Chapter 20

Fitoria, The Filolial Queen

Somewhere deep in the forest, a group of Filolials are with a young girl with silver hair with thin streaks of light blue, cut in a short bob with three tufts of hair standing up vertically from the crown of her head, like cowlicks and has white feathered wings on her back. Her eyes are red and her face is small and well-composed. She's dressed in a red and white gothic lolita-style dress and white sock-like silk boots while also the same height as the Filolial. The Filolials seem to be able to communicate with her.

"I see." she says, "So you've found a candidate. Very well. Go find her."

The Filolials bow to her and head off.

Back at Idol Rabier's estate, the Tyrant Dragon Rex is running rampant and destroying anything on sight. Arthur and his party try to get the others out of its path and hid not too far after running away.

Arthur catches his breath, "What the fuck is going on?! That asshole should be dead! He was beheaded and everything!"

"I don't know." Malty replies, "But there must be a higher power at work here."

"I have to agree." Raphtalia also catches her breath, "There is no way anyone would survive a decapitation, no matter what."

Arthur looks at Van, "Van, listen: You have to get everyone out of here while we try to lure that thing out of town."

Van nods, "Understood."

"But what will happen to you?" Rifana asks.

Arthur pets Rifana's head and smiles, "Don't worry. We'll meet you and Keel at your home village when things have settle down. Okay?"

Rifana is unsure about it, but his smile seems to put her at ease. "Alright. I'll wait for you at home."

Raphtalia gives Rifana her bracelet, "Here. Take this. This will help you while you're at the village."

Rifana nods and takes Raphtalia's bracelet right before the dinosaur dragon stops its way towards where they are hiding.

"Dammit!" Arthur swears, "Looks like we have to go. Come on girls!"

Arthur, Raphtalia, Filo, Melty and Gwen run off as Filo transforms to have them ride on her back. Melty looks back and sees the creature locked-on to them as Filo jumps from rooftop to rooftop and getting away from the monster. Yet Melty notices that the creature's belly is glowing purplish pink.

"Why is that thing's belly glowing!?" Melty asks.

"It's because its reacting to the crystal in Filo's belly!" Gwen answers.

"You mean the crystal I ate?!" Filo asks while also noticing that her belly is glowing the same color.

"The dragon emperor core!" Raphtalia realizes, "The crystal she ate when we went against the undead dragon in order to clean up Ren's mess!"

"Exactly!" Gwen states, "And those cores are attracted to each other! Trying to make a whole piece to summon the Dragon Emperor into this world!"

Melty gasps at the thought of such a creature would exist and the monster charging through everything. Yet she remembered something from her childhood, "I think my mother told me about a story about a creature like that that lost to the Queen of the Filolials! Yet it's just a legend!"

"Not sure about that!" Gwen states, "But we should get the hell outta here!"

Filo jumps over the walls before the creature bashes right through it and roars.

"Head over to the lake!" Arthur says to Filo, "We'll keep it busy until Fitoria arrives!"

"On it!" Filo says.

"Wait, Fitoria!?" Melty says in surprise, "The Queen of the Filolials!? The queen I mentioned earlier!?"

"Exactly!" Gwen says with a smile, "We'll meet her soon once we keep this thing busy!"

Filo charges through the forests with the dragon just charging right through as if it is indestructible.

Nephalem communicates Arthur via telepathy, 'You know, I can help kill this thing. I do have that ability, remember?'

'I do, but I don't want to risk anymore changing to the timeline. Last time, something cause Idol's body to reanimate and awaken that thing.'

'Fine, but don't blame me if any of you die.'

'But I will use your power to keep it in place.'

Arthur's party made it through the forest and close to the lake.

"We're here! Now all we need to do is keep it at this location!"

Everyone gets off of Filo as the monster comes in.

"Filo, now!"

Filo charges in, "|High Quick|!" and quickly kicks the left kneecap of the Tyrant Dragon Rex.

The monster just eyeballs Filo and doesn't feel any pain. It tries to take a bite out of Filo yet Filo is moving too fast for it to chomp her. Arthur's shield transform into a large clockwork gear with an hourglass at the center. This is Arthur's [Time Shield], and it has quite the handy ability after combining a few gears and hourglasses.

Arthur shows both his palms at the monster as he casts, "|Time Dilation: Freeze|!"

A bunch of transparent and ghostly clocks appear all over the Tyrant and stops in place.

"Amazing." Melty is amazed, "I didn't know he can use time magic.

Gwen smiles, "Yep, but it can only lasts as long as he keeps it in place." Then stops smiling, "But the downside to it is that it requires a lot of concentration and slowly drains his magic and sap his stamina. He may have an infinite of both, but trying to keep it in place is a lot harder."

The dinosaur dragon tries to break free which is making Arthur's concentration harder. Arthur is gritting his teeth and sweating as he tries not to move and keep the monster in place.

Raphtalia casts a spell while having her sword out, ""As source of thy power, I order thee. Decipher the laws of nature to call forth a light to smite my foes." Her sword emits a light and glows white, "Holy Light Sword!" She then charges in and tries to slash the same kneecap Filo struck, yet to no avail.

Gwen goes in and slices the same kneecap with both her katanas that give off a dark aura. But just like with Raphtalia's attack, no effect...at least on the surface.

Filo transforms and runs up to Melty, "Mel! Let's combine our spells to attack!"

"Right!" Melty nods.

Melty combines her water spell with Filo's wind spell as both wind and water swirl and launch their most powerful combined spell, "Typhoon!"

They launch a small but powerful tornado filled with rain and hail on the exact same kneecap of the monster. The monster's eyes widen when it actually felt something. There is now a small cut on its knee. Small, but managed to get through its super thick skin and efficient enough. The Tyrant Dragon Rex tries to break free from Arthur's spell which is causing Arthur to drop on one knee and slowly lose his concentration.

"There!" Gwen points with her katana, "We've made a weak spot!"

Filo transforms and charges in with |High Quick| and lands a blow on the cut. Raphtalia follows it up with her |Holy Light Sword| attack that causes the cut to not only to become bigger, but also causes it to bleed. Melty then follows it up with her |Zweite Aqua Shot|, which is a ball of water, and it pierced right through. Gwen strikes the final blow by cutting the leg off. With its leg off, Arthur lets go and let the monster fall and result of it biting its tongue off. Arthur takes a breather and falls backwards as the creature roar in pain. While roaring in pain, Arthur tries to get back up before it fixes its gaze on Arthur and opens its mouth to unleash a blast. Filo jumps in, grabs Arthur by her beak and takes off before it was fired.

"Thanks, Filo." Arthur thanks Filo for saving him before she lets him go.

Filo puts him down, "You need to be more careful, Big Bro. You almost got woosh."

"The correct term is 'blasted' but I'll let it slide." Arthur stands up and looks at the wounded monster.

The Tyrant Dragon Rex tries to stand up on its remaining leg and two small arms, but its own body weight is preventing it to stand on the remainder of its limbs. It growls and snarls while trying to stand up.

"Whew!" Arthur is relieved, "Looks like it isn't as tough as the legend said."

Yet surprisingly, some purple and black mist comes out of its wound as a new leg suddenly appears.

"WHAT IN THE-!?" Arthur is surprised that thing has regenerated a new limb. "Okay! Something serious is going on!"

Raphtalia's ears perk up as she hears something, "Something's coming!" as mist forms.

Melty looks around and notice the mist, "Is this...a magic field?"

Before the battle continues, a large herd (or flock) of Filolials appear from the forests and circle the area. Most of Arthur's party is confused on what is going on, but Arthur and Gwen knows exactly what is going on.

"It's a bunch of Filolials!" Melty states as the Filolials form a circle around everyone.

The winds blow all around followed by waves from the lake caused by a massive Filolial emerges forth and jumps over to the shore. It stands 100 to 200 times larger than any Filolial with feathers consists of pure white with the exception of the tips of five feather crowns on her head which are yellow and the feathers around her neck which are multiple shades of blue that gradually darken towards her head. She also has one very long feather behind her crown-like feathers that stretches down her back which is mostly white with a dip of blue color at the end. This is Fitoria, the Filolial Queen in her Filolial form. Everyone sees this gigantic bird before their eyes with Raphtalia, Melty and Filo caught off guard.

Arthur smirks, "About timing." as he sees the giant Filolial joining in.

Gwen notices that there are no time changes either, "At least some stuff is going to script, huh?"

"No way!" Melty is surprised, "It's the Filolial Queen! She does exist!"

"She's so pretty." Filo admires the giant Filolial.

Fitoria raises one of her wings as she looks at Arthur's party, "Stand back." Then she pays attention to the Tyrant Dragon Rex in front of her, "The dragon emperor's fragment has caused your body to grow beyond control. If you'll hand over the fragment peacefully, I shall spare your life. You have been warned!"

Yet the dragon charges right at Fitoria, completely ignoring her warning.

Melty screams out, "WATCH OUT!"

Fitoria raises her right leg, "As you wish." and kicks the monster right in the jaw.

Melty, Raphtalia and Filo are at awe by what they see. Gwen and Arthur aren't impressed because they've seen her in action before in the anime. The monster tries to regain ground by using its newly regenerated leg to stop sliding. Then it unleashes the beam it had launch before. However, Gwen and Arthur noticed that in the anime, the creature breathed fire, not energy beams.

With a flick of her wing, she raises a barrier to protect herself, "Pathetic." and the beam gets scattered.

Arthur uses |Air Strike Shield| to protect his party from the scattering beams.

Fitoria looks serious, "I'm finishing this now!" and moves at super fast speeds.

She moved so fast that she appeared behind the dinosaur dragon and sliced through its flesh with its blood splattering all over. Ultimately, it died and falls over in the lake. Fitoria then claims her prize: the core. She tucks it away and looks at Arthur.

"I take it that you're the Shield Hero. Am I correct?"

Arthur just gives her a thumbs up.

"There is much I wish to discuss with you. But this form isn't exactly suitable. One moment please." Fitoria covers her body with her wings before glowing white and blue as she shrinks down to her humanoid form.

Gwen gives a pleasant greeting, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Queen Fitoria. Queen of all the Filolials in the world."

Fitoria was caught off guard when Gwen knows her name, "You know me?"

Arthur gently elbows Gwen and whispers, "Remember?"

Gwen clears her throat before speaking, "Only through certain legends and myths." she looks at Melty, "As a matter of fact, Melty here is your biggest fan."

Melty gets embarrassed, "Wh-wh-what a minute! I, um, I mean."

Filo asks Arthur, "Do you think I'll grow as big as she is? So?"

Gwen jokingly speaks, "If you were ever that big, you're gonna have a problem eating."

Filo shouts at Gwen, "I was asking Big Bro! Not you!" and pouts.

Yet Fitoria states, "If you were ever to grow as large as I am, it would take her dozens of times longer than a lifespan of a normal Filolial."

Filo proceeds to whine, "Ahhhhh!"

"So this is the party of the Shield Hero, is it? Please, tell me your names."

"I'm Arthur. Arthur van Buren."

"And I'm his older sister, Gwen van Buren."

"I see."

"My name is Raphtalia." she respectfully nodded her head, "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Fitoria also nodded her head.

"Hi, your majesty. I'm Filo."

Fitoria nodded at Filo without speaking a word which causes Filo to be upset. She looks at Melty, "And we've met before, haven't we? Thanks again for your assistance."

"Of course! My name's Melty Melromarc. A pleasure to see you." she gives a courteous bow.

"Yes, Sweet Mel."

Melty is shocked to hear her nickname, "Wait, what?"

"You've met her during a diplomatic trip, right?" Gwen asks Melty.

Melty is surprised that Gwen knows that, "How did you- How did you know that?"

Gwen looks away from Melty, "We'll tell you later."

Arthur express his gratitude, "Thanks for stopping that dragon-dino-monster. Although, I thought we had it when we got its leg off. Yet there seems to be something else conspiring against us. But we should speak someplace that is more comfortable." Arthur points at the white, baby blue and pink carriage, "And that is how we get there."

Fitoria smiles, "You're an observant one."

But Arthur looks at the corpse in the lake, "But I need to clean this mess up. Don't want to cause any plagues by leaving this thing around. I won't use any of the materials, but I need to clean this up. Best to clean-up after messes than to just leave it and risk it."

Fitoria looks serious, "It is good that you won't use its materials, but I sense an ominous aura in your shield."

"Yeah, that would be me!" Nephalem speaks. "But we can discuss the details about that later."

Fitoria is startled by the voice coming from Arthur's shield just as much as Melty. For someone that has been living for centuries, Fitoria has seen almost everything. But this was new. Something powerful and ancient just spoke to her and it's giving her the frights.

"O-...Okay." Fitoria is a bit shaken, "I'll have my family bring the remains along with us."

"Good to know." Arthur is glad for that. He does not want to make the same mistake Ren did. He boards onto the carriage and Fitoria uses her |Portal| spell to transport everyone.

Raphtalia steps outside of the carriage and notices that they are in an entirely different area. The place is filled with overgrown ruins in a middle of the forest.

"What just happened?" she asks.

Melty looks around, "Some kind of instant travel magic."

Arthur whistles as he looks around upon exiting, "Now these are ancient ruins. Ancient and filled with wonders unlike some of the modern ones back home."

Gwen looks around, "Damn! Wish we could see more of these back home. Better than that one ruin with the alchemist that made that crop."

"Imagine the history behind them." Raphtalia is impressed.

Filo, on the other hand, is not. "What a dump."

Fitoria explains yet is unsure, "Supposedly, these are the remnants of a civilization defended by the Original Heroes. They've been this way before I was born. So I watch over them now."

"This is a Filolial Sanctuary, huh?" Melty asks, giving how much of a Filolial maniac she is.

"Correct. In fact, I'm not supposed to bring humans here."

Melty ignored that fact and admires her surroundings, "Wow."

Arthur smirks, "And we should be safe." He looks at Filo, "Are you hungry, Filo?"

Filo's stomach started to grumble, which is an answer meaning 'yes'.

Fitoria smiles in amusement, "Perhaps you all should rest here for a little while."

Raphtalia pets Filo's head.

"Dinner time!" Gwen says in excitement.

"Yippie!" Filo jumps for joy.

"Well it sure has been a long day." Melty states the obvious.

Yet Rahtalia looks away and is worried about her friends, "I wonder how Rifana, Keel and the others are doing."

Arthur pets Raphtalia's head, "Don't worry. They're gonna be one hundred percent fine. As long as Van is with them for the time being, they are under his protection."

Raphtalia looks back at Arthur with a smile, "Yeah, you're right."

Raphtalia gets the fire going, Filo brings back chunks of the dragon meat, Melty and Gwen retrieve water from the well, and Arthur preps everything in four gigantic stew pots. The reason why is because he knows that the other Filolials will be hungry and want some too. Just like in the anime. Arthur makes sure that everyone has enough to eat in the wooden bowels.

Filo looks at hers and proclaims, "Time to dig in!"

Everyone enjoys the meal Arthur made.

Filo asks Fitoria, "Isn't it yummy?" with Raphtalia and Melty looking at them.

Fitoria looks at her soup and is amazed by the taste, "It's delicious."

"They can almost be sisters." Melty sees that Filo and Fitoria looks like they are close.

Gwen chuckles, "I know. And they're both very sloppy eaters."

After going through four largest pots, the Filolials fell asleep. Their bellies full and completely satisfied from their meal as they sleep.

Arthur sighs at the sight, "And I'm stuck with the clean up."

Yet Fitoria appears.

He turns and sees her, "Oh hey. Guessing you want that talk now?"

"Indeed, I do."

Somewhere down a ruined road, Fitoria asks about the spirit dwelling inside Arthur's shield before asking about how the creature was released from its sealed. Arthur tried to retail about how he ended-up in the world he is in now because he traded for a book back home. He told her that an old lady traded it with her before he can inspect the area around his home. He was reading it with the PTSD illusion of his sister before he became the new Shield Hero. When he was battling against the brainwashed Motoyasu, the spirit inside granted him powers and abilities beyond that of any Cardinal Hero. Nephalem spoke and told that he was a God of Balance and a Nephalem Lord. Even gave his full name, in case anyone forgot, Qui Custodit Te In Libra Autem Omnes Rerum. (Latin: Thee Who Keeps the Balance of All Things) Arthur even told about his adventures and he already knew about Fitoria and Filo is chosen to be a candidate for Fitoria's position. She was surprised that Arthur already knew that Filo is a chosen candidate and he knows what will come. Arthur even told Fitoria about his plan and what will transpire in the future. Fitoria is having a hard time taking in what Arthur says about the future.

"You can't be serious." Fitoria says in shocking disbelief.

"It is." Arthur says in a serious tone before siting on the rooftop of one of the buildings with a tree on top.

"But how can you possibly know so much?"

"But you should be glad that we Four Heroes aren't fighting each other. They're actually a bit more competent then I give them credit, yet still made the same mistakes I had predicted. At least two of them admit to their mistakes and are willing to take responsibility and make sure they don't repeat them again." Arthur looks up at the stars, "Now as for the first princess, Malty Melromarc, that is one wild card I have to take care of."

Fitoria looks at Arthur, "Is she the reason why all four were summoned at the same place rather than in different countries?"

Arthur looks at Fitoria, "Not only that, but she also possesses the soul fragment of a goddess responsible for the Waves."

Fitoria gasp at that. Now things start to fall into place. Malty manipulated her own father into summoning all four heroes in order to protect the kingdom from the Waves and leave them ignorant of the other Dragon Hourglasses in other countries. That may explain why the other Heroes aren't traveling to other countries to help repel the Waves. Not only that, Malty tries to manipulate the Cardinal Heroes into her own bidding because she possess a soul fragment of the goddess responsible.

Arthur looks at Fitoria, "And about Filo's match against you."

Back at the Kingdom of Melromarc at the Three Heroes Church; Ren, Itsuki and their party members went into the church and try to get more information on what is going on. At the end of one hallway, they appeared at a dead end. At least at first glance.

"Is this the place?" Ren asks Itsuki.

"Yeah, I think so."

Two of their mage companions walk up and create two identical magic circles at the wall. Yet when they cast a spell, they unveiled a hidden staircase that leads to the answers they seek. They both look down and are surprised to see the hidden passage way.

"No question." Itsuki says while looking down the stairs, "The Three Heroes Church is definitely hiding something."

"Looks like Arthur was right, yet again." Ren admits Arthur is right about a conspiracy. He pulls out the rosary Arthur tossed to him and looks at it. "If there is a trap, we have to take the necessary precautions if we want to live."

The two headed downstairs with one of the mages using a magical light to help guide them. When they reach at the bottom, they see a secret archive kept hidden from the public eye.

"It's some kind of archive." Itsuki states. He approaches one of the bookshelves and takes one of the books, "Let's take a look around."

Back up stairs, the rest of their companions are guarding the secret entrance to prevent any disturbance. Yet what they should notice a certain bratty princess watching them from the corner of one of the stairs.

She whispers in an annoyed tone, "Mind your own business."

Back at the ruins on the steps of another building, Arthur smiles at Fitoria, "Don't worry." he gives a thumbs-up, "I'll tell them the truth and we'll work together. I can promise you that much."

"And I can tell them the tale as well."

Fitoria looks stunned with her eyes wide open and looking out in the distance. As if she learned something that was beyond what she was expecting. Something inside of her just broke. But what could it be?

Arthur snaps his fingers in front of her, "Oi! You okay?!"

Fitoria snaps out of it and stands up, "I'll be going to bed." and walks away, "Best to get some rest. Goodnight." Her tone sounded hollowed. She stumbled at on the last step, but regained her balance and continues to walk.

Arthur looks a little worried. "Do you think she'll be alright?"

"Well that's what happened when you completely broke the fourth wall with an atomic bomb. Best you shouldn't have told her the whole truth about this world being fictional and used for entertainment back in your world. You just turned everything she knows and love upside down."

"Ah crap."

AN: WOO! Got another chapter up for you guys. Hope you are all okay, even though school is back up for my teenage audience out there. Remember to stay safe, stay healthy. And for students: study hard.

And dylandavisusa, nice idea and everything, but I like to stick to some of my own. Sorry dude.

Lastly, check out Universal Fandom Wars wiki if you guys want to create your own empires and stories.