A/N:
Ohayou gozaimasu, with the 100th review from PostronimV, I now present you Chapter 9 of Midsummer.
AS chum-sa had mention before, the relationship between Shizuru& Natsuki just like Master and puppy. but now that the puppy has rebel against his master...rawr! more to come...
and like PostronimV-san said, natsuki jump into conclusion too fast..but isn't she always like that? When i watch Mai-Hime/Otome, I have this mental image that Natsuki is somewhat always making her own conclusion and sometime reckless (like the bra incident), but there Shizuru with calculated judgement and action. so, I hope to received your review so I can improved the story more sensible to you all. My deepest gratitute.
Frau-chan
Chapter 9 – The Obsidian Stone
"So.." Mai look directly to Natsuki "This is the cave?"
"Yes…." Said Natsuki simply. There a sadness in her tone. "…come on"
As they reach the dead end, Natsuki walk cautiously at first, but when she noticed that the area is clear, she approached the wall again.
"Now, where the pollution?" Mai asked skeptically.
"I…" as Natsuki look around more with her flash light in hand "I don't know."
"There something written here." Mai said looking closely at the words on the wall. "Hmmm.. 'The sword of might, the stone of magic. The warriors of right forever protect the light.'? What does…" Mai step backward as again the ground quake. Natsuki pull Mai together away from the wall immediately. Just like before, a figure in plate armor emerge from the wall as a queue, Natsuki and Mai materialize ready to fight.
"So.." Mai look at Natsuki, "..this is the pollution you talk about?"
Natsuki nodded confirming Mai's words.
"Okay, Natsuki. Lets fight it together!" with that last scream, Mai leap forward, boomerang in hand attack the pollution.
…..
"Now…hah!...hah!..hah!.." panting, Mai took her step backward. "Na-Natsuki, this is tough enemy…hah..!hah..!" Natsuki had lean her back on the wall behind to support her. Both already beaten badly. Blood trickle down from Mai's forehead. "I should summon Kagusutchi.."
With that, Mai stand straight, crossing her boomerang at her front "born from the rage of flame, come forth my child, Kagusutchi!". From under the ground, the flame circle appear and the dragon emerge from it.
"Hey..hah..hah..why didn't you summon it earlier, Mai?" Natsuki asked catching her breath.
"You know, summoning a child took much mana. I thought we can win without child…I go first this round…Kagusuchi! Forward!" Mai lung toward the unnerve pollution with her child. The fierce battle start again. Natsuki look from Mai behind. Clenching her wounded arm and gritting teeth. "Hey! Natsuki! What are you doing!" Mai shout from the battle. "I need you help here. Hurry up!"
A child. Do I have one? But what..how do I summon it?
….Duran….
Natsuki eyes widen. Suddenly she realized.
Smiling to herself, plunge her sword on the ground and extend her arm on both side she called. "MY CHILD, COME FORTH, DURAN!"
As she scream, a howl resounding in the cave, blue ice circle form in the ground. From it, a gigantic wolf like white dog emerge. The big dog then kneel in front of Natsuki, and she took the chance to stroke its ever soft fur. "Duran…"Kissing the forehead of the canine, Natsuki murmur tenderly.
Turning back toward the battlefield, Natsuki could see Mai and Kagusuchi fighting the fierce battle with Mai began to slow down. "Come, Duran. Let's go." Natsuki lung toward the battle with Duran by her side.
Mai and Natsuki attack the pollution with both magic and weapon. The pollution seems to know both magic, the ice and the fire. But something pique Natsuki, the pollution know which magic should it used on them. As it attack Mai, it using the fire magic, while when it attach her, it will switch to ice magic. It was when Natsuki realize something odd and draw up a plan. Pulling Mai sleeve, Natsuki motion for them to discuss for a moment, while giving order to their child to back them.
"What is it Natsuki?"
"I have a plan.."
"I'm hearing" Mai grin.
"Did you notice? The pollution attack us with our own magic type?"
"Hmm..now that you mention it…yes."
"Mai, do you know any way to combine our magic element and form the attack?"
"It might be hard, but it's worth trying.." Mai nodded. "The spell is 'element with element, dark and light, fire and water, unite..'and then said our own element."
Natsuki nodded "Okay…" Natsuki look at her child. As if understand his master, Duran breath the ice storm from his mouth with a howl. That will give the moment for Natsuki and Mai to commence their attack.
"Element with element…" As soon as Mai recite the first verse, Natsuki follow suit, "Dark and light, Fire and Water, unite Fire!"
"Unite Ice!" Both extend their weapon toward the pollution and the storm of fire and ice emerge from their weapon encircle each other element and merging as it strike the pollution.
Duran and Kagusutchi leap out of the attack range, while the pollution turn toward the attack, sword in hand shielding it. Natsuki increase the attack power. At the impact the pollution pulled back and its sword chink. "Mai!" Natsuki yell. "Natsuki…Now!" with that both increase their attack power and the attack force burst more ferocious as finally swept the pollution. As the light and flame disperse, the pollution is gone.
Mai crush on her knees, panting. "G-gosh, Natsuki…hah..hah.." Natsuki smile toward Mai.
The ground quake again. "EEEEHHHH! WHAT!? AGAIN!?" Mai abruptly stand in defense. But this time, the quake erupt as the wall rise and reveal the golden chamber behind it. Mai eyes wide with wonder.
Natsuki walk toward the chamber followed by Mai behind.
"Wow! What are these?" Mai look around. So did Natsuki.
High above on the wall written another letter. Natsuki read it aloud so Mai could heard it even though she currently scan the area.
"The Lion War. Behold the twelve heroes of the Ivalice Alliance. May their will carried on.
King Ivan Kruger of the Aries,
Lord Fujino Xeves of the Windbloom Kingdom,
Sir Tokiha Ken of Zipang,
Knight Yuuki Shouta of Zipang,
Knight Minagi Hiro of Zipang,
Sorcerer Tokiha Maki of Zipang,
Sorcerer Mizuno Chrysant of Windbloom,
Knight Eizenbern Greer of Windbloom,
Knight Yuki Hallard of Florence,
Sorcerer Sakura Senou of Florence,
Knight Kagura Armitage of Aries,
Knight Sugiura Aoi of Aswad "
At the mention of her family name, Mai walk to stand beside Natsuki and read the letter on the wall to confirm it.
"Tokiha? Why would my family's name mention in this dimension?" the question meet no answer.
Scanning the area again, Natsuki walk to the altar. There, stand five enormous golden statues, all in their version of plate armors, hands on their weapons. The statue at the center seems smaller and shorter from the rest of it. But from its position which in front of the four, the crown on its head slanting slightly to left, the design of his armor plate, crest on his chest to his sword, Natsuki acknowledge it as the King. One statue stand on the right of the wall next to the chamber door. The armor is identical to the pollution before. Sitting next to it is a lion statue that Natsuki thought look identical to the monster she had defeated before.
"Mai…." Natsuki point to the statue.
Mai follow Natsuki finger. "The pollution?...No…" More question with no answer.
Three of the statues clad in sorcerer robe and stand far at left wall of the chamber while three statues also clad in knight armor stand on the right wall. All in all, the total of the statues is twelve. Natsuki turn around from the King statue and examine the floating dark red stone at the center of the altar. Extending her hand to touch, it was immediately meet with electric surge. "ouch!" Natsuki flinch.
Mai approach Natsuki, eyes focus on the stone. "Barrier.." as she state matter of fact.
Examine closer, Mai chant a spell quietly, the electric force again appear circling the stone.
"Natsuki, it's the lightning spell. The spell of cosmos. An ancient spell." Mai look again straight at Natsuki. "Natsuki, only you could dispel it. Try put your hand around it and cast an Ice spell to the barrier."
Natsuki do as Mai said. Soon, the ice freeze in the circular and grabbing the ice sphere, it then break. Natsuki grab the stone. Something stirring in her heart. Anger, power, greed, vengeance. She felt want to laugh but she hold herself.
"Thank you for helping us finding the great sorcerer stone"
A suave male voice alarm them and from the cave four figure come forward.
Natsuki glare at their intruder. Reito smile smugly, Haruka and Yukino walk behind him and lastly, "Shizuru…." Natsuki snarl the poison in the name. The betrayal that she felt clutching her heart. The anger and the killing impulse boiling inside her. Gritting her teeth in rage and her eyes flash fury. She could feel copper on her tongue.
"Natsuki!" Mai shout snapped her from her deep fury. What was that? Natsuki astound. I have never been like that before. Even if I angry and hurt toward Shizuru, but that deep dark feeling, its…strange. "Are you alright?" Mai ask with concern.
Looking back at Shizuru, Natsuki nodded, "ummm.."
On finding Natsuki eyes on her, Shizuru hug herself. The regret, sadness and guild she felt painfully clamped on her heart. "Natsuki…" Shizuru whisper.
Apart from Shizuru, all three intruder already clad in knight armor. Haruka in green, Yukino in yellow and Reito in his black armor. All have the Royal Crest on their left chest.
"Now, hand over the stone" Reito begin.
"Over my dead body" Mai counter.
"BY THE POWER OF WINDBLOOM KINGDOM, I ORDER YOU TO GIVE US THE SPOON!" Haruka bark.
"Haruka, it's 'stone'"
"THAT WHAT I SAID, YUKINO!" annoying evidence on Haruka face.
Inserting the stone safely into her pocket, Natsuki glance to Mai as a signal to force their way out. It was hard to fight the Royal Guard after the encounter with the pollution, which they now admit is not the pollution, but the chamber's guard. Their child already disappear when they defeat the guard and to summon again their child, they need mana power. That's what they hope they have more right now. The mana power to escape from the Royal Knight. Three of them. No. Four if you include Shizuru. But Mai still doesn't know what element did Shizuru posses. So, the more they have to be cautious. From their armor and weapon, Mai could comprehend Reito element is Fire and Yukino…she might be the wind. Haruka undoubtedly the Earth element. That's mean, they are on disadvantage side here. Since they both are of opposite element, while Fire and maybe the wind element if merge would be strong. Granted, they are out of mana power.
The moment pass in silent as both side focus on each other, ready for battle.
"IIIAARRRGGGHHH!" Haruka first lung forward direct her attack to Mai while Yukino leap toward Natsuki. Reito stand on the background eye fixing on Shizuru as she fidget looking down on the ground. Sadness still etched in eyes.
Mace clash with boomerang and silver sword clash with twin sai. Pushing the limit of their body, Natsuki and Mai tried their hardest to hold on as long as they can and find any opening to make their escape. After all, fighting in their state would be reckless and clearly they have little chance to win. Not after they have using most of their mana to fight the guard before.
As the battle between two side prolong, Natsuki tiredly lean on her sword for support. Yukino took the opportunity by firing the wind element. Letting go off her sword, Natsuki use both her hand to form the shield. Holding on, the blood trickle down her forehead. Wincing and closing her eyes, she gritted her teeth. A fire beam suddenly reach from her side and she was thrown to the wall. Her armor soon disappeared. "Tsk. That why I told you to recite the spell properly, baka Natsuki!" Mai scolded. Without the protection from her armor, the impact took its toll, her head knock on the wall and she immediately unconscious.
"Natsuki!" Both Shizuru and Mai shout at the same time. Averting her gaze from the battle in her front, Mai unable to avoid the mace. She blown back to the same wall not far from Natsuki.
"You could've save our time just by surrender the stone." Reito said with a smirk on his face.
Shizuru glare at Reito. Apparently, Reito had sneakily attack Natsuki. It's not a fair fight.
Approaching the fallen Ice knight, Reito reach his pocket and grab the red stone before return to his position earlier. Haruka had been back to stand beside Yukino.
"Now, hmmm…" Reito look at the stone closely before extend it toward the two fallen knight.
Mai grimace. The pain on her abdomen crucifying her. Trying her hardest to stand again, it meet the failure and she again drop down. Panting heavily. Soon the red light engulf the stone and it then shoot toward them. Closing her eyes, Mai wish luck on their side as she call the strength to defend from the incoming attack. On her knees, painfully Mai extend her hands forward "Holding the protection of the moon and sun, destroy the calamity in the northeast! SHIELD!" The fire wall rise shielding them. The shot is too strong, and Mai began to lose focus. Her vision start to blur. As she nearly close her eyes, she abruptly open it again as she see the purple light taking the attack head on and shielding them.
"Kai…Kaichou?" Mai exclaimed in surprise.
"Tokiha-han…Kannin na…" said Shizuru with sadness in her tone. "Take Natsuki and escape from here, hurry.."
"But…."
"Hurry..I can't hold on too long on this."
"Y-yes.."
A laughter echo from the other end of the chamber, coming from none other than Reito. "Oh..No you're not going anywhere." With that Reito increase the stone output and the attack become much stronger than before.
Shizuru coughing a blood. Pieces of beam had slip through her shield graze her face and robe. Blood trickle down her cheek and she hissed.
"REITO! STOP! YOU COULD KILL HIME!" Haruka voice loudly bark.
"Nobody command her to help the rebel" Reito reason.
"Even so, they are already beaten. They can't move anymore. As I can see now, you are attacking Ojou-sama." Yukino support Haruka. Both Royal Knight now facing Reito.
"I SAY STOP!" Haruka bark again with threat in her voice.
The shot from the stone increase again more fierce before it stop leaving Shizuru kneeling in front of the rebel. The smokes of burn emerge from her body as the after effect of the fierce attack.
"humpfftt.." Reito spun around and walk leaving in silence. Yukino glance again toward Shizuru with sympathy before she also walk after Reito.
"Bubuzuke…" Haruka opening her mouth trying to convey something but immediately close it and follow behind.
Panting heavily, Shizuru collapse to the ground as darkness take over her vision.