Overcoming Destiny

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Wireless communications"

Ch 16

Cardinal lay in her bed at the inn they were making use of while in Nissengrof. "Why can't people just get along?" She asked herself staring at the ceiling over her head.

"Because men can't help but try and one up each other." Mortimer answered through the wall. "Especially those two. If they weren't so stressed out by the transition and making sure that their people are taken care of they would probably get along without a problem. So be patient with them."

"Did you have to butt in on my private rant?" Cardinal called indignantly.

"If it was private then don't say it out loud." Mortimer said back conversationally.

"Goodnight Mortimer." Cardinal shot back before she rolled over to try and sleep.

OOooOO

"Here." George said, pouring wine into a glass.

"Thanks." Godfrey said as he accepted it. "I never would have expected it."

"That such a small girl would possess such power?" George asked, wiping a glass out.

"Yeah. It's incredible." Godfrey as he sipped the wine. "This is a good wine."

"Librarians are terrifying." George said as he nodded. "Unfortunately, that wine was a monster drop when this world was still a game, so that's the last of it."

"Oh." Godfrey looked at the glass, "Sorry."

"Not a problem. Wine is meant to be enjoyed." George said, looking at the bottle, he sighed before setting it in a crate with three more empty bottles.

"Especially in the company of friends." Godfrey said as he downed the last of the wine. Unknown to either of the two, they had set in motion action that would bring lasting friendship between their two families.

OOooOO

Kyouko Yuuki sat at a desk in a spacious building not far from the palace in Yggdrasil city just finishing writing up the entirety of their nation's assets. "Is this all that I can look forward to, being a glorified accountant?" She asked in exasperation as she laid her forehead against the desk.

Her husband, Shouzou Yuuki, walked in hearing the tail end of this rant "Given the fact that few people have the experience we have, until we can train apprentices, I believe it will only be for a short bit longer."

"Shouzou, quiet and let me rant and rave in peace." Kyouko mumbled into the desk.

"I figured you'd want to get out of this room and go whack a few mobs." Shouzou stated, holding up her weapons belt.

"You seriously think I would agree to that?" Kyouko asked giving her husband a glare. "And for the last time those aren't mine."

"I was told, by a certain individual, that if I didn't get you out, that you'd turn into an old troll and scare off all the poor messengers." Shouzou said walking over to the desk.

"An old troll they say." Kyouko stated with a sour look on her face. "Tell me, Shouzou, why would our daughter be so disrespectful?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm worried you're turning into a troll as well." Shouzou said grabbing her arm and dragging her toward the door. "The fresh air will do you good. And I've heard slaughtering mobs is very therapeutic."

Kyouko sighed in defeat as she let Shouzou drag her out of the building.

A short time later found her ranting about her problems as she sliced through a horde of trolls, that had taken up camp next to a road, with her two curved daggers that were as long as her forearms.

"I know you said it's therapeutic, but I didn't think she'd be able to solo a horde of trolls." Shouzou commented as he turned to the person next him.

"I knew that she had a lot of pent up rage and insecurities from observation but I didn't think it was this bad." Asuna stated keeping a trained eye on her mother. "And I knew this wouldn't be a problem because I trained up that body myself."

"No matter how many times I hear that, it sounds wrong." Shouzou remarked as he looked back at Kyouko.

"I can't help it when it's the truth." Asuna answered shrugging.

"Yeah, maybe, but it still sounds wrong." Shouzou mumbled.

A few minutes later found the trolls decimated and Kyouko staggering out of the devastation she wrought before collapsing into Asuna's, arms dropping her daggers. "I'm sorry for what I put you through unnecessarily to bring about what I thought was best for you."

"I've told you before Momma, it's ok. I wouldn't be the person I am today without what I went through when I was younger." Asuna stated soothingly as she hugged Kyouko.

Shouzou watched as the two reconciled with each other. "Well. 'ahem' It would appear as though the reservations I made at the Regalia will be going to waste."

"You just had to ruin the mood you big lug." Kyouko mumbled as she forced herself to stand before turning to her husband and collapsing asleep from emotional exhaustion.

"Well, I'll take her back." Shouzou said as he picked her up.

"Have fun you two." Asuna called a beaming smile playing across her face as she sheathed her mother's cleaned daggers.

"We'll do that." He remarked, as he looked at Kyouko cradled in his arms.

OOooOO

Kouichirou Yuuki hung his head as he sat in the palace, listening to nobles argue.

"Ambassador Yuuki can you shed any light on our current discussion." Henrieta asked the Sylph expectantly.

"Unfortunately, they haven't seen fit to inform me as to what their plans are." Kouichirou looked over at Henrieta.

"I see, can you at least tell me if what is currently going on has ill intent?" Henrieta asked expectantly.

"Na, none of them have any ill intent. At least not toward this country." Kouichirou said as he looked around.

Cardinal Mazarin looked at him with a heated glare that instantly changed into a passive look. "Just to clear the air here. I am a representative of the church and we have a say in what one sovereign state can do to another. You and your people are only here because of our good graces."

"Unfortunately, there is tension with the church." Kouichirou sighed as he told Henrieta. "I'm not sure if it's because they're Catholic, or because of the rumor that Ymir is running around somewhere."

"Don't ignore me." Mazarin growled at the blatant dismissal "What is Catholic? Furthermore it's blasphemy to speak of the Founder in such a manner."

"Catholic is our term for your church, you know with a pope, cardinals, bishops, etcetera." Kouichirou turned to Mazarin. "And I'm not going to argue theology of a religion I don't follow."

Mazarin began sputtering as he face purpled in rage.

"Are you certain that you wish to challenge the strongest warriors on this planet?" One of Kouichirou's guards asked teasingly he stood just short of six foot with a slim build and light brown hair the mark on his neck designating him as a Sylph.

"Stay out of this, you aren't part of these discussions guard." Mazarin spat in the other Fae's direction.

"Do you think he's suffering from a lack of calcium?" Kouichirou asked the guard who spoke up.

"I don't think so. I would chalk it up to an undeserving sense of entitlement." The guard answered causing Mazarin to start sputtering while Henrieta sat there with a stoic look.

"Ah, well I can understand that, after all they've ruled Halkeginia for 6,000 years, give or take a century." Kouichirou said shrugging. "Your thoughts, Kayaba?"

"Well I created SAO and left ideas for Alfhiem to be created to combat groups like these, but I never thought it would work out quite like this." The just named Kayaba answered.

"So how do you think we ought to approach this situation, then?" Kouichirou asked contemplatively.

After a second of thought Kayaba walked up to the edge of the table. "Cardinal Mazarin, it has come to the attention of the Fae that you don't like us, because we are upsetting the balance of power in favor of the people. Hopefully it will pull this world past the dark ages and allow the people to follow the will of our creator not the churches image of him."

"You heretics." Mazarin yelled angrily as he drew his wand on the Fae ambassadors.

The Fae guards leapt into action, Mazarin didn't even have time to blink before two swords were at his throat.

"Cardinal Mazarin, would you care to explain your recent actions?" Henrieta asked her hair obscuring her face.

"They speak blasphemy against the Founder. This atrocity cannot be allowed to continue. I demand that they face judgment." Mazarin angrily seethed as the blades at his throat exerted pressure on his skin.

"These people were summoned to our world when I fulfilled a church authorized summoning." Henrieta said in a cold level tone as she stood still looking down. "How is it then that you will deny that the Fae have been brought to this world for a reason?"

"They are then bound to you and as such bound to the laws of the church." Mazarin ground out through gritted teeth.

"What makes you think we would bow to anyone?" Kayaba asked curious. "The only reason we bow to Titania is because she was appointed by the creator as our liaison and leader. Even in that capacity she still asks for counsel before finalizing decisions."

"Only the pope can recognize and crown a legitimate ruler. All others are usurpers of power that rightly belongs to others." Mazarin said after he'd backed away from the blades.

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I shouldn't even be among the living, but the Creator saw fit to keep me around." Kayaba said amusement evident in his bearing as he held his sword to Mazarin's exposed throat. "In my opinion you should die here and now. My opinion wasn't asked for in this instance, so you'll be our messenger to Romalia seeing as Henrieta no longer has need of your services."

"You can't just dismiss me like this! As a representative of the Pope, I am the highest authority here!" Mazarin yelled, spittle flying from his mouth.

"Begone from my sight Cardinal Mazarin you services are no longer needed nor wanted." Henrieta commanded her violet eyes turning as blue as the water she controlled in her anger.

"Wha. Gah." Mazarin was speechless, before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. "You have not heard the last of me!" He shouted as the door slammed shut, silencing the fool.

Henrieta collapsed into her chair as strength left her legs. "Must it always be so hard?" Henrieta asked looking at her shaking hands.

"I find a bottle of wine helps when you're dealing with pompous idiots." Kouichirou said as he procured said item.

"Thank you." Henrieta said as she took the offered glass.

"I wouldn't worry about the church too much because anything they could do to stop you from using magic has no effect on us." Kayaba added as the remaining attendees sat back down.

"So, what were we talking about?" Kouichirou asked as he looked around.

Henrieta giggled at him turning her attention from what just transpired.

OOooOO

Louise watched the Horizon from where she stood on one of the outermost branches of the Yggdrasil.

"How many have I sent to their deaths? Does this make me a bad leader because I sent them on a mission that some of them will never return from?" Louise asked herself, tears streaming down her face.

"You're not to blame if some of them don't come back." A familiar voice answered as she came up behind her liege.

"That doesn't make me feel any better Matilda." Louise said watching the sunset.

"Maybe not but you need to hear it." Matilda said as came up beside Louise her hand on her growing belly. "The difference between you and other leaders is that you care, you worry, and you don't send people out on dangerous missions lightly. That's why the Fae are willing to follow your leadership. So even if you are responsible for the deaths of a few of them they died knowing what they were getting themselves into. Turning toward Louise Matilda concluded. "What I'm trying to say is: Lead for the safety of the whole, those that sacrificed themselves made the sacrifice for the whole, don't lessen that by claiming it was unnecessary."

Tears flowing down her face Louise turned to the taller fairy giving her a hug. "Thanks Matilda I needed that."

Matilda gave a sad smile as she comforted her leader as the last light of the sun disappeared over the horizon.

OOooOOooOO

Sleep must sleep.

Hang in their Shane the finish line is in sight for this chapter. Oh you crossed it.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Well he's out for the count. Anyways please review.