Ludwig listened closely as Lovino and Feliciano filled everyone in on everything that had happened in Prathage and Ixaidel.
After he had been freed from the effects of Queen Erzsébet's love potion, Ludwig was reluctant to stop kissing Natalya and go tell the others about the successful spell-breaking. They still ended up doing so pretty quickly, as the others knew the show had ended for the swan and raven once they left their perch by the hole in the cottage's roof.
Once all the introductions were made, one of the first matters of business was for Ludwig to apologize to the dwarfs for his rude behaviour on their first encounter. As a peace offering, the dwarfs revealed that they still had the outfits and swords they had stolen off of Ludwig and Kiku that day, and graciously returned them. Ludwig was particularly happy to have his own clothes back, and was quick to change out of the bridegroom outfit Erzsébet had arranged for him.
As it turned out, Arthur had accomplished many tasks during his time in Prathage, and subsequently in Ixaidel. Lovino and Feliciano were just explaining how Princess Madeline lifted the eternal winter in Prathage, which was actually a defensive action against the malevolent spell cast by another sorcerer named Francis Bonnefoy. They tracked him down to Lake Virside in Krizoris, where they found Lilli and Lenka. The girls informed the Prathageans of Francis's connection to Queen Erzsébet in Stulikya, and they all arrived in Tark today to oppose the wedding.
As they all discussed the mischief Francis and Erzsébet had caused, Ludwig glanced at the two party members who now sat with his cousin. Lenka had already briefly explained her own involvement, identifying herself as the mysterious brunette who danced with Basch at the ball in Inasdiff before Francis kidnapped her. Beside her sat Lilli, the swan who would reportedly turn human at sunset. The raven had flown off a while ago, returning to Tark to inform its master of the spell-breaking that occurred here.
"So you all showed up at Tark within a short time of us then?" Natalya verified, "Our paths nearly crossed?"
"Naktakė and Lilli watched you all carrying Ludwig away," Basch confirmed, "We had all regrouped in the palace just after Erzsébet and Francis went outside to start the wedding. Our group split off to follow you into the forest, while the others stayed to confront our sorcerers."
"And who did you say was all in the other group?" Ludwig inquired, "Gilbert, Antonio, Alfred, Madeline and Arthur?"
"Yes, they all stayed behind," Kiku said, "The other two Prathagean rangers, Tolys and Feliks, stayed as well. And the other Princess, too, we haven't even discussed that yet."
"The other Princess?" Natalya checked, "Madeline wasn't the only Princess there?"
"That's right, there's been a major development that we haven't mentioned yet," Feliciano revealed, "Princess Katerina is alive, she has awoken from her death-like sleep."
"Katya's awake?" Natalya gasped, "Her spell was broken?"
"I was there to watch it happen," Lovino explained, "Antonio's kiss broke her spell, just as his own birth spell foretold. She was not too happy to hear that Erzsébet was not only still Queen of Stulikya, but that she was also somehow getting re-married without Ivan there to oppose it. The Princess stayed behind with the other group to confront the Queen."
"Good, I hope she gave a strong scolding," Natalya remarked, "Katya's not someone you want to have angry at you, trust me."
At that moment, a yellow glow of magic surrounded the swan, and Ludwig realized that the sun had finally set far enough on the horizon for her spell to trigger. The glow shrouded her form as it grew from a swan into a human, before finally subsiding to reveal the young woman who now sat there in place of a swan.
"There we go," Lilli greeted, "Hello everyone, I'm pleased to finally be able to speak to you all."
"I'm pleased to properly meet you, Lilli," Ludwig welcomed, "Your assistance in helping us figure out what Francis and Erzsébet have been up to all this time is greatly appreciated."
"It turns out that Lilli herself is one of the major developments in this world," Basch explained, "Arthur was the one to point out that, in his world, Lilli's human name is actually Erika Zwingli."
"Erika Zwingli?" Natalya asked as Ludwig realized Basch's implied message, "Who's that?"
"His little sister, and my cousin," Ludwig elaborated, "Stolen from her crib twenty years ago, and never found. Until now, it seems."
"Francis stole me away, and raised me at Virside," Lilli elaborated, "Lilli is the only name I've ever known, please feel free to keep using that until I decide otherwise."
"Of course, Lilli," Ludwig allowed, "Still, do you know why he stole you away? And such a long time ago too?"
"Isn't the answer obvious?" an unfamiliar voice suddenly answered from behind Ludwig, "Did you really think I'd ignore Ixaidel in all my plans?"
The moment the voice spoke, Ludwig saw both Lenka and Lilli flinch in shock. Lenka leaned in close to Basch, while Lilli stood with that Zwingli-signature angry look in her eyes. Ludwig finally turned to look behind him, and saw a man with wavy blond hair sitting on the roof of the cottage.
"It's all true, Francis, isn't it?" Lilli demanded, "Am I Erika Zwingli?"
"Of course you are," Francis ratified, "While my primary plans were focused on destroying Prathage, and Erzsébet's on wreaking havoc in Stulikya, you were my chess piece for Ixaidel. All I had to do there was kill off Gilbert, Ludwig and Basch before making you my puppet queen. Granted, all three of them had to remain celibate, so it would do me no good to have any of them marry or have children."
"And that's why you stole Lenka away?" Basch realized, "To make sure I didn't ruin your plans for my sister that you also stole away?"
Before Francis could answer, the trees all suddenly shuffled around them, and Ludwig heard the groan of a creature. He glanced up and saw a creature slithering above them, high in the trees.
"The Beast of Bueswood!" one of the dwarfs shouted as everyone panicked.
"I suppose that is my cue to take my leave," Francis announced as he stood up, "Unfortunately, I only have time to say one more thing."
"And what is that?" Lovino asked.
"Lenka, kill them all," Francis ordered before fleeing.
Almost immediately, Basch leapt from his spot as Lenka attacked him, grabbing at his throat with a rabid look in her eyes. Everyone else immediately rose from their spots, some of them hopping in right away to pull Lenka off of Basch while the other encircled the group and prepared to jump in as needed. With enough people in the scrum, Ludwig stayed back from the crowd, while Lilli circled around to join him.
As Ludwig looked around to see who else wasn't in the scrum, he spotted Natalya leaving the clearing, climbing up onto the nearby rocks to pursue Francis. Realizing there were more than enough of their friends to get Lenka back under control, Ludwig followed Natalya and climbed up the rocks as well. Once he reached her side at the top, he finally noticed what she was watching.
Francis was in the next clearing, and was now accompanied by a cloaked figure. Above them, the unseen creature growled and slithered in the treetops, while the cawing of a raven now echoed further above it.
"It's Erzsébet," Natalya muttered, "She brought the Beast of Bueswood to kill me."
"Are you certain about going down there?" Ludwig cautioned, "We don't even know what type of beast it is."
"I have no choice in the matter," Natalya ignored, "It's time to have my own chat with my wicked sister-in-law."
Ludwig followed Natalya's steps as she climbed down the rocks, and followed closely behind her as they approached Francis and his cloaked companion. Once they were close enough to speak to each other, the cloaked figure removed their hood to reveal herself to be exactly who Natalya thought it was.
"Hello Natalya," Erzsébet greeted, "And I see you brought along my stolen bridegroom, how perfect."
"Considering the circumstances under which we were engaged," Ludwig countered, "I would dare say it's a good thing Natalya stole me away from you."
"I'd recommend you stay out of this, Prince Ludwig," Erzsébet warned, "Natalya will die tonight, whether you like it or not."
"Over my dead body," Ludwig swore as he grabbed Natalya's hand in his, "And considering my birth spell, you're not killing me that easily."
"Suit yourself," Erzsébet rebuffed as she shrugged, raising her hand in the air.
A chain of yellow magic suddenly lit up, starting in her raised hand and shooting up above her. Within moments, the creature slithering around in the treetops climbed down the tree trunks to the ground, allowing Ludwig to finally see its form. It was a long serpentine creature with a beastly head and torso, two stunted wings, two arms and an elongated body that stretched out into a tail, all covered in grey fur. Once it reached the ground, it rose to attention behind Erzsébet, towering above her at what must have been fifteen feet tall.
"Okay then," Ludwig murmured, "So the Beast of Bueswood does exist."
"The Beast doesn't frighten you, Erzsébet?" Natalya called out.
"The Beast does what I want," Erzsébet bragged, "He's under my spell."
"Did you tell it to slaughter my brother?" Natalya demanded.
"Erzsébet, release him!" a voice hollered from behind Ludwig, prompting him to glance back and see Lilli running into the clearing, "Remove your spell from him at once!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Lilli," Erzsébet refused, "Even if I wanted to, this spell is far too powerful to reverse."
"Maybe you should've thought of that before cursing your own husband in the first place," Lill shouted back, "Now you want him to eat his own sister, you disgusting wretch!"
"Her husband?" Natalya repeated, "Lilli, what are you talking about?"
"Natalya, the beast didn't eat your brother," Lilli revealed, "The beast is your brother!"
"Enough of this," Erzsébet evaded, sending a jolt of magic up the chain, "Ivan, kill them all."
Ludwig watched carefully as King Ivan crawled down in his beastly form, his wife's magic clearly keeping him focused on the hunt and not letting him react to their words. As the beast drew closer, it was obvious that Ivan would be forced to attack his own sister, and Ludwig was now standing in the way.
Ludwig took a step back and pulled his sword out of his scabbard. Natalya stayed close to his right, unsheathing her own sword, while Lilli stayed back behind the two of them with no weapon to defend herself.
Ludwig braced for impact as Ivan charged with a mighty roar.