A/N: Okay... I know alot of you were waiting to see an epic clash in this update between Zorzal's forces and the Tiger Strike Coalition. But... I have to burst your bubble because this chapter will not be focusing on that. Rather, it would be focusing on some characters and side stories I have been neglecting for the sake of moving the story along.Don't worry, I am thinking up how the next battle will go down so please be patient.Anyway, I want to thank everyone who gave me the positive feedback in my last chapter and I hope you enjoy this little side Story before we move on to the main event/events. So without much to say again... on to the Chapter...
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{ Chapter 53: What the ( Uncertain ) Future Holds... }
The following events take place 24 hours before Zorzal's Coup...
Alnustown Market...
A new day had dawned in the small cthat existed in the shadow of Alnus Hill, as many of the town's residents left their homes to start their day. Most of whom ran the many businesses that allowed the flow of trade and commerce through the growing community, while others actually worked in the Other Worlder Fortress itself. One such business was known locally as "Diluculumpræparatus" (The Morning Dawn), a news paper of sorts that mostly reported on the daily happenings not only Alnus Town, but some of the other out laying villiages and towns as well.
Normally, the stories covered by the News Paper were not what one would call ground breaking. Usually focusing on recent developments in Alnustown or annoucing up coming events in reguards to Italica or one of the many villages in the region. But what ever story was initially lined up for publication that day, was quickly pushed to the sidelines. As the Other Worlders made an announcement that made everything else look trivial. For now plastered on the front of each paper were simple words... vincere imperii
Empire Defeated...
By the time most of the population had woken up, they were greeted by the sounds of celebration and jubilation coming from the Town center. As hundreds of beast-men, mostly those of the Warrior Bunny Tribes and other similar people groups, gleefully celebrated the surrender of the one power that had caused so much suffering to their people. Some of the Warrior Women even went as far as dressing up in some of their most colorful and beautiful attire and happily froliced in the streets of Alnustown, as other demi-humans played merrily on their traditional musical instruments for the gleeful crowds to dance to.
Children played among the growing crowd, as Egyptian and Italian Peacekeepers kept a close watch on the impromtu celebrations unfold. As they had been called in to ensure that things did not get out of hand and were supported by Japanese Military Police. But despite the festivities taking place, there was one person who could not take part in the celebrations outside of her new home.
For so many years, Tyuule had dreamed of seeing the Empire finally being punished for what they had done to her people and today, it seemed as if that dream had finally come to reality. But for the former Battle Queen of the Northern Bunny Tribes, it was a victory she could not enjoy with the rest of her people. Yes, she had helped the Other Worlders humiliate Zorzal when she lead the raid on his Palace. Yes, she had provided valuable inormation that may have played a role in the long term security of the continent. But at the end of the day, she would always be seen as a tratior among her own people. The Warrior Queen that allowed herself to be rutted by Crown Prince Zorzal to save her own worthless skin, while her people were slaughtered and enslaved. It was a fact she had long since accepted about herself, but seeing her people celebrate from her room in the base hospital made all those terrible feelings returned to her.
Noriko had long since returned to her world to live with her aunt in a place called "Hokkaido". Once again leaving the former Queen all alone with her thoughts in the Other Worlder Base, though this would only be temporary. Or at least she hoped, as Tyuule had yet to receive any response to her request to settle on the other side of the Gate. It was a long shot at best, but it was something Tyuule desperately wanted. Tyuule wanted a chance to start over and the only way she could do that, the Bunny woman thought, was to get as far away from Falmart as possible.
Taking a moment to glance over her bandaged shoulder, the former leader of the Bunny clans could see the motionless form of Delilah laying on her hospital bed. The Warrior Bunny/Tavern Owner had suffered some terrible injuries during her encounter with the infamous Pied Piper and as a result, the Base Doctors had no choice but to place to poor woman in a medically induced coma. Numerous machines had been placed to help the Bunny woman breath and monitor her condition, while nutrition was provided by both special medication and even the occasional serving of food drinks such as Ensure. It had been a few weeks since that fight and even though Delilah was said to have shown some improvements, not even the doctors knew just when, or even if she would wake up.
For Tyuule, seeing the Warrior Bunny in such a state made her both sad and angry. It broke her heart to see one of her former Warriors so weak and helpless, but her blood boiled with she realized that if it were not for that sadistic bastard Zorzal, none of this would have happened. If Zorzal had not marched up north with his armies, her people would still have their homes ad continued to live in peace. She would not have given herself to the Prince in a misguided attempt to save her perople. If Zorzal had not marched, she would not have spent years as his slave. Subjected to unspeakable horrors and forcing her to seek an unholy alliance with the Haryo Clan.
Tyuule may have long since come to terms with her unintentional role in the destruction of the Northern Warrior Bunny Tribes, but she still held a burning hatred for the man who took everything away from her. The Battle Queen would not rest until Zorzal died by her hands, it was quite possibly the one thing that kept her sanity and made her endure the constant r*pes for all those years.
Sometimes, pure malice can be the best medicine...
Zorzal will die by her hand before this war was over, creatures like him did not deserve to exist and Tyuule would be damned if she allowed that monster to breath the same air as her people, peace treaty or not.. Only when Zorzal was dead, would the Battle Queen be able to start her new life. But for now at least, the Warrior Bunny would stand watch over her former comrade in arms before heading off back to her own room for the day. She did not want to be seen by anymore of her own people, least they try to kill her upon sight...
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Alnustown Constabulary Office, Alnustown...
'Thank Flare for the Peacekeepers." Myuute though quietly to herself, as the Constabulary officer sank into her chair and released a deep sigh.
Ever since the Other Worlders had confirmed that the Empire had indeed surrendered, the entire town had erupted in celebration. Though the level of said celebration kind of varied between the races that lived in Alnustown. Obviously, Myuute was just as happy as any of the other Demi-humans who now danced in the streets, as the Siren and the rest of her people had been forced to live under Imperial rule and were subjected to many of the prejudices that came with it.
But the Constabulary officer just wished the people could have celebrated a little more responsible and not cause problems for others. For the most part, the complaints that had been made were minor but numerous. Causing her to quite litterally fly from one incident to another, either to break up a small fight or take someone into custody for the day. At least the UN Troops were able to take the strain off her, Myuute felt that her wings could have fallen off at any moment. She was just about to allow herself to drift off to some much needed sleep in her office, when her door suddenly opened to reveal the familiar form of...
"Rory!" Myuute gasped out in surprise, as she fixed herself behind her desk.
"Don't mind me, I'm just here to deal with my prisoner." The child like demi-goddess replied casually, as she walked up to the near by cabinet and took the keys for the Constabulary cells.
"Think she's had enough?" the Siren asked her friend. Rory just shrugged before she replied. "Believe me, what has happened to her is far more worse than being locked up. Besides, it's not everyday that an Apostle gets ex-communicated by the God they have sworn loyalty to..."
Meanwhile in one of the many holding cells located under the Constabulary office, a lone figure had huddled herself up in the corner and hid under the blanket that had been provided. There were worst fates than death and for an Apostle, being excomunicated from their temple was by far one of the worst things that could happen to them. Though not common, such an occurrence was not unheard of. An Apostle must have failed/angered their assigned God in such a way, it warranted complete expulsion from their religion with no hopes of ever being allowed back. Worst still, excommunication also meant that they no longer had the powers or abilities that were initially granted to them when they became Apostles. That also included losing not only their immortality, but their ability to heal themselves from even thee most minor of wounds and injuries. Leaving them to live out the rest of their days as mear mortals, the ultimate insult to an Apostle like herself.
It was this loss that alerted Giselle that Hardy had excommunicated her, as her wings had failed to grow back and the wounds left behind has not fully healed. She was unable to recall her weapon while imprisoned in this cell, an ability certainly enjoyed especially during a fight but worst of all, she could no longer sense the power of Hardy within her. A feeling she had felt ever since she first became the Apostle of Goddess Hardy. That fact alone destroyed the Draconian woman.
Her confident and plucky attitude had now been replaced by an overwhelming sense of abandonment and self loathing. She no longer had her Powers, she was no longer the Apostle of Hardy... as far as Giselle was concerned, she was nothing. Worthless and a failure... a mortal.
Suddenly, the door to her cell opened to reveal the all to familiar form of Rory Mercury, wearing her trade mark smile as two Italian Peace Keepers flanked her. "Come on, time to go." The Apostle of Emroy told the Draconian woman, as she walked up pulled off the blanket that covered Giselle. Revealing the bright orange prisoner outfit that had been given to her when she first arrived. Long was gone her priestess outfit, which had been torn up badly during her encounter with the Other Worlders.
"Oh Giselle, it's time to go." Rory said teasingly. "You are free now."
Giselle for her part, did not even respond to her would be tormentor. She just sat there in her corner and silently brooded. Frowning a bit, Rory then instructed the two Carabinieri officers to escort the former Demi-goddess out of her cell and into the Humvee that was waiting for them outside. Giselle did not know where she was being taken, nor did she care. She did not really care about anything anymore really and why should she? She had been excommunicated, so her death right now would be a much welcomed improvement.
As the Carabinieri Humvee navigated its way through the crowded streets of Alnustown, it's single blue flashing light alerting the residents of its approach as it pressed on through the celebrations. All the while, Giselle silently sulking in her seat and looking down at the vehicle's floor. Something that did not go unnoticed by Rory.
Eventually, the Carabinieri Humvee came upon a simple pre-fabricated house near the edge of town. Just one of dozens that had been built for the residents of Alnustown in the early days, before new homes were built and they were abandoned. This particular home was the only one left after the town started to grow and would now serve a very special purpose.
"This is for you, Giselle." Rory told the broken woman. "This use to be my home in Alnustown, but now I am giving it to you."
That statement caught the former Apostle by surprise, as she raised up her head for the first time in what felt like weeks. "W... what?" the Draconian squeaked out. "You are just giving me your home...? w... why?"
"Because I can only imagine just what you are going through right now" Emroy's Girl replied with a sigh. "Being excommunicated is not easy and a long time ago I vowed to help any of my fellow priests or Priestess if ever such a fate was cast upon them... even the ones I don't like. So do you want the house or not?"
Giselle just stood their for a moment as she tried to process just what her former adversary done for her. Rory did not have to do this for her, no did she have no obligation to help her. Especially concidering their rather turbulant history. If anything, Rory should have killed her right there and then but instead, she was showing... mercy. She was being kind, even though she clearly had no reason to. Rory was alot of things, this Giselle knew first hand, but never once did the former Apostle think her biggest rival was able to show her compassion.
With not much else to lose and with no other option, Giselle just nodded as she took the keys for her new home from the Apostle of Emroy. But as Rory began to walk away with the Italians, Giselle had to know one last thing and called out...
"You must be very happy now. To see me like this, powerless and weak. Tell me Apostle of Emroy, does my suffering make you happy.?"
There was a moment silence between the two women, as the Carabinieri looked on. Before Rory turned to face her former adversary and said with a smile on her face, "No, I do not. Though I admit I do look forward to seeing you struggle in your new life..."
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Although the celebrations continued throughout Alnustown, there were those who were not too happy about the apparent surrender of the Empire. Particularly Lady Mara Co Lander of the now disgraced House of Lander, who now resided in Alnustown with her daughters.
It had been a few months since the Noble Woman had been forced to flee Sadera and settle in Alnustown, all because she had been warned that Crown Prince Zorzal had less than honorable intentions towards her children. Only Flare knew just what would have happened to herself and her daughters if the Other Worlders had not gotten to them first. No sooner had the Other Worlders secured them, the Noble women were loaded onto an Indian Chinook and transported to Alnus town, a rather interesting experience for Mara and her family to say the very least.
But although they were safe, Mara and her daughters were now forced to live a new lifestyle they were not use to. Their magnificent mansion with ornate decorations, was now replaced with a two story wooden house located close to the center of Alnustown. Their army of servants/slaves were no longer apart of their daily lives and they were forced to do everything themselves. The unlimited wealth that came with being a noble house... now reduced to what ever they could have carried while they fled. Which meant the Landa women would have to do something they never thought would happen...
They needed to get Jobs, unless they wanted to starve...
It did not take long for Mara and her daughters to realize that Alnustown operated far differently than Sadera. Their noble titles meant nothing to the locals, as they valued merit over status. Ironically, it was a Warrior Bunny who have her eldest daughters jobs at her Tavern as waitresses when no one else would even give them the time or day. Never once in her long life did Lady Landa ever think that she would be greatful towards a beast-woman, but it was not like there were any other Nobles she could have offered her daughters too and the Other Worlders were not exactly thrilled at the idea of an arranged marriage. Some were even down right disgusted by her actions, trying to "sell off her daughters" as onrpe of them put it. These people most definitely did things differently than the Empire.
But yet despite her current hardship, Mara never lost hope that one day she and her family could return home and reclaim what was rightfully theirs. She may have been forced to flee, but Mata was still
a diehard supporter of the Empire and still believed that victory could be achieved. Or at the very least, the Emperor would have been able to force the Other Worlders to the peace table some how and end the war with terms favoring the Empire. But not that would never happen, as it was the Empire who eventually buckle under the relentless Other Worlder assault.
Now here she and her family were, far from home in a town populated by Beast-men and with no way of knowing if they would have a home to return to when the war ended. But she would rather see the Empire burn, rather than letq that sick bastard Zorzal have his way with her beloved daughters. At least they seemed have have adapted well to life in Alnustown. As a matter a fact, she had a very strong feeling that her eldest daughter had developed romantic feeling for one of the Other Worlder soldiers. Feeling she was certain were being returned, as she could remember seeing them happily enjoying each other's company. He may not have been a noble, but from what Mara had seen, he was still quite the honorable individual.
At least one of her daughters had found happiness.
Just maybe the rest of her family could do the same.
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As day soon became night, the festivities had mostly died down within Alnustown. Though several taverns were still busy as the night progressed. Just like the town residents, the Soldiers and Marines that made up the Coalition Forces were just as happy to hear that Sadera had surrendered and celebrated in their own specific ways. Such was the case of the crew of Tanker 6 and their commander, who were enjoying themselves in The Bunny Stop.
Though the mood was slightly more somber, as every single one of them were aware that the Tavern's spunky and lovable owner was not there to celebrate with them. News about the recent incident involving Delilah had spread throughout the base and town rather quickly, though as to why she was in the hospital in the first place was still unknown. Not surprisingly, there were many who where hoping for the beloved business owner to recover as soon as possible. But this reality did not stop the Tavern's employees from trying to create a cheerful atmosphere, especially since they would be honoring the men and women who resided within the Fortress on the hill.
It was here in the one would find Lewis Ramlogan Williams, better known as "Punjab" by his friends. Who was quietly sitting alone in at one of the tables in the far corner of the establishment. Normally, the Marine was not the type to go out alone, let alone to a tavern/bar, but this was not a normal circumstance. You see, tonight the marine/fireman... had a date.
This was something the dark skined man was never expecting to happen while he was still in the Corps. Then again he never thought he would be deployed to another world where magic, dragons and princesses named after cocktail drinks existed, but here he was with both. He also did not expect to develop a liking towards a very curvy Japanese Sargent either, but like his father would say, love strikes when you least expect it. He did meet Lewis' mom when his fire house responded to a woman trapped in an elevator when he first joined the FDNY. That woman being his future wife.
Truth be told, Williams has initially put off dating while he was in the service. Like every new recruit preparing to head towards Parris Island for training, Lewis had heard of all horror stories that came with being enlisted. Of how young and nieve Marine privates would marry their supposed sweethearts before being deployed, only to return home months later to an empty bank account and their Girlfriend/Wife now living with another man. That was a problem that was all to real for many, as there were women who would only marry military personnel to take advantage of the benefits that came with being a military Spouse.
It was a fact that put the Marine off the idea of dating for a very long time. Originally, he planned to start dating once his enlistment was up, but life has a way of making of its own and in this case... life had introduced him to Shino. Despite her rather infamous reputation among her fellow JGSDF officers, Williams soon found himself being attracted to the woman many knew as the Demon Girl. Though this did not happen over night. Rather the more time both himself and the Japanese Sargent spent with one another, the more things seem to just "click" between them.
Now for obvious reasons, the newly minted couple did not make their "relationship" public. But to those who were cloest to the pair, it was very clear to see that something was going on between the Corporal and the Japanese Sargent.
Suddenly, there was a slight commotion from the Tavern's entrance and upon looking, the Marine was met with a sight that would leave him speechless. For now entering the establishment and wearing what looked like a sun dress, was Sargent Shino Kuribayashi of the Japanese Self Defense Forces.
The Japanese soldiers that were present in the Bunny Stop just looked on in both shock and disbelief, as the curvy sargent made her way towards a now very awestruck Lewis Williams. The young woman wore a confident yet amusrd smile on her face, as she saw the surprised expression on her sempai's face. Obviously, her sister's plan to wear such a dress had the desired effect Shino was looking for. As she look her seat opposite the Marine.
"Hello, Lewis-kun." Shino said with a smile.
"Wow..." The Marine replied, his brain still trying to process just how good Shino looked at that moment.
"I guess you like my dress?" the Sargent said with a slight giggle, highly amused by her date's reaction. "My sister thought I should wear it when I told her about our date."
"Wow..." was the Marine's responce again. "You look... wow."
Shino just giggled again after a few more minutes of William's awkwardness, the two eventually began their date. Much to the shock of many of Japanese men who saw them, who could no believe that the Demon Girl of Chiba Garrison had gotten herself a boy friend of all things.
None more so that Itami and other members of Third Recon, who spied on the couple as they enjoyed their dinner.
"Well, it looks like Hell has indeed frozen over." Tomita said in awe, as she saw the happy couple enjoy themselves.
"Yea!" Itami replied from his hiding place. "Well they say there is someone out there for everyone."
"Even the Demon Girl" Tomita replied, as he took out ¥5000 and handed it over to a grinning Kurokawa who was standing next to him.
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( The Next Day...)
U.S. Navy E-2D Hawkeye "Long Caster". Somewhere over the Alnus-Imperial Boarder...
The familiar hum of Turbo-prop engines filled the fuselage of the Navy AWAC, as the crew of Long Caster patrolled the skies above Falmart. The Powerful Radar Dome scanning the Airspace for any unwanted visitors, specifically dragons, as the lone aircraft carved a large figure eight flight path in the sky.
This was a mission both it and "Ghost Eye" had conducted ever since they arrived in the Special Region almost a year ago. Monitoring the Saderan sky for dragons, a mission they undertook after the incident involving the Fire Dragon and the Coda Refugees last year. Fortunately for everyone though, most of the dragons the AWACs had encountered were too small to be concidered a threat and would rarely enter Alnus Air Space.
But as the Radar operator stared at his screen, his tired eyes soon began to pick up a large formation of targets at the very edge of the Radar Dome's coverage area. At first, thought that the system may have been malfunctioning or that after almost twelve hours in the air, his mind was starting to play tricks on him. But as the targets began to move closer and closer towards their location, it soon became clear that something was very wrong.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away... a large formation of Imperial Army Dragons of various sizes and types, quickly approached Alnus air space. There targets were as followed...
The Principality of Italica, and the Other Worlder Base on Alnus Hill...
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A/N: Well? what ya think?
Anyway... please leave a review and tell me what you think. Until next time...Nightstalker out!
