Scenario:Evangeline A.K. McDowell - A Dark Evangel in Heavens Blue

A Dark Evangel in Heavens Blue

Evangeline spends her days traveling on the Grandcypher caught between Drusilla and her friends' constant requests to play, and Fiorito and Ragazzo's incessant demands to spar. Despite her displays of irritation, she starts to give in to spending time with them. When Drusilla, Andira, Lily, and Sylph learn of Evangeline's partner back in her world, Drusilla asks Chachazero about something on her mind.

---

Having been roped into joining Negi and her classmates in a jaunt through the Sky Realm, Evangeline stands upon the deck of the Grandcypher one early morning.

Evangeline: ...

All alone beneath the vast azure sky, the vampiress gazes upwards at the clouds drifting past, lost in thought.

Evangeline: (Finally some peace and quiet. Nothing but the sound of the propellers and the wind. Feels nice.)

Evangeline: (I haven't had a single moment's rest ever since Negi-boya started teaching at Mahora.)

Evangeline: (Finding small moments of calm like this is nice. Almost makes me forget all of the other crazy things going on...)

Lily: Evie! Be our friend! Be our frieeend!

Evangeline: ...

Sylph: Why don't you come and take a look around the Grandcypher with us? It has all kinds of hidden nooks and crannies to explore.

Evangeline: Hmm... Sounds like the ship's out of sorts; that grating noise is terribly irritating.

Andira: Come join us! There are tons of cool places on board. I can even show you where the cotton candy maker is.

Evangeline: Wow, the wind sure is fierce up on the deck. Feels almost as if it's tugging on my clothes.

Drusilla: Skies to Evangeline! You know, it's rude to ignore people who are talking to you! Or at least, it is here in the Sky Realm.

Evangeline: Do any of you ever shut up?

At her wit's end and hemmed in by the chattering youngsters, Evangeline finally snaps, ruffling her hair and crying out to the heavens above.

Evangeline: Don't you get tired of pestering me day in and day out? Girls your age should be busy studying, not being annoying brats!

Drusilla: "Girls our age"? Unless I'm mistaken, you're the same age as us!

Evangeline: How many times do I have to repeat myself to you people!

Evangeline: I am Evangeline, feared far and wide as the Dark Evangel—a vampire who's dined on the blood of the innocent for hundreds of years!

Andira: Are you sure? Your story's hard to believe when you look like... that.

Drusilla: It's okay! I understand. We all like to make ourselves seem much grander in front of others.

Evangeline: The nerve of these...
What if I show you some magic, huh? Then will you believe me?

Sylph: You can show us your magic after we've shown you around the Grandcypher.

Evangeline: Hey, hands off! Don't you push me! Chachamaru, do somethi—

Lily: "Chachamaru"?

Andira: Do you mean Chachazero? I saw her dozing down in your room earlier.

Evangeline: Of all the... Never mind. Of course she was.

Fiorito: There you are, teach!

Ragazzo: Hope you're ready, 'cause today's the day we beat ya!

Evangeline: I just can't get a break, can I? And I don't remember ever agreeing to be your teacher!

Evangeline: Hmm... Actually, this might work out.

Fiorito: We'll be arriving in port soon! See that big field over there? That's where we'll duke it out!

Evangeline: You hear that, girls? When we land, I'll be going off with these two to spar.

Andira: That's not fair! We asked you first!

Ragazzo: Our bad, Andira. It's okay, you can have her back once we've finished mopping the floor with her!

Evangeline: Hah... I'd like to see you try!

Evangeline: I hope you enjoy the taste of dirt—you're going to be lying face-down in it pretty soon.

Ragazzo: Heh, you're gonna eat those words!

Lily: Aw, there she goes...

Chachazero: Hehe, sounds like master's havin' fun! Feels like we're back at Mahora.

Drusilla: Oh, good morning Chachazero!

Andira: Are you sure? She seems pretty mad most of the time.

Chachazero: If you knew how she looks when she's just around me and Chachamaru, then you'd know how different she's actin'!

Lily: There's that name again... Evie mentioned a Chachamaru before, but didn't say who they were.

Chachazero: Chachamaru is my master's partner.

Sylph: Her partner? Someone close to her, I take.

Drusilla: She probably misses them a whole lot... It's hard being away from people you care about.

Drusilla: Actually, I want to ask you about something, Chachazero...

Not long after the Grandcypher lands at the port, Ragazzo and Fiorito are thoroughly trounced by Evangeline, and now lie exhausted in the nearby field.

Fiorito: H-how are you so strong? We couldn't land a single hit, and we were double-teaming you!

Ragazzo: Damn! Thought I had you when I slipped past those barriers of yours, but you're no slouch at throwin' down, either!

Evangeline: You two weren't too shabby either! But remember, I have hundreds of years of extra experience on my side.

Evangeline: If you also remember, I said I'd take you on as my disciples if—and only if—you could land a single hit on me.

Evangeline: Do you realize how futile that is now? It'll never happen! Not a chance!

Ragazzo: I ain't throwin' in the towel. We gotta be stronger.

Fiorito: Yeah... We'll take out that vile evil if it's the last thing we do, and for that, we need power.

Evangeline: An evil, huh?

Evangeline: Well, until you manage to make me your teacher, none of that matters to me.

Fiorito: Hm? "Until"? So you're saying we have a chance? You'll actually help us?

Ragazzo: Hey, you're actually a pretty legit gal! You're gonna spar with us till we get good, yeah?

Evangeline: Stop putting words in my mouth! Do you want me to finish this fight for good?

Evangeline: ...
Before you even think about our next fight, you should at least discuss what strategies you want to try.

Fiorito & Ragazzo: Thanks, teach!

Thanks for the solid.

Evangeline briskly whips around and strides back to the Grandcypher, completely indifferent to the pair's deep bow.

Evangeline: And that's what's happened so far.

She looks up from her lunch at (Captain) and the crew, pouting as she recounts the day's adventures.

Lyria: Ahaha... Sounds like you've had lots of excitement all morning.

Evangeline: I'll say—I get tired during the day as is but not from exhaustion!

Evangeline: Your friends need to learn how to take things slow, (Captain). They're somehow even more of a handful than the brats at Mahora!

Vyrn: But it's better when things are lively around here! Too little stuff to do and it gets real boring.

Evangeline: Hmph. At least it does kill the time...

Lyria: Well... if you really want be somewhere quieter, I'm sure you could rest in your room!

Vyrn: Yeah! No one's gonna bust your door down and start yelling at ya!

Evangeline: Gotta say, despite being on the small side, this room's pretty comfy.

Evangeline: Yawn... Maybe I should try and have a nap.

Drusilla: Evangeline! Now that you've returned, how about spending some time with us?

Evangeline: ...

Lily: We know you're in there! You can't hide forever!

Andira: Haha! Lily, that makes it sound like she's some sort of criminal.

Sylph: We could always play pretend with her. What about playing detective?

Drusilla: What a good idea! Did you hear that, Evangeline? You can play the part of a rookie detective in the Skydom Bureau of Investigation!

Evangeline: Enough! Please!

Lily: Wow, Evie! I didn't know you liked playing pretend that much!

Evangeline: Sigh...

Evangeline: (Well, there goes my foolproof plan to scare them away... Now I'm stuck here.)

The Dark Evangel sighs heavily, only looking back to the irksome foursome once she has composed herself again.

Evangeline: Oh, very well. I suppose I can spare some time for you lot.

Triumphant Four: Hooray!

Evangeline: But make no mistake, I'm not doing this for fun! You four clearly need someone to stop you getting into trouble.

Lily: Let's go, Evie!

Evangeline: Hey! Are you even listening to m—

Evangeline A.K. McDowell—a vampire who has lived for hundreds of years, including fifteen trapped at Mahora Academy.

Yet, to any onlooker seeing her being dragged along by Drusilla and her friends, she looks no different from any other young girl with her playmates.

A Dark Evangel in Heavens Blue: Scene 2

Finally acquiescing to the four's ceaseless demands to play, Evangeline accompanies them on a trip to buy ingredients to make curry together. As they prepare the dish, she discovers that they learned all about her and her culinary weaknesses through their chat with Chachazero. Eventually she slowly starts to open up to them, bringing back memories of her time at Mahora Academy.

---

At the mercy of Drusilla and her playgroup, Evangeline finds herself frog-marched all the way off of the Grandcypher and into a little grocery store out in town.

Drusilla: We're going to make curry together!

Evangeline: Curry? I thought you wanted me to play pretend with you.

Andira: We can do that next time! Right before we came to get you we all decided we wanna make curry instead!

Lily: Food brings people together! We can all make it and become the super-duperest of friends!

Sylph: I read that curries are really simple to create, but have a deep and complex flavor profile. Maybe we can make our own special one!

Evangeline: So this is how it ends: the great Apostle of Calamity, once feared across the world, reduced to eating curry with a bunch of brats on some floating island.

Drusilla: We'll leave the garlic out of this one though.

Andira: No leeks, either! We heard about what it does to you.

Evangeline: You did? How... Why would you...

Sylph: Chachazero told us everything about you being a real vampire!

Evangeline: Huh... Well then. At least you all finally believe me.

Evangeline: But wait, why would you still decide to bring me along for food? I could've decided to make you my meal instead!

Andira: But would you really?

Evangeline: Well... No, I wouldn't...

Lily: Then we're all okey-dokey!

Drusilla: We'd better hurry up and get some ingredients! And I don't want to hear any more grumbling!

Evangeline: W-wait a sec...

With her companions both pulling her from the front and pushing her at the back, Evangeline knows she can do little but accept her fate.

After the few hours of frenzied shopping are over, the girls now find themselves in the ship's kitchen.

Evangeline: Wait, when did we have three Andiras?

Andira: Oh, me? I'm the one that peels the onions!

Andira: And I'm the one that washes them!

Andira: And I'm the one that cuts them up!

Evangeline: You don't need to split yourself to do all of that!

Evangeline: And what even is this power? I've never seen cloning magic this advanced before...

Evangeline: Eek! Now what is it? It's freezing in here!

Lily: Sorry, Evie! I wanted to freeze these carrots to make sorbet...

Drusilla: What kind of curry are you planning on making with that?

Lily: You'll see, hehe!

Evangeline: ...

Evangeline's head sinks into her hands, completely shocked by the irreverent usage of such powerful magic.

Evangeline: I really need to stop underselling the Sky Realm—you guys really are something else.

Sylph: Yet, I am merely a primal beast. The only power I have is immortality, nothing more.

Evangeline: Oh? Immortality too? You guys just keep getting wilder.

Drusilla: Talking is fine and all, Evangeline, but have you finished making the spice mix yet?

Andira: That's what makes or breaks a curry, you know! Without the spice, we can't flavor the rest of the food!

Evangeline: Wait, why am I getting treated like some kind of slacker!

Evangeline scrutinizes each and every vial of spice very carefully, combining and mixing with utmost precision.

Evangeline: Leading this wayward band must be pretty tough on you, Drusilla.

Drusilla: On me?

Evangeline: You're their leader, right? You're always guiding whatever hijinks they want to get themselves into, and you were the one who handed out their tasks this time.

Evangeline: Who the heck even are you? A time traveler? An alien?

Drusilla: I'm neither—just a regular, ordinary person. Nothing special about li'l ol' me!

Evangeline: But... how could someone so normal lead a group as insanely powerful as this!

Lily: You're not ordinary, Drusilla! You're so very, super duper—

Andira: Watch out, the water's boiling! It's all bubbling and frothing up!

Sylph: Have you finished mixing the spices, Evangeline?

Evangeline: It's only been about a minute! My hands are full enough trying to keep you four in check.

Lily: Wah, it's going to bubble over the edge of the pot! Let me cool it down!

Evangeline: It's all right! We should put the vegetables in while the water's boiling! At least, I think that's how it goes.

Drusilla: You think?

As the afternoon pushes onwards, the group manages to overcome several more similar scares, their concoction slowly taking shape.

That evening, a mouthwatering scent wafts through the Grandcypher's galley.

The Five: Let's dig in!

Lily: Mm-mmm-mmm! This is the bestest ever.

Andira: I can't stop eating it—that touch of heat really adds a nice kick.

Sylph: You made a fantastic spice mix, Evangeline.

Evangeline: Of course I did! A little pinch of spice could never get the best of me!

Drusilla: I knew we could count on the flawless potion-mixing skills of the Maga Nosferatu!

Evangeline: Hmm... Did Chachazero tell you that name?

The five of them happily munch away on the fruits of their labor.

Evangeline: So, what about me keeps making you chase me around?

Lily: What do you mean?

Evangeline: Ever since the day I joined this crew, none of you have given me any peace.

Evangeline: Do you think we have some sort of camaraderie just because I'm a vampire and you're all magical in some way?

Evangeline: Or did someone ask you to? Like (Captain), or Negi-boya...

Drusilla: We saw you on the deck looking up at the sky all wistful before.

Evangeline: The sky?

Andira: Don't you remember? You looked so lonely and sad up there all by yourself!

Evangeline: You thought I was... lonely?

Drusilla: Oh, but don't think we're pitying or looking down on you or anything!

Drusilla: For us, it was more... curiosity. We wanted to know what kind of person you were, and how nice it would be to see you smile.

Sylph: And it turns out that it's even more wonderful than we thought it would be.

Lily: You don't need a super special connection or anything! We just wanted to be your friends!

Evangeline: ...!

Evangeline: (I can see in her eyes that she's telling the truth. How do I always manage to attract such sincere people?)

Evangeline sighs resignedly, making up her mind.

Evangeline: My time in the Sky Realm might as well be a few seconds, given how long my life has and will be.

Evangeline: So... sparing a little time to have some R & R wouldn't hurt, I guess.

Andira: Oh? Could it be? Are you saying you want to be our friend?

Evangeline: How should I know?

Drusilla: Hehe! Well, sounds like it's time for another heaping of our friendship curry!

Lily: I want more too! More, more!

Evangeline: (What a weird bunch.)

At that moment, a memory of Evangeline's homeroom back in Mahora flashes across her mind.

Evangeline: (I should be happy to be freed of the cloying influence of the Infernus Scholasticus curse, but... with them...)

In that moment, as if seasoned by some unseen spice, the curry tastes better than anything else Evangeline has eaten in the Sky Realm thus far.

A Dark Evangel in Heavens Blue: Scene 3

That night, Evangeline gives Ragazzo and Fiorito stern advice about their battle tactics. The following morning they put it to good use, finally managing to get a strike on her with a helping hand from Drusilla's group, thus becoming her apprentices. Drusilla then gets all three to join in a game of pretend, and Evangeline plays on the deck with her friends, happy at last.

---

That night, Evangeline is again on the deck of the Grandcypher, looking up from the moored airship at the stars above.

Evangeline: ...

Fiorito & Ragazzo: Please spar with us, teach!

Evangeline: Are you two freaking stupid?

Fiorito & Ragazzo: Guh!

Ngah!

Fiorito: You can't call us stupid! Have you seen us tear through books? We're as smart as they come!

Evangeline: All I see are a musclebrain and a pinhead.

Evangeline: I'm here at night, completely alone, literally staring off into space. Why didn't you take the chance for a surprise attack?

Evangeline: Didn't I make it clear last time? I don't care how you do it, just land a hit on me.

Ragazzo: Why are you out here, anyway?

Evangeline: None of your business.

Evangeline: I also told you both to discuss your strategy with each other before trying again. You can't beat bad guys by giving them a heads-up!

Fiorito & Ragazzo: ...

The two fighters exchange hesitant glances before Fiorito begins to stammer a reply.

Fiorito: S-sorry, teach. We know that we have to get stronger, but we also want to do things fair and square.

Evangeline: Do you now?

Ragazzo: We used to be part of a downright nasty group called Navis, and we were with 'em for a good while.

Ragazzo: We did a lotta awful things. Even had pretty serious run-ins with (Captain) and the others a few times.

Fiorito: Now we're just members of the crew. Speaking of, what do you think about us here on the Grandcypher?

Evangeline: Well... seems to me like you're a good-natured, friendly bunch, all living out here on your big ship, always setting sail to your next big adventure.

Fiorito: I feel that way too! And that's exactly why we—

Evangeline: Run away from using any underhanded strategies you feel are beneath you? You just want to run into a wall over and over again, and hope that makes you stronger?

Evangeline: How can you get more naive!

Fiorito & Ragazzo: ...!

Evangeline: Doing bad things is part and parcel of being alive! You can't expect to live your whole lives absolutely squeaky-clean!

Evangeline: But I know you know that. That's why you're so desperate to keep your conscience clear going forward, isn't it?

Ragazzo: Is that so bad?

Evangeline: Yes. In fact, it's worse than those who just accept the evil inside themselves!

Evangeline: Listen. If you really, really want to root out evil, you have to stop being afraid of getting your hands dirty.

Evangeline: Even when you've reached your lowest, most wretched point, you have to keep moving.

Fiorito: The lowest point...

Evangeline: Now, I'm not saying everything has to be solved by being tricky. Not at all.

Evangeline: But remember, there is no good or bad in any strength itself. One day, when you have to face your demons, what is right and wrong will come down to you alone.

Evangeline: When all is said and done, it won't matter if you broke through the enemy lines by being saints or sinners, just that you did it at all.

Fiorito: Can we... really move on, and do what we gotta without regret?

Evangeline: I dunno either.

Ragazzo: Hey, now... I think you were supposed to give us some special pearl of wisdom to encourage us there.

Evangeline: No one can know what the future holds. You might be unable to do anything when the time comes. Heck, you might even lose everything in the process.

Evangeline: But if you set out already believing you can win, then even a single step towards that has merit.

Evangeline: You might even grow a backbone. Maybe.

Fiorito & Ragazzo: ...

Evangeline: That's all I'll say on that for now. Don't let me down, okay?

Evangeline: Phew...

Chachazero: Welcome back, master! You look kinda bushed.

Evangeline: Me and my big mouth...

Chachazero: Did you talk with the muscle girl and the pinhead? You were dead set on doing that.

Evangeline: I just felt something was off with them. Their hearts are twisted out of shape—from the sounds of it, they've had a pretty rough time.

Chachazero: Just like you did, right?

Evangeline: Hmm...

Evangeline: I didn't mean to be so blunt with them, but I must've been influenced by those girls. They don't really have filters.

Chachazero: Heh, so you've become friends with Drusilla's gang?

Evangeline: Well, I think you've been a bit too friendly with them. You didn't need to tell them I'm called Maga Nosferatu, did you?

Chachazero: I just answered their questions, that's all. They were super curious about you, so how could I say no?

Chachazero: By the way... do you smell curry?

Evangeline: What do you...

Evangeline: Argh! The smell must've worked its way into my clothes!

The following morning...

Evangeline: Yaaawn...

Evangeline: Even out here, I always wake up in time for school...

Evangeline: Huh?

Fiorito: Gah! She dodged!

Evangeline: Hah, not a bad try! It's true; I really am not a morning person!

Ragazzo: There's my chance!

Evangeline: A chance in hell, maybe.

Evangeline: Hahaha! Distracting your opponent and going for a back attack is battle tactics 101! D'you think I stumbled out of my cot yesterday or something?

Evangeline: Eurgh! What's that awful smell?

Ragazzo: Heh, that would be the garlic! We heard it's your weakness, so I've got some crushed up in my fists!

Fiorito: And that's not all!

Fiorito brandishes her weapon at Evangeline—a long, green, and conspicuously pungent weapon.

Evangeline: L-leek!

Taking the vampiress completely by surprise, the blossoming fighter arcs her allium blade through the air, deftly bringing it to a stop against Evangeline's head.

Evangeline: Hmph. I never thought you'd have it in you to use my weaknesses against me.

Fiorito: Did you see the speed I whipped that leek around? Bicep Minister Viola was whistling under the strain!

Ragazzo: That noise was the leek, not your muscles!

Evangeline: But how did you know? Chachazero's been with me the whole time since we fought...

Drusilla: Friends help out friends, that why!

Sylph: We told them all about you, Evangeline.

Evangeline: You sold me out? What happened to our "friendship" curry, huh?

Ragazzo: Hey, they only told us 'cause they wanted us to help you have some fun out here too!

Fiorito: Yeah, that was the terms of our agreement!

Evangeline: Agreement?

Lily: Fiorito and Ragazzo are gonna join our game of pretend as a pair of bad guys!

Andira: Remember, Evangeline? You're going to be the rookie detective!

Evangeline gives a wicked grin, and eyes her sparring partners with a piercing gaze.

Evangeline: Doesn't it hurt deep inside, knowing you just used a group of innocent girls simply to further your own ends?

Fiorito: I only did what was necessary for success—this is just one more step on the path to make my muscle garden bloom.

Ragazzo: Sounds like a win-win to me. It's not like we did anything outright wrong, anyway.

Evangeline: Hehe! Now that's exactly what a villain would say.

Evangeline: Fiorito, Ragazzo! I accept you both henceforth as my students.

Fiorito: Teach...

Fiorito: Thank you so much!

Drusilla: Looks like everything's worked out! Well, without further ado, let's start the game!

Evangeline: Right now?

Evangeline: What are you, a bunch of spoiled little kids? At least let me catch my breath for five seconds!

Lily: We are kids, Evie!

Ragazzo: Gahaha! We're a pair of big bad burglars! We've robbed countless others, and we'll rob you too!

Fiorito: Get ready to get crushed—we're going to steal all your muscles!

Andira: One of my clones found these crooks hiding out on the deck!

Sylph: Detective Evangeline, I request your immediate assistance with the case.

Evangeline: This... sucks. I'm going back to my room.

Ragazzo: You can't do that, teach! That's the sorta move that gets you bumped off in detective stories!

Fiorito: I never expected that you'd wanna be a side character! Wouldn't that make us students more important than you?

Evangeline: You... Who're you calling a side character! I'll show you!

Drusilla: Are you really going to let these ne'er-do-wells talk down to you like that, detective?

Evangeline: Grrrrr!

Evangeline: Fine, let's get this over with! I'll sort this case out in a snap! Cuff them, officer!

Lily: Roger that!

Lyria: Am I seeing things? Isn't that Evangeline over there playing tag with the others?

Vyrn: Bet she'd never admit it, but looks like she's havin' fun! How about it, guys? Let's go join 'em!

As the detective game progresses, the players soon forget their roles, and the deck is transformed into a giant playground.

Someday in her long life, Evangeline's memory of her time in the Sky Realm will fade, the faces and names blending into the sea of history.

But right here, right now, she runs around the Grandcypher, smile beaming bright—looking every bit the child she once was so many years ago.