SailorStar9: After uploading Chapter 7, I present Chapter 8 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny. Heck, even the pairings aren't mine.
Chapter 8: Continuous Fire! The Windswept Shore of Battle!
Some time later, in the country of Baritone...
"It looks like a war's just suddenly broken out." Amelia noted, her, Aria, and Zelgadis were watching from a nearby balcony as both countries of Alto and Baritone fired cannons at each other. "I know splitting up to look for the magical vessels was a good idea, but now we can't get to Lina-san and the others."
"I wonder what is going on." Zelgadis wondered.
"Are you people strangers here?" an aged town elder approached the trio. "This always happens. Our kingdom of Baritone and it's neighbor, Alto, have been at war for ages, now. Every day around noon, we exchange a little fire. It'll be over soon. Each side knows where the other's shots will land, so there's never that much damage. It's more of a daily annoyance than an actual war. The foolishness of it..." he tsked and walked away.
"So..." Aria trailed. "They're firing at each other for the sake of firing at each other?"
"I've never seen such a causally-run war before." Zelgadis agreed.
"Causal or not, it's definitely wrong to do this." Amelia fumed.
"However, it's none of our business, is it?" Xellos popped in.
"That's right." Zelgadis nodded. "Our objective here is to find this kingdom's magical vessel."
"From what I've heard, Baritone possesses a black magical vessel while Alto possesses a white magical one." Xellos supplied. "They appear to have become each kingdom's color. Alto follows the philosophy of high ideals while Baritone goes for results."
"So, does that make Baritone here the bad guys?" Amelia wondered.
"I wouldn't say that at all." Xellos corrected. "And you can't say following high ideals is correct, either. Reality tends to demand a mixture of the two. There's an old legend here that, if both vessels are brought together, a new road will be opened. That's apparently why each kingdom is trying so hard to get the other's vessel." he pressed a hand on the magic transference pillar he was leaning against.
"But we won't know if that's talking about the Darkstar's weapon until we see it with our own eyes." Zelgadis told the two younger girls. "How do we do that?"
"The everclosed eyes are opening." the group of town elders gawked at the giant stone statue above, the statue's eyes had opened to release a trail of light.
Xellos removed his hand from the magic transference pillar and the statue's eyes closed. He placed his hand back on the pillar again and the statue's eyes opened again. "I see." he realized. "It seems to be reacting to my magical power."
In the Baritone palace...
"Welcome to the kingdom of Baritone." the kingdom's Queen laid out a feast for her guests. "Please, eat all you want and make yourselves at home."
"Well, this is certainly a strange turn of events." Aria sweatdropped.
"Still, they've gone through so much trouble to invite us." Xellos cut into his steak.
"So, what do you want to talk to us about?" Amelia asked, after dinner.
"I have a favor to ask of you." the Queen requested. "Our kingdom possessed a black magical vessel for a long time. The kingdom of Alto, who hates us from some reason, has a white magical vessel."
"We've already heard of that." Zelgadis replied. "It's famous apparently."
"Then, let's go straight to the matter." the Queen smirked. "You people are able to use magic. Am I correct? Then it should be a simple matter for you to get Alto's vessel."
"In other words, you want us to steal Alto's magical vessel for you." Xellos guessed.
"Must you put it so bluntly?" the Queen chided. "Of course, you will be handsomely rewarded."
"We weren't prepared at all for a request for thievery." Zelgadis grinned.
"You must be joking." Amelia snapped. "The Queen of a kingdom asking a group of strangers to steal for her is outrageous."
"Amelia, down!" Aria hissed.
"What did you say?" the Queen twitched.
"Your Highness, you are wrong!" Amelia declared.
Aria just sighed and rubbed her temples to stave off the pending headache.
"Someone who dare to defy my mother." Marco chuckled, entering the dining hall. "You're so brave."
"I demand you say that again!" the Queen glared at Amelia. "I'm wrong, you say?"
"Sorry, but sticking your nose into a war between kingdoms is stupid." Zelgadis concurred with Amelia's decision. "It's been a pleasure." he led the group out.
"Please wait." Marco dashed off after them. "This isn't about what my mother asked. There's another favor I want to ask of you."
In the room where the magical vessel was kept...
"You all must have heard already." Marco started, leading the group into the room where the kingdom's vessel was kept. "How Baritone and Alto have been at war for a long time. And how it's because each wants the other's magical vessel. If both vessels disappear, the reason for the war vanishes. Once that happens, I think both countries will finally make peace."
"In other words, you want us to steal Baritone's vessel, not your neighbor's." Xellos noted.
"But what about the vessel in Alto?" Zelgadis asked.
"Sera's handling that." Marco replied.
"You said the vessel's in here?" Zelgadis asked, Marco having led them to the tastefully decorated cupboard. "If it was sealed with a spell, I'd have no problem." he rested his fingers against the turn dials. "But it uses a mechanical device. This might be a bit tricky. How do you open it?"
"I don't know." Marco admitted. "That's why I asked you to do it."
"No choice then." Zelgadis pulled out his lock-picking kit.
"I don't even want to know where you keep that." Aria sweatdropped at the multitude of tools Zelgadis laid out on the floor.
The group watched as Zelgadis worked the dials and finally getting the cupboard open.
"This is the legendary magical vessel?" Amelia blinked.
"Come on, everyone." Marco took the vessel out. "No need to wait around now."
Outside the palace...
"They've found out." Zelgadis frowned when the warning alarms rang.
"That's fast." Aria was impressed by how fast the kingdom found out about the vessel's theft.
"This way." Marco led the group to a waiting boat at the pier.
On the abandoned island in between the two countries...
"Sera!" Marco called, arriving with Zelgadis' group as Sera had also arrived with Lina's group.
"Marco, you finally did it." Sera hugged the boy.
"How about you, Sera?" Marco nodded.
"I had these thieves help me." Sera cradled her kingdom's vessel.
"It's because of these that Alto and Baritone are at war." Marco informed.
"So we believe in the legend." Sera added. "We're going to make a new future for ourselves here. And then, Marco and I will be able to realize our love." she twirled.
Out at sea...
"Hold everything!" the Queen of Baritone hollered, arriving on a warship. "You're not getting away."
On the abandoned island...
"Guys, don't look now." Aria started. "But we have additional unwanted company."
"There are more coming this way." Amelia pointed to King of Alto who had also arrived on a warship.
"If there are any legendary magical vessels here, I'll be the one who takes them." Grabos declared. "And also," he jumped off the cliff after summoning his lizardman troop. "You can hand over the Sword of Light as well."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.