Chapter 8: Desert Rose
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE GS/GSD CHARACTERS
The sky's a brilliant blue and sun is up in sky shining blindly and hot. A blond girl rode her horse with her friend to continue their journey and the two bid their goodbye to their friends. Their baggage's are full of medical supplies and foods are on the side of their rides. The they did not bring many clothes as they plan to buy at the Southern Kingdom since they have their own rules when it comes to clothing.
The Southern Kingdom has a rule to not let the women's hair be short and the shortest should be at least elbow length and to never show any skin other than their face neck arm and foot. Visitors from other Kingdom are required to wear a veil if they have a short hair and they must follow the same dress code. Women who shows more skin to the public are considered either a married woman or a brothel lady.
The two was exhausted at the event they had last night, but still needs to travel as they received a letter saying that the Southern Kingdom's Institute of Education will start ahead of time. So, they traveled immediately plus the restaurant where Stellar was working caught on fire so she has to find a new job. The two made plans on what to do first thing upon arriving at the Southern Kingdom.
"Good thing the Zaft soldiers last night immediately left the house after having some beverages." Miri said while drinking some water.
"I have never met any perverted Prince as him" Cagalli who was irritated remembering what happened
"You're right even that tanned soldier was on another level of being a pervert." Miri responded
"He was holding back though; I can't imagine how he is doing it" Cagalli remember Athrun as a tear dropped on his face that night
"It must be very hard for them losing a respectable Queen"
"She was one of the reasons why the four Kingdom was peaceful, when the Kings are having an argument about trades before she was always there to calm the situation. She was loved by their people as she helped the poor and gave free education" Cagalli narrated
"And that is why you have to make sure to never be around them you already know Cagalli their quest is for their Queen. They won't hesitate if they knew what you have"
"I know…don't you want it?" Cagalli asked Miri
"I don't need it I have everything that I need: my family, Tolle, Sai, You, Prince Kira, the King and even that clumsy Kuzzey. What should I ask for?" Miri laughed and so is Cagalli.
The continued their travel and chatting along the way about Miri's upcoming wedding.
It would take two days for the three to traveler to arrive on their destination. On their first night they see nothing but sand they are at a deserted dessert. The night is still young and two travelers already set their tent and cooking their dinner. The two had their guards up when they saw shadows running on towards them. Cagalli took her sword and Miri had her bow and was ready to take aim while. The two was surprised to see three young men being chased by a wolf as big as bear.
The lady already knew who it was as they encountered them before. They decided to help them but before that Cagalli took some medicine that Dr. Via Hibiki discovered just for her. A medicine to change the scent of your blood. Another medicine to keep her body in good shape and have a better stamina before fighting. Cagalli needs to be cautious so before attacking she drank every medicine advised by Dr. Via and started her attack.
"Make sure we that those three will not be in danger" Cagalli ordered Miri she prepares to attack the enemy.
"I understand, please take care also we don't want your blood running in here" Miri said and started to shoot the target and making sure not any children get in her way.
The three young men reached Miri and went behind her to hide and they are out of breath.
"Miss…" said by the men while catching his breath "He almost ate us please be careful."
"No need to worry we will make sure we survive" said Miri while aiming to their opponent.
Miri then aimed the wolf's foot but it did not hurt him that much. The creatures of underworld have thicker skin and her bow did not make any huge damage. Cagalli was now running towards the wolf and was about to attack it but she remembers the fight they've watched with Zaft soldiers and how strong they're compared to normal person. "They're ten times stronger than us" she thought and had a better idea on defeating the underworld creature.
When the wolf notices her not moving it was his chance to kill her , he then raised his claw and attacked her but her reflex was fast and stepped back and was evading the wolf's claw.
"She is no ordinary human also; she could evade my attacks!" He said worriedly as he haven't regain his strengths from his previous fight.
Prince Shani Andras of the Wolf-Clan at the underworld was hungry and wants to eat the three children he parted his way with the other Prince to have their own search for Haumea. He never imagined he will be fighting two other lady and was having a trouble defeating them. Their clan only eat male children so he actually doesn't need the two ladies but still willing to kill them. His body is still suffering from the wounds he received from the previous fight they had. They navy haired guy's sword definitely was no ordinary the wounds on his mouth are haven't healed and some of his punches bruised him. He was weaker than before and he needs to eat more. Yet he is now encountering another difficult fight alone.
"Miri! Aim at the same spot ten times then do the same thing on his other leg I'll take care of the front" Cagalli shouted
"Roger!" Miri is having a trouble shooting since the wolf was attacking Cagalli and was moving too fast.
"Huh! Fool saying your plan out loud! You lowly women think can defeat me?" Prince Shani said in response
"Just concentrate…." Miri whispered and was trying to calm herself to concentrate and to make sure Cagalli will not be wounded.
Cagalli jumps high and the wolf stands up to reach her but it was a huge mistake for him. The moment Cagalli was in the air Miri had a chance to aim and shoot Shani's foot five times in a row which definitely leaved him a damaged.
"The other lady is also a skilled archer! Damn! Prince Shani can't believe that these ladies know how to fight he underestimated them.
While being shot, Cagalli took her chance to kick his neck it was time. She studied a lot and read about it will be her first time doing this, releasing her mana. She concentrated and followed the instructions she read on one of the books and did it as fast as she could. Time is her other enemy, while Prince Shani was evading Miri's bow it was Cagalli's chance she poured at least ten percent of her life energy source to her sword, it was not perfect but this will help. She then dashes forward to her opponent and slash her sword across his face. He was wounded but managed to have his claw move and tried to attack Cagalli's leg.
Cagalli was fast to see his claw attacking her so she then kicked his faced again and used forced to throw her body upwards. So, instead of cutting her she was able to evade his claws but still received a punch from his tail and was just pushed hard away from him.
"Argh!" Cagalli also screamed in pain. Good thing she did not have any wound. Prince was now tired and hungry and was now planning to disappear again but instead of letting him disappear again, even though Cagalli is in pain she stubbornly attacked the crying wolf and slashed again his chest leaving him a huge damage. The mana she transferred on her sword already disappear and so the damage will have lesser impact to the wolf. She glanced at Miri to give her signal which she understands immediately and targeting his other leg with the same tactics of aiming at one spot. The wolf can't concentrate to have his body disappear especially that his leg was shot ten tines at the same spot and now has another five shot on his other leg.
"Aaaaaarrgh" Cried by Prince Shani
The only way to defeat a creature of the underworld is target their heart or to behead them and so Cagalli went on top of the wolf and was sitting on his back. Prince Shani already know what she was planning to do and so he was shaking his body hard to have the lady behind her fall.
"Get off me! you crazy woman!" He shouted.
But Cagalli was more irritated than ever on how this creature keeps on insulting them as women now she was more eager than ever on defeating this creature She was stubbornly gripping tightly on his fur and stabbing his back at the same spot. While doing so, she was trying to concentrate again on having her mana transfer to her sword but she is feeling weaker and her heart aches when she tries to do so. She felt a pain on her chest and for a second lost consciousness. She lost her grip and was about to fall when she heard her subordinate scream.
"Cags! Look out!" Miri scream worried that somehow Cagalli lost her grip.
She almost fell but used her sword to hand on Prince Shani's back. She stabbed him deeply while hanging one hand to her sword.
"Get off me! Arrgh!" Prince Shani keeps shouting as he felt pain for every wound, he gets from Cagalli.
Cagalli was back to her consciousness and started stabbing his back endlessly but she never actually aimed for the heart she was just injuring him. Which was working pretty great as he was now losing some strength before he plans to vanish it was a final blow for Cagalli's plan. She stabs deeply Prince Shani at his hips which made him howl loud he changed his form back to being a human like. Cagalli jumps out from him while she was catching her breath and holding her chest.
He could not transport back to the underworld with so much wounds so he needs to make his body smaller so he went back at being a human like but it was again a mistake. The moment he transformed the brunette girl was near him and stabbed his heart and in just a split second he let a last scream and became one of the sands. Prince Shani is now dead and only his clothing remained. Miri was left infront of Prince Shani as he slowly turns into ash. Cagalli calmed herself and went back at the young men to check if any of them are wounded. Thankfully all are in good shape.
"What happened? It's not like you to lose focus." Miri commented
"I used my Mana and transferred it to my sword but I guess my body can't take it" Cagalli responded softly
"You did what?!" Miri shouted which startled the young men. She received a shush from Cagalli. They both smiled at the young men to put them at ease.
"How? who taught you that?" Miri whispered
"I just followed the instruction from the book I read before and it works" Cagalli answered after drinking some water.
"But using Mana are only for children of Goddesses, who was born half human and half immortal or you received an item from a Goddess herself they said. That sword you have right now, we just bought that at the central so Dont tell me…?"
"No…I'm obviously and naturally human. According to what I have read we all have life force but most of us do not know how to use it properly or their life force is too weak. It's just that maybe mine was stronger because of my blood." She answered
"Still we better keep that also a secret, we don't know if someone might be interested with that." Miri whispered
"Yes… Thank you Miri. Good thing my Mana doesn't have any visual effect like Prince Athrun's sword."
"Yeah…That flame of Mana was dangerous. I did saw a wind like form in your sword in a split second though"
"Hmmm…. Maybe mine was wind" Cagalli answered
"Don't do it again until we further get some details about your Mana"
"Yeah…" Both ladies are fixing their things and accommodating the thee young men
"You still can't do it" Miri commented suddenly.
"I…can't even though I know he was a creature of the underworld still…"
"As King Uzumi said you are not soldier at heart, but you did great." Miri tapped Cagalli's shoulder and proceeded on helping the children.
Hour has passed and the two ladies rested and shared their meals with the three young men. They learned that the two was staying on a nearby small village called the Dessert Dawn. They don't particularly belong to the Southern Kingdom's territory nor the Central they are just individual group but still respect some of the Southern Kingdom's law as they are still near the boundary of the Southern Kingdom. Their village are near where Stellar is working.
"Dr. Kagari, you are very amazing you just defeated the Prince of the Underwolrd!" said by one of the young men aging around 13.
"Right! How did you do it! basing on his appearance he is stronger than ten men combined!" said by the other young men.
"Sometimes in fighting if you can't match their strength…make sure to find another solution. Think for strategy look for their weakness and plan for an attack." Cagalli explained
"Wow! You are beautiful and very intelligent Dr. Kagari! You thought of a plan in just a split second!" Commented by a tanned man with curly hair named Ahmed aging around 17
"Thanks Ahmed! I am very grateful hearing that from you." Cagalli smiled which made Ahmed blush
"We have another guy fall for one of your smiles" Miri whispered then laughed
They traveled ahead with the three men and went to the small village they lived. At the gates of the center there was a group of men who was guarding it but then greeted them the moment they saw the three young men. They've been looking for the three men and it seems that Ahmed was considered their Prince in their village.
The villagers celebrated as Ahmed was brought back safely to them. The two ladies were welcomed with smiles. Even though it's already late at night many people still gathered at the center to hear the announcement of their elder or the head leader of their village. A grand bonfire was made near the center of the village and standing at the stage was their elder, Ahmed and the three young men.
"Brother's and Sister's, we are gathered tonight to celebrate and to thank the two young ladies who saved my grandchild Ahmed and his friends" Said by their Elder
"I, Sahib Ashman would like to give you the desert rose. To show gratitude we here give our precious stone to symbolize our respect to you"
Sahib looked at the two ladies and asked them to join them at the center stage. Cagalli and Miri was blushing while walking at the middle of the crowd. While reaching the stage, Sahib explained to the villagers what they did for Ahmed and his friends which shocked them especially hearing about the creature of the underworld. Ahmed further gave the details on their experience and happily thanked the two ladies.
"The Desert Roses are considered by us to contain a spirit guardian, making them a wonderful talisman of protection, each having their own lessons and wisdom to share with the owner. We hope that this will protect the two of you in your journey as how you protected our brothers" said by their Elder
He gave each of the ladies a one-centimeter stones chained to each other and was designed as a bracelet. It's a form of gypsum selenite that grows in intricate rosette patterns. It was very expensive, a very rare stone and was only given to heroes of the Desert Dawn and their Elders.
"Wow! These are gorgeous! We are very thankful for these gifts and I'll make sure to treasure it" Cagalli said and flashed her most beautiful smile.
"I am also grateful as well receiving such honor is beyond our expectations" Miri said and bowed and Cagalli did the same thing.
The Villagers was able to prepare a feast at the short time notice and everyone shared the meal. Cagalli and Miri ate some as they already had their lunch a while ago. They had shared stories with other villagers and some actually asked for her assistance for their medical conditions. With that they planned a medical checkup with everyone first thing in the morning.
"Thank you for giving us a room to sleep Sahib, Ahmed…" Cagalli said as they enter the room
"You're welcome we apologize for tomorrow's event" Sahid said
"Not at all I was happy to help after receiving this precious gift that's the least we could do" Cagalli responded and held her bracelet.
"Saving this kid is too much…The rumors are true that Orb people are intelligent and kind—" Sahib was interrupted by Ahmed
"—And definitely beautiful!" Ahmed said
They all laughed as Ahmed blushed by his sudden outburst. They bid goodnight and called it the night. They rested and slept peacefully but the two ladies still had her guard up and was checking their surrounding for any danger. She and Cagalli agreed that one will sleep and the other will guard then after three hours they will change role.
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"Hmmmm…First Prince Clotho then Prince Shani is now dead…who could have killed them.? Very interesting." A lady was holding a skull as it glows
"I think I only have one Prince of the Underworld to kill, then I could take over the Underworld" She smiled mischievously
"When will you have your move? We need to make sure to have Haumea's blood." Another blond lady without eyes beside her was holding some drinks.
"A time will come; All I have to do is appear at the least time they expect and attract one of their Prince… I think I'll start with him… Prince Rey…"
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Thank you again for reading please let me know what you think and please leave a review. I made huge changes to some chapters please feel free to go back. I promise to update weekly but if I can't at least twice a month.
Hope you like it.