I'm really getting into this
Getting Kaguya
Liddell made her way to the gate room eager to get this mission started. As she approached the door she had a nagging feeling that Loue wasn't telling her everything. It was then she realized that Loue wasn't next to her.
"Huh, I thought he was right behind me?" she was about to go look for him when he she saw him turn a corner. "Where were you?"
"I was coming. It's not my fault you decided to charge ahead." Liddell noticed that Loue seemed different.
"Hey you ok? You seemed bummed."
He gave her his usual smile and said "I'm fine nothing for you to worry about" then patted her on the head.
Liddell blushed wildly and her umbrella at his arm. "You idiot! I told you I didn't like that."
"Sorry I forgot."
"Honestly who was the one who got their memories wiped me or you?" And opened the door to the gate room and went in. It looked about the same as she remembered. The six gates making a circle around the room, the stone totem that leads to shadow town, and the huge square in the center that leads to Alice's world. "So where do we go first?"
"Florin and Al'Sahara are the ones receiving the heaviest attacks at the moment. Oceria and Artis are under semi heavy attack but their defenses are holding strong. Then there is Rem Sacchras and Rem Boreas, they're not really attack at the moment so they're well off."
"So we should start with Florin and Al'Sahara right."
"Yes, since they're the ones under the most distress at the moment."
"Great! Then we're off to Florin." Liddell started running toward the garden kingdom's gate and passed right through it without waiting for Loue. Loue followed suit, knowing it wouldn't take long for the little witch to find trouble. He passed through the gate and found Liddell waiting for him. "You're so slow" she said with her mocking smile.
"Did you ever think that maybe your too fast?" he said with his own smile.
"Of course not. Why would I think that? Anyways, enough chit-chat, we have a princess to save."
"Agreed." Loue said and then transformed into his bat form and perched himself on Liddell's shoulder. Liddell broke into a run and made her way to Kaguya's castle. Florin looked ultimately the same. Sure there was some battle damage here and there but nothing too disastrous. Soon the castle came in sight, as well as the sight of a horde of evil monsters trying to break down the door. She could see the foxes fighting them but they were seriously outnumbered.
"Ok, time to even things up!" Liddell exclaimed. She held out her hands and started a spell when she realized something important. "Uh...Loue…"
Loue flew to face Liddell. "Yes." Liddell lifted her umbrella and swatted Loue down like a fly causing him to hit the ground hard.
"I don't have my spell book you idiot!" she yelled at the dazed bat.
"Oh!" Loue said coming to his senses. Loue picked himself off the ground and transformed into his human form. He dug into his cloak and pulled out the old spell with the rune magic in it. "Here you go. Sorry 'bout that" he said with a 'please don't kill me smile' on his face. Liddell snatched the book from his hand and gave him another whack with her umbrella.
"Next time, don't be so stupid." She flipped through the pages until she found the rune she was looking for. "This one should take care of them. Volc abyss!" she yelled and a ring of fire surrounded the monsters, setting them a blaze and turning them to ash. With the monsters gone they could now go into the castle. One of the foxes came up to Liddell.
"Oh thank goodness you've come. We weren't sure how long we were going to last."
"No problem. How's the princess doing? Is she okay?"
"So far she's fine but who knows how long that will last. It won't be long before the monsters return and in greater and stronger numbers than before."
"She's right Liddell. We don't have much time we need to get Kaguya and go."
"Right." Then they went into the castle and headed straight for the throne room. When they got there they found Kaguya sitting on her throne with a worried expression on her face. Her dragon was coiled around her throne, ready to strike at any one who threatened his master. Kaguya looked up and saw Liddell and Loue in the room.
"Oh Liddell you've come back to save all of us" she said giving Liddell what was probably her first real smile in weeks.
"That's right. The greatest witch is here to save you all and beat the bad guy." Making a grand gesture. Loue stood to the side and rolled his eyes, even the dragon let out a snort.
"It's nice to see you haven't changed since I last saw you."
"Why mess with a good thing."
"I don't mean to squash this reunion but we are on a time schedule. Princess Kaguya we need you to come with us so we can get you to safety."
"I'm still not sure about this plan Loue. It doesn't feel right to just leave my kingdom in a time of crisis."
"I understand but as I said before you're the target the enemy is after. I'm sure if you leave the monsters will have no reason to stay here."
"I hope you're right about that."
Well it makes perfect sense to me. Now grab your sigil and let's go. It will be easier to move you while the monsters are gone," Liddell stated. Kaguya summoned her sigil and had it float toward Liddell. Liddell caught the sigil and stored it away. Kaguya stood and walked toward them.
"So do you have a plan to get me out of here without being seen?"
"As a matter a fact I do," Liddell said. Loue looked taken aback by her statement.
"You have a plan. Since when do you plan anything?" All the statement did was earned Loue another whack from the umbrella.
"Don't be so surprised," she said looking offended. "I am actually capable of actually thinking before I act. Take a look at this." She pulled out her witch's broom from her bag. "With this we can get to the gate room in no time."
Loue seemed impressed by her plan. "Wow you actually did plan ahead."
"Are you saying that I never have a plan?"
"No, but usually your plans involve firing off spells and watching everything die." Kaguya and her dragon nodded their heads at that one.
"Ok, so I don't really 'strategize' but I figured since I was most likely going to have to come back to the kingdoms again, having a quick way to go between the palaces and the gate room was going to come in handy."
"That's actually a good idea. I don't think that the enemy will be expecting an escape through the air," Kaguya said.
"Agreed," said Loue. "Goth has only sent monsters to collect the princesses. He himself has yet to make an appearance."
"Well now that we all agree on my plan. I just have one question."
"Yes"
"What are we doing with him?" she said and pointed to the dragon.
"Do not worry; my guardian will be staying here to protect the kingdom."
"Good because I don't think he would fit on the broom." So the trio headed to the front of the palace where they would ride Liddell's broom to the gate room. Liddell poked her head out the door to see if it was clear. She didn't see any monsters but she still saw an unwanted face none the less. The Mad Hatter stood at the entrance waiting for them to exit. "Oh yay and here I thought it was going to be awhile before I saw your freaky face."
"Mmm-hmm. Still the charm of a rattle snake I see." Loue stepped forward to confront the man.
"Mind telling us what you're doing here. We're in a hurry."
"I'm sure you are but do not worry I'll be brief. I'm merely here to welcome back our dear little Liddell." The Mad Hatter stepped in front of Liddell and knelt down before her. He then took her hand and kissed it, a very long awkward kiss at that. Liddell was frozen in place by shock and embarrassment. Kaguya looked uncomfortable as well. She took a side glance to Loue and saw that he was glaring at the Hatter with the most hateful look. He was probably going to take the guy's head off if he didn't let up soon. Finally the Hatter released his hold on her and stood. "I'm looking so forward to the show you put on for us this time but be warned Goth has not forgotten the last 1000 years. You may be the one to feel the full force of his rage."
"What does that mean?" Liddell asked getting seriously annoyed with the Mad Hatter's riddles.
"I'll let you figure it out yourself." He turned and strode past Loue. As he past he whispered. "Don't fret Loue. Maybe this time you'll be able to stop him before he takes another bite." Loue's eyes widened and he rounded on the Hatter but he had already vanished.
"That guy is still weird." Liddell said as she walked over to Loue. She looked at him and noticed him shaking slightly. "Hey what's up with you?" The sound of Liddell's voice brought Loue out of his trance. He smiled down at her and said.
"I'm fine. I just really hate that guy." He patted her on the head to distract her from him. It worked like a charm. She blushed and knocked his arm away.
"How many times to I have to tell you I don't like that!" Loue just smiled at her causing her to blush even more. "Stupid Loue, why does he have to look like that? It makes it hard to stay mad at him," she thought.
"Excuse me," Kaguya said interrupting Liddell's thoughts. "Shouldn't we be going now?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, of course. We're leaving right now." She pulled out the broom out and positioned herself on it, more towards the front of the broom than she normally does since she has to make room for a passenger. "Hop on princess." Kaguya looked over the broom a little uncertain as to how she should sit on it. She bundled her kimono up to her knees and sat sideways on the broom. She used one hand to keep her kimono in place and the other to grip the space of the broom between herself and Liddell.
"Ok I'm ready." Liddell turned to Loue, who transformed into his bat form and set himself upon her shoulder.
"Ok everyone on. Now we're off." The broom took off and sped through the air at top speed, which was a little too fast for Kaguya and Loue. Kaguya had to clutch the broom with both hands while the rest of her dangled in the air. Loue held on to Liddell's shoulder for dear life, feeling like his skin was going to pop off at any second. Both them could only think the same thing.
"Why did we let her talk us into this?"