, there, there...I think we should talk to Luther." She said. "No! You bestie promised!" Victoria yelled as the red-head pulled away and wiped a few tears away. "But he'll know what to do!"

"No! He'll just retaliate and say it's a bad idea!" Victoria said. "But we need to tell someone about this, I don't like this decision you're making, if we talk to someone with good advice. Then maybe we can get a way through this." Vanya replied as she saw some reason in this problem. "That sounds fine...but who can we talk to?" Victoria said.

"Hmm...I think I know just who to ask..."

~~~~~~~

Number Seven and Eight walked down the streets before ending up at a dead end and on that dead end was a small house that looked like it was made for just one. Vanya knocked on the door and it opened to reveal a small man in a suit. "Who is it?" The little man questioned. "Hey, Herb. It's Vanya, mind if we come in?" Vanya said and the little man smiled at her. "Of course, come in and I'll get some tea." Herb said, letting the woman and ginger in his home. "Who's he?" Victoria whispered to her sister. "He's called Herb, a friend of Diego's. He used to be in kahoots with Five but not anymore." Vanya explained. Victoria winced at the name of the one man she feared but remembered of the decision that she told Vanya. The two sat at a small wooden table and Herb came back in with three mugs and a teapot.

Herb started to pour tea into a cup as Vanya spoke "Thank you kindly, Herb...so, you've probably heard that Five is back..." He stopped pouring and gave the cup to Vanya. "I noticed when I came home to some of my weapons for self-defence gone and they were weapons that he had used in the past when working with us." He said with gritted teeth. "Oh my!" Victoria gasped, taking the other mug from Herb. "That explains the mess...I'm sure you've heard of his demands." Vanya said after taking a sip. "Word travels fast and it just so happens that Five wants a girl to wed?" Herb responded with an eyebrow raise. "That is correct." Vanya agreed. "And if he doesn't get a bride by tomorrow, he'll hurt Grace and Pogo and I...well, I think..."

"Victoria is thinking of being that bride!" Vanya blurted out as she couldn't hide it any longer. "Is that so? You wish to go with him?" Herb said, facing the ginger. "Yes...no...maybe! Oh, I don't know!" Victoria blabbered and couldn't make up her mind. "That's why I brought her here Herb so maybe you could talk some sense into her! " Vanya said as she rubbed her sister's shoulder. Herb looked from Vanya to Victoria again and smiled. "Perhaps I can lift your spirits up but first, hand me your mug." Victoria pushed the mug towards Herb and he took it, looking into the mixture. He examined it with a deep in thought face. "Hmm...for a long time I can see that you've mostly unhappy. You are haunted by your fear, the man who brings the two of you here." He stated. "You can tell all that from her mug...?" Vanya mumbled. "But look!" Herb exclaimed as an excited smile appears on his face.

"Victoria, in your future, I see great happiness and this is if you go with the time traveller!" He explained but Vanya only said "What?!" It was shocking how Herb was smiling at this problem that they were having. "Give me that! You're not reading this right, how could she possibly be happy with Five?" Vanya said, furrowing her eyebrows. "He may not be some what of a good soul but maybe all Five needs is some love..." Herb stated. "Love? Five? Now I know that you're making this up." Vanya concluded with a scoff. "You mean...he just wants somebody to love him?" Victoria questioned as she was a little questionable about the prediction. Herb only shrugged in response. "I may be mistaken but I assure you that if you take that path, no harm will come to you. Yet, it could be that Five may be unhappy too..." Vanya and Victoria looked at each other with concern. "I hadn't thought about that..."

"Because it's not true! There's no way in the wide world of Earth that a vermin like him could ever-" Vanya tried to retaliate. "Doesn't Luther say not to judge a book by it's cover?" Herb reminded. "He says that all the time! But Five...he's...he's terrible! Do you know what he did to us? What he did to Victoria? What he's gonna do to our mother and Pogo?" Vanya yelled at the near top of her lungs. "Vanya, the key to happiness is to show kindness." Herb smiled. "Not to Five. Come on, Victoria, I knew coming here was a waste of time!" Vanya finished and grabbed her sister by the arm and the two were gone.

~~~~~~~

"That was rude..." Victoria informed to Vanya as they walked back home besides a large forest. "I know, I know but I didn't think he was going to support your decision." Vanya replied with a eyeroll. Victoria sighed and then looked to the forest and gasped. Vanya heard and looked to where her sister was looking. "Is that...?" Victoria mumbled. There was a castle with thunder banging around it standing in the forest, must have been Five's home that Luther had given him. "Sure looks like it, Five must've really fixed the place up...wonder how he even did it..." Vanya added. "It's so dark...and big...and floating?" Victoria clarified. A thunder boomed near them and it made Vanya shudder. "Come on, Tori. Five didn't want anyone bothering him." She said, taking her sister's hand in hers and they walked away as the thunder faded away.

"You see, Victoria, you accept his deal and that'll be your home for the rest of your life! If you can even call that a home..." Victoria looked to her shoes and held herself close. "Um...you don't suppose Herb was lying, do you?" She asked Number Seven in concern as they continued to walk to the academy. "I'm not calling Herb a liar, Tori. It's Five I don't trust." Vanya responded. "But what if Herb is right, what if Five just wants someone to love? Just like my song! Why else would he ask for a bride? All those years by himself...I'll bet he's never even had a friend." Victoria stated in worry. "Well, he should have thought about that before he tried to take over the land and mess up everyone's lives." Vanya remarked. The ginger sighed and tightened her sweaty palms. "Vanya, that may be but someone has to go. What choice do I have?"

"There are plenty of girls in the world, Victoria, doesn't have to be you!" Vanya exclaimed. All Vanya wanted was for her sister to be safe and sound, not in danger with some mad man. "But how many do you think will be willing to go?" Victoria pointed out. Vanya thought about it for a moment and knew that no one would. "This is my choice, Vanya. I can take care of myself." Victoria said. "I know you can, reddie, I've seen you on missions and in training. I just don't want to lose you or want you to get hurt...and I know the others would be heartbroken if you went with him." Number Seven sighed. "Vanya, it's either me...or the fate of the world..." Vanya looked down and she shut her eyes tight for a few moments before opening them again. "If this is your decision, sis...then I won't stop you..." She finally gave in with an upset look. "Just promise me this...don't do anything just yet, we still have tomorrow...if no one comes forth by then, you...you may do what you wish..." She admitted.

Victoria smiled and pulled her sister in for a tight hug. "Thanks Vanya, I knew you'd understand." She smiled. "You're my best friend and my sister...I'll respect you for anything." Vanya replied. "But aren't you gonna tell the others?" She then pointed out. "I don't want to, they'll freak out." Victoria clarified. "And what will they say if the next day, they find you missing?" Vanya stated. "You're right, alright...once I'm gone, you can tell the others." Victoria said. "If you go that is...but Victoria...if you do, I just want you to know that you are the bravest person I've ever met." Victoria smiled at that and wiped a happy tear. "Thanks, Vanya, that means a lot to me."

~~~~~~~

"But if you don't do it, who will?"

"You fate is not to en-happily tied to that monster for the rest of your life..."

"In your future, I also see great happiness and this is if you go with the time traveller."

"There's no way in the wide world of Earth that a vermin like him could ever-"

"Yet, it could be that Five is unhappy too..."

"No wonder he doesn't have any friends..."

"He really is a meanie pants, isn't he?"

"You will give into me."

"He may not be a good soul, but perhaps all Five needs is some love."

Victoria awoke with a gasp and she put a hand through her hair. She then was determined.

"I know what I need to do."