I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High. They belong to their respective creators and not me. I am not writing this for profit, only for fun.
Knights of the Otherworld
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 27: Quest for the Holy Grail
Our next story begins back in the Village of Book End. Today's tale is certainly not that of an ordinary day.
The Knight of the Phoenix, Sir Rex, comes upon his legacy as the heir of Sir Percival
He'll begin his quest for the Holy Grail!
Book End Library
Arthur stifled a yawn as he walked through the halls of the library with a cup of coffee in hand. Things had been rather quiet since Spring Break started. His friends were out and about, coming in and out as they went with their girlfriends somewhere for the holiday. Gwen would be gone for the entire week and five of their number were due back some time that day from a beachside resort.
"Lucky," Arthur muttered. Raven was off doing something with her dad that week. It was a kind of daddy-daughter thing and Arthur didn't wish to intrude. So, he was admittedly kind of lonely.
Coming back to the dorm room to perhaps surf the MirrorNet on his phone, Arthur paused when he saw Rex packing one of his bags with clothes, "Uh, you going somewhere too, Rex?"
"Hm? Oh, Arthur," Rex nodded. "Well, you recall Heritage Hall, correct?"
"The place where I passed out after finding out my kindly grandpa really was King Arthur and then fought a zealot who wants to see me become like my namesake? Yeah, it rings a bell," Arthur replied with sarcasm.
Rex snickered, "Well, inside of my chest was a map. Grandfather told me that it was a map to the Holy Grail."
Arthur's eyes widened in surprise.
"No way!" The Holy Grail was a divine treasure and no doubt priceless and Rex actually had a map to the treasure. That was awesome! No offense to the crown he got, but Rex's gift sounded like it promised a fun adventure.
"Yes way," Rex nodded. "On it was also a note. Apparently, it's something of a rite of passage to go on a quest and recover it. So sometime before I turn 21 I have to find it and I figured since it's Spring Break, it's the perfect time to go out and look for it."
"And you have to pack for it?" asked Arthur.
"It will take a few days for a round trip," Rex admitted. "Thankfully, I have the map lest I take longer."
"And you're going to go by yourself?" asked Arthur. "Just a pack of supplies and off you go?"
"Well, my grandfather did find like-minded allies along the way," Rex sighed. "Perhaps I will too."
"Sounds like a bit of a longshot," Arthur grimaced. He then blinked as an idea came to him, "Wait, you don't have to go right away, right?"
Rex paused, "Well, the sooner I go the better, but no. Not immediately." He saw Arthur doing something on his phone. "What are you doing?"
"Positing on Chirper and Fablebook," Arthur answered. Chirper was the Ever After equivalent of Twitter and got the word out just as fast. Surprisingly, Arthur and the other Knights had a bit of a following, "Since we have the chance here, why not try to gather those like-minded allies right away?"
Rex raised an eyebrow in slight confusion.
Book End Library
Arthur's idea was that, while the original Sir Percival had to find his companions along the way on his quest, it was likely because he couldn't get the word out quickly to assemble a proper questing party. Medieval times and all that. So he had to go on his own and hope to get lucky along the way. Arthur's plan was to recruit through the use of social media and get better chances of success early.
The response was...surprisingly positive. It wasn't just some of the more adventurous students dropping by and offering to help. It had become an audition as so many of their fellow schoolmates showed up they had to interview them all. They quickly got organized before Rex and Arthur found themselves behind a table facing the entrance of the library. There was a long line of students leading to the door, some chatting excitedly while others seemed dead serious about the quest. Mira helped with administration as she held a clipboard with a list of names and letting them in.
"Alright, we have our first candidate. Hope he makes a good teammate," Mira said as she let in the first person in the line.
"Hey, Sparrow Hood here! And I'm ready to quest! Yeah!" Sparrow power slid into the room while he strummed his guitar. It was a good entrance, but Rex was looking for more than musical talent for his quest.
"OK, Sparrow, tell us what you can contribute on this quest," Rex started, ready to take notes.
"Well, I'm cool, a rocker and a good archer," Sparrow claimed. "I can show you if you don't believe me."
"No need for that." Rex shook his head. He had seen Sparrow in action during their Heroics 101 and Hero Training classes. Hunter was good, able to shoot clusters of arrows with precision. Sparrow was a level above that when he could put his guitar down. Rex would be a fool to turn that kind of skill down. "Is there anything else you can offer?"
"Well, if you let me join, you get four for one since my Merry Men will be coming along with us," Sparrow answered.
"That does sound like a good deal. You'll have four new members in your party already, Rex," Arthur said approvingly. Plus, it was extra hands to help when the added muscle or talent was needed.
"So that will include, L-John, Mr. Tuck, and Alan Adale?" asked Rex. They were the stage names of the other Merry Men, sons of Little John, Friar Tuck, and Alan-a-Dale.
"That's them. We've been camping in the woods since we were little, so we know how to rough it," Sparrow nodded.
Rex nodded, making a special note of that. So far, he really couldn't complain about what he was hearing. Despite preferring music over banditry, Sparrow lived up to his heritage in other areas.
"You know what? You're in," Rex accepted.
"Awesome! Yeah!" Sparrow played his way out of the library.
"You know, this is starting out well," Rex commented.
"Mira, call in the next applicant!" Arthur ordered.
(-)
More applicants came by and they, unfortunately, couldn't make the cut. Some merely wished to get closer to a Knight of the Round's fame. Others were just fanboys or fangirls hoping for a way into their clique. Some had ambition, hoping to gain knighthood like Hunter did. Still, they didn't have many skills that would help on a quest through the woods or what hazards were written on the map.
The next applicant was a bit of a surprise.
"Hopper Croakington II," Rex started, raising an eyebrow to the next Frog Prince. He was his teammate on the bookball team so he was athletic enough but that may not be enough for this quest. "Why do you want to go on this quest?"
"Well, um, you see. I really wanna show everyone that, um, that I...oh no." Hopper croaked and turned into his frog form. "Alas, I wish to join your courageous brotherhood on this noble quest in order to prove my worth as a prince, that I can do more than wax poetry as a frog."
Rex and Arthur shared a look. Hopper's reasoning was pretty sincere and that might have gotten him in since it was better than most of the other applicants they had seen so far. Sadly, Hopper's curse would prove to be a liability. Since he got tongue-tied so easily in human form, he'd likely be a frog at the worst of times. As they were going to be in the wilderness, it would leave him vulnerable to predators that would love to snap up a tasty frog.
"Sorry, Hopper, but with your condition, you're more of a liability," Arthur rejected politely. "But thanks for coming anyway."
"That is disappointing. Sir Rex, I wish you good fortune on your quest. Now, I must seek a fair maiden to kiss me and restore me to normal."
Mira picked up Hopper and smiled.
"Merely look near. Mira is here." Mira kissed Hopper and turned him back to normal in a puff of smoke.
"Wow, thanks. See ya."
(-)
More applicants came and more rejections were given. Most took it with grace, others stomped out feeling insulted, and some cried. One face that showed up that no one was surprised to see was Hunter himself. Since gaining his knighthood, he was always looking for a way to prove he deserved it. Especially when he wanted to prove he was worthy of Ashlynn. He really didn't need to but he wanted to.
"Hunter Huntsman. You know, we were expecting you," Arthur grinned.
Hunter shrugged, "Well, the way you wrote about it in your post, this quest sounds like fun."
Rex nodded, "There likely will be fun along the way, but I must be clear that this is a serious undertaking, not a camping trip or a simple hike through the woods. This is an important rite of passage for me. I need comrades I can count on." Hunter nodded, seeing how serious Rex was being.
"Now, what can you do?" Arthur asked.
Hunter went back to the line and pulled in a tree stump he had somehow dragged with him. He presented a woodcutter's axe and in a flash chopped it up until it turned into a table.
"I can do that," Hunter boasted.
"So carpentry is what you're offering," Rex remarked.
"Well, you might need someone handy with tools," Arthur said to Rex who considered Hunter's skills. Like Sparrow, he was also an archer. Unlike Sparrow, as far as they knew, Hunter had plenty of other skills to help in the forest. That made him usefully versatile.
Rex nodded, impressed, "Alright, you're in."
"Awesome!" Hunter pumped his fist.
(-)
They passed a few more applicants. Some were a surprise, like the Three Billy Goats who just wanted to go on an adventure, even though they didn't quite get what that would entail. The biggest surprise candidate wasn't one who walked in, but one who just appeared with her smile heralding the way.
"Kitty Cheshire," Arthur looked at their latest applicant. "You know, I was surprised you'd actually come to this."
"Because you don't think a girl like me can go on a quest?" Kitty purred.
"No, because you don't take anything seriously," Rex countered. "Do you even have skills that can be useful on a quest? Can I trust you to take things seriously and not pull any pranks?"
"Well, you'll just have to give me a chance, won't you?" Kitty smiled, offering no answer to the affirmative or the negative.
Arthur seemed torn, "Well, she does have Wonderlandian magic. It could be a big wild card in a tense situation. Her ability to teleport might be able to get you out of a sticky situation."
"She could also get us into trouble," Rex countered. "Just for a laugh."
Arthur nodded, understanding Rex's point, "But remember, you could still use her. An experienced magic-user is something we can't turn away and most of the ones we know are either gone for the break or wanted to apply for the wrong reasons."
"I'm just afraid her pranks will derail the quest," Rex pondered. Sighing, he addressed Kitty, "We'll put you on the maybe list. Can we have your contact number?"
"Purrrrfect!"
(-)
One face that came to the auditions that Rex was actually hoping to see was Cerise Hood. Naturally, the next Red Riding Hood couldn't resist the call for adventure. It was what got her to jump into the Thronecoming game halfway through even when they were losing by a horrendous amount. How the referees allowed it, Rex still didn't know. Desperation likely.
"Well, Cerise. You know, I actually considered you," Rex grinned.
"You did?" Cerise asked. Most times when she wanted in on a 'boys' thing, she got laughed off or told to go away.
Rex nodded, "Yes, you're the best runner in school. I was at the Thronecoming game too, you know. We will need a scout and with your speed, you can scout ahead and be back with a report before anyone really notices."
Cerise began to grin wolfishly, "So, does that mean I'm in?"
"Yes," Rex confirmed.
"Whoo-hoo!" Cerise cheered, dashing out of the room in a flash of red.
(-)
"Blondie Lockes?" Rex asked as the blonde reporter stood before them. "You want to go on this quest?"
Blondie nodded excitedly, "Of course! It's a chance of a lifetime for me to report an epic quest led by a Knight of the Round Table!"
"That's it? You just want to film my quest?" Rex asked.
"You could benefit in having a videographer since you might need to document this," Arthur argued. "Plus, she's good at picking locks."
"Those skills might be useful but it could be too dangerous for her," Rex rebutted. "We'll be going into unfamiliar territory and I'd rather have people capable of combat."
"Oh, don't worry. I can take care of myself," Blondie smiled. The running shoes she got from her mom would make sure of that.
Rex looked at his list. According to his grandfather, he needed a scribe who would document the quest. Why he needed one, Rex didn't know. Still, Blondie was the closest thing they had to a scribe in Ever After High as she knew where to find the news.
"Alright, you may come along to document our quest but do not interfere," Rex said.
"Oh, you'll barely notice my presence," Blondie smiled, happy that she was accepted to come along on the quest.
(-)
When there was the chance of adventure in the air, no one was surprised when Jillian Beanstalk showed up to see if she could get in on it. Jillian was the record holder for the beanstalk climb, Ever After High's equivalent to the rope climb. She had frankly ridiculous athleticism and agility, able to jump and flip along a beanstalk's vines with ease. She was good at stealth, able to sneak into a volunteer giant's house and make off with their golden goose and harp. Her bravery was also top tier since she would actually skydive from said giant's house to parachute to the ground.
"You're in," Arthur and Rex accepted Jillian before she even made her case.
"Yes!" she pumped her fist.
(-)
"Well, that about rounds it up," Arthur nodded. "You've got your rangers, some extra muscle, a roguish scout, an experienced adventurer, a scribe and a magic-user."
"I still have doubts about Kitty Cheshire," Rex sighed, looking at the Wonderlandian's name on the list.
"Use her cat nature to keep her in line if you have to. She's likely only joined because she thinks the grail is something shiny she can play with," Arthur shrugged. "Keep her interested and amused. Cats do wild things when they're bored and a Wonderlandian cat likely even more so."
"True…" Rex sighed. "Use a laser pointer to keep her amused."
Arthur chuckled. He knew Rex would've liked the other members of their own Round Table on this quest but they had all made plans and beggars could not be choosers. Besides, the party they had formed was promising enough, even with a wildcard like Kitty on it.
Enchanted Forest
Rex gave everyone a day to pack and told them to meet him at the fork of the road which diverged into the Enchanted Forest and the Dark Forest. He needed them to come right on time. He wanted to know they were dedicated and could be punctual. That way, he knew he could rely on them.
The following morning, at 8 am sharp, Rex and his party were gathered in front of the entrance of the woods. There were two signs, one pointing into the Enchanted Forest and the other pointing into the Dark Forest.
"Good, you're all here," Rex said as he looked at the list and did a headcount. They were all packed for an adventure, all except for Kitty who packed really light. She had even put on a new outfit that was perfect for a quest but no less colorful than her normal outfit. He was wary when she grinned. He would make sure to keep an eye on her. She might be useful, but her nature of a trickster meant he could not fully trust her.
"So, where are we headed?" Sparrow asked.
"Well, according to this map, our quest will take us through the Dark Forest." As soon as he said that, ominous lightning struck and thunder boomed, coming from the Dark Forest.
"Oh, I like to run through there. I know the Dark Forest like the back of my hand," Cerise said.
"Good, then you can tell us what new hazards we might encounter," Rex replied. The map he got was old and new hazards might've appeared that were not recorded on it. "OK, just to be clear, you all packed everything you need? This quest will take days so I hope you don't have any commitments."
"I told Ashlynn I was coming. She's fine with it," Hunter said.
"My schedule's free," Jillian added.
"OK, then," Rex turned to face the Dark Forest, rolling his shoulders as he pointed ahead. "Onward, to adventure!" He fearlessly entered, followed by his questing party.
"This is Blondie Lockes and I will be documenting this hexciting quest!" Blondie spoke to her MirrorPad, beginning her documentary.
"Blondie, hurry up or we're leaving you!"
"Coming!"
Dark Forest
The Dark Forest lived up to its name. Unlike the Enchanted Forest, all of the trees and plants had muted and dark colors to them. The trees grew in odd shapes, making them seem more like tree monsters preparing to move rather than normal trees. Worse, a thin veil of fog hung over everything, making seeing too far into the distance a difficult prospect. So the group stuck together and kept their eyes on their surroundings. All the while, Blondie was filming, documenting their journey.
As they went down the path on foot, Sparrow kept their spirits up with a merry little song. He even had his bandmates humming some tunes or playing small instruments as they went, proving oddly prepared to break out into random songs.
It was good music, although it was accented by the sounds of clip-clop noises. When the group finally took notice of it, they looked to the rear. With a grin on her face, Kitty was revealed to be clopping coconut shells together.
"Kitty," Rex sighed. "What are you doing?"
Kitty just kept her wide grin, "Well, usually, we would be riding horses on a quest so I decided to make the noise."
Cerise blinked and had to ask, "And where did you even get coconut shells?"
Kitty just shrugged, "A parrot flew by and dropped them."
Rex wanted to comment but decided not to. He did not want to be derailed by an asinine discussion with Kitty. He had seen how that discussion went. That way led to plain madness no matter how amusing it was to the outside viewer.
"This place is creepy," Hunter said warily. He had never ventured into the Dark Forest, always preferring the Enchanted Forest.
"Scared, Hunter?" Cerise teased.
"It's just, I've heard stories. This place isn't natural, especially at night."
"Well, you should set your fears aside, Hunter. We'll need to make camp once the sun goes down," Rex told him. He checked the map to make sure they were on the right track. Some of the landmarks were the same but a lot could have changed in the decades since his own grandfather went on his quest.
"So, just curious," Jillian spoke up. "What is so special about this Holy Grail? I know it's important for your story, but is it magical or something?"
"Very magical. Divine really," Rex replied. "The original, as I understand, was used by a very important religious figure called the Son of God. He used it during his last supper, and when he was...executed, it was used to catch his blood. Being graced withholding it is proof of divine favor and to drink from it can grant anyone immortality."
"Awesome," Sparrow responded and everyone agreed.
"But, I doubt the one my grandfather asked me to find will be the same grail. It's likely just a very good forgery he left for me with some kind of symbolic meaning," Rex continued. "My rite of passage is to overcome hardship while in search of it and learn the lessons he did."
"Hope he left you some kind of reward, though. Something you can share with us," Sparrow replied.
"You're right. I promise you will all be rewarded," Rex swore. They weren't being greedy or unreasonable. They had volunteered to follow him so the least he could do was give them something in return.
The party continued until their path took them to a clearing. It seemed brightly lit and nothing unusual was around. No one paid it any mind as they kept to the path. That was, until Cerise and her sharp eyes noticed something odd.
"Wait," Cerise darted forward and stopped Rex. "We need to go around."
"Why?" Rex asked and Cerise threw a large rock in the spot in the path in front of them. They watched as the rock floated on the surface before it sank. He grimaced. "Quicksand."
"These quicksand pits are scattered in the Dark Forest," Cerise warned. "It's easy to see when the ground looks too fresh in some spots."
"Good eye, Cerise," Rex praised. "Guess we'll need to go around."
"I can get us across," Kitty teleported and she was right on the other side of the quicksand pit. "See?"
"OK, Kitty. Take us over," Rex accepted. Guess Kitty's magic was useful for their quest after all.
Kitty grinned and teleported, taking a couple of them over each trip until they were all across the quicksand pit.
"We should mark this place so future travelers don't get stuck," Rex said.
"On it," Hunter got out his axe and looked for something to make a sign with.
"Well, fairy tale viewers, it seems we have just overcome our first obstacle," Blondie said into her MirrorPad. "Could this be a prelude of things to come? Will future hazards be more difficult? I'll keep you all posted as this quest continues."
(-)
After a long trek, the group decided to stop to rest. According to time on their MirrorPhones, it was the afternoon.
"Alright, we'll take a break here," Rex said and everyone put down their packs and sat down to rest their feet. "But it's only for an hour and only for lunch."
Rex reached into his backpack and took out a Tupperware container with a cartoony version of Ginger's face drawn on the lid. He smiled as he opened it up to reveal sandwiches she had made for him.
When Ginger heard he was going on a quest, she knew she needed to do something for him. Since she could not help him on the quest, she could at least provide him with some kind of nourishment. Sweet treats were nice but he needed more than just sugar to fuel him on his quest.
Ginger was a great cook and he swore to one day make her something special to show his appreciation.
"You know, for the Dark Forest, it's not so dangerous," said Sparrow. "This quest will be a breeze."
"Do not underestimate it," Cerise warned. "The trees have ears."
"What does that mean?" Sparrow asked.
"I'm just saying, nothing is as it seems here," Cerise advised as she ate her lunch, a big turkey leg that was cooked and spiced to perfection. "A tree may just be a monster. A rock might be a vicious troll. A bunny might just be a vicious beast in disguise."
"Well, I'm gonna go use the bathroom," Hunter stood up and went to find a bush for some privacy.
"Don't wander away too far," Rex advised.
While they rested, Blondie decided to conduct interviews and ask each member about how they felt about the quest so far. For the most part, everyone was enjoying being someplace new and being on a real quest. They were eager to find out what they may see along the way. Only Cerise and Rex were more cautious. Cerise had a better idea of what was in the woods and Rex's discipline had him be cautious as a matter of due diligence.
Hunter found a bush that gave him privacy. Once he was finished, he washed his hands with water he carried with him and was about to get back to the others when he found a family of cute bunnies. As an animal lover, he stopped to admire them. Besides, they were taking a break and he wanted to get a closer look.
"Hey there," Hunter knelt down. "Hi, I'm Hunter. And you are one cute bunny." The bunny hopped closer to Hunter and as he was about to pet it, it snarled and exposed its sharp teeth.
(-)
"AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"
"What the hex was that!?" Sparrow yelled and Hunter came running toward them with a bunny attached to his arm. Blondie was busy filming, seeing this as a scoop.
"Get it off! Get it off!" Hunter yelled as he tried to shake the bunny off but it had a very good grip on his arm with its jaws.
"Death bunnies!" Cerise gasped.
"What?" asked Rex.
"Savage monsters that live like piranhas on the land!" Cerise explained. "Hurry, we have to get rid of it before it calls for more!"
"Let's go!" Rex charged onto the scene and managed to grab a hold of the tiny monster. It snarled and swiped at him with its paws, but it was just too tiny to really do anything without its teeth. A few good yanks and the bunny came off with a bit of fabric torn from Hunter's sleeve. It snarled and snapped, trying to bite Rex although it had a poor angle to do it.
"Now what?" asked Rex.
"Throw it away! Feed it to Goldphoenix! Anything to keep it away so we can run!" Cerise shouted.
Rex nodded and looked around. He didn't want to give Goldphoenix a taste for blood, so he did the next best thing. He unceremoniously drop-kicked the rabbit. It flew over the tree line with a colorful amount of rabbit curses before it vanished into the distance.
"You okay?" asked Rex, checking Hunter.
"Bit through my clothes a little, but I'm fine," Hunter huffed. "How can something so small and cute have so many teeth?"
"It's how they take down their prey. They use their cute faces to lure in prey and then tear them apart with their teeth. Death bunnies are evil like that," Cerise shook her head.
"It's still hard to imagine something so adorable can be so dangerous," Blondie remarked.
"Blondie, did you get all that?" Hunter asked, feeling embarrassed that he got attacked by a bunny rabbit.
Blondie nodded proudly, holding her MirrorPad, "I need to document everything, Hunter. I am a reporter."
Usually, she would be streaming live on her MirrorCast but there was something about the Dark Forest that prevented any signals from getting through so she was just stuck filming. She'd put everything up on her show once they were finished.
"We'd better keep moving. If there was one bunny around, there will be more. We'd better make sure we're out of their territory," Cerise told them.
"You're right," Rex agreed. "OK, everyone, break's over. Let's keep moving and assume everything we encounter is dangerous, no matter how harmless they seem."
(-)
"We've managed to continue our journey without running into further obstacles or hazards. Cerise truly knows this place, acting as our brave guide," Blondie reported. "Hopefully, we do not encounter any creatures like those deceptively adorable death bunnies."
It was beginning to get dark soon and the party really needed to find a place to set up camp. Traveling at night was dangerous. At least they had not encountered anything dangerous like the death bunny from earlier. Though, they still kept their eyes open for anything. Even Hunter was holding his axe. While he hated hurting animals, he would still defend himself.
The forest was starting to look royally spooky and Rex could've sworn he saw faces on the bark of the trees as they passed them by, with branches that looked like arms that ended in sharp, clawed hands. An optical illusion, at least Rex wanted to believe that, but he was opened to the idea of magic.
"We should find a spot to set camp for tonight," Rex instructed. "We can continue first thing tomorrow morning."
"Finally," Kitty groaned. "My poor feet were getting tired."
"Not used to roughing it, Kitty?" Hunter asked.
Kitty just sniffed, "You know this cat likes to take things nice and easy. I'm due for a catnap soon."
"Wait," Cerise scanned their surroundings warily. "I don't think we're alone."
As if on cue, or by Cerise outing them, dark figures emerged from the forest, followed by a shrill chant.
"Nii! Nii! Nii! Nii! Nii!"
"Oh no!" Kitty trembled. "Not that word!"
Sparrow, his Merry Men and Hunter all brought out their weapons as Rex retrieved his Advent Deck.
Stepping forward were figures in dark armor. The tallest of them, standing at 15 feet in height, had a thick unruly beard and was draped in a robe. His helmet had large elk-like antlers for ornaments. The other knight-like figures standing behind him were dressed in suits just as dark and ominous as their leader.
The giant among them stepped forward, voice booming, "We are the Knights who say 'Nii' and you will go no further! Nii !"
"Nii! Nii! Nii!" the others continued to chant.
"Nooooo!" Kitty wailed, covering her poor ears. "Ahhh, make it stop! Who would say such awful things!?"
Rex wanted to groan. This was starting to look way too much like a movie he once saw. As much as he just wanted to laugh at them, he knew that he had to get past them. Straightening his back, he stepped forward to face the towering leader.
"Knights who say 'Nii'!" Rex approached. "My name is Rex Shephard and we are on a quest to find the Holy Grail! Will you let us past?"
"You may only go past if you procure us a shrubbery!" the Leader of the Knights who say 'Nii' demanded.
Rex paused, "...A shrubbery?"
The giant nodded, "Yes, a shrubbery!"
"What the hex is a shrubbery?" Sparrow whispered to Hunter.
"A decorative bush," Hunter answered. His mother had a few around the house for decoration. Why on earth would these knights want one when they were in a forest baffled him though.
"Sorry, but we will not fetch you a shrubbery!" Rex denied. "My party and I are on a quest and we will not waste time to fetch you a shrubbery! We will not be delayed!"
The giant snorted, "Then you will go no further! Nii! Nii! Nii!"
"Nii! Nii! Nii!" The constant chanting just made Kitty whimper, although why the word 'Nii' was so awful to her, no one could really say.
Rex was quickly losing his patience. Not only because this group was blocking his way, but also because they were being so downright ridiculous about it. Kitty certainly was in distress, honest distress, since the knights' constant chanting was upsetting her. Deciding the knights had to move, but knowing that violence was out of the question so far, Rex decided to see if they were just like the order he had seen in a movie.
"IT!" Rex yelled, cutting the Knights who say 'Nii' off as they gasped in fear.
"How do you know the forbidden word!?" the leader cried, recoiling as if struck.
Rex wanted to sigh, but he just continued, "Just a guess! Now go or I will say it again! It! It! Come on, everyone! With me! It! It! It!"
"IT! IT, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT!" Rex's party chanted even if it was ridiculous but it seemed to be working on the Knights who say 'Nii'.
The Knights who say 'Nii' recoiled as they were repeatedly assaulted by the forbidden word. With girlish screams, they vanished into the forest again, leaving the party behind. In a way, Rex was relieved they were gone. Kitty was certainly happy as she was sighing in relief. On the other hand, Rex felt a little letdown. This certainly didn't happen in his grandfather's story.
"How the hex did you know that would work, dude?" asked Sparrow, amazed by Rex's action.
"We had...legends about them back home," Rex sighed, feeling let down at the ridiculousness during his quest. "They weren't all that impressive after the first meeting."
"Victory for those who don't say 'Nii'!" Kitty cheered.
"Come on, let's keep moving and find a spot to set up camp," Rex told his party as they overcome one more hurdle together.
"So, we've just overcome another obstacle, though this one seemed to be a ridiculous one," Blondie reported. "Still, better something ridiculous than dangerous, am I right?"
Book End Library
And now for something a little different.
Back home in Book End, Arthur was holding down the fort and just staying alert for the calls of the Mirror World. Thankfully, it was quiet. So Arthur was able to relax and enjoy the downtime. At the moment, he was on a video call with Raven who likewise had some time to herself. Both were using it as a chance to catch up, and Arthur was updating Raven on the most recent events, namely Rex's quest for the Holy Grail.
"Rex went on a quest?" Raven asked Arthur. She had read the Fablebook post Arthur had put up and was intrigued.
"Yeah, Blackbird," Arthur confirmed. "He said it was a rite of passage his grandfather said he needed to go on to properly inherit his title. He took some of our classmates too after forming a party."
"Sounds hexciting. Why didn't you go along?"
"Someone needs to hold the fort while the others are away," Arthur shrugged. "And besides that, he was only allowed to bring one Knight along with him and he picked Hunter. He had to recruit others who were willing. We managed to get Sparrow and his Merry Men, Cerise, Jillian, Blondie and weirdly enough, Kitty Cheshire."
"Wow, really? Why her?" asked Raven, confused by the choice. The others made sense, but Kitty going on a quest?
"She was the only serious magic-user who applied," Arthur shrugged. "So to help keep her in line and on track, Rex packed some cat toys to help her stay amused."
"You're awful," Raven giggled. "So, where did Rex go for this quest of his?"
"The Dark Forest," Arthur answered, making the air outside boom with thunder. "That happens every time I say it."
"For good reason! The Dark Forest is a dangerous place!" Raven scolded. "Did they prepare properly?"
"Rex did his research and told the others what they were getting into," Arthur nodded. "We'll just have to trust that they can get through this."
Dark Forest
The group made camp, setting up tents and a campfire to stay warm for the night. Food was cooking over the fire and the party sat around the fire as Sparrow and his Merry Men played music. Meanwhile, Rex was making a video log of their quest so far with Blondie filming him.
"It's Day 1 of my quest, Grandfather. So far we've overcome some obstacles like the death bunny and the Knights who say 'Nii'. We have made camp for the night to rest before we continue our journey tomorrow," Rex recorded. "The party I assembled is skilled and made up of classmates that I trust. I believe we will succeed." He finished recording his log.
"So, quite a quest, huh?" Jillian asked as she sat beside Rex. "Not exactly what I expected."
"Same," Rex agreed. "I know it doesn't involve outsmarting giants or stealing golden geese, but I hope you're not disappointed."
"Disappointed?" Jillian scoffed. "I know a quest isn't going to be hexciting every step of the way. It's mostly a lot of walking anyway. It hasn't been boring so far. Like, Hunter getting attacked by a bunny. Looking back, it was kinda funny."
"That bunny tried to kill me," Hunter reminded, unamused.
"Still, you might wanna avoid mentioning that when you retell the tale," Jillian commented.
"That's going to be hard with Blondie filming," Hunter pointed at the reporter. "Blondie, do you mind editing that part out?"
"Sorry, Hunter, but I need to maintain my journalistic integrity," Blondie answered. "You just need to grin and bear it." Hunter sulked in response.
"We better turn in for the night so we can continue first thing in the morning," Rex informed his party. "I'll take the first watch."
Every hour that night, they would take turns keeping watch. They decided the order by drawing straws, provided by Sparrow. That way, everyone would be rested. However, Kitty did not appreciate being woken up in the middle of her beauty sleep when her turn came. She had been having a wonderful dream about rivers of cream and slow mice. Still, she had to do her part and in the Dark Forest, even a Wonderlandian would take things seriously.
It didn't stop members of the party from waking up with (water-soluble) marker doodles on their faces when it was time to get up for breakfast.
"KITTY!"
Once day broke, and everyone had the chance to wash their faces, the party cleaned up their camp and packed everything away to continue their quest. Rex studied the map and followed it to their next destination. It would be a test for their intelligence.
The Bridge of Riddles was apparently the only way across a massive chasm in the middle of the forest. It would take as long as a week to walk along the gorge to get around the long way or so the map said. Normally, that wouldn't be so much an issue until one realized why the bridge got its name.
"Oh noooooo!" Sparrow strummed on his guitar as the group saw something in the middle of the bridge. A sphinx stood before them. She didn't look like the kind Rex knew from myth and legend though. She was humanoid, looking like an Egyptian woman with rich olive skin and long black hair. She also had cat ears, a tail which swished behind her, and the feathery wings which came from her back, showing her inhuman nature. She wore white robes befitting a princess of the Nile and wore plenty of gold jewelry. How she got it all in the middle of the Dark Forest was a mystery.
"A sphinx?" Cerise grimaced. "Oh boy. This isn't good."
"No, it isn't," Rex grimaced. Sphinxes were known to be vicious, but only to the unwise. They asked riddles to those who encountered them. Usually, very tough riddles which required an intelligent mind to answer. If answered correctly, the sphinx would release their target or otherwise let them pass. If they failed, well, the sphinx would get to eat well that day.
"It appears we've come across a new obstacle. It's a sphinx, known for their riddles. Oh, how shall we overcome this?" Blondie asked as she got footage of the sphinx in question.
"What do we do?" asked Jillian.
Rex frowned, "Well, she's likely going to ask us riddles. We answer correctly, we get to pass. We fail...we're dead."
"Is that all? I'm great at riddles!" Kitty beamed.
Gulping, the group stepped forward to the front of the bridge. Kitty just strode ahead with utter confidence. The sphinx did notice them, but she didn't react. Kitty didn't seem bothered as she stepped forward to face the sphinx herself.
"To cross this bridge, you must answer my riddles three," the sphinx demanded.
"Just leave this to me!" Kitty waved back to the others. "We Wonderlandians are great at riddles!"
The sphinx didn't seem bothered by Kitty's claim. Instead, she just made her see it as a challenge, "Here is my first riddle: a rich man does not need it, a poor man has it, if you eat it, you die. What is it?"
"Nothing!" Kitty answered swiftly.
The sphinx nodded, accepting the answer and continued, "What has four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?"
"A person!" Kitty grinned.
"You've answered two of my riddles correctly. Here is my third one: I am weightless, but you can see me. Put me in a bucket, and I'll make it lighter. What am I?"
Kitty rolled her eyes, "Really? Is that it? At least give me a real challenge. The answer is a hole."
"You may pass," the sphinx nodded. "Next!"
"Ah, ah! Here is my challenge to you!" Kitty interrupted. "See if you can answer one of my riddles! If you can't, you have to let my friends pass. If you can, challenge them as normal. I guarantee you'll never figure it out!"
The sphinx quirked an eyebrow, "I have heard all riddles and have access to knowledge lost for ages. But I enjoy a challenge. State your riddle." She smirked. There was no riddle she could not answer in this world.
Kitty grinned, "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
The sphinx opened her mouth to answer, but then stopped, "Uh...um...hold on. Let me think."
"Can't answer it, can you?" Kitty giggled.
"I...I...ah...hmm…" the sphinx sputtered. After several moments, she just seemed to enter a meditative state and became blind to the world around her as she tried to figure out Kitte's riddle. The daughter of the Cheshire Cat grinned and waved for her friends to follow her. Rex and the others didn't need more prompting and they dashed over the bridge and past the sphinx.
"And so we've overcome the sphinx and her riddles," Blondie said dramatically. "All thanks to Kitty Cheshire's quick thinking. Kitty, how did it feel to stump a sphinx?"
"Purrfectly amusing," Kitty smiled.
"Kitty, I know I had doubts when I asked you to join," Rex admitted. "But now I'm glad we brought you along."
"Told you so!" Kitty beamed.
(-)
"GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE, GOBBLE!"
"RUUUUUUN!" Rex screamed as their party was being chased by a flock of wild Wonderlandian turkeys that had made their home in the Dark Forest. Unlike regular turkeys, they were as large as ostriches and as mean as angry bulls.
The group just came across them at random. Kitty reported that they were mean, but if you left them alone then they would leave you alone. So the group played it quiet and just moved on to let the turkeys be at peace. As they were nearly at the end of the clearing, the turkeys suddenly got angry and began chasing the group. It was a mad dash, but they managed to outrun the turkeys, somehow, and get away from them as they reached a safe clearing.
"I think we lost them," Cerise said, looking back to see the turkeys were gone.
"What made them chase us like that?" Hunter wondered.
"Maybe because I took this," Kitty casually revealed the large egg she had. It was the size of an ostrich's egg. "I was in the mood for omelettes."
"Kitty..." Rex growled in frustration. He was still glad to bring her along but at times like this, he was reminded that she could be just as much as a nuisance.
"Gimme that!" Cerise snatched the egg from Kitty then zipped away at blinding speed. Moments later, she returned. "There, I put it back in the nest."
"You're no fun," Kitty pouted, arms crossed.
"Kitty, don't do anything like that again," Rex advised.
(-)
With the turkeys left behind, the group managed to find the path and get back on track. They didn't get all that far though before they found themselves at the most unexpected point yet.
A tall wall stood before them. There was a gate for them to pass through but it was guarded by a group of grumpy goblins that strangely had French accents. Rex tried negotiations, but the goblins atop the wall just spat at them and mentioned something about passing wind in their general direction and then telling him that his mother was a goat. It was crude goblin behavior but molded to sound fancy in French accents. Negotiations then broke down when the goblins vanished behind the wall. After that, the sound of a catapult sounded off before something was fired at the group. Everyone dove for cover before they got a look at the ammunition the goblins used.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Did they just throw a cow at us!?" Sparrow yelled as they took cover behind some bushes.
"What a waste," Cerise murmured sadly. So much beef...
"We've encountered another obstacle, damsels and gentlemen," Blondie commented as she filmed what was happening. "A group of rude goblins are barring us entry through their gate and are assaulting us with livestock, rotten produce, and terrible insults!"
"Now go away before we throw more things and taunt you some more, you stupid butt face people!" the lead goblin insulted them in a French accent.
"IT'S ON!" Kitty shouted, pointing at the goblins, taking their ridiculousness seriously.
"I've had enough of this! We need to get through that gate!" Rex said angrily. They were so close. The map said the grail was only a little way past the wall! "Jillian, climb over that wall and take care of those goblins!"
"You got it!" Jillian grinned with a salute. She dashed up to the wall. Riffling through her bag, she produced a climbing hook and rope. With an experienced swing, she threw it up to latch onto the edge of the wall. Somehow, the goblins never noticed as they were busy throwing rotten insults, fruits and vegetables at the party. Jillian grinned and with a tug to ensure it was secured, she began to climb up at an impressive speed. A rope was nothing compared to a beanstalk after all. Soon she was up on the wall, finding the wall was manned with only three goblins. Their leader, and two others manning a catapult which had a line of barnyard animals and a pile of rotten fruits and vegetables next to it.
"Oh, now that won't do," Jillian cracked her knuckles.
"Who are you!?" the lead goblin demanded.
"Jillian Beanstalk, the next giant buster!" Jillian grinned. "And rude little goblins are no match for me!"
"EEEK!" the goblin cried. It quickly retrieved a white flag and began waving it. "We surrender! We surrender very hard! Do not stomp on us please!"
"Hm, that was easy," Jillian blinked. "Okay, open the gate and let us through then. And make sure you don't throw innocent animals at people again!"
"We promise! We promise very hard!" the goblin nodded rapidly. "Open the gate!" The two other goblins each grabbed a lever and pulled, which caused the gate to open.
"OK, guys! Come on through!" Jillian called out to her friends.
(-)
After leaving the goblin wall behind, their route took them to a huge cave. It was definitely creepy as they could hear moans and groans coming from within. Outside, there were discarded shields and swords from other explorers or knights looking for the holy grail themselves.
"Is this the place?" asked Sparrow, examining the cave in front of them.
"The map says it is," Rex nodded, checking said map.
"Bet you something happens," Hunter sighed. "Weird stuff's been happening ever since we came to this forest."
"No bet," Jillian snickered.
"Well, may as well start facing it," Rex sighed. He stepped forward, leading the way to the cave.
*Eeeeeeee!*
"What? Here?" Rex gasped while Hunter tensed.
From the discarded swords and shields, which somehow kept their polished shine, a pair of Mirror Monsters emerged. The two monsters appeared to look like humanoid rabbits, sporting white armor with what looked like silver springs wrapped around their legs and arms. They were biomechanical, looking completely armored in panels of white and portions of blue on their chests, faces, inner arms, and inner thighs. They had silver mouthplates with round white heads and blue eyes with floppy metal ears coming from their heads. Gripped in their hands were twin blue metal swords which were shaped like rabbit ears. They were an entirely new breed of monster who, when given a description, Rex would name the Lapizuli for their rabbit appearance and blue armor.
"There's a new development as a pair of rabbit-like Mirror Monsters have appeared, blocking the mouth of the cave," Blondie reported.
"Rabbits. Why did it have to be rabbits?" Hunter groaned.
"Groan later, fight now!" Rex retorted, drawing his Advent Deck. With so much steel nearby, it made summoning their V-Buckles appear easier than expected. "Henshin!"
Sparrow, Jillian, Blondie, Kitty and the Merry Men, aware that they were not equipped to fight Mirror Monsters, left them to both Odin and Falco.
The rabbit monsters crouched and began to jump, bouncing around the area like their legs were made of rubber.
[Sword Vent!]
[Shoot Vent!]
Odin summoned his Gold Sabers and Falco his Guld Bow as they attempted to strike at the bouncing rabbit monsters. The Lapizulis came down hard, striking at the Knights, using gravity to enhance their striking powers. Odin grunted under the blows while Falco yelped to avoid the strikes and tried to shoot back at the monsters while they were either on the ground or hanging in the air from their jumps. Still, their speed made it difficult and Odin found himself on the defensive, a rare thing considering his armor was the strongest among the Knights.
Jillian grimaced as she hid behind the tree. The monsters were savage, forcing Falco and even Odin back. She felt helpless, a feeling that she hated. Reaching into her bag, she began to dig into it to try and find something she could use to help them. Some rope to tie the monsters down, maybe a dagger or two to throw, heck even the powder from the makeup kit she accidentally brought along could be used to blind them.
Finding something solid, she pulled it out but stopped when she saw it was a gray rectangular case with a slit in the side.
"What on earth?" She checked the slit in the side and pulled, finding a card that was blank with the word 'Contract' written across the top. Jillian blinked, but then gasped in realization as she had seen similar cards before, "No way!"
Back with the fight, the flow of battle was suddenly interrupted. A loud bleat came through the air, making the pair of bunny monsters freeze. No one was sure what was happening before a head emerged from the nearby pond. It rose up, and up, and up. Emerging from the reflection of the lake came what looked like a biomechanical giraffe, colored orange and brown. Its neck was broken up into segments and Its limbs were silver with orange plating. It bleated loudly before starting to charge towards the scene, swinging its neck and forcing the combatants to dive for cover.
"A new Mirror Monster has entered the battle, a giraffe!" Blondie reported. "Even I cannot make this up!"
"A giraffe?!" Falco gasped. "How much more ridiculous can all this get?!"
"Worse, the rabbits are afraid of it," Odin huffed, seeing the two rabbit monsters scramble back. "Which means it's likely more dangerous than they are."
"Good thing I like 'em tall!" Jillian ran out into the fray.
"Woah, Jillian, no!" Sparrow cried out.
Jillian skidded to a halt at the foot of the monster, making it look down at her. With a grin, Jillian lifted the Contract card up to it and let it shine. The giraffe monster let out a surprised bleat before it seemed to almost dive at her. Rather than strike, it vanished into the card. It was now imprinted with the image of the giraffe with the name 'Savanneck' on top.
Jillian slotted the card back into the deck, which turned to a burnt orange color with a gold giraffe face on the front.
"Jillian, do you know what you've done?" Odin called.
"Darn right I do! I'm stepping up!" Jillian replied. Flipping open her compact, she held the deck to the reflection, causing a V-Buckle to appear around her waist. "Now then, the magic word is...Henshin!" She slipped the deck into her buckle, activating it.
Her new armor appeared and overlapped her body, filling with color. The bodysuit was a dusty yellow like savannah grass with brown/orange spots on her legs leading to her heeled shoes. Her bracers and greaves were silver, but had a brown/orange coloring. Her torso armor had an orange band running across her chest, segmented, leading up to an armored neck, looking almost like a shawl or scarf. The rest was silver as it rested on her abdomen. Over her heart, a round orange gem sat proudly. Her shoulder armor had small spikes on it, rounded at the tips like a giraffe's horn. Her visor was pointed slightly, looking sharp and angular in a V-shape, grille over a pair of alomond-shaped orange eyes. The top of the helmet was segmented with small giraffe horns on either side. Her mouthguard was narrow and silver orange on either side with brown giraffe spots decorating her jaw. Mounted on her arm was a short spear-shaped blade resembling Savanneck's neck with a silver arrowhead tip sporting red eyes.
"Aw yeah!" the new Jillian twisted on the spot. "You lot can just call me the 'Spear Knight' now!"
"I don't believe it," Odin sighed as he knew who was responsible for this. "Merlin, you meddler."
"A shocking new development, folks! Jillian Beanstalk has transformed into a Knight!" Blondie said excitedly. Oh, now this was big news!
The two rabbit monsters snarled and charged back into the fray, twin blades singing through the air.
Spear Knight didn't hesitate and quickly drew a card from her belt. She pulled the tip of her arm-blade, letting it snap open to show the card chamber before she slipped the card inside. A squeeze of her hand on the blade's grip had the weapon snap shut.
[Sword Vent!]
A spear flew from the lake, landing in front of Spear Knight which she picked up. The shaft of the weapon appeared to look like Savanneck's neck with a silver spearhead on the tip. In all, it looked like an actual spear version of her Savanna Visor.
"Alright, come get some!" Spear Knight declared, charging into the fray.
The Lapizulis snarled and one jumped straight for Spear Knight. She didn't seem to react before she stabbed her Savanna Spear into the ground and launched herself up to the same height as the bunny monster. The Mirror Monster was surprised by that before Spear Knight planted both of her heels into the monster's chest, killing its momentum and sending it sprawling back to the ground in a heap.
"Ha! Don't try to outjump a high jumper!" Spear Knight waved a finger at the grunting monster.
"Wow, she's a natural!" Falco admired.
"Perhaps," Odin grunted as he slashed his Lapizuli's swords away before kicking it back. "Help me with this one and we'll see how she does."
Spear Knight charged in, swinging her spear and proving she had some idea how to use it. The Lapizuli's swords were too short to try and get in closer to her. Spear Knight just kept spinning with her spear or swinging it wide to knock the monster off balance, or using a simple thrust to force it to block or even pierce its guard. One hard thrust had it stumbling back, allowing Spear Knight to draw another card.
[Shoot Vent!]
Spear Knight hefted up her spear as a trigger mechanism unfolded from one of the handgrips. Spear Knight used it, launching the head of the spear attached to a tether at the Lapizuli. The spearhead collided with the Lapizuli in a blast of sparks. It stumbled back further before it became tangled in the cord, finding its arms pinned.
"Sorry, luv. Time to take a ride!" Spear Knight heaved her weapon and the Lapizuli was taken off its feet, crashing through several of the desolate trees before it hit the ground hard. The cord was untangled and brought back to the spear shaft.
Spear Knight glanced back, seeing Odin and Falco were busy with the other rabbit monster. She nodded and turned around, "Well, time to wrap this up. We've got a grail to find!" She drew another card and set it into her Visor.
[Final Vent!]
Savanneck returned from the lake once more, charging towards the battle a second time. Spear Knight hefted her weapon over her shoulder and took a stance. Savanneck raced up to the scene before lowering its head to be parallel with the ground. It then broke out into a rapid spin as Spear Knight jumped up. She planted her feet on Savanneck's neck before being launched with her spear outstretched. The Lapizuli managed to stand up, but screeched before Spear Knight hit, impaling the monster before she skidded to the halt. The monster roared before exploding, leaving its life force behind.
"Whoo!" Spear Knight cheered. Seeing the orb of energy balanced on her weapon, she flung it over in Savanneck's direction. The giraffe bleated, flashing as it absorbed the orb. "Nice working with you. Let's get along from now on."
With one Lapizuli left, and Spear Knight proving herself capable, Odin decided to finish it. Stabbing his swords into the ground, he recalled his Gold Visor and drew another card.
[Final Vent!]
Goldphoenix appeared, attaching to Odin's back and lifting him into the air. Crossing his arms, he glared down at the Lapizuli before diving towards it. The rabbit monster attempted to jump away, but Goldphoenix came in too fast. They crashed into the Lapizuli in a fiery blast, making the monster scream before exploding. Odin walked out of the flames while Goldphoenix took the monster's life force.
"Jillian," Odin approached the new Spear Knight. She may not be able to see his expression behind his mask, but she could tell he was stern from his voice.
"Oh, guess you'd want this thing back, huh?" Spear Knight asked.
"No, I can't take it from you," Odin shook her neck. "I could've before you made a contract with that giraffe but now it's bound to you. It's yours, whether I like it or not."
(-)
With the Lapuzulis taken care of, the party entered the cave. Lighting the way with the light of their MirrorPhones, they followed Rex who led the way. The cave was dark, warm, and smelled like rotten eggs.
"What is that smell!?" Kitty cried out as she covered her nose with a handkerchief.
"That smells not just right," Blondie complained as she covered her nose as well.
"It must be sulfur," Rex answered. They persevered despite the stink.
Finally, they reached their next destination as they found a large door flanked by a pair of statues, each holding an archery target. The door stood across a chasm which was a very deep drop. It was also wide, which meant jumping across was not an option.
"A mysterious door now stands before us," Blondie reported. "What could be on the other side?"
"OK, we can use Kitty to get across but how do we open the door?" Sparrow asked.
Rex analyzed the setup. There was a door flanked by statues holding targets. Maybe they were switches that could trigger something. Hopefully, it was not a booby trap.
"I think this is an archery test. See what those statues are holding? Hitting those targets should open the door but you will need to hit them in the bullseye precisely and at the same time," Rex explained. "Sparrow, Hunter, you're both up."
Both boys pulled out their bows and arrows as they carefully aimed at the targets. There was no wind and the lighting was rather dim. To some, the lighting may have been a problem, but not for the two boys. They were trained from a young age to be great archers, their stories depending on it. This kind of challenge was just another day in the park for them.
Both let their arrows fly at the same time, sailing towards their respective target. Their aim was perfect as the arrows flew across the chasm. As the arrows hit the bullseyes, the door rose up and a bridge stretched over the chasm.
"Good guess," Jillian praised Rex.
"It was a gamble. It could've easily triggered a booby trap if I was wrong," Rex answered. "Now, onward."
They crossed the bridge and entered a large hall. There was nothing else except for a pedestal and sitting on said pedestal were three chalices. The one on the right was made of gold with rubies, the one in the centre was made of silver with diamonds, and the last one was made of plain wood.
"I saw a movie like this once. Only one is the real grail," Rex pondered. He could easily guess that he had to pick the right grail. The problem was, he didn't know what his holy grail was supposed to look like. The original? The cup of a carpenter's son of course. The one his grandfather wanted him to find? That he wasn't so sure of.
"Which one is just right?" Blondie questioned. If it were her, she would have chosen the most gorgeous, but this was Rex's quest and only he could decide.
"Use these. I borrowed them from Cedar," Cerise said as she handed Rex the Revealer Rays. They would be able to tell them which was the real grail. Rex put them on and the little fairy seen in the glasses flitted over the three grails, carefully considering each one. Finally, she pointed to the wooden cup, which was highlighted in green while the other two flashed red.
"That was my first guess but thanks for confirming it," Rex went and picked up the wooden chalice. As soon as he did, the whole room shook violently.
"What did you do!?" Sparrow shouted.
Rex nearly lost his balance in the rumbling, "I don't understand! Cerise, you said these glasses were supposed to reveal the right one!"
"It was!" Cerise cried back.
"We gotta run!" Hunter yelled but the door slammed shut.
"Oh, no!" Blondie gasped. "Is this the end of us!?"
The chamber did not collapse, however. Instead, the wall behind the chalices sunk into the floor to reveal a treasure room containing a mountain of gold coins, priceless artifacts and precious jewels.
"My goodness! We are not doomed after all. It looks like we've just revealed a treasure trove," Blondie reported.
"Oh, yeah~!" Sparrow sang.
"So shiny," Kitty's eyes sparkled like diamonds at the diamonds.
"Remember, we each may take only one item," Rex stressed. "Don't get greedy. It's a test of restraint."
"What? How do you know that?" asked Hunter.
"Here," Rex flipped over his map. It showed a scrawled message detailing trials they would have to go through on the quest. Surprisingly, it sounded like an epic tale of a brave band of adventurers.
In hindsight, it warned them about the bunnies, the Knights who Say 'Nii', and the other ridiculous things they encountered. The final verse spoke of temptation and taking only what was due rather than succumbing to greed.
After everything the party experienced on this quest, they were willing to believe it, if only because they didn't want to be subjected to something ridiculous again as punishment.
"Thank you, everyone. You've been a great help to me on this quest. Now, take your reward, like I promised you," Rex said.
Everyone rolled through the treasure to see what they wanted. Kitty took hold of a large diamond which she batted around like a ball of yarn. Sparrow and his guys collected a magic item each, pulling out a bow, staff, a lyre, and a set of pan flutes. Cerise dug out what looked like a royal red cloak inlaid with a gold royal crest and fur lining. Jillian helped herself to a gold necklace that sparkled with numerous gemstones. Hunter even found a silver axe with Celtic ivy carvings on it, perfect for making something special for his and Ashlynn's next date in the forest. Blondie couldn't help but give a squeal over a princess tiara for her share of the treasure.
"Hey, Rex. What will you get?" Hunter asked.
"I came for the grail and I will leave with the grail," Rex answered. "I need nothing else." While he was tempted to take something for Ginger, he knew he could not since it would break the rules.
"Pretty knightly of you, dude," Sparrow tilted his hat to Rex, a sentiment agreed to by the others.
"Runs in the family," Rex shrugged, looking at the wooden cup in his hand. It may not be made of gold, silver or encrusted in jewels, but it still held value. Putting the cup away in his pack, he decided their quest was over. "Alright, everyone. We've completed our quest. Let's go home."
At the back of the hidden room was a tunnel that led to an exit. Once they were out with their treasure, the exit sealed shut.
Book End Library
The party of adventurers returned to Book End, feeling victorious as they hit the library first so Rex could present the grail and prove he had completed his quest. No one minded, wanting to see what was waiting for them upon their return.
Coming to the doors, Rex pushed them open.
"WELCOME BACK, REX!"
Cheers roared and confetti flew as Rex nearly jumped as his friends greeted him upon his return. A banner was hung which read 'CONGRATULATIONS!' The group was surprised, but were ushered in by well-wishers and other guests who wanted to celebrate their victory. No one doubted Rex would get the grail. Anyone who knew him knew that he would have gotten it unless someone on the quest was in danger.
"Rex!" Ginger hugged her boyfriend. "You did it!"
"It got ridiculous sometimes, but we did it," Rex laughed, squeezing his candy princess tightly. "And it was worth it."
"And Rex, there's a special guest here to see you," Merlin informed the Phoenix Knight. He gestured to the crowd, who parted in the festivities to reveal Sir Percival himself, smiling proudly at his grandson.
"Rex, you completed your quest. Congratulations, I knew you could do it," Sir Percival said proudly,
"Grandfather, here, the grail," Rex presented the wooden cup to his grandfather.
"Rex, the true treasure was not the grail," Sir Percival told his grandson, pushing the cup back into his hands.
"It's not?" Rex asked. "Then what is it?"
"The true treasure is the bonds you've forged with your companions. There is nothing more valuable than that. Treasures come and go, but good companions remain with you forever." Percival patted his grandson's shoulders. "Why do you think part of the test was to bring at most, one fellow knight? You even brought your newest comrade and strengthened your bond with him."
"So, this quest was not just a test?" Rex asked.
"In one way it was, to test your ability as a knight," Percival nodded. "But it is also a way to help you grow. Meet new people, learn how to lead, and most importantly, form bonds with them to turn from a group of allies into true comrades. A leader does more than give orders, he gives his trust to his comrades and puts his faith in them. That way, their comrades will trust them as well."
Percival knew what he was talking about. He had met high-ranking military officers who barely held the respect of their men and just did their assigned duties. Inversely, he had seen officers barely ranked higher than their fellows who those same men would follow through Hades and back again. It wasn't a person's position which denoted leadership, but the bond between people which created leaders.
(-)
As the people mingled, Rex managed to find Merlin near the punch bowl, talking to some curious attendees. After they left, Rex moved in, "Merlin."
"Rex," the wizard nodded. "So, I take it Jillian found my little present?"
"She did, although it begs the questions where you got it and why you gave it to her," Rex replied.
"Well, Harry and the others had a spot of trouble at the resort. A persistent suitor for Meeshell," Merlin answered like he was sharing gossip. "Ben promptly gave the guy the smackdown he deserved and destroyed his contract, leaving it blank and they took it with them. They got back while you were preparing for your quest. So when they met with you, I just slipped it into Jillian's bag."
"And why her?" asked Rex. He wasn't asking because Jillian was a girl. If anything, if he absolutely had to choose, he would have presented a deck to her, Cerise, or Sparrow.
"Come on, look at the girl's resume," Merlin grinned. "She's trained for adventure and taking on extreme situations. Maybe she's more used to taking on giants, but she's able to take on Mirror Monsters pretty easily too,"
"Can't deny that," Rex agreed. Jillian took to fighting the monsters like a fish to water. She managed to fight that Lapizuli and bring it down by herself. She didn't even seem bothered by the use of the spear, as if she had a natural talent for it.
"Hey Rex, get over here! Speech! Speech!" Darren chanted.
"Oh, alright," Rex sighed. He walked to the front of the room to speak and cleared his throat. "First, I'd like to thank my grandfather, Sir Percival, for this opportunity. Also, I would like to thank my party. No, my friends for coming along with me. Without them, I would not be able to complete this quest. So, this honor is not mine alone, but it also belongs to Sparrow Hood, L-John, Mr. Tuck, Alan Adale, Hunter Huntsman, Cerise Hood, Kitty Cheshire, Blondie Lockes and Jillian Beanstalk."
"C'mon, you guys! Gather around! I want to take a group picture of the conquering heroes!" Blondie Lockes said while holding her MirrorPad.
(-)
"It's a shame I couldn't come," Arthur said. "You sound like you had a lot of fun, Rex."
"It was an hexciting adventure," Rex agreed. He could have done without the more ridiculous things though.
"Well, anything else you boys want to say tonight?" asked Blondie as she recorded Rex and Arthur, a meeting between King and Knight.
"Actually yes," Rex nodded, looking at his fellow partygoers. "I would like to put forward Jillian Beanstalk's name for knighthood and membership to the Round Table!"
Gasps echoed in the room, not shocked, but amazed. Jillian herself stopped and had to gape for a moment as all eyes turned to her. For once, she seemed completely unsure of what to do next.
"Wh-what? Me? Really?"
"Oh?" Arthur grinned. "Has she shown traits befitting our Table Round?"
"Courage, kindness, valor, and compassion," Rex nodded. "She activated her own suit of armor and proved worthy of using it. Rather than a Rogue Knight name, she deserves her own title and a seat at our table."
"Oh, my Fairy Godmother!" Blondie was all but vibrating on the spot, eager for the scoop. She missed out on Hunter's knighting ceremony in the wake of Thronecoming. Now she was getting a front-row seat.
Arthur nodded, manifesting his Drag Saber with the defense function of his deck.
"Very well. Jillian Beanstalk has the support of the Phoenix Knight. Are there any others of the Table Round who support that notion?"
"Aye!" Hunter raised his hand, Ashlynn beaming proudly next to him.
"Aye!" Ben lifted his hand next to Meeshell.
Not all of the Knights were in attendance, Gwen being off with Darling and Lance being with Apple at her mother's estate. Still, the majority of the Knights were in attendance and so the vote could be cast. All of the Knights knew Jillian. She had been one of the first to welcome them to the school and often was the first to congratulate them on one of their victories. Adventurous as she was, some had joked it was only a matter of time before she tried to tangle with Mirror Monsters herself. Now it seemed she was getting the chance.
Jillian found herself growing nervous as one by one, the other Knights of the Round Table were supporting the nomination to have her knighted and join their table. It almost made her dizzy since she never really went on adventures or the like for a reward. She just liked the thrill of one. To hear she was considered good enough to be with the next generation of the most honorable group of knights in Ever After? Jillian was finding herself suddenly shy.
"Eleven for and two absentia," Arthur nodded. "Jillian Beanstalk, step forward."
Jillian gulped, stepping forward and easily noticing Blondie recording like there was no tomorrow.
"Jillian, you have been nominated for knighthood to our table and the knights present unanimously agree you deserve to be here," Arthur spoke. "The remaining question is, do you wish to join us?"
Jillian gulped, but despite her nerves, she felt like she was on the verge of an adventure beyond anything her destiny promised, "I do!"
"Then kneel," Arthur gestured.
Jillian did so, feeling Arthur rest his sword on her right shoulder, "In the name of the Father, I charge you to be brave." He tapped her left shoulder. "In the name of the son, I charge you to be compassionate." He then tapped the right shoulder again. "In the name of the Holy Ghost, I charge you to combat injustice where it is found and bring fairness to all. Do you so swear?"
"I swear!" Jillian declared.
"Then rise, Lady Jillian Beanstalk, Knight of the Giraffe, Kamen Rider Savanna!" Arthur declared loudly, granting her a title for all to hear. Cheers erupted as Jillian stood up, feeling more adrenaline rushing from that moment than any of her beanstalk runs. She let off a small giggle of glee as Cerise ran up to her and they began to gush over what happened. Blondie of course wanted an exclusive interview, which Jillian was all too eager to give.
Percival smiled as he watched the ceremony, "Good lads. Just because you started as we did does not mean you have to follow the same path we did. More fair and just knights are good for the realm."
Ever After High - Dorms
Once she was back in her dorm room, Blondie got to work and started to edit together all the footage she had gotten from the quest. She could not just post it raw. This was going to become a documentary film to show that she was a serious reporter.
While she had not done anything noteworthy on the quest besides document the entire adventure, it was still an important job. It was actually her duty to document it. This was an important moment in the history of a student of Ever After, showing him following his destiny. There was even a surprise debut of a new Knight and it was Jillian of all people.
Meanwhile, the Sphinx was still trying to figure out Kitty's impossible riddle.
"How is a raven like a writing desk? How? How? Why can't I figure this out?"
Knights who say Nii! Pfft! Oh my Fairy Godmother that's so silly!
It was rather ridiculous. The next Sir Percival's quest should be taken a little more seriously than that.
Now, now honey. We just tell the story, not write it. Still, Sir Rex did well and came into his legacy by finding the Holy Grail, but forging new bonds of friendship with his comrades.
And Jillian got names as a Knight too! Go Jillian!
A/N: And now we have another slice of life chapter and a callout both to Arthurian legend, but also a certain famous film or two. If you've seen them, you'll be able to see the references.