Chapter 5: Rescue Team
Back in Illyria, Ky is talking to a man in brown clothes inside his castle.
"Very well." says Ky. "Send him in."
The man in brown robes bows and leaves.
After a while, a man in a golden-yellow outfit, black pants and black boots that show his regality while his wild blonde hair and matching beard giving him a dominatingly beastly appearance comes in. On his sides, he carries two, metallic crosses, and following behind appear to be several knights in extremely heavy armor.
Ky smiles upon seeing the man and says, "Leo, glad you could arrive on such short notice."
"Ah, any help a great king like myself can offer is no trouble at all, Bambino." says Leo in a deep, bold voice. "So, I hear your wife went missing. Any ideas where to look?"
"I wish I knew." says Ky. "I went out in the Outer Gardens to see about us retiring to bed. But the last thing I saw was the book she had planned on reading. You don't suppose a new Valentine was created and succeeded in sublimating her, do you?"
"That's impossible and not very logical." says Leo. "Ariels is dead, so no new Valentines should be created."
"But, couldn't another Universal Will be put in place of Ariels?" asks Ky. "Couldn't someone new take over the Backyard?"
"Don't be silly, Ky." says Leo. "Besides, if a new Valentine had shown herself, we would all know about it. You know those Backyard Residents aren't exactly the picture of subtletly, especially considering they were made from Justice's cells."
"Maybe you're right, Leo." says Ky. "But still, where could my wife have went off to?"
Just then, another man in brown clothes approaches and says, "King Ky, your son is here, along with Sol Badguy, Ramlethal Valentine, Elphelt Valentine and Ms. Aria."
"Oh boy, I got a lot of explaining to do." says Ky. "Send them in."
The man in brown leaves.
After a while, a young man with wild, blonde hair, outfit almost as white as Ky's and an eyepatch while carrying what appears to be a flag rushes in towards Ky, grabbing him by the collar and looking at him with a truly angry expression.
"Where is mom, old man?" shouts the man. "I trusted you with her, and you let THIS happen! I knew I should have beat the tar out of you when you put her in that time seal!"
"Sin, you have no idea how sorry I am." says Ky.
"You had better be more than sorry, dad!" says Sin. "That is if I should even call you my dad!"
"Knock it off, moron!" says a gruff voice.
Just then, three more people show up-a man and three women.
The man wears an ensemble of a red and black, sleeveless shirt with matching gloves and boots, and white pants done in a fashion that give him a real bad boy look which go well with his odd hairstyle that's spiked up while having a long ponytail with the whole thing being brown, as well as the red headband that says "ROCK YOU". His eyes are red orange with slits and he carries a red weapon that looks like a cross between a sword and gun in his left hand over his shoulder.
"Don't try to calm me down, ya' old fart!" says Sin while still looking at his dad.
"I don't intend to calm you down." says the man. "I intend to clobber you if you don't calm yourself down."
Letting go of the majority of his anger, Sin lets go of Ky's collar and steps back.
Ky sighs and says, "Sol, I'm so sorry. I never knew this would happen."
"Well, as much as I'd say you really screwed the pooch here..." says Sol. "...I'll just say I believe you."
"Wow, that's unlike you, Sol." says Ky. "Usually, when I mess up this bad, you're first intent is to beat me into near submission."
"Still, this is troubling." says the woman with a tanned complexion, white hair, funny white hat and what looks to be a robe with teeth covering the majority of her body clad in skimpy white bandeau and matching short shorts. She also happens to be accompanied by two strange creatures above her shoulders slightly-one black and one white. "To know that the Maiden of the Grove is gone is not only bad for you, but also for this world."
"I know, Ramlethal." says Ky. "And I'm not going to stop looking until I find her."
"You're such a bad husband, Ky!" says the woman with a greyish-pink hair, dress that resembles a wedding gown, hat like that of Ramlethal and looking quite well-endowed. "Letting girl with such amazing feminine charm like Dizzy disappear. How could you?"
"I'm sorry, Elphelt." says Ky. "I just... I just don't know what happened."
"Well, if it helps out, Ky..." says the woman with bright red hair and clothes that are both futuristic and elegant at the same time. "...we'll all pitch in. We won't stop until we find, Dizzy, especially since she is..."
Before the woman can finish, Sol comically says to her, "Nooo! Don't say that, Aria! I don't know want that possibility coming true!"
"But why not, Frederick?" says Aria. "If she is my daughter, then wouldn't that mean that you...?"
"Aaaaah!" says Sol. "Please! Please, don't say it! Last thing I need is for Ky to have me as a... aaaah, I still can't say it!"
Aria sighs and says, "I understand, Frederick. In any case, we still need to find Dizzy."
"Yes, but where could she have gone off to?" asks Ky.
"I-I think I might know something." says a female voice.
Everyone sees a woman with black hair and wearing a brown uniform with saber by her side approaching with a nervous expression.
"What do you know, Trisha?" asks Ky.
"I think I saw Lady Dizzy when she disappeared." says Trisha.
"What?" asks Ky. "You knew something and you didn't inform me? Why?"
"I wasn't sure you would believe me." answers Trisha. "In fact, I'm not sure I believe it myself."
"Well, what do you know?" asks Ky.
"Well, Lady Dizzy was still in the gardens when it happened." says Trisha. "I was guarding the place until I saw her talking with what appeared to be an ethereal woman with green hair. And though it was hard to tell, I think she also had pointed ears."
"Was she a Gear?" asks Ky.
"I don't know." says Trisha. "But the last thing I saw was Lady Dizzy walking through a blue portal right after the woman disappeared. I tried to run after Lady Dizzy to stop her, but it was too late. She didn't hear me and... she was gone. Basically, I don't think she's in this world anymore."
Looking faint, Ky says, "This can't be happening."
"You let my mom disappear?" yells Sin at Trisha. "How could you?"
"Like I said, I tried to stop her, but she couldn't hear me." says Trisha. "She was gone before I could fully reach her."
"Well, we know what happened." says Leo. "Question is... what do we do about it?"
"I might be able to help with that." says the voice of Naga.
"Who's there?" asks Ky.
Just then, Naga shows herself.
"You!" says Trisha. "You're that woman! Please tell us Lady Dizzy is okay!"
"She's fine." says Naga. "She is currently with a group of mighty warriors in my world known as the Shepherds. Among those warriors is their leader, Chrom, who is also the Exalt of the halidom of Ylisse."
"So you brought my mom into your world!" says Sin. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"I am Naga, the Divine Dragon." says Naga. "I brought your mom into my world so she could defeat a great evil that will soon plague everyone."
"A great evil?" asks Ky. "You want Dizzy to fight? She hates fighting. Why couldn't you get Sol or me to volunteer?"
"Becasue your world has enough troubles of its own, and Dizzy, while being peaceful, possesses the kind of power I need to vanquish evil, combined with her benevolence." says Naga. "With her being less active than she was in the past, I think her role in my world will be greater while this world has all of you."
"That may be the case, but this world needs Dizzy, as well." says Ky. "Not only for her power and kindness, but also the fact she is proof humans and Gears can coexist. I mean, she's half-human for crying out loud! That should make enough of a statement."
"I truly understand, Ky." says Naga. "But I'm in desperate need of great power to destroy this evil. And if I can get her to help me, then I'm sure it will be all for the better. Trust me, the evil my world will have to deal with most likely won't be limited to just my world, but could also affect others, inlcuding your own."
"Is that so?" asks Ky.
"Yes, it is." says Naga.
"I see." says Ky. After a brief moment, he breaks his silence with, "Naga, take me to your world!"
Everyone looks shocked.
"What?" asks Naga.
"If you need Dizzy in your world, then the least I can do is be by my wife." says Ky. "If she's to be your sword, then I want to be her shield."
"Does Dizzy mean so much to you that you would leave everything behind just to be with her?" asks Naga.
"I know I made a vow to uphold Illyria as her High King, and I still aim to do that." says Ky. "But if I was given a choice between saving the world, or letting it burn before I see Dizzy harmed in any way, you better believe I'd choose the latter."
"Dad." says Sin in calm yet surprised manner.
"She means that much, doesn't she?" asks Naga.
"More than you're willing to realize." says Ky.
After some silence, Naga says, "Very well. I shall open a portal for you."
"Thank you, Naga." says Ky. "I'm glad you understand."
"Hey, Boyscout! You're not going it alone!" says Sol.
Ky looks back at Sol, who then says, "I'm coming with you!"
"Sol, I'm surprised again." says Ky. "Usually, you're too lazy to want to do this kind of thing."
"Well, I guess that might be true." says Sol. "And while I don't want to admit it, I still think highly of Dizzy. So, if you're going to drop everything just for her, then so will I."
"Same here!" says Sin. "I'm going with you, Dad! And there's no way you, the old fart or anyone here will stop me!"
"I shall go, too!" says Leo. "Afterall, what better way to spread my greatness than to travel to other worlds that have not yet heard of me?"
"We shall go with you, as well, King Leo!" say Leo's knights.
"Well, my skill may be unparralleled, but I also care for my men!" says Leo. "Thank you for volunteering!"
"We are yours to command, sir!" say the knights again.
"I shall accompany you." says Ramlethal.
"Same here!" says Elphelt. "We all love Dizzy a lot, so let's do our best to help find her!"
"Me too." says Aria. "I want to be there for Dizzy since I wasn't in the past."
"You want to come, Aria?" says Sol. "But you're not a Gear anymore. You're human again. Are you sure about this?"
"I am, Frederick." says Aria. "I wasn't that good of a mother as Justice, but I want to be a better mother as Aria."
"I see." says Sol. "Normally, I'd tell you to stay here, but I forget how stubborn you can be. Heh, you remind me of myself so much, especially back in those days. Very well. We'll go together."
"Thank you, Frederick." says Aria.
"I wish to go as well." says a masculine voice.
Everyone sees a strange creature that looks like a combination of a frog, bat and bird wearing a doctor's coat and red tie with glasses while carrying a small podium in his talon, a book and a black breifcase held by what appear to be antennae.
"Dr. Paradigm." says Ky as the creature floats towards him. "You wish to join us?"
"Yes." says Dr. Paradigm. "I overhead everything, and this world sounds quite fascinating with one able to bend dimensions. Besides, since Dizzy is the key to bridging the gap between humans and Gears, then all the more reason for me to come."
"I don't see a problem with that." says Ky. "What do you think, Naga?"
"That should be fine. However, I must warn you all since there is a large number of you." says Naga. "If I do open this portal, not only is there no telling where you will all end up, but I also can't guarantee you will all be together in the same place."
"So what? We're just supposed to take a leap of faith with you?" asks Sol.
"Dizzy did it." says Naga. "And she's okay."
"Well, alright." says Sol. "But you better make damn well sure that Aria ends up next to me. If you put her in harm's way, and your ass is grass. And you can bet I'll be the lawnmower. Believe me, you may be a Divine Dragon, but you ain't faced a dragon like me before, sweetheart."
"I'll keep that in mind, Sol Badguy." says Naga.
"In any case, I guess we'll be a rescue team." says Ky. "Whenever you're ready, Naga."
"If you're truly ready, then I shall open the portal." says Naga.
After that, Naga disappears and a blue portal opens up.
"Trisha, you and the others defend this castle with your lives." says Ky. "Tell them that I'm away and that all of you will be in charge while I'm gone."
"As you command, your majesty." says Trisha.
"Oh, by the way, have you heard anything from Dizzy's brother?" asks Ky. "I had a message sent to him, but I'm not sure it reached him. I was hoping to see him here to help me."
"Sorry, your majesty." says Trisha. "None of us have been able to get in contact with Izzy. Either it's that we're unable to locate him... or we're just too afraid to go near him."
"I don't blame you." says Ky. "Just keep trying to get in contact with him, so that he knows the situation."
Trisha responds, "As you wish, King Ky. You all just have a safe journey."
"Right." says Ky. Afterwards, he takes a deep breath before shouting, "Everyone ready?"
"Ready!" respond everyone going with him.
Wasting no more time, Ky and his rescue team rush into the portal. Then, everything flashes white.
Taking place in the same area Dizzy appeared in, the portal opens up in the air and only Ky falls out.
"Sol? Leo? Ramlethal? Elphelt? Anyone?" Ky begins to ask after realizing his situation. "Looks like I'm alone, just like what Naga implied."
Looking at his surroundings, Ky then says, "I don't recognize this field, so I must be in Naga's world. Still, which direction could Dizzy have gone off in?"
Walking a short distance, Ky says, "Wonder if there's a sign around here?"
Just then, he comes up to a small, wooden sign that points in the direction of Ylisstol.
"Here we go." says Ky. "Ylisstol... to the north east from here. I assume Dizzy is there."
Just then, a gruff voice says, "Oy, you lost lad?"
"Huh?" asks Ky before seeing he's being surrounded by brigands of varying classes and using different weapons.
"It's not wise to be wanderin' these fields alone." says a brigand. "Not when men like us are romin' about. Catch ma' drift?"
Ky turns around and sighs before saying, "And it's not wise to be picking fights with men whose strength you can't gauge all that well."
"So, the lil' dandy's got a big mouth." says a brigand. "Think you can put ya' money where ya' mouth is?"
"Only if you're ready to die." says Ky before drawing his sword and making crackle with electricity. "Remember, you brought this on yourselves."
"Heh, just 'cause you got some fancy-lookin' Levin Sword don't mean victory is ya's." says the front-most brigand.
"What's a Levin Sword?" asks Ky.
The brigands all look a little surprised as the front-most brigand asks, "You've never heard of a Levin Sword?"
"I'm not from your world." says Ky. "And if those ancient weapons are all you're going to fight a former Holy Knight turned High King like me with, then this battle is already decided before it even started!"
Putting himself in a pose and readying his sword, he begins to charge his whole body with electricity.
"Who are ya'?" asks the front-most brigand.
"Taking a cue from Sol's book, I don't need to share my name." says Ky. "Let my powers and skills speak for themselves. RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"
Suddenly, Ky charges for the brigands while surrounded in an aura of electricity.
The brigands try to run, but Ky is too fast for them as he crashes through them, the sparks sending the hoodlums flying.
Ky then stops short, and begins to zip from brigand to brigand, slashing each one with electrified cuts.
Afterwards, Ky lands on the ground and with a quick down-rightward swipe of his sword, the brigands fall to the ground, each one looking unconcious but barely alive.
"Be glad I didn't take your life." says Ky. "Then again, those that bark loud and have no skill don't deserve to lose their life in battle. You still have time. Make the right decision and leave behind this life of foolishness."
And with that, Ky sheathes his sword.
"You're lucky none of you fought my wife." says Ky. "She would never take a life, but she's also far more dangerous than I am. Speaking of which, I need to be on my way in finding her. Farewell."
And with that, Ky begins to head in the direction of Ylisstol.
Just then, a brigand that somehow managed to remain conscious says, "I knew I should have stayed working on my mother's farm."
In another part of Ylisse, a small group of warriors mostly made of men while being led by a single woman arrive near a small town.
They look at the wooden sign next to it that reads, "Welcome to Treehaven."
"Looks like we found it." says the woman. "I hope we get a big enough score here to satisfy the boss. Well, shall we make ourselves welcome?"
And with that, the group of warriors enter the town.
Just as they make their way around, the woman asks a passing woman, "Excuse me, ma'am. Do you know where I can find the mayor of this town?"
"Oh, you'll want to go west of here." says the other woman. "The City Hall is on the other side of the local pub. You can't miss it."
"Thank you, ma'am." says the female warrior. "Let's go introduce ourselves, boys."
Eventually, they reach the City Hall, and upon entering, reach the clerk's table.
The female clerk asks, "Can I help you all?"
"Yes, you can." says the woman. "We're here to see the mayor. He's not too busy, is he? We can come back another time."
"Oh, I think he's free now." says the clerk. "Just go to the door on your left."
"Most appreciated." says the woman.
Hearing a knock, a mostly bald man with thick mustache that is as brown as what hair he has while wearing basic villager clothes says, "Come on in!"
Entering are the woman warrior and her men.
"Ah, you must be the mayor." says the woman. "That should be obvious."
"Indeed." says the mayor. "How can I help you?"
"I'm appreciated you want to help me. But no, I really want to help you." says the woman.
"This is certainly a surprise." says the mayor. "I thought only the royal family of Ylisse would help us, if not the whole of the Shepherds. But, if you're willing to offer help and want something in exchange, I think we can definitely talk compromise."
Looking that the guys sign on his desk reads "Nathaniel Collinsgrad", the woman warrior says, "Mayor Nathaniel, let me get to the point. You don't know who we are. Not just yet. But I believe you may have heard of our boss."
"And who would your boss be?" asks Nathaniel.
"Before we get to that..." says the woman. "...we come to offer aid to your town. I've heard many a rumor you have trouble putting up with brigands time and time again. And yet, even your guard has become pretty thin in holding them off. Am I right?"
"You've heard well." says Nathaniel looking solemn. "Yes, our town is almost as big as that of Ylisstol, but its defense force isn't nearly as big. Yet, we've been too proud to let the Exalt or even the Shepherds know we are in need of help. So, if you come to offer aid, then... by all means, we'll pay you however we can."
"I like you already, Nathaniel." says the woman. "So much the better. However, our services don't come free, if that's okay."
"If you can pull off a great service to protect our town, then I'm more than sure you'll be worth every sack of gold." says Nathaniel.
"Oh, gold would be lovely, thank you." says the woman. "However, and I hope I'm not being excessively greedy here, I'm hoping you offer a little more."
"And what else would you like alongside that gold?" asks Nathaniel being suspicious of the woman's silver tongue.
"Oh just a few other things to satisfy us, that's all" says the woman. "Gold is a big one. And we do want plenty of that. But, at the same time, we would like some of your finest food and drink. Also, we would like as many supplies you can muster, such as blankets, pillows, weapons and clothing. And the final one may be a bit hard to fulfill, but if we can't be too greedy, do you think we could expect to get a little company?"
"You ask for an awful lot, though I'll see what we can do for you." says Nathaniel. "And what do you mean when you say 'company'? Do you mean... soldiers?"
"Eh, more like people that can keep us from being bored." says the woman. "You know... beautiful woman for the guys, and handsome men for the women. Basically... people that fulfill our more intimate desires. Of course, we won't take anyone that's married. Just your best-looking bachelors and bachelorettes will do."
"Are... are you mad?" asks Nathaniel. "You offer to protect us from brigands, and yet, you demand people for some brothel?"
"Oh, when you say it like that, it sounds so vulgar." says the woman. "It's just our occupation gets kind of lonely, and the camaraderie is pretty limited among each of our members, so we need the extra company to fulfill that empty void. You do understand what I'm saying, right?"
"If that's the case, then we'll look elsewhere." says Nathaniel. "We'll definitely have better luck with the Shepherds."
"Oh, so blackmail won't work, huh?" asks the woman looking more serious. "Then how about an ultimatum? You will do this for us. And you will have us as your bodyguards."
"Are you threatening us?" asks Nathaniel. "Are you threatening my town?"
"Precisely." says the woman.
"Just who do you all think you are?" asks an angry Nathaniel.
"THAT'S where the name of our boss comes in." says the woman. "You have heard of the infamous 'Brutus the Fellblade', have you not?"
Nathaniel goes wide-eyed and merely asks, "...Him?"
"That's right." says the woman. "We work for him. And now, you will grant him everything we demand. And you will have us defend you from the brigands. Otherwise, we'll make it where the attacks get worse... and worse... by the minute."
"You... you can't be serious." says Nathaniel. "You're saying that if we don't hire you, you'll work for the brigands instead?"
"And if they don't break your spirit, Brutus will." says the woman. "You've heard tales of his sword, and how good he is with it. Brigands just wreck your shops and steal from you. Him? Brutus will turn your town into ash so fast, there won't be enough of you to scatter them to the wind."
Nathaniel can only quiver in fear.
"So Nathaniel... what's it going to be?" asks the woman. "Hire us? Or face an uncertain doom?"
Realizing he's been beat, Nathaniel just lowers his head and says, "We'll compensate you in whatever way possible."
"Good man, Nathaniel." says the woman. "Once again, I like you. And because I like you so much, I'll give you this parchment with our symbol. By the way, my name is Meredith Maywater."
Reaching into her pouch, Meredith pulls out a parchment with a black sword symbol surrounded by what could be designs made to resemble red energy swirling around the blade.
"We'll be in touch." says Meredith. "Oh and one more thing: if you try to contact the Shepherds or even just the royal family of Ylisse... or any royal family in this world for that matter... we'll know. And we'll make you pay for your insolence."
Nathaniel can only respond with, "Understood."
"Let's go, men." says Meredith. "The boss will want to hear about this score. Maybe he'll even promote us."
And with that, Meredith and her men leave as quickly as they came.
Nathaniel can only look at his desk in both fear and shame.
To Be Continued in Chapter 6.