AFFLICTIONS AND ROYALS – KING DIDIER
Fauna City
The tournament master is an elephant. Her job is to list all the entrants in the newcomers championship and to decide what the rules for the contest will be this year. She has been entering candidates all day and is surprised by a high-pitched voice from below. She steps around her podium, her trunk still wrapped around her writing implement, to see who the last entrant is.
"Hello. You're very small to be entering the championship," she says.
"I'm bigger than you," Kurama insists.
The tournament master raises her eyebrows inquisitively. Perhaps this entrant is delusional and should be denied the right to participate. She decides better of banning an entrant, the Beast King has never liked it when that happens.
"What is your name?"
"I am Kurama."
"Are you certain you want to enter?"
"Of course, let's just get this over with."
"Very well, this year's contest is a free-for-all. You will all start in the championship arena simultaneously, the final warrior standing will be declared the winner. The winner will be granted an audience with King Didier. If he is feeling generous he will listen to one request, he is under no obligation to fulfil that request. Any proclamation made by the king is final and cannot be dismissed by other tournament procedures, is that all clear and acceptable?"
"Yes!"
The tournament master writes Kurama's name down in a book before reaching up and grabbing a chain with her trunk. She heaves the chain downward, lifting the door to the championship arena where many newcomer beasts are gathered. Kurama enters feeling confident of his victory. He looks around for the others and eventually spots them, still disguised by Sasuke's genjutsu.
Kurama leans back and summons 'life' energy to his paw, making a realisation as he does so.
"Hey Naruto. I'm still not a class 8 warrior, this energy is just class 3."
"That's clearly 'life' energy. Have you got any old scars you can try it out on?"
Kurama finds an old scar and tries Naruto's 'life' energy.
"It's healing me as it should be. It looks like I can redirect your energy but I can't make it mine. It must be because you understand the principles of the energy instead of me."
"I suppose so. As a class 3 warrior you should be fine."
"Yeah."
Kurama observes as a lion appears on the viewing stage above. He appears to be receiving guidance from a gorilla. To members of the Beast Kingdom this gorilla is recognisable as the famous Duke Laurent. He is an anti-human figure, many frustrated young beasts have rallied around him in these desperate years, clamouring for another war against their hated enemies. The lion is the famous Beast King, Didier the Lion.
"He looks a lot more impressive than any of you do," Kurama says.
"Thanks Kurama."
Didier sits with Laurent and somebody that Kurama cannot make out from this height. He wishes that he could act with his true size, that would make seeing things much easier, even if it did give him away as a pocket-worlder.
King Didier stands and walks to the throne. The throne has been styled for him, not a chair as humans would be used to but a comfortable cloth on the floor in front of an upright pillar with the words 'Beast King' emblazoned upon it. The Beast King sits on his throne and produces a deafening roar. This is the signal for the championship to start.
The fight begins as an easy task for Kurama. He charges through the field, eliminating competitors by charging through them like a bull. A class 3 warrior, he easily knocks his class 1 counterparts out of the way as he dashes around. There are a few other warriors who are stronger than class 1 who do the same. It takes less than a minute before these mighty fighters have eliminated their weaker competition. This leaves a very narrow field consisting of mostly larger beasts. Kurama feels out of place.
A pair who are obviously working together approach the nine-tailed fox. A rhino and a bear, naturally they have a tremendous size advantage. They each charge at Kurama with class 2 energy, nothing for him to be worried about. He runs straight towards them before veering off to the right at the last moment. He kicks the rhino, redirecting its momentum and forcing it to hit the bear. He follows this up by creating a tailed-beast bomb, firing it at the pair of them, eliminating them with an explosion of energy.
Kurama smirks, then raises his head to see that he has only one opponent left. This opponent is much less intimidating than the others.
"You are my final opponent," the other beast says.
"Is that a dog?" Naruto asks Kurama.
"Yes. It's one of the fluffy yellow ones," Kurama answers.
"You're right. It does look fluffy. And it does look yellow. He doesn't look very intimidating Kurama."
"What is your name?" the dog asks.
"I am Kurama."
"My name is Paul, let's make this a good fight for King Didier."
"What sort of name is that? That's not a dog's name!" Naruto says.
Kurama answers Paul the Dog's request. He creates another tailed-beast bomb, filling it with all the class 3 energy he can muster for a single attack. Kurama unleashes the energy towards his opponent. Paul howls in reply, condensing his bark into 'sound' energy, clashing with the tailed-beast bomb. These are both the attacks of class 3 warriors, stronger than most beasts become in their lifetimes. It wows the beast crowd who watch on and guess who will win this exchange.
After some time the attacks cancel out.
"You have my respect Kurama," Paul says honestly. "I will need to call upon my full power."
Paul is rapidly surrounded by dark yellow energy. A divine 'sound' cloak forms around him as he ascends from a class 3 to a class 4 warrior, calling upon his full strength. At this point, it is strength that exceeds even Kurama's.
"Uh, Naruto…"
Paul leaps towards Kurama.
The crowd leans forward.
There is no explosion of energy, no final rush, no exciting conclusion to the battle between fox and dog. Instead crows fly down from the sky, animals instead of beasts. They fill the space between Paul and Kurama, completely obscuring the audience's view of what is happening. By the time the crows clear the warriors in the crowd can feel a qualitative change in the competitor's energy as one of them surges in power.
Paul looks up. He feels no pain, yet somehow he has been defeated.
King Didier, Duke Laurent and all the others rise to their feet. That is not a nine-tailed fox named Kurama.
There is a human in the arena!
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto!"
Quickly the king's protectors rush into the arena, along with several of the more powerful beasts who act as Didier's advisors. They activate divine energy cloaks and gather into formations ready to attack. Their numbers are incredible, this is the only city of the Beast Kingdom after all, perhaps the most powerful city in Homeworld.
"I seek an audience with the Beast King," Naruto says.
Didier leaps down into the arena. He is quickly accompanied by the remainder of his inner circle. He is the only beast alive more powerful than Uzumaki Naruto, he is the only one who should not be afraid. He walks through the formations of beasts, Duke Laurent accompanying him. He approaches the human who dared to invade Fauna City.
"I want to speak to you behalf of the rebellion," Naruto says.
"My king, you must refuse to speak with him," Laurent says. "The words of a human, an intruder should not be received by the Beast King. I suggest that we execute this man at once."
"You would ignore his words?" Didier asks.
"Words are the weapons of humans; it is has never helped us to listen to them in the past."
"Hmm," Didier murmurs.
"How could my words hurt you, I have never spoken to either of you," Naruto says. "Using violence to silence people you don't like, that sounds like the actions of a coward to me."
Duke Laurent approaches Naruto. He stands up to his full height and activates his golden divine energy cloak. It is a mixture of lilac and gold. The moment the duke activates his full power Naruto is overcome by a sense of dread. He has not felt afraid of a fight like this in ages, not since he saw Headmaster Sora fight Jonas. That is because not only is Laurent's muscular form intimidating, but his element is 'intimidation'.
Sasuke and those he has disguised remain watching. They each feel a sense of terror as well. They fear that Naruto will struggle against a beast like Laurent; most have never seen anybody with such a physically imposing presence before. However, the 'intimidation' energy is making them overlook the most basic reason to have faith in their comrade. He is Naruto.
Laurent punches towards Naruto. He is stunned when his punch is caught.
Laurent sees the man from before again, but now he looks completely different. His body is wrapped in an orange and white energy. Further to that he has an aura of translucent energy which clearly has golden particles in it. This is a powerful pocket-worlder with a golden 'life' cloak and an array of other powers.
Naruto power transfers to both arms. He uses his left arm to knock Laurent's arm away before using the right to punch the gorilla in the chest. Laurent's animal form gives him a significant strength advantage over normal humans, but this time he feels different. His feet are forced to skid back along the ground. This is the first human he has ever met who could compete with him in a contest of strength.
"It seems that you need assistance," Didier remarks calmly.
"You need not bother yourself my king, I am more than enough to deal with this human."
"No, you are not. He is clearly different to the human opponents you have faced in the past. I must deal with him."
"I don't want to fight with you," Naruto insists, "I am only here to talk."
"It is clear that the Beast Kingdom does not wish to talk with you," Didier says.
Naruto is surprised. Didier is not like he imagined, he is surprisingly moved by the opinions of others, not simply disregarding them as he pictured. Unfortunately, the people seem to have swayed Didier against Naruto.
A golden cloak appears around Didier. This is different from normal cloaks. Not only are the particles of the cloak gold, but the colour of the raw energy itself is gold as well, something Naruto doesn't recall having seen before. What is more the aura of power that accompanies the cloak is tremendous, class 9 energy greater than King Max's or King Erik's. Naruto braces himself for a fight but holds out little hope of defeating the Beast King by himself.
"Wait!"
Naruto smiles, the One True Sense is a real gift in situation's like these. He watches as the beasts in formation beside him move out of the way. He hears the priority with which they make way for the new arrival, clearly it is someone of great importance. He is glad of that high importance, and if the title of this new arrival is anything to go by, this may be the only person who can save him.
It is of course Princess Emilie, the second-in-command of the Beast Kingdom.
"King Didier, this man is indeed Uzumaki Naruto of the rebellion. After I was ambushed by Head General Safura he saved my life. This human is different, he could be a friend to the kingdom. I ask that you grant him his audience. Please, he is a personal friend of mine."
"Words are their weapon," Laurent repeats. "This is probably an elaborate human plot princess. No doubt he has been working to earn your confidence for a long time."
"Please my king, at least hear what he wants to say. If you can't believe a human then believe me, you can trust this man."
King Didier reluctantly dissipates his golden cloak.
"Very well," Didier says. "Follow me Uzumaki Naruto. I will hear what you wish to say."
The Throne Room, Fauna City
The door to the throne room closes, leaving Naruto alone with the three most influential living beasts. 2nd in line to the throne Duke Laurent the Gorilla, 1st in line to the throne Princess Emilie the Leopard, and Beast King Didier the Lion.
"Do you like our throne room human?" Laurent asks tauntingly.
Naruto sees the tapestries around the room. They detail human tracheary and the Beast Kingdom's revenge through many generations. Clearly this anti-human décor has been accumulated over many lifetimes.
"It's horrible," Naruto says.
Laurent stands, pretending to be outraged by Naruto's criticism in spite of having provoked it.
"Sit down Laurent, I doubt he has come to discuss art," Didier says firmly. "Why are you here? What business do you have with the Beast Kingdom?"
"I am looking for your help with the war," Naruto says. "We need allies against Furst Jonas if we're going to win and free Homeworld. The Beast Kingdom would be our greatest partner."
"He wishes to drag us into another human war, to waste our lives for his cause," Laurent says.
"Hold on Laurent, I don't think we have the full story yet," Emilie says. "Naruto, you are my friend. Regardless of anything else, I will help you when the time comes. But why would the Beast Kingdom want to involve ourselves with your war? How could it possibly be to our advantage?"
"Recently the Fauna Blight affliction spread to humans in CheoCho," Naruto says.
"Good," Laurent replies.
"I cured it."
Didier rises to his feet and walks two steps towards Naruto.
"If you agree to help us with the war, I am willing to cure Fauna Blight for the entire Beast Clan."
Even the hostile Duke Laurent is stunned into silence. He and Emilie have often represented two different political wings of the Beast Kingdom, one more vengeful the other more tolerant. However, a hatred of Fauna Blight and what it has done to them binds them together. A cure for Fauna Blight is a dream for them, a lifelong dream that they expected to take to the grave. Even in their wildest fantasies they expected a beast to find the solution, but now a human stands before them with an offer; a human they almost killed.
"Are you truly saying you can cure Fauna Blight?" Didier asks.
"I can cure Fauna Blight," Naruto confirms.
"I would caution against trusting this man," Laurent says. "He snuck into our city and interrupted the newcomer championships. If he has been working to fool Princess Emilie all this time, this bluff may be what he has been setting us up for."
"Laurent," Emilie gasps. "If he is telling the truth even you must see that this is an opportunity we can't pass up. It doesn't matter if Fauna Blight is cured by a human or a beast, our first priority must be finding a cure."
Didier's eyes meet Naruto's. Naruto sees something in the king that others see in him, a man carrying tremendous responsibility on his shoulders. Didier, much like the 7th Hokage, has been fighting an unwinnable battle for his entire reign. Fauna Blight was an opponent he was told could not be defeated. Confronted with knowledge that may change his entire reign he is conflicted about how to react.
Unfortunately, the doors to the throne room swing open. Numerous beasts enter with a group of humans they have captured. One of them saw through Sasuke's genjutsu. Now the disguise is gone and Didier will believe, quite correctly, that the humans were hiding something from him.
"Are they with you Uzumaki Naruto? Or should I have them killed?" Didier asks.
Naruto sighs, "No, they're my friends."
"It is interesting company that you keep, and it is no wonder that you hid them. Which fact should anger me most? Is it that you concealed Endou Hinata and Yoshida Mana, the daughters of the man who sanctioned Fauna Blight? Perhaps disguising the presence of Michel the Horse, our greatest traitor is what should enrage me most. Or maybe it is our official Queen, Hirsch Nadia of Seblix. Tell me Naruto, which of the Beast Kingdom's most hated enemies would you excuse first?"
"King Didier," Hinata says, stepping forward. "You are right not to trust me, given what my family has done to the Beast Kingdom in the past. You can be angry with me, but you should listen to Naruto. If he seems like a naïve fool it is because he really wants to help you."
"Your father gave us an affliction that has gone a long way towards destroying the Beast Clan. Your father—"
"My father was wrong!" Hinata says.
Didier turns to look at Hinata once again. He is surprised to hear her say that. Usually when humans speak of Endou Akashi it is with reverence, now his own daughter speaks to rebuke him. Emilie is delighted, it is looking more and more like this offer is genuine. Laurent is irritated, he still believes that this is a trap, and proving it is only getting harder.
"You think your father was wrong?"
"He did what he thought was best, but he made the wrong choice," Hinata declares. "I would like to work towards a lasting peace between our peoples. I was recently told to act differently in these situations. It was suggested to me that I should speak not as Endou Hinata the princess, but as Endou Hinata the individual. That individual believes that humans and beasts shouldn't just coexist, we should be friends."
"She is lying!" Laurent shouts angrily.
"No Laurent," Didier says. "The Endou family may be many things, our greatest enemy included, but they have never been liars. However, I fail to see how your empty words of friendship will change anything princess. How do you intend to make this peace a reality?"
"The problem that started the previous war was land and resources. Now I find all seven lands of this empire ruled by people I cannot tolerate. Fate has taken a strange turn King Didier, now you are the only royal I believe I can trust. I think that under the circumstances it would be only appropriate to make you this offer. If we win this war I will grant you the corresponding lands and make you the King of Aturia."
Emilie and Hinata exchange a nod. Perhaps their generation truly can be the one to usher in change in Homeworld. With Naruto's offer to cure Fauna Blight, and Hinata's offer to fix the Beast Kingdom's resource problems, it seems that the Beast Kingdom may have found their salvation. There is only one concern left, Didier's decision. Will King Didier side with Duke Laurent? Does he believe that the humans are lying? Does the Beast King think that they can win if they agree to this plan?
Didier asks to be left alone. The others all leave the throne room.
Two Hours Later, The Throne Room
Naruto and Hannah are shown into the throne room and left with King Didier.
"You asked to see us," Naruto says.
"Yes," Didier says. "Tell me, who is this you have brought with you Naruto?"
"I am Naruto's student," Hannah reveals. "My name is Hannah. I came here to help establish an alliance between the rebellion and the Beast Kingdom. I entered this room because you asked for the two of us."
"I noticed that you were different from the others, it was the twitch in your neck, it corresponded to moments there might have been danger. It is the result of a beast's instinct. I've never seen any beast with a mind so strong for it though, and I've never seen it at all in another human. Who are you?"
"You are right, I have the mind of a beast. I am the daughter of two human generals, Lara and Clyde, but I was created in a laboratory by King Max. As king your beast instincts are probably some of the very best in the world, but mine were designed to be perfect. In a way I am both beast and human."
"Then perhaps there is some loyalty to your fellow beasts in that mind of yours," Didier says. "Tell me Hannah, what do those instincts of yours tell you, those instincts superior even to my own. Can I trust Uzumaki Naruto?"
Hannah pauses. "When I was created my instincts were out of control by design. I was created as a tool for war, the royals and the Imperial Guard didn't care about Hannah the person, just Hannah the weapon. When I met my mother she tried to help me, but I lost control and killed her. After that Naruto was the first human to treat me with respect. He tried to help me and he didn't look for anything in return. I owed him my life, yet he offered me free will. I don't follow him because I must, I follow him because I choose to. You can trust him, more than anybody else you will ever meet."
"Very well. Then if I trust you Uzumaki, tell me why I should trust daughters of Endou Akashi. That family was responsible for unleashing Fauna Blight upon the Beast Clan in the first place."
"Hinata is not the Endou Hinata you think you know, at least not entirely," Naruto says. "Hinata disappeared for years because she was in a pocket-world, the same pocket-world I come from. She has a divided soul, she is half Endou Hinata, and half Hyuuga Hinata. Her two personalities don't have much in common, but there is one thing I can say for both of them. I trust both Hinata's with my life.
"There is another reason you should trust her. That is because she has worked hard for the rebellion, and she has lost people. She didn't want the pocket-worlders to fight in the war to begin with, she tried to keep us at a distance. Eventually she made a friend from our world and things began to change. That friend died during the attack on the Foundry. Hinata has felt the pain of loss, just like you have so many times now. I think you both know that old grudges should be put aside so you can help each other through that pain."
"Is that what you believe Uzumaki Naruto? You believe that we can put aside years of animosity because of our one shared desire; to save our friends? Do you really think that is enough?"
Naruto smiles. "Yes, I do"
Fauna City Centre
Minato wishes he didn't feel so nervous. As the 4th Hokage he was one of the most powerful warriors in his pocket-world; here in Fauna City he does not feel so powerful. He watches as the argument in the city centre grows. Two political factions are clashing, the resentful faction lead by Duke Laurent, and the forgiving faction lead by Princess Emilie. As the arguments continue to grow, he can sense that violence will soon follow. Only Nadia watches on with a calm grin; it's like she knows what is going to happen.
"He is a human people say is the next Endou Akashi," Laurent explains to the onlookers. "He has come selling false promises of hope, demanding we enter the war. When the war is over he will treat us exactly like the humans treat us now."
"It is that kind of generalisation that caused our divisions in the first place," Emilie counters. "The humans thought we were all the same, that we all hated them, that is why they refused to trade with us. It was the cause of the war and of Fauna Blight. If we treat them all the same way, how are we any better than they are?"
"We are better because we will be stronger!"
"You didn't look stronger than Naruto earlier, Laurent."
"Would you forgive Princess Hinata and Yoshida Mana as well? They carry the sins of their father. Would you have the Beast Kingdom kneel before their throne and beg them for assistance?"
"I would not forgive anything. I only offer them a chance to earn forgiveness."
Duke Laurent has had enough of these arguments. He activates his golden 'intimidation' cloak ready for a fight. Emilie responds in kind, activating her golden 'speed' cloak. Two of the three strongest living beasts prepare for a fight.
Then a loud noise startles them.
"You will both stand down immediately!"
It is King Didier. He is flanked by Naruto and Hannah.
"I have been fully briefed about the rebellion's situation. If we are to believe Nadia there is a bunker north-west of here. If we can get Naruto to that bunker he can eliminate Fauna Blight's brain and save us from the affliction. The bunker is well protected and it would take a tremendous force to wrestle control of it away from the guards. That is why it would be wise if I went myself."
"My king, no," Laurent insists. "You are the people's leader, and the people hate the humans. Think of all our fallen comrades who they killed during the war, who they killed with Fauna Blight. We cannot simply forgive them."
"No we cannot, but Emilie was right, we can give them a chance to be forgiven."
"A thousand dead beasts would implore you not to give them that chance."
"Enough!" Didier shouts. "I am not the king of the dead. I am the Beast King and its time to stop focusing on old hatreds and do something that can save our people."
Laurent says nothing.
"I have interviewed Naruto and I have decided to trust him. As Beast King my word is final, and you will heed those words Duke Laurent. Now, shall we stay here and continue focusing on old grudges, or will we march on the bunker and take back control of our own destiny?"
All eyes fall to Duke Laurent.
Laurent looks to Emilie. He looks to Hinata. Lastly he looks to Naruto. The Beast Kingdom has hated humans his entire life, is it to end with this pocket-worlder?
Duke Laurent looks back to King Didier and nods his approval.
The Beast Kingdom will march on the bunker!
In Response to Guest
Who asks why the story rating has changed.
I was unsure if the violence level I have described at times was appropriate for the rating.
I thought it would be safer.
Thanks for reading.