Coronation: Chapter Two
(I don't own any copyrights to Xenogears, I am just an avid player and fan!)
Bart stepped out to into the dusty stone courtyard where an intricately carved fountain gurgled and splashed merrily, and some birds took flight into the
perfec blue sky. Bart inhaled deeply, and stretched his arms upwards, letting out a long, jaw-cracking yawn. He heard giggling, and turned to see some
maidens observing him from across the courtyard in the shade of the palace. Feeling a little self-conscious, Bart walked around the fountain and greeted
Fei Fong Wong and Dr. Citan Uzuki, both of which were martial arts masters.
"Wow Doc!" Fei exclaimed as he blocked a punch, "where did you learn this technique, I've never seen it before!"
"Oh, I learned it from Jugend," Citan explained, "it was part of our training program. We had to learn what the Solarians called the 'barbaric' way the
'lambs' fought so that we could better defend ourselves from them on the surface world." Citan noticed Bart watching them. "Would you care to join us,
Young One?" He asked.
"Not just now," Bart replied, "actually I'm looking for Margie, have you seen her anywhere?"
"Hmm," Citan said thoughtfully, "I believe Miss Margie and Chu-Chu were headed for town, the last time I saw them. I also distinctively remember
overhearing the words 'secret' and 'Bart'," he added mysteriously.
"That idiot!" Bart exclaimed, "I'll bet she's going to do something stupid and get herself kidnaped again! I'd better go find her quickly! Thanks doc! See
you later Fei!" Fei waved absently, and suddenly a red-headed figure launched herself tenderly into Fei's arms and they shared a deep kiss. Elhaym Van
Houten, or just 'Elly': Fei's one true love, and a former member of the Special Gebler Forces stationed on the 'surface' world.
The shop was dark and dusty, and smelled old. Strange and exotic items were displayed on the shelves lining it, and a rather bored looking shopkeeper
was dozing behind the counter. Margie ignored him, and continued poking though the shelves until she found what she was looking for; Chu-chu
bounced up to her and studied the object she held in her hand.
"Whachu want that for?" She asked.
"It's a present for Bart's coronation," Margie examined the whip carefully. It was emerald green, made of cracked leather, and about eight feet long. "I
know Bart's old one is worn out, and he's been hinting that he wants another. By the way, Chu-chu, I have a favor to ask you." But before she could finish,
a voice behind the cloth door flap made her hastily hide the whip among the various items on the shop again. Bart entered the shop, and as always when
she saw him, he made her smile. He was handsome, lean and muscular, wearing white pants and his red jacket with a whip strapped at his side...but, he
wasn't smiling back at her.
"Do you know how worried I've been about you!" He hissed as he strode towards her angrily. "Citan said you'd wandered off to town muttering about
'secrets'--and when I couldn't find you anywhere I thought you might have been kidnaped again!" He grabbed her arm and began trying to drag her from
the store.
"Well I wasn't doing anything wrong!" She shouted defensively as they stepped out into the bright sunlight. "Chu-chu and I were just looking around
town!" Bart stopped, and eyed her warily with his good eye.
"Margie, when you say things like that, it usually means your up to something," he replied, but before he could say anything more, a woman in religious
garb dashed up to Margie and began to speak quickly.
"Great Mother!--I have just received word from Nisan--something--!" She stopped, and gazed at Bart. Bart understood at once, and excused himself.
"I'll see you back at the palace," he said as he strode away. Margie watched him retreat up the street, and than gestured to a more secluded area saying,
"please sister, tell me everything..."
The conference room was lavishly decorated in red and gold, the signature colors of Aveh. The velvet backed chairs, the polished oak table, and the
thick carpet only added to the ambience of the room. But Sigurd noticed none of these things, nor did he notice that Citan was cleaning his glasses for the
hundredth time. Maison offered tea, but Sigured refused, not sure if he could keep it down.
The door clicked open, and in strode a tall figure, bald, wearing robes of red and gold. No one in the room spoke as he made his way to the chair at the
head of the conference table, and sat down gingerly. When he had settled himself, he began to speak, and Sigurd's stomach lurched.
"As you know, I was responsible for administering the traditions and values of Aveh during King Edbart IV's rule," he began, "and now that a his son is
assuming the throne, a decision must be reached concerning some rather-hmm-old traditions," he cleared his throat.
"What traditions are we speaking of," Sigurd asked quietly, dreading the answer. Samson had been responsible for Sigurd's estrangement from his
father as a child, almost coming to blows with the King about 'traditional values' and a 'proper' wife, and so Sigurd had not been raised by his
father, and his mother had rarely spoken of him before she died. He wanted to spare any sufferings for Bart from this man.
"We are speaking of a tradition that goes back generations," Samson replied, "marriage...specifically, the marriage of Prince Bartholomew and the Great
Holy Mother of Nisan, Marguerite. It has come to my attention that nothing has been done to make them aware that in order for Prince Bartholomew to
assume the throne, he must marry the Great Holy Mother of Nisan, or in the case that they were both of the same sex, the next appropriate person in line.
The whole point is that Aveh and Nisan must continue to join together through Aveh's monarchy and Nisan's religious sect."
"Really," said Citan, speaking up for the first time, "now that is interesting...I have been curious about the marriage customs of the Aveh royalty for
some time now." Samson looked at Citan, who seemed to realize what he had just said, and quickly took anothersip of tea. Samson turned back to Sigurd.
"You will of course correct this problem?" It was not a question, and he stood up to leave. "Please give my congratulations to the Prince on his
spectacular defeat of Shakan and the Gebler Forces." Someone cleared their throat, and everyone turned to look at the doorway, where Bart appeared to be
gripping the doorframe and swaying slightly.
"Well--Sig," Bart croaked, "at least now--well, uh..." And without another word, Bart turned and strode away. Sigurd rose and pushed rudely past
Samson, following Bart back to his room.
"I would have spared you finding out that way, if I had a choice in the matter," Sigurd tried to explain as Bart collapsed onto his bed. For several
minutes, it appeared as though Bart were in shock, and only Margie's sudden arrival seemed to bring him out of his stupor. She took one look at Bart,
started to ask aquestion, but than stopped. So, instead she took a deep breath, and said, "sorry if I interrupted anything, but I have to go back to Nisan for
a while...something has come up. If I'm not back in time for the coronation, please, open this." She handed Sigurd a square package of brown paper,
smiled, and left.
"What are we going to do?" Bart finally spoke.
"I don't know Young Master, but if Margie is going back to Nisan so hastily, it cannot be good..."
"Don't tell her Sig," Bart saw Sigurd looking hesitantly after Margie and stopped him. "Maybe we can fix this ourselves, without her ever having to
know..."
The sun was setting over Aveh; The sky was blood red, laced with gold, and a few birds drifted lazily on the wind. "I hope we can fix this ourselves..."