Button Eyes, Clock Hearts

Clock Castle

The once beautiful castle now was tainted. No maze in front of it, just repulsive appendages, mainly tentacles, protruding from every organic wall that formed the structure. No smell of pretty flowers nor gentle wind, only disgusting smell of rotting flesh and dust. They made their way towards the entrance, trying not to throw up with the aroma. It took them a while to arrive and get used to it. Marching towards the gates of it, the role-holders saw Vivaldi's pristine copy. Yet she was being restrained by thorny appendages turned into the entrance towards the palace, the gates separating intruders to the kingdom. Her eyes ivory black buttons only shown as she was barely able to lift her head.

"The heart castle's in ruins, but you're no better off." Said Gowland slightly unnerved by seeing the copy of the queen.

"Yes, so it is. But, why would she do such an atrocity to us?" Asked Vivaldi to her counterpart.

"We were set upon by her monstrosities, no longer needed in this country. The malignant royal bitch still reigns, unless you find a way, we are doomed" answered back the doll.

"Well, we must get inside, yet the only way in is causing blood to dry" answered Peter turning his clock into a gun.

"It looks like it" said Gowland seriously making both queens sigh.

"The only way in is through us. Sacrifices must be made. Please do so fast, heart and head. Those are the places for our demise" explained the fake dropping her head again. "Once inside beware of the outsized killer who patrols our domain."

"Who is it?" Questioned Vivaldi getting closer.

"Ace and the one who reigns is Peter" answered the trapped woman. "or at least, those of us you like to call others"

"White, do it"

Peter nodded, pointing his gun and shooting her heart and her head. A high pitched scream resounded as the appendages vanished, throwing the cloth body to the floor, revealing dried rose petals that were her filler. And at the middle of it all, a rose gold clock awaited, shining and ticking gently. Vivaldi smiled nostalgically, taking the object and using it as a necklace on herself.

"One down, two to go. All of us in the mansion await for you all" said Nix's voice from the object.

"Let us go" ordered the queen only to be silently obeyed by her companions.

While trying to find the throne room the other Ace, now only in monochrome black and White, was waiting for them in the passage. He grinned sadistically at them, but, he never said a word. Strange to see...but not unwelcome. He lifted his blade and brought it down, causing a bunch of card guards, made of cloth and shaped like literal poker cards run towards them. Gowland Peter and Vivaldi didn't hesitate to shoot them all, they had no remorse for them.

Vivaldi, noticing the other Ace was getting away frowned and motioned to the others to proceed "Go ahead! Quickly now, the guardian of one of the clocks is getting away!"

"Of course your majesty!" said both men, shooting their way towards the knight. Halfway towards the throne room, and soon they were killing the knight. He let out a dry laugh, as he turned to ash, as a titanium clock appeared in his place.

"Two have been gotten and we have been saved. Only one missing for our frabjous day"

Nothing, no guards, nothing was waiting as they rushed through the hall. It wasn't too long before they arrived in the throne room. Around them, it was filled with hearts and candles, clocks and ribbons everywhere, organs hanging like party decorations. Gowland never thought he would be disturbed by something like this, but he was. Peter scrunched his nose when he saw his copy. This one had silver hair and matching ears, and at the top of his head, a black crown. He wore an outfit designed for a king, black and red, no White. He was replacing Vivaldi, perhaps as if his dream of not being under command of the woman was coming true. But the most important piece, besides the black button eyes and frameless glasses was a black clock. This was the one they needed.

"I see you have arrived, I thought you would have resigned," said the king.

"Well, we were not going to fall that easily" laughed Gowland. "Will ya give us what we want or will we have to kill ya?"

"Don't be an idiot, and just shoot him, imbecile duke!"

"Hasty, I believe it would be for the be-" yet, the creature was interrupted by a knife piercing his neck and a hole in his chest. Peter and Gowland stood astonished as the Other Gowland and other Pierce grabbed the clock and walked towards them with it.

"I exist to help Onyx...to love and to hold her," said Pierce handing the clock to Peter.

"We will protect her with our lives." added the other Gowland with a grin. "Now, go, we will keep the guards out of the way!"

"Thanks, bud," said the duke grinning, as he and Peter rushed out.

Vivaldi noticed them and ran out with them both, listening to the racket of gunshots and fighting. Nothing in their way, only corpses. The clocks hung around their necks, and the smells slowly vanished, as if dust and nothingness had replaced them. Ash and dirt filled the air, the once grand stone structure of the castle was crumbling down, and the organic tentacles and plant life had died and dried up. Vivaldi wondered if this would be the way the place would end up if nobody inhabited it. If everyone was dead.