Ni-hao! AkaneKitty here. This is a new series called Epsilon. AU. This series is a partial retelling the anime Shoujo Kakume Utena, the anime I base my other story, The Absolute Journey, on.
Ulysses Feral is the new Commander of the Enforcers, a unit within Epsilon Academy, a fine military school. But, things are not as they seem. Feral's dream to be a Knight to one he lost long ago draws him to a world of Duels...where one fights for the mysterious Rose Bride.
Author's note and warning: Callie gets slapped in this series. I say this now because it's not enough to warrant a PG-13 label(I think). Any concerns, send them to me.
Callie uses the Japanese honorific system here. Since it's hard to translate the meanings into English, here's a quite look:
-sama: Means high respect towards the kat addressed.
-san: A regular way of addressing kats and she-kats. They may know them, but not really know them.
There's more, but that's not needed now.
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
************************
Epsilon:
The Rose Bride
*************************
"Oooh...he is so late! I swear...Commander or not, I'm going to get him!"
Lt. Commander Renee Hunter sighs as she watches from her perch on the concrete bridge various Enforcer personnel walking to their morning assignments. Ulysses had promised her that he would meet her on the bridge before reporting to their new assignments. They were the new Commander and Lt. Commander of the Enforcers, the all purpose military police unit of Epsilon, a distinguished military school. The light brown she-kat sighs again.
"Oh...L.C. Good morning."
"Good morning." Renee addresses the two officers that had stopped before her. "What's up?"
"We were just stopping by to say we saw the Commander."
"You did?" Renee jumps up. "Where?"
"I think he was on his way to his office..."
"That kat!" Renee begins to run toward the office towers, but stops to look over her shoulder. "Oh, and you're dismissed!"
***********************************************
"Let's see...my office is the West Tower. Anything beyond the South Tower is forbidden except for authorized personnel: i.e. The Executive Council. So is the Forest...weird... What the...Housing Arrangements to be determined later?! Just why is that?"
"It is in accordance to the Rules of the Rose Seal, Commander."
Commander Ulysses Feral stops dead in his tracks, finding himself face to face with Admiral Decker. The gray kat regards him with a cool eye.
"Admiral Decker... What do I owe the pleasure?" Feral says, adjusting his briefcase over his shoulder.
"I've come say that I've got my eye on you."
"Me? Why?"
The Admiral takes out a sheet of paper. "It's your career objective that you just filed. Did you take this seriously?"
"Of course I did."
"You did?"
"Yes. I want to be the Knight that saves his Queen." Feral says, a serious look on his face. "That is my goal and I intend to live up to it."
The Admiral blinks. "Uh..."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, sir. I have to go." Feral begins to walk away. "I'm going to be late to my first role call. Goodbye."
Decker is silent until Feral walks away. "That kat is going to make a fool of me this year..."
**************************************************
"It is almost time for the first Council meeting of the year. I want everyone to be prompt...and that includes Steele and the Rose Bride."
Commander Alisa MiFurr, the President of the Executive Council, wipes her long, black hair from her eyes. From her perch a top the South tower, she could see the Forest, that lay dormant. Only certain actions could bring the Forest to life. She casts a sidelong glance to Major Jake Clawson, the secretary of the Council, who was taking notes. He clicks his pen.
"I'll inform Chance immediately." Jake says, referring to his partner, Major Chance Furlong. He and Chance presided over the SWAT unit of Epsilon, churning out some of the best gunners and pilots for the Academy. He was particularly proud of his unit, because it allowed him to develop new technologies...and also allowed him to team with Chance, his best friend and pilot.
"Oh, by the way Clawson..." Alisa says. "I must congratulate you. You and Chance took top honors last year. You two did really good work."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"And, what of our little vigilante unit..."
"Please, Commander. Knowledge of that unit is supposed to be limited."
"But, you can tell me. I am the Commander of that unit as well." Alisa smiles at him. "Though, I appreciate your concern. I know you and 'T-Bone' are doing fine work."
Jake smiles nervously, adjusting the lapels of his blue and red uniform. "If I may ask, ma'am...Is Steele still..."
"...Abusing the Bride?" Alisa's blue eyes flash angrily. "Unfortunately, yes. World's End expressly forbids that in their letters to us. But, his is current Dueling Champion."
Jake clicks his pen again. "I see."
"Well, I think that's it. The meeting is at noon today." Alisa stands up. "You are dismissed."
*********************************************
"Next!"
There is a clashing of two foils. One effortlessly parries the other. The foil is then pressed against the opponent's chest.
"Next!"
Same scenario, same outcome...only faster.
"Next?"
Feral takes off his mask, thankful that he thought to tie back his long hair. He takes a quick look around. It looks like he had exhausted this group of fencers.
"Great...He did it again!" One of the fencers mumbles. "He kicked our tails last year, too!"
"Say again?"
"Nothing, Commander! You win again." One of them says, exhausted. "We yield."
"Oh." Feral begins to walk away. "Tomorrow then."
"Ul--yss--es!"
"Huh?" Feral has no time react before a huge weight comes crashing down onto his back, knocking him off balance. In other words, a glomp.
"You're so cruel! You left me all alone on that bridge while you went your merry way!" Renee clings to Feral's back.
"We're too old for this, Renee!"
"Why's that? We did this when we were lieutenants!"
Feral sighs, and Renee releases her choke hold. "That's better."
"Hey! Your ring matches the Rose Seal that's on the South Tower!" Renee points out the ring on Feral's paw.
"It does, huh."
"How did you get that ring, anyway?"
"From my Queen...Come on, Renee...I've told you this story already."
"Well, tell it to me again." Renee finds a seat that wasn't cluttered with fencing items.
Feral sighs again. "Well...Back when I was little, I comforted this she-kat when she was sad. As thanks, she gave me this ring. She told me that the ring would me to her, someday. And, in order to do that, I had to become a Knight."
"Wow." Renee smiles. "I guess Decker is still giving you grief about you career objectives?"
"When hasn't he?"
**********************************************
A bit later, Feral decided to better acquaint himself to the campus. He already knew where the athletic complex was, and his tower. Now it was time to find the Common area, one of the few green areas that the Academy had. It surrounded the old, but functional, clock tower.
He found it easily, as most of the students and personnel gathered there. Maybe he could hold some meetings there, as he hated to be cooped up. Feral continues on his way through the Common area, until...
"The scent of roses..." Feral stops, finding himself few feet away from a cage shaped glass house. Within the cage were roses of many different colors, cared for by a blonde she-kat, who was watering them. Her emerald eyes were hidden behind glasses, and she wore a pink and purple suit.
She seemed content among the roses, and Feral didn't want to disturb her, so he decided to move away.
*********************************************************
It was almost noon, and an angry voice rose above the usual clamor of the Common area. Those that had been there a year knew who it was, and decided to keep their distance. Challenging the Vice President of the Executive Council was suicide.
"Black and white roses?! What is this, Calico?"
Calico, who was also known as Callie, shrinks somewhat. "I don't know, Steele-sama."
"What do you mean you don't know? You are the maintainer of the roses. The Rose Bride." Steele says angrily. "While you must grow roses for the other Council members, other rose colors go against me! Do you hear me?"
****************************************************
"Why does the scent of roses remind me of her..."
Feral finds himself walking back to the Common Area, after a brief lunch. A talk with Renee revealed that the she-kat's name was Calico Briggs, who was the personal assistant to the Executive Council. She was dating Steele, the Vice President, who apparently was very nasty kat. Feral was just about to go down the stairs to reach the Common area when he heard an angry voice. He takes a look.
"*What is this, a lover's quarrel? They should take that somewhere else.*" Feral thinks to himself as he watches Steele yell louder at Calico. "*Still...Nobody deserves to be yelled at like that...What the...!*"
Feral watches as Steele slaps Calico across the face, leaving a deep red mark. Calico clutches her face. Feral starts to intercede, but, a raven haired she-kat steps in, grabbing Steele by the wrist. She begins to yell at Steele.
The clock strikes twelve, and Feral remembers he has to get back to work. But, not before he finds out where that kat lives.
**************************************************
"Steele, you idiot! Abusing the Bride is forbidden!"
"The Rose Bride is mine. As current Dueling Champion, that means I can do what ever I want."
Alisa glares at Steele, still angry to what she witnessed and madder still that she had to drag him to the Council meeting. Jake was there, dutifully taking notes, while Chance looks on in disgust.
"Those black and white roses are for the new Duelist, fool." Chance says, crossing his arms. "If you had read your letters, you would have known that."
"Hold your tongue, Furlong. You are addressing a superior officer!" Steele snaps.
"There's nothing superior about a scardykat like you!"
"Why you little...!"
"Stop it, both of you." Alisa turns back to Steele. "There is a new Duelist coming. The letters from World's End say so. And, I want you to stop abusing the Bride."
"The Bride does the will of the Champion." Steele smiles. "Isn't that right, Calico?"
Still holding her check, Callie slowly nods. "I am the Rose Bride. Steele is the current Champion. I must, for now, do anything he wants me to do."
Jake clicks his pen, gripping it tightly. "Anything..."
"Anything." Chance whispers to Jake.
"That still doesn't give you the right to ..." Alisa begins, but Steele begins to walk away with Callie.
"The Bride and I await the new Duelist." Steele tosses over his shoulder. "Until then, she is mine."
***************************************************
It was now evening, and everyone was going into their temporary sleeping quarters...that is, mostly everyone.
"Hey, greenhorn!"
"Greenhorn? I beg your pardon?" Steele turns around towards the voice, and finds himself looking into the eyes of Feral. A quick glance of Feral's uniform yielded that he was a Commander, and that meant he treads lightly. But, not too light. He was obviously new.
"What brings you by, Commander? Making introductions?"
"Hardly. I've come to challenge you to a duel."
"Duel?" Steele laughs. "You?"
"I extend the challenge because of the way you treated your girlfriend." Feral points at him. "No one deserves that. And, since everyone seems to fence around here, a duel is appropriate."
Steele begins to sidestep the issue, but then notices the familiar glint of the Rose signet. So this was the new Duelist. He smiles. "Fine. I accept. Meet me in the Forest behind the South tower tonight."
"It's forbidden to go there--"
"I'm sure you'll find away." Steele continues to smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for our Duel."
******************************************************
"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what I wonder?"
"There's going to be another Duel in the Forest tonight!"
"Be careful, brave Hero! The truth behind the Duel is not what it seems!"
"And, what is the truth?"
"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what it is?"
******************************************************
"Just what I thought. It's locked!"
Feral grips the handle of the gate that barred access to the forest with his free paw. He other paw held his sword.
"Just how does that greenhorn expect for me to get into the forest...huh?"
The gate suddenly unlocks and opens itself, revealing a path within the forest. The path leads to stairs, that climb upwards around a huge column , out of sight.
"Wait a minute, I didn't see those stairs from outside the forest." Feral thinks out loud.
But, he begins to climb the stairs.
**********************************************
"Well, it's about time you showed up."
Feral says nothing to Steele, trying to take in the sight. The stairs lead to large circular platform. From there, he could see the clock tower and the South tower. But, when he looks upward...
"A floating castle?" Feral looks on in awe. The castle was upside down, and spinning slowly on its axis. It was very distinguished looking. "How can a castle be floating in mid-air?"
"Oh, that's right, you haven't seen that Castle before." Steele joins Feral in looking at the castle.
"What is it? I couldn't see it from outside."
"It's a mirage. You know, a trick of the light."
Feral continues to stare at it. "A mirage..."
"But, never mind all that." Steele says. "I'm surprised that a kat like you that isn't in the Executive Council wears the Rose Seal."
"Rose Seal?"
"One of these." Steele shows Feral his left paw. There, on his claw...
"That ring!" Feral is taken aback.
"Calico! Prepare us."
"Huh?" Feral turns to see Callie walking towards them, with two roses in her paw. In fact, she looked quite different from when he last saw her. She wasn't wearing her glasses, or her outfit from a couple of hours earlier. She wore a long pink gown, with purple accents, that flowed straight to ground. She also wore a crown.
"Ms. Briggs?"
She walks to Steele, and proceeds to pin a green she then walks to Feral.
Feral looks at her. "Ms. Briggs...what are you doing here?"
Steele chuckles a bit. "It's the Bride's place to be here...So she's here."
"Bride?" Feral says as Callie pins a white and black rose to his chest. He smells the scent.
"*This scent...She had this exact same scent of roses...*"
"If the rose is knocked of your chest, you lose the Duel." Callie breaks into Feral's thoughts. He looks at her, and she smiles at him. "Good luck."
Steele obviously didn't like that, and he slaps Callie across the cheek She stumbles a little, and Feral catches her. "What's your problem?"
"How dare you, Calico!" Steele shouts. "You are the Rose Bride! Which means you belong to me. What's the point of wishing luck to someone else?!"
Calico holds her cheek. "Forgive me, Steele-sama."
Feral couldn't believe his ears. "What? Why would you take that from that kat?"
"Because Steele-sama is the current champion Duelist." Calico says softly. "I must do whatever he wants me to do."
"What are saying?" Feral looks at her. "You mean you're not his girlfriend?"
"Come on. Let's begin." Steele walks away.
"I don't know about all this," Feral says, releasing Callie, "But, all I have to do is beat him, right?"
Feral follows Steele, and all Callie can do is look on in wonder.
***********************************************
The two kats were now in the center of the dueling platform, spaced apart, with Callie behind them, although in the middle of the space. Feral then notices that Steele doesn't have a sword. But, before he can ask anything...
"Calico, you may begin." Steele says.
"Huh?" Feral looks at the she-kat, but she appeared deep in thought.
"O Rose of the noble castle..." Callie closes her eyes. A sphere of light appears in front of her chest.
"What is this?" Feral thinks out loud. "Another trick of the light?"
"Spirit of Dios that slumbers within..." Callie continues to chant, the sphere of light growing bigger.
"Harken unto thy Master, and reveal to us now..."
Callie falls backwards, where Steele catches her. Within the sphere of light an elaborate hilt of a sword appears. Steele grabs it and begins to extract the sword.
"...the power to Revolutionize the world!"
Feral can't believe what he's seeing. "What the...what is that?"
Steele laughs. "Let's go!"
Steele charges Feral with his 'sword', barely giving Feral time to react. Feral parries the attack and finds himself on the defensive, a position he hadn't been in for awhile. Steele continues his attack, driving Feral backwards. Finally, Feral was able to hold his ground, keeping Steele's and his swords locked.
"Not bad for a greenhorn, eh?" Steele laughs.
"Shut up." Feral now puts both paws on his sword to gain more leverage.
"Just what are you trying to be? The Knight that saves his Queen?" Steele continues to laugh. "How noble."
Steele breaks the lock and slashes at Feral who falls backward. He attempts to get back up, but notices his sword's blade cut off near the hilt.
"It can't be..." Feral then looks at Steele's sword. "That sword of yours...is it real?"
"I'm shocked." Steele says. "You challenge the Sword of Dios with that measly sword?"
"The Sword of Dios?"
"You don't know about the Sword of Dios?" Steele looks surprised. "Just who are you, anyway?"
Feral gets up. "This duel isn't over yet!"
"Of course. If you wish I'll slice that rose off your chest. You did have the courage to challenge me, after all."
"The Knight that's here to save his Queen." Steele begins to laughs. "Such nobility!"
Feral says nothing, griping the hilt of his broken sword tighter. The words that little she-kat said to him years ago begin to rush back.
"*Brave one, never forget your nobility. For that will you to me again, someday...*"
"All I have to do is knock of his rose." Feral says through gritted teeth. "Well, here goes nothing!"
Feral begins to charge Steele, which takes him by surprise. Steele raises his sword to parry the attack and to swipe of Feral's rose. Feral rushes by him, with very little contact. Steele takes a look at his opponent's rose.
Still intact. But, green rose pedals fill the air.
"How can this be?" Steele shouts, looking at where his rose used to be. Only two green pedals were still attached to the stem. "This is impossible! I... I lost?!"
Still holding the sword, he falls down. Steele looks up at Callie. "Calico..."
"Cheer up, Steele," Callie then smiles at him, "-san."
Steele looks at her in shock, and the clock tower's bells begin to ring.
***********************************************
"Well... that was quite unexpected."
Alisa had been observing the Duel from the South tower with her opera glasses. A part of her was glad that Steele lost. But, she was more intrigued by the kat that defeated him.
"Oh, yes...he's the new Commander of the Enforcers." Alisa takes the glasses away from her eyes.
"Cute..."
**************************************************
"Geez...that has been a weird first day." Feral leaves the forest, and then takes a look back. "Just what was going on back there?... I guess I'd better forget it."
Feral starts on the path to get back to Epsilon, but after a while he sees Callie step out of the shadows into his path. She wasn't wearing her elaborate gown, but it was the suit he saw her in earlier. Also, her glasses returned.
Feral looks at her. "It's you..."
Callie smiles at him. "I've been waiting for you, Uly-sama."
"...You have?" Feral asks after a moment, not to keen on her word choice.
Callie nods. "I am the Rose Bride. From this day forward, I belong to you."
All Feral could do is look at her.
"...Are you serious?!"
To be continued....
Ulysses Feral is the new Commander of the Enforcers, a unit within Epsilon Academy, a fine military school. But, things are not as they seem. Feral's dream to be a Knight to one he lost long ago draws him to a world of Duels...where one fights for the mysterious Rose Bride.
Author's note and warning: Callie gets slapped in this series. I say this now because it's not enough to warrant a PG-13 label(I think). Any concerns, send them to me.
Callie uses the Japanese honorific system here. Since it's hard to translate the meanings into English, here's a quite look:
-sama: Means high respect towards the kat addressed.
-san: A regular way of addressing kats and she-kats. They may know them, but not really know them.
There's more, but that's not needed now.
As always, send any comments or questions to AkaneKitty@aol.com. Or, drop me a line in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!
Ja ne,
AkaneKitty
************************
Epsilon:
The Rose Bride
*************************
"Oooh...he is so late! I swear...Commander or not, I'm going to get him!"
Lt. Commander Renee Hunter sighs as she watches from her perch on the concrete bridge various Enforcer personnel walking to their morning assignments. Ulysses had promised her that he would meet her on the bridge before reporting to their new assignments. They were the new Commander and Lt. Commander of the Enforcers, the all purpose military police unit of Epsilon, a distinguished military school. The light brown she-kat sighs again.
"Oh...L.C. Good morning."
"Good morning." Renee addresses the two officers that had stopped before her. "What's up?"
"We were just stopping by to say we saw the Commander."
"You did?" Renee jumps up. "Where?"
"I think he was on his way to his office..."
"That kat!" Renee begins to run toward the office towers, but stops to look over her shoulder. "Oh, and you're dismissed!"
***********************************************
"Let's see...my office is the West Tower. Anything beyond the South Tower is forbidden except for authorized personnel: i.e. The Executive Council. So is the Forest...weird... What the...Housing Arrangements to be determined later?! Just why is that?"
"It is in accordance to the Rules of the Rose Seal, Commander."
Commander Ulysses Feral stops dead in his tracks, finding himself face to face with Admiral Decker. The gray kat regards him with a cool eye.
"Admiral Decker... What do I owe the pleasure?" Feral says, adjusting his briefcase over his shoulder.
"I've come say that I've got my eye on you."
"Me? Why?"
The Admiral takes out a sheet of paper. "It's your career objective that you just filed. Did you take this seriously?"
"Of course I did."
"You did?"
"Yes. I want to be the Knight that saves his Queen." Feral says, a serious look on his face. "That is my goal and I intend to live up to it."
The Admiral blinks. "Uh..."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, sir. I have to go." Feral begins to walk away. "I'm going to be late to my first role call. Goodbye."
Decker is silent until Feral walks away. "That kat is going to make a fool of me this year..."
**************************************************
"It is almost time for the first Council meeting of the year. I want everyone to be prompt...and that includes Steele and the Rose Bride."
Commander Alisa MiFurr, the President of the Executive Council, wipes her long, black hair from her eyes. From her perch a top the South tower, she could see the Forest, that lay dormant. Only certain actions could bring the Forest to life. She casts a sidelong glance to Major Jake Clawson, the secretary of the Council, who was taking notes. He clicks his pen.
"I'll inform Chance immediately." Jake says, referring to his partner, Major Chance Furlong. He and Chance presided over the SWAT unit of Epsilon, churning out some of the best gunners and pilots for the Academy. He was particularly proud of his unit, because it allowed him to develop new technologies...and also allowed him to team with Chance, his best friend and pilot.
"Oh, by the way Clawson..." Alisa says. "I must congratulate you. You and Chance took top honors last year. You two did really good work."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"And, what of our little vigilante unit..."
"Please, Commander. Knowledge of that unit is supposed to be limited."
"But, you can tell me. I am the Commander of that unit as well." Alisa smiles at him. "Though, I appreciate your concern. I know you and 'T-Bone' are doing fine work."
Jake smiles nervously, adjusting the lapels of his blue and red uniform. "If I may ask, ma'am...Is Steele still..."
"...Abusing the Bride?" Alisa's blue eyes flash angrily. "Unfortunately, yes. World's End expressly forbids that in their letters to us. But, his is current Dueling Champion."
Jake clicks his pen again. "I see."
"Well, I think that's it. The meeting is at noon today." Alisa stands up. "You are dismissed."
*********************************************
"Next!"
There is a clashing of two foils. One effortlessly parries the other. The foil is then pressed against the opponent's chest.
"Next!"
Same scenario, same outcome...only faster.
"Next?"
Feral takes off his mask, thankful that he thought to tie back his long hair. He takes a quick look around. It looks like he had exhausted this group of fencers.
"Great...He did it again!" One of the fencers mumbles. "He kicked our tails last year, too!"
"Say again?"
"Nothing, Commander! You win again." One of them says, exhausted. "We yield."
"Oh." Feral begins to walk away. "Tomorrow then."
"Ul--yss--es!"
"Huh?" Feral has no time react before a huge weight comes crashing down onto his back, knocking him off balance. In other words, a glomp.
"You're so cruel! You left me all alone on that bridge while you went your merry way!" Renee clings to Feral's back.
"We're too old for this, Renee!"
"Why's that? We did this when we were lieutenants!"
Feral sighs, and Renee releases her choke hold. "That's better."
"Hey! Your ring matches the Rose Seal that's on the South Tower!" Renee points out the ring on Feral's paw.
"It does, huh."
"How did you get that ring, anyway?"
"From my Queen...Come on, Renee...I've told you this story already."
"Well, tell it to me again." Renee finds a seat that wasn't cluttered with fencing items.
Feral sighs again. "Well...Back when I was little, I comforted this she-kat when she was sad. As thanks, she gave me this ring. She told me that the ring would me to her, someday. And, in order to do that, I had to become a Knight."
"Wow." Renee smiles. "I guess Decker is still giving you grief about you career objectives?"
"When hasn't he?"
**********************************************
A bit later, Feral decided to better acquaint himself to the campus. He already knew where the athletic complex was, and his tower. Now it was time to find the Common area, one of the few green areas that the Academy had. It surrounded the old, but functional, clock tower.
He found it easily, as most of the students and personnel gathered there. Maybe he could hold some meetings there, as he hated to be cooped up. Feral continues on his way through the Common area, until...
"The scent of roses..." Feral stops, finding himself few feet away from a cage shaped glass house. Within the cage were roses of many different colors, cared for by a blonde she-kat, who was watering them. Her emerald eyes were hidden behind glasses, and she wore a pink and purple suit.
She seemed content among the roses, and Feral didn't want to disturb her, so he decided to move away.
*********************************************************
It was almost noon, and an angry voice rose above the usual clamor of the Common area. Those that had been there a year knew who it was, and decided to keep their distance. Challenging the Vice President of the Executive Council was suicide.
"Black and white roses?! What is this, Calico?"
Calico, who was also known as Callie, shrinks somewhat. "I don't know, Steele-sama."
"What do you mean you don't know? You are the maintainer of the roses. The Rose Bride." Steele says angrily. "While you must grow roses for the other Council members, other rose colors go against me! Do you hear me?"
****************************************************
"Why does the scent of roses remind me of her..."
Feral finds himself walking back to the Common Area, after a brief lunch. A talk with Renee revealed that the she-kat's name was Calico Briggs, who was the personal assistant to the Executive Council. She was dating Steele, the Vice President, who apparently was very nasty kat. Feral was just about to go down the stairs to reach the Common area when he heard an angry voice. He takes a look.
"*What is this, a lover's quarrel? They should take that somewhere else.*" Feral thinks to himself as he watches Steele yell louder at Calico. "*Still...Nobody deserves to be yelled at like that...What the...!*"
Feral watches as Steele slaps Calico across the face, leaving a deep red mark. Calico clutches her face. Feral starts to intercede, but, a raven haired she-kat steps in, grabbing Steele by the wrist. She begins to yell at Steele.
The clock strikes twelve, and Feral remembers he has to get back to work. But, not before he finds out where that kat lives.
**************************************************
"Steele, you idiot! Abusing the Bride is forbidden!"
"The Rose Bride is mine. As current Dueling Champion, that means I can do what ever I want."
Alisa glares at Steele, still angry to what she witnessed and madder still that she had to drag him to the Council meeting. Jake was there, dutifully taking notes, while Chance looks on in disgust.
"Those black and white roses are for the new Duelist, fool." Chance says, crossing his arms. "If you had read your letters, you would have known that."
"Hold your tongue, Furlong. You are addressing a superior officer!" Steele snaps.
"There's nothing superior about a scardykat like you!"
"Why you little...!"
"Stop it, both of you." Alisa turns back to Steele. "There is a new Duelist coming. The letters from World's End say so. And, I want you to stop abusing the Bride."
"The Bride does the will of the Champion." Steele smiles. "Isn't that right, Calico?"
Still holding her check, Callie slowly nods. "I am the Rose Bride. Steele is the current Champion. I must, for now, do anything he wants me to do."
Jake clicks his pen, gripping it tightly. "Anything..."
"Anything." Chance whispers to Jake.
"That still doesn't give you the right to ..." Alisa begins, but Steele begins to walk away with Callie.
"The Bride and I await the new Duelist." Steele tosses over his shoulder. "Until then, she is mine."
***************************************************
It was now evening, and everyone was going into their temporary sleeping quarters...that is, mostly everyone.
"Hey, greenhorn!"
"Greenhorn? I beg your pardon?" Steele turns around towards the voice, and finds himself looking into the eyes of Feral. A quick glance of Feral's uniform yielded that he was a Commander, and that meant he treads lightly. But, not too light. He was obviously new.
"What brings you by, Commander? Making introductions?"
"Hardly. I've come to challenge you to a duel."
"Duel?" Steele laughs. "You?"
"I extend the challenge because of the way you treated your girlfriend." Feral points at him. "No one deserves that. And, since everyone seems to fence around here, a duel is appropriate."
Steele begins to sidestep the issue, but then notices the familiar glint of the Rose signet. So this was the new Duelist. He smiles. "Fine. I accept. Meet me in the Forest behind the South tower tonight."
"It's forbidden to go there--"
"I'm sure you'll find away." Steele continues to smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare for our Duel."
******************************************************
"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what I wonder?"
"There's going to be another Duel in the Forest tonight!"
"Be careful, brave Hero! The truth behind the Duel is not what it seems!"
"And, what is the truth?"
"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what it is?"
******************************************************
"Just what I thought. It's locked!"
Feral grips the handle of the gate that barred access to the forest with his free paw. He other paw held his sword.
"Just how does that greenhorn expect for me to get into the forest...huh?"
The gate suddenly unlocks and opens itself, revealing a path within the forest. The path leads to stairs, that climb upwards around a huge column , out of sight.
"Wait a minute, I didn't see those stairs from outside the forest." Feral thinks out loud.
But, he begins to climb the stairs.
**********************************************
"Well, it's about time you showed up."
Feral says nothing to Steele, trying to take in the sight. The stairs lead to large circular platform. From there, he could see the clock tower and the South tower. But, when he looks upward...
"A floating castle?" Feral looks on in awe. The castle was upside down, and spinning slowly on its axis. It was very distinguished looking. "How can a castle be floating in mid-air?"
"Oh, that's right, you haven't seen that Castle before." Steele joins Feral in looking at the castle.
"What is it? I couldn't see it from outside."
"It's a mirage. You know, a trick of the light."
Feral continues to stare at it. "A mirage..."
"But, never mind all that." Steele says. "I'm surprised that a kat like you that isn't in the Executive Council wears the Rose Seal."
"Rose Seal?"
"One of these." Steele shows Feral his left paw. There, on his claw...
"That ring!" Feral is taken aback.
"Calico! Prepare us."
"Huh?" Feral turns to see Callie walking towards them, with two roses in her paw. In fact, she looked quite different from when he last saw her. She wasn't wearing her glasses, or her outfit from a couple of hours earlier. She wore a long pink gown, with purple accents, that flowed straight to ground. She also wore a crown.
"Ms. Briggs?"
She walks to Steele, and proceeds to pin a green she then walks to Feral.
Feral looks at her. "Ms. Briggs...what are you doing here?"
Steele chuckles a bit. "It's the Bride's place to be here...So she's here."
"Bride?" Feral says as Callie pins a white and black rose to his chest. He smells the scent.
"*This scent...She had this exact same scent of roses...*"
"If the rose is knocked of your chest, you lose the Duel." Callie breaks into Feral's thoughts. He looks at her, and she smiles at him. "Good luck."
Steele obviously didn't like that, and he slaps Callie across the cheek She stumbles a little, and Feral catches her. "What's your problem?"
"How dare you, Calico!" Steele shouts. "You are the Rose Bride! Which means you belong to me. What's the point of wishing luck to someone else?!"
Calico holds her cheek. "Forgive me, Steele-sama."
Feral couldn't believe his ears. "What? Why would you take that from that kat?"
"Because Steele-sama is the current champion Duelist." Calico says softly. "I must do whatever he wants me to do."
"What are saying?" Feral looks at her. "You mean you're not his girlfriend?"
"Come on. Let's begin." Steele walks away.
"I don't know about all this," Feral says, releasing Callie, "But, all I have to do is beat him, right?"
Feral follows Steele, and all Callie can do is look on in wonder.
***********************************************
The two kats were now in the center of the dueling platform, spaced apart, with Callie behind them, although in the middle of the space. Feral then notices that Steele doesn't have a sword. But, before he can ask anything...
"Calico, you may begin." Steele says.
"Huh?" Feral looks at the she-kat, but she appeared deep in thought.
"O Rose of the noble castle..." Callie closes her eyes. A sphere of light appears in front of her chest.
"What is this?" Feral thinks out loud. "Another trick of the light?"
"Spirit of Dios that slumbers within..." Callie continues to chant, the sphere of light growing bigger.
"Harken unto thy Master, and reveal to us now..."
Callie falls backwards, where Steele catches her. Within the sphere of light an elaborate hilt of a sword appears. Steele grabs it and begins to extract the sword.
"...the power to Revolutionize the world!"
Feral can't believe what he's seeing. "What the...what is that?"
Steele laughs. "Let's go!"
Steele charges Feral with his 'sword', barely giving Feral time to react. Feral parries the attack and finds himself on the defensive, a position he hadn't been in for awhile. Steele continues his attack, driving Feral backwards. Finally, Feral was able to hold his ground, keeping Steele's and his swords locked.
"Not bad for a greenhorn, eh?" Steele laughs.
"Shut up." Feral now puts both paws on his sword to gain more leverage.
"Just what are you trying to be? The Knight that saves his Queen?" Steele continues to laugh. "How noble."
Steele breaks the lock and slashes at Feral who falls backward. He attempts to get back up, but notices his sword's blade cut off near the hilt.
"It can't be..." Feral then looks at Steele's sword. "That sword of yours...is it real?"
"I'm shocked." Steele says. "You challenge the Sword of Dios with that measly sword?"
"The Sword of Dios?"
"You don't know about the Sword of Dios?" Steele looks surprised. "Just who are you, anyway?"
Feral gets up. "This duel isn't over yet!"
"Of course. If you wish I'll slice that rose off your chest. You did have the courage to challenge me, after all."
"The Knight that's here to save his Queen." Steele begins to laughs. "Such nobility!"
Feral says nothing, griping the hilt of his broken sword tighter. The words that little she-kat said to him years ago begin to rush back.
"*Brave one, never forget your nobility. For that will you to me again, someday...*"
"All I have to do is knock of his rose." Feral says through gritted teeth. "Well, here goes nothing!"
Feral begins to charge Steele, which takes him by surprise. Steele raises his sword to parry the attack and to swipe of Feral's rose. Feral rushes by him, with very little contact. Steele takes a look at his opponent's rose.
Still intact. But, green rose pedals fill the air.
"How can this be?" Steele shouts, looking at where his rose used to be. Only two green pedals were still attached to the stem. "This is impossible! I... I lost?!"
Still holding the sword, he falls down. Steele looks up at Callie. "Calico..."
"Cheer up, Steele," Callie then smiles at him, "-san."
Steele looks at her in shock, and the clock tower's bells begin to ring.
***********************************************
"Well... that was quite unexpected."
Alisa had been observing the Duel from the South tower with her opera glasses. A part of her was glad that Steele lost. But, she was more intrigued by the kat that defeated him.
"Oh, yes...he's the new Commander of the Enforcers." Alisa takes the glasses away from her eyes.
"Cute..."
**************************************************
"Geez...that has been a weird first day." Feral leaves the forest, and then takes a look back. "Just what was going on back there?... I guess I'd better forget it."
Feral starts on the path to get back to Epsilon, but after a while he sees Callie step out of the shadows into his path. She wasn't wearing her elaborate gown, but it was the suit he saw her in earlier. Also, her glasses returned.
Feral looks at her. "It's you..."
Callie smiles at him. "I've been waiting for you, Uly-sama."
"...You have?" Feral asks after a moment, not to keen on her word choice.
Callie nods. "I am the Rose Bride. From this day forward, I belong to you."
All Feral could do is look at her.
"...Are you serious?!"
To be continued....