Battle Vestroia Volume 2

Chapter 9

Alice P.O.V

I sat by the window looking outside. It being 2 days and luckily we did not run into any trouble. I could see the trees started to disappear and slowly I saw a large amount of water. I opened my window and leaned my head out. It was so beautiful I have never seen such a beautiful ocean. The water was clear blue like a transparent jewel. I saw some animals such as dolphins jump happily in the ocean as the seagulls flew over top. The sun was high up in the air without a cloud in sight.

"Wanna get a better view?" I heard. I looked around me but I couldn't find the location of the voice. I saw a hand stretch down towards me. I looked up and saw Mira.

"Come on up here." She said. Marucho appeared beside her.

"Yeah, It's even more beautiful up here." He said.

I laughed and took Mira's hand as I slowly climbed up to the top of the vehicle. The view was even more beautiful up on the top. I could see the ocean very clearly the bodies of water the surrounded the vehicle, I stood up and stretched my arms out feeling the gentle breeze.

"It's so nice up here." I said turning to Marucho and Mira.

"It sure is." Marucho said.

"I wonder what the Aquos Realm is like. Marucho aren't you from that realm what's it like there?" I asked.

"It's a nice place." He said simply. "Oh, looks it's a sea lion." He pointed to the side.

I grew confused; I stared at Marucho for a while and decided to join him in watching the sea lions. I guess he doesn't really want to talk about it. I guess I won't guess. Maybe he doesn't have a nice history there; I'll ask Ace later I guess.

"I wish my brother and family could see this." I said. "My brother would love to see this although he is a big soccer fan he enjoys marine life as well." I said. "What you think of the ocean Mira?" I asked, but it doesn't look like she heard me. She was looking the other way holding a locket in her hand.

"Mira, are you ok?" I asked. This time she responded.

"I'm fine." She said. "The sea is pretty." She answered. I feel like somehow all of these guys have a hard history. I feel like I should do something to help them but I don't think it would help to ask them now. I guess I'll find out a different way. I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Runo.

"Hey watched out we're going under now." She said pointing out the field that was setting up around us. I saw that the route on land was getting less and before I could say anything we were in the water, but thanks to the cool feature we have we can travel under water and view the sea life. It was as if I was in an aquarium, but a real life one.

"Wow!" I spun around. This is amazing I never knew about this feature on the boat. I wish I had my camera here. I suddenly felt myself bump into someone. I felt myself fall but I felt a pair of strong arms that supported me. I looked to see Dan. I panicked "Sorry, Dan I wasn't looking." I said. I saw him smile and say its fine. Dan is always so bright and warm. He's like the sun that never stops shining, a friend that could never be replaced to me. A warm person I hope that could always be there. I felt Runo grab my arm and push Dan back.

"How long do you plan to hold onto her?" she asked looking a little flushed. Runo….

"I was just about to let go..geez" Dan said.

"Sure you were." Runo said turning away. Um…why do they sound like they sound like they are in a lover's quarrel?

"We're here." Mira said pushing a button. A cloaking button...I wondered. I couldn't tell from inside her but it certainly felt that way to me.

"Mira, why did you push on a cloaking button?" I asked,

"Just in case those guys find us." She said in a serious tone. It felt like she was trying to hide something. Sure Vexos are a problem and it would be smarter to hide. Still something is bugging me. She seemed rather cautious about something.

"Hey Marucho, are you looking forward to going home?" Runo said. "You're from the Aquos Kingdom aren't you? You should take us to meet your family."

"Umm…it's ok they are out of town a lot so they won't be there. I won't be able to take you guys in and I think I'm gonna go turn in for a bit. I'm feeling a bit seasick. You guys go on in first I'll catch up later." He said running back into the car.

"What's wrong with him?" Shun said appearing at my side.

"No clue. I hope he'll be ok though." I suddenly left Towa-chan rubbing against my foot. She looked like she was trying to comfort me. I kneeled down and picked her up. "I'm ok Towa-chan don't worry." I hugged her. I watched as we slowly approached the big kingdom. I couldn't see clearly inside but I could feel the power from within. I then felt something in my pocket glow. It was the stone slate. The Haos and Subterra stones were reacting. Could the stone be in there? No, I can feel it. The stone is in there. The Aquos Stone is somewhere in that Kingdom. I tightened my grip on the slate. Finally another stone, I'm another step closer to collecting them all. I suddenly felt the car come to stop. We all got off the roof and went back inside. Where everyone was suiting up and getting their weapons ready. Shun, Dan, and Ace got their swords. Julie got her hammer ready. Runo had her sphere at her side. Baron grabbed his staff. I grabbed my arrows and placed them behind me. I then placed a sword that Mira gave me at my side. We all then placed on a dark cloak and pulled on our hoods.

"Won't we look suspicious this way?" I asked Baron concerned.

"Don't worry it'll be ok. The Kingdom welcomes travelers. This cloak is the typical traveling capes and we have to avoid getting seen by the Vexos." Baron replied.

"They can get in?" Runo asked surprised.

"Yeah they are good at sneaking in and disguising themselves." Ace said. "If we don't wear these they can see us easily."

So it's for defense, I guess that is ok. If the guards get suspicious I guess I just have to reveal my identity. I'm sure the Queen and King will allow the one in even if it means drawing a bit of attention. I gently brushed against the sword Mira gave me. This is my first time using a sword. I hope I can use it well. I guess I'll ask Mira about but I then realized that Mira was not with us.

"Hey, where is Mira…..and Marucho?" I asked scanning the room, realizing that they are not here.

"Mira said something about staying behind to watch the car in case of Vexos attacks. And Marucho said he wasn't feeling well so he decided to rest and catch up to us later."Julie said.

"Oh that's too bad. I was hoping Marucho would show us around since this is his home." I said sadly.

"Anyway let's get going before the Vexos beat us to the stone." Ace said walking ahead with the rest of us following.

"Alright!" we all shouted in agreement.

That's right this is no time to be playing around we have to look for the stone before the Vexos get to it first. If the Vexos do get it there is no telling what they could do. As we walked out of the car we were faced with a long beautiful pathway made of silver bricks. And at the end of the path was a big white gate with aqua blue color designs. I stared at the gate still there were no words that could leave my mouth. I could feel the same feeling from my comrades it's as if they entered a whole new world. We then all slowly approached the gate which we were then greeted by two gatekeepers.

"Hey who are you guys?" They asked sounding very alarmed. This was not the tone of a friendly place. They seemed alarmed as if an army of bakugan are trying to invade their city.

"Hey answer our question?! Who are you guys!?"They roared sounding even angrier and pointed their weapons at us. I saw everyone move back alarmed and ready to pull out their weapons. I stood there still realizing the trouble that could happen if we attacked.

"Wait!" I said and stepped forward. The guards looked alarmed but I only raised my hand slowly and said, "We mean no harm."

I then pulled my hood down revealing my identity to them. "I am Alice Gehavich, the human that came to save Vestroia, The One." I said calmly.

I saw that the guards slowly put down their weapons. "The One…are you serious then you must have come for…" one guard said.

"Yes we came to ask about the Aquos Stone." I said. "These are people who have traveled with me on my journey. We are very sorry for not introducing ourselves earlier, but we were trying to hide our identity from Vexos."

"Put your hood on and follow me." The second guard said. He then walked to the door and tapped it three times. He then mumbled some words which was foreign to me. Before I could put my hood back on the guard told us to hold on. We looked confused but before anyone could say anything we felt the ground beneath us shake and without warning the ground opened.

"Huh?" I said, before I could anything us gravity already took control and all of us began to fall down the hole beneath us. The next thing I could hear was all of us screaming as we traveled down what appeared to be a water stream.

Mira POV

I turned the page in the book I was reading. It was boring to wait for the others but it was better than to go back in there. I don't want to go back yet. Not to that place just not there.

"So you don't want to go back either." Marucho said entering into the living room. He seemed fine and when I last checked on him he did not look sick at all.

"So what's your story?" I asked. "it's not like you to lie."

He didn't answer but only looked to the window that faced the kingdom. "I'm not ready to face my mother and father just yet."

"Well what do you know we're the same." I laughed. "I'm not ready to face my father just yet." I said clutching my necklace. Not yet…or maybe never.

"Your father is the scientist of…" Marucho began but I stopped him. "I know so please don't say any more."

"I bet you know who I really am too, don't you?" Marucho then asked looking like an abandoned child.

"Of course I know." I said. "Marukura Chouji, the….."

Alice POV

When I opened my eyes I found myself in a strange place. It was a room with dim lights that reflected pale green on the gray walls. I could see my friends awaking beside me.

"Is everyone ok?" Ace asked getting up.

"Well I'm alive." Dan said spitting out a bit of water. Runo and Julie were still holding onto each other but they nodded.

Baron was upside down at the side but he gave us a thumbs-up. And Shun was sitting up straight at the other lifting a hand up in response saying he was ok. He also held Towa-chan in his arms who was shaking in shock of the fun ride we just had.

"Anyway where are we?" Dan asked.

"The basement of the castle." We heard a guard voice. We turned to the direction of the voice that came from behind a wall. We then saw the wall open revealing a staircase leading up.

"Sorry for our rough actions but we wanted to attract less attention to the Vexos."

"The Vexos!" we all shouted alarmed.

"Lately there have been too many attacks, we moved most the people to the castle for protection so far. And we are on high security for intruders or Vexos spies. We have guards around all day guarding the town people who still live in their house still."

The Vexos are attacking the town. Those guys are really despicable. I thought biting my lip. Innocent lives are being targeted here.

"How could this have happened? According to my knowledge this place is suppose to be really safe." Ace questioned.

"It's because of the prince." One guard said sounding angry. "The Kingdom's Prince abandoned this palace. He was the only powerful warrior left yet he left and abandoned this country. The King and Queen will need a heir soon and the Prince is still missing." The man shouted. "That stupid prince."

We could feel it that anger of the guards and probably the people.

"How could a prince abandon his country? If I ever find him I will give him a piece of my mind." Dan said getting fired up.

"Anyway please let us take you the King and Queen. They will answer all your questions about the Aquos Stone." The guards said beginning to lead us up the stairs. We looked at each other and nodded in agreement. We followed them up the stairs which led us to a big ballroom. The room was enormous with three glass chandeliers. There were painting on the aqua color walls, to the left and right were glass windows and floor was marble pink. And ahead I could see people sitting in thrones, a man and a woman. They must be the King and Queen. As we approached them we all knelt down with one guard approaching them. He walked up to the edge of the steps to the thrones and knelt down.

"Your Majesty the One has come to heed answers on the location of the Aquos stone." I could see the King nod. The guard then walked over to me and asked me to rise. I did what I was told. I took off my cloak and passed it to a maid who approached me.

"Thank you." I smiled at her. I then faced the King and Queen who sat before me. I stared astonished at their presence. The Queen had beautiful golden hair which she braided and let it hung on one side. She wore a light blue dress that reflected the color of the water outside with yellow trimming and a dark blue ribbon at her chest. The King had smooth brown hair that crooked to his ears. He wore a dark blue suit with a red cape at his back. The dark blue suit had black trimming and he held a gold sceptre in his left hand that was decorated with jewels of all sorts.

"So you are the One." The Queen spoke. Her voice sounded smooth like an angel of the sea.

"Yes I am." I said trying to maintain my posture.

"And you have come to ask about the Aquos Stone?" The king said calmly.

I gave a nod in response. The King and Queen then turned to each other and nodded. The King then turned back to me and said.

"The location of the Aquos stone is located somewhere in the Deep Blue Cove." He then said.

"The Deep Blue Cove!" Baron shouted sounding frightened.

"So you have heard of this place?" the Queen asked.

"Umm…yes." Baron said. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn but that place is said to be the most dangerous in the sea. People who have gone there never made it back."

Never made it back….I thought. What kind of place is that? Did the Aquos stone wanted to protect itself so bad? Anyway we have to go there and fast! But I'm scared never coming back I can't put all my friends at risk. I should go alone.

"Whatever you're thinking stop." I heard Shun's voice behind me. I then realized he was beside me. "We're coming with you." He said calmly.

I looked at my in awe. How did he know I was thinking that? I didn't even say anything nor was I facing him so how did he know? Shun has somewhat changed when we first met. When we first met it was like he didn't want me there at all. Like the time when we went to save Ace he is more mature now. I then laughed.

"What?" he said looking at me strangely.

"Nothing, I get it. I won't do anything rash, but we can't leave the people alone either." I said. "We have to get the stone and help the people too."

"Sure." Shun said. "So do we have to spilt up?"

"Most likely however we should stay here for a while and learn more about this place." I suggested which everyone nodded in agreement.

"Ok, I'll contact Mira and Marucho to know what's up." Dan said, however before he could contact them the Queen stood up,

"Marucho?" she asked sounding surprised. We looked at her shocked expression as if she had just seen a ghost or something.

"Marucho as in Marukura Chouji?" she then asked. All of us flinched. How did she know Marucho's full name?

"Excuse me but may I ask how you know his full name?" Runo asked. However the Queen did not answer but rather started to shed tears.

"Marucho….Marukura Chouji is our son and the next in line for this Kingdom." The King then answered standing up. There was a long silence before we all shouted, "EH!"