Part Seven
Days later, the two faction camps are preparing and sparring for battle. At Rozella's campsite, she is training Blaze to be more obedient, as Howard watches her.
Rozella: Blaze, sit. [beat] No, sit! Sit!
After three tries, Blaze sits down like a dog.
Howard: Not bad, your highness. But, um… is there any idea of what species he is?
Rozella: I'm not sure yet. He could be… a subspecies of light dragons.
Howard: I don't know. Light dragons all have cold colors, and he's red. Maybe he's a dark dragon, which is worse.
Rozella: What's so bad about it?
Howard: Oh, a lot. But some other time. You have a guest.
Rozella motions Howard to leave her, and Wor-Kis comes over.
Wor-Kis: There you are, young lady. I was worried after hearing about your argument with Pelly.
Rozella: It doesn't concern you Wor-Kis, okay? She was too clingy to Trimbo, she knew we were promised to each other, and she wouldn't keep her distance from him. Then, she had the nerve to call me a flawg!
Wor-Kis: I know. But you both became friends when the ogres attacked, and she knows it. You both declared war because you drank strong sake. You cannot-
But then, Wor-Kis discovers Blaze running around in circles on the floor, and he is shocked to see him.
Wor-Kis: A dragon?
Rozella: I know, right? Isn't he cute? I found him, he thinks I'm his mother, and Blaze's part of this faction.
Wor-Kis: No. This is terrible. That is an emperor dragon.
Rozella: An emperor dragon?
Wor-Kis: The top predator of Xenotopia. The last time I saw one, I was human and it… destroyed an entire city. This dragon came out of nowhere, attacked the city of Trudeau, which is left in ruins, and it sacked a dwarf village where they were mining gold and jewels in the mountains. But what's worse is its ravenous abbitite. It's always hungry, and when it eats something, it leaves nothing behind, and I mean NOTHING! [beat; worried] Not even your bones.
Rozella is now worried about what will happen with Blaze, but she looks down to see the little dragon begging on her leg. She picks him, and lets him be breast-fed.
Rozella: [worried] But, um… what if he…? I mean, he would be fine if I would train him, right Wor-Kis?
Wor-Kis: I just have no idea. I haven't seen one like that in over three hundred years. It's rare that anyone like you would get to see the likes of him. But I'm surprised he's taken a shine to you, Rozella. So, what will you do about him?
Rozella: I was thinking of having him as a secret weapon. I know I should never use my dryad magic for warfare, but I got Blaze. But only as a last resource.
Wor-Kis: Oh, I'm afraid that won't work, child. Your father promised Sir Arkus no Prushan would use dragons for war. He gave him his word. If he finds out about this….
Rozella: He won't, because nobody besides you and Howard knows him. He's a baby right now, so he just needs to be house-trained. But when he's all grown up, he'll be alright. But Wor-Kis, since you're here, I want you to give a message to Trimbo for me. Tell him that'll come back when this is over.
Then, Howard returns with a bunch of papers in hand.
Howard: Your highness, I have the documents of dragon training tips, which includes a proper way of feeding.
Pleased, Rozella takes the documents from Howard and walks away. Wor-Kis, a little worried, floats away to go somewhere.
Meanwhile, the clerics have established their own basecamp. The men are practicing their swordplay. Pelly and Clive step out of the tent with some news.
Pelly: We have word from the south. They've agreed to join us!
The men cheer for this good news, and Clive walks over to Pelly's side.
Clive: Just a quick question. What will the name of our faction be? Because… I was thinking we could… go by the name "Cyan Diamonds".
Pelly: Cyan Diamonds?
Clive: It was a brainchild when I was a kid.
But then, a clergywoman shows up with a worried look on her face.
Clergywoman: Pelly? The Oracle wants to see you.
Much to Pelly's shock, the Oracle enters the camp and approaches her with a scolding look.
Oracle: I've only considered myself a reasonable woman. The clergy has certain rules, and I was expecting those rules to be obeyed. Now tell me, what's this I hear about you waging a war with a princess?
Pelly: Oracle, it was-
Oracle: It was a headache to find the answers from the gods, but they just kept it to themselves. And finally, I took the riskiest thing to do: reading minds. You let a man touch your skin.
[clerics gasp]
Clive: Oh, fuck.
Pelly: It was of my own freewill, and it was-
Oracle: Body contact, body exposure in public, and love connections are all strictly forbidden in the clergy! You know that. Everyone knows that.
Pelly: This was different.
Oracle: It doesn't matter. You allowed Prince Trimbo Morningstar to touch you, and I overheard his father about his son marrying you when he's already engaged. I trusted you, I treated you like my own daughter, and this is the thanks I get?
Pelly: What did you want me to do?
Oracle: [hesitates] I was hoping… that someday… you might take my place as the new oracle. But now, I see the error of my ways with you.
Pelly: But Oracle, I-
Oracle: Silence! [pauses] Penelope Van Kelt, you have brought shame upon your fellow clerics, and allowed the gods to curse us for your disloyalty. For your punishment, you are hereby expelled from the clergy. You were brought here to be a virgin, and because of your temptation, you will stay this way. The gods will not side with you, and neither will us all. [to the others] Go home, all of you.
The Oracle escorts the clerics out of the campsite. Pelly, now alone, falls to her knees, sobbing for being punished because of her reckless act with Trimbo. But she looks up to see Clive and other clerics standing before her.
Pelly: What are you doing here?
Clive: I think you'd know why we're here. We're staying. Most of us share your feeling. It's unfair to stay single like you, so we want to-
Pelly: This is different. I… wanted to leave to begin with.
Clive: Why? This land is your home.
Wiping the tears off of her eyes, Pelly stands back up.
Pelly: Kyland was never my home. My parents sent me here when I was sixteen to marry someone. But since I was too stubborn to marry, I was forced into the clergy. All I could think about was Trimbo, the young man that I… dreamed of marrying someday, but he's a prince and I'm… nothing.
Clive: But it is understandable. You are willing to fight because you love someone, and that's what the gods will never ignore. As servants to the gods, neither will we.
Pelly: Don't play hero in front of me, Clive.
Clive: You know I mean well. If you give up on your dream, you' ll never be happy. Men will hunt us, and the gods will curse us, but we'll always do what is always right: letting someone fulfill his or her dreams. Until the day they burn our bodies, I will fight for you.
As the other clerics chatter in agreement, Pelly stares into Clive's eyes, contemplating the impossible.
Pelly: [smiles] Thank you, Clive. Let's keep practicing.
Part Eight
Back in the Grand Army's camp, Trimbo is pacing around near the dining area, deep in thought about something. Rift and Kesseki are with him, sitting down on the benches.
Trimbo: What can I do? Just let them sort things out?
Kesseki: Maybe you should. It was them who declared war, so we can… just let them deal with this matter.
Trimbo: But at the same time, the ogres will invade us while our usual party is divided in three: one with the Grand Army, and the other two each becoming its own faction. We can't just let this slide. Everyone knows we're scoundrels, but if the capital hears about this, they'll arrest them both.
Rift: I wouldn't think so. Not with your father as High King of Xenotopia. I mean if I was High King and I know who the two scoundrels are, I would just give them a permission slip.
Kesseki: That's easier said than done, Rift. It won't work if you don't know the people or what they're fighting for. The Commander knows about this situation, but how long before the rest of the country hears about this?
Trimbo: Then… King Ivan would take his chances, even if he's halfway across Xenotopia with his new dragon-training occupation. He would have to… fly over and discipline Rozella, which might resolve the engagement, and Pelly would win this war so easily.
Rift: But why don't you just decide, Trimbo? Just choose one of them and have it done already.
Trimbo: [sighs] I can't. Mostly because… I just make things worse. I heard that two roommates went to the infirmary after this bloody quarrel I allowed, I sank a ship, and named a baby girl Marvin. I'm not saying she looked like a Marvin, but it was her middle name, and I got scolded by her parents.
Rift: Okay, but what about… choosing them.
Trimbo: I'm telling you, I'll make things worse for them both.
Then, much to the trio's surprise, Arkus shows up with a worried look on his face and Wor-Kis shows up as well.
Arkus: Sorry for the delay. I had to speak with the elders back home. We picked up a scent, and one of them said… an emperor dragon is born.
Kesseki: [gasps] By Delta, it's back!
Rift: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on a minute. What are you talking about?
Arkus: I'm talking about a dragon that shows once every three hundred years, and it's… the largest breed of dragon.
Wor-Kis: I saw it. Rozella has it.
Arkus: She… WHAT?! Of all the times and people, does it have to be her and during your quarrel?! How did this happen?
Trimbo is thinking about it, until he realizes something.
Trimbo: The stone.
Arkus: What?
Trimbo: Back in Ukrim, Rozella and I were strolling through town, until we found something buried in the woods. Well, we thought it was some kind of mineral, and she kept it to have it for a crown jewel, but it….
Wor-Kis: It was… an egg.
Arkus: Then this is bad. You've got to tell Rozella to get rid of it before it's too late.
Rift: Hey, calm down, Arkus. If this dragon just hatched, it's just a baby, and she only has to train it.
Arkus: That's not good enough. The emperor dragon is a genderless, alpha species that lays one egg, then dies before it hatches. It has enough power to level an entire city, it thinks mostly of eating above all others, and it's UNTRAINABLE! [to Trimbo] You have got to explain this to Rozella.
Kesseki: He's trying, but he fears it would make it worse since he thinks he's a jinx.
Trimbo: That too, but mostly the ogres and this traitor that nobody knows.
Wor-Kis: You can leave the ogres to us, while you deal with the girls. They will listen to you, and they will have to respect whatever decision you make. You just need to think about the right place to make negotiations.
Trimbo is thinking about a place, and he gets one.
Later, Trimbo is in a lush garden, the Garden of Andros. The garden features water fountains, exotic plants, rose bushes, as well as artful nude statues and benches. He paces around, waiting for Rozella and Pelly to come. But instead, he finds Howard and Clive approaching him.
Trimbo: Where are the girls?
Clive: Pelly couldn't show. She vowed not to see you until her faction won the battle.
Howard: Same with mine, so she sent me in her place.
Clive: Are we to understand that you have a message, your highness?
Trimbo: Yes. For both Rozella and Pelly. I want them both to stop this fight, think about the ogres who are the real enemy, and just be friends like they were before.
Howard: My lord, the princess wants nothing more than to be friends with Penelope Van Kelt, as long as she shows respect for you.
Clive: Here, here. That is, if she's in the mood right now.
Trimbo: "Right now?" What do you mean?
Clive: The Oracle discovered her secret, exposed it to the clergy, and she's been expelled.
Trimbo: So without the clergy's support, she'll forfeit?
Clive: Not really, nope. Me and other clerics… share her feelings of being with someone special in her life, deciding to fight with her, so she's not willing to give up.
Howard: Neither will Rozella. I am completely devoted to assisting her royal highness, until she… might call it quits. Besides, she has a… war beast she wishes to use for the battlefield one day.
Trimbo: [realizing] Actually, that's what I wanted to tell her. Whatever she has is untrainable. She doesn't know the damages this thing can do, if she would let it loose.
Howard: Untrainable? Well, I don't know about that. It's been following her wherever she goes, it does much less damage than he did before, and he's being breast-fed. Personally, she wished it was you instead of the little beast.
Trimbo: You both have got to change their minds. There's no telling what the ogres will do, so please… tell them I don't want them to fight.
Howard & Clive: [in unison] You have my word.
The two of them take their leave from the garden, leaving Trimbo to himself.
Afterwards, Trimbo returns to the Grand Army's camp, informing Ayazz and his friends the news.
Trimbo: They've agreed to tell them. Hopefully, they'll just surrender to each other.
Ayazz: Let us hope so, son.
Arkus: But still, you said the dragon is breast-fed? Because normally, dragons wouldn't take a liking to dairy products. Sure, they prey on cows, but that doesn't mean milk is accounted for.
Ayazz: But it's still problematic. If it's proven to be trainable under Princess Rozella's care, how long before the ogres would have the advantage?
Trimbo: You're not saying… they could….
Kesseki: I'm afraid it's a good point. We've learned the ogres are becoming adaptable. But still, we've been having no leads on who the traitor is.
Rift: Perhaps we can make a risky move. We will send in a scouting team to spy on the ogres, assuming the traitor might reveal himself.
Trimbo: Smart thinking. But who will it be?
Ayazz: Kesseki and Rift will go there, since it was Rift' idea and Kesseki can blend in with his surroundings. But they will need one of our veterans, which is why Captain-
Then, Garlym walks into the tent with a worried look.
Garlym: Commander! The ogres have been sighted! They're marching on the road.
Ayazz: Good timing. Rift, go with Garlym and Kesseki. Find a side road to where they're going. The rest of us will join you and hold them off.
Rift: [salutes] Yes, sir.
Kesseki: I'll get my bow.
Rift and Kesseki both take their leave, following Garlym out of the tent.
Part Nine
All the way back in Kyland, Edgar is sitting on the Crystal Throne, deep in thought about something, then Ivan arrives at his side.
Ivan: You summoned me, your majesty?
Edgar: Yes, Ivan. First of all, just address me by my name since we're now closer together. Second… perhaps the wedding we've been hoping for… might be delayed.
Ivan: What happened?
Edgar: Apparently, Trimbo was in love with a cleric. A girl he's known since childhood, and when Rozella… found out, she declared war.
Ivan: Oh dear. But… I see your dilemma.
Edgar: That's what I wanted to tell you back then. But I was worried that if we didn't do this wedding, we may have to continue our constant war with each other.
Ivan: Edgar, ever since I was invited to your home, accepted your hospitality, ate your food and drank your wine, I've been saying nothing but the truth. I've always respected your people. I don't wish to continue our conflicts for dominion or border control. I want us all to live in peace in regards to our important goals: our families. And now with the ogres, this unity is more important than this marriage. So even if they say no to each other, Prusha will always never be your problem, not while I am king.
Edgar: But still… we should be minding our business and let them deal with this matter. I was given a message from Trimbo, by the way.
Ivan: I agree. Rozella can have her problems, but she'll always know when to stop or say no to them. I can have faith in my little girl. You should too for your son.
Edgar is deep in thought again, heeding Ivan's words and thinking about it.
At night, Pelly is sitting down on her chair, where she listens to what Clive said about his meeting with Trimbo earlier.
Pelly: He wants us both to stop fighting, when we haven't even started? What about everything I said to everyone last week?
Clive: The men believe we were against non-believers. If we say we're forming peace, they will understand that.
Pelly: But if I give up, then Rozella gets to have Trimbo. How can you support my dream of having him when you say we should give up?
Clive: There's no shame in your dream, if he either chooses you or someone else and always respects you.
Pelly: But still, how will we deliver a message? They already think we're… ready for battle tomorrow.
Clive: Give it time, sister. They'll come around.
Meanwhile, Rozella is in her tent as well, getting Blaze all tucked into the bed. She watches the little dragon sleep, adored by him, but she begins to have second thoughts about having him for her plans.
Rozella: I don't want a baby like him to fight. [beat] I'll…. I'll tell her and let Trimbo decide.
She walks over to her bed, and goes to sleep. But with her asleep, she doesn't know Blaze is glowing bright red like magic, as if something is going to happen.
The next morning, Rozella is awakened by the sound of a rooster calling to the rising sun. She moans, yawns and gets out of bed, until she sees something that shocks her: Blaze is now the size of a dog, chewing on a mace's metal ball.
Rozella: Blaze?
[Blaze barks]
Rozella: How did…? How did you…?
Then, Wor-Kis shows up to see the dragon's grown up as well.
Wor-Kis: Oh dear. It looks like he's… grown up.
Rozella: I swear, I didn't know this would happen, Wor-Kis. I just wish there was a document about growth spurt.
Wor-Kis: Unfortunately, there has been nothing about the emperor dragon, only that it… destroys what it sees. But since he's just a baby, it's only a matter of time before it doesn't taste anything human.
Rozella: I can make sure of it, Wor-Kis. But… has there been anything about Trimbo lately?
Wor-Kis: He and the others are going to deal with the ogres… for now anyway.
Wor-Kis takes his leave, floating out of the window, right before Howard comes in urgently.
Howard: Your highness. You have to come and see this.
Everyone is staring at the armory, which has been wrecked up. The weapons are in shreds and several items have been knocked over, much to the faction's shock.
Rozella: What on Earth?!
Blacksmith: My forging schedules! [walks over]
Rozella: [angrily] BLAZE!
Blaze hides himself in the tent. Rozella is about to walk over to him with a growl, until Howard steps in front of her.
Howard: Calm down, Princess. He didn't know what the weapons were for. It's only natural that he was chewing on them. Baby dragons do that so they can strengthen their jaw muscles. And besides, we're having a peace mission for the cleric's faction.
Rozella: [calms down] You're right. But still, he needs to be disciplined.
Howard: But what about-
Rozella: Look. I already know he's an emperor dragon, but it doesn't mean that can't be-
During the talk, a baker is setting up a table with food beside them. Blaze jumps on the table and messily eats some food.
Baker: Augh! My granny's platter!
Rozella: Blaze, no!
Rozella grabs Blaze by the tail and pulls him away from the table.
Howard: Princess, if what Trimbo said is true and that dragon is untrainable, I don't know how we can keep him.
A little worried, Rozella drags Blaze away to go back to the tent. Blaze is freed from him being pulled by the tail, and he sees Rozella sitting on her bed with a sad tone.
Rozella: Trimbo kept saying he brings bad luck. But now… it looks like I'm making them too, and it's worse. If only I didn't pick a fight with my own friend and… asked Trimbo if he was interested in me or not. And now…. [hesitates] I cannot get a faction right or train a dragon.
Rozella buries her face in her hands, depressed. Blaze looks at her with pity, whining like a dog, but he gets an idea. He picks up the mace he was chewing on, and offers it to her on her lap. When Rozella finds out and looks at him, Blaze stares back with saddened eyes and puts his head on her lap, whimpering. She is touched by his sympathies; she smiles as she pets on his head.
Rozella: You may be claimed to be untrainable, but it's only because… you're always the only one every three hundred years. It doesn't mean that you can't have a family.
She hugs the dragon, who licks her on the cheek.
Rozella: I won't use you as a weapon. You just have to be trained, Blaze. I know you can.
Part Ten
Meanwhile, the Grand Army is assembled on the road and waiting for the ogres to arrive. Dozens of soldiers finish digging a long trench in the dirt. Pikes are anchored and other fortifications constructed to protect themselves from any attack. Ayazz stands on the front line on horseback; Trimbo is beside him with Ringo perching on his shoulder.
Ayazz: Remember, we hold our ground. We just get what we need and then we attack.
Trimbo: Unless they've strategized already, and they're going in for another ambush, just like they did the last time.
Ayazz: Not this time. They now know we have Arkus Lightwing the Dragonator, so they won't repeat the battle in Kingsley.
Scout: Sir! Scout report! The ogres are on their way!
Ayazz: [to the soldiers] Battle positions!
Immediately, all of the soldiers grab their gear and line up side by side on the road, ready for battle. A low, ominous rumble grows steadily louder. Ringo hears it first, hissing as he picks up a scent. Now the other soldiers hear it; they quietly wait. The rumbling resolves into the steady beat of war drums. And now, they see the ogres arriving, but in more numbers than before.
Trimbo: There's more.
The Grand Army soldiers don't quiver or waver, but the expressions on their faces betray their anxiety. The ogre army is more than twice the size of the human army. The ogres halt just beyond arrow range, and ahead of them is Rathborne with Stoneclaw at his side.
Unbeknownst to everyone down below, Duke Cardi climbs to the top of a tall bluff near the road. From there he can see the broad battlefield a mile away.
Cardi: This is going to be good.
On the battlefield, Ayazz and Trimbo spur their horses and canter out to meet Rathborne, who walks over to meet them as well with Stoneclaw and a few soldiers. The ogres step closer and the Commander dismounts from his horse, followed by Trimbo. Both armies are lined up several hundred yards apart.
Rathborne: So, this is the part where one of us would surrender and establish peace together?
Ayazz: You come here uninvited. Go back to your army and tell them all to go home.
Rathborne: We've come too far, Commander.
Stoneclaw: Yeah. And besides that, we like this land. I think we'll stay, just to enjoy some warmth and relaxation, after all these years of us living the freezing parts of the Territories.
Rathborne: [annoyed] You talk too much.
Rathborne bonks on Stoneclaw's horn, knocking him off-balance and agonizing him.
Rathborne: [to Ayazz] But he's right. We're tired of living there, and we want a better home, but the only best way of getting what we want is by ascending to the Crystal Throne.
Trimbo: There's already a High King, and my father is there, so there's no place for-
Ayazz: Calm yourself.
Rathborne: Yeah, I can tell he's a prince. Because kings never have time to teach their children to hold their tongues in a commanding officer's presence.
Ayazz: [quietly] Trimbo, just stay behind me.
Trimbo nods before he does what he was told to do.
Rathborne: Now, look around yourself. I have formed my Tribal Unity, where I have all the ogre tribes to face your Grand Army. My only wish is for you to stand back, let us pass, and when this mission is over, we can spare your miserable lives.
Ayazz: I wouldn't count on it. But more importantly… we're all dying to know: how did you learn to breach the Great Barrier or to adapt?
Rathborne remains silent, until he grows an evil grin on his face.
Rathborne: Xenotopia… is full of traitors… even from the High King's Castle.
Trimbo: Do not dishonor my father with your lies.
Rathborne: Your High King is no different. Every human is a murderer and a thief. They stole what was ours, and sent us into that frozen wasteland. We have the right to reclaim what we lost. And what about you, prince? Have you left your castle to make peace? Or to battle for it? I see you are nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man.
Ayazz: Enough. You can tell your tribes, we will fight for Xenotopia, and find the traitor however we can.
Ayazz motions to Trimbo to moving on. Thor stares Rathborne down a beat, then relents. He turns to leave. Ayazz breathes a sigh of relief and follows, when an ogre flanking Rathborne mutters under his breath.
Flanking ogre: Run back home, little princess.
Trimbo stops in his tracks. In one quick move, he draws his green-bladed sword, swings it, and stabs the ogre in the chest, killing him.
Rathborne: FIRE!
The Blasters on the ogres' front lines fire their siege cannons. Both Ayazz and Trimbo duck down, avoiding the fired cannonballs, then Norbert flies up, breathing fire in between the two armies. Rathborne and Stoneclaw run away from the fiery wall; the last flanking ogre follows them, until he gets chewed on by Norbert when he swoops over.
Stoneclaw: Get behind, your greatness. Leave the rest to the front lines. [to the ogres] Clubbers, assemble and charge!
Some Clubbers, heavily-muscled ogres with spiked clubs, step out from behind the front lines to roar, and make a charge towards the fiery wall, simply walking through it.
Back on the other side, Ayazz is able to make it to the others with Trimbo tailing him, and he gets back on his horse before putting on his war helmet.
Ayazz: All units! Get in formation. Archers, take aim and loose!
The ogre army continues to charge at full speed. One hundred archers notch their arrows and pull back their catgut strings. Then, they release the arrows, where they soar through the sky and strike the ogres dead, with only a few to survive.
Ayazz: The leader of the ogres wants us to part away and let him rule all of Xenotopia! Will we allow it?!
Soldiers: NO!
Ayazz raises his sword and points it at the ogres, who retreat from the arrow fusillade in disarray. The Grand Army charges. Trimbo, on horseback, reaches the ogres first. His sword cuts down everyone within reach. The human infantry attacks the Tribal Unity, whose line has been broken by the rain of arrows. The Grand Army takes advantage of their enemies' panic.
In the meantime, another event is happening far away from the two fighting armies. The two factions of Rozella and Pelly. Pelly's faction is only a hundred and a half, and their flagman shows their insignia: a Cyan Diamond in a white field. The faction marches across the countryside, until it halts to a stop, as a scout rushes over Pelly, who stands with Clive at her side.
Cyan Diamond scout: They're coming, sister. In numbers and weapons far greater than our own.
Clive: Numbers do not win a battle.
Pelly: No. Because this is only a hearing and a voting. And… what is their faction called?
Cyan Diamond scout: The Red Hearts. I asked.
Rising from over the hill in front of them, there comes Rozella's faction. Just like Pelly's, their flag shows their insignia: a red heart in a black field. They march across the yard, with Rozella being borne on a litter by several strongmen. When they see the other faction, they halt and Rozella walks over with Howard towards Pelly, who is also approaching them with Clive.
Rozella: So we all got the message?
Pelly: Yes. Trimbo wants us to stop… and we can.
Rozella: I heard about you being expelled. [beat] I'm sorry.
Howard: But for now, we shall hear what you have to say.
Clive: Penelope wants to fulfill her dreams, and we want it to happen. So let us hear what the Princess has to say first.
Rozella: Yes, yes. Listen, Pelly. I want us to be friends again. But most of all, I want to spend more time with Trimbo, all to ourselves, and wait for the moment when he tells me… that he chooses who to marry.
Pelly: I want the same thing. If Trimbo decides which one of us to marry, we will both honor it, no matter the cost.
Clive: Um, Pelly? I hate to break this up between the two of you, but… most of the men behind us are… eager for a fight.
Pelly: We were getting to the part where we formed peace, Clive. I don't want to watch a massacre.
Clive: Neither do I, so let's settle this war in the old manner, their best fighter against our best.
Howard: You want… a challenge?
Clive: Yes. Our champion against your own.
Howard: And if our champion wins?
Rozella: Howard, this is not one of those times. [to Clive] What do you mean by "champion".
Clive: You know what I mean.
Rozella: No, because we don't have one.
Howard: What about Blaze? Isn't he accounted for?
Rozella: That's out of the question!
Pelly: Actually… I'm curious about this Blaze.
Rozella: Really?
Pelly: Yes. So… we can have our one-on-one challenge. Besides, I wanted to see how your faction fights to begin with.
Rozella: [hesitates] Okay. Send him in.
Clive: [smiles confidently] Dawson!
Dawson emerges from the cheering cleric army; a giant of a man with immense strength.
Clive: This is our champion. My brother, Dawson. He once faced off against the manticores all those years ago, and lived to tell the tale. Now show me yours.
Rozella: [beat] Blaze!
But Blaze does not appear; Rozella's faction remains silent. Most of the Cyan Diamond members laugh or snicker.
Clive: I wouldn't let it bother you too much. Dawson has this effect on many heroes.
Howard: Careful who you insult, cleric!
Rozella: Howard! He's obviously tired and just-
Then, a roaring is heard. Running across the parting Red Heart soldiers is Blaze, stepping in to reveal himself, which comes to Pelly and her army's shock.
Pelly: A dragon? You have a dragon?!
Rozella: It's a long story.
Clive: No, I said a champion, not a warbeast.
Pelly: Actually, you weren't specific enough, Clive. You said "champion", and when you heard the name Blaze, you assumed it was a man, not a beast. If he's their champion, let him fight your manticore-fighting brother.
Clive looks at Dawson, and at the little dragon from afar, worried about the outcome if those two should ever fight. But since he is responsible for calling a shot, he has one thing to say.
Clive: Alright. Let the match… begin.
Part Eleven
Dawson carries his two spears and roars. Blaze roars as well, much louder than his opponent, and charges at full speed, as Dawson does the same. Both factions in between them stand their grounds to watch the fight. Dawson stops and throws a spear, but Blaze ducks down before it hits him. The cleric throws another spear, and the dragon catches it with his mouth to snap it in half.
Finally, the two collide and the fight starts. Using only his bare hands, Dawson wrestles with Blaze, who pushes him back a bit, but cleric prays to the gods.
Dawson: Oh Kappa, patron of patriotism, lend me your powers and allow me to smite my opponent.
Dawson's body glows with a purple aura, and he becomes stronger than before, allowing him to push Blaze away that makes him fly across the field.
Clive: [cheering] YEAH! That's my brother right there!
Blaze recovers; he charges with full force to retaliate, but Dawson grabs him by the snout, swings him around and throws him across the field again. The enraged dragon then tackles Dawson, having him and Dawson rolling on the dirt as they fight.
Pelly: How old is he? [beat] The dragon.
Rozella: Only… last week.
Pelly: He's a baby? Because he looks like he can be a juvenile.
Howard: The Princess assumes this is a growth spurt, so it's… kinda natural, we believe.
Pelly: I find that hard to believe.
Again, Dawson throws Blaze across the field, but this time he lands on his feet. Dawson swats Blaze across the face with a dagger.
[Blaze roars in pain]
Blaze looks away in pain, but soon turns his head, glaring at Dawson. From afar, Rozella recoils at the sight, shocked; Blaze now has a scar over his left eye.
Rozella: [saddened] Blaze….
Out of rage, Blaze inhales some air into his lungs, but his chest is glowing bright orange in the process. Suddenly, he breaths a stream of fire at Dawson's face.
Back with the Grand Army, Arkus throws a dagger at a Blaster from up high on Norbert. All of a sudden, he picks up a scent that alarms him. He reins Norbert to fly down and meet up with Trimbo, who is escorting the injured men to safety.
Arkus: Hop on. Something's happened.
Trimbo: What has?
Arkus: I'll explain later. Now get on!
Trimbo mounts on Norbert, before Ringo jumps up to join him, and Norbert takes off into the air.
Back with the two factions, Dawson cries in pain as his arm is being burned by Blaze's fire. The dragon then bites on his shoulder, tearing him apart.
Howard: [gasps] He's tasted human flesh!
Out of worry, Rozella runs across the field to stop the massacre. Just when Blaze is about to slash Dawson, she arrives at the scene.
Rozella: BLAZE, NO!
But she notices she is too close. Rozella turns, and the claw barely catches her shirt, ripping it off, leaving superficial claw marks across her back.
Rozella: [cries in pain]
When he finds out, Blaze starts to calm down to see Rozella, now getting scared around him. He walks over to him, but she takes a few steps back, and Blaze is becoming downhearted by this. And then, Dawson succumbs to his pain and falls down.
Clive stands in front of his army, and sees his brother fall. For a moment the vast field is silent, until Clive shouts. A wordless cry of rage, echoing from the cleric lines to the other faction, and he points toward Blaze. The Cyan Diamonds surges forward. Hollering with a collective violence powerful enough to make the ground tremble, 150 soldiers charge at Blaze. But the Red Hearts sees this, and they charge in to counter attack.
Pelly: Rozella! Get outta there!
Rozella sees the charging armies, and she runs away alone. Blaze is still downhearted, but he follows her. And then, the two factions collide with each other, starting a vicious fight against each other.
Clive swings his warhammer around, plowing down every Red Heart soldier he can be within range. But he looks across the battlefield and sees Blaze running away with Rozella, and he growls as he clutches his weapon tightly before heading off to get there.
On the hilltop, Rozella rushes up there before stopping in her tracks, but she looks back to see Blaze has followed her.
Rozella: [scared] No, get back!
But when she looks into his eyes, Rozella realizes that Blaze was sorry and recoils in a relaxed tone. She gives him a gentle smile before walking over to him, but then Clive throws an axe at Blaze's side, agonizing him. Clive walks over with a few Cyan Diamond soldiers to finish the job with another axe, until Rozella gets in his way to stop him.
Rozella: No! Leave him alone, please!
Clive: Get out of the way! You saw what he did! He killed my brother!
Rozella: He didn't know; he's just a baby. Just leave him be.
Clive: Why do you protect it? It's obviously untrainable! This is not worthy of royalty! If you don't step back, I'll kill you both at once.
Rozella: [beat; determined] No. I don't care if he's dangerous. I won't let you hurt him.
Consumed by vengeance, Clive raises his axe up to kill them both, but then Pelly shows up to stab him with a knife, saving her and Blaze's life.
Pelly: And I don't care if the gods aren't with me. I won't let anyone hurt my friend.
Clive falls to the ground, clutching at his neck. The Cyan Diamonds stare at the dying cleric in disbelief, before one of the soldiers raises his sword, ready to split the girls in half. Before he can bring down his sword, his head flies from his shoulders. As the man falls, Trimbo whirls around and dispatches the other soldier, saving the girls' lives.
On the battlefield, Norbert lands on the ground and roars to grab their attention before Arkus makes an announcement.
Arkus: This is enough! It's outrageous! The ogres are the real enemies and you should never be divided! You are stronger when you are united! Now go home.
The Cyan Diamonds and Red Hearts seem compelled to ignore the Dragonator's warning, so they all withdraw their weapons and take their leave.
Meanwhile, the ogres are forced to retreat. The Grand Army is victorious. And Duke Cardi keeps watching it all from the bluff.
Cardi: Took a little longer than I anticipated, but it's done it again.
Suddenly, emerging from the trees behind are Kesseki, Rift and Garlym armed with their weapons. Cardi whips around to notice them.
Garlym: You!
Rift: The Duke?!
Cardi: Surprised, aren't we? Surely, Rathborne may have metioned traitors, but… who did you think it would be if it wasn't me?
Kesseki: It wouldn't matter to us for now, as long as you get to answer your crimes to the High King's council.
Kesseki pulls the string of Delta's Bow, activating an energized arrow.
Cardi: [smirks] Indeed.
The yokai is about to release as Rift and Garlym charge to attack. But Cardi holds an amulet in his hand that unleashes lightning bolts and it cascades the trio back to hit on a ruin. Once the lightning ceases, Kesseki readies his arrow again, but only before he discovers Cardi is gone.
Part Twelve
Back with Trimbo, he looks down at Clive's corpse, lying in puddled blood a few feet away. He looks back to Rozella and Pelly, who hug him together.
Rozella: Thank goodness you're here.
Pelly: We're sorry, Trimbo. We got carried away, and….
Trimbo: It's alright. I had to come as soon as I could.
When he sees Blaze for the first time, Trimbo is stunned to encounter the emperor dragon in front of him.
Trimbo: Is that him?
Kneeling down, Trimbo extends his hand to Blaze, who reacts by hissing at him.
Rozella: [to Blaze; whispers] It's okay.
Blaze is a little cautious. But with Trimbo not being shown to attack him, he walks over to his hand, sniffs it, and allows him to pet him. Then Arkus comes over to the scene.
Arkus: Is everything okay?
Rozella: It is now.
Trimbo: I guess your worry for the dragon was… an exaggeration. He's cautious now, but he's transfixed.
Arkus: Is that so? But… what keeps him from…?
Then, Blaze digs his head into Rozella's cleavage, sucking on her boobs, and Arkus looks away with his hand covering his eyes.
Arkus: Okay, now I get it. He's a dairy addict. That's… a little unexpected, though. But still… he's tasted human flesh, and he's…. He's gotta have to go.
Rozella: He has to leave?
Arkus: I'm afraid so, Princess. He's growing up too fast, and you don't have experience with training dragons yet. He'll be kept in Dallad for some studies, and they'll take very good care of him, just as you have for him.
Rozella is reluctant to accept that suggestion. But he looks at Blaze, and kneels to his face.
Rozella: I'm sorry, Blaze. I…. I wish you could stay, but I can't.
She hugs him, shedding a tear down her cheek.
Rozella: I'll miss you.
Arkus whistles. Norbert comes hovering over in the air before Arkus mounts on him. He grabs onto Blaze and flies off with him to Dallad, leaving the other three alone on the field.
Trimbo: So now… this quarrel is over. We should all work together.
Pelly: I agree, but Trimbo… we want to know if you'd want… anyone of us to be with.
Trimbo: [hesitant] I…. I wish I had the right words, but I can't… feel like I should be settled. Not with the….
Pelly: I understand. But we both made a vow before we left the castle.
Rozella: Yes, we wanted to see who's better between the two of us, and never to see you until it's… truly over.
Pelly: And so… I have to leave. All the other Cyan Diamonds are retreating and they still need a leader. But… I'll come back when it's over.
Pelly takes her leave down a hill. And now, Trimbo is alone with Rozella.
Rozella: Trimbo? I, um…. I have just one request.
Trimbo: Yeah? What?
Much to Trimbo's shock, Rozella lifts her shirt and flash, exposing her barechest to him.
Rozella: Please touch me. It just felt unfair that I wasn't touched. I… want this feeling.
Mesmerized by her breasts, Trimbo grabs her large breasts and it makes her moan. Terrified, he pulls her shirt down.
Trimbo: Okay, that's enough.
Rozella: [softly] It's okay. It…. It feels so gentle when you touched me. And it almost tickled.
Next, she gives a kiss on Trimbo's cheek.
Rozella: You just stay alive, you hear me? Wor-Kis will stay with you. I will return to you. I promise.
And so, Rozella takes her leave down the hill. Trimbo is now all by himself to notice both women have left him, until he sees Ringo climbing up to his shoulder.
Trimbo: Women, right? They just go after the same thing and act so feisty, even though their friends.
[Ringo squeeks]
Trimbo: I know Ayazz said we should just let them be. Let them decide how to end this conflict. But it looks like… it's longer than I hoped.
Ringo then rubs himself on Trimbo's face, which begins to make him feel better.
Trimbo: Thanks, Ringo. Now let's get going.
Trimbo walks away from the barren battlefield, heading out to leave to join the others.
Back in the High King's Castle, Raizer paces around outside of his uncle's bedchambers, while She-Dom stands by boredly tapping on her clipboard with paperwork.
She-Dom: You seemed unsettled, Raizer.
Raizer: No, just… pressed for time. I've entrusted Bardian to build the plans, which can be a risky move, but most of all, his illness is increasing and I still need to know why I can't sit on the Crystal Throne now.
She-Dom: Honestly, you should know the answers. You're too young and you don't know the full responsibilities to be a king.
Raizer: I've learned all the histories of Xenotopia dating back to when the gods created it, and I wanted my reign to last longer than anyone else all those centuries. And now because of his will, it will make me change almost everything I've been planning.
She-Dom: And if this was to be discovered, what then?
Raizer: Nobody will know, and they never will!
Then, the doors open to let a doctor exit the room.
Raizer: Well?
Doctor: His sickness is not contagious, so it is incapable of spreading. It is unfortunate to say… he doesn't have much longer to live. This may be the last night for your uncle, your highness. And… if you wish to see him, you can.
Inside his bedchambers, Townley lies helpless, with his body racked with consumption. He looks ahead to see Raizer walking to him.
Townley: I assume… you have something to ask?
Raizer: Just one. Why not allow me to be crowned High King, uncle? You know there's no living relative in our family besides me.
Townley: [hesitates] You are too young, nephew. A fourteen-year-old ascending to a throne is not as you think. You may be my only relative since my sister died from giving birth to you, but I gave it to Edgar because he is mature enough to handle it. Being a king is all about taking matters seriously, but you…. You still thrive as a child.
Raizer: But I'm not a kid anymore.
Townley: You are not listening to me. Being crowned is when you are past the age of twenty, not when you're still young. That is a mandate every High King must tolerate.
But Raizer seems unconvinced of his uncle's words, scolding him.
Raizer: You're just holding me back. I've looked up to you, and I was hoping it would be you to crown me when I sit on that throne, but instead, you chose to keep me at bay while weakness strives in everyone's will and life!
Townley: Raizer, I gave you my word that you will be crowned, but it will take time to-
Raizer: FUCK YOU!
[voice echoes]
Raizer: Time is not on anyone's side, not even ours. The ogres are invading, the people are all begging for their High King to protect them, and while you crowned an outsider, Xenotopia is going to burn or be ripped apart! Our family is everything to all of the kingdoms, and WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! Nothing, that's what! [pauses] Rest in peace for all I care, but in the end, your soul will be cast into Hades because you value your people above your own flesh and blood. And when I'm crowned, everything about Richard Townley will only be a distant memory.
Raizer takes his leave out of the bedchambers, slamming the door behind him. Alone, Townley is visibly hurt by his nephew's words, sheds a tear and gasps his last breath.
The End