Thanks so much for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. Yei, it's
spring break. n__n What do you mean "does that mean I'll be writing more?"
Of course not! I've rediscovered Final Fantasy Tactics! And it's just as difficult
as I remember! But it's not stopping me this time! Okay... I know all
you want to do is get on with the story already!
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toshi toranu tsumori narishi-ga kune no naru
{I had not ever intended to grow older…the sound of the bell.}
(a haiku by Jukon, translated by myself)
Such an elegant room, the royal chamber was. The stone floor was smooth and dustless, and spread upon it here and there were beautiful tapestries meant only for royal feet. Several steps led up to the unoccupied throne, which sat not far from the fireplace. Two large western windows illuminated this section of the room. Beyond this chamber lay a second one, in which Tabito now stood staring upon the queen's bed, empty except for rays of morning light from the open eastern window.
"You don't suppose she'd go off without me?" Raven's voice interrupted his panicked silence from behind him.
"Mm," he grunted without commitment. Angrily she marched over to a mahogany wardrobe and flung the doors open as the others entered the room. Immediately, her expression changed to one of worry as she stretched her hand into the depths of the closet and withdrew it to produce the legendary Tiger Racket.
"She…left this," Raven announced softly, as she turned her eyes on her elder brother. His own expression likened to hers as he beheld the weapon of the Queen.
"All the ships are accounted for?" he asked softly.
"Yes, your highness," Steiner answered.
"Hm," the prince acknowledged, then allowed the room to become silent again. He suddenly realized that this was because the decisions were now all his to make. As if I know what to do… he thought, perplexed. Slowly he walked over to the open window. No scratches, he observed as he ran his hands over the sill. No rope and the sheets are all here…Did she really just sleep with it open? It doesn't seem like her to just leave it open… Tabito climbed onto the windowsill and leaned out of it, backwards.
"Your Highness!" exclaimed Steiner and Beatrix in unison. Tabito tilted his head back to look down to the ground.
"It's quite safe," he assured them. This was the truth, for every single stone of the castle walls was completely surrounded by excellent hand- and footholds. It seemed to the prince that the wall was as scalable as a ladder. We're not thief-proof, no, not by a long shot… he grimaced as he pulled himself up to examine the framework. The windows of the palace opened outward, so that they could not be forced open from the outside. However, if one were quiet and patient enough… Tabito groaned audibly as he ran his fingers over the broken latch.
"Your Highness?" Beatrix questioned, rushing forward and grabbing his wrist, as though afraid he might fall.
"I thought something about the window did not add up," he muttered as he pulled himself back inside. "It was opened from the outside."
"Are you suggesting her Majesty was abducted?!" Steiner's voice rang out over the others' interjections.
"It seems exactly that, Captain," he sighed, clenching his hands into fists. Even Raven became silent after this. Again, they were awaiting orders from the Crown Prince. This time, Tabito was glad for the silence; it allowed him to think. I don't suppose they could have hauled her onto the roof, so they'd have to have taken her down. Unless they had a flying machine?…but that would attract attention. Why didn't the guards see them anyway?! Wait… I can't be worrying about this right now. "General?"
"Yes, your Highness?" she bowed her head.
"You were a tracker as a cadet, were you not?"
"Yes, your Highness, I was considered to be the best, which is why I was promoted," she bowed again.
"How do those skills suit you now?" he asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I may be a bit out of practice, but the basics stay with you."
"Very well then, I entrust you with the task of finding her Majesty, the queen," Tabito stated formally, and then more softly, "and please be quick about it."
"Shall I organize a squad—"
"No time," he shook his head. "Hurry, before the trail grows cold."
"Very good, sir," Beatrix smiled fully, nodding her approval of his decision, then spun and ran from the room.
"I'll go with her," Raven announced.
"No," he shook his head and caught her arm, "she can handle everything herself. She's a one woman army."
"I can help," the princess objected angrily, yanking her arm away and made for the door.
"Raven!" he shouted after her. She spun around, a disgusted look on her face, but he interrupted her before she could object again. "Stay here," he pleaded, "for me." After two tense seconds, her scowl slowly softened into understanding.
"All right," she nodded once. He smiled his thanks before turning to the Captain of the Royal Guard.
"Steiner…"
"Your Highness!" he saluted. "I shall double the guard, and call up reinforcements and—"
"Please don't get ahead of me," Tabito shook his head. "Have your men contact Regent Eiko and inform her of what seems to have happened. Then I'd like you to address the guard and see what happened to them last night."
"I swear we shall get to the bottom of this, your Highness!" Steiner saluted again, a look of determination etched into his features.
"Sounds good," the prince sighed. "And I do like the idea of doubling the guard tonight."
"I shall see to it right away!" Steiner jogged towards the door, armor clanging with each step.
"And Steiner…" the prince called after him.
"Yes, your Highness?" he turned and saluted yet again. Tabito smiled and shook his head with amusement.
"Feel free to wish your wife well before you see to it all," he said softly.
"Oh, yes," the bumbling captain stammered, his whole face quickly building up shades of red. "Thank you, your Highness." And thus the clanging reverberated down the hallway. The prince shook his head again. And some things never change.
"What now?" he asked his siblings.
"Breathe," suggested Chizitsu.
"Right," he smiled back, and took a deep breath.
"No time for that!" Stephen Gawaine interrupted as he entered the room. "Prince Tabito, you must attend the board for an emergency meeting, immediately." The prince closed his eyes and drew another long breath, trying to collect himself. The board of advisers, the committee of your daily life, or rather the panel of judges… "Immediately," the High Advisor reiterated, a little more urgently.
"All right!" the younger man sighed in aggravation and began to walk out. "I'm going."
"Not like that, you're not," Stephen sniffed down his nose. Tabito glanced upon himself. He was still wearing the same pair of boxers from yesterday. That's how long it's been? My gods…And they expect me to run a country and wear one of those suits after all this?
"It is an emergency, is it not?" Tabito argued, flinging his arms wide for emphasis. Stephen just watched him, his face a perfect picture of disapproval. Tabito hated that look. I guess I can expect a room full of that if I go like this. "I'll… go get dressed," he muttered. No sooner had he closed the door to his room and begun to change than he heard Stephen's voice echo across the hall:
"Would somebody please assist the prince?" Adding insult to injury, Tabito thought angrily. Being king must be hell. Hurriedly, he picked out his outfit, before the servants arrived. He wanted soft cools, greens and blues, to help calm him. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to simply scream. He was pulling on his boots when the servants arrived and instantly set to adjusting his shirt, his belt, his hair…
"I wish my hair was his neat in the morning," a female servant remarked softly as she began to gather the two-tone strands with a brush.
"I have no time for this," Tabito said quickly as he pulled away and darted out the door, happy for the small victory in having his hair loose. If they had it all yanked back, I definitely wouldn't be able to think, he complained to himself as he rushed to the Long Room. Stephen was waiting for him at the door. He looked the prince over, before nodding curtly and opening the door.
"His royal highness, Crown Prince Tabito til Alexandros the First," Stephen announced, and every member of the Queen's board rose from his seat. You can do this, Tabito tried to convince himself as he entered the room. About twenty elderly noblemen of all variety of flavors watched him proceed to the head of the table. They all had one thing in common: they were not about to overlook any error he might make.
"Be seated," he addressed them as he took the Royal seat. It seemed so big to fill. Everyone sat, and waited, for yet again, it was Tabito's call. For a moment, he stared at his hands, willing them to stop shaking. This was to no avail, so he turned his eyes up to look at his council. "Please bear with me," he spoke evenly. "I have never done this before." No chuckles arose from the serious heads nor signs of encouragement to make this easier. No way am I running a council this way, he thought, as he refrained from biting his lip.
"Right," said one suddenly as he stood up and bowed his head. "Would the prince please inform us of the situation at hand? We are told that the Queen has been kidnapped."
"All I know is that is my own observation of the situation," Tabito picked up immediately, glad to have something to work with. "The details are beyond anyone as of yet. The General and the Captain of the Knights of Pluto are working on discovering more as we speak." He paused and glanced around and again, no signs of approval, disapproval or even acknowledgement. "That is all," he concluded as he glanced at his trembling hands again. Now the grunts of acknowledgmentl went around the table, and suddenly one man stood, bowed his head and:
"We should bring up the troops and prepare for war immediately!"
"War?" Tabito was thoroughly taken aback.
"Of course!" the nobleman pounded his fist upon the table for emphasis. "The kidnapping of the queen is an act of war! Alexandria will not stand for it!"
"Um…" but before Tabito could say anything, another man shouted.
"Nonsense!" he yelled across the table. "We have no need to alarm the public in that manner! Nothing should be disclosed until her Majesty is found!" The rest was drowned out in the hubbub that arose from the other members, each at first jumping to implore the new ruler, but then each quickly turning to argue with the other. The prince lost track of the suggestions and arguments quite quickly.
"Whoa," he breathed before calling over the table: "Order!" There was little response, so Tabito exasperatedly stood up and shouted: "Silence!" Instantaneously, the room fell silent. "Would you please behave? You're not helping anything." He could feel the anger in the room quickly become directed towards him, but he didn't care now. What he had just witnessed was simply ridiculous.
"Your hi—" the Crown Prince silenced the speaker with a raise of his hand. Now that felt good, Tabito thought with an inward smile, feeling slightly more confidant. Although not much…
"I cannot think in here," he said. "I'll return in a moment." With that he left the room, and picked up his pace until he reached the outer balcony. Trembling and hyperventilating, he steadied himself against the stone rail as he looked out over his kingdom. It all depends on me now. His stomach growled, making him realize that he had yet to eat today. Desperately, he attempted to collect his thoughts, but only felt like screaming again.
"Your Highness?" came a voice behind him.
"What should I do, Stephen?" he begged as he whirled to face the High Advisor. The old man bowed respectfully before he spoke.
"It would be wise to inform the populace of what has happened," he said, "no matter what panic it might cause."
"I agree with you there," Tabito replied with a calmness he did not feel.
"Alexandria will need a leader figure, if nothing else," Stephen continued. "It would be wise of you to claim the throne."
"Oh, no…" Tabito shook his head feverishly. "No, no way! I'll serve as acting ruler in my mother's absence, but no way am I taking control like that."
"Whether you like it or not, your Highness," Stephen sighed with a feigned attempt at hiding his annoyance, "unless you take that official stance, you leave the country open to revolution."
"Maybe so," Tabito shook his head again. "But think: my father disappeared yesterday, my mother turned up missing today, and I'm now claiming the throne. Have you any idea what that looks like?"
"Well, I never thought of it that way," Stephen admitted looking somewhat abashed.
"Apparently."
"I suppose the risk is great on either side," Stephen concluded, sounding much less snobbish than he had previously. "The choice is yours."
"Again," Tabito muttered. "If I claim the throne, I'm the culprit until I'm the next victim. If I don't, I could later if need be, right?"
"Yes, there is that," Stephen agreed, now looking far less disapproving of the young prince.
"Mm," Tabito nodded and turned back towards the Board Room, about to take on the council again. "Yes, that's what I'll do."
~~~~~
Evening descended on the seventh strike of the clock, filling the air with the chirrups of spring crickets, but it wasn't until after ten 'o clock that Tabito found himself clambering up the stairs to the royal chambers. It seemed to him that his tail was the only thing keeping him from the floor as he tottered back and forth with each step. His brother and sister were there to greet him as he triumphantly hoisted himself onto level ground.
"Lucky bums," he muttered as he stared at their very lively faces.
"Tabi?" Raven asked, "do you fare well?"
"Tabi…" he murmured, and smiling: "Someone called me 'Tabi.'"
"Are you ill?" Chizitsu asked, grabbing his elder brother's arm, a scared look in his deep brown eyes.
"Tired," Tabito shook his head. "I…" he slowly yawned, then continued. "I can't talk… I've talked too much today…" Slowly, he continued on towards his chamber, leaving a yawning Chizitsu behind him.
"Good night, Tabi," Raven called after him, for she still had her mouth to work with.
"Good night," he mumbled back. When he arrived at his door, he noticed Lance there. "Did you want something?" he asked.
"Oh, no, your Highness," the son of Steiner shook his head. "I'm merely on guard duty tonight."
"Oh… I feel safe now," he smiled encouragingly. "Hopefully, I won't see you until tomorrow." He then opened the door and closed it behind him. Stripping off his shirt and carelessly dropping it on a chair, he went over to the window and checked the latches. He noted that a new one had been added since this morning. Good old Steiner, he thought. Removing the rest of his clothing, he slid into his bed, reveling in the relaxed position of lying down. He spread his limbs apart beneath the sheets, dropping all his dignity where he had picked it up that morning. How about that scream? he wondered drowsily. Only I'd have to let Lance know that it was only a test first. That would require getting up… He slipped into exhausted slumber without ever finishing the thought.
~~~~~
The midnight stars peeked at the grand city of Lindblum through the clouds. The gentle winds that tore through the grasslands were beaten into breezes against the walls of the fortress city. The city had yet to reach it's quietest, but the peacefulness let most of the citizens' sleep. No one would have guessed that in the next moment, the clouds would've been torn open, but they were. Dark winds howled through the city streets as the airship form split through the sky and screeched to a halt above the city. In a groan of metal, it turned itself inside out to take on a man shape. A brilliant red circle formed upon the ground, and as several alien words appeared along its fringes, several missiles of energy dropped from the sky, completely incinerating several buildings.
The explosions got Eiko out of bed and sprinting up the stairs to the roof of the Grand Castle. Only she recognized the imminent destruction of her beloved city floating above her head: her subjects were facing the winds of Eternal Darkness.
"Ark?!" she addressed the eidolon in the sky, confusion clouding her bright green eyes for a second. But no more than a second, for she then raised her hands to the sky, shouting: "Oh, Mog!! I summon thee, Madeen, save us all! Terra Homing!" Faithfully, strips of rainbow gathered to form a floor above the city, and a giant, white humanoid form with a lion's head and two pink bat wings landed upon it. Madeen beat its chest and created a net of holy power that it cast over Ark. Although the Dark eidolon was easily as strong as the light one, it had already used some of its strength on the city, and therefore had not enough to retaliate with. Both eidolons disappeared in a flash of blinding light. Eiko fell panting to her knees, and listened awhile to the confusion below.
"Lady Eiko?" asked one of her closest advisors as he and several guards came running towards her. "Where did that eidolon come from?!"
"It was Ark…" Eiko murmured as she considered his question. "The Terran shadow eidolon. Garnet was able to call it from a stone long ago—in order to save the planet—but I know only one person who was born Ark's master."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, Saturday's a comin'...... This one's not as bad as the last few, right? I guarantee that'll be answered next chapter! Well... sort of. Hey, we're winding up before we're winding down, right? Okay, okay, I'll shut up. Now you can do the talking.
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toshi toranu tsumori narishi-ga kune no naru
{I had not ever intended to grow older…the sound of the bell.}
(a haiku by Jukon, translated by myself)
Such an elegant room, the royal chamber was. The stone floor was smooth and dustless, and spread upon it here and there were beautiful tapestries meant only for royal feet. Several steps led up to the unoccupied throne, which sat not far from the fireplace. Two large western windows illuminated this section of the room. Beyond this chamber lay a second one, in which Tabito now stood staring upon the queen's bed, empty except for rays of morning light from the open eastern window.
"You don't suppose she'd go off without me?" Raven's voice interrupted his panicked silence from behind him.
"Mm," he grunted without commitment. Angrily she marched over to a mahogany wardrobe and flung the doors open as the others entered the room. Immediately, her expression changed to one of worry as she stretched her hand into the depths of the closet and withdrew it to produce the legendary Tiger Racket.
"She…left this," Raven announced softly, as she turned her eyes on her elder brother. His own expression likened to hers as he beheld the weapon of the Queen.
"All the ships are accounted for?" he asked softly.
"Yes, your highness," Steiner answered.
"Hm," the prince acknowledged, then allowed the room to become silent again. He suddenly realized that this was because the decisions were now all his to make. As if I know what to do… he thought, perplexed. Slowly he walked over to the open window. No scratches, he observed as he ran his hands over the sill. No rope and the sheets are all here…Did she really just sleep with it open? It doesn't seem like her to just leave it open… Tabito climbed onto the windowsill and leaned out of it, backwards.
"Your Highness!" exclaimed Steiner and Beatrix in unison. Tabito tilted his head back to look down to the ground.
"It's quite safe," he assured them. This was the truth, for every single stone of the castle walls was completely surrounded by excellent hand- and footholds. It seemed to the prince that the wall was as scalable as a ladder. We're not thief-proof, no, not by a long shot… he grimaced as he pulled himself up to examine the framework. The windows of the palace opened outward, so that they could not be forced open from the outside. However, if one were quiet and patient enough… Tabito groaned audibly as he ran his fingers over the broken latch.
"Your Highness?" Beatrix questioned, rushing forward and grabbing his wrist, as though afraid he might fall.
"I thought something about the window did not add up," he muttered as he pulled himself back inside. "It was opened from the outside."
"Are you suggesting her Majesty was abducted?!" Steiner's voice rang out over the others' interjections.
"It seems exactly that, Captain," he sighed, clenching his hands into fists. Even Raven became silent after this. Again, they were awaiting orders from the Crown Prince. This time, Tabito was glad for the silence; it allowed him to think. I don't suppose they could have hauled her onto the roof, so they'd have to have taken her down. Unless they had a flying machine?…but that would attract attention. Why didn't the guards see them anyway?! Wait… I can't be worrying about this right now. "General?"
"Yes, your Highness?" she bowed her head.
"You were a tracker as a cadet, were you not?"
"Yes, your Highness, I was considered to be the best, which is why I was promoted," she bowed again.
"How do those skills suit you now?" he asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I may be a bit out of practice, but the basics stay with you."
"Very well then, I entrust you with the task of finding her Majesty, the queen," Tabito stated formally, and then more softly, "and please be quick about it."
"Shall I organize a squad—"
"No time," he shook his head. "Hurry, before the trail grows cold."
"Very good, sir," Beatrix smiled fully, nodding her approval of his decision, then spun and ran from the room.
"I'll go with her," Raven announced.
"No," he shook his head and caught her arm, "she can handle everything herself. She's a one woman army."
"I can help," the princess objected angrily, yanking her arm away and made for the door.
"Raven!" he shouted after her. She spun around, a disgusted look on her face, but he interrupted her before she could object again. "Stay here," he pleaded, "for me." After two tense seconds, her scowl slowly softened into understanding.
"All right," she nodded once. He smiled his thanks before turning to the Captain of the Royal Guard.
"Steiner…"
"Your Highness!" he saluted. "I shall double the guard, and call up reinforcements and—"
"Please don't get ahead of me," Tabito shook his head. "Have your men contact Regent Eiko and inform her of what seems to have happened. Then I'd like you to address the guard and see what happened to them last night."
"I swear we shall get to the bottom of this, your Highness!" Steiner saluted again, a look of determination etched into his features.
"Sounds good," the prince sighed. "And I do like the idea of doubling the guard tonight."
"I shall see to it right away!" Steiner jogged towards the door, armor clanging with each step.
"And Steiner…" the prince called after him.
"Yes, your Highness?" he turned and saluted yet again. Tabito smiled and shook his head with amusement.
"Feel free to wish your wife well before you see to it all," he said softly.
"Oh, yes," the bumbling captain stammered, his whole face quickly building up shades of red. "Thank you, your Highness." And thus the clanging reverberated down the hallway. The prince shook his head again. And some things never change.
"What now?" he asked his siblings.
"Breathe," suggested Chizitsu.
"Right," he smiled back, and took a deep breath.
"No time for that!" Stephen Gawaine interrupted as he entered the room. "Prince Tabito, you must attend the board for an emergency meeting, immediately." The prince closed his eyes and drew another long breath, trying to collect himself. The board of advisers, the committee of your daily life, or rather the panel of judges… "Immediately," the High Advisor reiterated, a little more urgently.
"All right!" the younger man sighed in aggravation and began to walk out. "I'm going."
"Not like that, you're not," Stephen sniffed down his nose. Tabito glanced upon himself. He was still wearing the same pair of boxers from yesterday. That's how long it's been? My gods…And they expect me to run a country and wear one of those suits after all this?
"It is an emergency, is it not?" Tabito argued, flinging his arms wide for emphasis. Stephen just watched him, his face a perfect picture of disapproval. Tabito hated that look. I guess I can expect a room full of that if I go like this. "I'll… go get dressed," he muttered. No sooner had he closed the door to his room and begun to change than he heard Stephen's voice echo across the hall:
"Would somebody please assist the prince?" Adding insult to injury, Tabito thought angrily. Being king must be hell. Hurriedly, he picked out his outfit, before the servants arrived. He wanted soft cools, greens and blues, to help calm him. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to simply scream. He was pulling on his boots when the servants arrived and instantly set to adjusting his shirt, his belt, his hair…
"I wish my hair was his neat in the morning," a female servant remarked softly as she began to gather the two-tone strands with a brush.
"I have no time for this," Tabito said quickly as he pulled away and darted out the door, happy for the small victory in having his hair loose. If they had it all yanked back, I definitely wouldn't be able to think, he complained to himself as he rushed to the Long Room. Stephen was waiting for him at the door. He looked the prince over, before nodding curtly and opening the door.
"His royal highness, Crown Prince Tabito til Alexandros the First," Stephen announced, and every member of the Queen's board rose from his seat. You can do this, Tabito tried to convince himself as he entered the room. About twenty elderly noblemen of all variety of flavors watched him proceed to the head of the table. They all had one thing in common: they were not about to overlook any error he might make.
"Be seated," he addressed them as he took the Royal seat. It seemed so big to fill. Everyone sat, and waited, for yet again, it was Tabito's call. For a moment, he stared at his hands, willing them to stop shaking. This was to no avail, so he turned his eyes up to look at his council. "Please bear with me," he spoke evenly. "I have never done this before." No chuckles arose from the serious heads nor signs of encouragement to make this easier. No way am I running a council this way, he thought, as he refrained from biting his lip.
"Right," said one suddenly as he stood up and bowed his head. "Would the prince please inform us of the situation at hand? We are told that the Queen has been kidnapped."
"All I know is that is my own observation of the situation," Tabito picked up immediately, glad to have something to work with. "The details are beyond anyone as of yet. The General and the Captain of the Knights of Pluto are working on discovering more as we speak." He paused and glanced around and again, no signs of approval, disapproval or even acknowledgement. "That is all," he concluded as he glanced at his trembling hands again. Now the grunts of acknowledgmentl went around the table, and suddenly one man stood, bowed his head and:
"We should bring up the troops and prepare for war immediately!"
"War?" Tabito was thoroughly taken aback.
"Of course!" the nobleman pounded his fist upon the table for emphasis. "The kidnapping of the queen is an act of war! Alexandria will not stand for it!"
"Um…" but before Tabito could say anything, another man shouted.
"Nonsense!" he yelled across the table. "We have no need to alarm the public in that manner! Nothing should be disclosed until her Majesty is found!" The rest was drowned out in the hubbub that arose from the other members, each at first jumping to implore the new ruler, but then each quickly turning to argue with the other. The prince lost track of the suggestions and arguments quite quickly.
"Whoa," he breathed before calling over the table: "Order!" There was little response, so Tabito exasperatedly stood up and shouted: "Silence!" Instantaneously, the room fell silent. "Would you please behave? You're not helping anything." He could feel the anger in the room quickly become directed towards him, but he didn't care now. What he had just witnessed was simply ridiculous.
"Your hi—" the Crown Prince silenced the speaker with a raise of his hand. Now that felt good, Tabito thought with an inward smile, feeling slightly more confidant. Although not much…
"I cannot think in here," he said. "I'll return in a moment." With that he left the room, and picked up his pace until he reached the outer balcony. Trembling and hyperventilating, he steadied himself against the stone rail as he looked out over his kingdom. It all depends on me now. His stomach growled, making him realize that he had yet to eat today. Desperately, he attempted to collect his thoughts, but only felt like screaming again.
"Your Highness?" came a voice behind him.
"What should I do, Stephen?" he begged as he whirled to face the High Advisor. The old man bowed respectfully before he spoke.
"It would be wise to inform the populace of what has happened," he said, "no matter what panic it might cause."
"I agree with you there," Tabito replied with a calmness he did not feel.
"Alexandria will need a leader figure, if nothing else," Stephen continued. "It would be wise of you to claim the throne."
"Oh, no…" Tabito shook his head feverishly. "No, no way! I'll serve as acting ruler in my mother's absence, but no way am I taking control like that."
"Whether you like it or not, your Highness," Stephen sighed with a feigned attempt at hiding his annoyance, "unless you take that official stance, you leave the country open to revolution."
"Maybe so," Tabito shook his head again. "But think: my father disappeared yesterday, my mother turned up missing today, and I'm now claiming the throne. Have you any idea what that looks like?"
"Well, I never thought of it that way," Stephen admitted looking somewhat abashed.
"Apparently."
"I suppose the risk is great on either side," Stephen concluded, sounding much less snobbish than he had previously. "The choice is yours."
"Again," Tabito muttered. "If I claim the throne, I'm the culprit until I'm the next victim. If I don't, I could later if need be, right?"
"Yes, there is that," Stephen agreed, now looking far less disapproving of the young prince.
"Mm," Tabito nodded and turned back towards the Board Room, about to take on the council again. "Yes, that's what I'll do."
Evening descended on the seventh strike of the clock, filling the air with the chirrups of spring crickets, but it wasn't until after ten 'o clock that Tabito found himself clambering up the stairs to the royal chambers. It seemed to him that his tail was the only thing keeping him from the floor as he tottered back and forth with each step. His brother and sister were there to greet him as he triumphantly hoisted himself onto level ground.
"Lucky bums," he muttered as he stared at their very lively faces.
"Tabi?" Raven asked, "do you fare well?"
"Tabi…" he murmured, and smiling: "Someone called me 'Tabi.'"
"Are you ill?" Chizitsu asked, grabbing his elder brother's arm, a scared look in his deep brown eyes.
"Tired," Tabito shook his head. "I…" he slowly yawned, then continued. "I can't talk… I've talked too much today…" Slowly, he continued on towards his chamber, leaving a yawning Chizitsu behind him.
"Good night, Tabi," Raven called after him, for she still had her mouth to work with.
"Good night," he mumbled back. When he arrived at his door, he noticed Lance there. "Did you want something?" he asked.
"Oh, no, your Highness," the son of Steiner shook his head. "I'm merely on guard duty tonight."
"Oh… I feel safe now," he smiled encouragingly. "Hopefully, I won't see you until tomorrow." He then opened the door and closed it behind him. Stripping off his shirt and carelessly dropping it on a chair, he went over to the window and checked the latches. He noted that a new one had been added since this morning. Good old Steiner, he thought. Removing the rest of his clothing, he slid into his bed, reveling in the relaxed position of lying down. He spread his limbs apart beneath the sheets, dropping all his dignity where he had picked it up that morning. How about that scream? he wondered drowsily. Only I'd have to let Lance know that it was only a test first. That would require getting up… He slipped into exhausted slumber without ever finishing the thought.
The midnight stars peeked at the grand city of Lindblum through the clouds. The gentle winds that tore through the grasslands were beaten into breezes against the walls of the fortress city. The city had yet to reach it's quietest, but the peacefulness let most of the citizens' sleep. No one would have guessed that in the next moment, the clouds would've been torn open, but they were. Dark winds howled through the city streets as the airship form split through the sky and screeched to a halt above the city. In a groan of metal, it turned itself inside out to take on a man shape. A brilliant red circle formed upon the ground, and as several alien words appeared along its fringes, several missiles of energy dropped from the sky, completely incinerating several buildings.
The explosions got Eiko out of bed and sprinting up the stairs to the roof of the Grand Castle. Only she recognized the imminent destruction of her beloved city floating above her head: her subjects were facing the winds of Eternal Darkness.
"Ark?!" she addressed the eidolon in the sky, confusion clouding her bright green eyes for a second. But no more than a second, for she then raised her hands to the sky, shouting: "Oh, Mog!! I summon thee, Madeen, save us all! Terra Homing!" Faithfully, strips of rainbow gathered to form a floor above the city, and a giant, white humanoid form with a lion's head and two pink bat wings landed upon it. Madeen beat its chest and created a net of holy power that it cast over Ark. Although the Dark eidolon was easily as strong as the light one, it had already used some of its strength on the city, and therefore had not enough to retaliate with. Both eidolons disappeared in a flash of blinding light. Eiko fell panting to her knees, and listened awhile to the confusion below.
"Lady Eiko?" asked one of her closest advisors as he and several guards came running towards her. "Where did that eidolon come from?!"
"It was Ark…" Eiko murmured as she considered his question. "The Terran shadow eidolon. Garnet was able to call it from a stone long ago—in order to save the planet—but I know only one person who was born Ark's master."
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Oh, Saturday's a comin'...... This one's not as bad as the last few, right? I guarantee that'll be answered next chapter! Well... sort of. Hey, we're winding up before we're winding down, right? Okay, okay, I'll shut up. Now you can do the talking.