One morning, Gash Bell wakes up to find he has become a girl. He runs around screaming. But it's not just him. Kiyomaro is also a girl, Tio and Umagon have become boys, and Folgore has transformed into a woman of breathtaking beauty.
Due to the battle to decide the king of the demon world, an ancient curse has been triggered. To break the curse, they must find the 'Heart of Truth' within one week. But what is the 'Heart of Truth'? Nobody knows.
Panic erupts. Yet Gash, who can't ignore people i
Zatch Bell!! ~The Cursed Great Reversal!?~ - The Great Confession! When the True Heart Shatters the Mirror
The entrance to the demon world had opened its mouth.
A limestone cave on the outskirts of Mochinoki City. The wall at its very deepest point rippled and swayed, just like the surface of water.
Inside the cave, the air was chilly, and the only sound echoing through it was the *plink, plink* of dripping water.
Gash stood before that shimmering wall.
The cold air of the cave clung to their slightly grown-out blond hair. Their round brown eyes were still red from crying too much.
Their right hand was tightly gripping the left hand of Kiyomaro, who had lost their memories.
"Kiyomaro, this is the entrance to the demon world."
Even when Gash spoke to them, Kiyomaro just looked back blankly. Their glossy black twintails swayed with every tilt of their head.
"...Demon world? More importantly... what's your name?"
With a coquettish voice, Kiyomaro peered into Gash's face.
A sharp, stinging pain shot through Gash's chest. Even so, they didn't let go of the hand they held.
"I'm Gash. Gash Bell. Kiyomaro's number one partner."
"You are not qualified to proceed any further."
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out through the cave.
Before the shimmering wall, a figure cloaked in black robes materialized, as if seeping out of the darkness. Their silver hair seemed to glow faintly in the dark.
"!"
Gash instinctively shielded Kiyomaro behind their back.
"My name is Dorzun. I am the guardian of Volca Medira."
The man's voice was utterly devoid of emotion. The face deep within the hood was white and smooth, like porcelain.
"I cannot allow a three-thousand-year curse to be undone so lightly. One who does not possess a 'Heart of Truth' has no right to trample upon this sealed hall."
Dorzun raised their right hand.
In that instant, the very air of the cave warped and twisted. The shadows of Gash and the others, cast upon the floor, began to writhe and move as if they were alive.
"Wh-what is...!?"
The shadows rose slickly from the floor.
"You are not qualified to save Kiyomaro."
It had taken Kiyomaro's form. But its voice trembled as if on the verge of tears, and its eyes were brimming with them.
It was as if Gash's own heart, seemingly about to shatter at any moment, had been reflected and given form.
"That's... that's not true!"
Gash shouted back.
"I will absolutely save Kiyomaro! I need Kiyomaro!"
"Qualifications don't matter! I'm the one who's going to let you through!"
With the sound of kicking off a rock, Tio leaped out in front of Gash.
The tips of their short-cropped purple hair trembled with anger. A strong light of determination dwelled within their large, amethyst eyes.
"Saifogeo!"
As Tio shouted, a shield of golden light unfolded in the air. Particles of light gathered, enveloping Gash and the others like a dome.
The shadow's arm struck the shield.
*BOOM!!*
A heavy impact echoed throughout the limestone cave. Tio's small body sank down under the force, their feet digging into the ground.
"Guh... th-this thing... is heavy...!"
"Tio!"
"Go! Gash! You tell them how you really feel! Now's your chance!"
The shadow's second blow struck the shield. A sound like splitting air, *crack crack crack*, rang out. Every muscle in Tio's body screamed in protest, and the ground cracked further.
Even so, Tio clenched their teeth and smiled.
"I... I already... gave up on you a long time ago. But even so... I decided that I'd protect your smile...!"
It was Tio's bravest front, a desperate bluff to seal away their own feelings of love.
"...Thank you, Tio!"
Wiping away their tears, Gash squeezed Kiyomaro's hand tightly and sprinted towards the depths of the cave.
"It's futile. The path to the deepest part is complex. You will never reach it on your own."
Dorzun's voice echoed through the cave.
That was when it happened.
"What are you talking about~? In the face of my beauty, a path is irrelevant!"
From the ceiling of the cave, a dazzling light descended.
It was Folgore, a woman of peerless beauty, her waist-length platinum blonde hair cascading like a waterfall and her sapphire blue eyes glittering brilliantly.
"My beauty itself is light! And where there is light, a path shall open!"
Landing gracefully, Folgore spread both arms and struck a pose. The cold air of the cave sparkled, for some reason, only around her.
"Don't be ridiculous. Superficial beauty is powerless before the might of the curse."
"Oh my, you can say that even with me standing before you, made this beautiful by a curse? Now, behold! This is the ultimate secret art of beauty! 'Invincible Folgore'!"
Folgore began to sing loudly.
"Invincible Folgore! Invincible Folgore! Yay yay! I am beautiful! I am the strongest! Fol fol fol fol, Folgore!"
It was a beautiful, yet utterly narcissistic and nonsensical song.
"Wh-what is that song...! The beauty and the lyrics... they don't match at all...!"
Dorzun's face twisted in anger as they inadvertently retorted. In that single moment, Dorzun's control over their magical power wavered slightly.
"Meru!"
Not missing that opening, Umagon let out a sharp cry.
Flashing their fluffy, platinum-white fur, Umagon bumped their head against the cave wall with a *thunk*. Then, a small, hidden passageway that had been concealed there opened with a rumbling *groooan...*.
"Umagon! That's amazing!"
"Meru meru~!"
"Impossible! That hidden passage should only be known to the sages of Dimna Zora...!"
"The secrets of the world are allies to the beautiful! Now, go, Gash! Before my beauty fades!"
"Everyone... thank you!"
Pulling Kiyomaro by the hand, Gash leaped into the dark passageway.
The passage was long and dark.
But deep in Gash's chest, the feelings of their friends kept them warm and cozy.
"...It's so dark. I'm a little scared."
Kiyomaro clung to Gash's arm anxiously.
"It's okay. I'm with you."
Gash squeezed Kiyomaro's hand in return.
(*I will never let go.*)
They ran, and ran, and ran through.
Eventually, a pale, bluish-white light appeared at the end of the passage.
It was a massive, hollow chamber.
The ceiling was so high it was hard to look up at. Countless magical letters were carved into the walls, glowing faintly blue. And in the center, upon an altar, a gigantic crystal pillar towered.
"This is... Volca Medira."
A pillar like ice, perhaps twelve meters tall.
It looked down upon Gash and Kiyomaro.
"Wow... what a beautiful pillar. Hey, Gash. Where is this place? Why am I in a place like this with you?"
Kiyomaro tilted their head with an innocent smile.
That smile squeezed Gash's chest tight.
"...Kiyomaro. There are so many things I don't understand. The difficult words, the mystery of the mirror... I don't really get them."
Gash gripped both of Kiyomaro's hands tightly.
"But there's one thing I understand for absolutely sure."
Gash looked straight into Kiyomaro's eyes.
"I love you, Kiyomaro! More than anyone, more than anything, more than anything else in the whole world!!!!"
Gash's shout echoed throughout the hollow chamber.
That was the moment.
From the very center of Gash's chest, a warm, golden light overflowed.
It was like a tiny sun, a light so gentle it brought tears to the eyes just by looking at it.
The light gathered before Gash, taking the form of a single, shining mirror.
"This is... the 'Heart of Truth'?"
The mirror slowly turned to face the crystal pillar.
A beam of golden light was drawn straight into the pillar.
*Crack.*
A small fissure appeared in the crystal pillar.
*Crack. Crackle crackle.*
The cracks spread like branches, covering the entire pillar.
And then.
*CRAAAAAASH!!!!*
With a thunderous roar, the giant crystal pillar shattered into countless pieces.
Fragments of crystal scattered throughout the chamber, like a myriad of stars.
"!"
Each and every one of those fragments glittered and sparkled as they enveloped Gash and Kiyomaro.
A shower of light pierced through Kiyomaro's body.
"...Ah."
The coquettish expression vanished smoothly.
Their glossy black hair swayed gently despite the lack of wind, and smoothly, quickly, it grew shorter.
The lines of their body, too, magically returned from that of a girl to the original boy.
Kiyomaro's narrow, sharp eyes slowly regained a steady light.
"...Gash."
It was that familiar voice, a little low and sounding somewhat grumpy.
"Kiyomaro...! Kiyomaro! I'm so gladー!!"
Gash threw their arms around their returned partner with all their might.
"You're so loud... You... how much do you have to make me worry before you're satisfied, you idiot Gash."
Kiyomaro's cheeks were faintly red.
"And what was that yell? It was way too embarrassing. The whole world probably heard it, 'I love you more than anything in the world'..."
They grumbled and complained.
But their hands were wrapped firmly around Gash's back.
"But it's the truth! I love you, Kiyomaroー!"
"You're still saying that?! You natural-born airhead demon!!"
"Meru~"
Before anyone knew it, Umagon was beside them, letting out a cry that sounded both exasperated and happy.
---
The same scene was unfolding at the entrance of the limestone cave.
"Huh? I'm... back to normal?"
Having returned from a boy's form to their original bob-cut girl's form, Tio was looking at their own hands with a puzzled expression.
"Ahaha! I really do feel more like myself this way! Alright, Gash! This time for sure, I'll look cool and... huh?"
The moment they turned to look for the two, the Saifogeo shield vanished, and Tio lost their balance, falling over with a thud.
"Ouch... ah, man, right. Gash is with Kiyomaro, huhー!"
Lying sprawled on the ground, Tio laughed out loud. It was a very refreshed, unburdened smile.
"Oooh... My, my beautyyyyy..."
Having returned from a peerless beauty to their original male form, Folgore was on their knees on the ground, shedding large tears.
"My platinum blonde hair! My sapphire eyes! Lost forever! How can this be! Now I'm just back to being a normal Italian guy with a super-hot voice!"
"Hah... So my duty of three thousand years... has finally come to an end..."
Dorzun, too, had collapsed into a sitting position. An old person's hand could be seen from under the black robe.
With the curse's power broken and what they were meant to protect lost, the guardian had reverted to being just an aged demon.
"Meru meru~"
Only Umagon was their usual, carefree self, poking at the fragments of the shattered crystal pillar with the tip of their nose.
---
Night fell.
The second floor of the Takamine house, Kiyomaro's room.
Outside the window, a full moon hung in the sky. The soft moonlight quietly illuminated the room.
As always, two futons were laid out side by side.
But the edges of the futons were just a little closer together than they had been before.
"...Hey."
Staring at the ceiling, Kiyomaro spoke quietly.
"What is it, Kiyomaro?"
Gash answered, also still staring at the ceiling.
"I... well, how should I put it. I'm grateful to you."
"Kiyomaro... Me too. Because you're here, I can do anything."
A silence suddenly fell between them.
It was a quiet night.
Kiyomaro turned over awkwardly.
In doing so, their outstretched fingertips gently touched Gash's hand.
Kiyomaro hesitated for a moment.
Then, as if steeling their resolve, they squeezed that small hand tightly.
"...Your hands are warm."
Half-asleep, Gash noticed the warmth of that hand.
They narrowed their eyes, looking ticklish, but also very, very happy.
"...Kiyomaro. Let's eat taiyaki together again tomorrow."
Saying just that, Gash began to breathe softly in their sleep.
"...Yeah."
Kiyomaro put a little more strength into their grip and smiled, just a little.
Outside the window, the moon shone gently.
It seemed to be softly illuminating the beginning of a new relationship for the two of them.
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