[Message from KC]: OHMYGOD! I know it's been forever since I updated! I'm sorry -_- anyway! It's good to be back guys with an exciting new instalment! anyway, so I finished (and for those of you who are wondering...NO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX MY SHIFT KEY XD) the notes for voulme 2 (for realz this time!) and it's going to be roughly 34 MORE chapters excluding the epilogue XD...-_- anyway...the last book had two acts, the first act ending at chapter 17 and the second act ending at chap. 31. Okay yeah...so I think this book is going to have 3 acts instead of 2. Mostly because the red palace tournament is going to end at chapter 15 and the fights are going to be really fucking LONG! And I decided that it's going to be three acts because the Heissigaurt/Finn and Doc. Constantine chapters are pretty fcuking long too. So anyway! Life has stopped hitting me in the face with sh!t so I can actually get back to work on this :D YAY! so more chapters to come for volume 2 and for overture!
Also guys, if you feel like I need to update faster, or it's been more than five days since I've updated and you want me to update, seriously, do not be afarid to drop me a PM telling me to get my ass in gear and start writing. I would actually love it if I got PMs saying: KC Y U NO UPDATE FASTAR...actually, come to think of it, if someone sent me that in a PM, they would offically be my hero. ANYWAY! That's all I have to say :P enjoy the chapter guys!
Chapter IV.
Lumina City
"I can't believe we're finally getting out of Atmosia," Aerrow stated, a but melancholically as the last of the resistance stowaways climbed into the designated transport, "I never thought I'd be saying that."
"This isn't Atmosia," Nova added, as the hatch to the cargo ship slowly began to shut, "This godforsaken dry terra…I haven't had a beer in months! I'm going crazy!" "Only furthering the idea in our minds that you have an alcohol problem," Ace stated, making himself comfortable in between two crates.
"Think what you want," Nova replied with a shrug, "You'd drink too if you had to cater to the needs of the Twilight Knights everyday."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ravess asked, turning to Nova.
"Let's face it," Nova stated, sitting down on the floor, as the engines of the transport began to hiss and rumble, and the craft began to ascend, "You guys who just joined have it so easy. Back when I was a twilight knight-"
"Here we go again…" Aerrow sighed, rolling his eyes with a slight smile.
"Advent didn't stroke our egos constantly," Nova continued, "She treated us exactly like what we were, her personal attack dogs! Not to mention, we didn't have the tempest back when the knights were first formed! We didn't even have skimmers! You guys got to live in your big cushy carrier, having your asses hauled around all day. I'm not saying that we shouldn't leave this place, but I think it was a nice slap to the face for you guys."
"Nova!" Piper exclaimed.
"What," Nova replied, a little miffed, "You were all too soft! Even Cypress knew that. But now that you've been exposed to some real fighting and real survival, she's got another thing coming."
"I just can't wait to join the rest of the fighters in Lumina City," Matteo added sternly, sitting down next to Nova.
"I'm confused though," Ace then began, "How is it that Cypress doesn't have control of Lumina City? Or other terras for that matter?"
"Feudal Atmos has an enchantment shroud over it," Cyclonis stated, "It has for hundreds of years. That's why there aren't many maps showing its location, and they're not always accurate. Not to mention, if someone went looking for it, they'd run the risk of crashing into the terra. I wouldn't be surprised if Cypress hasn't been bothered to find it because it isn't worth the search."
"It's kind of the same way with terra Phusis," Piper then added, "Cypress has tried taking it over in the past, but the druids just fly away until she leaves."
"Not to mention ever time she's tried to destroy their terra," Aerrow added, laughing slightly, "They just restore it. She tried freezing it, and everything on the terra adapted. She tried burning it down, and the druids just grew everything back the next day. I can see why she'd give up. And as for terra wyndia, she's already tried seizing it once, but she was overthrown by the scientists. She already has Atmosia after all, why would she care about the others."
"But it still doesn't make sense," Ace stated boldly, "Lumina City is the epicenter of culture in Atmos. She could make a lot of people miserable by taking it over."
"Who cares why she hasn't taken it!" Matteo growled, "The point is, it's the only safe place that we can go in Atmos! Let's take that with a bullet."
Still, Ace thought, staring off into space, and deciding that it was for the best that he keep his thoughts to himself, Things just don't add up…
"The New Atmosian resistance is heading to Lumina City as we speak," Anaxagoras stated, walking into the throne room. All of Cypress' lieutenants were standing at attention around her throne, awaiting his arrival, including Carver and Cyrus, who looked as nervous as ever. Cypress leaned lazily against her hand as she gave a twisted smile.
"Perfect," Cypress smiled, rising from her seat, "Then we shall move forward as planned. Anaximander will stay behind and govern New Atmosia."
"Why Anaximander?" Meno growled, turning to Cypress.
"Because I need all of you to accompany me to my villa in Lumina," Cypress then stated, turning to Meno, "Anaximander has proven himself in combat, just as all of you have, but he has also proven himself politically…he will do a fine job in my absence, I am sure."
"Thank you master," The dark and watery triplet began, bowing his head slightly before Cypress.
"After all," Cypress then stated, turning to the rest of her lieutenants, "I need you all for the Red Palace tournament."
"Even myself your highness?" Cyrus began, feeling a little trapped and confused.
"Yes Cyrus," Cypress smiled, taking a few steps towards the woman, "Even you…After all, you've yet to prove your loyalty to the kingdom. I have greatly appreciated your years if service, but crushing your friends in the tournament will show me that you are the loyal warrior I have hoped you'd be."
"…you can count on me your highness," Cyrus then stated, after several minuets of silence.
"As you all know by now," Cypress stated, "The Twilight Knights and those in the resistance plan on entering the tournament to gain access to forbidden points in the city. I don't care who wins the tournament…it just has to be one of you!"
"You'd all be wise to throw the matches once we snuff out those pathetic knights," Carver stated darkly, "I like my title as king of the red palace tournament…and I don't intend on loosing it to a bunch of crystal freaks."
"Watch your tongue Carver," Anaxagoras hissed, getting dangerously close to Carver, "We crystal freaks could end your pathetic existence in a minuet if we wanted to! I'll make the decisions regarding Master's officers. You just do as you're told!"
"Bite me…" Carver scoffed under his breath. Anaxagoras turned and gave him a sharp look, but Cypress had begun to clear her throat, indicating that it was time for both of them to switch their attention to her.
"If both of you don't stop chattering like a horde of idle gulls," Cypress began, "I'll be forced to cut out both of your tongues…the two of you have been insufferable these last fifty-two years! Regardless…I want you all to know that failing to rise in the ranks of the tournament will end badly for all of you. Now Carver, if you'd be so kind as to explain the dynamics of the tournament to my lieutenants."
"As you wish," Carver nodded, turning to the other fighters, "The five of us will register as one team. Unfortunately for us, until the third round of the tournament, we'll have to work as a team.
"What do you mean?" Meno inquired, "You mean that there are separate stages to complete in the tournament?"
"The tournament is broken into three separate rounds," Carver explained, looking to her, "In round one, the registered team breaks up into groups of three and the fights are three on three. In round two, the winning team moves on, but has to divide into groups of two for two on two fights. But in round three, there are no more team fights, and the registered teams dissolve and the fights are one on one. There are no rules, no restrictions, and no limit to what you can do to your opponent." Carver concluded darkly and with a twisted smile.
"Simple enough," Cypress nodded, "As I have said, one of you must win the tournament. I trust that you can accomplish that."
"Run circles around these boys," Meno smiled, looking to Carver and the triplets, "Sounds like a nice vacation for me."
"Not likely Meno," Anaxagoras replied, rolling his eyes.
"Enough," Cypress sighed, "We depart immediately. Anaximander…I wish you well during my absence in New atmosia."
"Thank you master," Anaximander replied, bowing slightly.
"Oh and Carver," Cypress stated, smiling slightly, "You might want to re-consider your numbers for the team during the tournament entry."
"I'm sorry Master Cypress?" Carver asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're so very slow," Cypress began with a slight smile, "You've been excluding the most prime fighter of all of you lot in your entire speech."
"I'm sorry master?" Carver replied, sounding all too confused, "But I don't follow."
"Me," Cypress stated arrogantly, "Of course…"
"We made it!" Piper chirped with happiness, being the first to scurry off of the opened hatch of the transport ship.
"Maybe we can ever get new rides while we're here!" Aerrow added, looking into the perpetual dark sky above Lumina City.
"I've never been so happy to see neon lights before," Ravess laughed slightly, looking into the ever so bright streets of the city of night.
"Come on!" Nova smiled, rushing to the head of the group and gesturing them to follow her, "We shouldn't waste any time! Let's find the others and maybe get a stiff drink while we're at it!" She gestured as the small group walked through the bustling shipyard.
"There they are!" A familiar voice shouted, as a large figure rushed towards them from across the way.
"Junko!" Aerrow exclaimed, as he, Piper, and Radarr ran towards the wallop.
"I missed you guys so much!" Junko exclaimed, scooping up Aerrow and the others in his arms.
"We…missed…you…too!" Radarr sputtered, being choked by Junko's large arms in the embrace.
"You have no idea how happy we are to see you!" Piper exclaimed as Junko gently placed her down on to the ground.
"Anyway!" Junko then exclaimed, thrilled at the prospect of them being there, "I can't believe you made it off New Atmosia! Cypress has that place under major security."
"No kidding," Ace replied flatly, looking down at the ground.
"Anyway," Junko nodded, "Who's your new friend?" He gestured towards Sora and Matteo, who were walking up to the group side by side.
"Junko," Cyclonis sighed with a slight laugh, "You know Matt…he leads the resistance."
"Of course I know Matt," Junko replied with a laugh as he rolled his eyes, "I was talking about you." He smiled, turning to Sora.
"You mean you don't…" Ravess began, with a little concern, "You don't recognize her?"
"It's okay Ravess," Sora replied with a weak smile, "Junko…it's me Sora…"
"Oh…" He replied, slightly shocked, "Well you look…older…in a good way though! It's just so different…"
"It's been a tough ride for all of us," Nova stated, looking down at the ground, "Anyway where are the others?"
"Back at the resistance headquarters," Junko stated with a slight smile, "In the central district of the city. But…a few people…they're still missing…"
"Like who?" Aerrow inquired.
"Finn and Stork," Junko stated sadly as he lead them out of the docks and into the loading bay of the shipyards, "Not to mention we don't really know where Cloud is either…plus there are a couple twilight knights missing too!"
"So you've yet to find Advent?" Ravess sighed. Junko nodded in affirmation and she let out a slight sigh of frustration, "How could she just go into hiding during a time like this?"
"Advent works in mysterious ways," Nova shrugged, not reading into the situation any further.
"I'm sure she has some plan worked up in that ever-turning brain of hers," Ace began, rolling his eyes.
"And truth be told," Aida chirped, leaping out from behind a nearby cargo truck, "It may have something to do with the Red Palace tournament!"
"Aida!" Cyclonis and Piper exclaimed, rushing over to give the pink-haired twin a hug.
"What are you doing here?" Nova asked, "I mean don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see you, but isn't it a bit dangerous for so many of us to be out at once?"
"Uh hello," Aida smiled, gesturing to the environment around him, "It's Lumina City. One of the last neutral terras in all of Atmos. If Cypress or any of her goons come here, they'll have to agree to an armistice first."
"Anyway!" Junko exclaimed, "We should hurry up and head to the headquarters! Everybody's gonna be so thrilled to see you guys!" He stated, as the group made their way out into the bright halogen-lit streets of Lumina. It was cold, and there was a light snow falling above their heads. Then again, they couldn't remember a day since they had arrived in this new future when it didn't snow, even if it was just a light flurry.
"It'll be nice to get out of the cold," Cyclonis stated somberly, thinking back to their run-down hideout back in New Atmosia, "Even if it is only for a little bit."
"Aida," Aerrow began, turning to Ace's twin, "What were you talking about, the tournament, I mean."
"Yeah," Aida began nervously, scratching the back of his head, "Well the Red Palace Tournament is in a few days, and word on the fighting circuit is that Cypress and all of her higher ups have entered. And…so has the resistance…"
"Are you all insane!" Matteo exclaimed, "Carver has been the champion for the past fifty-two years! Not to mention like the rest of those bastards that Cypress commands, he's immortal! Who entered us as a team in the tournament?"
"Cresselia herself," Aida replied dismally, "But she's got her reasons. The winner of the tournament not only gets the title and more gold then they can carry, but they're made an officially officer in Cypress' guard. Having a guard's security pass would grant the resistance access to anywhere from the prisons and the slave pens to the crystal vaults."
"Something's not right here," Ace interrupted, before Aida could say anything else. He locked eyes with Aerrow for a moment, and the looks on their faces indicated that both men were probably thinking the same thing.
"How so?" Cyclonis then asked, turning to him.
"Never mind," Ace replied casually, "I'll explain when we reach headquarters."
"Uh…guys…" Sora then commanded, as everyone shifted their attention to her, "We've got company." She stated, as a sizable black carrier began to float down into the middle of the street, before the group. The carrier planted itself on the ground and they listened as the hatch hissed and fell open. Just as soon as it had done so, Cypress and her lieutenants (including Carver and Cyrus) began to descend the ramp and on to the streets of Lumina City.
"Well!" Cypress chimed cheerfully, "If it isn't my favorite little rebel refugees! I must say that I'll miss you on New Atmosia now that you won't be there causing trouble."
"Leave us be Cypress," Aerrow growled, his hands clenched into fists, and ready to fight, "You don't wanna fight us!"
"Not here of course," Cypress replied with a playful, but wicked smile, "I mean out here in the middle of the street? Like common thugs! Please Aerrow, I have more decorum then that!"
"Shut up Cypress!" Cyclonis growled, "And get out of our way!"
"How dare you speak to her royal highness in such a way," Anaxagoras growled, unsheathing his blade, "I should cut out your tongue you impotent wench!"
"Come now Anaxagoras," Cypress smiled, walking casually towards the group, "On the neutral terra city of Lumina, we are all equals. My impertinent niece may speak to me however she likes." Cypress smiled, placing a hand on Cyclonis' face. She immediately swatted her away, but Cypress didn't seem to be phased by it, "But I digress…I will fight you and your pathetic twilight knights Aerrow, but in the arena…where the whole world can watch again as the Storm Hawks, and the rest of you for that matter, fail in protecting Atmos once again." She stated wickedly, turning away from the group, and heading down the street as her carrier took off into the air.
"Oh and Nova," Meno called, turning around to face the group, "I do hope to face you personally in the arena…your head will make a nice trophy in my manor, and you significant other will make a nice addition to my collection! She concluded, turning away from them and laughing hysterically as she followed after her master.
"I can't wait for this fucking tournament!" Nova shouted as Junko and Ace restrained the vicious valkyrie, "I'm going to rip that skank's head off, tie it to a string, and play tetherball with it! Do you hear me MENO! TETHERBALL!"
"Calm down Nova," Ravess began, placing her hands on Nova's shoulder, "Breathe in…breathe out…"
"I'm calm…" Nova growled as Ace and Junko loosened their grip on her, "I am calm…"
"I'll admit," Piper began, "Now that I've seen them here, it does make things a lot more suspicious…"
"You don't think," Sora gulped, as the group headed in the opposite direction as Cypress and her lackeys, "That Cypress plans on killing us in the tournament!"
"That's low," Matteo growled, "Even for someone like her."
"Well there are no rules," Aida added, looking concerned now that their enemy was at large in the city, "So it's a possibility…I guess that means that we'll just have to win the fights then."
"Easier said then done…" Ace replied with a long and deep sigh.
"This is the resistance headquarters!" Aerrow exclaimed, as they walked towards the grand marble building in the center of the central district. A large silver and white banner, bearing the symbol of the twilight knights was hanging out front of the building, waving gently in the light wind.
"Talk about an improvement from the last one," Piper began as they walked up the large marble staircase and into the building.
"Wait…" Nova began, looking around curiously, "I know this place! This is the consulate building! This was where the peace conference was!"
"That's right," Aida nodded with a slight smile, as they walked into the gilded foyer of the consulate building (and the headquarters), "After Cypress took over Atmos, it was hardly appropriate to keep this place open as the Atmosian consulate, so the resistance took it as our headquarters. That is, with our own modifications."
"I can see that," Cyclonis replied. It was true that the former consulate building was still impressive, but it did look like it had been gutted to accommodate that of the resistance. They then walked down the large staircase from the foyer into what used to be the ballroom. Now, what was once filled with chandeliers, tapestries, and golden walls, was now stripped down, filled with communication boards, radar equipment, and monitors and machines of every shape and size. In the center of the room was a large rectangular table, upon the top of which was the map of Atmos. Walking to the center of the room, and toward the table, Aerrow noticed that all of the terras that Cypress had conquered were crossed off with a large red 'X'
"My word!" The voice of Doctor Constantine chimed, "You are all alive! I was beginning to doubt it was so!"
"They're here! They're here!" Aru chimed, gliding over to the arriving group, with as much flighty spring in her step as ever, "Oh how fortuitous that you haven't been maimed or garroted, and are still in a living condition!"
"Uh…" Ace replied, raising an eyebrow, "Thanks…it's good to see you too."
"It is true!" Starling then shouted, running across the room, "Ever since the communications break…I've just been so worried…"
"Cresselia will be thrilled to hear that you're all safe," Doctor Constantine smiled, placing her hand on Aerrow's shoulder, and then moving to hug Cyclonis.
"WHAT!" A voice then shouted from deeper within the room, "What do you mean they're back! Why didn't anyone tell me!"
"They just got here a second ago," Innes squeaked in a mousey voice, "Calm down-"
"Don't tell me to be calm Innes!" Snipe shouted, pushing beside the small and lanky pilot and rushing towards the group.
"Snipe!" Nova shouted, leaping towards him, and almost knocking the brute to the ground, "I missed you more than I missed beer!"
"Would you two take it outside," Aida groaned, rolling his eyes at them.
"Is that Matteo!" Zelkovitz exclaimed, pushing through the other knights and resistance members standing before the group.
"Mother…" Matteo grumbled, as Zelkovitz rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around him, "Enough already…"
"Sorry," Zelkovitz replied, letting go of her son, "It's just that I thought you were gone…and you look…you look so much like Nikolai…" She began, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Mom…" Matteo replied, looking to his mother sadly.
"Listen," Starling began, turning to the newly arrived group, "I hate to break it up, but we can catch up later! We've got a lot of work to do before the Red Palace tournament on Sunday!"