Roxius: Eheh, I get a lot of inspiration from pictures. And after seeing a set of pictures on Pixiv of an LL crossover, ideas just started flowing. X3 I'm not completely sure how long it will be. It depends how fast I want each chapter to progress the story along. I hope it lasts a long time though.

Nelura: Haha, this story is very loosely based off of ToV. That is my absolute fav game of the series *heart*. You'll see some similarities, mostly the world layout, but different plot. As for the pairing, if it were left up to me to decide the pairing, then this story would have never started... lol I'm that indecisive at times. Plus, it gave a chance for you guys to have a say in something. As for the side pairing, well, that'll be voted on later. So you never know what'll pop up.

lychee-ran: Uhm... No most of those are wrong actually xp But we'll get to that as the characters are introduced. Also, I feel like I say this alot but I want to let you guys choose. Especially with this story, where I'm very indecisive. I enjoy reader input every once in a while as well.

Satsuki Rin: Haha yeah, that's right. If it were another character rather than Kotori, this second chapter and on would look quite different. For one, Kotori is only a dark mage in this version, in most other versions she would've been the typical healer kind of mage. Yeah, there's going to be flaws, I can't help that since it's a lot of adapting borrowed ideas. And haha, well to be fair, Rin isn't very ordinary either, so not even Kotori would've anticipated that.

*Disclaimer: I do NOT own Love Live!

After waiting for what seemed like forever, the late night hour came where the maid's changed guard shifts. Honoka and Maria waited until they felt it was the right time, then quietly opened the door to Honoka's room and slipped into the hallway.

The two had discussed the plan very briefly. Maria had knowledge of all the late-night guard spots, as well as patrol patterns. Right now guards were to hold position at assigned spots while their reliefs would meet them there and take over. Maria led Honoka through each corridor, pausing by each corner to make sure a stray guard wasn't by. Though the clear sign was the lamps they carried. With no visible light, they would continue forward.

Their goal was the prison cells, located in the southeastern part of the castle and at basement level. Honoka's room was located in the northwestern corner of the castle, and on the second floor. Of course, there were secret passages throughout the castle. They were known to all who needed to know, namely the Kousaka family, the maids, and the Knights. Honoka and Maria cut a fair amount of time through the passages, arriving near the basement entrance within minutes.

As they made their way down the stairs, their pace slowed down by a lot. Basement level was more or less just the dungeon, and logically that meant it was guarded a little heavier than random corridors of the castle. Sounds also echoed a lot more than in the corridors as well.

So, Honoka and Maria tried to take things a lot slower and make as little noise as possible. Though Honoka was eager, and she couldn't handle taking things slowly for that long. Maria sensed her master's feelings and acted accordingly, picking up the pace while still making as little noise as they possibly could.

Maria signaled to stop as they reached the end of the corridor. She was looking around the corner. Curious, Honoka stepped behind her, looking around as well. The next room would be dark except for a corner at the opposite end from where they would enter. That was the guard's post, right next to the prison entrances.

"Looks like they've already changed shifts down here," Maria said under her breath.

"Good. That should make things easier."

"It'll still be a bit tricky..."

Honoka placed a hand on Maria's shoulder. "I know you can do it."

Honoka retreated back around the corner again while Maria stepped out into the larger room. She dropped the sneaking mindset, and simply walked across the room toward the guard's spot. The sudden noise of footsteps had made the guard jump slightly. Though he relaxed once he shined the light over and saw the maid.

"Ah, the Princess's maid," the guard said.

Maria smiled. "Good evening."

"Not that I particularly mind... But what are you doing down here?"

"Well, that Minami girl is being held here, isn't she?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"Well as you can imagine, the princess is concerned about her presence." Maria paused, then quickly added, "Not that she doesn't trust you Knights."

The Knight shook his head. "I understand. Everyone knows of the Minamis' powers. This girl's power probably rivals the Princess's herself."

No one rival's Honoka-sama in raw power, Maria thought. But control is another matter entirely.

"Well, you can understand then why I was told to come by and check on things," Maria said.

"Right. Well, I can show you to the cell if you would like."

"If you'd be so kind."

The Knight turned and motioned Maria to follow him down further. Maria began walking, but pulled out a card behind her back, tilting it twice before making her way down the stairs. It was the signal for Honoka to move. She did so, crossing the empty room as quietly as possible to follow them down the stairs.

Maria and the knight reached the bottom of staircase and continued walking. But when Honoka hit the bottom, she ducked into a dark corner to hide. The knight continued leading Maria all the way to the last cell. You could tell at a distance that this was a different cell from the others, as it had a magic seal across the entrance.

"Here we are," the knight said. "Minami's cell."

"With a magic seal by the King himself," Maria added.

The knight nodded. "As secure as this cell can ever be."

Maria turned to the knight. "I'm going to check some last things here. You can go back to your post."

The knight simply nodded and turned back around. It seemed to take him forever to make his way back up the stairs, but once he finally left Honoka was able to leave her corner and rejoin Maria by the prison cell.

He carefully made his way through the dark passageway.

"An actual passage as well," the man said to himself. "I was honestly expecting this to be sewers."

For a moment he considered how weird it is that he's talking to himself. Although that thought didn't last long, it did bring something else to his mind.

"What could have happened to Kotori? She should have just stayed with me instead of wandering off."

He shook his head.

"Guess that doesn't matter now. I have to see this through."

He continued through the underground passage.

She heard the door to her room open. She looked up from the book in her hand and looked toward her maid.

"Well, Ally?" she asked.

"It's like you thought, my Queen," Ally responded. "Your daughter isn't in her room, and Maria is gone as well."

The mother sighed. "I was hoping I wasn't right in this case. They've probably made their way to the dungeon."

"Should we alert the King?"

"We don't need to tell my husband yet. Let's see if we can't catch my daughter ourselves first."

"As you wish."

She closed the book in her hand and placed it onto the table, standing up. As she didn't see any reason to hurry, she and her maid took their time leaving the room and entering the hallway.

The knight and a maid didn't really catch her attention. But this new arrival got her to sit up on her prison bed.

"You're... Kousaka Honoka..." Kotori said, somewhat in disbelief.

"That's right," Honoka said, somewhat smiling.

Kotori narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Me? I just want to talk."

"... Huh?"

"That's right. Actually, there's a request I have for you."

"A request? You know who I am... right?"

"You're Minami Kotori."

Honoka answered almost immediately, surprising Kotori.

"Yes, I know our families' history with each other. But my request still stands. I need your help."

Kotori raised an eyebrow. "What do you want?"

"Let me ask you first. You've traveled around a lot, right?"

"Somewhat... Why?"

"Okay, because here's my request. Take me around the country."

"... What?"

"Take me to travel around the country. I've been so bored being stuck in this castle every day. So, take me traveling with you. I want to be able to see the country, and what the world has to offer."

Kotori took a moment to fully process what Honoka had just said.

"You want me... to take you traveling around the country?" she asked.

"Well, around the world. But the country would be fine too."

"You know there are all kinds of monsters out there."

"Yes, I've read about them. But of course, I've never been allowed outside the castle, so I've never had the chance to see them myself."

"And you'll be traveling with me. You know what kind of risk that puts on you?"

To this, Honoka smiled again. "I don't think that will be much of a problem, and you know it as well."

"What do you mean?"

"If you were truly a threat to me, you wouldn't be warning me right now. You would be trying to deceive me, right?"

Kotori realized Honoka was right. "I-it doesn't matter. Our families are-"

"Enemies? So what? I'm only asking you to take me traveling. I'm not asking you to marry me or something."

Kotori lost track of how many times she found herself lost for words in this conversation. She quietly considered Honoka's words again, finding she had no reason not to help. Honoka had been right about her as well. Apart from the mercenary contract, she had no will or reason to harm Honoka. She sighed.

"Somehow I have a bad feeling about this," she said finally. "But fine, I'll accept your request. But just around the country, alright?"

The delight was evident in Honoka's face. "Wonderful."

"... You're unusual for a princess, you know that?"

"I've been told. Now, be ready. Once I take down my father's seal, he'll be alerted, and we'll have to move quickly."

Kotori nodded her understanding. Honoka placed a hand on the magical barrier, closing her eyes and focusing. Kotori saw from her side that the Kousaka crest drew itself on the palm of Honoka's hand, and a moment later the entire barrier dissolved. Then Maria stepped forward, pulling a key out of her pocket and unlocking the cell lock. Kotori pushed the cell door open, and the three made their way to the exit of the dungeon. Kotori looked around as they went.

I really was the only prisoner here, huh? she thought to herself.

They didn't slow down to move quieter as they ascended the staircase. As they ran, Maria conjured another card, bringing it in front of her. Before they passed through the entry back into the guard's room, she threw the card forward. Instinctively, the three of them covered their eyes. The knight at the top, caught unaware and unsuspecting, looked straight at the card.

That mistake was all they needed. The card emitted a bright flash of light. The sudden burst forced the knight's eyes shut, and the secondary effect kicked in. Two waves of air shot from the card in all directions. The first wave made the guard's balance unsteady, with the follow-up wave knocking him over. By now the three reached the top of the stairs, and proceeded quickly through the room. Kotori turned back to see the knight, still doubled over and covering his eyes as they left the room.

"The seal to the Minami girl's cell just went down."

"You can tell?"

"My magic is linked to my husband's. So I'm able to feel things that he can."

The queen smiled to herself as she continued walking with Ally through the corridors. The magic link between her and the King wasn't there originally. It took her a lot of convincing to get him to agree to that kind of shared power. Now it was paying off.

"So, if you don't mind me asking..." came Ally's voice. "Why are we still proceeding casually?"

"Because we're not going after my daughter."

"... What?"

The queen held up her hand, signaling for Ally to stop. "There's an uninvited guest that needs attending to first."

Before Ally got a chance to ask another question, a dark figure had emerged at the end of the hallway. But it wasn't a figure she recognized. As the figure stepped forward into the light, Ally found that it wasn't a she, but a he.

"Richter." The queen announced. "Son of Wingul and Asriel Minami."

"I guess I should feel honored that the Queen of Izolle," Richter challenged. "However I don't have time to be wasting on you right now."

"Of course you have time. You're targeting my daughter after all. There's no way we could let that slide, can we?"

"... I don't know how you came to know my objective, but I'm starting to get really annoyed with you. I hope you aren't a disappointment, old lady."

The queen unsheathed her rapier. "Don't worry, I'll give you a little hope before I humiliate you."

The grin on her master's face told Ally what she was in for. She shrugged and moved off to the side. She leaned against a particular part of the wall, tapping it behind her with two fingers. A control panel revealed itself in response. She quickly tapped the keys for a command. The system responded just as the first spell was casted.

They moved quickly, and somewhat quietly, through the corridors. They reached the entrance to one of the secret passageways. As they made their way through, Kotori couldn't help but asking something that's been on her mind.

"Have you always been able to use spell cards?" she asked Maria.

"Well personal maids aren't appointed just because we're the most obedient," Maria answered. "We're tasked with protecting our masters, with our own power."

"Of course, the way each maid serves is different," Honoka pointed out. "Maria-chan is the only one who uses cards and a revolver as magic mediums."

"A revolver?" Kotori asked.

Mari lifted the right side of her uniform's skirt, revealing a revolver and it's holster strapped on her right thigh. It was positioned for easy access, while still comfortably hiding under the uniform.

"I'm a good shot with it as well," Maria said. "So, I would think twice if you suddenly have the urge to double-cross us."

"Noted..." Then something else was bothering Kotori. "So anyway, where are we going? Isn't the castle entrance in the opposite direction."

"It is. We're going to stop by my room," Honoka answered.

"You're room?"

"Yup. You don't expect me travel around the country looking like a princess, do you?"

"... You have a point there."

"Quiet," Maria said. "We're about to enter the corridors again."

Maria looked around to make sure no one was around. Once she decided it was clear, they exited the passageway into the corridor. It was around the corner from Honoka's room. Maria placed her hand on the doorknob and was about to open it when Honoka caught her hand.

"What?" Maria asked.

"Wait."

Kotori watched, expecting something. There was a small flash of light, and then Honoka let go of Maria's arm.

"Ally placed a spell in the doorway," Honoka explained. "It would've tripped if we opened the door."

"Aren't you supposed to be keen to these kind of stuff?" Kotori asked.

"S-shut up," Maria breathed before pushing the door open.

If Kotori didn't know Honoka was a princess, seeing her room now would've convinced Kotori of that. Having grown up in a fairly normal way, the room was everything Kotori would've guessed a princess's room would be, from the design to the furniture to the size.

"Don't worry, I won't be long," Honoka announced. She walked to her closet, pulled something out, then got onto her bed and closed the bed curtains.

Maria and Kotori waited quietly. Kotori wouldn't look, but she had a feeling Maria was keeping an eye on her. Though when she finally got the nerve to look over at the maid, Maria had her head down, eyes closed.

"You're not asleep, are you?" Kotori asked.

"You think I'd easily let my guard down like that while around you?" Maria responded.

"Just checking..."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm cautious of anyone whose potentially a threat to my master. It's not just you specifically."

"Thanks for that, I guess," Kotori said, not sure how to react.

Maria opened her eyes again, looking to Honoka's bed.

"She sees something in you, thinks you wouldn't do anything to her. I don't know where she gets this blind faith, though."

"Maybe she just wants to believe that so she can get out of this castle."

"That could be true as well. Aside from her training, she doesn't look like the happy child she was growing up in here. She looks longingly out of her window almost daily."

"That's... quite sad, actually..."

Maria glanced at Kotori out of the corner of her eye. Coming to a decision, she got up from the wall she was leaning on, and turned to the door.

"Hmm? Where are you going?" Kotori asked.

"I'm going to keep watch outside. Make sure it's clear when we leave."

"Shouldn't I-"

"Just stay put until Honoka-sama is done."

Without any more room for arguing, Maria stepped outside the room. Kotori looked after her for a moment before turning back around to face the bed. She didn't have to wait much longer, as Honoka pulled the curtains again after a few minutes.

"Well, what do you think?" Honoka asked, twirling once.

Kotori raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that still give away that you're a princess?"

"Eh? But this was given to me by one of the upper quarter nobles."

"Seriously?"

Honoka nodded.

"... Rich people..."

"Eh? What was that?"

"Nothing. Anyway, Maria's waiting outside. Let's go?"

"Yup!"

Kotori slowly opened the door. Maria had been scanning up and down the hallway. Once she heard the door open, she gave them a signal that it was clear. They were on the move again, moving down the hallway in the opposite direction from where they came. They went down two halls before jumping into another passageway.

The rest of the time they spent sneaking around the castle, there was no conversation. Maria led Kotori and Honoka with hand signals, and they hurried along until they reached a particular room.

"This room is..." Kotori started.

"Linked to the outside with a secret passage," Maria finished.

It was a fairly large room, and almost empty except for an ice statue in the center. Maria walked up to its base. She placed two cards she conjured on it, each covered by her hands. With the help of the cards, Maria pushed the statue, revealing the passageway underneath.

"Once I release the cards, the statue will snap back into place," Maria told them. "So you two go first."

Kotori and Honoka did so without question. They slipped into the entryway. Once they were both safely through, Maria jumped in, grabbing her cards as she did so. Had she not been prepared, she would've been caught by the motion of the statue. But she rejoined the other two without a scratch.

"Well, I hope that wasn't disappointing to you," The queen said sweetly.

Ally overlooked the result of the battle between Richter and the Queen. Although battle was a generous term, as the conflict only lasted a few minutes.

"If you were really a dark prince, then you probably would've stood more of a chance."

"Enjoying your little victory?" a new voice asked.

"Of course. I haven't had to exert myself in years," The queen answered, turning to face her husband.

"You certainly didn't go easy on the kid."

"Yes I did. If I went all-out, he wouldn't be breathing anymore."

The king raised an amused eyebrow. His wife just smiled and went up to hug him.

"Come on, I just wanted to have some fun," she said.

"Well, he seems to be okay still. We'll have the knights send him back to Telos Astue."

"Good. I would've been upset if we had to keep him prisoner around here."

"Speaking of which, you realize our daughter left the castle."

"I know, I felt her presence leave."

"Shouldn't we go and-"

The queen placed a finger on his lips to silence him. "No we shouldn't. This will be good for her. She needs to get out by her own will, and experience things."

"But we could've taken her out of the city."

"If we did that then she wouldn't want to go."

"But-"

"Shh. Remember, we used to explore a lot before your father passed away and you had to take the throne. And your father didn't think it was right for us to be going alone. But we learned so much from those adventures. We gained experience, and our people respected us. No one thought they could attack us the same way they thought your parents were vulnerable. It'll be the same if Honoka gets a chance to travel."

The king sighed. "Well, I can't argue with that."

"Exactly." She reached up so they could kiss. "In the meantime, we have another daughter who has a lot to learn about her duties as a princess."

"You're right. We should get ready for tomorrow. Come along, you two."

Ally peered over in the direction the king had come from. Sure enough, his maid Clare emerged from the shadows. The two waited for the King and Queen to start walking, but the king first faced Ally.

"Oh, and thanks for the video alert. Too bad I didn't reach here in time."

"No problem, sir," Ally said.

The four of them returned to the King and Queen's quarters. Some knights came by to pick up Richter.

Hey guys, nobodD here!

Horray! I finally got around to updating this story X3 I've really wanted to get back to you guys, but personal life again. Nothing too bad. Just mostly busy and some hard time sleeping.

Anyway! We're back, and that makes me happy. Super sorry that it took long, but happy nonetheless.

For anyone interested in why I made Maria specialized the way she is, check out my Dropbox. In this story's ch.3 folder you'll find the two picture references, as well as Honoka's outfit midway through this chapter. If it wasn't obviously already, I get ALOT of inspiration from pictures X3.

I think for the most part we won't be flipping between points of view anymore, and mainly focus on the main party's side. That also means we'll get to start meeting the other characters! Oh and Rin will obviously come back soon as well X3

Not really much else to say. Probably forgetting a lot of things. Anyway! Hopefully people are still interested in this story. I want to focus a lot more on this. As always, and comments and questions can be in reviews or PM.

Hope to see you again soon~