We're getting closer to the... I dunno... 'big thing'? There's a lot going on. I mean, we have a team of Freya Familia closing in on the manor. We have Bell and the rest getting to the surface. Kodori and the Oni are close behind. Allen may or may not be out of the fight. Ottar might step onto the field. Hestia and the children, as well as their escort are going... somewhere else...

And then we have the other 'big thing'. But that's a little later.

Chapter 40

(Bell and company, minus Ryuu)

"They have left the Manor." Lilly said as she and the others ran through Gnossis, up through the big empty spaces, the smaller more personal ones and past the occasional Xenos.

"Then we are late." Aisha grumbled, "Damn!"

"What else?" Bell asked, moving closer to Lilly.

"Shinkage says Freya Familia have surrounded the Manor as well. Lilly thinks this is much like before the war game."

She wasn't there, but she did know about how Bell and Kodori were herded through town, directed and re-directed away from the Guild and possible aid. "We have enough shrouds to slip by, right?" Welf asked.

"Yes, but moving quietly would take too long." Bell grumbled.

"It will take longer if we waste effort fighting needlessly." Mikoto admonished.

"Here, gimme that." Aisha held her hand out for the Occulus that Lilly had, "I've got an idea." Lilly complied, and Aisha started her call with, "Hub? This is Aisha, Takemikazuchi Familia. Could you get me in touch with Samira, Red light district."

While Aisha waited for a reply, Fear and Ray got a little closer to Bell, "We're sorry you're gonna be late, is there anything we can do to help?"

Bell considered a moment, then shook his head, "No... wait, yes. Can you have someone waiting at the other entrances? If we need to run..."

It was clear he hated the idea, but understood they might not have a choice.

(Ryuu)

Ryuu was... confused.

This wasn't the usual thing you thought of when you heard that someone was confused though. No. She knew what came next, she knew there was still work to do.

No, she was confused because it had been so long since she'd felt this way. Jura was dead. Her old Familia was avenged. Her past was settled. She was free, and the feeling had become so unfamiliar that it had taken her a moment to realize that's what it was. Free.

It was a different kind of 'free' than she had been experiencing since her Goddess had returned to the city. When Kodori had encouraged her to reach out again, she had almost said no. Her life, her motives, her justice had fallen to ruin. So far from the ideals she held from when her Familia was at its peak. But after the war game between Hestia and Apollo, and Kodori's seeming inability to just let her go back to being the quiet woman she'd turned into after she thought the Rudra Familia was dead...

Well, she found a shred of her old purpose again. She saw it now, looking back on it with clear eyes, how her new sister had peeled away the layers of dirt and tarnish that had left her waiting for death at the door of the Hostess of Fertility. Never demanding, never pulling, simply involving her in things again.

So when she asked if Ryuu wanted to try and contact Astraea again, it was like she had known what was stopping her, and had spent all that time building her up so she would say yes.

Ryuu hadn't followed Bell and the others into Gnossis for two reasons. First, Allen may have woken up fast enough to follow her. Yes, she could have made sure he would never follow anyone ever again, but those days were done.

Second... Those days were done. And now, she was standing at the 'grave' she had made for her Familia.

"It's over, my sisters." She said quietly, "The last of the Rudra Familia is dead. The Juggernaut was killed. The Astraea Familia is growing again." She smiled, running her fingertips over the hilt of each weapon, representative of each of the old Astraea Familia. "Together, we will bring Orario closer to the vision we all had for it."

She felt... something... behind her. Distant, nebulous, friendly. She didn't dare turn around to look though.

"But first, I have to make sure the past doesn't repeat itself. Please, keep watching. I'll be sure to bring each of our new Familia here to visit."

The presence behind her got just a little closer, then vanished, almost like it was trying to push her along. So, without looking back, she started to run towards the hidden way into Gnossis on the edge of the Eighteenth floor. Her confusion had been replaced, her new purpose much the same as her old one, but just a little brighter than before.

(Weine)

Weine had gone ahead of the others who were escaping from the manor. It wasn't that she was afraid (though she was, a little), or that she didn't want to help protect the manor (she did), but that the path ahead needed a little preparation.

Not literally, since the sewers were almost as indestructible as the tower, and the Ganesha Familia had been just as diligent in their maintenance as everything else they did. And while the sewer system was very slowly getting higher with all the rain coming down, it didn't need clearing.

No, what needed clearing, was where they would end up.

Hyakinthos was confused. Unlike Ryuu, who's conflicting emotions were confused, the Apollo captain's confusion was far more literal. However, no adventurer lives as long as he had, without being able to shrug off confusion and act, quickly, when needed.

So, to Weine, who had basically showed up out of nowhere, gave him a rolled up bit of paper and offered to help build their new home, he said (after brushing off his confusion), "Well, yes... You can help clear that spot there." He said after a quick read of the paper.

This happened several hours before the rains started, around the time that the others had left for the dungeon.

Now, thanks to their new home being almost right against the huge outer wall of Orario, the torrential rains hadn't done more than send the occasional sprinkle over the work site. Weine, despite her slightly off putting appearance, was an instant hit with the others of Apollo Familia. She was an able worker, followed instructions well, and seemed to have limitless stamina. 'That spot there' used to be covered in rubble, but now it was very quickly becoming a large shed for storing supplies for the rest of the construction. Later, it would be converted into something else, a stable perhaps, or a new smithy.

The reason she was here however, was on the bit of paper she handed him, and there was another reason for that shed's hasty construction. He unrolled the paper and read it again.

"Hyakinthos." Of course, for all Kodori's ability to act civilized, it was just that, an act. "We've sent Weine over to your work site to help out for a while." Direct and to the point, of course, "She's small, but strong, smart and will work as hard as needed, for as long as need be." Honest too. "Give her a spot to build a shelter of some kind. It doesn't need to be grand, just functional and able to fit about a dozen people. If things go well, it's free labour for you, though please make sure Weine eats and drinks occasionally. If things do not go well, you will need to shelter about a dozen people for a few hours, maybe a day."

He looked down the street, and saw those guests now. Takemikazuchi, three of his Familia, Astraea, Hestia, and big box on wheels. He looked to the letter again.

"Put them to work if you want, but please, give them shelter until I or another from the Alliance comes to get them. Additional payment for your service can be negotiated if need be... Kodori." Then, "P.S. Try and keep Lord Apollo and Lady Hestia at opposite sides of the room if you can. Though, yes, He has permission to look into the crib if he wants. Careful, they all have teeth now."

"Mercenary work again it seems." Hyakinthos sighed, walking out onto the street and towards the approaching group from the Hearthstone manor, "Lady Hestia, Lord Takemikazuchi, Lady Astraea..." A pause as he remembered names, "Ouka, Chigusa and... Asuka." Then he squinted into the crib, "And little children." Fallen from grace or not, the Apollo Familia captain would be a proper host, mercenary work or no. "You're all expected. Please, come and get out of the rain, your... Little Weine has been working hard with us to build you a place to rest for now."

"I don't suppose you have a place to bathe yet?" Hestia grumbled, because yes, they did just wade through a sewer.

"Not yet, but we'll get to that next." Hyakinthos said, "We are thankful for the gift your Alliance has given us, but, as you can see, it's still very much a work in progress." Most of the land had been cleared, or at least, the old structures had been 'pushed to one side' for salvaging or disposal, and the only place to get water right now was an old fashioned pump.

The three from Takemikazuchi Familia looked at each other, then back to Hyakinthos, "Show us where to put these down, and we'll lend a hand." Ouka said.

(Kodori)

We had made the climb up to the ruined basin without trouble, endured more cold water, then emerged to do a little combat. After that, our eyes turned upwards.

"Well, I feel cleaner. But there is no way I can jump that high. Oh, here." I picked up a bit of dungeon stone, about as big as my head, and gave it a tap with my fist. With a little 'pop' a series of cracks ran through it, but before it could crumble, I handed it to Fukawa, "Incoming flyers." I gave Okakai a similarly treated rock a moment later, and the two of them started picking off things.

"Climbing would be a simple task." Fukawa replied, "Ha, two in one."

"What of your wings? Have you tried to summon them?" Okakai asked, his arm snapping forward as he let loose with a shard of rock. "Hm, one and a half." A moment later, a wounded harpy hit the ground head first and turned into ash, "Two." Okakai nodded.

"I've been tempted to try." I said, handing them more ammunition, "But even if they still 'appear' they might not 'function'. Also, they wouldn't grow back if they got damaged... I think... I haven't had time to test them really."

They both shrugged, "Then climbing it is." They said together, "What are your plans, when you reach the surface?"

"A few things come to mind. Since I can't contact home unless I get to the eighteenth, or the Guild..." I shook my head, "Who knows, we might have to have a March, right down main street, and remind Freya about what I said about trespassers."

"Sadly, there are only three of us. But I certainly wouldn't mind a spar with some of the supposed strongest in the city." Okakai grinned, all his teeth showing, his single curved horn gleaming.

"This reminds me." Fukawa said, "Akeno-san said to remind you not to drink anything if you ever went on a March again."

I looked at the blue Oni, then took off my mask, just to make sure he could see the 'Oh did she?' look on my face. "I will have to call Issei, and tell him to give her a hug or something."

This got him to grin as well, "We waste time, you should start climbing." He said.

I nodded, looked up again, "We'll go up like so." I pointed to various side rooms that were along the slowly regrowing ramp that circled the basin, "I'll get to a room, then lower a bit of rope for you." My tails 'floofed' out, then started to extend with extruded 'aura'. "This should take about ten minutes, tops."

"Yes Kodori-sama."

(The Home Team)

Five people stood exactly one step outside of the Hearthstone Manor's gate. The first was a tall extremely pale skinned elf. If it weren't for the dark purple cloak marking him as part of Freya's Familia, he might have been mistaken for a God, so handsome were his features. Gold hair, pale blue eyes like bits of ice, high cheekbones... Yes, a classic beauty. The other thing that gave him away as 'mortal' was the odd weapon he held. It was similar to Aisha's Padao, save that the blade was a more traditional 'long sword' while the 'hilt' was just as long as the blade, making it look almost like a bladed staff. Blade and handle both looked to be made of a single piece of metal, and the 'pommel' of the blade had a curious looking double lightning bolt design.

Lined up behind him were four Palum. Again, they were all shrouded by the dark purple cloaks, but they wore identical beaked visor helmets. Identical in size and looks, the only way to tell them apart were the weapons, a spear, a two handed hammer, a two handed double beaked axe, and a great sword, all sized for a full grown 'human'.

In the middle of the Hearthstone training field, Shinkage and Hagane stood side by side. Neither of them seemed to care about the heavy rain, and they wore the same 'too old for this crap' expression, one built into the metal skull of the cat, the other rather comical on the girl who was only a tiny bit taller than the Palum at the gate.

Behind them, standing in front of the big wooden door of the Manor and under the shelter of the nice open air vestibule, was Haruhime in her Goliath skin robe. Hidden from sight were Delly and Maki, both on the roof behind the thick polished bronze Familia emblem. Gros was still in his cage, though totally unseen, hiding under his poor soaked sand pit.

Hagane, because of his bigger and more serious sounding voice spoke for the pair up front, "Kodori has told Freya what would happen to her Familia if they trespassed on her home. I will remind you of that warning as a courtesy." A pause, "I suppose I will also remind you that the entire city will know, the instant you break the Guild's law for trespassing. Any other laws that are broken will similarly be seen and reported."

The four Palum started chuckling, the sound hollow inside their helmets, while the handsome elf in front took a step forward, his face a mere hand's span away from the bars of the gate, "We have a similar message for Kodori, or you, since she isn't here to tell us herself." He said, his voice smooth and formal, matching his good looks, "This 'Alliance's' disrespect of the true ruler of Orario has gone on long enough. This will be an example to the city, and once we are through, Freya will have her prize. We are not here to negotiate, we are here to destroy." He took a half step back, "Furthermore, any 'help' you might call, will be seen as 'resistance' to the ruling authority of Freya's Will, and will suffer a similar fate." His tone was all business, even if he was speaking to a 'child'.

"I will add my own warning then." Shinkage rumbled, a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky, "If you step across the threshold of my home, I will do my very best to kill you. The guild, your Goddess, your Familia. They have no authority over me." Hagane stood then, his long catlike body clicking as his internal workings powered up.

Beside the metal cat, Shinkage bent down and picked up the Padao Welf had made for her.

"Very well." The elf frowned.

And with a swing of his sword/staff the gate of the hearthstone manor fell to pieces.

Haruhime, the instant the gate fell to bits, spoke into her wrist, "This is Haruhime of the Hestia Familia. Freya Familia is attacking our home with the intent to harm its occupants and damage the property."

A half second after she had finished, and turned her arm slightly so the little glass bead on the bracer could 'see' the intruder step over the pieces of metal that had once been the gate, there was a brisk reply, "We see the incursion onto your property Hestia Familia." Another pause, "We recognize that Hedin Selland, known level six of Freya Familia has trespassed and commuted destruction of property."

The next words were a little late, but in a different voice, one that everyone in the Alliance's home knew well. "Guild law is clear, you have every right to remove offenders from your property." It was Eina, her voice calm, but just barely so "The guild hopes you keep property damage to a minimum. We will take care of dispatching aid."

Haruhime could barely hear the last words though, because as soon as Hedin stepped over the threshold of the Manor's gate, it got VERY noisy.

(Eina)

She didn't like this. Not one bit. Following the rules of the Guild was her job. Enforcing them was her job. Educating people and adventurers about them, was her job. But sometimes, she hated her job. It was the paperwork mostly. But this time it was because Kodori (though she did admit that her friends from 'back home' warned her about this) said, very specifically, not to send help to the Manor.

It would be now, when all the attention was focused on the Manor, that the Alliance would be the most vulnerable. Not because the Hearthstone Manor was it's more or less official home, but because the city would be watching it. And while the city was listening in or watching from afar as the newly installed 'Hub' basically broadcasted that Freya was attacking, there would be less attention given to everything else.

The Alliance would be nothing without members. The manor could be rebuilt, even if it needed to become a sacrifice.

"This is Eina to the Hub. Please put me in contact with Ganesha, Loki, and Hephaestus Familia."

(The Home Team)

The instant Heden stepped over the wrecked gate, Hagane opened his mouth and let out a beam of cold. The five Freya enforcers didn't seem to be worried, but they DID get out of the way. The rain, the ground, the very air seemed to freeze around the palm sized beam of pure white energy, and across the street, turning the backyard wall of the Hearthstone Manor's neighbours into a slab of ice covered stone.

The four behind Hedin split into pairs, then jumped over the wall to evade, while Hedin simply stepped to the side, lifting his odd sword/staff and pointing the lightning bolt shaped pommel at the pair in the middle of the yard. "Disable the woman then destroy the manor, I will handle these two then join you."

The four of them laughed, springing across the yard.

Shinkage looked to Hagane, and the metal cat sprang after one of the pairs, the ones holding the axe and great sword.

"This will be a good test." Shinkage said, sounding almost bored as she took out a black metal card.

"We have seen some of your ability, but do you truly think you stand a-"

Of course, Heden was interrupted by Shinkage. She was also a firm believer in not wasting air on words while in combat. True to form, she simply held out the metal card in her hand, her fingers around the edges and away from the mathmagic inscription in the middle, and produced a beam of fire, much like a dragon's flaming breath.

Heden kept his calm, all but dancing to the side to avoid the lance of fire, "Fire? In the rain? You really must be..." He stopped talking, his eyes looking at the half molten metal of the gate. To produce that much fire, without a chant... "A magic sword? It would make sense, Crozzo does live here after all." He pointed his staff again, "Varian Hildr!"

There was a small moment where an orb of electricity gathered between the lightning bolt prongs of the sword/staff, then an arc of lightning lanced towards Shinkage.

With the same bored expression, the mini-dragon simply buried the blade of her rain slick smooth wooden blade into the ground in front of her, and stepped back a little. The sound was deafening, but the magic was grounded out harmlessly. Well, the wooden weapon was smoking a little, but that was quickly snuffed by the rain. Shinkage then plucked the weapon from the ground and raised an eyebrow at Heden as if to say, 'And?'

"Clever." Heden said, not saying more since he'd already learned that Shinkage wasn't much for words, his or hers. This time he swept his staff in front of him, "Fight eternally, indestructible soldiers of lightning!"

It was a super short chant, but above, a half dozen cracking orbs of lightning formed. Shinkage could almost feel her hair stand on end as those orbs gave the distinct impression that they were looking at her.

So, she pulled out her second card, looked directly at Heden and said, "If lightning is all you can do, I will have to retract my words of this being a good test." While she'd never 'personally' fought Akeno in this body, Hagane had, and while admittedly powerful, this was nothing even close to 'new' for Shinkage.

Heden's serious face changed to anger, "Arrogant child! FALL!"

(Maki and Delly)

Sheltered behind the very durable bronze emblem of the Hestia Familia, the two 'rookie' members of the alliance were having a very very quiet argument about the situation.

"I don't like it. I want to help!" Maki hissed.

Delly almost didn't hear it over the initial blast of ice from Hagane's mouth, "I know, but if we are caught out, then we'll probably get ourselves killed." Delly replied, "We're just supposed to watch, and maybe keep others from joining."

"I still don't like it." Maki said, looking down the length of her sword, still toying with the idea of going against Kodori's plan and just shooting someone in the eye with a killer icicle or something. "Think they've caught on yet?"

"That Haruhime is supplying power to us, and not Shinkage? Nope." Delly smiled thinly, "Oh, I think I see smoke from over there... yup, that's a fire."

Maki moved her eyes, not her body, just to reduce the chance of anyone noticing her. And yes, there was now a thin plume of black smoke rising up from the direction of the Artisan district warehouses. "That's probably Bell and the rest getting to the surface-" There was a crash of stone from below and some insane laughter, "Hope they get here soon, my room is on that side of the manor..."

(Hagane)

"Well Grer, seems we get to play with the metal cat." The one with the oversized axe said, bringing it down in a huge overhand arc towards Hagane.

"Seems so Berling." The one with the sword said, trying to cut the legs out from under Hagane at the same time as the axe came down.

It was an excellent one-two play, and it forced the metal cat to spring forwards, his heavy body rolling once over the hard packed clay of the training field then springing back to his feet again. There were a couple of clicks, and he opened his mouth, pointing it towards Grer.

"Now now, can't have you doing that." Berling stepped in front of his brother, a sudden splash of super hot fire washing over the massive axe. Berling continued to hide behind the axe, while his brother rolled to the side, the spring forward, the long double handed sword lancing towards Hagane's mouth.

"HA!" The fire was hot, not doubt, but it couldn't melt or divert the blade in time. With a rending screech of metal, the flame cut out, "That's enough of-"

Uncaring that he'd just lost the mechanism for the mathmagic cards in his throat, his magically powered hydraulic jaw clamped down on the blade, then shattered it like glass, leaving the once metre and a half sword a twenty centimetre stub in the Palum's hands. Just to make a point, Hagane opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, bits of what was probably a million valis weapon clinking to the ground.

"You'll pay for that, you walking scrap heap!" Grer yelled, his brother hopping over him, axe raised, while Grer reached into his robe to produce a familiar vial of red liquid. This was punctuated by the crash of magical lightning from across the yard.

(Haruhime)

The other two brothers simply ignored her. While she knew she couldn't fight them directly, she did feel just a tiny bit insulted that they would start wrecking the manor instead of taking out a combatant. Even as she watched Shinkage ground out the first lightning bolt from Heden, the two Palum crashed into the wall of the manor just a little past their new 'wall of hands'.

It pained her, but this was her role to play, for a moment or two longer at least. "Two of Freya Familia are damaging the Manor directly." She said, angling the bracer towards the two, the massive hammer and spear making short work of the sturdy wall.

Once, twice, three times the pair hit the wall, and from around the corner there was a crash of collapsing stone. "The Guild recognizes two of the Gulliver Brothers, level five and of Freya Familia. The law is clear, you may forcibly eject trespassers from the property without penalty.

"Understood." She said, a tiny smile playing over her face, a hidden smile that only Kodori had ever seen.

Yes, Haruhime could also smile like Akeno. Though, it was only for a moment.

"Fen-chan."

As Heden let loose his multi lightning attack, there was a scream from just around the corner.

(Bell and company) (But still no Ryuu)

They hit street level, gave Fear and Ray a parting word of thanks (and a pat on the head from Welf, who was just making sure his hands had proper feeling in them again, honest!) then left their private warehouse. They'd made it down the street, just outside of the more-or-less official line for the Artisan Quarter boundary, when they were ambushed by a half dozen people in dark purple cloaks.

It was obvious who they were. They'd heard the Hub broadcast about the attack on the Manor, about the warning to stay off the streets. But they were ready. With the ease of long practise, they started a fighting retreat, the forward fighters fighting defensively while the supporter chose targets of opportunity and tossed out vials of smoke, stink or glue to keep monsters (or people) from overwhelming them.

This didn't seem to bother their attackers. They were tough, skilled, powerful, but seemed to be more intent on delaying them than outright winning.

Then a pair of archers and a half dozen swordsmen showed up directly in the path of their retreat. These ones bore an entirely different Familia emblem, and the first thing they did was try and shoot Lilly.

Of course, her robe turned the otherwise deadly arrows into mildly bruising pointy sticks, but it seemed to be a signal for the Freya Familia thugs to actually start trying.

"This is bad!" Welf said, using a (vastly inferior) sword that Aisha had smashed out of one of the attacker's hands, "We've been cut off!" He ducked under a neck high swing, and had to defend against another one from someone else before he could counter, "Should I?!"

Bell was just about to say yes, but Aisha laughed, "Lilly! Pick a colour and throw it into the air!"

"Take cover!" One of the attackers from the other Familia shouted, a red vial flying towards Bell's group.

Lilly had just enough time to shoot a yellow smoke arrow into the air with her crossbow, before Mikoto pushed her into the cover of a sunken doorway.

(Ryuu)

She ran through the tunnels of Gnosis, ever upwards. Thankfully, the tunnels were lit, and some thoughtful soul (Let, the Red Cap goblin) had actually put directions on the walls at specific junctions. It saved time, prevented her from backtracking, and let her see just a little more of the home the Xenos had made of the place.

Not like she really did much sightseeing, but with her newfound balance, the dark chapter of her past truly closed now, she could appreciate it just a little more, rushed or not.

She arrived at street level in good time, but still well behind Bell and the rest.

(Shinkage)

Her entire body was tingling almost pleasantly with all the static in the air. Her hair would be a mess later, but that was actually something to look forward to, since she secretly liked someone else brushing her hair for her. As for Heden, he was as close to 'jaw drop' surprised as someone as handsome as him could get.

Kodori had mentioned to Maki, that she was more 'educated' than over ninety five percent of the entire world here, and that was just because she had most of her high school credits. But where did that put Shinkage?

Electricity will always take the path of least resistance, yes, even magically driven electricity. Now, the magical kind could be directed, but in a much more general way than say, a beam of ice or cone of fire, and the instant you stopped 'forcing' the lightning to travel in that general direction? It was just electricity again.

Upon seeing Heden charge up his multi lightning attack, Shinkage had taken out her 'no touchy' spell card, powered it on, then just waited. As the lightning hit her barrier, it was pulled into it, adding itself to the effect for a moment, until the excess energy grounded itself out 'naturally'. Shinkage had the power and focus to handle the sudden 'surge', so she didn't short out like a bit of electronics or something, and now, Heden's greatest spell had been nullified.

Then one of the four Palum, the one with the spear, came sailing back out of the manor from the new hole in the wall, his cloak in tatters, his spear bent as if some great beast had used it for a chew toy.

Fen-chan was indeed a great beast. Though the meaning of 'great' had a lot of variety for those who'd met him. The now weaponless Palum got back to his feet, "It came out of nowhere, be careful."

(All around the city)

It would be named known as the quietest civil war in the history of Orario. Loki, Hephaestus, and Ganesha Familia, three of the top Familia in the city, with a total membership that dwarfed almost all other Familia combined. With the aid of the Hub for communications and coordination, these three Familia simply showed up at the headquarters of every Familia that had joined the Alliance. The Gods of those Familia were helping for different reasons. Loki, because she thought it was fun (and to maybe score another visit from Kodori and her magic hands). Ganesha, because he was the GOD OF THE PEOPLE (just imagine him flexing as he says this) and he saw it as his duty. And Hephaestus, because Takemikazuchi was right, and many of the small vulnerable Familia that would need protecting were fellow artisans.

The members on the other hand, well, most simply obeyed their Gods because that's what they did. Some saw it as an excuse to maybe tweak the nose of Freya Familia and their followers. Others still because they didn't want the city to suffer (a common view of the Ganesha Familia, but not exclusive to its members). But a very small percent of them... Well, they didn't want to bother.

Like Bete. He hated the Fox, he hated the Weak, and he hated weaklings who followed the Fox. But, even he had to admit that being able to intimidate entire groups of people just by showing up was satisfying.

Freya Familia, and the ones following them (or simply being 'against' the ideals of the Alliance) didn't want to throw the first punch. Freya had given very specific orders to her Familia on this point. Only the Manor would see deliberate violence, unless someone else started fighting them.

But not only did no one (even Bete) try and fight them, no one from Freya's side of the city wanted to throw the first punch either. The Alliance had numbers now. Numbers and a city wide way to be where ever they were needed.

(Bell and company, Minus Ryuu, but...)

The explosion had set fire to one of the warehouses, and left everyone's ears ringing. Thankfully, the heavy rain was already putting out the stinky black smoke that was filling the air, but if the fire crept inwards towards what ever was stored in it, there would be a problem.

The explosion had scattered them all over the two lane street, and those outside of the blast were rushing in like vultures, eager for an easy target.

Vastly outnumbered, Welf had just pulled out a jagged looking dagger made of metallic blue crystal, when someone at the back of the slowly growing group of non-Freya Familia fighters let out a cry of pain.

There was a deep feminine laugh as a body flew over the attackers heads, and landed in the middle of Bell's party. Looking like he'd tried to fight an oncoming stampede while drunk, he certainly wasn't getting up any time soon.

The owner of that laugh shouted above the sounds of combat, "I heard there was a PARTY!" Tall, athletically feminine with a short chaotic muss of grey hair, it was no doubt this woman was an Amazon. In one hand, she held a metal capped war staff, and in the other, another poor sucker who looked like he would regret everything the next time he woke up, "And when an Amazon tells me there is a party, I bring ALL my friends!"

With most of the attention away from them, the half dozen warriors from Freya Familia disengaged and started running. This left a couple dozen others, who were suddenly in the middle of Bell's team and a dozen women who shared that same 'tall/muscular' build of Aisha and the lead Amazon.

One of the enemy managed to say, "Those bastards just left us!" Before getting flattened.

"That!" The Amazon started, planting her staff through a cobblestone and dusting off her hands, "Was hardly satisfying." She looked over Bell's group, focused on Aisha and said, "Capn'."

"Samira." Aisha grinned, wiping off her (still trying to claim ownership) sword on a fallen mook's shirt, "Com'ere you."

They shared one of those 'tough guy' hugs, slapping each other's backs and laughing.

"We should hurry on. Lilly?" Bell said, trying to stay in 'combat mode' so he wouldn't blush. Amazon didn't care about the rain, or how see-through their clothing got when it was soaked through, and the half dozen here were no exception.

"Lilly has reported it!" She looked at the still smoking, but mostly put out warehouse front, "Lilly hopes they hurry though."

"Samira, we'll probably have more fun on the way to the Manor, care to work a little overtime?" Aisha asked.

"Well girls?" She looked to her friends, who all grinned and nodded, "Explain as we run then."

There was only a moment's pause as Mikoto helped one of the Amazon's tie off a bandage on her arm, but then they were all running towards the Manor. "I don't suppose I need to ask if you're for or against the Fox's plan?"

"This 'alliance' thing? HA!" Samira shook her head, "She's basically the only reason the Entertainment district was able to run at all during the last year. And say what you want about stone buildings, but I really like that red granite from Rakia."

(The home team)

Fen-chan stood between the Manor and the two Palum, lips pulled back, his glittering teeth practically sparking with reflected light from the storm overhead.

"Hey Heden!" The one with the bent spear called over his shoulder, "Think it's time?"

"Yes. Switch!" The elf said, "Ottar mentioned physical attacks not working on this one."

Heden dashed to the side, avoiding a (still kind of lazily aimed) cascade of flame from Shinkage's spell card. She had enough time to turn, but not enough to do anything about the Palum, and had to bring her Padao up to block a mean two handed hammer swing, the metal card dropping to the ground.

Shinkage had no real problem blocking, her thin girlish body far far stronger than it looked. However, with her hands occupied, she couldn't stop a heavy kick in the gut from the other with the bent spear.

"Well well, looks like she's much more than she seems, huh Alfrigg?" The one with the oversized sledgehammer laughed.

"Not much for close combat though, Dvalinn." Alfrigg replied, "Suppose I'll just do this then." He brought his spear down over his knee, right where it had been bent, and snapped it, giving him an arm length spear instead of a full one." He reached into his cloak and flicked something into the air, "Time to get serious brother." And a burst of purple smoke filled the air overhead.

NOTES!

Almost there... sigh... more combat. Stupid combat...

Party on reasonably, if not responsibly. :) I plan to have all kinds of surprises for the next update.

Daeore on Ko-fi, if you want to toss a coin to your writer.

Daeore on Inkitt, if you want to read my book 'Were Too?'