Chapter 2

The road ahead

Misato looked over her sleeping Shinji…just days, three days to be exact, since he went berserk. His power was amazing. Never in her life had a young wizard displayed such an amount of raw power. She played in his brown hair, the sheer thought of him and the apparition he created tearing through the city…with his army behind him. Breaking up the buildings and stomping the those that lay in his way.

"Teaching you will be amazing."

Shinji looked around, he was in his bedroom in the old palace before he was taken to become a wizard. The sight of his mother's portrait over top his bed and his father's was in front reminded him that he was loved. He smiled turning to over to his side.

"Prince Shinji…Prince Shinji…." he heard as a maid beat on the door.

"Yes."

"Please dress quickly. The king would like you come down to the throne at once."

Shinji instantly found himself in the throne surround strange men in black robes and his father, Gendo, held in his hand a skull. The men scattered as he emitted a holy light that seemed to cause them pain. Peering at him from behind columns that were around. He could hear them muttering in a language stranger then most. Shinji walked timidly up to the throne and bowed.

"Shinji." Gendo's voice boomed throughout the room, "You must go to the continent of Terra. There you will be trained by Onyx. You are here by banished henceforth from the Isle." Before Shinji could plead his case he found himself on the royal transport going to meet with Onyx. There a little elf girl, no older then him was there. She was beautiful and like her guardian's possessed long blue hair with unusual crimson eyes. They played together until they were to part ways.

Shinji stirred in Misato's lap and looked up at Misato.

"Well welcome back."

"What happened? I remember getting mad and…"

"We took the city. I sent out hunting parties to round up the strays. Humans have returned to the city and are now where on repairing the damages."

"I…was dreaming. I saw her."

"Who?"

"Rei…I was young and I made that picture from a page out of book."

"Well we have a lot more think about."

"Like what?"

"Getting Asuka out of Terra." She helped him up and out of the bed, "Um nice package." Shinji looked puzzled then felt a cold draft. Shinji looked down then grabbed for the covers. Misato left the room and waited for Shinji to become 'decent'. Shinji was ushered into the Wizard Tower/Palace by a parade, both men and dwarf alike cheered at him.

"All hail King Shinji." they cried, no they cheered. They cheered loudly.

"King Shinji?" he asked Misato frowning.

"Yeah King Shinji. You returned the city to human hands. They are grateful accept it."

"But…I wasn't doing it to become king I was doing to because…"

"It is the will of nature so accept it." Shinji's fears lessen and he started smiling a bit. He entered the palace, his commanders on either side of him and Misato directly behind him.

Asuka was pulling and tugging at her hair high into the air.

"Damn it…where did that baka get such a great strategist from?" She screamed turning to hers own, "And I am stuck with you."

"But mistress….I tried to warn you about the power of that baka as you call him."

"Are you saying this is my fault? Do you think it is my fault we lost the city of Ders."

"No my mistress. No."

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Two guards grab him and behead instantly in front of her. Blood splashed on her crème skin, the corpse was drug away. She picked up the head and place it on top of the altar to war.

"You know that you keep killing all your advisors like that, no one will serve you properly." a soft male sung walking to her. She whipped around quickly and leapt into his waiting arms.

"Kaji I am glad you are here. I am surrounded by idiots and stooges." Kaji forced Asuka off of him. His usually gentle look was replaced by a tougher stern look. It surprised her she never thought that Kaji could make such a face.

"Well I am not here because I want to be. I here because you been fucking up."

"How so Kaji?"

"Well because SHINJI IS STILL ALIVE." Asuka frowned and begun to twiddle her thumbs. "Now I have to clean up your mess."

"But what about Kaoru and the archons and Rei and the frostlings?"

"I have them fighting each other. Now I am going to see this Shinji and this new advisor."

"Take me with you." Asuka pleaded to him. He gave her the smile she so desperately was fishing for. He nodded in approval.

"Next…" Misato cried as she handed of the judgment of Shinji, from beheadings to flogging it was her job to perform whatever task that Shinji's judgment demanded.

"Sire this is the war chief of escaped our patrol sometime ago." one of the guards said dragging an orc bound and gagged.

"Shinji this is the ignorant swine that put up a strong defense in hopes to keep you from the city. I say we behead him and send his head back to Asuka in a small box." Shinji looked into the war chief's eyes, fear hatred suffering pain. Shinji got up off the throne and walked over to him.

"Remove his chains." he ordered.

"What?" Misato inquired.

"He just following orders. It is wrong of us to punish him for being loyal."

"This is war…you either kill or be kill. Those are the steel laws that govern by the spirit …." she retorted, after some thought she realized something and looked away.

With a sigh, she said "Remove his chains."

"Misato?"

"I said remove them." The guards followed her order.

"Misato?"

"This is war…Shinji. Orcs aren't known for their kind nature."

"Misato, but…"

"I want you to live. So for you to live he must die. But I guess we will meet him again."

"Yes kill the weakling, baka." A man with a ponytail carrying a rather large bomb and a little redhead girl walked into the throne unhindered from fear of the bomb.

"How dare you call our king by any other name then majesty?" one of the younger guards said drawing his sword to slay her. The girl turned looking at him; with a quick chant he burst into flames. Instantly his ashes lay before the King.

"Don't do anything stupid. I guess I should introduce myself. I am the Great Pyromancer and Queen of all Orcs Asuka." she bellowed.

"Kaji…" Misato sneered gripping the handle of her sword.

"So you are Shinji's advisor." he said smiling, "what no hug, no kiss. Where the customary fuck you?"

"Fuck you Kaji. Now what do you want?" A big smile plastered Kaji's face, he begun to bounce the bomb up and down in his hand.

Shinji, who was mere seconds ago in amazement about Asuka's powers, ordered "Guards seize them." Kaji waved the bomb in front of their faces.

"Stand down that is N2 mine…he can level the entire city with that one."

"I see you remember the little toy you help me invent." Shinji glanced over at Misato, her face was beaming with anger and hatred, emitting one of the reddest aura he had ever seen.

'I can hear faintly. I hear war call to me strongly.' he remember just looking at her now, the way she gripped the handle of the blade should have split if it were a human made weapon.

"What do you want, Kaji?" she forced through her teeth.

"I want you to join me…and bring your little protégé with you."

"What?" the three remaining monarchs inquired as the Goblin King made his intentions clear.

"You must be joking." Misato was heated, she would ran up and cut him down if it didn't meant he would ignite that bomb is his hand. "Kaji can I borrow your sword?" Asuka asked playfully. He nod questioning himself why as she slowly took his sword from it's sheath at his right. Asuka walked up to Shinji and slapped him then kicked the war chief to the ground and rammed the blade into his chest.

Shinji looked on with horror as she licked the blood clean. She walked over with her mouth full of blood knelt down and force her lips to his. Their faces turned blue, she for trying to force the blood and her tongue into his mouth, him for keeping it closed not even letting air pass through. Grabbing his jugular causing his mouth to open she shared the blood with him. Her tongue forced his way into his mouth wrestled with his.

Misato could do nothing but watch. Kaji was a famed kamikaze and was willing to sacrifice his own people to achieve his goals. She knew that he would be willing to blow himself, Shinji, Misato and everyone else if anyone so much as appeared to threatened Asuka's life. Asuka freed Shinji of the bloody kiss. She licked the side of his face taking in his smell and taste as he coughed out the blood that he didn't shallow. She pranced over to Kaji's side smiling.

"Did you enjoy your little kiss?" he asked playfully.

"I don't know maybe you should ask the baka."

"Bastard…did you come to torment him?"

"War wants you back."

"Tell war…he can go to hell. I serve nature only."

"I don't want to kill you Misato. I still want you to be at my side."

"I can't serve him not after what he asked us to do and not after what you did. Now leave Kaji and don't come back."

"This is far from over." With that Kaji and Asuka disappeared plume of dirt and fire, Misato rushed over to Shinji's side and quickly help him to his feet and over to the throne.

"I want you to begin building a shield around both cities." Misato ordered, the people were all to happy to compel. After seeing their king debased like that made then all angry at the fact they couldn't help him.

They spent the latter part of a week, making everything. Misato took up Shinji's administrative duties as acting regent while teaching him the way of earth magic. Kaji left the continent, situation was would not be as bad had the orc and the goblin force he left not been making periodical raids on them. Somehow they manage to turn them back, Shinji's army was still slight under trained for the combat that the Orcs grew up fighting. And the blitzing tactics of the Goblins and their kamikaze attitudes made formidable opponents despite their size. Misato found herself drawing closer and closer to a conclusion, abandon both the city and retreat to the frozen continent. Though she didn't want to it would a lot easier to protect Shinji there inside Dwarven Halls then in open cities. She decided to let Shinji come to this conclusion on his own…she would merely advise neutral and other both points equally.

Shinji stood on the balcony of his tower…it was reconstructed a story higher to accommodate the shield grid around the city. His bedroom was moved up as well and sentries and lookouts were posted as first line of defense in a siege last line during a breach. He could see the entire desert. Nothing no hoofed feet thundering across the seemingly boundless plain. He too contemplated retreat however he would never bring it up to Misato. Misato was a warrior and it was inside her to fight, that is why she is his shield.

"If I am to win. I will need use both my sword and my shield effectively. Maybe I can grow wings… and fly." He thought for awhile then turned to a guard…"Bring me several blanket pieces of parchment and ink. Get some the dwarves skilled in engineers." The guard hopped to it, he ran throughout the tower getting everything that he was ordered. He came followed by the engineers and with the parchment.

They should around looking at Shinji who was still staring at the sky. One of them go to announce themselves, "Gentlemen I have an idea. I want to fly." he interrupted, "lets begin."

The spirit of war was livid at Asuka, not only had she not conquered the continent. Shinji was still alive and breathing defiling this continent with his presence. Asuka stood before the burning armor of war.

"You summoned me, my lord?" she sung her head still swimming from the kiss just days before. Her senses were on fire, as were her powers. Never had she felt such a rush of raw power before. Like it was she had merged with the flames through their single kiss. There was definitely a noticeable difference in her power, wherever her foot landed left scorch marks as well as physical differences, her hair red had deepened into crimson.

'Imagine if he were to kiss me back? Would my powers increase 100 fold?' She thought kneeling in homage of her master.

"Why is this continent not engulfed in flames?" he yelled his voice booming in her head. It was so loud it raddled her thoughts and forced her onto her knees. Blood sprouted from her nostrils slowly has he gripped her mind.

"I am devising a plan to break him." she whimpered, "I going to bring him to our side."

"Hormonal wretch…I will not tolerate this. Conquer this continent or suffer my wraith." With that the armor fell down dead, she stared at the ground. Kaji said he would leave the campaign to her but should anymore problems arise she would sent back to the continent of Flamberg. She fixed herself and left the shine. Asuka decided that an all out assault would do no good, Shinji was protected by the mountain range and behind his shield and wall. With Kaji gone back the Land of Milk and Honey to resume combat with the Archons it was a matter of time before he finished. And take up her position here. Her best bet was to overcome his mountain but how. Dwarves had already tunneled and hollowed out the mountain by now and they would be problematic to flush out with goblins. But a dragon would do the trick. Getting one would be just problematic but the benefits would be immeasurable.

"Queen Asuka…" an orc scout cried out running up behind her.

"What is it?" she hissed anger at the fact that she was interrupted while thinking about the naughty things that she wanted to do Shinji and stuff she wanted Shinji to do to her, "This better be important."

"Lord Kaji as sent a shipment of N2 as well as a few artifacts."

"Good…store the artifacts with the others. Prepare my mount and all the member Crimson Sword…we are going dragon hunting."

Misato walked franticly throughout the city looking for Shinji. Shinji hadn't been seen for a few days. Shinji was responsible, never missing on of her lesson no matter was it was; he showed up smiling happily or as best he could manage with circumstances as they are. Misato was worried…his bed wasn't slept in and the guards seen him walking outside with a group of dwarves a few days prior. It was too dangerous for him to go outside without her especially with dwarves. She could only imagine the horrible thing his dwarven subjects may be subjecting him to. She was at the point of begging nature for a sign that he is okay. Out of nowhere she heard a laugh, "Shinji!" she yelled racing into the building it came out of.

He was sitting there sketching on parchment, "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I am making a new mode of transportation."

She looked at the sketch and gasped, "An airship."

"Aye…I been thinking if we base it on the Steam Tank's power source design and a combination of air stone." the chief dwarven engineer said sitting a pitcher of liquid next to Shinji, "Here ya go my liege?".A

"Do you think it would work?' Misato asked snatching away Shinji's glass before he pour himself some.

"Eh, it is just water." Shinji proclaimed, "It will work…but we have a small problem.

Gendo looked out of his throne room as he stroke his fetish, his right hand seeped further into a decayed state with even stroke. The sickening smell of decaying flesh and fresh corpse permeated the room and his nostrils. He took in the sweet smell of death smiling as one of his fellow necromancers entered the room.

'Ritsuko?' he thought surprised but his face remained emotionless, 'What does this dark elf want from me now?'

"State your business." he ordered.

"I would like permission to begin an attack on the high elves." she stated inside the shadows, her pale blue skin helping her blend in perfectly. She stared deep into his eyes, they betrayed no emotion she could prey upon.

"No…you are to look for the divine spear."

"I grow tired of this…you don't attack, what are you doing to aid the cause." she growled form a ball of dark energy in her hands, with great force she hurled it at him. He didn't move or flinch as the ball neared him. Suddenly his eye glowed a bright green and the ball of energy was reduced to nothingness.

"Are you done?" he asked not caring what she did. Ritsuko could do nothing by growl in anger again.

'How can I be subject to him?' She stormed out of the hall with as much as a word.

There was a low growling, dragging of a tail, and the ever present snapping of bones under someone's weight. Gendo scanned the room, walking determine that it came from between the pillars.

"You are rather jovial today." the voice came roaring slowly from behind a pillar.

"Must you take that form?"

"Forgive Lord Gendo…but my human form is unable to take the fragrance of death."

"Acceptable…How are they doing?"

"As to be expected, they all are at war."

"So the spirits sensing our plot but are unable to pinpoint us?"

"I think it is more then that."

"They are unable to see it. Thanks to Seele they think it is time of Ono." The shadow begun to move around not only enveloping the room but Gendo as well. He could only see red eyes…twelve pair of them. Then saw them merge into a single pair of big bloodshot.

"Gendo…where is the divine rod?"

"We are still looking for it. If you stop speaking in riddles, my subordinates would be able to find it faster."

"We don't want excuses…we gave you all the information you need. If you can't find the divine rod before the Red Moon is upon. Our plans will fail."

"I can assure you, we will have everything you desire before the time comes."

"Oh and Gendo…you are to attack the high elves inside the Valley of Eva. We will need to have access to the Throne of the Cosmos before hand."