Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN GS/GSD CHARACTERS
Chapter 9: Alliance
AN: I made changes in some prev chapters scene and plot. I advise for you to check if you have time. Thank you for taking your time reading this.
The sun was high and hot it was a very exhausting day for Cagalli and Miri. All the villagers attended the medical event and had themselves physically checked. Most of the people are advised to drink more water and to she gave them some instruction to eat more nutritious foods. Cagalli was worried as she was able to check most people are having trouble breathing. She asked Miri and Ahmed to get details of the number of deaths on a certain month and the cause for the past ten years.
"I have gathered the data you wanted Doctor" Miri said as she hands some paper with Cagalli
"Hmm..Like what I've thought the villagers symptoms could result to death. I have asked them some of the symptom and they all have experienced what's on my list." Cagalli mumbled
Their village has no resident medical specialist and they have to travel to the Southern Kingdom for check-up and some of them decides to just endure their pain which makes them sick more by the time pass and too hard to cure. So, Cagalli asked Sahib to gather their council and elders to discuss the situation. They showed the symptoms list to the Village Council. As soon as Sahib informed them, they immediately gathered to Cagalli's tent and attended the meeting. Miri and Ahmed were asked to distribute the files they gathered to the council as a reference while Cagalli will discuss the situation.
"Doctor Kagari have some important information to share to us. I thank everyone for making this meeting a priority" Their Elder said. He then looked at Cagalli for her to start the meeting.
She explained to the death rate, reason and to what season they need to be extra careful.
"If we will not resolve the issue. Most people here might suffer and die due to heat stroke base on your records its eighty percent in your data that people show symptoms of having heat stroke. The next month will be the hottest degree that you could experience according to the meteorologist, so we need to make sure you could have enough water supply and vitamins." Cagalli commented as she sees the documents given to her. Ahmed just gave her their supply record of vitamins and water which troubled her as it is not enough for a week supply if they will encounter such heat wave.
"Is there anything we could do? I mean we can't control the damage I we are against the weather" Sahib responded worriedly to Cagalli as he also shows map of the Southern Kingdom. The Council was also thinking some options to improve their medical supply and have permanent medical personnel.
Cagalli and the Council checked the map to see options so that they could have more supply of water to prevent such rate of disease in the future.
"The Southern Kingdom itself suffer on the supply of water and could only give us limited supply" Sahib commented and he pointed on the western side of the map "Gibraltar has a good supply of water but they are conquered by the Western Kingdom and has a lot of demands to have water with them. Panama near Central was too far. And we can't currently trade at the Central"
"Because of their current issue too…" Commented by one Council elders
"What do you mean?" Cagalli asked
" …Zaft soldiers already announced just this morning that they will also seize now the Central Region and the villages around it. Tasil immediately surrender and they are just waiting for the governor to decide whether to fight back or not. Zaft is already in front of the governors palace…" Sahib hesitated at first but he knows news travel fast.
"Whaat?!" Miri shouted she received glances from other people so she excuses herself.
"The government of Panama are not willing to surrender and will fight but basing on their military records they will definitely suffer. The fact that Zaft Commander announced their attack shows they are confident that they could defeat them." the other council said
"Have they gone mad? Why are they doing this? Doesn't the Kingdom of Plants already expand their territory for the past years but now the Central?" Cagalli who can't believe the guy she talked to who has calm and innocent look would start this quest. She thought they are just searching for Haumea's blood.
"They said they want to unite the Four Kingdoms." Sahib said as he took a sip of his coffee
"They started at the Central to stop the imports and exports. Small villages like us will suffer first before the other three kingdoms" Their eldest said
"We need to focus first with the health issue we have and soon with their military" Sahib said.
Cagalli collected her thoughts she doesn't want to do this but this will benefit them and Orb.
"Onogoro…" Cagalli said as she pointed a stick on the map. "This is a large town that is under Orb. It is two times far from Gibraltar and they don't actually trade water. Even though they have a great supply in water. I could request for them to open a transaction with you but I bet they won't do it for free. Would you like to try?" Cagalli asked
"How?" Council all said at the same time
"Just an item that has the same cost with the water. Onogoro has a huge dam that controls the water supply as it was being surrounded by water. The cost was much cheaper than any other supplier." Cagalli said.
"How can we acquire huge water supply from that far town?" Sahid asked Cagalli.
"Onogoro was blessed with a water mage and that person could personally suck water in her body that could contain 1000 ton of water." Cagalli said and smiled
"That's amazing! Ahmed exclaimed
"When can we transact with them?" Sahib asked
"Leave it to me I will send Rouge my bird to send a message to Duchess Murrue Ramuis the water mage and the Captain of Onogoro."
"What will be the exchange?"
"Actually… Onogoro is reach in agriculture but they lack at one thing. Gems or jewelries… Their people loved festivals and attending banquets so normally people loved to wear luxurious jewelries. You actually have genuine gems here and could use this to pay them. You could charge them high with your gems." Cagalli hesitated but she knows it would be best for both parties.
"That's understandable…Our people love to have a low-profile life but if gems will help us, I will make sure to give them the rarest and most beautiful." Sahib said
"I understand that your gems have meaning to your culture but this will be a seasonal transaction it won't harm your land" Cagalli assured.
The Villagers don't sell their gems as they believe that it was something that should only be given to a hero that would help them. Their ancestors became greedy and sold all the gems they could find and their people suffered on an epidemic. Few only survived no one knew what's the cause. Their elderly claim that Heaven was mad for their greediness and was punished. Since them gems can only be detected by their current chief who mostly was blessed as an earth mage but still, they did not attempt to sell it.
Some elders don't want to agree and was thinking for other payments. Cagalli indeed find it troubling as what they have are things Onogoro already has. She was also thinking some options, she was about to suggest for Sahib to help Onogoro but again they don't particularly have trouble in land.
"We will find Gems on our own without the help of Sahib's power." Their Eldest told them which made them flinch at the thought as they will really need to find it harder.
"Yes… we we're punished as our ancestors used the blessed power in finding gems for greediness. We have a different situation. And we could have a prayer asking for approval from Heaven before we start the agreement and have an offering after the success of our transaction" Ahmed stated.
Sahib smiled on how matured Ahmed became since he met the Doctor. But he wants to personally talk to her as he feels different from her spiritual life force it was very strong for her. The Village Council and elders came to agreement with Onogoro as their prospect for their supply.
"We could write down how much you are willing to pay them if you want and schedule for a meeting. At the same time Onogoro is part of Orb which means they have some supplies of medicines and vitamins you also need." Cagalli suggested she smiled at the thought she could help them at the same time help her country in imports and exports. This could also strengthen the alliance between Orb and the Southern Kingdom since she plans to propose this also to King Clyne in the future.
"Hmmm…Everything looks good but how? The Central has stopped operations." Sahib asked and was thinking some options.
"May I suggest?" Miri asked
"Go ahead."
"The Louisser Doctor Kagari's relative has a mansion built between the border of Heliopolis and Orb… Which means that it was located in Gulnaha Ravine a small town just before Onogoro. To go there you can actually travel using the eastern gates of Heliopolis and it would only take at least four hours of travel through land." Miri said as she pointed at the map
"Good point Miri! You could have the meeting and transaction at the Mansion if you will only do that seasonally it won't be against ay law of the Heliopolis and Orb" Cagalli said as she was able to finish political science a degree it is common for her to know all the laws written on each Kingdoms.
They're all amazed that they can somehow exchange supplies without using the Central Region and that it will be lesser time but there's one flaw. The Eastern gates of Heliopolis might be strict when it comes to letting people pass the gates especially that Zaft is stirring something up against the three Kingdoms and they haven't tried it passing through the Eastern gate of Heliopolis which made them frown. But a huge smile was formed from their head elder.
"I could arrange a meeting the Reverend Malcho, he was the head of the guards at Heliopolis and was one of our brethren." Hearing the news made everyone feel at ease for the supply.
They continued their meeting for the improvement of their medical care that took hours but was able to fix everything. Cagalli had Akatsuki a special Golden Bird that holds her seal to inform the Palace about her where about and the meeting she had. She made it an official and formal letter since it includes transaction for Onogoro. She also sent a request to her brother to send medical personnel who works under her to teach the villagers on herbal medicines. She lastly gave them a will stating that she will pay the expenses for a possible scholar on his/her academic study in Orb if they could convince someone from the village to be a Doctor and work for their village in the future. She did not mention this to the villagers as she felt like they will be suspicious about her connections.
Cagalli seal was composed of a bright red rose with a golden lion behind it, A symbol her being the only daughter of the Lion/King of Orb. When she was able to summon Akatsuki through her whistle she gave her seal and letters and made it fly back. Akatsuki could travel back to Orb for just an hour. But Cagalli secretly placed her mana to Akatsuki for it to fly faster than usual since its necessary for them to have water and medical supply and medical personnel as soon as possible. She checked the surrounding to make sure no one see Akatsuki before releasing it to go back. People are busy at the center since the Council are now relaying the meeting they just had to the people. So, she took the opportunity to have Akatsuki deliver her message.
"Must be nice to be Akatsuki…traveling just an hour from here to Orb." Miri said as she showed Cagalli that they're all packed. Cagalli just smiled and followed Miri back to the Center. She chose not to tell Miri about her giving some Mana to Akatsuki as she will definitely worry about her health. She almost lost conscious before so she will only used it if its necessary and she needs to collect more data about it. Secretly she took some medicine since she was tired for the day and she don't want to worry anyone else.
After arranging their belongings and was about to bid goodbye they saw all the villagers was at their stage thanking them. Kids run towards them crying and thanking them Cagalli felt satisfied helping these people it was a bitter sweet goodbye, she wants to stay with them longer but she they really need to go to Heliopolis. They left seeing huge smiles on their faces. What worries her was the Zaft soldier who might attack them any moment. They don't have a strong military they only have few soldiers from Heliopolis who help them when in need and they have some volunteers for safety rounds on their village, that's it. Their elder said he is willing to talk to Zaft Commander to have negotiations to prevent bloods shedding on their village it was their only option.
It already afternoon but Cagalli and Miri need to leave as she needs to enroll immediately and confirm her employment. Stellar house was as Miri said at Gulnaha Ravine. While Stellar works at the next village near the Eastern Gates. Gulnaha Ravine is a small town almost part of the Southern Kingdom but was a free town. Stellar chose to live here not just because it was her parents' house but she feels free living there even though it would take one and half hours for her to travel for her work.
"Now that I think about it… I have to travel half an hour to work from home, then to work another half hour to go to the academy Urgh!" Cagalli said as she realizes how hard it would be working and studying at the same time for one whole month.
"Maybe you could use your mana to fly." Miri laughed "You said you could do it without hearing explanations from us" She continued while laughing
"It was easy for Stellar as she will not have to study" Cagalli pouted
"Want to go back to Orb…Princess? I mean Doctor Kagari" Miri teased
"What! No way! I'll prove to them I could do it" She answered as fire formed on her eyes both ladies again chatted along the way. They already used the clothes needed and their vale as a respect for the Southern Kingdoms Culture and law and for them to easily enter the gates. They both thought they manage to hide Cagalli's identity but one man in particular saw something that revealed her identity.
A golden bird was flying above that catches his attention, he secretly followed it and it led to a tent. He stayed hidden from a far and watched the bird. It landed on an arm there was a blond girl attachinf some papers to its feet and somehow was concentrating and holding intensly the bird. It was Doctor Kagari, He cannot see what she was doing but then she released the bird to relay message. "It seems a bird of the imperial family" he whispered
Miri was busy packing her things and was not able to notice the man hiding from a far and watching their every move.
"Must be nice to be Akatsuki… traveling just an hour from here to Orb." Miri said
He smiled after hearing them"I knew it, the moment I heard you defeated a prince from the underworld and your mana's presence. You are indeed Princess Cagalli Yula Athha" He thought.
He plans on confronting her about her mana if she was aware of it but he learned more than that. He was surprised and amazed on how rumors were about Orb's Princess. A Princess who was never shown to the public outside Orb, a beauty with a blond hair and a genius they said. A person symbolizes love and hope. "A Goddess…A Goddess on earth I'd say" He whispered and smiled. "I don't get why you're here but I wish your safety on your journey. Thank you for your help Princess." He mumbled
"Sahib!…? What are you mumbling about? Let's go and assign the people to look for gems" Ahmed shouted as he dashes towards him.
"Nothing just a bidding goodbye for Doctor Kagari's and praying for their safety" He answered
"She is strong and smart she will be fine" Ahmed proudly say to Sahib and blushed. He just laughed at the young man and they went back to the center of their village.
"In the future, rest assured that our loyalty is to you and Orb Princess Cagalli. It might be impossible but with your Mana you could be Haumea, Princess" Sahib thought and smiled as a new and better future awaits them.
"Our weapons underground and military are now prepared" Another man approached Sahib
"We only attack if needed, Zaft might just pass through us but if not then we set the trap" the man nodded and Ahmed facial expression became pale.
They might be a small town… only on the naked eye of people passing by. They did not focus on luxurious item but their village focused on their armor and weapons. They expanded their own territory underground. They started it since Zaft started conquering small town and villages. They will protect their land and was not willing to give to them. They will negotiate but if everything will not work the whole town will go down with Zaft.
Thanks for reading please leave some review and let me know what you think