Eduardo's Tales
Story 7: The Assault on Chagum
Chapter 3
(Rated T for violence, brief nudity, adult content, alcohol content, and mild language)
(DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own Eduardo Rivera and Kylie Griffin from Extreme Ghostbusters, nor do I have the right to copy the anime series, Mushi-Shi, which has inspired me to bring our favorite slacker and Goth girl into a strange world that exists beyond time. So, enjoy the show!)
King Gothmog led his troops along the countryside as he was riding on his horse. He wanted Chagum all to himself as he was riding next to the drill that could penetrate the outer wall of the vast city, He even wanted to finish off the Muah that were staying here, for the information of the witchsmellers had been accurate despite the ruse that was conducted in the planned escape. Eduardo and Kylie may have escaped from one of King Gothmog's witchsmellers, but they were also aware of the wrath that was about to happen in the city.
"I want Chagum!" screamed the King.
"Be careful what you say, my lord," said a man with red hair.
"I already know of the path of conquest, Teruchika. Those Muah troublemakers have breathed their last breath of air!"
"I can still smell the stench of Eduardo and that servant boy in that city despite the fact that they planned that elaborate ruse in the cabin... Well, well, well... the servant boy, known as Funny-Coat, is none other than that girl, Kylie. The future King and Queen of the Muah Realm are supposed to be wed on the day when all the spirits gather in a festival."
"The Festival of the Spirits... That's the day that the Muah punk and that flighty female will consummate their love for each other... and in time, produce an heir! I won't let that happen! All units, we're going in!"
"Yes, sir!" cried the men as they were riding on their horses.
###
Eduardo continued to spot the King's men from far away as he had staff ready for battle. This was a war going on and he was well aware of King Gothmog's motives as he was even dressed in the same armor and helmet he took from the hospital. To his surprise, he saw Kylie all dressed in the same armor as he was as she even had her hair put up in a bun. With a Buddhist staff of her own, she carried it with her as it was made out of silver. Both Muah targets were in for the battle for their lives as they saw two more flares shoot up in the sky. The King was coming and they didn't have much time left.
"Here they come," said Kylie.
"We must defend this city," said Eduardo cautiously.
"My father's forces have been dispatched," said Valeria as she had her bow and arrows at the ready.
"Let's hope that Yokose and his yahoos get here in time," said Yashakune as he was dressed in full battle armor. "We may have gotten this far to Chagum, but we can't let this place be in ruins!"
The travelling party stayed near the city gate as they were spying on King Gothmog and his men while they were advancing forward with their drill. To Eduardo's shock, he saw Teruchika riding in front of the King as he was advancing forward. The actions of that man had worried him as he found that he was none other than a witchsmeller under the King's service as he had a nodachi that was thirsty for Muah blood. Fear attempted to cloud Eduardo as he later kept it at bay. He couldn't let King Gothmog or that witchsmeller cross into Chagum as he began to perform an incantation.
"I call upon the power of the Djinn!" he yelled. "Bring up a whirlwind and crush those enemies!"
A strong hurricane-like wind emerged as it was heading toward King Gothmog and his forces from far away. The whirlwind had scattered some of the forces as they were lifted up from the ground and tossed further away. Teruchika had seen the power of the whirlwind as he dodged it while protecting the King. He knew about the Muah's magic tricks as he wasn't able to go down that easily. He may have been called into service to eliminate Eduardo and Kylie, but his sole duty in protecting the King always came first.
"Everyone, fall back!" he cried. "We can't let ourselves be swept under by the Muah!"
###
"Here comes that odious bastard on his horse," said a young man with black hair.
"Our main goal is to stop that drill before it reaches into Chagum," said Yokose as he was dressed for battle. "King Gothmog is our sole enemy and we can't let him raze that city to the ground!"
The troops from the Mumtaz Region were on the move as they were dispatched once again by King Vallon. They were well aware of King Gothmog's evil plan to destroy Chagum as they had that dastardly drill at their disposal. To the troops' surprise, they saw a band of soldiers coming from Orlin as they had a familiar face leading them toward the city. It was Elspeth de Carthal, who was also the Duchess of Frithia as she was dressed in battle armor. She needed to return the favor after Eduardo and Funny-Coat saved her life from the late Duke. She was also ready to assist Yokose and his troops as they were ready to advance on King Gothmog's forces.
"Lady Elspeth," said Yokose. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to return the favor to Eduardo and Funny-Coat," she said.
"Lady Elspeth," said the young man. "The young servant boy who was travelling with Eduardo is none other than Queen Kylie."
"So, the servant boy was actually a young woman, then. Now is not the time to discuss the tales of Funny-Coat right now, Tsuchimaru. First, we have to stop King Gothmog and that witchsmeller. All units, we're moving in!"
"Yes, ma'am!" cried the troops as they rode forward to intercept King Gothmog's forces.
###
The sound of war drums continued to boom all over the city of Chagum as everyone all over the place began to evacuate to the underground bunkers. Shikakune was busy watching over the women and children as they were led safely into their safety zone. The Bandit King was well aware of King Gothmog's forces coming toward his city as he even had a grudge against the man who destroyed his homestead in the mountains. He loved Chagum and he was ready to defend his beloved city as he drew out his large sword. He wanted to rip the King a new one as he was ready to avenge the loss of his wife and sister.
"I know that you're far away, you odious son-of-a-bitch!" he yelled to himself.
Shikakune got on his horse as he rode towards the city gate. He saw Eduardo and Kylie standing with their staffs in their hands as they were ready to put a dent in King Gothmog's plans. To his surprise, he saw Yashakune throw his senbon at some of the approaching troops as they were knocked off of their horses. Valeria joined in the battle as she fired off some arrows at some more troops while protecting Yashakune. It wasn't long when they all saw Tsukino and Tohru join in on the battle as they were busy protecting the city.
"King Gothmog sure has a handful," said Tohru as she threw some of her kunai daggers at some more of the King's troops. "Uh-oh...! This does not look good!"
"It's the drill!" said Tsukino worriedly. "If that thing punctures the city wall, we'll all be defenseless!"
"At least we'll be busy for a while," said Yashakune.
"King Gothmog also has one of his attack dogs with him," said Shikakune.
"Are you sure, Dad?"
"He is sure," said Eduardo as he was ready to conjure up an incantation. "The witchsmeller is here with the King... I call upon the power of Amaterasu and Apollo. Let your kiss and rain fall down on our enemies! I also call upon the power of Zeus. Bring forth your lightning and strike our foes down with a vengeance!"
A hail of white firebolts rained down on the King's forces as they retreated back. The blue fire of Amaterasu's Kiss had emerged from Eduardo's staff as it was heading straight toward the drill itself. The hit only dented it as it was proven to be indestructible on the outside. With the lightning bolts coming down hard on the drill, they also dented it as it continued to keep coming. What was that drill made of? Eduardo was scared to death as he was about to realize that his worst vision was about to come true... or so he thought...
The drill collapsed in the dirt as it was about to explode from the inside. To Eduardo's shock, he saw Yokose and Tsuchimaru jump out of the drill as they made it out before it blew up. Returning to their horses, the two men saw most of King Gothmog's forces fighting against the combined troops from the Mumtaz Region and the village of Orlin as the they were in good company with the greatest team-up that put the soldiers from the Nagini Empire in their place. All of the Mumtaz and Orlin soldiers had fought the Nagini troops as they were even stopping to defend Chagum. To his shock, Tsuchimaru saw Teruchika draw out his sword as he was ready to strike. The red-haired man was a witchsmeller and he despised all Muah as he was about to attack Tsuchimaru with a vengeance.
"Teruchika Orikasa," said Tsuchimaru. "You were once decorated with high honors by our Emperor Mikan. Now, you've achieved the status not only as a witchsmeller, but a high traitor as well."
"The oldest son of Souichiro Imazato..." said Teruchika. "I might have known..."
"If you're after the man who saved my father, you're badly mistaken! Eduardo Rivera is under not only the protection of the people whom he has travelled with, but to the Knights of the Northern Stride as well!"
Tsuchimaru drew out his sword as he clashed with Teruchika on the battlefield. Both men had clanged their swords together as they fought tooth and nail. Tsuchimaru was the stronger of the two as he began to knock Teruchika's sword out of his hands when it hit the ground. The witchsmeller was no match for the seasoned soldier as he felt a fireball strike him from behind. Where was the fireball coming from? Turning around, he saw several more blue fireballs emerge from Chagum as they were attacking the rest of King Gothmog and his men. Teruchika had to protect the King and his troops as he ran towards him with concern.
"We need to get out of here, my Lord!" he cried.
"EDUARDO RIVERA!" screamed the King as he saw him standing at the city gate. "I've got you now!"
"No, sire! We have to go! We can eliminate our target at another time!"
King Gothmog and Teruchika gathered the remaining troops as they left Chagum altogether. They haven't heard the last of Eduardo yet as they fled back to the Nagini Empire where they came from. Victory had reached the travelling party as they cheered from their battle. The combined troops from the Mumtaz Region and Orlin had began to rely on the luck of the Muah as they all saw Eduardo standing with his staff in his hands. He was grateful for the troops as they came in and saved the day. Chagum was safe as it was ready to stand for another day when Eduardo went back in the city. To his shock, he saw Kylie with her own staff as it had the residue of Amaterasu's Kiss still resonating from it. He was also thankful for her help as he reached out and held her in his arms.
"You pitched in, didn't you..., Funny-Coat?" he said.
"Someone had to help you out, Goat Boy," answered Kylie as she felt Eduardo kiss her on her lips.
"I... love you, Kylie."
###
"Those fireballs had a taxing effect," said Tsuchimaru as he was all bandaged up.
"Whoever helped out Eduardo, we should thank them for it," said Tsukino as he was sitting in a chair next to Tsuchimaru's hospital bed. "Actually, it was Kylie who pitched in. She, too, is a Muah as she will be the Queen of the Muah Realm."
"So, the guy who saved our dad all these years ago has got himself the mate that he needed..."
"Next month is the Festival of the Spirits. Eduardo and Kylie should also be wed on that day as well."
Both Tsuchimaru and Tsukino had seen battle as they were both tired from fighting the King's forces. As the sons of Souichiro Imazato, they had a hand at battle as they were also ready to escort the future King and Queen of the Muah Realm to where they needed to go. They were both aware of Eduardo and Kylie's true destiny as they were about to become more than just friends and allies. Both brothers were ready to put their lives on the line as they were about to gain more faith from the future King and Queen of the Muah Realm.
###
Eduardo and Kylie were sitting at the inn as they were tired from serving everyone who was weary from their battles. The battle-weary Yokose and Elspeth were sitting side by side as they were busy talking about business as usual when they were about to leave Chagum and returm to their rightful homes. It had been three days since the battle as the dead were buried and the wounded were healed here in this vast city. The women and children along with the men had nothing to fear for the time being as they were returned to their homes and business. As for Eduardo and Kylie, however, they were more interested in themselves after a long battle as they saw Valeria and Yashakune sit next to Shikakune as they were all drinking root beer floats. With Tsukino and Tohru joining the three at the table, they all talked about the battle as they were as victorious than ever with the help of the substitute proprietors of the inn.
"I see that your secret's been revealed," said Elspeth as she saw Kylie sitting next to Eduardo.
"I know," she answered.
"Kylie, the witchsmeller who was travelling with King Gothmog has been wanted by the Emperor from the Northern Stride. The man himself is also afraid that both you and Eduardo will become stronger by seeing yourselves wed on the day of the Festival."
"King Gothmog and Teruchika are a force to be reckoned with," said Dr. Naegino as he was all dressed in samurai garb. "I suggest that both Eduardo and Kylie should watch their backs for now."
"Where's Dr. Domyouji?" asked Eduardo.
"Dr. Domyouji is already off to the Northern Stride and I will be following her soon."
"Good luck, Dr. Naegino..."
The good doctor left the inn as he got on his horse and rode out of Chagum. He would soon meet up with Eduardo and Kylie again as they would take the journey to the west as they are about to be wed in the presence of the kodama. The altar of stone will be made to join them as they will be on the Roads again, but they had to stay in Chagum for a little bit longer...
The End.