The explosion blew off one of the outer walls of Castle Cannock, sending all of the maids dizzy in a fury. Monsters of all kinds started pouring in, throwing around all sorts of projectiles and spells. It wasn't long before furniture started being set on fire and bricks started to fall, giving way to more monsters coming in.
Art had gone to the frontlines himself, killing as many of the monsters as he could using both his sword and magic. As far as he was concerned, no man or monster would get past him as long as he drew breath.
Soon Seth and Angelo joined the fray when their posts were also filled with monsters. Seth used his ice magic to build walls to buy them more time, and Angelo used his arrows to hit them from afar. This battle was not going to be easy, but with all the soldiers from the castle having been placed in easy-to-manuver positions, Art had proved himself to be a valuable tactician.
"We're pressed from the side!" Seth screamed, firing off another wall of ice. "Angelo, where is Art?"
"He went off to that big hole," Angelo called out. His arrow shot down yet another flying monster. "Why?"
"Because we're not in a tight enough formation and I've all ready seen a few get past," Seth replied. "I know the girls are capable fighters themselves, but if we aren't more concise than this..." He thrust his sword into the face of an imp. "There's too many of the buggers, and they don't seem to be stopping."
In the gardens, Tara held out her Falcon Blade. "They're coming," she whispered. Alicia and Suzuri stood with her in a triangle formation around Eliza. "Don't move from your spot."
The myriad of footsteps pounded on the stone pathways of the castle courtyard, all of them headed to where the girls stood defensively.
Art found himself being pushed back by the overwhelming amount of monsters. He'd never seen so many at once, and decided the smartest idea to protect his family would be to fall back a bit. When he rushed to the garden, he saw that Suzuri had all ready casted Kabuff on the girls. "Love," he called from the terrace, "It's bad. We're swamped."
Suzuri looked up to him. "Not bad for your first week as King, eh?"
"I don't want to hear jokes right now," Art said, having to cut up a drakee before it plunged headfirst down to the garden. He ran and lept down from the terrace onto the soft grass, crouched with his shield up. "Celestria Allmighty," he swore under his breath, feeling the shock of the landing still knocking his knees.
"That was stupid," Alicia said bluntly. "C'mon, Art, you're supposed to be a master at things like this."
"You're impossible," Art grunted, making that same expression Suzuri always used to.
Seth and Angelo also lept down from there, landing on the other side of the group. "What kind of hoarde is this?" Seth asked. "I've never seen so many monsters in one place."
"I think they are being led by something," Angelo said. "Seriously, guys, I really think-"
Suddenly a magical wave echoed through the entire half-decimated castle. With it came a voice. "We now have their attention. Now we can begin negotiations!"
Suzuri growled. "Hootingham?"
The familiar half-owl wizard walked through the castle until he found himself at the garden where the group waited for him. "I should have guessed you'd be here," he said, "After all, there was that magnificent wedding and coronation ceremony."
"What have you come here for?" Art asked.
"My young king, you must believe I wish to take your little sister, and this is not the case," Hootingham said, coming closer. "I know you did not find your answers in Zipang, and for that I apologize. It seems that Ciresso was leading me on for quite some time."
Suzuri twitched madly. "What do you know of Ciresso, you squawking murderer!"
"Well," Hootingham said gently, "I have been watching over Ciresso since my revival, because I knew he was connected to you, my dear Princess of the Observatory. I remember the grueling war between the Celestrians and the remainders of Gittingham, dear. I remember hearing the young men who trained under Aquila fighting alongside you, the representative of the head guardian angel. You have something I need."
"I would never give anything to you," Suzuri said. "So you attacked Lorasia to find me?"
"Yes, because I was told that you were going to seek help, not come home and get married," Hootingham said dismissively. "Ciresso led me down the wrong path, Princess. He had to die for that."
"Cires was not a traitor. He would never have sided with you. Never. Ever." She felt her entire body call up a magic she'd never used before. "I'm gonna take you out, Hootingham. I will get revenge for Cires."
"I wouldn't do that, Queen Suzuri," Hootingham said gently. "The spell I feel in you now would take this castle and everyone in it. Magic Burst will kill everything but you. So be a good girl, and give me what I've come looking for."
Art put his sword away. "Love, calm down," he said. "Seth, Angelo, would you mind?"
"But of course," Seth said with a laugh. "Teamwork." He ran at full force toward Hootingham as Angelo pulled back an arrow. Seth's sword hit at the same time Angelo's arrow did, causing a dynamic effect that combined their auras into one blow. It was deflected and Hootingham just laughed. "What are you?" Seth screamed at him.
"I am a faded general to the greatest empire this world has ever known," Hootingham said, brushing off his robes. "You must have at least heard of the Gittish Empire."
Art nodded, "I have. They were a very powerful country back in the time of Loto."
"Very good, Your Grace," Hootingham even clapped in the most sarcastic way possible to add injury to the insult. "Yes, that's right. Centuries ago, we were the greatest civilization to ever be on this world, and the Gittish had its sights on every part of it. I was the head advisor to King Godfrey, and under his rule, I studied many things. Many, many things. You see, I found that there is a secret gate between all layers of the world. You are aware that there are layers to this world, yes? At the top, there is Heaven. At the bottom, there is Hell. Between, lies the land where time flows. But how exactly do you reach this gate? Why, bring together the blood of the three layers, and all shall combine, is what one theory told me. Now, I had no idea what it meant at the time, but I assure you, I do now." Hootingham stepped closer, reaching his talon-hand out to Suzuri. "When you breed, blood mixes. Your bodies will create a new being with both the features of the mother and the father. What happens if all lines were to mate? The powers of Heaven and Hell, combined with the blood of one who has traversed time? A virtual god."
Eliza pulled out from behind her brother and went up to Hootingham. "You're just a big meanie! A big, fat, evil meanie!"
Hootingham kneeled down before her. "You're an unsually perky little girl," he said, thrusting his staff into her gut to knock her back. "So you had better calm down."
Art's evil spiked up for the last time. "Get out of my castle," he said. His royal tone no longer sounded joyous and lovable. "Get the hell out of my castle!"
Hootingham shook his head. "Oh, no, no," he shook his head. "I have come for something, and I require it before I leave." He snapped his fingers, seperating the group instantly, throwing everyone to a different area of the garden. "Young King, I feel as if I must offer you an apology. I did lead you down the wrong path to Zipang, so I will tell you what I've learned. Just because I know there is nothing you can do about it."
When Art got up to attack Hootingham, the wizard just raised his hand and stopped him in that instant, freezing him in place. "I would kill you, since you're so persistant, however, I need you alive," Hootingham said. "Randalia Suzuri, you have very little options left. I am a more supreme wizard than any of you mortals. Give me what I want, or your beloved young King dies here."
Suzuri got up, walking to Hootingham. "I have not forgotten my vow as a Celestrian," she said, concentrating for a moment. "My vow was to protect the mortal realm alongside all of the angels in Heaven."
"So, then you understand," Hootingham said ever-so-quietly. "You understand that you must comply."
"Oh, I do understand," Suzuri said with a nod. "I understand more than you'll ever realize." She stopped at Art, who was suspended in his attacking pose and ran her finger down the side of his face. "I love you, Art. I'll... I'll always be your Queen. I know what this leads to, and... I'm sorry." She then walked past Hootingham, her face darkened by the shadows so that no one could see her expression. "All right, you old buzzard. You... you win." Her voice sounded as if her morale had vanished.
"What's wrong with you?" Tara screamed. "You spend all this time fighting for what's right and you just give up like that? Suzuri."
"This isn't right," Seth said. "No matter what your vows were before, I'm sure whatever he's going to do is going to make you break that vow later on."
Eliza got up. "Stop it, stop it, big sister Suzuri!"
Hootingham laughed. "You mortals. You have no idea what's running through her mind right now." He waved his arm and let Art out of his magical paralysis. "As promised, the King is unharmed."
Angelo shook his head. "I don't believe this..."
Alicia swarmed with her own rage. "Don't make me beat your ass back in line, sister, because you know I will!"
Art just stared in disbelief. "Love? Come here, come back to me, please." He held out his arms. "I don't care what armies of monsters I have to fight... you are not walking out on me. My Queen is not so weak-willed. My wife is strong. Stronger than anyone I've ever known."
Hootingham shrugged. "If you only knew," he said to Art. "See, your queen, she's not exactly what you think she is."
Art shook his head. "I don't believe that," he said. "I know who Suzuri is, much better than you think you do. This fight may have been going on longer than the Cannock family has ever existed, but I know her. I know her heart."
Then Suzuri stopped herself. Sparks started to fly around her body, hearing Art speaking so gently in the face of someone who could kill him in a moment's notice. "What am I thinking? This isn't me!" She magically summoned her staff summoning lightning that swarmed around the room. "Y'know, guys, I think you're right. I like my life, I like who I am, and this totally breaks character." She giggled a minute. "So, Hootingham, let me give you a taste of Heaven." She lifted her staff and called lightning forth from the sky. "The wrath of the Heavens," Suzuri chanted, "The enchantment of the Skies. I call forth the weapon of Celestria herself. ALLDAIN!" Turning around to face Hootingham, she blasted it in his face, burning him to a crisp.
"There are more... who seek what I do..." Hootingham's voice cried.
"Bring 'em on," Suzuri said, straightening up the crown on her head. "With my family, I'm stronger than I ever was alone."
At that moment, Art ran up behind her and swept her off her feet. "That's more like my queen," he said, nuzzling her face. "The stubborn one I fell in love with."
Everyone else cheered behind them, watching the monsters all snap out of their hypnosis and start to wander off in their own groups.
"Princess of the Observatory," Celestria's voice echoed through Castle Cannock, "You have passed your personal trials, and you have grown since you departed Heaven. I bestow upon you a gift of the Heavens." A beautiful stringed instrument appeared before Suzuri, and she took it. "Your castle will be restored, as this was all my doing."
"Celestria?" Alicia asked. "You have a twisted way of testing people."
"My child," Celestria replied, "It must feel real for it to have the same effect in your hearts."
"I fear for my own trial," Tara muttered.
"It is nothing you cannot overcome," Celestria said gently. "Take the Moon Harp to the Spring of Bravery, Suzuri. You will find something vital there."
Suzuri sighed. "Another quest, huh? I sure don't get any rest."
Art kissed her on the forehead. "We will rest before we head out again."