A/N: Hello there!

Welcome to the first entry of something I like to call Tales of Randomness!

Wait. Does that mean this is just another lame joke chapter?

NOT AT ALL!

These are supplementary chapters taking place around the same time as the chapter before them, and they focus on some of the characters that might be missing before. As such, everything that happens in here is perfectly canon to the rest of the story and will have repercussions in future events.

So let's keep the show rolling!

Tales of Randomness I.

Of Meetings & Expectations.

"...You know... I had forgotten just how much I hate the fog..."

"You don't say"

"Yup... I mean, things are already quite dull and boring as they are, but with this annoying thing covering everything... just makes it almost unbearable... Yaaaaaaaawwwnnnn... It just makes me wanna sleep..."

While Alastor had been able to just ignore the comments his companion would voice every now and then without a problem so far, it was as he heard that last sentence when the need to take a deep breath in order to try and keep his act together finally came. It had been roughly an hour and a half since they arrived at the entrance of the great forest they were traversing, two figures moving between the large, looming shadows that were cast by the imposing trees and the fog littering the scene, and yet, not a single moment came within that time in which the man walking a few steps behind him wouldn't prove just why was Alastor so reluctant to have him tagging along in the first place.

After all, not only did he first found Ifrit soundly asleep right in the middle of the great bridge at the top of the tower's arena when he went to pick him up earlier, but Alastor was almost certain that for the first 20 or so minutes after they entered the forest, his old acquittance had actually been sleep walking. Sure he wasn't entirely sure of that since he really didn't bother to look back at him to confirm it, but the nonsensical mumbling and loud snores that would occasionally reach his ears were all the evidence he needed or wanted. The fact that the unhelpful fool was perfectly capable to keep up with him the whole time wasn't all that relevant. After all, he could still recall one occasion, back during the Unification wars, when the fire devil just kept sleeping even after the battleship he was on board of was shut down and ended up crashing into an enemy bunker.

And he didn't woke up until a few minutes after that...

"...You don't say..." Understandably, Alastor's comment came with a rather exasperated air in it.

Unfortunately, it was met with nothing more than a shrug, "Hey, it's not like I can help it"

"How convenient for you"

"Heh... Get off my back, Al"

"Don't call me that"

But of course things wouldn't just settle down after that lazy bones of a partner finally returned to a more conscious state, for as soon as Ifrit pulled himself together, he began to try to find ways to keep himself entertained, such as hitting rocks with the fiery spear he carried with him as if playing golf or polo.

"Sure, sure... Oh! 21..."

With the latest target having just been found. And it was as the rock flew mere inches away from his head when Al finally turned to look sternly at the other devil.

"..."

"Right, my bad" But that carefree expression on Ifrit's face clearly showed that he really didn't care for what just happened. Or rather, he just wasn't interested in it.

"Just why do you insist on messing around with those?" Alastor asked, pointing at the ethereal weapon in Ifrit's hand just as he began to spin it in between his fingers for no real reason.

"...Dunno... I just get bore sometimes and try to change the pace..."

"... ...Whatever. But just let me remind you that we're not really in a position where we can afford to screw this up"

"Heh... Well I think it's a little too late for that, don't you think. Hell, that's the only reason why we decided to come all the way here and try to ask that cheeky brat for help"

"You see. That right there is why I told you not to mess around. I wouldn't say it's a wise move to call the one we are trying to get support from a cheeky brat"

"Oh please... She is a cheeky brat and we all know it. And she is also an old hag, which is kind of weird, but then again we all are a bunch of weirdos, especially our dear brother Vergie. But above all else, she freaking hates us... Especially Vergil"

"...Well... You do have a point there"

That was as much as Alastor was willing to concede at the moment and, without so much as a warning, the devil formerly known as the Azure Dragon just began to walk once again, even while his companion just kept looking around with a bored expression on his face rather than follow after him.

"That aside, Al. You say ask for her help as if we are just going to have a nice little chat, but if that was really the case then there would be no reason for both of us to come here. I know I rather stay as far away from her as posible"

It had already been over a week now since Vergil left to keep track of the events unfolding around Precia and her family, and while there had been no contact between any of them after that, all the devils in their little cabal had previously agreed in trying to seek the assistance of the ruler of that abandoned land. Giving that the sudden crisis unleashed by the released hearts (or seeds as they were referred to by the people of the TSAB) gave a relatively perfect smoke screen for they to move, not to mention that the absence of Vergil, the one who was resented the most by the mistress of that desolated kingdom, was such a good chance for them that it would be foolish not to take it. And that was why both devils ended up leaving the ancient Tower of Terror on their own in order to search for the prospect of a new ally.

They also took the opportunity to get rid of their casual attires in favor of ones they found, even if somehow odd, much more fitting for them.

Black business suits.

Sure, the first time they ever wore something like that was pretty much against their will, but then again...

Considering that back then, their sense of fashion was either pretty limited or downright ridiculous (or in Vergil's case, nonexistent), it was understandable why their boss at the time would forced them into such a thing.

And after giving it a shot, almost all of them ended up liking the outfit anyway and began to adopt it as common ground.

Even if some of them also added their own personal touch, which sometimes turned out to be quite bizarre.

But despite how weird the looks some of their co-workers displayed, Al was actually quite lenient about it, and even considered doing something along those lines too. After all, he was more than willing to welcome anything that could set him apart from the annoying moron he had to work with, as apparently it was easy for people to just assume that the two of them were somehow related, a notion that he found disturbingly twisted in way too many ways for his liking. It really didn't help that, besides their clothes, they both had a similar light physical built and tall height.

Ever since the day the two of them became boundd by the contract they formed with a certain reckless yet brave emperor during Shutra's fall from grace, both devils seemed to have become bound to each other as well. Sometimes the thunder devil just couldn't help but to feel that was his punishment for failing to fulfill the oath he took back then, for as soon as they were brought back to the world of the living they found themselves working once again alongside each other, and several others, serving a new master...

Only for completely opposite reasons, with Alastor himself trying to find a way to redeem himself before the fallen heghemon of Shutra for his own failures...

While Ifrit simply agreed on the basis that it seemed interesting enough to give it a shot, "Listen, all I'm saying is that, before we know it, things are more than likely to go to hell here. Because that cheeky loli-grandma hates us to guts"

"And that's exactly why I told you to stop messing around"

"...Yawn... And I told you to get off my back"

"Whatever"

"..."

"..."

"...Snore..."

"Really?"

And indeed, as soon as Alastor turned around after having heard the snoring, he found absolutely nothing other than trees and fog.

"Okay then..."

He just released a short sigh and rubbed the side of his head, causing a few sparks of lightning to trace around his fingers and the bangs of his hair. He then began to backtrack the forest until he arrived at the point where he last saw the missing devil, although the only thing he found there was a bunch of charred rocks. It wasn't long before he found him though, apparently sleeping on top of a tree's branch without a care in the world.

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

"I told ya, right? I rather stay as far away from her as possible..."

"Would you stop fooling around already? Whether you like it or not, you're coming as well, even if I have to drag you there myself"

"...Tch..."

That annoying gesture was the only reply the fire devil gave before turning over his side so as to lay on top of his left side, while also totally ignoring the figure beneath him.

"Did you just click your tongue?"

Hell, Alastor could practically see a wagging tail on Ifrit, like a freaking cat after it became irritated with something.

"Really... Would it kill you to do your job seriously for once?"

"You know what happens when I'm serious Al"

"Well maybe if you weren't such an adrenaline junkie and restrained yourself a little you wouldn't have to worry about that. And I already told you to stop calling me that."

"Hey... Don't try to change me, dude"

"Are you seriously saying you're fine the way you are now?"

"And are you trying to say I should act more like you? Stubbornly following a contract from ages ago?"

"You took the same oath I did, don't forget that"

"Hey, don't get me wrong. If we ever come across someone that can actually become an heir, like... I don't know... some random child with the blood of the Ingvalt brat in her, then I'll be more than willing to concede to the contract... But until then, I rather deal with stuff at my own pace..."

"Well, isn't that convenient... And why are you assuming it will be a girl anyway?"

"No real reason... Yawn... Just a wild guess, Alastor..."

"..."

"...Snore..."

Well, even if Al was already used to dealing with the lack of interest that was characteristic of his colleague's behavior, that didn't meant he tolerated it in anyway, "That's it"

But even while an evil grin appeared on his face and lightning began to surround his arm, in the end he didn't get the chance to do anything himself, not after a cold howling wind hit them with such strength that it even blew away some of the withered trees around, covering the whole forest with frost and white snow and also breaking Ifrit's branch apart. But despite the sudden lose of his resting place and previous unaware state, the devil formerly known as the Inferno Lord had no trouble landing safely in a standing position on the ground without even making a sound, much like a cat or something like that.

Not that Alastor cared about it, as he was far more interested in surveying their now frozen surroundings AND the sudden murderous intent that flooded the whole area, "So much for the peaceful approach"

"Told ya"

"Sigh... Just start walking"

"Sure, sure"

It wasn't a short walk, but in the end they managed to come upon a clearing located exactly at the center of the whole forest, the location they had been trying to reach for the last 2 hours, all thanks to the dark, murderous aura that just kept growing stronger as they approach it. Walking right into something that wants nothing more than reap the life out of you isn't exactly something that works well with common sense, but it sure did their job easier. And as soon as the two devils finally stepped into the heart of the forest they were met with the sight of the residence of the icy kingdom's mistress.

A huge mansion. HUGE. MANSION.

And one that could very well pass as a castle, complete with imposing towers at each of its high walls' corners, and with many others on top of the main building which, in turn, was composed by several different floors, the walls littered with dozens of glass windows with ornamental frames. And all of this surrounded by other smaller yet still quite tall buildings which acted as the mansion's external wings. But it wasn't just the architecture what was outstanding but its location as well, for the whole structure was erected at the top of a gigantic circular platform, which in turn lay suspended high above an extensive frozen lake, supported by a massive stone pillar that seemed to came all the way from the very bottom of the body of water. The only visible way to reach the imposing building was through a spiral staircase that began a few feet away from the pillar but then grew in wide as it ascended until it had surpassed the diameter of the mansion's ground. A bridge made out of ice was what connected them. And at the very top of the highest tower, an ethereal dark-blue light kept shinning, like a beacon showing the way for them to follow.

And yet the only reactions that came from both devils were...

A look of bewilderment that they aimed at the over the top residence...

A look of uncertainty that they shared with each other...

And then back to the bewildering stare towards the structure high above.

"...Well, that... looks classy... I guess..."

"...Sigh... Let's just get this over with..."

"Geez Al... Now who is being irresponsable?"

"Quiet. And don't call me that!"

But rather than follow after his companion right away, Ifrit merely kept looking at the imposing building with a sly grin on his face, even using his left hand to protect his eyes from the sunlight, despite the fact that the dark clouds that littered the sky erased all evidence of the sun even existing, "Still, you gotta admit that really fits the old hag's taste"

"SHUT UP!"

"Heh..."

Even the grass crumbled to dust with the force of their footsteps and sometimes just stepping near anything in the frozen soil was enough to caused it to fall apart without much trouble. But despite how largely consumed by that crystalline world their surroundings were, they still managed to reach the lake's shore without incident.

"Alright... So she is obviously not happy with us being here, but that doesn't mean things are over just yet. If we play our cards right, we might be able to get something out of this..."

"Yeah... You keep telling yourself that, Al..."

"Sigh... We should be fine as long as we don't mess this up even further. And I'm talking to you, Ifrit"

"...? Dude, it's just the two of us here"

"..."

"... Alright, alright. I get it. No need for that attitude, geez..."

"Whatever"

And so, the former dragons/now devils disappeared in bursts of lightning and fire, reappearing as they stood in front of the massive double-doors that led to the inside of the fortress high above. Reaching awkwardly for the one to the left, Alastor took in a deep breath before proceeding to open the heavy door, "Okay... Here goes nothing"

10 minutes later, the whole place began to fall apart. Sinking into the depths of the frozen lake.

Despite the mansion already being completely submerged, water had yet to break into the main hall, or rather, what was left of the main hall after a MASSIVE iceberg erupted from the ground and obliterated most of it moments prior to the sinking. And the place ended up falling even more into ruin after one of the few sections of the floor still intact was blown away by an explosion, with both Alastor and Ifrit crawling from the new opening until they could finally dragged themselves from the flooded room below and grabbed to the edge with at least one of their arms. Both of them were short n breath, but the Inferno Lord managed to recover fast enough, "...Cough... Cough... ...Okay... That wasn't funny... Cough... We almost died back there..."

"I can't even feel my face," Alastor commented rather begrudgingly, "Is it still there?" He then lifted his head so as to allowed the other devil to see, causing some ice shards to fall from it as well.

As for Ifrit, he turned to see at Alastor, and after looking at the state of his face he responded absentmindedly, "Half of it"

"Guess is better than having to heal the whole thing. Besides, it only takes me around 10 seconds to heal something like this. And speaking of which, your arm is over there..."

"Hmm? Oh, you're right. Good. I suck at regenerating limbs"

"...You don't say..."

"...By the way, Al"

"...What..."

"Don't you think is about time you pull her out too?"

Turning back to look at what Ifrit pointed with his remaining arm, Al was able to see the bubbles and waves coming out of the water, "Ah... Right"

Without much effort, the Azure Dragon lifted his still submerged arm out, bringing along a small figure.

After desperately gasping for air and holding for dear life unto the edge alongside Alastor, the dreaded AND child-like Dark Angel, Evangeline A.K. McDowell, glared ominously at them, "You imbeciles... Look at what you did to my home!"

Unfortunately...

"..."

Neither of the males were paying any attention to her, with Alastor simply laying with his face down on the ground and Ifrit looking at one of the large windows to the side.

"Listen to me, jerks!" She yelled just as she elbowdropped Alastor in the back.

But before the offended male could protest, he was suddenly interrupted by Ifrit, who was still looking outside the large windows, "What the hell was that?"

"... You seriously think I'm gonna fall for something like that?" Evangeline asked, apparently having calmed down somehow.

"No... I really saw something out there just now"

"Wait..." And this time, it was Alastor who had something to say, "I think that large iceberg is break-..."

"ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

"Sapientia?" And much to Evangeline's glee, Ifrit ended up getting hit right in the face by a large piece of the shattered iceberg that flew his way, right after identifying the newcomer.

"We need to get the hell out of... Wooaaah!" But after finding himself once again face down on the ground, Alastor turned to look at his legs and found Evangeline holding them on a lock, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?! THAT BASTARD IS TRYING TO KILL US!"

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THAT! I JUST WANT YOU DEAD!"

"Oh! Screw this!" But just as Alastor was about to summon his Devil Arm in order to deal with Evangeline, Sapientia picked Ifrit up, much to their surprise and confusion, and then slammed him hard against each other, effectively knocking the air out of their lungs.

And as if having the armored, porcelain-like dragon opening his jaws (which also caused his helmet to crack upon while taking a rather sinister appearance) and ready to gnaw on them wasn't enough of a problem, it was also then when the windows finally began to shatter, allowing water to breach into the place.

Of course, that wasn't as urgent as the heavenly being that was already right above them and ready to tear them apart. A sight that earned having all three of them exclaiming a collective...

"Oh Crap"

...

Ifrit: We won't bore you with the details of our miraculous escape...

Alastor: But in any case, I think it's safe to assume Evangeline won't be helping us anytime soon.

Ifrit: In fact, it might be for the best if we just avoid her from now on.

Guildenstern: …

Geryon: … You guys are morons. Have I ever told you that? B(

Alastor: Sigh... Yes Geryon, you have. And if you say it one more time, I'll tell Ifrit where you hide all of your cigarettes so he can burn them again.

Geryon: (=_=)

A/N: So...

I just found out who the Maiden of the Grove (supposedly) really is, as in I found out minutes before writing this last bit for the Author's Notes, and all I can say is...

I freaking knew it!

Sorry, I needed to get that out of my chest. But seriously, like I didn't have enough reasons to want Xrd already, gee...

Anyway, I know this wasn't exactly what you were all hoping for, but given the unexpected circumstances I found myself in, this was the best I could do.

Luckily, the holidays are closing in and you can be damn sure I'll be using them to make up for the lost time.

In fact, I already have a finished draft for both, Chapter 2 of Of Aces & Jokers and Chapter 1 of The Gensokyo Devils Dread, so it won't be long before I have more goods for you all.

And don't worry, chapter 2 will pick up exactly where the previous chapter left.

That's all on my end for now, so you gals and guys take care. I'll be seeing ya around!