"They say the Languish Desert is a nightmare for travelers. Others find it a site for ruins after the Cataclysm. It is where the town of Albana is found, where a powerful don who specializes in trades and such resides. The Languish Desert is known for its extreme heat and dangerous monsters. But there is some ruins which housed an very important relic from the Dogma Age…" Cisna's voice narrated.
Chapter 4: The Mysterious Dancer of the Desert
The party exited the Nordia Tunnels and looked at where the desert is. "Well, I think we found the desert." Leonard smiled. Yulie stretched her arms and yawned. "Nothing beats the great outdoors!" Yulie closed her eyes and smiled.
Eldore and the others walked up tot hem. "Our next destination will be the town of Albana, which lies in the center of this desert here. But before we go there…" Eldore started then Leonard turned to him and said "We camp. Right?" Leonard grinned. "Huh? Well, yes…" Eldore blinked.
Later that night…
Foz flew to where Leonard is, the rest of the party were sound asleep. Foz landed on Leonard's shoulder and pecked him a little. "Huh?" Leonard noticed Foz, Foz flew away a little. "Where are you going?" Leonard figured it out. "Cisna!" Leonard followed Foz to a small lake and Foz landed on a branch. Foz emitted the hologram of Cisna. "Oh!" Leonard gasped.
Cisna smiled and said "Hello Leonard. We meet again." "H...hi…" Leonard stammered. "Oh… did I wake you? I'm sorry." Cisna apologized. "No-no-no, it's fine! I couldn't sleep anyway." Leonard assured her. Cisna realized Leonard was alone.
"Oh, you came alone. What luck!" Cisna looked away in embarrassment. "Or perhaps… perhaps these birds sensed what I was thinking…" Cisna turned to Leonard. "…how much I wanted to speak with you again." She slowly smiled.
"I…uh…yeah?" Leonard smiled meekly. "If it weren't for you, where would I be? Dead amongst the castle's ashes." Cisna looked up at Leonard's eyes. "I owe you no less than my life, Leonard." She said gratefully.
"It was nothing…" Leonard smiled embarrassed. "Uh… anyway, never mind that." Leonard looked down shyly, then looked up with determination. "Where are you, Princess?" Leonard asked. Cisna thought about it and said "I'm not certain. All I see is endless desert. The ship has landed here amidst the sand. Wait. I think I see a town through the window." Cisna stated her info.
"Town?" Leonard gasped. "That's got to be Albana!" Leonard stepped forward. "Just sit tight. We're coming. We're going to rescue you!" Leonard promised. "I know you are, Leonard. I believed in you." Cisna smiled. "Princess…" It was then, Cisna's hologram walked up to Leonard. She bowed politely and said "Call me Cisna." She smiled as she reached out her hand to his. Leonard was nervous for a little bit then he grabbed it, even though it was a hologram, it felt very real. Then, they glowed and they were in their normal clothes before this adventure began.
They began to dance in the lake just like in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, only it doesn't have a fancy ballroom for about 10 minutes till the area light up and Leonard was in his armor and Cisna was in her clothes when she was captured.
"I wish we could talk some more… but I have to be careful. Beware the Magi Executioners, the Magi's elite force who are from other worlds, there are six of them in total, but I know you can defeat them… See you soon, Leonard." Cisna smiled as her hologram disappeared. "Good bye, Cisna. And I will watch out for those Magi Executioners." Leonard smiled bravefully at her as her hologram disappeared. Unknown to him, Yulie was watching.
"You have a thing for him, do you, Yulie-chan?" Yulie did her best to not make a noise as she turned around and saw Lili, smirking at her from 5 feet away.
"Shh!" Yulie hushed. "I… I do have feelings for him… But…" Yulie looked down. "I see… Well, you should try your best, ok?" Lili smiled. "O-Ok… Thanks, Lili." Yulie slowly smiled. "Anytime, kid." Lili smiled back. Yulie and Lili sneak away quietly back to their camp.
Meanwhile… back on the Black Monoship…
Dragias walked up and slams his fist down on the table. "That cursed boy… He may be more than we bargained for, Belcitane." "Indeed…" Belcitane nodded. "It does seem that way." The black eye patched Farian walked up to them. "Shall I send out the Executioners to get back the Ark?" He asked.
"Ah, yes… Dora, the Magician from Another World… Lamika, the Blood-sucking Princess… Luna, the Bunny Idol… Aine, the Gravity Gunner… Hyumina, the Battlefield Reaper… and Aleute Katz, the Meowderful Patissier… No, I don't think now is the time to send them out yet, Shapur. We need an idea." Dragias stated, Belcitane chuckled at the mysterious Aleute's title. "We cannot allow him to grow any more powerful than he already is." Dragias growled.
"I do have one suggestion, my general." Belcitane smirked evilly. "Go on…" Dragias stated. "You see, a pact with a Knight is forever, which leaves us but one way to break it. Isn't it obvious? The pactmaker's death." Belcitane suggested.
"Assassination?" Dragias asked, then he nodded. "Yes, of course. I take it you have a plan?" Dragias asked again. Belcitane smirked evilly and said "I always do, general…" It is then Belcitane whispered his plan to Dragias.
Back to Leonard and the party…
The party has entered the Lagnish Desert. "Ugh, it's hot." Yulie moaned, trying her best to keep herself cool by holding her hand over her head. "This heat is making my clothes sweaty…" Maron complained, panting. Jean drooled while Cute noticed this and hit him with her hammer.
"Better get used to it, guys." Leonard assured them. "Albana's not as far as you might think, but, there are monsters in these sands. We have to keep our strength up for the battles ahead." Eldore advised. Suddenly, Leonard and the party noticed a fir giant rushing towards them.
"Ugh, gods… Let's get this over with…" Leonard sighed as he and the party charged at the beast. "Take this!" Nanael pointed her sword and fired holy energy arrows at the fire giant, but it swipe them away. "The hell?" Nanael gawked as the fire giant swings its club at her, she managed to dodge roll away. Cattleya with Rana clinging on to her with her huge sword charged and slashed it three times, giving it some massive damage. Yulie concentrated and a icy feeling appeared on her arrow and she fired it at the fire giant's left leg, freezing it a little, but the fire giant broke three. "You got to be kidding!" Yulie shouted annoyed. Alice fired gunshots at the fire giant, giving it some damage. "Leonard! Why aren't you transforming into the White Knight!" Mai gasped as she threw kunai at the fire giant, making crimson blood appear on its wounds. "I need to save my strength, remember! Iroha, help us out!" Leonard shouted. Iroha bowed and said "It shall be done, Master Leonard." Iroha got out her blades and at super fast speed, she slashed it three times, giving it some decent hurt. Lili charged at the fire giant and gave it three devasting punches. Eldore didn't hestitated to cast Arctic Lance, a lance of ice energy fell on the fire giant, giving it some massive damage. The fire giant was still standing. "Oh come on! How come it's still standing!" Maron panicked. Tomoe and Junko combined their slashes to try to give it some hurt, but it knocked them away. Suddenly, Cute noticed someone rushing at the fire giant. She immeditantly recognized her. "Y-Ymir?" The dwarf girl is about 10 years old, has silver yellow hair, I think, and wore pink and white clothes. She also has a huge red axe she was able to carry. With a yell, Ymir leaped in the air and swiped her axe at the fire giant's head, making crimson blood appear on its head as it fell on its back, dead. "Incredible! I never seen a young girl able to wield a axe that size!" Eldore blinked in amazement. Ymir turned to the party with a smile and said "It's a good thing I'm here, otherwise you would be dead." "Nice to see you again, Ymir." Tomoe closed her eyes and smiled. Nanael mumbled to herself and muttered "Nice to see you again, too, I guess…"
20 minutes later…
The party were walking on the scorching hot sand of the Lagnish Desert chatting with their newest member of their merry band of adventurers.
"So, you're the daughter of a king of a race called dwarfs?" Yulie asked Ymir. Ymir nodded with a smirk and said "Yes. I am considered important there. I am trying to prove that dwarf weapons are the best in my world. But now…" Ymir frowned. "I can't cause of that stupid portal, the Knight Gate, right?" "All weapons have some advantages and disadvantages, but they're not perfect. Each race views a weapon that is best, your world for example, swords. So if you really want to prove that dwarf weapons are the best, you must show it with kindness, nit foolhardiness." Eldore told her in his wise man tone.
Ymir glared at Eldore. 'How much does this old man knows about our world?' She thought to herself. Then it was decided she would ask. "How much do you know about the Queen's Blade, old man?" She questioned. Eldore was silent for about 50 seconds then he replied "Just lucky guesses…" Ymir was confused on what he meant.
The party were walking down this cruel harsh desert. Leonard was panting and sweating. "Water…" He muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Well, if we brought canisters with us, we wouldn't be thirsty, would we?" Alice glared at Leonard. "Geez, you make it sound like my fault that I forgot to bring some water canisters." Leonard face faulted.
"Hey, calm down guys. I'm sure Albana is not far from here. If we argue, we'll get even thirstier." Junko stated. "Look… There!" Yulie pointed to Arabian looking gates in their direction. "Albana…" Eldore stated, then continued. "Where the welcomes are as hostile as the desert."
"Who cares!" Nanael squealed as she flew on ahead. "H20! Wine! Hot guys! Food! Here I come!" "Let's hurry before Nanael does something stupid…" Ymir sighed.
The party entered through the gates and saw the town in its beauty. There was people who wore desert clothes moving about, chatting and doing deals with tradesmen.
"Wow, this place is hopping." Yulie whistled. "So, what now?" Zoey asked Eldore. "First, we need to find out if anyone seen any black monoships." Eldore stated.
"Welcome to Albana, mates!" A voice called out to them, they turned around and saw a frog like humanoid wearing desert clothes and a robe walked up to them. Junko gritted her teeth in fear and backed up a little bit. "S-Stay away from me!" She stammered.
"What's wrong, Junko?" Dizzy asked her. "What's wrong, girlie? Ever seen a frog before?" The frog asked. "N-N-No, it's just… I can't stand slimy things!" Junko gulped. "You have something against frogs? You're lucky the Don is preoccupied right now, he knows how to make a lot like you disappear!" The frog growled.
"No that's not it! We just want to know where a black monoship is, that's all." Mai stated. "Hmm… Can't say I have seen one. The best bet for information is the pub. Well, good luck to you, mates." The frog person smiled as he went back to where he was going. "The pub… A good source of information." Lili scratched her chin in thought. "Well, let's head on over there." Leonard nodded.
The party entered the pub, they see men chatting and drinking beer and having a good time and the women serving them the food and drinks. Some of them glared at the party. "I don't like the way they're looking at us like that. Is there something on my face?" Maron stammered as she checked to see what's on her face, she sighed in relief when she saw nothing on her face at all. Then music played. All eyes turned to a woman who is maybe the same ages as Leonard and the others, has blond long hair and wore purple and black dancer clothes. Jean's eyes turned into hearts when he saw the beautiful dancer. The dancer began to dance gracefully. The party found a place to sit down and Leonard couldn't help but stare at the mysterious dancer.
Alice leaned over to Leonard and whispered "What's the matter Leonard? Should I ask her if she's single?" Alice smirked teasely. "Oh… No, it's not that. It's just she's so flexible." Leonard waved his arms up and down defesenily.
"We'll attract too much attention if we move in a group. Alright?" Eldore suggested. "Got it." Leonard got up from his seat and began asking around. 50 seconds later, Leonard sat down on his seat and sighed. "It's no good. No one's talking." He complained.
Mai tensed. "Wait. Something's wrong." Mai stated seriously. "Yes, notice anything else unusual?" Eldore added. "Well actually… it does kinda feel like we're being watched." Cute nodded with a serious look.
"Maybe it's because we're just strangers here." Leonard guessed, everyone gave him serious looks. The dancer danced greatly while the men cheered. The dancer got off the stage and danced over to Leonard who watched with amazement. Alice glared at the dancer. Suddenly, she noticed the dancer getting out something, it was a knife! "Leonard!" Alice gasped. The dancer lunged at Leonard, but with amazing speed, he dodged it and dodged every swipe the dancer can throw at him. It was then he drop kicked a man attacking him and punched another man also attacking him.
"The typical bar fight scene. How original…" Ymir sighed as a man tried to get her with a knife, but she kneed him in the crotch, causing him to hold it in pain and fell to the floor. A man was about to gut Eldore, but he noticed it and grabbed his arm and flung him to the ground. Jean was cowering as a man was about to hit him with a axe, but Maron leaped in the air and bashed him in the head, knocking him out. Jean sighed in relief. Cute gave two men double whammys by the guts, knocking them out. Nanael was eying a man about to attack her, but she smiled and blows kisses at him, making him drool, unknown to him, Tomoe slashed him, knocking him out. Rana held on to his mother as Cattleya kicked a man attacking her in the stomach, knocking him out. Mai, Lili, Dizzy and Iroha combined their attacks to knock out a few more men. Junko jumped in the air and the man attacking her drooled at her panties before her foot connected with his face, breaking his teeth and spitting out blood. Yulie snuck up from behind and hit an attacker with a wine bottle on the head, Yulie cheered. Leonard got out his sword and slashed at the attacking dancer, but she dodged it with amazing accuracy. The dancer landed a few feet away from the party and smirked evilly as an army of men who are fans of her came up to her side. "Crap… We're surrounded." Alice grimaced. "Leonard! What the hell did you do to her?" Junko demanded. The dancer pointed to Leonard. "You! Step outside!" She ordered.
The party found themselves outside with the dancer and her gang surrounding them. "We didn't do anything to you or your friends!" Zoey pleaded. "What do you want with us?" Mai demanded. "Hmph!" The dancer sneered. "Need I spell it out? You're all looks and no smarts, pretty boy. Simple, we want you dead" The dancer smirked evilly.
Leonard growled. Eldore leaned over to Leonard. "Leonard. Careful. She's got an ace up her sleeve." He warned. "Take them out!" The dancer ordered. The men grinned evilly as they got nearer and nearer.
"W-What do we do? We don't have anything to take them all out!" Maron wailed. "Leave that…" Cattleya stepped forward and got out her huge sword. "To me." "Duck." Tomoe advised. The rest of the party nodded and ducked. Cattleya spin like a tornado, her sword hitting the men, the men groaned in agony as they fell to the ground, their blood staining the sands.
The dancer was surprised by Cattleya's power, but she smirked evilly. Leonard glared at the dancer, but Leonard gasped. "Eldore!" He gasped. "You sensed it too. There's something very different about that woman." Eldore stated seriously.
"I see you lot know how to fight. Bravo. But we're not through yet!" The dancer got out a blue card and held it to her head and only said one word. "Adveni." The dancer let out a burst of energy that covered the energy.
When it cleared, the party opened their eyes and gasped in shock at what they saw, the dancer has turned into some sort of purple huge wolf like humanoid monster. "Oh… my god…!" Junko's eyes widen in shock. "What on earth!" Ymir gasped.
Jean nearly wet his pants. "I…I take back everything I said about you being cute!" Jean stammered as he hid behind Tomoe. "What is that!" Yulie gasped. "Is that…?" Leonard started to say, then turned to Eldore. "Hey! Is that… another Knight?" He asked.
"No." Eldore shook his head no. "That is a Gigas." "The hell is a Gigas?" Nanael demanded. "A beast summoned from the magic plain. The pactmaker surrenders her body and the beast's power enters her flesh. Beast and human then fused into one." Eldore explained.
"I'm still confused by this Knight stuff. Don't make it worse…" Leonard face faulted. "Figure it out, later, Leonard! We need your Knight here and now!" Alice shouted as she fired gun shots at the Gigas, giving it some damage. "Right. Verto!" Leonard used the Knight's Ark to transform into the White Knight.
"B-By the dwarfs…" Ymir gasped as she saw the White Knight appear in Leonard's place. "That… is called a Knight. Leonard is one of the chosen who can use it." Zoey told her. "If it's on our side, then I guess it will help us defeat this monster that dancer turned into." Ymir nodded meekly.
Gigas
The Gigas charged at the White Knight, ramming him into a building. The White Knight recovered and pushed her off of him and then slashed her three times with his sword, Whitesteel. "Not bad, White Knight, but not good enough!" The Gigas said as she lashed her axe at him, giving him some damage. The White Knight counter attacked by slashing her three times with Mai delivering a flying kick and Dizzy flying at high spell and ramming into the Gigas, making it recoil for a bit. The Gigas growled as she lashed her tail at the White Knight, he dodged it and slashed the Gigas three times with his sword. The Gigas lunged at the White Knight, but like before he dodged it. "I'm putting an end to this!" The White Knight shouted as he stabs his sword through the Gigas, ending the battle.
The Gigas screamed in agony as she fell to her kneels, but before falling to the ground, the Gigas reverted back to the dancer. "Curse you…" She muttered before she slipped into unconsciousness. Leonard reverted back to human form.
"Well done, Master Leonard." Iroha smiled. "You sure showed that stupid monkey!" Nanael grinned, but her grinned faded as Leonard and the others rushed to her side. Nanael followed suit.
To be continued…
Next episode…
Cisna: With the dancer, Kara on their side. The party are ready to rescue me and Kara's sister from the clutches of the Magi. But before they can do that, they need a pass. So they must do an errand for the Don of Albana, along the way, Leonard and company are attacked by one of Cute and Jean and the Queen's Blade Combatants allies, Alleyne, the Combat Instructor who seems to have a grudge against Leonard's White Knight. Can Leonard defeat a elf who is skilled in 1000 years of training and fulfill the Don's request? Next time on White Knight Chronicles Heroes: The Don's Request: The Combat Instructor Strikes! Predict the Combat Instructor's moves, White Knight!
A/n: Next chapter, Alleyne will attack and join our heroes during the Don's request, so stay tune!
