Diary ~
Thank Soa that my eyesight has returned. It took us ten days to get Lynn safely home, stay there at the mayor's insistence, and then get back to Fletz. My eyes were blurry for a while but when we reached Fletz, I could more or less see fine. Now I can see perfectly, and I am glad, because there is much to write about.
When we reached Fletz there were fireworks and music piping out of the palace and excited people. When we found Kaffi, she told us—to a great extent—that this was the day of the Coming of Age ceremony for Princess Emille. It didn't matter that nobody liked her, because in this dreary time everyone needed a morale booster.
The guard at the palace gate told us that Princess Emille—or rather the impostor—had replaced the guards inside with ones that acted "very strangely". Knowing that we had Fester to vouch for us and that we were admitted once before, the guard let us through.
Meru commented the guards seemed funny and Father told her that it was more than likely that they were Lenus' bandit friends.
Dart told us to split into two teams. The first team—Dart, Albert, Meru, and Shana—was to inform Princess Lisa of the truth and to find the real Princess Emille, who had to be somewhere in the palace. The second team—Father, Kongol, Rose, and myself—was to stop the fake from getting the Moon Dagger.
Using the fact that we were the king's friends to intimidate the guards, we made our way to the Chamber of the Sun, the throne room. The fake Princess Emille was kneeling in front of her "father", hands lifted and ready to accept the Moon Dagger.
"Impostor!" I screamed, getting everyone's attention and freezing the King. Rose and Kongol took out the guards.
"Stop them! Stop them!" The fake screamed, but the last guard was already disposed of. She spun and snatched the Moon Dagger from King Zior's hands and leapt onto the outside balcony.
"You're cornered. Give the Dagger back, charlatan." Rose drew her sword. It was hard to ignore Rose without her sword, much less with it, and nearly impossible not to do what she said. But Lenus did, jumping onto the railing.
"I can't." Lenus shed her disguise, showing her original form, a lithe but rather slutty woman in revealing battle gear. "I'm doing this for my love!"
It was that last sentence that let me piece together what happened. Lloyd wanted the Divine Moon Objects, he had told me himself, proven when he took the Moon Gem from King Albert. The Moon Dagger was the second of the Divine Moon Objects, and it would wind up in Lloyd's hands somehow, most likely through someone he would be using as a pawn. Lenus said she was doing this for her love. Lloyd must have pretended to be interested in her so that she would offer to help him get the Moon Dagger. That bastard. Using a woman's feelings to use her.
Of course, I didn't think that last part at that time. All I knew was that she was doing this for Lloyd, so I yelled, "Lloyd!"
She fell for it, turning to see what I was yelling about, to see if Lloyd was there. But I was already lunging forward, grabbing the Moon Dagger from her.
In the same motion, I had thrown my body weight against her, and she fell from the railing.
"Oh no. I didn't mean to kill her!"
Many heavy footsteps, and team one reappeared, with Dart in the front, standing next to the person who must be the true Princess Emille. She was very beautiful. Lenus' disguise was nothing compared to the original. This was the Emille from the legends and stories, the beautiful, graceful princess. Her very presence caused everyone to stop and stare at her for a moment.
"What happened? Where's the Moon Dagger? Where's the impostor?" Dart asked.
"The Moon Dagger is right here, but I think your mother just killed Lenus." Haschel said.
"No." Kongol pointed down, then up as a figure floated back up. Lenus had wings.
"Platinum hair." Rose murmured to me. Lenus was a Wingly. No wonder she was interested in Lloyd. But I'm not a Wingly… but then I'm not interested in him!
"You little bitch!" Lenus swore at me, diving forward on her wings.
I tightened my grip on the hilt of the Moon Dagger, clutching it tight against me and dropping flat onto my back to kick her as she flew above me. No need. Kongol swung his axe at her, and she fluttered to the side to avoid impaling herself. It drew a gash on her side, but still she came. Father took her this time, colliding his fist with her so that she dropped to the balcony floor again. She spit up blood, and Rose frowned, lashing out her sword to flick something off of Lenus' neck.
The Wingly woman screamed at her and stared at the Moon Dagger in my hands. I ran deeper into the throne room to the others, letting them protect the Divine Moon Object in my hands. Finally, a heavy sweep of Meru's hammer threw Lenus out into the air again. She cursed and retreated.
I had cut my hands holding the dagger and Shana bandaged them for me. She says that I shouldn't be writing yet, but I have to.
Afterwards, the real Princess Emille explained everything to her father, the council, and her people. The King requested that I give him the Moon Dagger, and I yelled, "No!" to everyone's surprise.
"I mean, Lenus will be back for it. It will be better if I keep it with me. We will go to the third continent to keep their Divine Moon Object safe as well." I fibbed it up on the spot.
"Miss Claire has a point, Father." Emille said. "Let her keep the Moon Dagger for now. It is just a symbol after all. I will still be queen without it."
The Coming of Age ceremony was beautiful, using an exquisite crystal knife that also radiated magic power instead of the Moon Dagger, which I keep in my right boot. Emille spoke at length with Albert about political affairs, but it deepened into more personal questions. I can tell by the shine in their eyes that they are interested in each other, which works out well for the countries. It seems as if the arranged marriage is back on, and will be put in effect soon.
That night, tired from the festivities, we all welcomed the beds, but Rose made us stay up and wait for Meru, saying that her announcement had to do with the dancer. She kept us awake, ignoring our protests, poking at me when I started to fall asleep.
When Meru showed up, a half-eaten gallon of ice cream in one hand and a silver spoon in the other, she looked surprised that we were still up. "Hi, guys. Don't look at me like that, because I'm not sharing! I haven't had ice cream for at least two years and I'm not a dancer anymore so I can eat it now!"
"Calm down. We're not here to deprive you of your dessert." Rose said. "We're here to give you this." She reached into her pouch and pulled out a necklace.
"You guys got me a gift? Aw… But my birthday isn't for a while." Meru took the necklace that was extended to her, dropping it when it flared up. "Whoa! It's on fire!"
The necklace floated up and attached itself around her neck. Meru kept feeling it. "A Dragoon Spirit?"
"I saw it around Lenus' neck and I took it." Rose said. "It's the Dragoon Spirit of Water. My gift to you, a token of friendship. Just don't keep annoying me with pointless questions, all right?"
"Aw, thanks, Rose!" Meru hugged her.
"And none of that either. I'm not the sentimental type."
"Why so many Dragoons in party?" Kongol wanted to know.
"Fate draws them together. The Dragoon Spirits attract each other. 'When Dragoons meet, blood will flow, and as they leave, time does slow.'" Rose quoted. "We've all shed blood, and as for the leaving with slow time, we haven't got up to that yet."
We stayed at the palace for a night, just to enjoy the royal treatment, but now we are on our way back to Donau, to get on a ship and go to Mille Seseau.