Chapter19

I do not own Destiny 1 or 2

I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero

Grammarly is my Beta

Marlowe, the weapons at the moment will stay with the cardinal heroes. I'm waiting for them to do something stupid in the next season, that said they will lose the ability to act independently and will be babysitted. I also liked how you pointed out the flaws of Itsuka, I will also have the queen make the declaration that you suggested so if Callum sees the heroes misbehaving he can legally take their weapons away

L I like your idea of each of the kingdoms being represented and if/when the cardinals lose their weapons each kingdom will be allowed to put forward multiple people of standing for Callum to chose from or just chosen for that weapon

Also please remember to vote on poll, it helps me know what stories you want

Story Start

For a while we all amused ourselves watch Filo overreact to the cowlick, pull it out only for it to grow immediately back and the process was then repeated.

"It will continue to grow back so you should get used to it sooner than later." said Fitoria a lot more cheerfully then she was before

"It's just a cowlick, it's nothing major." I agreed

Filo just pouted in response

"I'd also like to give you something to. Please show me your shield." spoke Fitoria

Upon doing so, Fitoria pulls out one of her own cowlicks and feeds it to the shield unlocking a lot of new features

"Thank you for that." I said gratefully

"Your welcome, but I do have something I wish to talk to you about later. But first, we have to celebrate Filo's new status, is there anything in particular you want to do?" asked Fitoria

"Anything?" asked a squirming Melty

A short time later

"I can't believe that Melty asked if she could ride Fitoria." said Ar'na

"Well, Melty is filolial mad. Honestly, it was either this or a blanket filled with her feathers. On the plus side Fitoria also offered a ride to the others, though Raph does look pretty scared up there." I said humorously

After a short rid everyone was back on the ground all taking the ride differently. Melty was over the moon, Filo was wondering how long it would be until she was that big, Ino was just happy while Raph...hadn't let go of the pillar she had grabbed onto as soon as she was on the ground.

"So high, so high." whimpered Raph

"I'm glad you all enjoyed the ride, but the celebration isn't over." said Fitoria, either ignoring or not noticing the traumatised Raph

With that, all the nearby filolials cawwed and grabbed someone and lifted them onto their backs before running away, though two had to work in tandem to get Raph away from her pillar.

That night was spend around the campfire, dancing, Filo siting on a throne and me getting smothered by birds.

After the party was over, everyone fell asleep surrounded by an ocean of filolials, well everyone but Fitoria and me.

"What is it now?" I ask

"I've thought about what you said last night about taking the weapons from the heroes." said Fitoria

"And what did you decide?" I ask

"If you can do what you say you can then I am willing to work with you. However, I must ask you to at least try to get along with the current wielders and see if it is possible to turn them into suitable fighters." requested Fitoria

"Okay I'm willing to do that, but I want to know why?" I ask

"It will take a while to find people suitable to wield the cardinal weapons, grabbing someone random on the street will not work and might be even less suitable them those wielding them now." spoke Fitoria

"Agreed, we wouldn't want someone incompetent using the weapons when a better choice is but a day away."

"Then tomorrow I will drop you off nearby another hero." said Fitoria "Also, if even a single Cardinal Hero is missing when the wave hits it becomes harder defeat it, and the next wave will arrive much more quickly. So remember that when you see the heroes next." warned Fitoria

"Thanks for the warning, I'll definitely keep that in mind." I said sincerely

"Also sometime in the future, and I can't tell you when but the world will require a sacrifice from everyone. And the heroes will be forced to choose what they will fight for, will you fight for the world or its people?" asked Fitoria

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously

"If you chose the world many lives will be lost, but you will be doing your duty." said Fitoria trailing off at the end

"And if you chose the people?" I prompted

"That will be a hard and thorny path. Unfortunately, I have forgotten a lot over my life and all I can remember is that saving the world is different from saving the people. That and previous heroes wished their successors would chose to save the people." said Fitoria seriously

"But I have to ask why you are telling me this? Why not the other heroes?" I ask

"I guess it's because I place you higher than the others, even before I knew of your past heroics."

"Why?" I asked curiously

"Because you raised Filo the next queen and also while I cannot remember I am almost sure the person who raised me was the shield hero." said Fitoria sadly "You see filolials have short memories and it was such a long time ago."

"He was English." I said bluntly

"English?" asked Fitoria

"It's a country where I'm from, you see your name is awfully similar to Queen Victoria a person that ruled there once. I believed he named you after her."

"Thank you, even if it's not true it will nice to pretend that I can remember something." said Fitoria

"Would you?" I ask

"I don't understand?" asked Fitoria in turn

"I could make you something so that you can dream of your time with the man who raised you. It won't happen every night though."

"...I'd like that thank you." said Fitoria sincerely

Mentally searching through my inventory for something suitable I find something, summoning an Iron Banner token and small enhancement core I get to work carefully changing it by channelling my light through it.

When I was finished, I handed to Fitoria who started to inspect it

"Their done, if you want I can change it into a necklace or maybe..." I would have continued to offer suggestions if it wasn't for the sight of Fitoria swallowing the token

"What the hell, why did you that?" I asked astonished

"This way I can never lose it." said Fitoria bluntly

"That's a..good point." I said slowly "It will show you memories that have a deep emotional importance to you."

Laying head in my lap Fitoria continues "Thank you, this means a lot to me."

"For what you have been doing for all these years it is the least I can do." I said as I started to stroke her hair.

The next day after a good night sleep and once more feeding the birds, Fitoria proceeded to drop us off.

"Thank you for everything Fitoria-san." said Raph while giving a slight bow

"And thank you for bringing Filo's carriage, it means a lot to her." I said sincerely as we all watch Filo fuss over her beloved wagon, making sure nothing was out of place

"Also, you said you would be dropping us off near a hero?" I ask

"Yes, there is one nearby I can sense them."

"Well, let's go meet them." I said

"Shie...No Callum, please keep Filo safe." said Fitoria, deciding to call my by my name rather than the title of Shield Hero

"No need to ask, I will always keep my daughter safe." I said resolutely

With that we were off, Filo happily drawing the carriage as Fitoria waved goodbye.

A few hours had passed before we came in sight to the border, a great wall that separated the two kingdoms.

"It looks a bit too heavily defended, is there no other way?" asked Ino concerned

"No, any other path will take us too far out of our path to work." said Ar'na firmly

"Besides, didn't Fitoria say that there was a hero nearby?" asked Raph

"Yes she did, though the fact that we haven't run into them suggests that either they have been staying away from the roads or that she can just 'sense' if they are within a certain area around her but can't accurately gauge where they are without searching. But I have a feeling that we will find out where they are down there, and Fitoria wanted me to talk to the other heroes."

"But what if there is no hero down there? Or they don't want to listen?" asked Melty

"Either way we will force our way through, and if there is a hero down there and they don't want to talk...well depending on what they do I'll either just knock them out or take their cardinal weapon and give it to someone qualified." I answered

"You can do that?" asked Melty shocked

"Yes he can, I used the shield in the last wave for a short period" Ar'na answered a stunned Melty

With that, we headed towards the border pass, the guards on the wall, quickly noticing our approach. So by the time we had reached it, there was a small army ready to meet us along with someone I definitely didn't want to see.

"Why out of all of them did it have to be that jackass." I groaned

"Do you want to cancel or continue?" asked Ar'na

"Continue, but I'm going need a book on philosophy or something later because this guy's stupidity is contagious."

Stopping the carriage a short distance away, we all disembark from it.

"Alright, Motoyasu I'm going to need you to listen to me and let us through afterwards." I said calmly

"Is that all you have to say for yourself...scum." said Motoyasu angrily

"What did you just say!" there is no way I will let a guy like this talk down to me

"Is that all you have to say!" shouted Motoyasu "Devil of the Shield!" as he attacked me

With no trouble, I raise my shield to block the blow.

"Who the hell attacks someone for asking to talk to them!" I said with annoyance

"How dare you act like you did nothing wrong, especially when you are still using your brainwashing shield to force people to fight for you like the coward you are!" Responded Motoyasu

That had me stumped "A brainwashing shield? Where did that come from?" I ask surprised

"Don't try to pretend, I know your shield can be used to control others just like Raphtalia-chan and Filo-chan!" roared Motoyasu, who once more attacked me this time channelling lightning around his spear

Once more, I blocked it with ease. "Okay Motoyasy I am quickly losing patience with you, if you continue to act like this it will not end well for you." I warned

"Don't listen to him Motoyasu-sama or he'll use his brainwashing shield on you." cried out a new voice

'Oh not this waste of space.' I mentally groaned

Sure enough from behind the guards came Malty and another of Motoyasu's party

"Don't worry I won't let myself be swayed by his silver tongue." said Motoyasu dramatically "Not after what he did to Ren and Itsuka." he added angrily

"And what did I do to Ren and Itsuka?" I asked curiously

"Don't act like you don't know!" exclaimed Motoyasu as he began to rapidly thrust his spear at me, each blow was easily avoided by me.

"I don't know, so how about you tell me!" I said finally having enough

"Fine keep pretending your innocent scum, Meteor.." started Motoyasu before being interrupted as I slammed into him

"Enough! It is clear that you are not suitable to use the Cardinal Spear, so I now will take it and allow the queen of Meloromarc to choose a proper replacement." I said

"You can't do that! I'm the spear hero!" rebuffed Motoyasu

"You are nothing! Over and over you have put yourself before others, you have let the people of this kingdom down over and over again." I would have continued if it wasn't for Ino walking in front of me.

"Ino?" I asked questioningly

"I want to fight him, I want to face my past." said Ino quietly

"...very well." taking a step back I let Ino take it from here

"Backing down and making someone else fight for you already, you really are a cowardly piece of scum." insulted Motoyasu with Malty grinning widely behind him

"SHUT IT!" shouted Ino making Motoyasu and Malty flinch "It is you that's the scum, to him you are nothing more than a candle struggling to stay alight when he is a great bonfire."

"Oh please, you just think that because you don't know any better. But don't worry I'm sure Motoyasu-sama will forgive you and let his join his party." said Malty snidely

"Oh I know what it's like to be in his party, I didn't quite like it." responded Ino

In response to this Motoyasu gets a confused look on his face while Malty's eyes narrow in suspicion

"I don't understand, you were in my party? But I don't remember someone like you being in it." said Motoyasu in confusion

"Of course you wouldn't." snarled Ino "But then again I was quite different, a simple and quiet girl that only wanted to help a hero protect her home...unfortunately that girl was entirely too trusting, and it nearly cost her everything."

"Who are you?" asked Motoyasu interested on who this person was

Taking her hood off and removing her face mask has Malty and her friend pailing in shock

"My name is Rino, I was a companion of yours until the two behind you sold me as a sex slave to make some money...I called for you to help me, but you never answered. Instead, the person that was considered the least among the Cardinal Hero's saved me, just like he saved a young demi-human slave and gave her freedom back."

"Don't listen to her, the Devil of the Shield has influenced her memories just like he did to me when he made me think I was attacked!" said a panicked Malty trying to stop the situation from getting out of her control.

"Right that makes sense, Malty-chan would never do something so despicable." Said Motoyasu to himself "Don't worry Rino after I defeat the Devil of the Shield I won't rest until you get your real memories back."

"Enough we need to defeat the Devil before his shield starts to affect us." said Malty holding a ball of energy which changes into a circular cage of electricity

"Now you can't run away, and I'll be able to free your slaves with little issue." stated Motoyasu

"Actually, someone could still get out through the top, so how about we change that." I said snapping my fingers causing the cage to create a roof

"What how!" said Malty in shock "That spell should my under my sole control how can you change it.!?"

"You may be able to create a lighting cage...if indeed that was your spell and not made by someone else beforehand. M, on the other hand, am a stormcaller, I talk to the lightning and the lighting talks to me, and we will never willingly hurt the other. I-Rino do you want to take them on yourself or do you want us involved?" I ask at the end

"Call me Ino, its who I am now. And if one of them tries a sneak attack that I don't see please step in, but I think I will be fine." said Ino confidently