Through The Time And Space
Giselle found herself in a situation where, if the other apostles ever discovered what had happened, she would be ridiculed for the rest of her so long life...
Even if that never became to be a problem, she just couldn't return to Hardy in this state... coming back with her hands empty, without Rory Mercury as a prisoner, would have been enough for she to deserve to be punished... but losing a battle against a mere human?! getting the dragons she spent so much effort at obtaining killed so easily?!
Hardy would kill her without a single second of hesitation... it's not like she could run away forever either... she would find her one way or another.
"Es el fin... (It's the end...)" her voice, once filled with the characteristic arrogance of a "superior being", was crushed and emanated despair. She didn't offer resistance when they chained her up.
"Patético. (Pathetic)"
Even more fear possessed her as she recognized that voice... she raised her head... she didn't find the demonic-lord body she expected... but that didn't change much. "E-E-Emroy?!"
It must have been the detail of the god and his new vessel becoming one, otherwise, it wouldn't have made any sense that Emroy gave her a peace and love signal.
Yet, this only ensured that Giselle's fear increased at a level that... just there wasn't a way to describe it with any language, no matter how much lexicon it possessed.
"Rélajate, no me interesa lo que te pase. (Relax, I don't care at all about you)."
The god was, indeed, more interested regarding certain corps that lied near there. He approached the red one.
Manuel decided to take the control back as he asked something. "Can we make another cool sword using these?" he grabbed a scale.
"Indeed. My personal sword was obviously crafted employing this material. Only that way it can be worthy of being wielded by me." the god commented as he looked with contempt at both swords Manuel had obtained recently.
Sarah turned off the radio as she had just reported the death of the two monsters. The pilots would be frustrated because of this time they hadn't gotten the opportunity to add a new kill to their score, but the important detail was the safety of the dark elves.
She turned to see the captured apostle. "We have no right to punish her, that privilege is for those she hurt."
Ethan nodded. "It's fair." He then forced Giselle to stand up. He threatened her with his gun.
Actually, the bullets wouldn't have been that much problem for the apostle... but not knowing the power capacity and thinking it could have the same one that the staff of destruction they had used to murder the dragons... she, again, didn't try to resist at all.
The other people present, specifically speaking of dark elves, felt... betrayed.
"¡¿PORQUÉ?! ¡¿PORQUÉ DESPERTÓ AL DRAGÓN DEL FUEGO?! (WHY?! WHY YOU WOKEN UP THE FIRE DRAGON?!)" many of them yelled.
"Hemos completado todos los rituales a tiempo... tal cual lo ordenaron... (We realized all the rituals in time... just as you wished...)" Yao's rage was particularly higher than the one her friends held... yet she was the calmest one of them... or at least that was the case before all that hate exploded... is that how the gods rewarded their faith and loyalty?!
She attempted to murder the apostle with her own sword... it wouldn't have worked but she was too angry to think rationally. Lelei used her time magic to quickly disarm her and Sarah, along with Rory, held her.
The dark elf didn't care though, she struggled as if a beast she was, attempting to get free to cut piece by piece the parts of Giselle's body.
"A los dioses no les suele interesar la vida de mortales. (The gods does not care about the mortals' lives)."
Manuel, who still could hear what was happening, smiled as he shrugged. Why that didn't surprise him at all? The only possible exception was the one that lived inside him and that only because of the technology.
Giselle didn't say anything. She just walked as Ethan escorted her.
Yao finally relaxed a little, she knelt and growled much though. Lelei took this opportunity to collect dragon scales, too.
"This... is incredible..." Sarah smiled while scratching her hair. Not only they would return with a giant diamond... more gems and a full report of the local resources were on the list, too.
The superiors would be happy.
"Incredible indeed," Ethan commented, "Perhaps I could ger permission to go back home with something like this."
"I think I want to return, too." Sarah crossed her arms as she reflected on it.
"If you guys go back, I go back too... I need to find a new vessel for Emroy first though..." he sighed. He was playing with his swords. "At least we got some cool toys."
Sarah looked at the sword resting on her hip. "Yes, I suppose we could say that."
"We should celebrate once we are again at the other side of the Gate, we have become into dragon-slayers after all." Ethan suggested.
"Didn't you want to return to your family as quickly as possible?" Manuel asked.
"I can wait one day or two."
"Besides," Sarah spoke. "Getting a flight to Canada the very first day we are back is highly improbable."
"True." Manuel shrugged.
While they continued having a conversation, a certain dark elf who had brought them there in the first place approached. Before anybody could say anything, she knelt immediately.
"¡Y-Y-Yo... estoy muy agradecida por lo que han hecho! (I-I-I'm... very grateful for everything you've done!) p-por favor, permitanme pagarles. ¡Haré lo que sea! (p-please, allow me to reward you. I'll do anything!)"
Sarah raised her eyebrow. Ethan didn't react because of he didn't know a word of the local language... and Manuel grimaced.
"Em, I don't understand very well that last part..." Sarah turned to see her boyfriend.
"Eh..." Manuel rubbed his forehead. "If the last sentence is said literally speaking and she really means it... I think she wants to be our slave... problems are problems no matter what so let me solve this." He approached to the woman. He extended his arm and helped her to stand up. "Si en verdad quiere eso... por favor hable con el sujeto de allá (If you truly want that... please talk to the guy that is there)."
Manuel pointed with his finger... to Marvin. The soldier who previously had attempted to flirt with that elf girl back at Italica. He supposed he would like any kind of elf woman... besides, Ethan deserved some peace from girls after all that time with Rory following him everywhere.
Yao was partially confused... why? he hadn't killed the fire dragons... yet, slaves must never question their masters and she obeyed quickly.
"Did... did you just obtain him a date?" Ethan smiled.
"Oh, so you wanted her?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, please no..."
Sarah giggled.
Even though the elder elves asked the NorthAmericans to stay for a celebration, they refused.
They had still had work to do.
Piña felt insanely nervous. Nothing to be surprised about. It was the normal reaction anybody would have in her position.
If what they had told her was true, the response would arrive this day.
If she got permission to continue ruling her country... she would have to adapt herself to the politics from the other world.
Slavery wasn't allowed anymore. Although in practice it would take many years until the practice got erased, and perhaps it would be in the end impossible, since the day she would be crowned all the people living under her command must be equal to the law. The system also was known as a constitutional monarchy. This meant the end of the nobility, and her children could be replaced if the NorthAmericans decided they didn't represent the best of their interests.
Her kingdom was obligated to pay as tribute many natural resources she had never heard about. Titanium, iridium, and many others... she wasn't exactly sure if this could be considered as a bad point.
Although she didn't need to give back all the territory the old empire possessed, she couldn't force the other local nations to be vassals.
Finally, she would have to write a report every 30 days explaining everything that had happened in the kingdom.
She was more than willing to do all that... she just wanted the opportunity...
Finally, the three generals and their translator soldier entered the room.
They had a response for her.
Piña didn't say anything... she just waited... until the soldier placed a document on the table.
"Please, sign here." said the general Ryan.
Piña had to admit the details on the paper were incredibly well done.
"You have been accepted." The general Liam nodded.
"It's gonna be an honor to work together."
Piña... felt that she could start crying right there.
For the first time since all that begun... her bad luck was starting to disappear... now she truly had an opportunity!
"El honor... es mío. (I'm... I'm the one honored)"
The relief her soldiers felt was legendary...
Many days after that, Piña, with the help of Bozes, Panacha, and Hamilton, was getting dressed in her new queen outfit.
Compared to her previous armor, this one was certainly more stylized. The white color as the main one and the red as the secondary one. Some golden lines through it to ensure it had all the details that would be worthy of a queen. She almost looked like she was from a fairy tale.
Her mind, however, was occupied reflecting on everything that had occurred.
She knew that, more than a queen, she would be a puppet for three higher-ranked people... she knew her kingdom probably would never be the dominant part of the chain... but she couldn't really complain.
This had been the punishment from the gods to the empire for trying to abuse the sacred Gate.
She didn't know what the future held... how many things could have been different had her father and brothers been willing to listen to her?...
Remembering them almost made her cry... yet, she closed her eyes and ensured not a single tear rolled through her cheeks.
This day was the most important day of her life.
She couldn't demonstrate any weakness today.
She opened them again, this time, her eyes were filled with determination.
"Ya está listo (It's done)." Hamilton commented.
"Luce verdaderamente hermosa, reina Piña. (You look truly beautiful, queen Piña)." Bozes smiled happily.
Panacha nodded. "Ella será la mejor reina. (She will be the best queen)."
Piña sighed as she smiled. "Me tomará mucho tiempo acostumbrarme a eso. (It would take me so much time to get used to that)."
She stood up and walked towards the door, her knights following her.
Given the big level of destruction the capital had received during the invasion, it wasn't either possible or appropriate to celebrate such an important event there.
Because of that, and the fact that a capital the nearest to Arnus as possible was a better idea, Italica was selected to be the new capital of the kingdom.
The NorthAmericans had made some modifications to the town that made the event more impressive for those didn't come from the other world. They would have never imagined something like this.
Piña walked slowly through the corridor as she approached the stairs.
It was incredible that, even though it was night already, she was able to see as good as if it was noon.
It was amazing there could be music playing with such good quality without needing an orchestra.
She must need many months to understand how to use one of those telephones, a pc or anything.
But she was willing to try.
As Piña made her way up, the knights of her order displayed flags through her path.
When she finally was in front of the throne... this time, the previous emperor wasn't there to pass the crown...
She just sat on her "sacred" chair.
Two soldiers of North America approached to her with a book she had never seen... but she knew it was important for them.
She placed her hand over the book...
"Juro que, como reina, no repetiré los mismos errores de los que me precedieron... juro que... la paz entre nuestra nación y Norte America será eterna! (I swear that, as the queen, I will not repeat the same mistakes my predecessors did... I swear that... the peace between our nation and North America will be eternal!)"
Claps from everybody could be heard.
Some white pigeons were released and they started their flight.
As her crown was placed on her head... Piña smiled.
The third recon team had its respective place between crowd... until some of their members noticed something off.
"Where is the captain?" One of the American soldiers asked.
"Where are Manuel and Ethan?" one of the Mexicans looked around.
"Oh? you didn't hear?" asked Marvin, he smiled. "They requested an opportunity to return to our world."
"I think Ethan really wanted to see his family again... regarding the captain and the other..." Emma giggled as she closed her eyes. "I think they just wanted to spend some time alone, away from the job."
The others just laughed.
As they finished signing the documents that confirmed they weren't suffering any disease from the second Earth, les three amigos walked away from the space-time hole that had given them the opportunity to live an adventure they would never forget. They would eventually return, that was for sure... but they were going to enjoy the break.
"It's good to be back." Manuel smiled nodding... only to gave a serious and sad expression again. "I still need to get rid of Emroy though..."
"We'll get him a vessel." Sarah hugged him lovingly. "You'll see everything will be fine in the end."
Manuel wasn't a man who had faith in something... but this time he would trust her.
Ethan was more focused on talking with Lelei and Rory. "So, what do you think."
"It's... much better than just seeing images." Lelei actually smiled. The buildings... the cars, the streets... just like in the books.
Rory nodded as she appreciated the environment. "I'm eager to visit those clothes stores you mentioned."
"And we will... although." He turned to see his two friends. "Manuel, do you know a good hotel?"
"Not really, I never was a guy who went to outside a lot. As a result of this, I barely know the streets and all that stuff." He shrugged, caressing Sarah's hair.
"Well, long live the internet." Sarah giggled as she pulled out her phone.
"Yeah... so, should we get a taxi? or... considering how much money do we have thanks to the scales... we should buy a car!"
"Wasting money for the sake of wasting money?" Manuel smirked. "Count me in!"
"Let's just make sure its flying capacities are the best ones!" Sarah excitedly said.
"Well, of course!"
Les Three Amigos took a moment to look back at the Gate... and then they continued their path to a bright future.
So... yeah, this is technically speaking the end.
I'm aware that perhaps it is not the best end... I know that this story was never the best... but I really appreciate all the support you have given to me. It makes me happy that you tolerated the format of displaying a different language for the Saderians for the sake of realism... I know perhaps a third different one might have been a better option... but I barely knew any French or Japanese back then when I started this. Perhaps one day I will replace all the "Saderian" for Japanese, just like I took my time to read the whole story again to fix as many grammar mistakes as possible. I really appreciate that, even though I'm not the most acceptable person to write in this language, you still continued reading me.
I think I did a decent job at giving our three protagonists enough relevance. Not the best, but decent. But, of course, the last word belongs to all of you.
Of course, you all know I'm gonna release another last chapter with the background of our three protagonists... containing also an epilogue. To make it work I think it's gonna be a chapter where the characters themselves narrate their stories. Probably happening in the 207X and containing some ideas some of you have sent to me regarding the future of Falmart. (Let's remember that, in this story, the Gate won't close until 214X)
Talking more about why, again, took me so long to release this... the exams... as usual. I mean, technically speaking I still have one exam left... but you know, with all that regarding the CODVID-19 it's possible they are going to cancel the classes for the sake of protecting us. I am sick at this moment actually, but it's not that virus as far as I can say. I'm not either coughing as if there was no tomorrow or suffering fever at all.
Anyway... honestly, I don't know what else to say so let's answer the reviews.
Angel Isai:
I can't really do something that interesting with that though... it would be more like filler.
Perseus12:
They have just obtained their freedom. Their contact with the new rulers is not good but in the end, they, through the kingdom (since it's not an empire anymore), will become probably just more puppets of the North Americans.
Guest:
I did that again... sometimes I seriously ask myself how I didn't notice all that shit...
Owieeey:
An epilogue is what comes next.
See you all in the epilogue!
