Chapter 12: Monster Fight
A/N: Another update, faster than you're probably used too but I have more time to work on these so here's another one.
The Shield Hero's party made their way from the manor to an unwelcoming stone structure. It was covered with vines on the sides and had only minor maintenance put into keeping up the integrity of the structure as sections were covered in spiderwebs and broken pieces of rock exposing rusted metal bars showed it's true necessity.
Raphtalia led the way first, her body shaking as the old gate that was still able to be held upright by its metal rods creaked heavily as she took her first steps back inside of a hell she had once lived in a long time ago. It was still eerily quiet as they walked inside, there were no guards, no chatter, nothing but pure silence as the small measures they took elicited no response.
Still the Tanuki moved further inside, remembering the flashbacks from her previous time here. How she was shackled by her wrists and dragged into one of the holding cells and dumped off with Rifelia who was her closest friend following the deaths of her parents.
The abuse put on the younger Tanuki with light blonde hair only exacerbated her condition. Her injuries didn't heal as fast. The sickness and diseases from lack of food, water, and basic care drained her dear friend's strength day by day.
'The Shield Hero… he'll come for us. I know it.' The words of her friend still rang throughout her mind. 'One day I'll marry the Shield Hero. That way he'll always be here to protect us.'
Raphtalia moved faster, her arms swinging as she grit her teeth. Pushing through the dungeon until she finally caught sight of a demi-human form. She knew his face immediately. "Keel!" Her hands pulled at the door lock which creaked heavily before being pulled open fully. The older demi rushed inside as the figure of her friend was still being held up by his wrists. The wooden stocks around his wrists were chained to the ceiling. His head lifted up exposing a drained and sullen face. His emaciated form was still covered in bruises. "It's me!" Raphtalia shouted, grabbing her blade she flicked her sword and cut down the restraints holding him upright.
He collapsed forwards into her arms which she caught and helped lower him to the ground. "Wh-Who are you?" His eyes looking up into the eyes of his savior but unable to recognize the face, because it couldn't be her.
"I'm Raphtalia." She said holding his head in her lap as Naofumi and other party members got closer Chise covered her mouth and Melty turned away.
The princess knew that many demi-humans weren't treated well following the wars with Shieldfrieden and Melromarc but how could she have imagined this type of depravity? Metly stepped out from the cell, finding her own stomach twisting.
Her eyes now looking at the very world around, the noble one which she was a part of. Even if she wholly denounced these actions. They were still a reflection of her country. This was someone put in place because of their relationship with her own father. The cruelty this man inflicted on innocent children, demi or not, was completely inexcusable. The way the man had taken her hostage and was ready to use her like a bargaining chip to get what he wanted! This was entirely inexcusable for anyone to overlook! "Why would you ever reward such a man father? Just why would you do this?"
Melty was stuck looking at other cells, seeing more children, only slightly better off than Keel but that wasn't much to be happy for. They were all dirty and suffering.
"It's the dirty and unfortunate side of our country Princess Melty." The Count Reichnott had managed to follow them and discovered where they had gone. Not that there were many places to actually travel. "Even if it is condoned, those with power always seek to exploit those without it."
"We don't allow this, so how can this just be allowed to continue!" Melty began to lose her own royal demeanor. "There, there children! CHILDREN!" Her voice cracking, "The man my father put in place had knives put to his own daughter's throat, who wanted to see me cry and scream because he was a sadist. This is what the country views as noble!" She was shaking her head as she kept looking around more and more.
"This should not happen! I will not stand for this! All of this should be punished, Rabier should be, be-"
"Killed?" Reicknott said calmly, "Melty I can only imagine your father put this man in this position because of his own dislike of Demi Humans. The war between these two neighboring countries was not that long ago… it would take far longer for such wounds to heal. You should know this considering all of the rumors that circulate around the shield Hero."
The count unlocked several of the cells as he spoke, ushering the victims of Rabier out and into the main hallway. "I don't disagree with your sentiment, but simply saying that a thing should not be will not make it so. You have to change the generations that follow to be accepting and understanding of our differences."
"It doesn't give him the right to go above the law, this type of barbarity is outlawed, there shouldn't be anything like this happening in Melramarc. Father said the Shield Hero couldn't use a demi human as a slave so how can this man keep them as torture subjects?"
"The rules do not always apply to those with power, Princess. To other Nobles Rabier was an exemplary soldier and fought the wars with patriotic zeal. I'm sure many would overlook his eccentric tastes simply because of that fact alone and many might accept these because he keeps the border safe." To the count those who did not wish to see the ugly side of war often turned their heads and looked away.
"I won't let this stand. When I am Queen I will not!" She clenched her fists as she felt her own tears spring in her eyes as almost eight demi human children were put together in front of her.
"An admirable goal Princess, but you will have to sacrifice to earn such a kingdom. Because change does not come easy or cheaply." The count and Princess looked at one another as a shrill shriek came and Raphtalia burst out from the Cell and sprinted down the hallway towards a cell down near the end of the hallway.
The others followed as the Tanuki burst into a sea of uncontrolled sobbing.
Chise covered her mouth as she saw what had caused Raphtalia to fall into despair. Inside of the cell lay a pair of children's bones. The rags that were once clothes having all but nearly fallen off the bones. The hair turned to dust, the bones were nothing but brittle brown as Raphtalia bawled uncontrollably.
'This was her friend.' The redhead watched as Naofumi came to console her. His arms wrapped around her from behind as she buried her face into his breast pocket and begged forgiveness.
"This is all my fault! I didn't come to help her! I should've saved her and I didnt!" Her wails came as harder and more painful as she wept so close to the remains of her friend. 'I was with Chise all this time! I could've asked her to help or I could've left to save her! But no, I didn't do anything to save Rifeilia! I let her suffer all alone, I'm pathetic!" Her mind had been lost in the whirlwind of her constant changes, sickly slave to full blooded tanuki becomign the sword of the shield hero, back to slave of the church into rescue of the Saint. Then escape and back to the party of the Shield Hero. At some point. She forgot her suffering and in doing so she had abandoned her friends. Left to suffer and die at the hands of a Sadist while she lived in relative comfort.
"How, how could I be so selfish… so pathetic to just forget all of them." Naofumi's fingers ran over her back as the other hand held her close.
"What happened to her wasn't your fault." The Shield Hero told her.
She disagreed, shaking her head, "Of course it's my fault. I forgot about them, I left them here, they're dead because of me! So many people suffered because I was selfish!"
"You didn't put her here, you didn't beat her, none of that is on your head. You wouldn't have lasted much more than a few days on your own before I found you. What condition were you in that you could hope to storm this place and free all of them?" Naofumi continued to hold her, her failings were his. He knew that there wouldn't have been any real chance of saving her friend. She had died a long time ago, it was tragic but even considering all of the time in between that the chances of them coming here as saviors was zero but he would take Raphtalia's pain. He refused to let her try and carry this burden that she was hefting upon herself.
Still Raphtalia cried, "She wanted to be here, to see you. She told me how much everything would change once-once you w-were here!" When she had wanted to give up and accept that they were going to die here. Her friend didn't, she refused to stop believing, to stop carrying on the torch of hope in her heart. But what was her reward? Death, while Raphtalia was saved, given all of the things that her friend had told her would happen with the exception of marrying the Shield Hero and running into Chise.
"We can still honor her Raphtalia. We can still do right by her." The Hero told her still calmly stroking her hair.
But other faces of the other demi human slaves appeared in the cell entranceway. They all knew that Rifana had passed away but all of them felt the same. "We don't blame you Raphtalia. You still came to save us." Keel told her, "You're here now it means that she didn't die for nothing. No one knew about us except for you."
Raphtalia didn't want to hear that, she didn't want to be admonished. She should be hated, demonized, the target of their anger and frustration. Sword of the Shield Hero, protector of the Saint Chise… no She was Raphtalia the failure and forgetful.
Chise took a step inside of the room walking past her still grieving friend. The pile of bones while a grim sight was not as painful as seeing her friend swallowed up by her own self hatred. Whether she believed it in her mind or not, the Japanese teen did not wish to see her continue to be like this.
While looking at the bones a small flicker popped up on her hud, a marking displaying a new kind of spell for her. "Conjure… spirit?" She softly mumbled her hands touching the forearm and around her waves of white sprung up from the ground and around Chise. The spiraling lights flickered in and out traveling up and down Chise's arm until they focused themselves inside of the remains of Rifana.
Like a light being slowly brightened the figure of a young girl appeared overtop of the bones, a version of Raphtalia except with much lighter hair and skin. Her clothes were that of flowing white as she seemingly floated in the air.
Raphtalia's tear streaked eyes saw the face of her departed friend who looked at her with a gentle smile. "I'm happy I get to see you again." The spirit spoke.
"Rif-Rifana?" The Tanuki girl reached out to touch the spectral form but as she reached out the hand passed right through it.
The spectre shook her head. "I'm sorry but you cannot touch me, but that's not why I'm here now. I could hear you crying for me on the other side… and I wanted to let you know that it is okay."
"B-But-"
"Shh, Raphtalia I'm not mad. I only lived for a few weeks after you were taken from us. You couldn't have altered my fate and I'm happy that you escaped my fate." The girl's hand touched the head of Raphtalia but there was nothing to be felt. "I can't stay long."
"I- You- Rifana I should've, I mean I could've." Still the spectre of her dear friend shook her head.
"No, there was nothing you could've done and you now are helping the Shield Hero and her." Her head turned towards Chise. "Thank you, thank you for letting me have one last moment."
Chise smiled, "I wish I could've met you in person. You seem like a wonderful young girl and… thank you for looking and cheering up Raphtalia. She's only who she is now because of you."
Nodding then she looked towards Naofumi, "Blessed Shield Hero. Please be strong for all of us, many of us believe in you. Please don't stop believing in us." The Hero nodded his head to her. The girl then rose up over her body, "Goodbye everyone… I'll be waiting…" Her form slowly glowed brighter before flickering out small droplets of yellow and white light falling from her body before fading out.
It was bittersweet, a friend's understanding, not forgiveness. In their eyes there was nothing to forgive, they did not blame the other for their death. Fate had simply occurred and the dead were able to say their final farewell. Even if the other party did not wish for it to be the end, life was still ongoing.
As a party they collected the remains of the departed and gathered them in a small bag, they would not be forced to be stuck in that place forever. The other survivors of the dungeon were collected and taken outside with Reicknott while Naofumi carried the recovering Keel on his back.
Raphtalia walked alongside her master still carrying the bones of her friend in the bag and holding them tightly to her chest she heard the shield Hero speak to her. "Don't forget why we're here. Everyone here was only saved because of you, they all suffered and sacrificed just as much as you have."
"I see it now." The Tanuki spoke softly.
"As long as you're with me we can still do right by all of them. We can still help save other people who suffered just like Rifana and help make this world better…"
Chise moved up alongside her friend and softly touched her shoulder. "Don't hate yourself for who you've become now. Forgive yourself and don't forget her… because I know how it is to watch someone who they love just fade away." The memories of Joel and Redcurrant… an even more unusual relationship and while not as harsh it was truly just as tragic.
Redcurrant as a Leean Shee, a fae vampire one that fed on the life force of human men in their dreams almost to that of a succubus until they had nothing left sometimes over the course of months or years but the human was to always be food to the fae.
That didn't happen, Joel for a split moment spotted Redcurrent while tending to his garden after the death of his wife. In that moment when both of their eyes had met they had fallen for one another even if they didn't know it.
Her friend Joel was still in his mid thirties at the time when he spotted her and somehow came to enjoy her presence and knew that she was there even though they never saw one another until the end. The human had fallen in love with his fae and she had loved him, even though she could never admit it until much later one when she was confronted by Elias when Chise was with him.
Redcurrant couldn't admit to falling in love with Joel because she was feeding off him despite Elias saying it was simply in her nature to eat the life force of human men yet now she hesitated. As a Leean Shee how could she say such a thing. How could she say she loved Joel and then be responsible for his death?
They had spent years together despite only ever seeing the other for perhaps a second. Both of them live for the other, Joel because he was captivated by her and wondered if he might be able to see her once more and Recurrent because of Joel's simple nature and how he had gained more interest in living after they shared a single moment together.
They lived a world apart but still found a way to share a life together right up and until the end, but not once did Joel regret anything. He was happy to have found someone who loved him and he in return loved her giving up all that he was in the end to his fae.
"Live for her, not through her Raphtalia." Chise told her to which her friend smiled and nodded her head as tears still leaked from the corners of her eyes.
As the group finally stepped out into the light there were the sounds of heavy commotion, Reicknott could recognize it immediately. "You've caused an uprising of demi-humans, Shield Hero."
"What do you mean to me?" Naofumi said, setting down Keel as they were no longer inside the confines of the dungeon. "I didn't do anything, that fat excuse for a noble. He's the one who caused all of this."
There were dozens and dozens more demi humans all armed with whatever manner of weapons they could find. They were setting fire to the Noble's home; their anger at the brutal treatment at Rabier's hands were more than justified. Yet they all shouted and whipped each other into a frenzied mob as they went looking for the man who had made it his life's work to torture and maim people such as them.
"I'm not saying you directly did this, but your actions tonight have sparked this reaction. The Shield Hero attacking the noble himself, the man who spits in the face of the King and carries on with demi-humans at his side? All of the creatures here revere you and are following you. I don't believe you would condone them for being angry given what you've seen and witnessed."
Even for Naofumi he couldn't be angry at them. "No. But they don't need to get involved; this could only anger the nobles and the King even further and cause retaliation."
However, there was still someone looking to keep fighting despite the gravity of the situation. The most depraved of souls still looked for a chance to keep fighting, that of Lord Rabier who had wrapped a tourniquet around his mangled stump of an arm and went to the only spot on his grounds where there might be a servant or a weapon that could make The Shield Hero and the a fake Saint pay for what they had done to him.
Holding up the symbol of the three Heroes church in his one arm the nobleman fell to his knees at a large erected stone pillar over thirty feet high. The carvings and markings that once sealed away a powerful beast by former Heroes was a weapon that could be used against the non-believers and demi humans of this ragged section of the country.
"I release you! I unmake the bonds that bind you so that you might be set free and slaughter the foolish Devil that has brought a false messiah to maim and scar my beautiful form!" Rabier shouted as he held up his hand before driving the metal symbol of his church into the stone. "Be free and kill all of those who would dare defile this land!"
The stone walkway began to break apart and the statue/ward sealing the beast cracked open and then shattered completely. With a flash of purple light out from the darkness appeared a massive prehistoric form. A large dark skinned Tyrannosaurus-Rex stood in the center just behind the now wounded Noble that unleashed him.
It's head was covered in an exterior of white bone of which there was a dark blue head with dark maroon accents all over its body. WIth a titanic bellow the beast announced its presence as Rabier continued to babble in front of it like the madman he had become.
"Yes, yes with this monster unleashed he will spell doom for the Demi's, an end to the devil of the shield, and the suffering to that false prophet! Only the faithful of the three Hero's church shall be saved because I am-" A colossal foot slammed down overtop of him as the T-rex bellowed once again.
It's form peaking just over the expanse of the mannor's walls.
"What the hell is that!?" Naofumi shouted upon seeing the new beast appear.
"That fool, he unleashed the monster!" Even Reicknott wouldn't have imagined Rabier would've gone this far! He turned a serious glare to the Hero. "You must get it away from the town otherwise it'll go after everyone here. But you must take care it wasn't able to be defeated by the previous hero that came here and it had to be magically sealed away so I can't say with certainty that you'll be able to stop it but you must try!"
"Just another monster in a long line of them." He turned to the party, "Raphtalia and Melty mount up with Filo, we're going to drive that thing away." Naofumi had to think quickly as the dinosaur beast began to tear apart what remained of the Manor.
"I can help as well." Chise said stepping forward but Naofumi shook his head, "But I can, most monsters are attracted to me, we can use me as bait. It's mostly my fault for that creature being released since I probably pushed that cruel man into doing something like this. Let me take responsibility for it."
"We don't know how strong it is Chise if we do that we only have so many options. Besides there's a lot of injured people here that could use your help."
"But-"
The outer walls shattered as the T-Rex ripped through them now standing mere meters away from the party, it's red eyes narrowing and focusing in on where the group was standing. Yet all of the creatures standing human or not could see it's gaze shift and focus directly on a single person.
"SHHHIIIT!" Naofumi threw Chise up on Filo. "GO NOW!"
"Leave it to me!" Filo blasted off her body going through the hole that the creature had just made. The roar it gave off as it's entire body swung trying to follow.
"Raphtalia! Melty slow it down!" Both girls shouted right as Naofumi held up his one hand. "AIR-STRIKE SHIELD!" A massive green projectile fired outwards from his position slamming hard into the body of the beast but aside from a slight stagger the creature only continued to bellow and began charging in the direction of Chise.
Melty unleashed her own magic hitting the large beast with repeated gouts of heavy water, in an attack that could strip a tree bare and was shrugged off. But she didn't give up dropping an entire deluge of water that slammed down upon the creature from above. Her spell casting poured over the creature letting Raphtalia charge forwards, her blade twisting and slicing at the creature's scales but for her efforts she left but scratches.
Two, three, four, times they repeated Each attack changing position. Some from the front, the rear, side, above, and below. THe creature may have slowed itself but they were nothing close to stopping it.
It smashed into the portcullis, the massive chains holding up metal gate sheared from their metal holdings and fell from the ramparts. Spinning around its neck almost like a collar before being dragged with it. Naofumi saw his chance, "Raphtalia grab on, we can't let it escape while we're on foot!" THe Tanuki swung her blade through one of the iron rivets as she charged alongside it allowing her to be picked up by the momentum. Naofumi in turn grabbed Melty, "Hold on!"
"Wait wait- WAII-T!" Her voice shrieked as she locked her arms around the back of his neck as he grabbed onto the other side of the dangling chains.
Both sides were picked up into the air as the T-Rex shot through the forests. A small fortune that the burly body bashed through the obstacles but they were still picked up along the air as it continued its pursuit.
"Naofumi if you get me killed I am going to kill you I swear it"! Melty screamed as she clutched to the Hero desperately. His one arm was still holding onto the large steel rings as they were pulled along.
Raphtalia managed to plant her feet alongside the creature and slowly made her way upwards towards its back.
In front however was a different story as Chise held onto Filo, the bird bouncing and jumping at speeds that she couldn't keep up with. Her fast movements caused the redhead's eyes to start spinning as they kept doing the same crazy acrobatics. Yet the loud roaring behind them told her what would happen if she asked to slow down.
As they ran they broke through the hidden lines of the forest exposing a massive lake in their path. Filo was forced to swerve to attempt to cut around the lake but as she did the T-Rex slammed it's massive feet in front of their path causing Filo to bounce backwards.
Chise looked to the side and saw the problem they were in now. "Without the forest it can even keep up with you." No obstructions made the pursuit irrelevant. The massive dinosaur could move without hindrance and attack at its own volition.
However as the massive chains that still hung from it's neck swung, Naofumi jumped at its height and landed on his feet holding up Melty at the same time who was still trembling from the absolutely terrifying flight.
Raphtalia also joined them leaving the five of them up against one massive prehistoric monster. WIth another bellow that shook the very ground it charged towards the group, it's focus directed towards Chise. "Protect my allies as I cast a holy shield!" Chise's hands threw upwards a massive golden barrier which took the full force of the beast without a resounding crack.
It stunted any forward momentum, golden light held firm like a stone wall. "Fillo push forward and go for it's legs. Melty try to slow it's legs with more water. Raphtalia go for it's joints!"
"Right!" The three of them responded, Melty quickly causing the wet dirt to become wet mud as she flooded the ground beneath it. Filo made the first rapid dash, her long talons slashing into the creature doing only superficial damage as her claws cut into the skin but did little more than that. Raphtalia jumped and sliced at where the skin was still loose, around it's legs and short stubby arms. Her blade left only a thin razor cut behind it as she did so.
Chise kept up her barrier as the monster hammered into it again and again, the spell was taking each hit but with every titanic blow the light flickered and brightened in sequence. Yet the Hero could see that Chise couldn't keep this spell against such a monster up by herself.
"Come forth Rage Shield!" His Shield bent and twisted into the black fiery shape from before. The moment he did there was a rush from before, the feeling of anger that was bottled up inside of him was being let loose. Yet he grit his teeth fighting down the urge to go further. Thrusting the shield forwards the beast had it's body quickly be ignited in magical fire.
It's body was coated from head to toe with bright fire. Yet the pain it felt wasn't enough to stop it. Despite sinking down to its knees in thick mud and muck the giant dinosaur ripped one leg free.
"FIlo it's getting out, hit it's head, force it back down!" The Filoliali leapt overtop the creature, the flames fading from the height as the large avian form but dropped itself with all momentum possible from the air.
The T-Rex's head bounced almost like a spring up and down. It's other leg broke free as it was rocked backwards.
"Chise! Seal it up with your barrier and bring it down!" Naofumi shouted as he increased the flames which roared up and over the monster's body.
"I'll try!" Chise moved her fingers, curling towards one another causing the barrier to flex forwards. Creating a golden cylinder that encircled the powerful beast. "Seal my target, bind them in my light!" Chise chanted as she caused her spell to begin crushing inwards. The tight walls squeezing the figure of the monster inwards.
It's small arms clawed at the golden light as it trashed about. It's heavy tail bashing from side to side, then roaring loudly which caused Melty to lose her footing as it's vibrations shook apart the ground. Then opening its mouth it bit down into the protective light, the lines of razor white teeth cutting gouges into the magic.
"N-No! I Can't, I can't hold it!" Chise's fingers began to change colors as small streaks of red began to flow from magical wounds.
Naofumi stopped his casting and spritned towards Chise, her eyes were shut tight as the barrier she created cracked and splintered into spiderwebs. Then as he reached out to her the entire golden pillar exploded, it sent Naofumi into Chise and the two rolled several times over each other before coming to a rest in a heap.
"Master Naofumi!" Raphtalia attempted to cut around the creature but a huge swing of it's long tail had enough force and wind behind it to shove her away. The Rex just roared, throwing its head upwards in a victory war cry of sorts now just one or two lengths of his body away from the downed Shield and Chise both of whom were overwhelmed by the monster's sheer power.
Still Naofumi pushed himself up his rage shield pulsing within his own body. The tempting whispers of the corrupted dragon were beginning to seep back into his mind. Each moment testing his sanity as the temptation to unleash the cursed powers inside of him onto his opponent fully. The formation of black armor began to appear up and over sections of his armor as he stood back upright.
As the monster stared down the Hero a rush of wind surged between them. Naofumi's eyes flinched but as he forced himself to look forwards he saw blood burst free from the creature's body.
Everyone else looked on with open jaws of pure shock as a huge Filoliali stood just at the water's edge. She looked like Filo but ten times larger. It was a pristine white with a section of pink and purple feathers accenting the top of it's head as it turned towards the creature attacking them. "Stand down Shield Hero, I will handle this."
"It speaks?" Naofumi's own expression was just as baffled as the rest.
"Oh. My. God!" Melty said her own childish inhibitions showed themselves as she viewed the beautiful Filoliali in front of them now.
"She's so pretty…" Filo said in reverence and Raphtalia couldn't help but remain awestruck at the sight.
"I will end this painlessly, but even now I will give you a chance to ask for penance." The giant avian creature spoke with a noble tone but the Tyrannosaurus shook off it's bleeding wounds and bellowed. "Then it is decided."
With it's head lowered it then surged towards the new attacker, teeth bared but as it took just several steps the new attacker had already moved past it.
"It is over." And with those words the massive dinosaur monster erupted in a fountain of blood, it's body sliced into multiple pieces before falling into the water's edge line in seperate cut up pieces.
"No way, it defeated that monster… easily no less." Naofumi couldn't believe it, and as Chise stood herself upright ignoring some of the mud and dirt that now covered her cloak and clothes even with all the things she had seen in her life she was spellstruck by the giant avian form towering over them. "Who are you?" The Shield Hero asked, lowering his guard as their savior turned around and slowly walked towards them.
Holding up a wing it placed it over its chest and offered a curt bow. "I am Fitoria."
Those words turned Melty's calm quiet into a shriek of pure girlish excitement. "FITORIA!" She came rushing forwards with a huge smile showing on her face. "You're Fitoria!?" The Filoliali nodded its head. "Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Ohmygod!" She repeated over and over almost going in circles in front of Fitoria.
"Who is she? She's like Filo except…" He looked up the towering form. "Bigger."
"She's Fitoria!" 'I got that already.' Naofumi thought as the Princess continued. "She's the Queen of the Filoliali's, the oldest and most powerful one in all of the world, and also sooo beautiful!" Her eyes were swimming with delight as she gazed upon the Royal form.
"Wow, do you think I could ever get that big Master?" Filo asked, coming forwards seeing the differences in their size and being envious of the more beautiful creature just a little bit.
"Thank you for saving us." Raphtalia said helping Chise, who was still having trouble getting out of the muck as the fresh blood from the corpse had drenched the area.
"Yes, thank you. We're all-" Chise attempted to offer her own personal thanks when Fitoria took a large step backwards from them.
"You… I know of you." The large Filolial looked warily at the young redhead. "My children have spoken of one such as you and now I understand why." Still the eyes were cautious. "A being that holds sway over all creatures of magic, whether domestic or feral beast, all speak of your beauty, all say they can not resist the lure of having just a single touch from you. That my children often say they find it hard to not break their own duties and rush towards you and ask for your affection. I must say even I am wary of approaching you."
Filo looked at FItoria, then to Chise, and then back. "What do you mean? Chise isn't bad, in fact her touch is really really good." She marched up to Chise and brought her head down to Chise's side. "See?" Allowing the other girl to put a hand right on her head and when the contact was made only the other party's concern grow.
"I'm sorry," Chise apologized, "But this is the affection most creatures have for me because of what I am. I don't think your world has anything like a Sleigh Beggy, or Surei Beggah."
"No, those words are foreign to me, I've never heard of them before. But you seem to know what you are but you continue to act openly despite this apparent attraction that all of us feel for you." Fitoria could feel it even now, the shivers of excitement, pangs of jealousy and a desire to rush towards this human of sorts. But she openly resisted the urge. Yet she had more information from this Chise. "So you are not from this world. I suspect that you are also not of the four cardinal Heroes either. That makes there many more questions that I would desire an answer for."
The Fililiali Queen nodded her head slightly, "First we must leave, I have many more questions that need answers too and this place will not be safe for us. Let me call the other children."
"Other children? What does she mean?" Naofumi asked aloud as the new arrival let out a long birdlike call. From sections of the forest emerged an entire host of Filoliali's upwards of maybe even a hundred of these creatures emerged. Their color from yellow, blue, white, pink, brown, gray, and anything in between. But they also seemed to be bringing something with them. His eyes picked out slowly, but it appeared to be a large carriage. Quite regal for being brought about by birds but nothing that he guessed even Melty would stick her nose up at. Not that he didn't imagine the girl being in some form of bird paradise considering her love of these fluffy creatures.
"Chise, Raphtalia, Filo, and Melty get loaded up with them. I've got to grab something from the monster here before we leave." He said to which the other's didn't bother arguing, Filo began conversing in their language while The other's all looked to shove their faces as close as possible to Chise without directly touching her as they walked.
The spell she had on them was still clearly in effect even if they knew it or not. But still Naofumi jumped over to the carcass of the creature towards its head he dug out haphazardly a large purple gem and along with it's scales.
"I would advise against using that creature's power even though it is strong it is also cursed and cursed powers often take much more from the wielder than is gained." Fitoria appeared behind him as he held the powers of their deceased foe.
Naofumi looked back over his side towards her but then back to the items in his hands. "Unfortunately I need this power. I'm not exactly seen all that well by this kingdom and I need to take every bit of equipment I can get my hands on." He let them both fall onto his shield and the Hero's weapon absorbed them. His rage shield gained further abilities from his HUD display as he did so.
"That is truly a shame then." Fitioria quieted any further protests and went back to the carriage Naofumi following behind. "Come… we have to find someplace quiet where we can talk sir Shield Hero."
"Hmm? What do you need from me?" He said confused as the Filoliali looked straight ahead.
"I need to ask you why you aren't doing more to help with the waves of catastrophe that have been occurring all across the world?" Shapeshifting back into her larger form she then cast an arresting gaze towards him.
He was a little taken back. "What do you mean all across the world? You mean they aren't just happening in this country?" Watching her nod her head a feeling crept into him. One that he wasn't sure how to place. 'So there are even more waves out there? Why didn't anyone tell us?'
[***]
The group was taken to an area located near the outskirts of old ruins. It gave a moment for all of the parties to have a short breather and to hopefully remain undisturbed. The evening was mostly a competition among the Demi human and Filoliali's to keep fighting for Chise's attention. They were all cloistered around her in a circle. Filo herself was currently and proudly remaining as Chise's pillow as she settled into her feathers and relaxed into her, letting her hands touch gently at the other creatures who wished to be pet and stroked by the alluring Surei beggah.
Of course Melty happily got her attention from other Filoliali's and laid down with the more tired ones forming a circle of warm bodies to let her rest in. Raphtalia sat to the side though she just quietly contemplated how everyone else was doing back in the Count's care. 'I know my friends will be okay if they were able to make it through all of that but I'd still like to know for certain that it won't be a final good-bye.'
But as Raphtalia looked to the stars she just sat back and tried to imagine just how things might go from here. Her old Master, Chise, the royal family, and the waves. All of it was going to come crashing down all at once soon.
The only party that was left out was Fitoria and Naofumi. The two of them were walking alone not far from the group at the very edges of a ruined city. It had long mostly been taken over by nature once again but it was still just visible enough for those that walked its remaining years in this world.
Fitoria herself was in her humanoid form, her arms extended out on her sides as she walked along a stone wall like it were a tightrope act. She barely even wobbled or looked towards her feet as Naofumi watched her move. 'No doubt she's way stronger than anyone else I've come across. She took out that monster like it was practically nothing. I know Melty was going on about her being a Filoliali Queen.' It made sense given her other forms' appearance but why had she asked him for help with the waves. He was trying to help already but the idea of there being multiple waves to fight was hard to swallow because he physically couldn't be in multiple places at once.
"Sir Shield Hero." Fitoria said, still quietly walking along the top of a stone wall.
"You can just call me Naofumi." He corrected.
"As you wish. Sir Naofumi." It made the teen's eyes roll. "Might I ask why you and the other Hero's haven't done anything to help fight the other waves? All you have done is continuously battle for this single country and done nothing to help the others.
"To be honest I never really even knew there were other waves. This country just summoned all of us to help with the waves. We weren't told anything beyond that." He stopped and leaned against a small column while Fitoria kept walking back and forth. Her quiet and reserved demeanor made the Shield Hero believe that she was very serious about all of this. Yet looking at her now he still had numerous questions. "If I could ask more about you?"
"My beginnings are simple, Sir Naofumi. Much like your FIlo I too was raised by a Hero and after he left he told me to protect this world which is what I have done." She stopped and jumped from the stone wall onto the ground then slowly she lowered her arms back to their sides.
"So another Hero raised a Filoliali? Huh, here I thought I was being original." Naofumi released a sigh and scratched the back of his head. He then cracked a small grin, "So will Filo turn out to be like you?"
"If she continues as such, she will. She will become the new Queen." Fitoria said, casting a look in the direction of the camp.
"Wow, I wonder if you can help teach her to be more like you, I don't think Filo has the personality to be like you." He tried to joke but FItoria didn't even look back at him.
"If a Hero is pure enough she will be, I am who I am because of my Hero although I will admit I am not one who particularly likes humans." That notion caused the entire scene to skip from good natured banter to something less wholesome.
"You don't like humans? Then why-"
"Because my master asked me too. He told once he left to look after this world, to protect it like he had, that is the only reason I am here now. This world needs Heros, it's needs the strength of all four cardinal Heros to survive, I have being doing what I can in your stead to keep this world safe from the waves hoping that the rest of you might have decided to start working together and spreading out to help the other nations but I have been more than disappointed by all of you." Fitoria slowly turned herself back round to face Naofumi. "You have done little to bring peace between the other Heros, even if you are blameless in your crimes you have done nothing to calm the waters so that you might focus on your true mission while you are here."
"Hey," Naofumi pushed himself up to stand straight. "I didn't do anything to the other Heros, I tried to work with them but they refused to listen."
"Then try harder." Fitoria responded bluntly.
"Look, I can only do so much. The King and second princess are conspiring against me, the church despises me, everything I do is flipped and twisted to paint me as the villian when all I've ever done is try to help people. I just reunited with Raphtalia after she was taken from me and it's been nothing but hell for me. I even took in a crazy homunculus wizard to help me for a time."
The silver haired Filoliali tilted her head. "Do you refer to the living shadow?"
"If you mean, all balck with bone skull head, brown horns and red eyes who can turn into a shadow yeah. Same guy." Naofumi crossed his arms. "No one was willing to help me, no hand was getting offered to help me out. I had to reach out and grasp the hand of a person the entire church labeled a devil, but in the same breath call me a Devil as well."
It remained silent between the two of them. Neither one offered up a response to the other until the Filoliali queen offered her own experience. "I saw the being that you were referring to, it was wrathful, hateful, and filled with a bloodlust that monsters do not come close to possessing." Her gaze narrowed and bored into Naofumi. "You say you worked with that creature?"
"Yes," He said albeit regretfully, he could only imagine how Elias had become since they parted ways. "but because I had no choice and he was brought here against his will. That's why Chise is here as well! If he can be reunited with Chise then he'll stop and hopefully he can cast the spell to send them home and get them out of here."
"That is only more troubling, but, while that may be an issue it shall not be my priority. I need you to start working with the other Heroes, you must begin cooperating or all of the beings who belong here shall perish."
"You should tell that to them," Naofumi was tired of always being told he had to change, that somehow he always had to be the bigger person? Why couldn't Itsuki, Ren, and Moron-Yasu get this talk about being a good person. Why was it always him?
"Because I am telling it to you, you must work with the other Heroes."
"I don't see why that's an issue. You're far more capable of doing this than any of us. You destroyed that monster without any trouble while I could barely slow it."
Fitoria let out a sigh, her head falling to one side as she closed her eyes to recollect herself. "I will not be around forever, now that a new Queen has been born I will be replaced in a few years meaning my task will be completed and I can rest." Her eyes opened and then cast her focus down further into the ruined city. "This place was one of the locations destroyed by waves, all of its people and forms of life big and small were all taken back then. This will be the fate of every country and person if the Heroes do not come together."
Everything was like a broken record on repeat with these people. "Why is our cooperation so important? Surely they can just figure this out on their own. I don't want to keep playing make up with those other jerks who can't see the fact that they are being used and taken advantage of! Why is it always my responsibility for them?"
Her head shook in slow disappointment. "If you can not see why that is Shield Hero then come and meet with me tomorrow and I will show you why."
"Look if this is some kind of life lesson or speech I'm getting tired of those alright." Naofumi said finally happy to have lecture time over.
"I promise it will be neither." Fitoria then excused herself and walked back to the huddled masses of her children were now but as she drew closer she brought her hands to her chest. The tug and pull of her own chest growing as she neared the now sleeping form of Chise the Sleigh Beggy. Her head fell back into the mound of soft feathers of Filo as the other birds stacked closely. Yet she kept herself in control and ignored it. As Queen it was her duty to keep things in order per her master's final wishes.
[***]
The following morning the party of Melty, Chise, Filo, and Raphtalia all gathered in the location Fitoria had called for them to be at.
They had been standing around for a while unsure of what was actually occurring as Raphtalia sat atop a large rock while Melty and FIlo chatted away with one another. Chise remained quiet and just stared into the ground as she wondered where Elias could possibly be right now.
Naofumi just had his arms crossed wondering if perhaps Fitora might've stood them up or just forgotten, she wasn't that far from FIlo and her short attention span but with how insistent she had been the right before and direct that morning he doubted that situation a bit more.
However as they waited Raphtalia felt it first, her ears tickled and she grabbed at her sword and looked upwards behind her master.
He caught the actions of Raphtalia and threw up his shield just as a heavy crash impacted on the guard of hsi shield. The long slender foot of Fitoria had crashed into him and the effects reverberated outwards.
She flipped backwards before going right back in on the attack. Naofumi was barely able to get his defense in position and met each blow with a thunderous crack of her limbs striking his shield. "What the hell!?" He shouted as she swung another high rounded kick which caused Naofumi to skid several yards before coming to a halt.
"Fitoria!" "What are you doing?" "Are you mad?" The others shouted at the Queen Filoliali but she merely shook her head.
"If the Shield Hero refuses to work together with the other Heros then I must see if he is capable of protecting this world alone. If not, he and the other Heroes will die so that new ones can be summoned." FItoria pulled back one of her fists, despite her small figure now she was every bit as powerful as she needed to be. The next punch sent Naofumi off balance; he stumbled and tripped over the loss of control.
"There's no need for this Fitoria. We shouldn't be-" Melty looked to protest however, the Filoliali Queen held up a hand and with a brief flick of her wrist encased her within a protective/sealing bubble of magic. Pushing her away and then forming up a large dome around the group. The space was tight but not completely limiting.
"Are you ready Sir Naofumi?" Fitoria put herself into no stance but everyone doubted she really needed one given her abilities.
Filo however did not honor any such notion of combat and charged headlong from behind. Her avian form streamed forwards as she went to deliver a fierce kick to the back of her opponent only to have it whiff completely. Her leg spun without making contact but to have herself countered by a hard punch directly into her stomach sending her bouncing into the ground and then into her barrier.
"You are too brazen, you lack focus little one." The elder Filoliali chastised her without looking at her hand but more precisely her nails connected with the sword swung at her from behind.
Raphtalia swung several times each strike deflected by nails seemingly effortlessly until she batted the sword aside and then struck Raphtalia with an open palm knocking the air out of her lungs and then tossing her to the side.
"Shield Prison!" Naofumi clenched his fist causing the metal plates and chains to wrap themselves around Fitoria's form. "I don't want to do this but if you keep-"
Fitoria smashed the plates open, she wasn't going to be confined. "If your intention is to stop me then you had better start …" She grabbed Naofumi's hand, pulling him forwards and then kneeing him straight in the stomach.
He fell forwards but he didn't collapse. He threw one arm around her waist while the other shifted his shield into cerberus. The dog's head clamped to her limbs tightly while he watched Filo began another charge.
The other Filoliali seemed unaffected, grabbing the dog heads and tearing them off. She turned to face Filo with Naofumi still holding onto her back and blocked several strikes directly with her fist. "How dare you hurt Master!"
"Your Master is weak, though you at least have more spirit." The Queen replied before blocking another strike, her hand clenching onto Filo's ankle. "But you still have much to learn." Her other arm pulled back to repeat the same hard strike but Filo didn't remain held up. Her free bird foot pivoted and shoved her upwards. Dodging the attack and causing Fitoria to over extend slightly. Bringing her foot back down she crashed another blow down onto her exposed shoulder.
It made Fitoria buckle slightly but she did not lose her balance for but a second she wasn't in complete control. Her grip slightly Broken Filo kicked again the large avian talons aimed straight for the opponent's chest and made contact but as Filo made a direct blow she saw her opponent remaining upright and still mostly unaffected.
Both Filoliali's starred the other down neither side budging as Filo's blow still dug into the other's chest.
"This has to stop!" Chise shouted, breaking the moment as Filo withdrew from Fitoria. "You are both senselessly fighting each other for no reason! None of this benefits anyone."
"I am trying to show the Shield Hero that he can not do this on his own. He needs to begin cooperating with the other Heroes. If he does not-"
"Then that is his choice! You can't just force him to start befriending everyone. Not everyone likes getting along with everyone and considering all that's going on I don't believe they'll be having a civil conversation with one another when they were at each other's throats just under a week ago!"
It took time for people to work together, to build trust and understanding. She knew this fact perfectly well. "I know how cruel other people can be. I know that they just act without reason sometimes. But you can not simply force this all upon him. Ask him to try, to give it one more go, but you can't resort to violence to prove your point. It doesn't solve anything, you need to give all people time because even if they are acting wrongly their intention may be noble."
She'd experienced good people do bad things because they were tricked, duped, and lied too by others who they put their trust and faith in blindly. "You need to let people have a chance to see their wrongs. Even if Naofumi is being hard headed he's not against you, he isn't a foe you need to do battle with."
Despite Fitoria's reservations there was an odd sensation pulling her towards Chise's words. There was a short silence that echoed between the two as Chise walked forwards until she stood just several feet away from the Queen Filiolial. "You're trying to carry this burden all by yourself, you talked about it being your master's wishes to protect this world. So why don't we work together?"
The barrier around the arena ended, the spell holding Melty as well leaving all parties in a state of uncertainty. "I am not sure that my trust in you is misplaced because of what you are. Although I sense that you are genuine in your words, I must ask why? Why should I trust you despite everything I have asked being rejected?" She looked towards Naofumi, Filo, Raphtalia, and then back to Chise.
"I understand that you want us to work together, believe me I do as well, but it can't be right now if we went to them and tried to explain this we would only get into another fight and then we're no better off than where we started." The Shield Hero stood beside Chise. "I don't want to fight them but they simply won't listen to me, they are all under the sway of the church and the royal family… with the exception of Melty but they don't believe that because of some made-up power that I am somehow brainwashing her."
Fitoria then looked to Chise, "Then have this one speak for you. If her words can affect me then let her be the voice to unite the Heros because if you do not this world will fall to the waves without them unified."
"Very well then!" Melty announced, "We will all head for the capital. We'll speak to the other Heros and then work on setting all of this right and on the way I'll try and see about the whereabouts of my mother. She should be returning to Melromarc soon and with her back all of this can be fixed."
"How can your mother fix all of this if your Father is declaring me a kidnapper and a traitor?" Naofumi asked, he didn't understand how the Queen returning would just fix everything.
"Simple, Melromarc is a Matriarchy, my mother the Queen has the final say in everything and I, her agents, as well as advisors have kept her up to speed on everything that we can while she was dealing with political issues. If she arrives soon then perhaps all of this can be rectified."
This took some moments for Naofumi to process, perhaps he simply hadn't questioned it or asked it. 'But the Queen is more powerful than the King?' He had a dozen or so more questions pop into his mind, but he did not have the time to ask them.
Despite wanting to go to Shieldfrieden, Noafumi also knew that the other Heroes would still be poisoned against him and considering how they had operated before. He doubted that they would be able to see the church for what it was. As loathed as he was to admit it they deserved a chance to fix things. With Chise and Melty they would be hard pressed to continue being sheep and finally start seeing this world as something more than just a game, afterall. If they didn't succeed there was no guarantee that they would go home at all, or even live through it. But the Shield Hero also knew of someone else, a powerful mage that was probably tearing a path through the country in search of a person who he had with him. Elias wanted Chise returned and he could do that. He could probably quench the rabid mage's hunger for revenge by giving back the woman he loved and it might also be a ticket home for him as well. It was another option… he just hoped that the old wizard might not hold too much of a grudge.
As the party gathered itself back up, Fitoria had a moment with Filo. "You are strong little one." Giving her honest praise as the other Filolial had put up a solid struggle against her even with their differences in power.
"Yeah, Master has made sure I get strong and eat really good food." Filo admitted, "Will you be coming with us?"
Fitioria shook her head. "No, I can not, I must prepare myself for other waves that will occur later, but you have my trust to do what is right." Dropping her head down she placed her forehead against that of Filo. "Protect your master with all your might, child."
Filo felt a strange warmth spread over her as Fitoria and her touched heads. A light glow emerged and the younger Filolial watched in awe as her elder plucked a feather from her wings on her back and placed it onto Filo's head. "Stay strong for all of us." The glowing plumage disappeared into Filo's form as Fitoria stepped back and gave her younger counterpart a smile. "Go little one."
Filo patted her head for a second wondering just what happened but as she heard Naofumi and Melty calling for her she didn't bother asking. She turned and ran in her outfit towards the group laughing and smiling.
She wasn't ready for it but a pair of small arms wrapped around Fitoria's front from behind. Immediately the Queen Filolial felt a rush and surge inside of her like nothing ever before. "Thank you." The person said from behind. Turning her head slowly to look at the face of Chise. The gripping look in her emerald eyes affected her deeply. "I know it's hard being out here all alone. I can only imagine how everything has been since your master left you behind, believe me I know that feeling very well." Chise let her hands loosen as Fitoria turned towards the Surei Beggah; her radiant form and presence made her feel such warmth that she was reminded of her days being happily raised by a Hero.
From her youth as a hatchingling, growing up, fighting alongside them until being left behind as the Hero's departed the world… all of it had been so long ago even for Fitoria she didn't remember the last time she had ever felt joy or happiness like this. Her body turned into Chise and let her head turn and rest against her.
"Thank you Fitoria, thank you for everything you've done." Chise repeated reaching up her hands to gently stroke the silver hair of the girl in her arms. This was but a small token gesture but one that even Fitoria happily succumbed too as crystal tears formed in her eyes but did not fall she let herself be lost in the moment.
R&R